Wild and Well | Motherhood, Postpartum Wellness and Children’s Health

Many parents are paying closer attention to what goes into their food, but what about the products they use on their skin, in their homes, and around their children every day? In this episode, I am talking to low tox living educator and author Krissy Ballinger about reducing everyday chemical exposure, simplifying home and personal care products, and making practical low tox changes without striving for perfection. We also discuss simple DIY alternatives, how to approach low tox living without overwhelm, and the importance of focusing on the foundations of health. Krissy and I talk about: How to approach reducing chemical exposure without aiming for perfection Why starting with one simple swap can make low tox living more manageable Why fragrance is one of the first things to reduce Practical ways to improve indoor air quality at home Simple DIY products that can replace multiple household items How to simplify beauty and cleaning routines using fewer products Easy homemade cleaning solutions using ingredients like vinegar and castile soap The importance of reading labels and questioning product marketing claims Teaching children healthy habits through everyday actions and routines Krissy Ballinger is a former health and physical education teacher, author, and educator who helps families simplify low tox living. Through her books, website, recipes, and educational resources, she teaches practical ways to reduce unnecessary chemical exposure using simple, affordable alternatives. Her work focuses on empowering people to make informed choices about the products they use in their homes and on their bodies. Episode Links Connect with Krissy on Instagram Start making your own products with Krissy’s DIY recipes  Get a copy of Krissy’s books  Become a label detective Come say hi to me on Instagram Free Journal: Release Mama, Let Go of Overwhelm, Exhaustion and Depletion in Motherhood  Free Motherhood Manifestation: Your Vibrant Life Manifestation   Books to Thrive in Motherhood: Dive into The Motherhood Reset, Nourished Mama, and Mama Let It Go to overcome burnout and become a healthy, energized mom.  Picky Eating Guide: Learn about common but lesser-known reasons kids are picky eaters and practical strategies to help children enjoy healthy foods. Resources I Am Loving Green Goo – Natural plant powered first aid and skincare remedies. Get 10% off with code: DRHILARYCLAIRE Kultured Wellness – Yogurt and kefir cultures and everything you need for optimal gut health. Use code WILDANDWELL The Brain Health Movement – Whole Child Healing Roadmap is a science-backed courses that decode the root causes of your child's struggles. Get £200 off with code WILDANDWELL Ellie’s Earth Use code wildwell20 for 20% off for natural deodorant MamaZen App – Become a happier and calmer mom through cognitive hypnotherapy, CBT, and mindfulness. Use code 9c  Fertility & Beyond – Natural solutions for your fertility struggles Wild and Well with Dr Hilary Claire is a podcast dedicated to holistic health for moms, optimal health for women, postpartum recovery, perimenopause, and children’s wellness. It is for holistic-minded mothers who want healthier, calmer, more resilient kids. We explore everything from gut health to pregnancy, functional health for women and postpartum wellness to nervous system regulation and motherhood burnout. Each episode offers practical tips for self-care for moms, guidance on picky eating and parenting, and strategies to support your family’s natural kids’ health, so you can feel healthy, strong, and vital in motherhood while creating a foundation for lifelong wellness. I would never recommend anything I don’t regularly use myself or trust completely. Some of the links are affiliate links, and others are special discount codes. Either way, all of these are products and resources I genuinely love and recommend.

