Born Wild Podcast

Sophia Henderson
  • 5.0 (23)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Conversations with Midwives surrounding pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Wouldn't it be wild if there were no rules, we had true autonomy, and our loyalty was only to the families we serve? This is a safe space to process experiences without judgement. Questioning what it means to be midwives through continuous self reflection. Remembering what it means to be Born Wild.

  1. 149. Honoring Our Roots: Reviving Traditional Midwifery with Lisa Rawson

    11/10/2025

    149. Honoring Our Roots: Reviving Traditional Midwifery with Lisa Rawson

    🌿 Episode Summary This conversation explores the current state of midwifery, highlighting the wisdom of traditional practices and the importance of reconnecting with the roots of the CPM movement. Sophia and Lisa discuss how honoring elder midwives and learning from minority and LGBTQ+ communities can enrich the future of midwifery. Together, they reflect on the challenges and opportunities in integrating traditional, community-based care into modern models of practice — reminding us that the field is at a pivotal moment for change. ⸻ ✨ What You’ll Learn • How traditional midwifery informs and strengthens modern practice • Why inclusivity and cultural humility are essential in midwifery care • The unique needs of minority and LGBTQ+ birthing communities • The wisdom elder and granny midwives bring to today’s birth landscape • How the CPM movement is rooted in traditional, community-based care • Ways to restore informed consent, autonomy, and choice in birth ⸻ 👩‍🍼 Guest Bio Lisa Rawson, LM, CPM, MA-MCHS has been serving families for over 25 years as an educator, midwife, and advocate for equitable access to midwifery care. She has worked in rural community-based home birth practices, unlicensed midwifery, and licensed birth centers. Lisa is passionate about restoring informed consent and true choice through education, social justice, and equitable human rights. She views advocacy as a central part of her midwifery and social justice work. A mother of eight and wife of 28 years, Lisa is also the proud matriarch of a multigenerational family. When she’s not catching babies, she enjoys cooking, swimming, playing games, exploring new places, and sharing her infectious sense of humor. ⸻ 🌐 Connect with Lisa Rawson • Instagram: @lisa_rawson_lm • Facebook: Mountain Valley Midwifery • Website: www.mountainvalleymidwifery.com ⸻ 📚 Links & Resources Mentioned • CPM Movement History – NACPM • Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) • Granny Midwives: A Legacy of Community Birth Work ⸻ 🌳 Connect With Us Instagram: @sophiabirth @bayareahomebirth @bornwildmidwifery Stay Wild 🌳

    42 min
  2. 148. The Heart Behind the Scan: Karen Han’s Story

    11/03/2025

    148. The Heart Behind the Scan: Karen Han’s Story

    In this episode, we sit down with ultrasound technologist Karen Han, whose career path took her from banking and medical transcription to discovering the beauty of birth through the lens of ultrasound. After years working in hospitals, her first home birth experience opened her eyes to the incredible possibilities of physiological birth outside the medical system. Today, she brings warmth, skill, and connection to families seeking both medical reassurance and emotional bonding through ultrasound. ⸻ What You’ll Learn: • How an unexpected career pivot led to a lifelong passion for ultrasound • The contrast between hospital imaging and the intimacy of home birth care • The story of starting a 3D/4D ultrasound business and growing into a trusted partner for midwives • How ultrasound can strengthen family bonding and deepen the birth experience • Insights from a professional who bridges medical imaging and holistic maternity care ⸻ Karen Han’s journey to ultrasound took many twists and turns—through careers in banking, catering, and medical transcription—before finding her true calling in the late 1990s. She trained for four years and became a registered diagnostic medical sonographer after assisting at St. Helena Hospital and Sutter Lakeside Hospital. Married to a chiropractor and a mother of two, she later founded a 3D/4D ultrasound business in 2011 that grew organically as midwives discovered her work. After attending her first home birth in 2012, she fell in love with the beauty and empowerment of birth outside hospital walls and now devotes her work to supporting families with compassion, connection, and high-quality imaging. 📱 Cell/Text: 707-337-8308 (preferred) 📧 Email: karenmillerhan@yahoo.com ⸻ Links and Resources Mentioned: • Learn more about Karen’s services or schedule an appointment: Text or call 707-337-8308 • Email inquiries: karenmillerhan@yahoo.com • Born Wild Midwifery: bornwildmidwifery.com ⸻ If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your birth-loving friends. Your support helps us amplify the voices of those changing the birth world—one story at a time. ⸻ Connect with Us: Instagram: @sophiabirth • @bayareahomebirth • @bornwildmidwifery Stay Wild 🌳

