Transformed by Birth

Episodes

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  The Power of Birth Stories: Preparing for the Unexpected 27.10.2026 57m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by Bryn Huntpalmer, founder of The Birth Hour podcast and author of The Birth Hour: Real Birth Stories to Inform, Inspire, and Empower, to explore the power of birth stories and what we can learn from hearing the many ways birth unfolds. Drawing on Bryn's experience listening to thousands of birth stories, we discuss how these stories shape our expectations, why feeling informed and supported matters more than having a "perfect" birth, and how our understanding of our own birth experiences can change over time. LEARN MORE
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  Beyond Biology: How Chosen Family Shapes Our Lives 20.10.2026 1h 3m

  In this deeply personal episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by my goddaughter/bonus daughter and the mother of my grandchildren, Aleksa Mara Dalton, to talk about chosen family, birth, and the relationships that shape our lives. From our early days as neighbors in Topanga Canyon to the two very different home births I had the privilege of supporting, we reflect on how our relationship has grown across generations and what it means to create family through love, commitment, and choice. LEARN MORE
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  Preparing for More Than Birth with The Baby Chick, Nina Spears 13.10.2026 57m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by Nina Spears, founder of Baby Chick and author of The Baby Chick Guide to Positive Pregnancy, to talk about preparing for birth, parenthood, and the many changes that come with both. Drawing on our years supporting families, we reflect on how birth preparation has evolved, why having more information doesn't always make decisions easier, and what happens when we become attached to one "right" way to give birth. LEARN MORE
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  Discernment, Agency & the Unknown with Joni Edelman 06.10.2026 1h

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by doula, former labor and delivery nurse, mother of six, and modern mystic Joni Edelman to talk about agency, autonomy, and learning to trust yourself in birth. We explore why the voices around us can make our own wisdom harder to hear, how slowing down can create space for discernment, and what it means to make the next best decision when birth takes an unexpected turn. LEARN MORE
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  Who Holds the Power in the Birth Room? with Nurse Mandy Irby 29.09.2026 58m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by nurse, educator, and founder of The Birth Nurse, Mandy Irby, for a conversation about the complicated role nurses hold inside the birth room. We talk about what it's like for nurses to advocate for patients while working within a hospital hierarchy, how their own experiences can follow them into the birth room, and what happens when they witness something they want to change but don't always have the authority to do so. We also explore the real power nurses have to help change birth care from the inside. This conversation invites us to see nurses not simply as part of the system, but as whole humans navigating it, with tremendous opportunities to help people feel respected, safe, and heard during one of the most transformative experiences of their lives. LEARN MORE
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  The Myth of the Perfect Birth with Avital Norman Nathman 22.09.2026 1h