Homeschooling is often less about curriculum and more about how children learn to think, engage, and grow through everyday life. In this conversation, we explore what it looks like to raise curious, capable children in a world that often prioritizes convenience over resilience.  In this episode of Wild and Well, I am talking to Jess Drover again, a homeschooler and mother who also runs a children’s book business. We discuss curiosity-led learning, emotional resilience, and how everyday family life becomes the foundation for education when children are given space to explore, participate, and contribute meaningfully. Listen to episode 67 of the podcast to hear more about homeschooling from Jess.  Jess and I talk about:  What homeschooling looks like when learning is integrated into everyday family life How curiosity-led learning replaces rigid curriculum in her homeschooling approach Why children benefit from discomfort, boredom, and doing difficult things How activities like walking, gardening, and chores build resilience and responsibility Why she believes children need space to struggle rather than be constantly accommodated How intrinsic motivation is strengthened through real-world participation Why she avoids over-structuring learning in favour of child-led curiosity How dopamine, screen exposure, and external stimulation impact motivation  How everyday experiences become opportunities for learning and growth Why capability and confidence matter more than comfort or convenience Jess Drover is a homeschooler and children’s book seller who focuses on curiosity-led learning and child development through everyday life. She integrates education into family routines, nature-based experiences, and real-world responsibilities. Jess is passionate about raising intrinsically motivated, resilient children who learn through participation, exploration, and connection. Books that Jess mentioned:  The Anxious Generation  Simplicity Parenting  Hunt Gather Parent     Links:  Connect with Jess over on Instagram Find out more about the books Jess sells at nocobooklady Come say hi to me on Instagram Free Journal: Release Mama, Let Go of Overwhelm, Exhaustion and Depletion in Motherhood  Free Motherhood Manifestation: Your Vibrant Life Manifestation  Books to Thrive in Motherhood: Dive into The Motherhood Reset, Nourished Mama, and Mama Let It Go to overcome burnout and become a healthy, energized mom.  Picky Eating Guide: Learn about common but lesser-known reasons kids are picky eaters and practical strategies to help children enjoy healthy foods.   Resources I Am Loving The Brain Health Movement – Whole Child Healing Roadmap is a science-backed courses that decode the root causes of your child's struggles. Get £200 off with code WILDANDWELL MamaZen App – Become a happier and calmer mom through cognitive hypnotherapy, CBT, and mindfulness. Use code 9c  Fertility & Beyond – Natural solutions for your fertility struggles   Wild and Well with Dr Hilary Claire is a podcast dedicated to holistic health for moms, optimal health for women, postpartum recovery, perimenopause, and children’s wellness. It is for holistic-minded mothers who want healthier, calmer, more resilient kids. We explore everything from gut health to pregnancy, functional health for women and postpartum wellness to nervous system regulation and motherhood burnout. Each episode offers practical tips for self-care for moms, guidance on picky eating and parenting, and strategies to support your family’s natural kids’ health, so you can feel healthy, strong, and vital in motherhood while creating a foundation for lifelong wellness. I would never recommend anything I don’t regularly use myself or trust completely. Some of the links are affiliate links, and others are special discount codes. Either way, all of these are products and resources I genuinely love and recommend.

Social media is shaping how children learn, connect, and spend their time online. For many parents, keeping up with cyberbullying, harmful content, online predators, unrealistic beauty standards, and AI-generated content can feel overwhelming. In this episode, I am talking to Cara Des Granges, Director of Government Relations and Policy at Friends of Canadian Media. We discuss Canada's proposed Safe Social Media Act, what platform accountability could mean for families, the role parents play in online safety, and how we can create a safer digital environment for children and youth.  Cara and I talk about: Why online safety should not rest solely on parents' shoulders What Canada's proposed Safe Social Media Act aims to achieve How cyberbullying, harmful content, misinformation, and AI-generated content affect children Why social media platforms may need greater accountability for user safety How other countries, including Australia, are approaching social media restrictions for youth What platform accountability could look like in practice Why parents often feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with rapidly changing technology The challenges of understanding algorithms and the content being pushed to children What digital sovereignty means and why it matters for Canadian families Concerns around privacy, age verification, and freedom of expression Practical ways parents can start conversations about online experiences with their children How to support children who may be experiencing anxiety, bullying, or harmful online interactions Why creating safer digital spaces requires collaboration between families, governments, and technology companies Cara Des Granges is the Director of Government Relations and Policy at Friends of Canadian Media. She works to support public broadcasting, strengthen Canadian cultural policy, and advocate for greater accountability from digital platforms. Her work focuses on issues including media policy, democracy, online harms, and the protection of Canadian voices in the digital landscape.   Come say hi to me on Instagram Books to Thrive in Motherhood: Dive into The Motherhood Reset, Nourished Mama, and Mama Let It Go to overcome burnout and become a healthy, energized mom.  Picky Eating Guide: Learn about common but lesser-known reasons kids are picky eaters and practical strategies to help children enjoy healthy foods. Visit Friends of Canadian Media Check out Friends on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Wild and Well with Dr Hilary Claire is a podcast dedicated to holistic health for moms, optimal health for women, postpartum recovery, perimenopause, and children’s wellness. It is for holistic-minded mothers who want healthier, calmer, more resilient kids. We explore everything from gut health to pregnancy, functional health for women and postpartum wellness to nervous system regulation and motherhood burnout. Each episode offers practical tips for self-care for moms, guidance on picky eating and parenting, and strategies to support your family’s natural kids’ health, so you can feel healthy, strong, and vital in motherhood while creating a foundation for lifelong wellness.

