The Gossip

Samantha O'Donovan and Mia Briski
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The Gossip is a candid, heart-led podcast created by Mia, a birth coach, and Sam, an occupational therapist, where real conversations meet embodied wisdom. We share honest stories and thoughtful dialogue about fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, motherhood, and the wider experience of being a woman. Rather than treating these seasons as problems to solve, we explore them as lived, relational experiences shaped by nervous systems, stories, seasons, and support. Drawing on our combined lenses of birth work and OT, we unpack what often goes unspoken—creating space for nuance, connection, and grounded understanding. This is the kind of “gossip” worth sharing: the conversations we wish more women had access to.

  1. 2d ago

    A Safer Childbirth: What Every Expecting Parent Should Know

    This week on The Gossip, we're joined by a very special guest, Gina Mundy, childbirth attorney, bestselling author, speaker, podcast host and mother of three. Through her work analysing birth injury cases, medical records and delivery-team decisions, Gina has identified patterns in the way things can go wrong during labour and delivery, including many that may be preventable. Gina is the author of A Parent's Guide to a Safer Childbirth and the creator of the Safer Childbirth Community and The Childbirth Attorney Podcast. Her work is focused on giving expecting parents and birth professionals practical knowledge and information before they enter the delivery room. Together, Mia, Sam and Gina explore what expecting parents can do now to prepare for a safer birth, the importance of understanding your options and the decisions that may arise during labour, and how a cascade of interventions can unfold. We also share personal birth stories, including the experiences surrounding Gina's daughter's induction and her niece's labour, and talk honestly about the trauma that can accompany birth experiences that don't go as expected. This is a conversation about knowledge, preparation, informed decision-making and understanding what can happen during birth. Not to create fear, but to help parents feel more equipped to navigate the unexpected and advocate for themselves. You can find Gina and her work: A Parent's Guide to a Safer ChildbirthSafer Childbirth CommunityThe Childbirth Attorney PodcastConnect with us: Mia: mia_briski@hotmail.comSam: sam@mbmot.com.au

    A Safer Childbirth: What Every Expecting Parent Should Know

  2. Oct 28

    Real Life, Birth Choices & the Conversation We Need to Have

    This week on The Gossip, Mia and Sam are catching up on all things life, motherhood, pregnancy and birth. We share a little update on how things are going at home, including Séamus and the wait for his results next Friday. While he has improved, he is still looking unwell, so we are very much in that waiting game. We also chat about Quinn’s tiredness, Sam’s platelet levels and the questions that come with preparing for a planned home birth. Mia shares how things are going with her own children, including the ongoing challenge of sleep, little ones who aren’t quite sleeping well together and the impossibility of getting a moment to herself in the morning when the kids wake as soon as she does. But we’re also finding the positives in the chaos, including those extra cuddles. We then turn to a much bigger conversation: the inquest involving Stacey Hatfield and the media attention surrounding free birth. We talk about the distinction between free birth and planned home birth with a registered midwife, the way birth outcomes are reported differently depending on where they happen, and the importance of having a nuanced, balanced conversation about safety. Birth complications can occur in any setting. Rather than removing support for planned home births, we discuss the importance of accessible, appropriately trained maternity care and what happens when people feel they have fewer supported options. As always, we’re sharing our own thoughts and experiences, opening up the conversation and making space for the questions that matter. And we have a very special guest joining us next week, so stay tuned! How to contact us: Mia: mia_briski@hotmail.com Sam: sam@mbmot.com.au

    Real Life, Birth Choices & the Conversation We Need to Have

  3. Oct 21

    Home Birth: A Partner’s Perspective

    What is it like to experience a home birth from the perspective of the person supporting the woman through it? In this episode of The Gossip, Mia’s partner joins us for an honest conversation about home birth, sharing what it felt like to be there, the role of a support person, and the incredible euphoria that can come with witnessing birth in such an intimate and powerful way. We explore why the decision to have a home birth needs to be a joint one, the importance of understanding why your partner wants to birth at home, and what it means to truly support her through that choice. It’s about more than simply agreeing to a birth plan. It’s about listening, building trust, working through your own feelings and fears, and understanding what this experience means to the woman you love. We also talk about the emotions that can unfold during birth, the experience of being present, and how witnessing your partner bring your baby into the world can be an incredibly powerful and euphoric experience in its own right. This conversation offers a different perspective on home birth, reminding us that while the woman is the one giving birth, the experience can profoundly shape both partners. Whether you're considering a home birth, preparing to support someone through birth, or simply curious about what the experience can be like for partners, this episode is an invitation to listen, reflect and open up the conversation. Because birth is her experience, but how we prepare for it, support each other through it, and make decisions together matters. As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Contact sam@mbmot.com.au and mia_briski@hotmail.com Instagram: rewoven_matrescence_by_mbm and _theempoweredbirthexperience

