It's A Circus - Unfiltered stories of motherhood, identity, and the art of self care

Send us Fan Mail Host Elsa welcomes Dr. Rachel Smith, founder of Aspect Wellness, who shares her path from early motherhood to a career delivering over a thousand babies as a nurse midwife, then transitioning through burnout and perimenopause into obesity medicine and a cardiometabolic longevity-focused practice. They discuss the joy of parenting adult children, how midwifery differs philosophically from traditional OB care, and why perimenopause can bring “hormone chaos” with symptoms like m...

Send us Fan Mail Host Elsa welcomes her friend Stacey, mom of Brielle and Jamie, to discuss the micro-moments that shape motherhood, including Stacey’s planned first pregnancy and a traumatic, fast-unfolding birth marked by preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, placenta accreta, an emergency C-section, major blood loss, and a transfusion that left her unconscious and delayed meeting her baby. Stacey shares how therapy, family support, and a healing planned C-section with her second helped her process...

Send us Fan Mail Host Elsa welcomes Brooke, co-founder of the Mone Wellness postpartum app, to discuss motherhood, postpartum realities, and the inspiration behind building a dedicated support resource. Brooke shares her experience becoming a mom during COVID, her three home births with a midwife team (including a prolonged second pregnancy, postpartum hemorrhage, and a colicky baby), and how each postpartum season differed. They talk about baby temperament, colic, lactation support, suppleme...

Send us Fan Mail Host Elsa kicks off season five with a solo episode celebrating nearly one year since launching the podcast and reflecting on recurring themes from past interviews and her own transformation. She shares key learnings: the critical importance of advocating for yourself in medical, parenting, and relationship situations; recognizing that women and mothers are more alike than different; the harm of mothering in isolation and the need to find community; how asking for help is an ...

Send us Fan Mail Host Elsa welcomes board-certified nurse practitioner and hormone specialist Jessica Silver, who shares her path from labor-and-delivery nursing to founding Renewed You, a virtual hormone practice for women often dismissed in conventional care. Jessica discusses her motherhood journey, severe postpartum anxiety, years of debilitating 104° fevers that extensive specialist testing couldn’t explain until she traced them to ovulation and menstruation. She describes ectopic pregna...

Send us Fan Mail In the 50th episode of It’s a Circus podcast, Elsa, the host reflects on how the show reached this milestone in under a year and shares recurring themes from dozens of interviews about motherhood and womanhood. She explains that many women don’t lose ambition after becoming mothers—it can be buried to avoid looking selfish—and that restlessness and resentment can be signals to refill their own cup rather than evidence of failure. She highlights the tension of loving your kids...

Send us Fan Mail Join host Elsa as she delves into the real-life experiences of motherhood, womanhood, and self-care in this episode of It's a Circus podcast. Elsa shares insightful conversations focused on the transitions women go through, from childbirth to menopause, and how these journeys transform their lives. Drawing from her extensive background in the beauty industry, Elsa offers a unique service called 'The Beauty Edit,' helping women navigate the overwhelming world of cosmetics. Tun...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'It's a Circus', host Elsa shares her personal journey of navigating parenting and entrepreneurship. Battling through an under-the-weather day, Elsa emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with individuals who embody the life you aspire to live. She discusses how aligning with like-minded people, whether in business or personal life, can bring about inspiration and growth. Elsa provides insights on making new friends, the value of networking groups...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to 'It's a Circus' with your host Elsa, where we dive into the real, unfiltered side of parenting. In this episode, Elsa discusses the challenges faced by mothers, particularly those with Type A personalities, and the importance of giving oneself grace. She reflects on personal experiences and the lessons learned from editing conversations with other moms. Elsa emphasizes the need to let go of unrealistic expectations and accept the unpredictable nature of motherhood....

Send us Fan Mail Join host Elsa in this solo episode of 'It's a Circus' as she shares practical advice and personal experiences on building a supportive mom community. Discover effective strategies for meeting new friends through social media, parks, playgrounds, and even birthday parties. Elsa emphasizes the importance of keeping an open mind, saying yes to opportunities, and ensuring you feel celebrated in your social circle. Whether you're relocating or simply seeking new connections, this...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'It's a Circus,' host Elsa dives into the ever-evolving topic of self-care, especially within the context of intense parenting. Drawing from personal experiences and insights from various conversations, Elsa emphasizes the importance of prioritizing oneself through small, meaningful acts and redefining self-care as a commitment to being present rather than an escape. She also offers practical advice on incorporating self-care into daily routines and discuss...

Send us Fan Mail Join Elsa on her first solo episode of 2026 as she shares her excitement for the new year and discusses her unique approach to goal-setting. Instead of specific goals, Elsa introduces three words - 'unhinged,' 'ascending,' and 'relentless' - that encapsulate the energy and mindset she aims to bring into 2026. Reflecting on her personal journey and the changes she’s experienced, she encourages listeners to find their own words to navigate the year ahead. Tune in for an inspiri...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the solo series, the host, Elsa, shares a transformative philosophy that has driven her throughout the year: the power of saying yes. She discusses how this counterintuitive approach, especially amidst the common advice of setting boundaries, has pushed her out of her comfort zone and fostered personal growth, community building, and new opportunities. As a mother and a newcomer to a community, she highlights personal anecdotes of embracing discomfort and t...