Midwife Crisis : The Podcast

In this episode of Midwife Crisis, Kelli Zakharoff is joined by trauma-informed yoga instructor Ileana for a grounding and insightful chat about the healing potential of yin yoga—especially for midwives and healthcare workers carrying the emotional weight of their work. Ileana shares her own path into yoga, what makes yin so uniquely powerful, and why slowing down is often the first step to proces...

In this episode of Midwife Crisis , Kelli Zakharoff speaks with Steph—a mother of eight whose birth experiences stretch across continents and care models. From hospitals in the U.S. to birth centres and home births here in Australia, Steph’s story weaves together moments of trauma, empowerment, and deep resilience. They talk through what it’s really like to give birth eight times under vastly diff...

In this moving episode of Midwife Crisis , host Kelli Zakharoff speaks with midwife Ally, who made the difficult decision to leave private practice and return to the hospital system. Through a candid and emotional conversation, Ally opens up about the challenges that led to her departure—chronic isolation, emotional exhaustion, and the immense weight of responsibility that often comes with working...

In today’s episode, Kelli sits down with Mariya and Joel, a couple who’ve spent years working on the frontline as paramedics. While Joel is still out on the road, Mariya has stepped into new roles as a mother and business owner. Together, they share the highs and lows of navigating life behind the sirens and how they’ve managed the emotional weight of emergency care, both individually and as a cou...

In this heartfelt episode of Midwife Crisis , Kelli Zakharoff sits down with the thoughtful and passionate Amy Garrett—registered midwife and perinatal counsellor—to talk about the emotional weight midwives carry, and why it’s time we start acknowledging it. You might remember Amy’s moving post on the International Day of the Midwife—it resonated deeply with many in the birth world. In this conver...

In this episode of Midwife Crisis , Kelli Zakharoff is joined by the incredible Jess—a midwife, lactation consultant, hypnobirthing practitioner, and Australia’s first certified birth trauma resolution therapist. You’re going to want to lean into this one. Jess shares her personal and professional journey into the complex world of birth trauma, and what it means not just for birthing families, but...

Welcome to episode 15 of Midwife Crisis ! This week, Kelli sits down with the incredible Melanie Jackson to tackle one of the most pressing issues in maternity care right now: rising induction rates. With 43% of first-time mums in Australia being induced, this isn’t just a blip—it’s reshaping the whole birth landscape. Melanie brings her usual fire and wisdom as a midwife, educator, and advocate,...

In this powerful episode of Midwife Crisis , host Kelli Zakharoff speaks with an anonymous midwife, 'Sarah', about the emotional and professional challenges that come with being reported to regulatory authorities. Set against the backdrop of a small community and independent practice, Sarah shares the aftermath of an adverse event that changed everything. The episode explores the realities of isol...

In this episode of Midwife Crisis, Kelli is back with another brilliant conversation—this time with Victoria, a midwife of over 20 years and mum of seven (yes, seven!), including one through surrogacy. Many of you will love this one: Victoria takes us right back to where her midwifery journey began (spoiler: it started in childhood), and walks us through the highs, lows, and absolute chaos of life...

In this episode of Midwife Crisis , host Kelli Zakharoff sits down with Catherine Isaac — a clinical nurse and founder of Two Souls Co — to share a conversation that is both deeply personal and powerfully important. Catherine opens up about her own experience of multiple pregnancy losses and the emotional toll they took, not just as a parent, but as a healthcare professional. Out of her pain, she...

Welcome back to Season 2 of Midwife Crisis. In this episode, Kelli reflects on the profound and often invisible labour of midwives. Through personal stories and raw truths, Kelli highlights the emotional and clinical challenges faced by midwives, the undervaluation of their work, and their unwavering dedication to women and families.  Join the conversation and honour the incredible strength and re...

