HEAR ME ROAR. | a free birth podcast

HEAR ME ROAR. | a free birth podcast

Step into to the wild, untamed heart of childbirth. HEAR ME ROAR is more than a podcast—it’s part of a movement toward birthing in freedom, sovereignty, and unshakable trust in our bodies. Co-hosted by Sarah Hawley and Brittany Costello, this space celebrates the reclamation of the fierce, intuitive power within every woman. Through raw, unfiltered conversations, we’ll explore the lasting impact of medicalized births on women’s lives and the transformative journeys that lead them to free birth. Our guests share deeply personal experiences—of disillusionment with medical births, the very real and traumatic consequences they’ve experienced, and the healing, empowerment, and liberation they discovered through birthing in sovereignty. By weaving ancient wisdom with bold conversations, HEAR ME ROAR challenges conventional narratives and honors birth as sacred, raw, and ours to define. Whether you’re preparing for your own journey or seeking solidarity, this is your space to listen, learn, and roar in your truth.

Episodes

EP30. Navigating Co-Care in Sovereign Birth: Balancing Medicalization and Autonomy

July 20, 2025 • 13 mins
In this week's solo episode, Brit discusses the integration and challenges of co-care in sovereign birthing practices. She emphasizes the importance of the Telegram group for like-minded women and highlights the special pre-launch offer for the Wild and Free coaching container.  The main topic centers around co-care, explaining how women can balance standard prenatal care with a desire for a sovereign birth. The host outlines the ...
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    EP29. Overcoming Dystocia & Finding Autonomy - Ashley's Stories!

    July 13, 2025 • 92 mins
    In this episode we welcome Ashley Brimm, a mother of five, who shares her profound birth experiences ranging from hospital to home births, including a free birth. Ashley discusses her encounters with shoulder dystocia, postpartum care, and her transformative journey towards choosing home births after a traumatic first hospital birth.  She emphasizes the importance of self-belief, planning, and staying true to one's values througho...
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    EP28. Assisted Homebirth to Freebirth - Katelyn's Story!

    July 6, 2025 • 81 mins
    In this episode Katelyn joins us to share her transformative birth stories. After experiencing her first home birth with the assistance of midwives, she chose a free birth for her second child. Katelyn candidly discusses her first birth experience, the considerations that led her to free birth, and the contrasting nature of her two labors.  Despite some initial challenges, including prodromal labor and navigating family dynamics, ...
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    EP27. The Rise and Legacy of Traditional Birth Companions with Billie Harrigan

    June 29, 2025 • 70 mins
    In this week's episode we welcome Billie Harrigan, a seasoned traditional birth companion, to discuss the history, philosophy, and significance of midwifery and traditional birth companions. Billie shares her extensive experience working with birthing families and her role in training new birth companions, emphasizing the importance of common birth knowledge and holistic practices.  The conversation delves into the medicalization ...
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    EP26. Embracing Holistic Motherhood - Ash's Transformative Freebirth Journey’s

    June 22, 2025 • 91 mins
    In this episode, Ash shares her inspiring journey through three drastically different births, transitioning from a conventional hospital delivery with a midwife to experiencing wild pregnancies and free births at home. She discusses her evolution from a rule-following engineer to embracing a holistic, self-directed approach to motherhood.  Ash also highlights the significant role of her family's support, her realization of the pow...
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    EP25. Optimizing Fertility and Pregnancy Health with Anisa Woodall

    June 15, 2025 • 64 mins
    In this episode we welcome Anisa Woodall, a fertility and prenatal nutritionist, to discuss intentional conception and preparing the body nutritionally for pregnancy and childbirth. Anisa shares her personal fertility journey and how she supports women in optimizing their health preconception and during pregnancy.  The discussion covers the importance of tracking menstrual cycles, balancing blood sugar, sourcing quality food withi...
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    EP24. Embracing Sovereign Birth and Informed Choices with Brit & Sarah

    June 8, 2025 • 72 mins
    In this episode, we give a personal life update and discuss significant developments within our community. We delve into Brit's conception journey, her considerations around sovereign birth, and the importance of informed choices in birth planning.  We explore themes such as physiological birth, involving partners in decision-making, and the profound impact of previous birth experiences. This episode also touches on the broader co...
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    EP23. Unveiling the Journey: Danielle's Diverse Birth Experiences and Wisdom

    June 1, 2025 • 106 mins
    In this weeks episode, we're joined by special guest Danielle Taylor, a mother of nine who shares her remarkable journey through diverse birth experiences. Danielle discusses her transition from a system-controlled birthing approach to empowering free births, her challenges with a cesarean, and healing natural births, culminating in a peaceful water birth at age 44.  Emphasizing the importance of intuitive connection, emotional su...
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    EP22. Learning From Your First Experience & Taking Back Control: Renae's Story!

