The Possibilist Midwives

When was the last time you paused to think about the professional issues that impact your work-life balance, your income, or the barriers to midwifery-led care? Do you ever feel like your voice is less valued simply because you don't hold an official "leadership" title? In this special episode, Denise and Ginger tackle these questions head-on. They believe that EVERY midwife is a le...

Does your voice really matter? If you’ve ever wondered whether navigating daily workplace challenges and sharing the realities can truly impact the broader system and the communities we live in, this episode is for you. Hosts Ginger and Denise are joined by state and federal advocacy guru, Ellen Breslin who holds a masters degree in public policy. Drawing from her vast expertise with the largest h...

Join hosts Ginger and Denise for a probing and extraordinarily fun hour with OB/GYN Dr. Neel Shah. Together they will take you on the rapidly shifting landscape of maternal healthcare, discussing everything from the rise of C-sections and the true cost of care to the vital role of midwives.  The discussion moves to the unknown healthcare industry's changing tides including forecasts about new...

When faced with challenging workplace situations, concerning contract negotiations, or conflict in power-over relationships, most resort to recoil—a response that only increases anxiety and frustration. In this truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, hosts Ginger and Denise sit down with world renown negotiator William Ury to discuss how to shift your mindset and embrace conflict as a powerful catal...

What is the value of a professional society in a changing world? In this episode, hosts Ginger and Denise sit down with Dr. Peter Johnson, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, the new President of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). With over 40 years of experience as an educator, clinician, and global health leader, Dr. Johnson brings a "not on my watch" dedication to the future of the org...

If I told you there was a $17 million dollar check sitting on a table with your name on it, you’d probably pull up a chair, right? Now, what if I told you that check is already signed, the seats are being filled, but midwives a key component of the funding objectives aren't even in the room? Episode 9 explores the TMaH —Transforming Maternal Health state grants with a focus on Alabama.  In 20...

How do you know if the offer is actually a fair deal, or if it's hiding harsh restrictive covenants? This week, Ginger and Denise sit down with attorney Isaac Booth , MUED, J.D. to pull back the curtain on common clauses in employment agreements for midwives. From identifying "red flag" clauses to understanding the long-term impact of malpractice coverage, we’re breaking down the es...

Are you a midwife searching for a fair salary and a workload that actually defines and respects your FTE? When you're scrolling through job postings, it’s easy to get lost in the "right fit" rhetoric. But what does that term really mean to a recruiter, and are they looking for someone vested in the job or just trying to hit a hiring quota? In this episode, Ginger and Denise pull bac...

This #possibilistmidwives episode explores a free-standing birth center, Maison de Naissance, founded in Haiti 22 years ago by Dr. Betsy Wickstrom, MFM, Dr. Stan Schaffer, Neonatologist, and Denise Fryzelka, PhD, CNM, who served as its first medical director. From its inception, the center was guided by Dr. Paul Farmer’s belief that healthcare is a fundamental human right and should be community-d...

What does it really take to restart a clinical career after years away? Join Ginger and Denise as they talk with Emily Portis, a practicing midwife who faced significant hurdles when re-entering the field after a three-year break. Emily opens up about the "pivots" she made and how she used the strength of her network to land the right role. It’s an honest look at the grit needed to overc...

Ginger and Denise welcome their first midwife guest to The Possibilist Midwives podcast, Jualeah Early, CNM. With more than 17 years of full-scope midwifery practice, Jualeah has served in diverse settings—from private practice and a free-standing birth center to her current role as a CNM laborist with OBHG in Florida. In this powerful conversation, she opens up about the challenges and stereotype...

In this episode, Ginger and Denise welcome Arden Schwenker, CFO of Grow Midwives LLC and leader of Grow Midwives Billing & Recovery Solutions, for a deep dive into the financial realities shaping midwifery practice today. Arden breaks down common coding challenges, why understanding your Accounts Charged matters more than you think, and how wRVUs can become powerful leverage when negotiating y...

In their second podcast Ginger and Denise unpack the value of self-reflection and why this is important across a career. They discuss a tool designed by Grow Midwives to identify wants from needs and explain how clarifying personal, professional and financial issues can provide leverage in negotiation. In addition, Ginger offers suggestions on how to use this tool alongside additional survey metho...

In their first episode Ginger & Denise share how they met 36 years ago, their journey into the midwifery profession, explore "Breaking News", and dive into the 'why' behind starting a podcast dedicated to midwives.  "Breaking News" segment of recently filed petition to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Heather Swanson, DNP, CNM that seeks change of statutes bann...