I started listening to the podcast in early 2023 when I got my big fat positive. I found it funny because right before I was listening to an IVF podcast named “Big fat negative”. I was so happy to finally be on the other side! Like many others have said, Shanna and Laura are so real and relatable that they soon stated feeling like my own girlfriends from whom I could learn tons of pregnancy and parenting tips in a very relaxed and refreshing way…. I must confess that I abruptly stopped listening to the podcast when at 20 weeks I was told my baby could pass in utero at any moment due to an umbilical cord/placenta issue. At that point I just couldn’t listen or watch anything baby or pregnancy related! Thankfully, my baby survived! He was born at 27 weeks weighting just 1lb 7oz. The time after that was very hard! 5 months in the NICU and having a baby coming home on oxygen and a gastric tube for feedings took a toll on my mental health. Nothing felt “normal” or resembled what I had always envisioned when dreaming about becoming a mom. I definitely went through pp depression and anxiety. After a few months things got better despite the delayed milestones and tons of doctor’s appointments and therapies to help my baby catch up. One of the key steps on my mental health recovery journey was to start listening to this podcast again. It helped me to re-focus on the “normal” aspects of parenting a baby. Listening to Shanna and Laura was a breath of fresh air that helped me to heal, laugh again and dissipate the dark cloud that followed me everywhere. I could smile listening to their funny stories, learn a lot of tips again and even relate to many of their struggles. I particularly appreciated every time they made any reference to micropreemie babies or highlighted that not all kids reach milestones at the same time. My baby is now 18 months and doing great despite his rocky start and I feel I can enjoy being his mom in a way I could not before. I want to thank you guys for keeping up with this amazing podcast and letting you know that the impact of your work goes way beyond just entertainment! It brings joy, healing and becomes part of “the village” for many of us listeners! This podcast is an amazing companion to any pregnant person or parent, no matter the particulars of every experience! Love you guys!

I’ve been listening to BFP since I found out I was pregnant with my second child, starting with Episode 1 and listened to every episode since then. My daughter is about to celebrate her first birthday and I just caught up so I’m now listening in real-time, eagerly awaiting each new episode! Shanna and Laura are skilled storytellers - every episode is filled with laugh-out-loud anecdotes, great tips and parenting hacks, relatable experiences, and best of all, validation that through the fun times and hard times, we’re all doing ok. Shanna and Laura inspire me to create fun events and experiences for my family even when it’s a lot of work - it’s so helpful hearing their stories and knowing that parenting isn’t always smooth but it’s (almost) always worthy the effort to do fun things together. I am a better parent because of BFP!

Found this podcast when I was around 10 weeks (I am now 17 weeks, first baby). I binge listened all 6-7 years worth of episodes in a matter of 2 months while I was working. Even though I have a different style of parenting in mind, they have given me ideas that I would like to put into practice. I have lost count of the many times I had to hold my laughs in so I don’t bother my coworkers. Getting to have a podcast with your bestie is possibly the best thing ever. The only negative is now I have to wait every Monday for a new episode. Y’all are awesome! Lots of love from Texas!

I started listening to this podcast about a year ago when I started TTC and I’m now due in a couple of weeks! Laura and Shanna are the best at balancing the humor, realism, and gratitude that comes along with parenting. They give me hope that the next phase of life will be the best phase yet! I started at the beginning and dread the day I am all caught up and have to wait for weekly episodes.

I absolutely love this podcast! I’ve been listening since 2021 when I had my first daughter and have been meaning to leave a five star review ever since. I’ve found I so much joy and companionship in listening to these ladies share their week to week experiences. The podcast is funny, helpful, honest, and has me looking forward to Mondays! I was the first of my friends to have kids, and I moved to a new state during the pandemic, so finding this podcast really helped me feel like I had some mom friends out there. Now I happily recommend Big Fat Positive to any new mom I know!

Long overdue review here from a long time listener. I started listening in 2020 right as the pandemic hit and I found out I was pregnant with my first child. Following along with Laura’s and Shawna’s journeys helped me feel less isolated and more excited about my pregnancy. I now have two kids and I still love listening to this podcast and learned more tips for my growing children. Thank you so much for making a relatable and fun, informative podcast that feels like catching up with two best friends. Love you guys!

This podcast was the soundtrack for my first baby! I started listening to the weekly updates when I was pregnant and listened to the remainder of the show every night for months after my baby was born. Hearing Shanna and Laura talk about parenting when I was lonely and anxious helped remind me that the transition to motherhood is hard for everybody and thinking about myself as part of a giant network of women kept my spirits up! This podcast is the peak of informative and practical parenting advice, delivered in a lighthearted, entertaining way. I recommend BFP to all of my friends who are expecting and I’ll listen again myself when we have our next child.

