Transformed by Birth

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by Dr. Nicole LePera, clinical psychologist and New York Times best-selling author, for a deeply insightful conversation about inner child activation in parenthood. Her new book, Reparenting the Inner Child, expands on this work in powerful ways. Together, we explore why becoming a parent can bring unexpected emotional responses, how early childh...

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by childbirth educator, TEDx speaker, host of the Plus Mommy Podcast, and founder of Plus Size Birth, Jen McLellan, for a powerful and necessary conversation about weight bias in pregnancy and postpartum care. Together, we explore how BMI continues to shape medical decision-making, the difference between perceived risk and actual risk, and the em...

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by heart-led spiritual mentor and master doula Haize Hawke for a conversation about ritual, what it is, why it matters, and how it shapes our experience of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. Together, we explore how ritual creates a container for transformation, why so many families feel disconnected from it, and how simple, intentional prac...

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by herbalist, childbirth educator, and founder of Rising Matriarchs, Montse Olmos, for a conversation that asks us to widen the lens of birth work. Together, we explore how current immigration policies and systemic violence are impacting pregnant people, families, and communities, and why birth, postpartum, and parenting cannot be separated from...

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by financial counselor and former doula Jen Mayer for a conversation about a part of becoming a parent that often goes unspoken: money. We explore how finances shape the postpartum experience, not just in practical ways but also emotionally and relationally. Jen shares her experience returning to work just three weeks after giving birth and how t...

In this solo episode of Transformed by Birth, I share the story of Demeter and Persephone through the lens of archetype, grief, and transformation. This is not just a myth about seasons. It is a story about what happens when life takes us somewhere we didn't choose, how we make meaning from those experiences, and why motherhood so often holds both joy and loss at the same time. If you've ever felt...

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by Eve Rodsky, author of Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space, for a potent and deeply practical conversation about partnership, fairness, and the invisible labor of parenthood. Together, we explore what happens when equal partners become unequal parents, why the mental load and emotional labor of family life still fall so heavily on women, and...

Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual violence, trafficking, systemic abuse of power, reproductive rights, and medical trauma. Please listen with care and tend to yourself as needed. In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by somatic practitioner, embodiment coach, feminist health care advocate, and full-spectrum doula Pamela Samuelson for a courageous and deeply...

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by certified advanced birth doula, perinatal educator, international speaker, bestselling author, and the voice behind the Birthful podcast, Adriana Lozada, for a conversation that feels like it needs its own music intro. Together, we explore the time warp of pregnancy, birth, and new parenthood. We talk about why minutes can feel like days while...

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by perinatal care specialist and Resilience Toolkit facilitator Mikaela Lynn for a grounded conversation about stress, nervous system regulation, and what it means to build resilience in the perinatal year. Together, we explore why stress isolates us from our bodies, our relationships, and our sense of choice, and why resilience is not about push...

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I am joined by coach, doula, and author Jessie Harrold for a rich and deeply validating conversation about matrescence, the profound identity transformation that unfolds as we become mothers. Together, we explore motherhood as a rite of passage rather than a pathology. Jessie shares her four elements model of radical transformation and helps us name what so...

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by somatic trauma consultant, author, and maternal health advocate Parijat Deshpande for a deeply grounding conversation about high-risk pregnancy, preterm birth, and the NICU experience. Together, we explore what the term "high-risk" actually means, how it is often misunderstood, and why hearing that label can be so destabilizing to the nervous...

In this episode, I'm joined by licensed therapist and author Vanessa Bennett for a powerful conversation about the stories we've inherited about motherhood, identity, intimacy, and worth. Together, we explore what Vanessa calls "the motherhood myth," the cultural narrative that tells parents they should feel endlessly fulfilled, selfless, and complete through parenting alone. We unpack how patriar...

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, we explore the pelvic floor as a powerful and often misunderstood center of physical, emotional, and relational health with pelvic floor physical therapist, educator, and author Dr. Sara Reardon. Together, we unpack why pelvic floor care matters not only during pregnancy and postpartum, but across the entire lifespan. We talk about the deep connections betw...

In this episode, we explore the neuroscience of nurturing, connection, and early brain development with neuroscientist, author, and mother Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum. Together, we unpack why the first three years of life are such a critical window for mental health, emotional regulation, and relational resilience. We talk about how modern parenting culture often pulls families away from what babies act...

In this episode, we explore pregnancy and parenthood through the lens of identity, embodiment, and the ways our relationship to strength is reshaped during profound life transitions. In conversation with Peloton instructor, author, and advocate Robin Arzón, we reflect on how pregnancy interrupts productivity culture and invites a deeper redefinment of worth, power, and presence. Together, we talk...

In this episode, we explore pregnancy and early parenthood as profound inner transformations, not just physical or logistical milestones. In conversation with Vedic meditation teacher, veteran doula, and dear friend Patti Quintero, we look at how the nervous system shapes our experience of conception, pregnancy, birth, and life with a new baby. Together, we talk about stress, regulation, and the q...

In this solo end-of-year episode, I share the story of La Loba, the Bone Woman, as a guiding metaphor for times of transition and reflection. Through this myth, we explore what it means to gather the bones of our lived experience, to honor the pause before change, and to wait for the song that brings vitality back into what we have built. This episode invites you to slow down at the threshold of t...

In this episode, I sit down with doula, educator, and longtime friend Lori Bregman for a grounded and heartfelt conversation about birth as a rite of passage and the deeper role of the doula. Together, we explore how pregnancy and birth invite profound inner change, and how support rooted in presence, authenticity, and trust can shape not only the birth experience but also the transition into pare...

In this episode, we explore early parenthood as both a practical learning curve and a quiet rite of passage. In conversation with longtime postpartum doula and baby wearing expert Laura Brown, we look at how everyday decisions like baby carriers, feeding support, and leaving the house often carry deeper questions about identity, safety, and the longing to be a good parent. We talk about how fear-b...

In this episode, we explore VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) as both an evidence-based option and a deeply personal rite of passage. Together, we look at how surgical birth, primary cesareans, and labels like "failure to progress" shape future choices, and how tools such as VBAC calculators can offer clarity while also limiting possibilities. This conversation invites you to meet VBAC with curi...

In this episode, I sit down with midwife and storyteller Nicole Morales, LM, CPM for a soulful conversation about birth, story, and the courage required to meet the unknown. We explore how birth unfolds far beyond cervical measurements and timelines, and how physiology, culture, and personal history weave together to shape every experience. Nicole shares her perspective on restorative midwifery, t...

In this episode, I sit down with trans Papa Herbie Huff for an eye-opening and deeply human conversation about pregnancy beyond the gender binary. Together, we explore what it means to carry a baby (twins even!) while living outside traditional gender expectations, how identity and physiology intersect, and what truly affirming prenatal care looks like. Herbie invites us into the realities of bein...

I'm joined by mindfulness teacher and parenting mentor Hunter Clarke-Fields for a heartfelt exploration of mindful communication. Together, we look at what it truly means to listen, to acknowledge, and to meet one another with presence. We talk about the power of reflective listening, the relief that comes when emotions are named instead of dismissed, and the deep human longing felt by children an...

What does liberation in birth really mean? In this episode, author and educator Sabia Wade, founder of Birthing Liberation, invites us to explore how power, consent, and even kink shape the way we give and receive care. Together, we trace how the body becomes both a mirror and a teacher, revealing our beliefs about worth, control, and freedom. This is a conversation about reclaiming the body as sa...