Podcast Summary: "Ending the Feeding Stigma" with Laura Modi, Founder & CEO of Bobbie
Raising Good Humans with Dr. Aliza Pressman (Dear Media), September 29, 2025

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Dr. Aliza Pressman interviews Laura Modi, founder and CEO of Bobbie—the first mom-founded, female-led infant formula company in the U.S.—about ending stigma and judgment around infant feeding. With empathy and candor, they discuss the emotional, cultural, and scientific dimensions of formula and breastfeeding, highlight the need for more nuanced conversations, and share the mission behind Bobbie: to give parents support and trustworthy, high-quality feeding options without shame or fear.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Vulnerability of Infant Feeding

• Both Aliza and Laura open by acknowledging how fraught, emotional, and personal feeding decisions can be for new mothers and parents.
  • "It's such a vulnerable space. So many of my clients have sobbed to me about this space for decades now. And I was there... I'm a mom, so I've been there." – Aliza (00:10)
• The conversation moves beyond products, focusing on emotional support and the need for community and non-judgmental information.

2. The Origin Story: Why Laura Founded Bobbie

• Laura describes her initial expectation that breastfeeding would be easy, only to face challenges and experience shame and guilt when turning to formula.
  • "The guilt and embarrassment and shame... I look back and I'm like, why did I feel like that?" – Laura (04:00)
• Her research and questioning led her to realize the formula landscape was stagnant and dominated by just two companies, prompting her to create better choices for parents (04:00-05:17).

3. Challenging the Narrative: Breastfeeding vs. Formula

• Both agree the focus shouldn’t be on pitting breastfeeding against formula but on supporting all feeding journeys.
  • “I almost don’t want to get into the breastfeeding versus formula feeding, because that’s not the conversation.” – Aliza (06:29)
  • “Every single [feeding] experience is different and personal. If you try and liken your journey to someone else, you will be left disappointed.” – Laura (07:13)

4. The Role of Expectations vs. Reality

• Laura highlights the impact of preconceived expectations going into motherhood, sharing how no one talked to her about the feeding journey beforehand (08:18-09:54).
  • “Disappointment equals expectations minus reality. Your reality is shaped by the expectations you have going into it.” – Laura (08:33)

5. Cultural and Systemic Barriers

• Laura’s story about coming from rural Ireland, where her grandmother breastfed 13 children, contrasts with her experience as a mother in the U.S., facing different societal pressures and policy barriers (10:18-11:59).
• The societal and policy differences shape how mothers feed and connect with their babies.

6. Improving Formula and Changing the Industry

• Laura details her journey as a "crazy researcher mom" questioning ingredients and nutritional standards in formula, leading to the formation of Bobbie.
  • “There is no such thing as a bad product… And you can also put out choice that maybe improves the options on shelf.” – Laura (12:29)
• She notes that innovation didn’t happen before because, with a duopoly, big companies had no incentive to change (13:45).
  • “What would have woken them up at scale?... We push the incentives of it. And that’s what pushing competition looks like.” – Laura (15:02)

7. Navigating Regulation and Innovation

• Laura describes the challenges in launching a highly regulated product and how regulation both slows innovation and protects safety (16:24-17:11).

8. Personal Meaning and Pride

• Naming the product after her daughter’s name for her bottle ("Bobbie") adds emotional resonance (17:15).
  • “There’s also a comfort in knowing I’m about to give a product to the rest of the country… that I am willing to feed my own baby.” – Laura (18:16)
• Emphasizes the “test obsessed” culture of the company, ensuring utmost safety (18:53).

9. Combating Misinformation and Fear

• Both speakers lament the politicization and spread of misinformation about food ingredients and formula safety.
  • “No mom who’s just had a baby… needs to go, ‘Hold on… Is this dangerous to feed my child?’ No, it’s not.” – Laura (21:58)
• Laura explains that while U.S. regulations may need updating, all products on the shelf are safe and meet nutritional needs (21:36-25:35).
  • “Things can evolve and they can improve. Just because something can improve doesn’t make the previous less than or harmful.” – Laura (26:42)

10. Supporting Each Other: The Feeding Room & Changing Conversations

• Introduction of “The Feeding Room”—a holistic, inclusive support resource for all parents, not just those using Bobbie (29:47-30:50).
• Advocacy for cultural change—moving away from imposing personal feeding narratives onto new mothers.
  • “Next time you engage with a new mother or new parent, instead of asking them, ‘How is breastfeeding going?’ you ask them, ‘How is feeding going?’” – Laura (31:34)

11. Changing Culture, Not Just Product

• Laura shares proud moments: parents writing “love letters” and wearing company swag show the community around Bobbie extends beyond the can.
  • “We always said at the very beginning we know we’ve changed culture when we can start to see that people are wearing Bobbie across their chest… if that swag is a formula company, then we’re doing something right.” – Laura (33:15)
• Both hope for a future where feeding decisions are met without judgment.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Laura Modi:

  • “Disappointment equals expectations minus reality.” (08:33)
  • “There is no such thing as a bad product… you can also put out choice that maybe improves the options on shelf.” (12:29)
  • “All of the formula you are purchasing on shelf meets the scientific nutritional outputs your baby needs to grow and develop. It is safe, it is high quality.” (25:13)
  • “We should be able to evolve as humans in the same way that our products should be able to evolve without questioning our past.” (28:42)
  • “How is feeding going?” (31:34)

• Dr. Aliza Pressman:

  • “It wasn't phrased in a way that sets you up if you're not [breastfeeding].” (31:46)
  • “Please nobody… talking to a new mother, don’t impose it on them.” (31:19)
  • “If you have had a feeding journey… don’t call into question my child’s safety or my worthiness.” (27:44)

Important Timestamps

• Vulnerability of Feeding: 00:10-02:51
• Laura’s Personal Feeding Experience & Motivation: 03:14-05:17
• Formula vs. Breastfeeding—The Real Conversation: 06:01-07:13
• Impact of Expectations: 08:00-09:54
• Cultural & Systemic Barriers: 10:18-11:59
• Challenging Industry Status Quo: 12:29-15:12
• Launching Bobbie & Industry Regulation: 15:25-17:11
• Personal Connection to Product: 17:15-18:53
• Misinformation & Science of Formula: 21:20-26:31
• The Feeding Room Support Service: 29:47-30:50
• Changing the Language Around Feeding: 31:19-31:46
• Building Community & Culture Change: 32:08-33:45

Final Thoughts

This episode spotlights the emotional reality of feeding infants, the stigma and pressures parents face, and the importance of evolving both formula science and cultural conversations. Laura Modi and Dr. Aliza Pressman model a compassionate, empowering dialogue that encourages parents to trust themselves regardless of how they feed their babies—and reminds us to support each other with empathy, information, and non-judgment.