A Must-Listen for Parents and Parents-to-Be! BFP is hands-down one of the best parenting podcasts out there. Hosts Shanna and Laura bring an incredible mix of humor, honesty, and heart as they share their journeys of becoming moms together. Their friendship shines through in every episode, making it feel like you’re chatting with your best friends who just get it. When I talk to my husband or friends about something I heard on the podcast I say “my friends from California”. The podcast covers everything—from pregnancy milestones to parenting triumphs and struggles—all with a perfect balance of relatability and expert advice. I especially love their “BFP/BFN” segment, where they share the highs and lows of their week. It’s raw, real, and reminds you that you’re not alone in this crazy journey. Whether you’re expecting, a new parent, or just want a good laugh and some heartfelt stories, this podcast is a gem. Highly recommend!

This is my absolute favorite podcast. I binged it when I was pregnant a few years ago, and now save it as a treat every week. You ladies are amazing storytellers, and I truly look up to you as a newer mama. Thank you for all you do! We love you! 🥰

I started listening to BFP when I was pregnant in fall of 2020, still very much in the thick of the pandemic. In a time that felt so isolating and scary, especially as a first time mom, listening to Shanna and Laura on my many long walks was often my only escape during those quarantine days. I am so grateful for their willingness to share their experiences, and offer such helpful and realistic advice in a way that is mindful, caring, relatable and funny all at once! Their tips, tricks, resources and the Facebook community have come in handy for me and my now 3 year old son SO many times. Highly recommend for any parents looking for helpful and relatable parenting stories and community. New episode drops are definitely the best part of my Monday!

I started listening to this podcast when I was pregnant with my first daughter and have followed week by week since. Shanna and Laura were a calming and informative presence on my drives to work. As an expecting first time mom in a new city with no family or friends around I truly felt like I wasn’t alone in my journey when I listened. Like Laura, I had a breech baby and a c-section and because of Laura I fought for my VBAC with my second daughter which was successful. I’m not sure I would have known to advocate for myself quite as much without that. Thank you! Shanna is like my spirit animal with her crafting, cakes and incentive ideas. I always look forward to the stories of her two girls as I have two of my own now. This podcast an absolute gem but the Facebook community that they have not only built but actively participate and interacted in makes you feel like they truly care about their audience. Thank you ladies for your vulnerability, your wisdom and your hearts. I recommend this podcast to any of my expecting friends.

I binged this podcast when pregnant with our first son in 2021 and again as he grew and and I needed advice or just someone to commiserate with during specific milestones. I’ve started listening a THIRD time through as we now have a 6.5 month old and I needed a refresher! Truly my favorite podcast and it helped me feel less alone during my Covid pregnancy. Thank you both for all you do and I can’t express enough how excited I get on Mondays for the new episodes!! Also, thank you for building such a judgement free zone on Facebook for us to all discuss, learn, and share our experiences. 10/10 recommend this podcast!!! 💛

I love listening to this podcast. Started when I was pregnant a year ago, I try to follow along a week at a time but am having a hard time not rushing through all of the episodes! Laura and Shanna have gotten me through many otherwise quiet mornings pregnant and now with my son. Thank you for creating such lively and approachable content!

I started listening when I was pregnant with my daughter in 2021. I quickly got caught up and it’s the bright spot of my day every Monday. Always funny/ relatable and never boring.

I love listening to Shanna and Laura every week. I’m on my second pregnancy and have used so many of their tips with my first or just laughed along and enjoyed knowing I’m not alone in this crazy motherhood journey. I appreciate how honest and down to earth they are about the highs and lows of motherhood. Highly recommend giving them a listen!

I LOVE this podcast! I currently have an 18 month old and I’m newly pregnant. I listen along during matching weeks, and it’s so nice to know we are all going through the same joys and stressors! In fact, my little boy sounds so similar to Laura’s. It’s so fun to listen along. Thank you! Update: Wow. I just realized I wrote this review FOUR YEARS AGO and never pressed send! My son is now 5 just like CC and Angie and I also have a 3 year old and 1 year old. I am still listening and I look forward to walking my dog so I can catch up and listen and realize how relatable each stage is. Thank you for being there always!

I started listening to this podcast when I was pregnant with my daughter and look forward to a new episode every Monday! These ladies have the best mom hacks and give such good perspectives on parenting.

I found this podcast when I was pregnant with my twins, and feel like these two are my friends. I’ve learned so many hacks and about so many products from this podcast, and turned my sister on to it when she got pregnant. Now we both look forward to new episodes, and talk about the content often. We’re also members of the Facebook group, and love being a part of such a cool community!

