Strength in Practice

Following Hamas’ attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli military launched a devastating assault on Gaza. Many leading genocide scholars, including Gregory H. Stanton, Raz Segal, and Omer Bartov, have described the campaign as genocide, though Israel rejects that characterization. Today, Gaza’s health system is in ruins. More than 85% of the population has been displaced, and only a fractio...

En 2025, la Confédération internationale des sages-femmes souligne l’importance de leur rôle en contexte de crise. Ce premier épisode de notre série  Les sages-femmes en temps de crise  nous amène en Haïti, où elles continuent d’offrir des soins malgré l’effondrement du système de santé, la violence des gangs, les déplacements forcés et l’instabilité chronique. Jeffthanie Mathurin, Execu...

« Si l’interruption de grossesse est légale, pourquoi l’accès, et même les faits à son sujet, sont-ils encore attaqués? »   Bien que l’interruption de grossesse soit légale au Canada, l’accès à la procédure, sa compréhension et les perceptions sont de plus en plus façonnés par la désinformation et les discours idéologiques. Dans cet épisode, la chercheuse Véronique Pronovost nous entraîne dan...

Abortion is legal in Canada, but access remains uneven, and misinformation is growing. In this episode of Strength in Practice , host Monika Goodluck speaks with Frédérique Chabot , Executive Director of Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights , about what’s really shaping abortion care across the country. Together, they unpack where access breaks down (including rural/remote gaps and “patchwor...

As AI transforms health care, midwives find themselves at a crossroads:  Can technology support relational, culturally safe care, or will it deepen existing gaps?    In this thought-provoking episode of Strength in Practice , we explore how AI is already shaping perinatal care. We look at decision-making tools, fertility apps, algorithmic bias, and data privacy concerns. What does A...

In this episode, neonatologist Dr. Arnaud Gagneur , midwife Andrea Houle , and parent Fiona Wong , who once hesitated to vaccinate, share their perspectives on one of the most sensitive conversations in perinatal care. Drawing from the PromoVac approach and real-life clinical experiences, we unpack the roots of vaccine hesitancy, from mistrust in healthcare systems to the influence of online disin...

In an age of social media scrolls and AI-generated content, false health claims are spreading faster than ever —and midwives are often on the front lines, navigating mistrust, fear, and disinformation in their day-to-day practice. In this episode, Professor Timothy Caulfield breaks down the roots of the global “infodemic,” exploring how misinformation moves, why it sticks, and what we can do to co...

Kinship, Consent, and Clinical Care: Decolonizing Health Systems Midwifery isn’t neutral—care can be colonial.  What does it mean to “decolonize health care”? In this impactful and thought-provoking episode, Laverne Gervais and Candace Neumann  challenge conventional models of care and invite us to reimagine wellness through kinship, cultural safety, and HIV doula care. They share h...

In this powerful episode, Strength in Practice explores the experiences of nonbinary and trans clients and midwives navigating pregnancy, birth, and parenthood. Host Monika Goodluck speaks with Liam Kali , a queer, nonbinary, transmasculine midwife and author of Queer Conception , who shares decades of experience in inclusive fertility care. Liam offers both practical advice and a critical look at...

Join us as we explore The Colour of Birth project with Dr. Karline Wilson-Mitchell, a leading advocate for Black midwives in Canada. Through rich historical research and personal narratives, she shares the hidden stories of Black midwives who helped shape Canadian healthcare—from those who arrived via the Underground Railroad to those who faced systemic barriers in the 20th century. Dr. Wilson-Mit...

Show Description:  In this powerful and impactful episode, host Monika Goodluck is joined by Senator Yvonne Boyer and Métis midwife Nathalie Pambrun to address one of Canada’s most harrowing healthcare injustices: the coerced and forced sterilization of women—a practice that disproportionately affects Indigenous women and their communities' ability to survive. Together, they delve into the fi...

Episode Description:  How is the scope of practice for midwives in Canada changing, and what are the impacts. CAM President CJ Blennherhasset discusses where midwives are making strides, and where are we hitting roadblocks? Later, a panel delves into the expanding role of midwives in sexual and reproductive health and rights. (01:06) Feature interview:   CJ Blennerhassett, RM, MHA,...

Episode Description:  In this episode we discuss the essence of care: how do midwives care for themselves and their clients? We explore how Artificial Intelligence is transforming how care is delivered and speak with a panel of midwives about burnout, caregiver self-care, and innovative care models (01:39) Feature interview:   Dr. Sandra Mutilva, PhD., EMBA, CHE, CRM, BHSc, RM(Ret)...

Episode Description:  How does ethnicity impact health outcomes for both health care givers and receivers of care? In this episode we explore the experiences of racism among health care providers who are Indigenous, Black, or people of color (IBPOC), specifically within the context of midwifery in Ontario. A panel discussion on health equity, focusing on newcomer populations and clients with...