Today we are excited to have Dara Whitaker of The Sleep Sessions Podcast on The Mag. Read more about Dara and her podcast below!

Introduce yourself and your brand.

My name is Dara Whitaker and I’m the creator & host of the podcast The Sleep Sessions. I live in Minnesota with my husband Jimmy, my almost 1 year old daughter Winnie, and my Australian shepherd, River. Each 30-minute weekly episode of The Sleep Sessions features a different mom sharing her story of adapting to life & sleep after a new baby. The interviews cover a wide range of topics such as birth stories, feeding styles, sleep challenges, work/life balance, relationship changes, mental health and more.

What inspired you to start The Sleep Sessions?

I became a mom for the first time in May of last year. Even though I took all the birth & breastfeeding classes and read all of the baby books, I still found myself completely lost and unprepared in my new role. After a series of feeding issues and complete sleep deprivation, I began to feel more isolated and alone than ever. This led me to join Facebook groups and in-person mom groups. Through my conversations, I learned that we were all going through similar experiences but all thought we were the only ones. I started The Sleep Sessions to give new moms a wider platform to share their experiences and support other women through all of the changes and decisions that happen in the first year postpartum.

What are three tips to help people adapt to sleep after baby?

I’m certainly no sleep expert, but I found that having an evening routine really worked for us. We gave Winnie a bath every night and she knew that it was a signal that bedtime was coming. I’m also a huge fan of a white noise machine. We still use one and it definitely helps block out the sound of River’s bark! My last tip is to not be too hard on yourself and to try to go with the flow as best you can. I was a stickler for keeping Winnie on a schedule and looking back I regret not being more flexible.

What is one thing/aspect that makes your podcast so memorable?

The aspect I find most memorable about The Sleep Sessions is that the interview guests are real moms who have recently gone through or are still in the postpartum period. Even though listeners usually don't know the guests personally, the episodes feel like candid conversations between close friends. I'm learning that there is an incredible connection between moms regardless of who we are or where we come from and the experiences we share with each other are invaluable.

What other podcasts do you love?

One podcast I love is The Birth Hour. I was super anxious about giving birth and listening to The Birth Hour daily throughout my pregnancy reassured me that no matter what type of birth I would have, everything would be OK in the end. The format of The Birth Hour is similar to The Sleep Sessions, in that it is real moms sharing their pregnancy and birth experiences.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Creating The Sleep Sessions has been one of the most exciting and rewarding things I have ever done. Every time I record a new episode I'm amazed at how strong and resilient women are. We can go through the toughest of times and come out stronger and smiling on the other side. One more thing I'd like to mention is that I'm a big believer in maternal instinct and think it's important that new moms feel empowered to trust their gut.

And finally, where can we find you?