    Home Birth: A Partner’s Perspective

  4. Oct 14

    The Chaos of Life

    Life doesn’t always slow down when we need it to, and sometimes we find ourselves navigating more than we feel equipped to handle. In this episode, Sam (OT) shares honestly about the challenging days her family has been experiencing, with her son enduring severe abdominal pain and the distress of repeatedly seeking medical care before finally being heard and having investigations completed. With specialist appointments still ahead, sleep deprivation taking its toll, and a new baby only weeks away, Sam reflects on the emotional weight of holding so much at once. We talk about the difficulty of finding moments to ground ourselves when life feels uncertain, the worries that come with being heavily pregnant while caring for a child who is unwell, and the reality of preparing to welcome another baby when your mind and body are already carrying so much. Sam also shares her plans for the final weeks before maternity leave, including stepping back from work, making space for rest, and returning to art as a way to reconnect with herself and find some calm. Mia (birth coach) shares how things are going at home and work, reflecting on finding a balance that feels sustainable and the sense of purpose she gets from supporting women and mothers through some of life's biggest transitions. A conversation about the messiness of real life, the different seasons we move through, and the importance of finding small ways to care for ourselves when everything feels like a lot. Because sometimes life is chaotic, the answers aren't clear, and all we can do is take it moment by moment.

    The Chaos of Life

  5. Sep 16

    Induction: The Why, The Stats & The Cascade

    In this episode of The Gossip, Mia, a birth coach, and Sam, an OT, unpack the topic of induction of labour. We talk through the statistics, why more women are being induced, the different reasons an induction might be recommended, and what the evidence actually tells us. We also explore the potential cascade of intervention that can follow an induction, from monitoring and augmentation through to assisted birth or caesarean. Most importantly, we share our own experiences of induction, how those experiences felt, what we wish we had known, and the importance of informed decision-making and feeling supported throughout pregnancy and birth. A conversation about the choices, the questions, the uncertainty and the reality of induction from two women with very different experiences.

    Induction: The Why, The Stats & The Cascade

  6. Sep 2

    Ups and Downs

    In this episode of The Gossip, we're sharing a real-life catch-up on the highs and lows we're navigating right now. Mia opens up about experiencing a pregnancy loss earlier this year during her fourth pregnancy, and the journey of grieving, healing, and coming to peace with the decision that her family feels complete. She also shares the incredible experience of attending a beautiful free birth, arriving just moments after baby entered the world, and how moving house has brought a sense of calm and grounding into this season of life. As she looks ahead, she's feeling especially passionate about supporting more women through VBAC births. Sam shares an update on her pregnancy, including the fatigue of balancing work while growing a baby and supporting two young children, and the relief of moving through the worst of her nausea after discovering a food trigger. She talks honestly about living with placenta previa, the uncertainty that comes with it, and the shift from trying to control the outcome to trusting the process. Together with her midwife, she's choosing to wait until her 32-week scan before making decisions about birth, while entering the third trimester with hope and flexibility. This episode is a reminder that motherhood is rarely linear. Sometimes it's about grief, sometimes it's about surrender, and often it's about learning to hold both uncertainty and hope at the same time. Key takeaways Processing pregnancy loss and finding peace after grief.How environment and life changes can support nervous system regulation.The beauty and power of physiological birth and Mia's passion for VBAC support.Navigating pregnancy fatigue while running a business and parenting.Letting go of control during pregnancy complications and trusting the next step instead of the whole journey.Entering the third trimester with openness, hope, and a willingness to adapt as new information comes.A gentle, honest conversation for anyone moving through the unexpected ups and downs of motherhood, pregnancy, and life.

    Ups and Downs

  7. May 14

    Modalities of Care

    There’s a difference between being informed… and being pressured. On the podcast this week, Mia (birth coach) and Sam (OT) spoke about modalities of care, hospital policies, and the way many women can feel pushed into decisions instead of genuinely supported through them. We spoke about the importance of continuity of care — having a trusted midwife who knows you, who listens, who allows space for questions, who respects your “no,” and who supports informed choice rather than fear-based decision making. Because women deserve care that is relational, not transactional. Birth should never feel like something happening to you. It should feel like care that happens with you.

    Modalities of Care

  8. Apr 9

    Pregnancy after Loss

    Pregnancy after loss can hold so many emotions at once — hope, fear, excitement, and anxiety all living side by side. In this episode, Mia (birth coach) and Sam (OT) have an open and honest conversation about navigating pregnancy after loss. Sam shares her own personal journey, speaking to the emotional complexity of feeling both deeply anxious and cautiously excited. Together, they explore gentle, practical ways to cope with the uncertainty — from simple regulating strategies to support your nervous system, to the importance of having the right people around you during this time. This episode is a reminder that your feelings are valid, you’re not alone, and it’s okay for joy and fear to coexist. A supportive listen for anyone walking this tender path 🤍

    Pregnancy after Loss
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About

The Gossip is a candid, heart-led podcast created by Mia, a birth coach, and Sam, an occupational therapist, where real conversations meet embodied wisdom. We share honest stories and thoughtful dialogue about fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, motherhood, and the wider experience of being a woman. Rather than treating these seasons as problems to solve, we explore them as lived, relational experiences shaped by nervous systems, stories, seasons, and support. Drawing on our combined lenses of birth work and OT, we unpack what often goes unspoken—creating space for nuance, connection, and grounded understanding. This is the kind of “gossip” worth sharing: the conversations we wish more women had access to.

Information

  • Creator
    Samantha O'Donovan and Mia Briski
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Samantha O'Donovan and Mia Briski 2025
  • Show Website
    The Gossip