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Whatcha Expecting?

Claire Tadokoro and Kate Herzlin

When a notoriously unprepared new mom and her chronically overprepared pregnant friend love each other very much, they make a podcast!

Each Thursday, longtime friends Kate Herzlin and Claire Tadokoro discuss various aspects of pregnancy and new parenthood. They’ll chat about cravings and aversions, they’ll grapple with their identities, and they’ll tell a joke or two to offset the terror of their existential fears!

With a big sister/little sister dynamic, their philosophies (or lack thereof) may differ when it comes to this huge life chapter, but they’re in it to judge each other – they mean, in it together!

Kate’s Instagram: @KateHerzlin

Claire’s Instagram: @ClaireTadokoro

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20 episodes
weekly
Avg 31 min
English

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S4 · E3
Thursday · 20 min
Sibling Age Gap Stress
To have or not to have multiple children. THAT is the question! But the other question is, how many years apart should multiple children be? And the third question is, are people still having three kids ever? Claire assures us that a trio ensures a fantastic sibling experience while also assuring us that she will not be giving that experience to Rodney. Kate considers the possibility. Joe shares his expert experience of parenting real-life siblings! Weekly Plugs: Pope Leo XIV The City of Chicago Vatican Health Care Editing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting
S4 · E2
October 29 · 31 min
Daycare Dropoff!
This week, Kate and Claire show how much they care…about daycare! Claire recently switched daycares because of her move, and Kate’s son has recently started in daycare. How do you choose the right program for your family? How do you learn to trust others to care for your kids? And if you’re Joe, how do you decide what (if any) merchandise to buy? Tune in this week to hear all the new skills Kate and Claire’s kids have picked up, and why it’s awesome to make friends with other parents (Claire totally agrees and is definitely putting herself out there). Weekly Plugs: Libby’s Pumpkin Pumpkin Patches Google Maps Editing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting
S4 · E1
October 22 · 33 min
Welcome Back, Baby (Toddlers)!
Welcome to Season 4, Babies! Claire and Kate are both officially mothers to TODDLERS. And … is Claire expecting another little one on the way? Or does Kate just enjoy asking her that? They’ll discuss the semantics of “toddlers” vs “babies” vs “twaddlers.” What IS a twaddler? Maybe just the friends we made along the way. Enjoy! Weekly Plugs: Luxurious Matching Pajamas (for adults. Don’t buy luxury pajamas for babies. Or twaddlers.) Frame Coffee NYC Facebook Marketplace Editing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E21
September 3 · 26 min
Happy (Almost) Birthday, A Season Finale!
It’s the end of Season Three, and Kate’s baby is almost not a baby anymore! This week, Kate and Claire discuss Kate’s plans for her soon-to-be-toddler’s birthday, and the two consider how far both their children have come. Claire shares the new milestones Rodney is reaching, and Kate answers rapid-fire questions from Claire of Anthony facts. Kate shares her new year wishes for Anthony, as we close out the season and get excited for Season Four! Weekly Plugs: Stand up diaper changes Taking things slow and making time to reflect Breathe Like a Bear Editing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E20
August 27 · 27 min
What Type of Stereotypical Parent Are You? A Buzzfeed Quiz!
This week, Claire’s in charge, which obviously means everyone is taking a Buzzfeed quiz! Having never seen the questions before, Kate and Joe patiently take the quiz and don’t have any criticisms at all of how the questions and answers are written. When will they get their kids a phone? What would they do if their kids were sent to the principal’s office? Who is REALLY the lazy parent here? Find out this week, and take the quiz yourself – and finally find out, what kind of parent are YOU (according to Buzzfeed, the real authority here)! Weekly Plugs: Heirloom tomatoes Science City Camping Hotels Editing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E19
August 20 · 28 min
It's Swim Time, Baby!
It’s summer, so you know what that means…it’s time to go for a swim! This week, Kate’s baby-almost-toddler had his first swim lesson. Claire’s son, meanwhile, has been in swim lessons for awhile, and Joe’s kids are basically on the Olympic swim team at this point. Hear Joe’s hot takes on swim lessons for babies, Kate’s anxieties about submerging her baby, and Claire’s experiences getting Rodney comfortable in the water. Don’t be shy, dive right in…get it?! CW: Reference to child loss and drowning Weekly Plugs: Editing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting. Vanilla Cold Brew Tonic water Espresso Bath tubs
S3 · E18
August 13 · 37 min
Once the Kids Go To Sleep: A Social Experiment
