About NICU Today: A podcast by Today is a Good Day
A podcast to bring you a new point of support as you navigate your NICU journey. TODAY is a Good Day is here to be a part of your conversations. These are personal stories from people who have been there.
Heather Johnson | Honoring Liam’s Life Through Advocacy, Love, and Legacy
In this episode of the NICU Today Podcast, we are joined by Heather Johnson, an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley with a 19-year career on the Institutional Equity Electronic Trading Desk, and the founder of the Love for Liam Foundation. Heather established the foundation in honor of her son Liam, whose brief but powerful life continues to inspire her mission to advance epilepsy research and improve outcomes for families facing similar diagnoses.
Heather is also a devoted mother to Emma (8) and Mia (2), and she brings both her professional leadership experience and deeply personal journey into her advocacy work. Through community engagement, philanthropy, and storytelling, Heather is committed to ensuring Liam’s life continues to make an impact.
On today’s episode:
Heather shares her journey to starting a family and welcoming her children.
Her experience welcoming her son Liam and the medical challenges that followed.
Being transferred to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the emotions that accompanied that transition.
Navigating life in the hospital while supporting her daughter at home.
How the hospital team supported her and her family during an incredibly difficult time.
Reflections on what she wishes she had known and what she hopes other families can learn from her experience.
How Heather honors Liam’s life today and keeps him present within her family.
Talking about loss with her daughters and helping them understand their brother’s story.
What inspired her to give back through fundraising and the creation of the Love for Liam Foundation.
An update on how her daughters are doing today.
Heather’s story is one of profound love, resilience, and purpose. This episode offers heartfelt insight into navigating loss while continuing to show up for living children, and how honoring a child’s legacy can create meaningful change for families and communities alike.
7 Dec 2025
Emily Rosen | Turning a NICU Journey into Storytelling that Supports Families
In this episode of the NICU Today Podcast, we are joined by Emily Rosen, a mother, freelance creative director, copywriter, and children’s book author. Emily has built her career working with leading advertising agencies and global brands, always aiming to use her creativity to uplift women, mothers, and children. Inspired by her son Max’s time in the NICU, she wrote her debut children’s book with the hope of helping families like hers feel seen, supported, and understood.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Emily now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children. When she’s not writing, she loves running through her neighborhood, singing karaoke with friends, and reading bedtime stories with her kids.
On today’s episode:
Emily shares her family’s journey to welcoming Max and what led them into the NICU.
How little she knew about the NICU before entering it herself—and what she wishes she had known.
The practices and coping tools that helped her get through each day in the NICU.
How she stayed connected to Max while he remained in the hospital and she returned home.
What inspired her to write her new children’s book and why she chose to help families through storytelling.
Writing from the perspective of siblings and cousins, and how she captured their emotions in her book.
An update on how Max is doing today.
Emily’s story highlights the emotional realities of NICU parenthood and the power of turning lived experience into creative support for others. Her work reminds families that their feelings matter, their stories matter, and their children’s journeys—whether big or small—deserve to be honored and shared.
23 Nov 2025
Nicole Nyberg | Empowering NICU Parents Through Advocacy, Education, and Lived Experience
In this episode of the NICU Today Podcast, we are joined by Nicole Nyberg, MSN, APRN, NNP-BC—Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, clinical specialist, educator, author, advocate, and founder of Empowering NICU Parents. Nicole earned her BSN from Purdue University and her MSN from Rush University, and today she practices as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner while also serving as a Clinical Specialist for AngelEye Health.
Nicole’s passion for supporting NICU families is deeply personal. After her son William was born at just 23 weeks, she devoted her career to empowering NICU parents and clinicians through education, advocacy, and family-integrated care. She serves as Co-Chair of the Advocacy Committee on the Family-Centered Care Task Force, has authored and co-authored numerous publications, and created Our NICU Roadmap, a guided journal designed to support families through the NICU journey. Nicole is also the CEO and founder of the nonprofit Empowering NICU Parents and host of the Empowering NICU Parents Podcast.
On today’s episode:
Nicole shares her journey into nursing and what inspired her to specialize in neonatal care.
Her pregnancy experience and the birth of her son William at 23 weeks.
An introduction to Family-Integrated Care and why it is so critical in the NICU.
Nicole’s own NICU journey, including her family’s transfer to a different hospital.
The biggest lessons learned during her extended NICU stay.
The mission behind Empowering NICU Parents and the resources available to families.
Where listeners can find her podcast and additional educational tools.
An update on how William is doing today.
Nicole’s story beautifully blends professional expertise with the lived experience of a NICU parent. Her work highlights the profound impact of parent engagement, advocacy, and compassionate support on the entire NICU journey. This episode offers invaluable guidance and encouragement for families navigating the NICU and for professionals dedicated to improving family-centered care.
Podcast Authority Score: 28 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
55
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
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