    May 25, 2025 • 79 mins
    In this week's episode, we talk with Renae Golden, a mother of two, about her transformative birth experiences. Renae opens up about her first pregnancy that started as a planned birth center birth but ended in a hospital transfer, filled with frustrations. She contrasts this with her second birth—an empowering and peaceful sovereign birth. Renae shares her evolutionary journey, the importance of trusting oneself, and her newfound...
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    EP21. The Global Midwife's Unassisted Birth: Kristine Lauria’s Story and Wisdom

    May 18, 2025 • 129 mins
    In this episode of Hear Me Roar, the hosts are joined by Kristine Lauria, a seasoned midwife with 37 years of experience, to discuss her unique journey as a birth worker. Kristine shares her personal unassisted birth story, detailing how her extensive midwifery background and deep connection with her baby guided her through the process. She also provides insights into birth practices outside of the medical system, discussing the nu...
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    EP20. Unveiling the Journey of a Free Birth: Liv's Story

    May 11, 2025 • 63 mins
    In this episode of Hear Me Roar, we welcome Liv, a friend of Sarah's from the Austin Mama's Village Chat group. Liv shares her profound and spiritual journey of her first free birth. She details the stages of her pregnancy, the transformative experience of labor, and the intense emotional and physical sensations she encountered.  Alongside, she describes the mystical connection she felt with her daughter’s soul and how the experie...
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    EP19. 1st Time Mom & Traditional Birth Attendant Free Births: Alisha’s Story!

    May 4, 2025 • 75 mins
    In this episode of Hear Me Roar, Alisha shares her journey as a first-time mother who chose free birth and her extensive background as a traditional birth attendant. Alisha starts by describing her life prior to entering birth work at age 14, including her exposure to home birth through her mother's experiences.  She details her apprenticeship with a licensed midwife in California, discussing the challenges and criticism she faced...
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    EP18. A Freebirth Journey & Generational Healing with Piper Muncy

    April 27, 2025 • 104 mins
    In this episode of Hear Me Roar, Piper Muncy, a birth photographer and doula, shares her transformative experiences with birth. Piper delves into her journey of attending births since August 2024 and details her own free birth of her first son in May 2023. She candidly speaks about her upbringing in West Virginia, her holistic journey with her family, and how witnessing her mother endure a traumatic hospital birth influenced her de...
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    EP17. Navigating Birth Across Paradigms: Christina's story of genuine medical challenges and a redemptive free birth

    April 20, 2025 • 138 mins
    In this important episode, we welcome Christina Mearns from France, who shares her powerful and moving birth stories. Christina details her journey from her first pregnancy, fraught with unexpected, yet genuine medical complications, to the triumphant free birth of her second child. She candidly discusses the stress and fear of her first son's diagnosis, her subsequent choice to navigate the French medical system, and the joyous, u...
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    EP16. Cheyenne's Journey: From Birthing at 16 in the System - to Empowered Freebirth!

    April 13, 2025 • 72 mins
    In this episode of 'Hear Me Roar,' the hosts welcome Cheyenne to share her transformative journey through motherhood. Cheyenne, a mother of four, discusses her experiences with different birth approaches, starting from her first pregnancy at 16. She contrasts her initial hospital births with her journey into natural and free birth practices.  Cheyenne details the emotional and physical challenges she faced, including the impact of...
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    EP2. A Redo

    April 6, 2025 • 33 mins
    Navigating the Complexities of Birth Stories and Growth In this week's episode of 'Hear Me Roar,' Brittany reflects on her decision to take down a previous episode where she shared her home birth story. She discusses the nuances and complexities of her birthing experience, acknowledging moments that may have come off as disrespectful.  Along with her co-host Sarah, they explore the concept of processing birth experiences, the li...
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    EP15. Living In Sovereignty: From C-section to Free Birth with Theda

    March 30, 2025 • 66 mins
    In this episode of 'Hear Me Roar,' the host welcomes Theda to share her journey of transitioning from Midwifery abandonment that lead to a c-section - to free birth. Theda opens up about her personal experiences, including the challenges she faced during her first birth at a hospital where a medical error occurred, and the peace she found in her second birth at home.  The discussion touches on the significance of the support syste...
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    EP14. Fear Mongering: How We Shut It Down As Birthkeepers

    March 23, 2025 • 25 mins
    Navigating the Challenges of Radical Birth Keeping In this episode of Hear Me Roar, hosts Brit and Sarah discuss their experiences and insights as radical birth keepers. They share stories about the complexities and conflicts involved in supporting women who choose non-medicalized births. The conversation touches on themes like the medical community's skepticism, the importance of informed choice, and the risks involved in both m...
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    EP13. Lauren's Journey: Midwifery Abandonment & A Traumatic Hospital Birth - to Freebirth

    March 16, 2025 • 86 mins
    In this episode, Sarah & Britt speak with Lauren, a mother of two from Austin, who shares her transformative journey from a medicalized first birth to a redemptive free birth. Lauren recounts her first pregnancy in New York City under the care of a home birth midwife who dropped her at the end of pregnancy and sent her to the hospital which led to her traumatic hospital induction experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Feeli...
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    EP12. From Hospital to Home: Esmeralda's Stories of Sovereign Birth and Confronting Hemorrhage

    March 9, 2025 • 98 mins
    In this episode our guest, Esmeralda, shares her personal experiences of transitioning from a doula to a birth keeper. She discusses her shift from attending hospital births to solely home births due to mental anxiety and the disconnect she noticed between midwives and their clients.  She narrates her journey through three pregnancies and births—each unique in its own way. Her first birth, a traumatic hospital experience, led her ...
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