Midwifery Wisdom Podcast

In this beautiful and powerful episode, host Augustine sits down with Eva Rose — Norwegian birth photographer, doula, advocate, documentarian, and creator of Birth Mood — for a conversation that spans birth rooms, operating theatres, Ethiopian hospitals, and the fragile future of midwifery-led care across the globe. Eva has been attending births for nearly 30 years, building one of the most extrao...

In this wide-ranging and utterly fascinating episode, host Augustine sits down with Vandana — doctor, public health expert, MBA, entrepreneur, beekeeper, candle maker, and one of the most multi-dimensional humans to ever grace this podcast. Born and raised in Bangalore, India, now based on Long Island, New York, Vandana has spent over two decades working across 13 countries in disaster zones, war...

In today's episode, host Augustine sits down with Kayla Branstetter — English instructor, TEDx speaker, doctoral candidate in healthcare education, and author of the forthcoming book Don't Be an Athena — for a conversation that sits right at the intersection of storytelling, reproductive trauma, and the future of patient-centered care. Kayla's work in narrative medicine is a beautiful reminder tha...

This episode of the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast is a beautiful, globe-spanning conversation about what happens when birth workers step out of their comfort zones. Host Chetana sits down with Brooke , a US-based midwife, and Johanna , the founder of a birthing clinic in India, to discuss the "sisterhood of midwives," cultural humility, and the universal language of birth. In This Episode, We Cover: Fr...

Are you managing your life rather than living it? In this episode, Augustine sits down with Kristen Brickl , an intuitive licensed professional counselor, to explore the transformative journey of women in midlife. They dive deep into the "Good Girl" arc—how childhood conditioning leads to adult over-functioning, people-pleasing, and eventually, physical and emotional burnout. Specifically tailored...

In this warm and deeply moving episode, host Chetana sits down with Rachel — a mother, visionary, and midwifery student from Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia — who turned her own transformative birth experience into a mission to bring gentle, dignified birth care to one of the most underserved regions in the world. Rachel shares how a VBAC at Bumi Sehat in Bali — under the care of the legendary Ibu Robi...

Mothering the Mother: African American Postpartum Traditions with Shafia Monroe In this rich and powerful episode, host Augustine is joined by co-host Israel Johnson, Licensed Direct Entry Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife from Oregon, to welcome the legendary Shafia Monroe — midwife, author, cultural historian, and founder of the SMC Full Circle Doula Training, the first Black doula trai...

Join Augustine on the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast as she welcomes Ashley from Michigan, who shares her transformative journey from birth trauma to healing and empowerment. Ashley, a former ICU nurse, candidly discusses the importance of recognizing and honoring birth trauma, advocating for co-care and collaborative care, and the revolutionary experience of having a maternal assisted C-section. Togeth...

Today’s rerun episode features the incredible Professor Hannah Dahlen , an Australian midwife, researcher, and international leader in maternity care. Hannah has published over 100 papers, spoken at more than 100 conferences, and appeared in documentaries and major media worldwide. In this conversation, Hannah shares: Her powerful journey into midwifery, growing up in Yemen alongside her mother, a...

In this rerun of the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast , Augustine sits down with Elke and Charlotte to tackle a timely question: how does technology help—or hinder—midwifery practice? From cybersecurity risks and data privacy to the practical tools shaping daily care, the conversation dives deep into both the promises and pitfalls of modern tech. You’ll hear candid stories about electronic charting, breac...

This week, we’re revisiting a Season 3 episode of the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast with Aubre Tompkins, CNM and author of Midwifery for Expectant Parents . At the time of recording, Aubre was Director of Midwifery at Seasons Midwifery and Birth Centre and President of the American Association of Birth Centers where she now continues to serve on the Executive Committee. Augustine and Aubre unpack the d...

In this week’s episode of the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast , host Shiphrah Israel sits down with Zaire Sabb —Clinical Herbalist, Traditional Midwife, Registered Nurse, and founder of Mystic Momma Herbals. Zaire shares her remarkable journey from pediatric cardiac transplant nursing to apprenticing with grand midwives in Georgia and herbal masters in Nigeria, weaving together clinical knowledge, tradit...

