In this twenty-sixth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Steph Flynn – former midwife and founder of Birth Nerd, who is redefining antenatal education and changing the conversation around birth.
Steph’s journey is one of passion, purpose and transformation. With a background in nursing and midwifery, and a lifelong fascination with the power of birth, she went on to create Birth Nerd – an antenatal education business that helps expectant parents feel informed, confident and empowered. Her approach combines clear, practical teaching with tools like hypnobirthing, all rooted in the belief that knowledge and choice are at the heart of positive birth experiences.
Before having her eldest child, Alex attended Steph’s birth preparation course – an experience that shifted her entire perspective. She went from feeling overwhelmed and uncertain to empowered, calm and confident in her decisions. It’s the same impact Steph now brings to families through her courses, workshops and community initiatives such as Kin Shropshire.
In this conversation Alex and Steph explore:
Steph’s path from nursing into midwifery and antenatal education
The personal experiences that inspired the creation of Birth Nerd
Why informed choices matter in pregnancy and birth
The role of hypnobirthing as a supportive tool
Building community support through Kin Shropshire
The complementary roles of doulas and midwives
Birth trauma awareness and the importance of education
How Birth Nerd is transforming antenatal classes for modern parents
Whether you’re expecting a baby, planning your birth, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about the future of antenatal education, this episode is full of insight. It’s a powerful reminder that mothers are not just numbers in a system – they deserve knowledge, confidence and community support at every step.
Timestamps
[00:00] Introduction and background [03:00] Steph’s transition into midwifery [09:00] The Birth Nerd journey [15:00] Informed choices and hypnobirthing [21:00] Community support and Kin Shropshire [27:00] Empowerment through antenatal education
Key Highlights
Informed choices are key to positive birth experiences
Hypnobirthing is a tool, not a complete solution
How personal experiences shape professional paths
The power of community in antenatal education
Birth Nerd’s unique approach to empowering parents
Connect with Steph Website: https://www.birthnerd.co.uk/ Instagram: @birthnerduk
Connect with Alex Book a Business Connection Networking Session: alexmccarthycoaching.as.me/businessconnectionsession Instagram: @alexmccarthycoaching Website: alexmccarthycoaching.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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