Once the babies are down for the night, what do you do with yourself? Do you hit the hay? Drink a beer? Scroll for hours? How important are these quiet(er) moments for you? This week, Kate and Claire selflessly spend their precious moments recording this podcast episode, sharing what they would normally be doing and reflecting back on to what their own parents did once they went to sleep. Or, at least, what we think they were doing? We were asleep, so we're not actually sure. Weekly Plugs: Busy Boards Donut Peaches Nintendo Switch 2 Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E17
August 6 · 29 min
Moving with a Baby: Part Two!
This week, Kate is moving far, far away to the distant location of slightly further south within her own neighborhood! Meanwhile, Claire is trying to secure a house for her and her family. With all these big moves come big feelings (but that’s a different episode, go back and listen, we’ll wait). Kate shares the ways that packing, naturally, makes her think of death. Kate and Claire discuss the parts of your life you mourn as you make space for what’s new. Hey, we weren’t kidding about the big feelings! Weekly Plugs: Clothing sets Excellent Quality Movers Reminders on your phone Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E16
July 30 · 34 min
Re-Release: Moving With a Baby
Your favorite MAMAZ are taking a quick reset for the week while they navigate impending and finalized moves, schedule conflicts, and just being all around BOSS BABEZ! To that end, please enjoy one of our favorite episodes from Season 1 that felt very on-brand. See you next week! --- Claire’s moving! This week, Claire’s packing for her imminent move to Kansas. She considers the things she’ll miss about living in New York, while being excited for her new home (which has TWO bathrooms?!). Kate’s world is getting narrower as it gets physically harder to move through the world while being, medically speaking, super duper pregnant. Claire discusses what it was like to see Kate’s baby nook in her apartment, and Kate shares the shocking revelation that Claire’s clever use of space in her own one bedroom apartment inspired Kate in her own nesting, too. Weekly Plugs: Whatcha Expecting? - our new Instagram page! Lambs and Ivy Wall Decals Stone fruit season NYC Ferry Editing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci.
S3 · E15
July 23 · 40 min
To Stay or Not To Stay (At Home) with Tori Wade
This week Kate and Claire welcome Tori Wade -- aka @kccoolmom -- to the show. Tori was a woman with a plan. She planned to have her baby girl and be a stay at home mom while also nannying part time. Fast-forward a couple of years, Tori realized that to be the best mom and best version of herself, she needed a creative outlet and began creating social media content. A little over a year later, she shares with us what it was like navigating the mom guilt during her realization, her advice to other stay at home moms considering a life change and, most importantly, what Kate should do when she finally visits Kansas City. Weekly Plugs: Moms Meet KC - quarterly meetup’s for Kansas City area moms. Baby Bum Mineral Sunscreen Freshly Cut Pineapple Three Bears Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E14
July 16 · 33 min
Baby Copycats
Get your own personality! This week Kate and Claire share how their sons are starting to mimic those around them with varying degrees of success. Gestures, words, and even personality traits! Is this normal, and should we be flattered? We also reflect on what we would like them to mimic and who we ourselves mimicked growing up. Weekly Plugs: Mornings at The Farmers Market Queens Night Market Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E13
July 9 · 37 min
How to Break the Cycle with Guest, Carolyn Castiglia
Content warning: Abuse This week, an expert parent/comedian/all around fabulous human joins as a guest -- Carolyn Castiglia! Kate, Claire and Carolyn discuss how to not totally mess up your child. Carolyn shares her insights from having achieved the seemingly impossible -- successfully raising a child (on her own!) through the teenage years, who is now a happy, well-adjusted adult. How do you avoid repeating the cycles you were raised with? How has Carolyn's style as a teacher connected to her role as a mother? And how much did Kate love having had Carolyn as a teacher? (Spoiler alert: A WHOLE LOT!) Weekly Plugs: Moncocomedy.com Activations App Sound baths Barachou Pastry Shop Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E12
July 2 · 33 min
Restaurant Etiquette
When they go low, we go high ... chair. This week, Kate shares how Anthony has gone from restaurant accessory to restaurant consumer; what they pack and don't pack, how he prefers his steak prepared, and whether or not we should all be mopping the floors once our kids have torn through. Claire shares the early-bird strategy she and Cody employ for taking Rodney out to eat. Weekly Plugs: BRAT diet for upset tummies High-coverage bib Picky by Helen Zoe Veit Mommy Bliss Constipation Ease Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E11