In this episode host Shiphrah sits down with Jessica Arnold—better known as The Combat Midwife . From growing up with a calling to catch babies, to serving as a firefighter, paramedic, and military Combat Medic instructor, Jessica has forged a one-of-a-kind path in birth work. She shares her journey from witnessing her mother’s VBAC and traumatic hemorrhage as a child, to teaching life-saving skil...

In this episode of the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast , host Shiphrah Israel sits down with Satori Shakoor - a master storyteller, story director, and coach whose gift for weaving words was born from generations of Black women in the Jim Crow South. Raised listening to her Alabama and Mississippi elders transform everyday events into epic tales, Satori learned to speak the language of storytelling with...

This week on the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast , we welcome the founder of Flower Girl , a radical period underwear brand born from one woman’s frustration with toxic menstrual products—and her deep desire to care for the bleeding body differently. As a former e-commerce strategist turned slow fashion entrepreneur, she brings both science and soul to this powerful conversation about conscious menstruat...

In this week’s episode, Augustine connects with fellow midwife and world traveler, Allison, for a deep and expansive conversation about what it really means to live at the edge of reality—whether supporting births or crossing oceans. From an unexpected career shift out of accounting to midwifery school in New Zealand, and from practicing in Canada to captaining a sailboat across the Pacific, Aliso...

Longtime midwife turned somatic trauma healing coach, Christie Davis talks about what it really takes to stay whole in the world of birth work. After over 20 years of attending births and running a private midwifery practice, Christie now supports midwives and birth professionals through the emotional aftermath of traumatic births, burnout, and the heavy expectations of the profession. Together, w...

In this special episode, we’re stepping beyond borders — and beyond our usual programming — to bring you a snippet from our Midwifery on the Move webinar series. Host Augustine Colebrook is joined by two extraordinary traveling midwives: Katrina, a licensed midwife and educator who began her international work in India, and Jata, a neurodivergent advocate and researcher who has practiced in Tanzan...

Host Shiphrah sits down with Kavita Sahai, founder of Vibes Tribe, to explore her journey from burnout and brain fog to vibrant health and grounded purpose. She shares how a simple shift in mindset—prioritizing wellness over hustle—led her from finance to natural wellness.  We talk about the power of small daily practices, why midlife is such a profound (and often overlooked) period of transition...

In this episode, newly graduated midwife Adilah Yelton joins host Shiphrah Israel to reflect on her journey from student to practicing midwife. She shares openly about the complexities of shifting from student to colleague, navigating preceptor relationships, and the deep need for self-care, community, and nervous system regulation along the way. Adilah also recounts the unexpected discovery of a...

In this week’s episode of the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast , Augustine Colebrook sits down with Indie McDowell—a classically trained anthropologist and clinically trained midwife with a truly global journey. Indie began her career working with UNICEF’s Maternal and Neonatal Health Team in Kyrgyzstan before returning to the UK to complete her midwifery training. From there, her path led her to clinical...

Hosts Shiphrah and Susanna sit down with Sophia Ortiz , an independent midwife based in Corfu, Greece, to explore what it truly means to walk the path of midwifery. With over a decade of experience and more than 100 births attended, Sophia brings a deep reverence for birth as both a physiological marvel and a spiritual rite of passage. She shares how her journey—from drama school to midwifery scho...

In this powerful episode, hosts Shiprah and Susanna sit down with Adelaide Adubouffour—renowned Perineal Specialist Midwife and founder of Peri Health London—to talk about one of the most overlooked aspects of postpartum care: perineal trauma. Drawing from her work at West Middlesex University Hospital and nearly a decade of teaching and clinical leadership, Adelaide shares why perineal health mat...

We’re still on a break from the Midwifery Wisdom Podcast but will be back with new episodes in just a few weeks! In the meantime, enjoy these clips from the Q&A section of our latest Teachable e-course, Preventing and Treating Hemorrhage. This in-depth course is perfect for anyone looking to refresh their knowledge and stay up to date on the latest hemorrhage management protocols in the commun...

This week, we’re bringing back one of our top episodes featuring the one and only Flor Cruz , aka Badass Mother Birther ! 🌟 Flor is a: Latina Birth Worker, Birth Influencer, Award-Winning Doula and a Birth Educator with a wildly popular social media account @badassmotherbirther She’s on a mission to normalize birth and celebrate women’s bodies—no matter how or where they choose to give birth. You...