    52 min
  3. 147. Real Food for Real Moms with Lily Nichols

    10/20/2025

    147. Real Food for Real Moms with Lily Nichols

    In this episode of the Born Wild Podcast, host Sophia Henderson, LM, CPM, interviews Lily Nichols, a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author with a passion for evidence-based nutrition. Together, they explore the critical role of nutrition during pregnancy and postpartum, the gaps between current dietary guidelines and modern research, and the importance of combining traditional wisdom with science. Lily shares insights from her best-selling Real Food series, emphasizing the value of high-quality protein, mindful carbohydrate intake, and nutrient-dense foods for fertility, pregnancy, and recovery. The conversation also covers gestational diabetes testing, caffeine consumption, postpartum nourishment, and the need for better education and support for women throughout their childbearing years. ⸻ What You’ll Learn • Why evidence-based nutrition is essential during pregnancy and postpartum • How traditional wisdom aligns with current research on maternal health • The importance of high-quality protein and micronutrients for fertility and pregnancy • How to approach gestational diabetes testing and dietary management holistically • Postpartum recovery foods and the value of meal prepping • How to discern the quality of food sources for optimal health ⸻ Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, researcher, and author known for her evidence-based, sensible approach to maternal nutrition. She is the founder of the Institute for Prenatal Nutrition®, co-founder of the Women’s Health Nutrition Academy, and the author of three influential books: Real Food for Fertility (co-authored with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack), Real Food for Pregnancy, and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. Her work has influenced prenatal nutrition policy internationally and is used in university-level maternal nutrition and midwifery courses. When not writing or teaching, Lily enjoys spending time with her husband and two children—most likely outdoors or in the kitchen. 🔗 https://lilynicholsrdn.com 🌿 Real Food Postpartum Recovery Meals ⸻ Links & Resources Mentioned • Real Food for Pregnancy • Real Food for Gestational Diabetes • Real Food for Fertility ⸻ If you loved this episode, follow and share Born Wild Podcast with a friend who’s passionate about holistic pregnancy and women’s health. Leave us a review to help more families find this empowering conversation. 🌸 ⸻ Connect with us: @sophiabirth @bayareahomebirth @bornwildmidwifery Stay Wild 🌳

    52 min
  4. 146. Whole-Body Pregnancy Care: A Functional Medicine Conversation with Sarah Thompson

    10/13/2025

    146. Whole-Body Pregnancy Care: A Functional Medicine Conversation with Sarah Thompson

    In this episode of the Born Wild Podcast, host Sophia Henderson speaks with Sarah Thompson, MAOM, LAc — a licensed acupuncturist, certified functional medicine practitioner, and birth doula with over 20 years of experience in maternal health. Together they explore the importance of nutrition in pregnancy, the role of functional medicine in supporting mothers and babies, and the barriers families face in accessing integrative maternity care. Sarah shares her journey into functional medicine, her evidence-based approach to clinical care, and how nutrition, herbs, and traditional therapies can transform outcomes for expecting mothers. ⸻ What You’ll Learn: • How functional medicine identifies the root causes of health challenges. • Why nutrition is foundational to pregnancy health. • Understanding iron dynamics and the risk of deficiency or toxicity. • How herbs and supplements can safely support pregnancy and postpartum recovery. • The importance of informed consent and individualized care. • Practical ways collaboration among providers enhances maternity outcomes. ⸻ Sarah Thompson, MAOM, LAc is a licensed acupuncturist, certified functional medicine practitioner, and birth doula with more than two decades of experience in maternal health. She specializes in integrating functional medicine, nutrition, and traditional therapies to optimize pregnancy and childbirth outcomes. Sarah is the author of Functional Maternity and Beyond Results, and she offers MEAC-accredited continuing education through her Functional Maternity Academy and Kolibri International Birth Institute, empowering healthcare professionals with evidence-based tools for clinical practice. 🌐 www.functionalmaternity.com 📸 Instagram: @functional.maternity ⸻ Links and Resources Mentioned: • Functional Maternity by Sarah Thompson • Functional Maternity Academy (MEAC-approved CE) • Kolibri International Birth Institute • www.functionalmaternity.com ⸻ If you loved this conversation, please rate and review the Born Wild Podcast — it helps more families and birth workers find us! 🌿 Share this episode with a friend or colleague who’s passionate about holistic maternity care. ⸻ Connect with Us: @sophiabirth @bayareahomebirth @bornwildmidwifery Stay Wild 🌳