I first found your podcast when I was living in Japan and pregnant and needing a community of mom friends that I was struggling to find overseas. I sadly lost that pregnancy and listened on and off through my months of recovering emotionally from the loss and trying to conceive again. On the days I could think about the TTC journey I found your podcast made me feel hopeful during the two week waits and it was lighthearted enough to make me feel a bit better after negative pregnancy tests. We successfully got pregnant again and I gave birth to a healthy baby boy in 2022 with me at age 40. I had always joked with my husband that we could wait for kids but at 40 I was shutting down shop. I guess the universe heard me and called my bluff and had better plans. Through all of this I have found that the bfp podcast has been like others have said - like having two mom friends to listen to and learn from. Even better the Facebook community is like an extension of you two - a really open minded and kind group of women sharing information in a really nice safe space. I have been a long time listener but haven’t reviewed yet. Today I had to because I happened to listen to an old show. I think it was episode 170 where planned checkins at night was discussed. My baby is significantly younger than the I believe 32 month old it was tried on but it made me think of my little 23.5 monther and our current struggles. Dad is deployed and my baby’s requests at bedtime have become a desperate plea which I spend a lot of time calming him down from me denying them (or just giving in which I don’t think is helping I’m just a tired mom). Tonight when he desperately cried for more milk I said “baby. I am going to run a bath for myself. I’m going to put you down with your baby (doll) and I will come back in ten minutes and make sure you are ok. Does that sound good?” He said a sad little “yes” and let me put him down without much sadness. I went back in ten minutes later and he was 95% asleep and let me calmly scrub his back and say good night. Thanks for the idea how to calm the night anxiety. My heart was breaking at his requests. I knew he was stalling but I knew it was also really coming from an anxious place for him. Thank you for not only keeping me company but teaching me so much on this journey. You guys are the best.

BFP has been with me through three pregnancies and two babies! I credit Laura and Shanna (and their recommendations) for helping me with all aspects of motherhood - including loss, surviving the newborn phase, and now toddler/pre-schoolers! I recommend this podcast to everyone I know! If I am going through something and I don’t hear it on the podcast - the fb group has the answers! I hope you are both so proud of the judgment free, but loving, parenting zone you’ve created. It’s impacted me profoundly!

I’m in my mid twenties and several years from TTC. I started looking for parenting podcasts to help with my decision on whether or not to have kids. I found BFP and binged the whole thing! I love hearing these ladies just discussing the experience of being moms. They do of course offer advice and tips, but I feel the main draw of the show is their down to earth accounts of what it feels like to be a parent. Now that I’m caught up, I look forward every Monday to a new episode! Thanks, Shanna and Laura, for continuing to bring joy to my week!

Once I got pregnant, I was HOOKED on this podcast. It feels like you’re talking to two friends and they paint their stories so vividly. They’re hilarious and serious all in one and keep things real. As a FTM, they ease so much of my anxiety surrounding becoming a mother and I will forever be grateful to Shanna and Laura :) so glad I found this Gem of a podcast.

I started listening to BFP at the beginning of my pregnancy and loved the weekly format. I listened every morning during my hour long commute. I truly believe that my fetus got used to hearing Laura and Shanna’s voices so after she was born any time we rode in the car she’d immediately fall asleep when I turned on BFP. Not only do I love the relatability and great advice, but they are also to thank for my long commutes to daycare going smoothly with a sleeping baby. Keep up the amazing work!

I discovered this podcast in 2021 when I was pregnant with my first and quickly binged each episode. Now with my second I am re-listening to each episode week by week. Now I get 2 episodes a week! Shanna and Laura feel like real friends, they keep me laughing and feeling good and sane during this crazy experience we all call parenting.

This show makes Mondays better! As a mom I just love that sometimes it’s super funny, sometimes serious, & always real life. Shana & Laura will become your besties, whether you’re newly pregnant or in the trenches of toddlerhood! I highly recommend to all my friends, 5 stars!!

This podcast has been a constant, go-to companion from early pregnancy through the first year of my daughter’s life. Huge thanks for alternately keeping me company, helping me relax to sleep, and making me laugh. It’s not an exaggeration to say you content and delivery has improved the quality of my life over the past 2 years. Much love and appreciation!

I love this podcast! I have been listening from episode 1 since I found out I was pregnant. My baby will probably be soothed by Laura and Shanna’s voices and the BFP theme music when he comes out because he has been hearing them so much in utero! So glad to have found such an enjoyable and informative podcast during a time of big changes in my life.

