Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting JourneyParenting

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey


Big Fat Positive: Pregnancy and Parenting (BFP)

Ep. 416: Bringing Home the Class Pets

Mon, 22 Jun 2026

In the special segment “What I Googled This Week,” Laura and Shanna reveal the funny and embarrassing things they've asked the internet recently, including questions about an unusual DIY craft project and an unexpected singing technique. Also, Shanna reports on the drama surrounding her family's turn at chick-sitting the class pets, and Laura talks about her 5-year-old's ear tube and adenoid surgery. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.


Topics discussed in this episode:

• Taking home your child's classroom pets for the night

• Ear tube and adenoid surgery

• The unexpected how-to videos we Googled this week

• When your child picks up a new hobby

• Two fun films that our kids love watching


Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

Lifetimes by Bryan Mellonie

Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Wicked Aviary Plague Doctor DIY Tutorial

Vertigo by Beach Bunny

Matilda (1996)

Matilda the Musical (2022)

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Yodel Beat from Trolls World Tour


Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: InstagramTikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast


If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


Ep. 415: Better Late Than Never!

Mon, 15 Jun 2026

In the special segment "Gripe Water," Shanna and Laura share the hilariously petty parenting problems that have been bothering them lately, diving into the topics of student-council campaigns and shopping for kids' clothes. Also, Laura reports on accidentally reaching a parenting milestone, and Shanna recaps her last-minute scramble to help her 7-year-old complete a school project. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.


Topics discussed in this episode:

• When is a good time to get rid of your baby monitor?

• Managing deadlines for your kids' school projects

• Helping your kid run for student council

• Where to find plain, unbranded clothes for your kids


Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today's Intentional Parent by Laura Birek and Gia Gamabaro Blunt

Great Big Family Play Day at the Autry Museum

PCIT - Parent-Child Interaction Therapy


Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: InstagramTikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast


If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


Ep. 414: Sad Doll Disease

Mon, 08 Jun 2026

In the special segment "Today I Learned," Laura and Shanna discuss the fascinating or unusual things they have learned about recently, including the story of how a mom on maternity leave saved a major motion picture and a disturbing phenomenon involving a beloved children's toy. Also, Shanna navigates her daughter's last-minute wardrobe crisis, and Laura spends Mother's Day doing exactly what she wanted. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including events that provided some big laughs. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.


Topics discussed in this episode:

• Planning a Mother's Day outing with your kids

• Validating your child's feelings vs. gaslighting them into positivity

• Reclaiming hobbies after having kids

• How a mom saved Toy Story 2

• Why your Owala (and other plastic items) may be melting

• Surprising your partner: tips for keeping a secret in the age of smartphones

• The Netflix Is a Joke Festival: a good excuse to see live comedy in LA


Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

The Next Web article: "How Pixar’s Toy Story 2 was deleted twice, once by technology and again for its own good"

Reddit post about melting plastic Owala water bottle

Sad Doll Disease - article in New Scientist

Owala water bottle

The Handsome Podcast

The Wiltern

Largo at the Coronet

Flight of the Conchords

Netflix Is a Joke Festival


Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: InstagramTikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast


If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


Ep. 413: Failing the Sniff Test

Mon, 01 Jun 2026

In the special segment “Mom Confessions,” Laura and Shanna share the embarrassing or hilarious parenting experiences they have had recently, including an interaction with an unsuspecting stranger, an incident with a curious cat and more. Also, Laura celebrates her 10th wedding anniversary with an out-of-the-ordinary trip, and Shanna recaps a nail-biting end to her 7-year-old's softball season. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including a piece of office equipment that had to be rationed like screen time. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.


Topics discussed in this episode:

• Taking your first overnight trip as a couple after having kids

• Self-driving cars: would you try a Waymo?

• When your child is facing a big moment and you're a nervous wreck

• Kids with ADHD and visual tracking challenges in sports

• Cats and kids: an unpredictable combination

• Regulating your own emotions on a bad parenting day

• Sleep disruption from enlarged adenoids in kids

• Electric pencil sharpeners: a surprisingly divisive household item

• Face painting at kids' sports events


Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

The Line LA - Hotel that Laura and Corey went to for their anniversary

Waymo - Self-driving cars

Hard Fork - podcast that radicalized Laura on self-driving cars

Gwen - Restaurant that Laura and Corey went to for anniversary dinner

Martin Riese - Water sommelier

"Mom" by Meghan Trainor - Cece's walkup song

Spotify Jam

"Mr. Sun" by Raffi

"Grumpy Monkey" - Kid's book Shanna mentions

Robot Electric Pencil Sharpener

Face Paint Pens (Jim & Gloria)


Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:

Ep. 407 - Where Shanna first talked about the Savannah Bananas San Diego trip

Ep. 410 - Where Laura first discussed Sebastian's ENT follow-up and upcoming ear tube surgery


Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: InstagramTikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast


If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


Ep. 412: The School Auction

Mon, 25 May 2026

In the special segment "Out of Context," Laura and Shanna share random text messages they have sent or received that shed light on their parenting lives, including shocking elementary-school auction items, bizarre stovetop contraptions and more. Also, Shanna gives an update on her 7-year-old's daily medication routine, and Laura reports on a last-minute volunteering opportunity that turned into an hours-long commitment. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including an exciting new parenting support program and a long-awaited Disneyland milestone. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 and 5 years old.


Topics discussed in this episode:

• Helping your child get comfortable with a daily medicine routine

• Whether or not to use a reward system to help your child take medicine

• When volunteering at school becomes a whole "thing."

• What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)?

• Picking your battles with neurodivergent kids

• Shockingly inappropriate items in a school auction

• Kids playing April Fools' Day pranks on their parents

• Disneyland height requirements and the fast pass card hack


Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

UCLA PCIT Program - Parent-Child Interaction Therapy individual and group sessions

Five Below - Shanna's treasure box supply sources

Wheel of Names - Shanna's homework rotation system

The Comeback - HBO show Laura watched while babysitting at Nora's

The Traitors - Peacock reality show (Nora's murder mystery party theme)

Highlights Magazine - Source of the April Fools' food prank activity


Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:

Ep. 410 - Where Shanna talks about her struggle to get Cece to take her new daily medication

Ep. 411 - Where Laura's BFP was the Long Beach Grand Prix

Ep. 388 - Where Laura discussed switching the kids' schools


Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: InstagramTikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast


If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


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