    57 min
  5. 145. Revolutionizing Maternity Care with Dr. Stuart Fischbein

    10/08/2025

    145. Revolutionizing Maternity Care with Dr. Stuart Fischbein

    In this episode of the Born Wild Podcast, host Sophia Henderson speaks with Dr. Stuart Fischbein, an obstetrician with decades of experience advocating for physiological birth, midwifery collaboration, and informed consent. Dr. Stu shares his journey from medical student to outspoken advocate for respectful maternity care. They discuss the importance of understanding the risks associated with various birth methods — including breech births and VBACs — and emphasize the need for individualized care in obstetrics. This conversation shines light on the challenges within the maternity care system and the importance of trusting women’s bodies during childbirth. ⸻ What You’ll Learn: • How Dr. Stu’s journey into obstetrics began unexpectedly • Why informed consent is often misunderstood in the medical system • The importance of midwives in supporting physiological birth • Why VBAC should be viewed as a standard variation of normal birth • How “high risk” is often defined by provider comfort rather than evidence • The decline of breech and twin birth skills — and why they matter • The dangers of profit-driven maternity care • How to rebuild trust in nature’s design for birth ⸻ Guest Bio: Stuart J. Fischbein, MD is a community-based obstetrician and an Associate of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology. He is the author of Fearless Pregnancy, Wisdom & Reassurance from a Doctor, A Midwife, and A Mom and several peer-reviewed papers including Homebirth with an Obstetrician, Breech Birth at Home, and Twin Home Birth: Outcomes of 100 Sets of Twins in the Care of a Single Practitioner. After completing his residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dr. Stu spent 24 years assisting women with hospital births before transitioning to homebirth obstetrics for over 12 years. Since retiring from attending births in 2022, he has focused on teaching and advocacy — traveling internationally to reteach breech and twin birth skills, promote respect for physiological birth, and uphold informed consent. He co-hosts the Birthing Instincts Podcast with Blyss Young, offering hope, reassurance, and evidence-based guidance to families who understand that pregnancy is a normal, healthy function — not a medical condition to be feared. 📍 Websites: birthinginstincts.com birthinginstinctspodcast.com 📸 Instagram: @birthinginstincts ⸻ Links & Resources Mentioned: • Birthing Instincts Podcast • Dr. Fischbein’s Research Publications • Fearless Pregnancy, Wisdom & Reassurance from a Doctor, A Midwife, and A Mom ⸻ Call to Action: If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share the Born Wild Podcast to help more families discover empowering conversations about birth and beyond. ⸻ Connect with Us: Instagram: @sophiabirth | @bayareahomebirth | @bornwildmidwifery Stay Wild 🌳

    57 min
  6. 144. Lindsay’s Story: From Hospital Walls to Home Birth Freedom

    09/29/2025

    144. Lindsay’s Story: From Hospital Walls to Home Birth Freedom

    In this episode of the Born Wild Podcast, host Sophia Henderson speaks with Lindsay Gretch, a mother of six from Sebastopol, about her diverse birth experiences ranging from hospital births to birthing centers and ultimately to home births. Lindsay shares her journey of empowerment through each birth, highlighting the lessons learned from her hospital experiences, the transition to birthing centers, and the profound impact of home births on her sense of agency and healing from past trauma. The conversation explores differences in prenatal care across these settings as well as the emotional and physical aspects of labor and delivery. What You’ll Learn: • How Lindsay’s first two hospital births left her feeling unempowered • Why transitioning to birthing centers offered more support but still had limitations • The empowering transformation she experienced through home births • The importance of advocating for yourself in medical settings • How home birth care fosters a more mother-centered and supportive environment • Insights into how home birth helped heal Lindsay’s past birth trauma Lindsay Gretch is a married mother of six living in Sebastopol. She and her husband run a small farm, and her husband owns his own construction company. Lindsay homeschools her children and holds her faith at the center of her family life. She has experienced births in hospitals, birth centers, and at home, and is passionate about helping women know that birth does not have to be one-size-fits-all. Lindsay believes women deserve the option to birth at home if they choose. Instagram: @six.doodle.bugs If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the Born Wild Podcast, leave us a review, and share it with a friend who might find encouragement in Lindsay’s story. Connect with us: @sophiabirth | @bayareahomebirth | @bornwildmidwifery Stay Wild 🌳

