When I had my daughter I developed postpartum depression and anxiety. What was even worse than those two diagnoses, was the panic that accompanied them. My panic attacks almost always hit when I was doing one of two things:
1. Driving – even if it was a bright sunny day, with perfect road conditions, and I was headed to meet a bestie for lunch. Sometimes my daughter was with me, sometimes she was not.
2. Getting ready to go to work.
My behavioral health therapist suggested I try listening to podcasts while I was in the car instead of listening to music. Music is often really familiar to your brain. You can be be-bopping along to your favorite song and your mind can wander at the same time – the panic has a chance to creep in. When you listen to podcasts, usually there is engaging conversation with the hosts (yes, I have my “podcast friends” that I converse with while I am driving in the car), laughter, and sometimes there is even note-taking involved.
Listening to podcasts while driving made a HUGE difference in the frequency of my panic attacks, and today I am happy to report I no longer experience them at all in the car. I listen to every genre of podcasts from self-help, Bachelorette contestant hosted, mom content, to local creatives and business owners’ shows.
Here are 5 local podcasts that are produced by moms right here in Duluth, MN!
The Brilliant Creative – Ang Stockman (Creative business coach)
Cultural Curriculum Chat – Jebeh Edmunds (Multicultural education)
The Goal Digger Podcast – Jenna Kutcher (Business and marketing)
Parent Chat – Mel Alvar (Celebrating the journey of parenthood)
Sharon Says So – Sharon McMahon (Combats political misinformation with non-partisan facts)
Even though this one is not produced by local moms, they have interviewed many Duluth moms in their episodes – I love listening to Finding Fire because I learn a lot about Duluth, and also the women behind many local Duluth businesses.
Our parent company, City Mom Collective, also hosts a podcast called “Just Add Sprinkles: Celebrating Motherhood!” You will hear local Duluth moms share on segments from time to time.
Do you listen to any of these podcasts? Are there any that I am missing? Maybe someday in the not so distant future, you will see a podcast produced by Duluth Mom added to the list 🙂