Midwife Life: Midwifing you through health, motherhood, and the sacred mess of life’s transformations with Diane Ortega

Welcome to The Midwife Life—part podcast, part revolution that empowers and educates women on all things related to pregnancy, birth, postpartum care, and careers in healthcare. Whether it's understanding the options available to you, advocating for yourself in a health care setting, or simply knowing that you're not alone, I want you to leave each episode feeling stronger and more equipped.

  1. 6d ago

    Reclaim You: The Workshop

    Last Tuesday I taught a free workshop called Reclaim You. Two women came. I taught it like the room was full, and I walked out surer than I walked in. This is the teaching, start to finish, so you can do it with me. Grab a pen. There are two places where I'll ask you to write, and I want you to actually pause me when I do. In this episode: Why I went into this workshop treating it as a test, and what happened when one woman came The Missing Phase: how mothers absorb everyone else's schedules and needs until they lose their own data points The Root prompt, and what to do with whatever you write down The Reclaim prompt: one piece of yourself you're ready to take back because of who you are now Why I stop before Rise, on purpose The two prompts, if you want them in front of you: Root: Look at your last 48 hours. If we stripped away everyone else's schedules, demands, and "I'm fine" moments, what did you actually want to do with just one free hour? Write down the raw, unfiltered truth of what you are currently tolerating. Reclaim: Think of the version of you before motherhood, or the version of you that existed before this current season shifted. What is one piece of her, a feeling, a boundary, a hobby, or a standard, that you didn't notice slipped away, but you are ready to reclaim because of who you are now? The Rebirth Journey, twelve weeks, eight women, Wednesdays 6:30 to 7:30pm AZ, starts Wednesday, October 7th. Enrollment closes Tuesday, October 6th at 11:59pm AZ: The Rebirth Journey Not sure yet? Email me at hello@themidwifelife.co with "talk" in the subject line, and we'll find twenty minutes. Not ready for any of that? Start with the free guided audio reflection instead, about ten minutes: Something is shifting audio

  2. Aug 31 ·  Bonus

    Your Body Isn’t Broken: Rethinking Women’s Health, Hormones, and Longevity with Stephanie Gambetta

    For decades, women have been told that fatigue, weight gain, slower recovery, brain fog, and hormone shifts are simply part of aging. But what if the real issue isn’t that women’s bodies are failing them? What if the real problem is that we’ve been given incomplete information about how our bodies actually work - especially in midlife. In this episode of The Midwife Life, Diane sits down with Stephanie Gambetta, founder of Loop and host of The Loop Podcast, to explore a new way of thinking about women’s health, metabolic wellness, and longevity. Stephanie’s journey into this work began after a serious skiing accident led her into a long recovery and sparked a deep curiosity about peptides and the science of healing and resilience. That curiosity eventually led her to create Loop, a wellness platform focused on education, coaching, and helping people approach new health tools with both curiosity and discernment. Together, Diane and Stephanie unpack: What peptides actually are (and why they’re suddenly everywhere) Why women’s metabolic health often changes in midlife The conversation around GLP medications and sustainable weight loss Why bloodwork and personalization matter more than trends How women can move from information overload to informed decision-making What it means to support your body instead of fighting it This conversation is not about quick fixes or biohacking hype. It’s about helping women understand their bodies in a deeper way — and reclaiming the power that comes with that knowledge. In This Episode We Discuss: Stephanie’s recovery journey and how it led to founding Loop Peptides explained in plain language The missing conversation around women’s metabolism and aging GLP medications and sustainable metabolic health Why coaching and education matter in the wellness space Building a values-driven company in an emerging industry Connect with Stephanie Website: ⁠https://www.theloopway.com⁠ Podcast: The Loop Podcast Instagram: @theloopway Connect with Diane Website: ⁠themidwifelife.co⁠ Instagram: @the.midwife.life.co

  3. Aug 17

    You Are Not Broken — Nourishing Your Body Through Life's Transitions with Courtney Smith

    This replay is for the woman who looks like she's holding it all together — but feels very tired in her bones. Diane is joined by Courtney Smith, registered dietitian, exercise specialist, certified lactation counselor, and founder of Maternally Nourished. Courtney supports high-achieving women through fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, burnout, menopause, and major life transitions using nutrition, functional movement, nervous system regulation, and sustainable care. This conversation isn't about fixing yourself. It's about remembering how to resource yourself. Courtney brings both the clinical expertise of a double master's-educated, board-certified dietitian and the lived experience of a woman who has navigated grief, identity, and the pressure to do it all. Together, Diane and Courtney explore what the body is really communicating when it starts to break down — and what it looks like to actually listen. In This Episode, We Explore How chronic stress silently impacts fertility, digestion, blood sugar, and metabolism — and why high-functioning women are often the last to recognize it Nourishing yourself through postpartum: what your body actually needs, how to prepare your village before baby arrives, and why cutting calories while breastfeeding works against you Functional movement across life stages — from postpartum reconnection to strength training in midlife and why muscle is one of the most powerful tools women have The long shadow of diet culture: releasing the moral value attached to food and healing the relationship between stress, identity, and eating What to do first when you feel completely depleted — and three small, realistic shifts you can start tomorrow Courtney's Three Shifts to Start Tomorrow Walk more — even 10 minutes at lunch, even in your hallway. It's free, underrated, and supports your lymphatic system and nervous system alike. Cook one meal at home — it doesn't have to be complicated. A quesadilla counts. A crock pot dump counts. An act of feeding yourself is an act of self-love. Journal — pen to paper, notes app, one line, one hour, whatever you have. Try the Rose/Bud/Thorn method: one thing that went well, one area of growth coming, one thing that didn't go as hoped. Reflection for Listeners Where in your body are you feeling the cost of not slowing down — and what is one small thing you could do today to begin listening? Resources & Links Connect with Courtney Smith: Instagram: @MaternallyNourished TikTok: Maternally Nourished Website: MaternallyNourished.com Free 30-Minute Discovery Call: Available through her website

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About

Welcome to The Midwife Life—part podcast, part revolution that empowers and educates women on all things related to pregnancy, birth, postpartum care, and careers in healthcare. Whether it's understanding the options available to you, advocating for yourself in a health care setting, or simply knowing that you're not alone, I want you to leave each episode feeling stronger and more equipped.

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