Pregnancy is a scary time! It has been wonderfully reassuring to listen to Shanna and Laura’s experiences as they navigate their pregnancies (I started with episode 1 since I am currently pregnant) and feel such camaraderie! Starting the show years later is also so helpful because I get to listen to their experiences of the newborn phase - I’m terrified! And I’m finding their perspectives make me feel like I can do it. Thank you Shanna and Laura for sharing positive ways (and tips!!! And book recs!!!) to survive pregnancy and new babies.

I get SO much valuable advice from this podcast - even though my kids are significantly older than Laura & Shanna’s! I’m a completist, so I started with episode 1 and am binging my way through. Man, I wish these ladies were around when I was starting my parenting journey! They are intelligent, curious, humble, down-to-earth life-long learners. It’s so refreshing listening to people who don’t claim to have all the answers, but who put in the work to research and find solutions through trial and error. Keep up the good work, ladies. You are appreciated!!

I have been listening since the start as my oldest daughter is about 5 months younger than CC and Augie. When I got pregnant with my second, I went back and listened to episodes with Laura’s second pregnancy. I am still returning to old episodes for advice and to commiserate about struggles. I always look forward to Mondays!

I love this podcast, Shanna, and Laura. I’ve listened for several years, which may seem is a little funny when I mention that I don’t have any kids yet. When the time comes I know I will be so much more prepared for pregnancy and motherhood because of BFP! Thank you two for sharing your parenting lives with us♥️

This is my all time favorite podcast! I found BFP when I was TTC, listened throughout my pregnancy & continue to look forward to their new episode dropping each week. I’ve recommended this podcast to friends & on message boards because I honestly believe it’s such a valuable resource! When I was nearing delivery, I relistened to the earlier episodes, pen & paper in hand to write down recommendations. Shanna & Laura are knowledgeable, funny, relatable, real & raw & listening to them feels like you’re sitting down with friends. You two seem to have found your calling!! Please never stop making this podcast - it’s a highlight of my week! Thank you for all you do!

I’ve been listening to this podcast for several years now and always look forward to the new episodes on Mondays! The tips I’ve gotten from this pod are great and the stories are always so authentic and help me know I’m not alone in my mom struggles. Thank you ladies for the great hour every week!

I have listened to Shanna and Laura for quite some time and am grateful as they helped me throughout both my pregnancies . I love Shanna’s laugh lol so cute, and how upbeat they are. The content is great when Laura isn’t talking so much about herself. I’m giving it 3 stars because I realized whilst listening to episode 232 that maybe I am not the target audience and am not privileged enough as per Laura’s comment. This podcast would be perfect if it were more inclusive and diverse.

I’ve been a fan and listening to the show since before I got pregnant in 2018 it eased my fears of pregnancy and made me feel so prepared and confident when I became pregnant in 2020 during Covid. My Monday morning commute to work would not be the same without Shanna and Laura. Thank you for the endless laughs, sound advice and support it means the world and I look forward to hearing your voices every Monday! You both are amazing moms and I appreciate everything you do, keep up the great work!! Thanks for always writing back in the Facebook group too it’s wonderful and shows how much you both care about your listeners!! Love, Amy

I started listening to this podcast back in 2021 when I first found out I was pregnant. During this time, I had just lost my mother due to covid and this podcast was my shining star during a dark dark time. Thank you Shanna and Laura for all the advice and uplifting stories you guys shared. I didn’t have my mom to ask for parenting advice but I am so grateful I had you two. I look forward to every Monday to catch up like girlfriends at a coffee shop. Sincerely, thank you for this wonderful podcast.

I cannot get enough of these ladies! They are so easy to listen to, make me LOL, and it truly feels like sitting around with friends and just hanging out when listening to this podcast. I am very thankful for finding this. My husband and I are currently trying and this podcast is getting me so excited about the journey ahead. Knitting and listening to this podcast is my new favorite hobby currently! Thank you for creating this!

BFP has been instrumental in my mental health throughout pregnancy and the early years of motherhood. I truly can’t imagine these years without it. I recommend it to every pregnant person and new mom I come across. It has been a way for me to learn about what’s to come each step of the way, but in a fun, REAL, light-hearted, sometimes serious, and always lovable kind of way. I wish I knew of a way to thank Laura & Shanna for what they have given all of us listeners. Thank you both for keeping up with it over the years, and for sharing your stories with us!

I love this podcast! Laura and Shanna are so relatable, funny, and the perfect pairing. I started listening when I was pregnant with my daughter and it kept me company through the long nights of breastfeeding. I have learned so much and have enjoyed it so much!