In the final episode of Season 1 of Midwife Crisis, Kelli talks about the theme of 'Transparency is the New Trauma.' The episode explores how transparency in healthcare, while essential, can become an additional layer of trauma for midwives, nurses, and health professionals. Kelli shares a powerful personal story about a patient named Anita who experienced a violation of her bodily autonomy, empha...

In this episode of Midwife Crisis, host Kelli speaks with Kirsten Small, a former obstetrician-gynecologist, about her journey through professional crisis and eventual transition from clinical practice to academic and educational roles. We look into Kirsten's experiences with systemic challenges, the emotional toll of being reported, and the lack of support from colleagues and institutions. Kirste...

In this episode of Midwife Crisis, we sit down with Bridie, a midwife who faced immense challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss the profound impact the pandemic had on healthcare professionals, from the physical toll of PPE to the mental strain of navigating conflicting policies. Bridie shares her personal story of choosing not to get vaccinated due to health concerns and how this de...

Welcome back to the Midwife Crisis Podcast! In this deeply moving episode, we are joined by Sam, a dedicated midwife whose story is one of unparalleled resilience and strength. Sam takes us through her life's most challenging moments, including surviving breast cancer, a mastectomy, and the breakdown of a long-term marriage. Despite these hardships, Sam thrives in her career, consistently providin...

In this episode of 'The Midwife Crisis', we have our first in-studio guest!!! Welcome, Maddy Newton, a newly registered midwife who has faced substantial challenges while embracing her neurodivergent and queer identity. Maddie shares her journey from working as a PCA and registered nurse to finally becoming a midwife amidst battling workplace trauma, the complexities of neurodiversity, and discove...

In this deeply personal episode of 'Midwife Crisis,' host Kelli Zakharoff shares her own harrowing experience of facing an investigation against her midwifery practice following a tragic home birth. We then hear from Alex, a passionate midwife and advocate for women's wellness, who recounts her own journey through similar trials. The episode delves into the emotional turmoil, professional scrutiny...

In this episode of 'Midwife Crisis,' host Kelli Zakharoff engages in a crucial conversation about the often-overlooked challenges faced by midwives, including workplace bullying, burnout, and harassment. Kelli is joined by Wendy McIntosh, an expert with over 30 years of experience in healthcare and mental health, they explore the profound impacts of these issues on individuals and the profession a...

In this episode of the Midwife Crisis podcast, host Kelli Zakharoff interviews Mary Young, a pioneer in private midwifery and home birth care with over 30 years of experience. They discuss the immense emotional and physical demands of midwifery, the evolution of the profession, and navigate through Mary's incredible journey. From intimate moments with birthing women to the establishment of one of...

In this episode of *Midwife Crisis*, we have our first guest, Anne Maree Parker, a midwife who has faced immense professional pressures and the devastating impact of losing her husband, a renowned obstetrician, while navigating an ongoing investigation. Their poignant conversation explores resilience, loss, and survival in a system that often fails to support those who give so much. Tune in to hea...

In this episode of *Midwife Crisis*, we explore the often unrecognised and unspoken "invisible trauma" that midwives experience in their work.   Kelli shares personal stories, including a particularly challenging case that had a lasting impact on her, and discusses how the accumulation of smaller but significant experiences can lead to emotional exhaustion, compassion fatigue, anxiety, and more.  ...

In this first episode of Midwife Crisis, host Kelli Zakharoff, a midwife, mother, and author, introduces the podcast that delves into the often unseen emotional burdens midwives and nurses carry. Kelli shares her motivation for starting the podcast, which is an extension of her book 'Midwife Crisis: From Trust to Trauma.' She discusses the concept of invisible trauma, recounts a vivid and harrowin...

Welcome to Midwife Crisis: The Podcast, a space where we explore the hidden struggles and triumphs of midwives, continuing the conversation started in Midwife Crisis: From Trust to Trauma through real, raw, and hopeful stories from midwives, nurses, and experts. Series one starting in March 2025 Thanks for listening, for more resources and support relating to today's episode check out these links:...