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything ‘right’ when it comes to your health, yet still struggling with fatigue, stubborn weight, or low energy? The answer may not be another diet or wellness trend. It may be understanding how your body is uniquely wired. In this episode of Wild and Well, I am talking to genetic nutritionist, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, and founder of Juniper Nutrition, Alex Prentice, about nutrigenomics and how genetic testing can help uncover personalized insights related to weight loss, energy, stress, gut health, hormones, and histamine intolerance. We discuss how genetics interact with lifestyle factors and why a personalized approach to health can help women feel their best.   Alex and I talk about: • What nutrigenomics is and how genetic testing differs from blood work• How genetics influence nutrient absorption, metabolism, stress response, and inflammation• The role epigenetics plays in turning genetic tendencies up or down• Why two people can respond very differently to the same diet or wellness plan• How genetics and lifestyle both contribute to weight loss challenges• Common reasons women struggle to lose weight despite eating well and exercising regularly• Why prioritizing overall health often supports sustainable weight management• The connection between fatigue, stress, hormones, gut health, and hydration• The relationship between histamine intolerance, gut health, liver function, and nutrient status• Foods and lifestyle strategies that may help support histamine processing and liver health• Why genetic testing can provide valuable context for symptoms such as fatigue, inflammation, and digestive concerns Alex Prentice is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Board Certified Functional Nutritionist, genetic nutritionist, and founder of Juniper Nutrition. She specializes in nutrigenomics, using genetic testing alongside symptom analysis to create personalized nutrition and wellness plans. Alex works with clients experiencing challenges related to weight loss, fatigue, gut health, hormones, and overall health optimization.   Episode Links • Visit Juniper Nutrition• Follow Alex on Instagram• Email Alex at Juniper Nutrition• Learn more about nutrigenomics testing• Listen to more episodes of Wild and Well   Come say hi to me on Instagram Free Journal: Release Mama, Let Go of Overwhelm, Exhaustion and Depletion in Motherhood  Free Motherhood Manifestation: Your Vibrant Life Manifestation  Books to Thrive in Motherhood: Dive into The Motherhood Reset, Nourished Mama, and Mama Let It Go to overcome burnout and become a healthy, energized mom.  Picky Eating Guide: Learn about common but lesser-known reasons kids are picky eaters and practical strategies to help children enjoy healthy foods. Resources I Am Loving Squat Seat – Comfortable seat to increase mobility and deep squat. Use code WILD5 for a discount.  Green Goo – Natural plant powered first aid and skincare remedies. Get 10% off with code: DRHILARYCLAIRE Ananda Elixirs – Delicious functional mushroom wellness elixirs. Get 20% off  Kultured Wellness – Yogurt and kefir cultures and everything you need for optimal gut health. Use code WILDANDWELL BON CHARGE – Red light devices. Get 15% off with the code: WILDANDWELL Wild and Well with Dr Hilary Claire is a podcast dedicated to holistic health for moms, optimal health for women, postpartum recovery, perimenopause, and children’s wellness. It is for holistic-minded mothers who want healthier, calmer, more resilient kids. We explore everything from gut health to pregnancy, functional health for women and postpartum wellness to nervous system regulation and motherhood burnout. Each episode offers practical tips for self-care for moms, guidance on picky eating and parenting, and strategies to support your family’s natural kids’ health, so you can feel healthy, strong, and vital in motherhood while creating a foundation for lifelong wellness. I would never recommend anything I don’t regularly use myself or trust completely. Some of the links are affiliate links, and others are special discount codes. Either way, all of these are products and resources I genuinely love and recommend.