June 25 · 26 min
The Nine Month Appointment
It’s the week we’ve been waiting for…Kate’s baby’s nine month appointment! Having learned from Claire’s experience in Season Two (go listen to the whole thing, we’ll wait…), Kate had a bit more of an idea of what to expect. Claire shares recent milestones of Rodney’s, and issues a formal apology to her pediatrician’s office. Tune in for such insightful questions as, why does poking at a Cheerio in a bottle matter? Why would a baby be holding a cracker or cookie? And how is this baby almost a toddler?! Weekly Plugs: BJ’s Wholesale Club Baby Crocs Deep tissue massage Remedy Wellness Editing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E10
June 18 · 35 min
Go to Therapy! With Guest, Aimee LeCours
Content Warning: Suicide, Alcoholism This week, Kate and Claire are joined by an actual mental health expert…Aimee LeCours! Aimee is a stand-up comedian, improviser, mom, and licensed mental health counselor. She produces and hosts Psych!, A Stand-Up Therapy Comedy show (how cool is that)?! Kate and Claire ask Aimee the hard hitting questions like, should every parent be in therapy? Why did she go into the mental health field? Why do parents always think about death? You know, fun stuff only! Note: episode does not replace actual therapy (sorry). Weekly Plugs: Swim lessons for kids - New Yorkers or find an ISR instructor near you. Harlem Meer Florida Comedy Collective Editing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E9
June 11 · 36 min
The Pincer Grasp
This week, we’re getting a GRASP on things – because Kate’s baby has his pincer grasp! Seemingly overnight, he can now pick things up with his thumb and index finger, a milestone that Claire didn’t realize was a thing until Rodney’s nine month appointment. The two talk about how quickly big changes can happen, and how something seemingly so small can mean the beginning of the end of the baby phase, a fact which Kate doesn’t have any feelings about so you can stop asking now, OK?! Weekly Plugs: Hanna Andersson Green Garlic Libraries Editing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E8
June 4 · 35 min
(Formerly) Working Mamas
Big news! Claire is finally…unemployed! With Claire’s job having ended, Claire has a clear sense of her identity and everything is fine. Kate and Claire discuss the logistics of the workday, and how Claire will be balancing her time now between freelancing and being a MAMA! The two discuss the role that your career plays in your sense of self as a mother, and what the future might look like for them both. Sidenote, totally unrelated, if you need someone to assist on your social media needs, we know a very talented tradwife person with a little time on her hands. Weekly Plugs: A good beach read Project management software Monday.com Crocs Nordstrom Rack Editing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E7
May 28 · 30 min
Mama's Night Out
This week, Kate spent her first night(s) away from her baby for a humor writing reunion! Claire also spent her [insert large number here]th night away from Rodney for one of the final weeks at her job. What was the trip like for Kate? Has travel away from family gotten easier or harder for Claire? Kate and Claire discuss how spending time away from your family can be occasionally guilt-inducing, but also restorative to your sense of self. Mostly, just tune in to hear Kate gush about St. Nell’s (guess what her plug is this week…you’ll never guess!). Weekly Plugs: St. Nell’s Humor Writing Residency Emily Flake Baby shoes with traction Reusable water balloons Editing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E6
May 21 · 31 min
Big Feelings
This week, Kate and Claire (mostly Claire) are having some big feelings about big feelings. As Rodney has fully entered his tantrum-having toddler era, Claire is struggling to navigate whether to give him what he wants to hold her ground. (She definitely never gives in, obviously.) Kate and Claire marvel at the size and newness of all their kids’ feelings, and reflect on the big stuff making them feel big feelings right now as grown ups. Who knew big feelings weren’t just for kids?! Weekly Plugs: You Make My Heart Go Vroom Boogie Manja Sketch Show How to Be a Saint Editing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.
S3 · E5
May 15 · 26 min
The Preferred Parent
This week, Kate and Claire discuss who is and is not currently the preferred parent in their household. Is it permanent? Is it cyclical? Does breastfeeding have anything to do with it? And, how can Claire sabotage Cody so that she can finally have a turn? Real-Life Example of Rodney Preferring Cody Weekly Plugs: Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (undercooked) Salted Brown Butter Rice Crispy Treats Trader Joe's Brownie Bites Editing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci Follow @whatchaexpecting.

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