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by writer, editor, advocate, and author Avital Norman Nathman to unpack the myth of the perfect birth and why the desire to control an inherently unpredictable experience can leave parents carrying responsibility that was never entirely theirs. We talk about agency, vulnerability, and the systems that shape maternity care. We also explore finding support, asking questions, and remembering you don't have to navigate this alone. LEARN MORE
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  Birth, Grief & the Nonlinear Path to Parenthood with Atoosa Benji 15.09.2026 59m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by midwife, educator, doula trainer, and founder of Mama Atoosa, Atoosa Benji, to talk about the nonlinear nature of birth, parenthood, grief, and transformation. Together, we discuss why change rarely unfolds according to our timelines, the grief woven into major life transitions, trauma-informed care, and why birth professionals are there to guide and support, not clear every obstacle from the path. LEARN MORE
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  What Your Pelvic Health Is Telling You with Dr. Tia Ukpe-Wallace 08.09.2026 1h 4m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by pelvic health physical therapist and author Dr. Anietie "Tia" Ukpe-Wallace for a conversation about pelvic health, body literacy, and reconnecting with our bodies. Tia shares her journey through pelvic pain and pregnancy loss, the connection between pelvic health and the whole body, the role of touch in healing, and how curiosity can help us better understand and advocate for ourselves. We explore moving beyond shame and disconnection and toward a deeper relationship with our bodies. LEARN MORE 
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  Why a Healthy Baby Isn't the Whole Story with Dr. Jessica Vernon 01.09.2026 53m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by OB/GYN, perinatal coach, and author Dr. Jessica Vernon for a conversation about birth plans, birth trauma, postpartum mental health, and the pressure to get birth and new parenthood "right." Together, we explore how to prepare for birth while making room for the unexpected, why agency and feeling heard can profoundly shape our experience, and what we need to understand about postpartum mental health before a baby arrives. This conversation invites us to loosen our grip on perfection and make more room for flexibility, support, and the full complexity of birth and postpartum. LEARN MORE
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  Reclaiming Pregnancy Wellness with Dr. Aviva Romm 25.08.2026 1h 13m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by midwife, herbalist, Yale-trained physician, author, and women's health advocate Dr. Aviva Romm for a conversation about what wellness really means during pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond. We explore the divide between midwifery and medicine, the commercialization of wellness, birth trauma, autonomy, health inequities, and why wellness is about far more than doing all the "right" things. LEARN MORE
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  One Year, 55 Guests: What They Want Parents to Know 18.08.2026 33m

