Thinking about having kids? In this brutally honest episode, new mom Elizabeth Teo shares her unfiltered birth experience and the shocking statistics about postpartum depression that might surprise you. From unexpected emergency C-section to the painful recovery reality, this is the birth story preparation you won't find in parenting books.

What You'll Learn:

• Shocking postpartum depression statistics (rates increased 105% from 2010-2021)
• Real talk about emergency C-section experience and recovery
• Why 50% of partners also develop depression when their partner has postpartum depression
• The truth about contractions that social media doesn't show
• C-section recovery timeline and what to expect
• Why seeing a physiotherapist after birth is crucial
• Honest insights into the decision of whether to have children

Perfect for: Expecting parents, couples considering kids, new moms feeling alone, anyone wanting honest parenting perspectives

Elizabeth gets real about the physical and emotional challenges of new motherhood while sharing the joy and fulfillment that comes with it. This is part one of a deep dive series exploring the realities of having children in today's world.

Subscribe: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts Connect: @thethoughtfuladvocate on Instagram

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Welcome back to the Thoughtful Advocate Podcast! This episode is for anyone building something meaningful - whether it's a business, creative project, or a better version of yourself.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why our brains spend 47% of time "mind wandering" and how it affects builders
• The science behind menstrual cycles and energy levels (and why rest isn't lazy)
• How to navigate "the valley of despair" when building something new
• Why feeling like "nothing's happening" is actually when the most important work occurs
• The neuroscience of rest and how your brain does its best work during downtime
• Real examples from Oprah Winfrey and Elizabeth Gilbert who trusted the process

Key takeaways for builders and creators:

• Your body is your greatest business partner - learn to listen to its signals
• Seeds grow roots underground before sprouting - your "invisible work" matters
• Rest isn't the opposite of productivity; it's where productivity gets recharged
• Focus on who you're becoming, not just what you're achieving

Perfect for entrepreneurs, creators, and anyone in the "messy middle" of building something that matters. Learn to trust the process, embrace rest, and stay present while pursuing your dreams.

Subscribe for more episodes supporting builders and dreamers on their journey!

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of The Thoughtful Advocate, host Elizabeth Teo explores the complex experience of being alone both by choice and by circumstance and what science reveals about loneliness, friendship, and connection. Drawing from her own childhood memories of being isolated at home while others enjoyed pool parties and sleepovers, Elizabeth shares how video games and imagination became her lifeline to adventure and connection.

She discusses fascinating research on how loneliness activates the same areas of the brain as physical pain and why chronic loneliness can be as damaging to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Elizabeth also dives into the difference between harmful isolation and restorative solitude, explaining how chosen alone time can actually boost creativity, self-awareness, and emotional resilience.

Throughout the episode, Elizabeth reflects on the challenges of making friends as an adult, the hidden barriers we build after being hurt, and why meaningful connections take time, energy, and courage to form. You’ll hear insights from experts like Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Dr. Sherry Turkle, and UCLA studies on the neuroscience of loneliness, as well as practical encouragement on putting yourself out there whether that means saying hello to a neighbor, attending a community event, or trying a friendship app.

If you’ve ever felt alone, longed for deeper connections, or struggled to balance solitude and social life, this episode offers hope, science-backed guidance, and a reminder that you’re never truly alone. Share this with someone who might need it, and subscribe for more thoughtful conversations about healing, connection, and personal growth.