Transformed by Birth is a podcast that goes far beyond due dates and diaper bags. Hosted by Britta Bushnell, PhD, mythologist, award-winning childbirth educator, and author of Transformed by Birth, this show explores the profound rite of passage that is pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.
In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by financial counselor and former doula Jen Mayer for a conversation about a part of becoming a parent that often goes unspoken: money.
We explore how finances shape the postpartum experience, not just in practical ways but also emotionally and relationally. Jen shares her experience returning to work just three weeks after giving birth and how that moment led her to...
In this solo episode of Transformed by Birth, I share the story of Demeter and Persephone through the lens of archetype, grief, and transformation.
This is not just a myth about seasons. It is a story about what happens when life takes us somewhere we didn't choose, how we make meaning from those experiences, and why motherhood so often holds both joy and loss at the same time.
If you've ever ...
In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by Eve Rodsky, author of Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space, for a potent and deeply practical conversation about partnership, fairness, and the invisible labor of parenthood.
Together, we explore what happens when equal partners become unequal parents, why the mental load and emotional labor of family life still fall so heavily on women, and how patriarchy and ca...
Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual violence, trafficking, systemic abuse of power, reproductive rights, and medical trauma. Please listen with care and tend to yourself as needed.
In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by somatic practitioner, embodiment coach, feminist health care advocate, and full-spectrum doula Pamela Samuelson for a courageous and deeply grounded conversation...
In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by certified advanced birth doula, perinatal educator, international speaker, bestselling author, and the voice behind the Birthful podcast, Adriana Lozada, for a conversation that feels like it needs its own music intro.
Together, we explore the time warp of pregnancy, birth, and new parenthood. We talk about why minutes can feel like days while months disappear in ...
In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by perinatal care specialist and Resilience Toolkit facilitator Mikaela Lynn for a grounded conversation about stress, nervous system regulation, and what it means to build resilience in the perinatal year.
Together, we explore why stress isolates us from our bodies, our relationships, and our sense of choice, and why resilience is not about pushing throu...
In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I am joined by coach, doula, and author Jessie Harrold for a rich and deeply validating conversation about matrescence, the profound identity transformation that unfolds as we become mothers.
Together, we explore motherhood as a rite of passage rather than a pathology. Jessie shares her four elements model of radical transformation and helps us name what so many parents feel bu...
In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by somatic trauma consultant, author, and maternal health advocate Parijat Deshpande for a deeply grounding conversation about high-risk pregnancy, preterm birth, and the NICU experience.
Together, we explore what the term "high-risk" actually means, how it is often misunderstood, and why hearing that label can be so destabilizing to the nervous system. Parijat bring...
In this episode, I'm joined by licensed therapist and author Vanessa Bennett for a powerful conversation about the stories we've inherited about motherhood, identity, intimacy, and worth.
Together, we explore what Vanessa calls "the motherhood myth," the cultural narrative that tells parents they should feel endlessly fulfilled, selfless, and complete through parenting alone. We unpack how patriarchy, capi...
In this episode of Transformed by Birth, we explore the pelvic floor as a powerful and often misunderstood center of physical, emotional, and relational health with pelvic floor physical therapist, educator, and author Dr. Sara Reardon.
Together, we unpack why pelvic floor care matters not only during pregnancy and postpartum, but across the entire lifespan. We talk about the deep connections between the pelvic floor ...
In this episode, we explore the neuroscience of nurturing, connection, and early brain development with neuroscientist, author, and mother Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum. Together, we unpack why the first three years of life are such a critical window for mental health, emotional regulation, and relational resilience.
We talk about how modern parenting culture often pulls families away from what babies actually nee...
In this episode, we explore pregnancy and parenthood through the lens of identity, embodiment, and the ways our relationship to strength is reshaped during profound life transitions. In conversation with Peloton instructor, author, and advocate Robin Arzón, we reflect on how pregnancy interrupts productivity culture and invites a deeper redefinment of worth, power, and presence.
Together, we talk about amb...
In this episode, we explore pregnancy and early parenthood as profound inner transformations, not just physical or logistical milestones. In conversation with Vedic meditation teacher, veteran doula, and dear friend Patti Quintero, we look at how the nervous system shapes our experience of conception, pregnancy, birth, and life with a new baby.
Together, we talk about stress, regulation, and the quiet but ...
In this solo end-of-year episode, I share the story of La Loba, the Bone Woman, as a guiding metaphor for times of transition and reflection. Through this myth, we explore what it means to gather the bones of our lived experience, to honor the pause before change, and to wait for the song that brings vitality back into what we have built.
This episode invites you to slow down at the threshold of the year a...
In this episode, I sit down with doula, educator, and longtime friend Lori Bregman for a grounded and heartfelt conversation about birth as a rite of passage and the deeper role of the doula. Together, we explore how pregnancy and birth invite profound inner change, and how support rooted in presence, authenticity, and trust can shape not only the birth experience but also the transition into parenthood. Lori shares he...
In this episode, we explore early parenthood as both a practical learning curve and a quiet rite of passage. In conversation with longtime postpartum doula and baby wearing expert Laura Brown, we look at how everyday decisions like baby carriers, feeding support, and leaving the house often carry deeper questions about identity, safety, and the longing to be a good parent.
We talk about how fear-based mess...
In this episode, we explore VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) as both an evidence-based option and a deeply personal rite of passage. Together, we look at how surgical birth, primary cesareans, and labels like "failure to progress" shape future choices, and how tools such as VBAC calculators can offer clarity while also limiting possibilities. This conversation invites you to meet VBAC with curiosity, grounding, and self-trust. W...
In this episode, I sit down with midwife and storyteller Nicole Morales, LM, CPM for a soulful conversation about birth, story, and the courage required to meet the unknown. We explore how birth unfolds far beyond cervical measurements and timelines, and how physiology, culture, and personal history weave together to shape every experience.
Nicole shares her perspective on restorative midwifery, the power ...
In this episode, I sit down with trans Papa Herbie Huff for an eye-opening and deeply human conversation about pregnancy beyond the gender binary. Together, we explore what it means to carry a baby (twins even!) while living outside traditional gender expectations, how identity and physiology intersect, and what truly affirming prenatal care looks like. Herbie invites us into the realities of being a pregnant papa in t...
I'm joined by mindfulness teacher and parenting mentor Hunter Clarke-Fields for a heartfelt exploration of mindful communication. Together, we look at what it truly means to listen, to acknowledge, and to meet one another with presence. We talk about the power of reflective listening, the relief that comes when emotions are named instead of dismissed, and the deep human longing felt by children and adults alike to be s...
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.