I recommend this podcast to every parent I meet - it's the funnest way to learn about pregnancy and parenting through the hosts' hilarious banter, stories, and trivia. It's even better if you're not a parent yet - you'll be even better prepared to confront the highs and lows of parenting. Laura and Shanna are the friends you wish you had with their empathy, creativity, great sense of humor, intelligence, practicality, and open mind to different methods of parenting. As you follow along with their pregnancies and parenting journeys, you can't help but get excited to hear their updates week to week and to hear more about their wonderful kids. I am so happy this podcast exists and only wish there were more episodes each week!

Parenting young kids means you have to adjust to something new every 5 minutes. But the one thing I have been able to count on every Monday for the last 5 years is BFP! Seriously… how have they never missed an episode despite going through parenting themselves?! Thank you for sharing your lives with us and making us feel like we’re not alone. I should have written the review a long ago, but I usually listen as I’m driving and it slipped my mind.

I started listening to this podcast when I was 13 weeks pregnant in mid-2021, and binged until I was caught up with my own weeks of pregnancy. I continued to binge listen, but still went back and played each of the weeks’ episodes after my daughter was born to coincide with Cece and Auggie’s development. I would be talking to friends in real life and mention some thing from the podcast, whether it be a piece of advice or Amazon, find, and not realize that I would say, “a friend told me this… Or a friend recommended me that…“ And I would completely forget that it came from the podcast! I have a long commute to work and listen almost every day. I am pretty much caught up, but I’m afraid to catch up completely, because then I’ll have to wait a full week for the next episode! You both are so relatable, funny, insightful, and truly informative! I am so happy you both have become a part of my parenting journey!

Shanna, I always relate to you and so sorry to hear when Cece was sick - you’re not alone in the way you parent! You’re doing amazing!

I’ve been binging this podcast since march 2022, when I found out I was pregnant with my first baby. Laura and Shauna have been so funny, enjoyable and informational along this motherhood journey. Keep doing what your doing, you continuously make my day 🤍 Thank you and love you guys :)

Big Fat Positive Podcast is an invaluable resource for any parent or parent-to-be. Laura and Shanna's warmth, dedication, and the genuine sense of community they foster make this podcast an absolute treasure. Whether you need a dose of encouragement, a good laugh, or simply a reminder that you're not alone on this journey, Big Fat Positive is the perfect companion. The podcast's Monday release injects excitement into the start of the week after the weekend high. The hosts effortlessly balance personal anecdotes with practical parenting advice, sharing their own struggles and successes in a relatable and often humorous manner. They've created a space where you can learn, laugh, and feel understood. A definite must listen, especially for those of us who became mothers during the pandemic and missed out on bonding in person with other mamas. It's like having a warm cup of tea with friends, eagerly catching up on their lives with their little ones. What truly sets Big Fat Positive apart is the genuine engagement from Laura and Shanna. I've reached out to them on a few personal significant occasions, (leading up to my daughter's birth/ milestones achieved.) Their effort to connect with me- and the entire BFP community- has left me utterly amazed and grateful.

This is my favorite podcast to listen to while I breastfeed my baby. Now when I hear the theme music I get a let down. I enjoy the honest and relatable conversation about motherhood, and life raising little humans. I look forward to Mondays! Thanks Shana and Laura!

This podcast is just good for the soul. So thankful to have this to look forward to Monday mornings. I have been listening faithfully to this podcast since I was pregnant with my son in 2020. The height of the pandemic was a difficult and isolating time to experience a first pregnancy. But Shanna and Laura made me feel seen and gave me some helpful tools to navigate pregnancy and parenting! I was able to listen to each step along their parenting journey before my son and I were there, which was very helpful. I have received some priceless tips from them that have come in handy along the way as well. This is my favorite pregnancy and parenting podcast, and I highly recommend it!

I began listening to this podcast when I was pregnant with my son, now a year and a half. It’s by far my most listened to podcast at this moment. I am almost caught up with episodes and I don’t know what I’m going to do when I can’t listen to episode after episode in one sitting. Shanna and Laura are so relatable and down to earth and I aspire to MOM like them!

Back in September I was looking for a new podcast to get me through my second pregnancy. I was looking for tips, tricks, and realness on how to be a mother to two. BFP provided me with just that! These ladies have kept motherhood real and given suggestions to make life easier as well. It took me 195 days to complete all the episodes and it has been well worth it! #FellowCompletist Now I must wait for weekly episodes 😭 but that also will be worth it! ❤️

I became pregnant in 2020 and turned to the podcast world for some desperately sought advice and am so glad I found Shanna and Laura. I am still listening and I’ve learned and laughed a ton. Thank you both for what you do! You sound like two wonderful women and I appreciate the insight!