  One year, fifty-five episodes, fifty-five guests, and countless conversations about birth, parenthood, and transformation. In this special anniversary episode, Britta looks back at the first year of Transformed by Birth, shares a glimpse behind the scenes, and reflects on the wisdom that has surfaced again and again. From trusting yourself and finding community to embracing the messiness of transformation, Britta gathers six powerful reminders from a year of conversations and looks ahead to what's next. LEARN MORE
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  What Makes Birth Sacred? with Tema Mercado 11.08.2026 54m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by licensed midwife, Partera Profesional Certificada, and founder of La Matriz Birth Services, Tema Mercado, for a conversation about the sacred nature of birth, relationship-based care, and why how we are treated during birth can leave lifelong imprints. Together, we explore what it means to protect the sacred in birth, the difference between transactional and relationship-based care, the healing potential of deep listening, and how birth work transforms not only the families we serve but also the people called to support them. This conversation is an invitation to remember that every birth is sacred, not because of where it happens, but because of how we witness, honor, and care for one another. LEARN MORE
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  When We Stop Trying to Do It All with Domino Kirke-Badgley 04.08.2026 1h 7m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by birth doula, doula mentor, and founder of Carriage House Birth, Domino Kirke-Badgley, for a conversation about community, caregiving, and the profound ways birth work transforms the people who practice it. Together, we explore the hidden costs of trying to do everything alone, why birth workers often struggle to ask for help themselves, and how parenthood continually invites us back into humility, vulnerability, and connection. This conversation is an invitation to remember that birth was never meant to be experienced alone, and neither was parenthood. LEARN MORE
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  The Myth of the Perfect Mom with Erin Schlozman 28.07.2026 52m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by licensed therapist, maternal mental health advocate, and author Erin Schlozman for a conversation about the cultural myths that shape modern motherhood and the impossible standards so many parents carry. Together, we explore the pressure to be the "perfect mom," how perfectionism affects mental health, birth, feeding, work, identity, and postpartum recovery, and why surrender, not perfection, may be one of the greatest gifts we can offer ourselves. This conversation is an invitation to let go of unrealistic expectations, embrace the messy beauty of becoming a parent, and discover a more compassionate way to move through parenthood. LEARN MORE
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  Helping Grandparents Support New Parents with DeeDee Moore 21.07.2026 58m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by grandparent educator and founder of More Than Grand, DeeDee Moore, for a conversation about the often-overlooked transformation that happens when a baby is born, not only for parents, but for grandparents as well. Together, we explore why grandparenthood is its own rite of passage, how birth reshapes the entire family, and how parents and grandparents can navigate changing roles with greater communication, understanding, and compassion. This conversation is an invitation to recognize that every birth transforms generations, creating an opportunity to build stronger relationships and the village every new family deserves. LEARN MORE
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  What Matters Most in Parenting? I Asked My Adult Sons. 14.07.2026 1h 6m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by two very special guests: my sons, Kaden and Rumiah. Now in their mid-twenties and building lives of their own, they reflect on what it was like growing up in our family, from outdoor adventures and family rituals to conflict resolution, sibling relationships, and the values that shaped them. Together, we explore what children remember long after childhood ends, how family culture influences identity, and the surprising ways parenting continues to ripple through adulthood. This heartfelt conversation offers a rare opportunity to hear parenting reflected back through the eyes of the people who experienced it firsthand (tissues are highly recommended).  
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  Motherhood as a Creative Practice with Kallen Mikel 07.07.2026 53m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by visual artist and mother Kallen Mikel for a conversation about creativity, transformation, nature, and the profound ways pregnancy, birth, and parenthood shape both the artist and the art. Together, we explore creativity as a process of opening, the symbolism of transformation, the relationship between motherhood and artistic expression, and why creating art and becoming a parent both ask us to surrender to the unknown. Kallen shares how pregnancy and parenting have transformed her creative process, why nature remains at the heart of her work, and how symbols like butterflies, snakes, seeds, and the body itself become invitations to recognize our own ongoing transformations. This conversation is an invitation to see birth, parenthood, and creativity not as separate experiences, but as interconnected expressions of life force, imagination, and becoming. LEARN MORE
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  Preparing for the Fourth Trimester with Sarah Trott 30.06.2026 53m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by Sarah Trott, creator and host of the Fourth Trimester Podcast, for a conversation about preparing for postpartum and why the support we receive after birth matters just as much as the preparation we do before it. Together, we explore the realities of the fourth trimester, the importance of redefining productivity, building meaningful support systems, protecting emotional well-being, and learning to trust yourself as you navigate the profound transition into parenthood. Drawing from a decade of conversations with perinatal professionals, Sarah shares the themes that continue to emerge around recovery, resilience, community, and the power of asking for, and accepting, help. This conversation is an invitation to prepare not only for birth, but for the transformational season that follows, with greater compassion, connection, and care. LEARN MORE
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  Being a Parent Without Losing Your Erotic Self with Darshana Avila 23.06.2026 1h 4m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by trauma-informed somatic educator, practitioner, and speaker Darshana Avila for a conversation about eroticism, intimacy, desire, and reconnecting with ourselves during the perinatal period and beyond. Together, we explore the difference between sex and erotic energy, the impact of pregnancy and parenthood on our relationship with pleasure, body image, intimacy, and desire, and why becoming a parent often invites us into a profound reckoning with our erotic selves. Darshana shares practical ways to approach intimacy during postpartum, the importance of consent within long-term relationships, and how reconnecting with our own bodies can become a pathway toward healing, self-compassion, and deeper connection. This conversation is an invitation to move beyond performance, pressure, and expectations and toward a more expansive understanding of eroticism as vitality, creativity, pleasure, and life force. LEARN MORE
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  Fatherhood, Healing, and the Power of Showing Up 16.06.2026 1h 2m

  In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by fatherhood advocates Bobby Brown and Brandon Rennels for a conversation about the often-overlooked transformation men experience when they become fathers. Together, we explore identity shifts, healing childhood wounds, father-son relationships, mental health, birth preparation, advocacy, and the profound responsibility that can emerge when a new life enters the world. Bobby and Brandon share personal stories about their journeys into fatherhood, reflecting on how becoming a dad invited them into deeper self-awareness, emotional growth, and a renewed sense of purpose. This conversation is an invitation to recognize fatherhood not simply as a new role, but as a rite of passage that deserves support, community, and care. LEARN MORE