    27 min
  7. 143. Karma’s Path of Support, Sovereignty, and Financial Wellness

    09/22/2025

    143. Karma’s Path of Support, Sovereignty, and Financial Wellness

    In this episode of the Born Wild Podcast, host Sophia Henderson speaks with Karma — a woman devoted to supporting women outside of conventional systems through full-spectrum doula care, women’s circles, and financial wellness guidance. Karma shares her transformative journey into birth work, her commitment to holistic support for women across all stages of life, and her vision of weaving financial empowerment into women’s wellness. Together, Sophia and Karma explore the power of community, the importance of honoring traditional practices, and the challenges of navigating systems that often limit women’s choices. This conversation highlights the resilience of women supporting women, and the call to heal the sister wound through connection and empowerment. What You’ll Learn • How Karma began her journey into birth and women’s support work in 2019 after a transformative experience. • Why she believes women’s circles and community connection are essential to healing. • The significance of financial wellness as a form of empowerment for women. • The challenges of practicing outside of regulated systems in Canada. • The role of full-spectrum support across menstruation, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. • How she blends her work as a doula, women’s mentor, and financial guide. Karma is a devoted guide for women across the full continuum of life’s passages. She facilitates women’s circles, works as a full-spectrum doula, and supports women in cultivating generational wealth and financial wellness as a “Financial Midwife.” Her work is rooted in community, sovereignty, and healing the sister wound. Karma is also the host of Freebirthing in Color, a podcast uplifting diverse voices in the freebirth movement, which she is relaunching soon. Links and Resources Mentioned • Karma on Instagram: @primal_woman_ • Karma’s Links: linktr.ee/primal_woman_ • Freebirthing in Color Podcast: linktr.ee/freebirthing_incolor • Book a complimentary financial wellness session: Financial Wellness Session If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the Born Wild Podcast, share with a friend, and leave a review so more families can discover empowering stories of birth and beyond. Connect with us Instagram: @sophiabirth | @bayareahomebirth | @bornwildmidwifery 🌳 Stay Wild 🌳

    47 min
  8. 142. Trailblazing Breech & Twin Home Births with Dr. Victoria Flores

    09/15/2025

    142. Trailblazing Breech & Twin Home Births with Dr. Victoria Flores

    In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Victoria Flores shares her rare expertise in supporting twin and breech births safely at home. With decades of hands-on experience and a deep respect for the body’s wisdom, Dr. Flores walks us through the nuanced risks, benefits, and criteria she uses to guide families. She also reflects on how spirituality and faith ground her confidence in this sacred work, and why reviving the art of physiologic breech and twin birth is so essential today. What You’ll Learn: Why breech and twin births don’t always need to be managed as “high risk”The rigorous criteria Dr. Flores uses to assess safety for out-of-hospital birthHow spirituality and faith support confidence in birthworkThe challenges of navigating “forbidden territory” in maternity careWhy skilled, spiritually attuned practitioners are needed now more than ever Guest Bio: Dr. Victoria Flores, MD, is a trailblazer in home birth and holistic obstetrics. She brings rare expertise in the vaginal birth of twins and breech babies in the home setting, safely guiding many families through births often deemed too risky for outside of hospitals. With a passion for restoring dignity and spirituality to childbirth, Dr. Flores speaks powerfully about honoring both the body’s wisdom and the faith traditions families hold dear. Links and Resources Mentioned: Dr. Victoria Flores IG: @victoria_MD_birthingWebsite: victoriamdbirthing.comPodcast mentioned: Birthing Instincts with Dr. Stu Call to Action: If you found this episode inspiring, share it with a friend who is exploring their birth options. Don’t forget to subscribe to the Born Wild Podcast so you don’t miss future conversations with leaders in birthwork. Connect with Us: @sophiabirth @bayareahomebirth @bornwildmidwifery 🌳 Stay Wild

    1h 13m
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5
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

Conversations with Midwives surrounding pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Wouldn't it be wild if there were no rules, we had true autonomy, and our loyalty was only to the families we serve? This is a safe space to process experiences without judgement. Questioning what it means to be midwives through continuous self reflection. Remembering what it means to be Born Wild.

Information

  • Creator
    Sophia Henderson
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    147
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Sophia Henderson