Strong. Healthy. Empowered.
In this powerful episode of SHE MD, hosts Mary Alice Haney and Dr. Thais Aliabadi welcome Sarah Hoover, author of "The Mother Load: Episodes from the Brink of Motherhood." Sarah shares her raw, emotional journey through postpartum depression, highlighting the importance of mental health awareness in motherhood. This eye-opening conversation delves into the often-overlooked challenges of pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood.
Sarah Hoover is a writer, cultural critic, and former Gagosian director whose work spans art, fashion, motherhood, and feminism. After earning degrees from NYU and Columbia, she built a career in the art world before turning to writing. Her essays on motherhood, identity, and cultural expectations have appeared in Vogue, The Strategist, and Harper’s Bazaar. Her debut memoir, The Motherload: Episodes from the Brink of Motherhood (a January 2025 Belletrist Book Club pick), is a darkly funny, unfiltered critique of modern motherhood, praised by Oprah Daily as “a long overdue reality check.” Hoover also teaches at Barnard, co-founded the Accelerator Committee at American Ballet Theatre, and serves on the board of Art Production Fund. She’s been featured in The New Yorker, The Cut, Vanity Fair, The New York Times, and more. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and two kids.
Sarah Hoover’s Key Takeaways:
In This Episode:
(00:00) Introduction
(05:13) Sarah's pregnancy experience and initial expectations
(08:18) Traumatic birth experience and postpartum depression
(13:58) Dr. Aliabadi on recognizing postpartum depression signs
(32:48) Sarah Hoover's journey to healing and second pregnancy
(34:15) Importance of mental health in pregnancy
(38:47) Sarah's positive second birth experience
(44:10) Writing a book to help other women
(51:02) Final thoughts on women's health advocacy
RESOURCES:
- Sarah Hoover's book: "The Motherload: Episodes from the Brink of Motherhood"
