Born Wild Podcast

Sophia Henderson and Lea Ritter
  • 5.0 (20)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Born Wild Podcast

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. 134. Between a Shot and a Hard Place with Dr. Joel Warsh

    JUL 7

    134. Between a Shot and a Hard Place with Dr. Joel Warsh

    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Joel Warsh, integrative pediatrician and author of Between a Shot and a Hard Place, to explore the current state of vaccine discourse, parental decision-making, and public trust in medicine. Dr. Warsh shares why he wrote this book, how censorship impacts open dialogue, and what he hopes for the future of vaccine education and policy. ⸻ 🌱 What You’ll Learn: • What inspired Between a Shot and a Hard Place • The impact of censorship and the “Vaccine Club” mentality • Gaps in research around vaccine safety and chronic illness • Why trust in the medical system is declining • Navigating pediatric care with a curious and critical lens • How to ask your pediatrician the right questions • Ways parents can stay balanced on polarized topics ⸻ 👨‍⚕️ Guest Bio: Dr. Joel Warsh is an integrative pediatrician, author, and speaker based in Los Angeles. He’s known for his thoughtful, balanced approach to parenting and public health, and his advocacy for informed consent and transparency. His recent book, Between a Shot and a Hard Place, tackles difficult vaccine questions with clarity and care. ⸻ 🔗 Links and Resources Mentioned: • Dr. Joel Warsh’s Website • Between a Shot and a Hard Place (book) • @drjoelgator on Instagram ⸻ 📣 Call to Action: If you found this episode helpful or thought-provoking, please leave a review and share with a fellow parent or provider. Let’s keep the conversation going—respectfully, curiously, and courageously. ⸻ 💬 Connect with us: @sophiabirth @bayareahomebirth @bornwildmidwifery 🌳 Stay Wild

    47 min
  2. 133. Maximizing Your Maternity Leave with Diane from California Maternity Leave Consulting

    JUN 30

    133. Maximizing Your Maternity Leave with Diane from California Maternity Leave Consulting

    ✨ Episode Summary: Today we’re diving deep into all things maternity leave with Diane — engineer, home birth mom of two, and the powerhouse behind California Maternity Leave Consulting. Diane breaks down how to create a personalized maternity leave plan, what benefits really matter, and how to navigate the power dynamics between employer, provider, and state so you can advocate for the leave and pay you deserve. From understanding protective leave vs. wage replacement (PFL), to tips for the self-employed and what to do if you face pregnancy discrimination, this episode is a must-listen for every working parent (and birth worker who wants to better support their clients). ⸻ 📚 What You’ll Learn: • The biggest pitfalls families face when planning maternity leave — and how to avoid them • How to create a clear leave plan before you’re even pregnant • The truth about protective leave vs. wage replacement (PFL) • How FMLA, PDL, CFRA, and other laws work together • Advocacy tips: navigating power dynamics with employers & being your own best advocate • Leave & pay options for the self-employed and S-corps • Diane’s top 3 steps to maximize your benefits ⸻ 👤 Guest Bio: Diane is an engineer, home birth mom of two, and the CEO & Founder of California Maternity Leave Consulting. After navigating her own confusing leaves and realizing how broken the system is, she’s now known as the “Rosetta Stone of Maternity Benefits.” She’s helped over 3,000 women break down complex benefits into clear, actionable steps so they can get the leave they deserve. When she’s not advocating for better policies, Diane loves meditation, sewing, and Disney days with her kids — and dreams of competing on Project Runway one day! ⸻ 🔗 Links and Resources Mentioned: • Website: californiamaternityleave.com • Facebook: California Maternity Leave • Instagram: @CaliforniaMaternityLeave ⸻ ✅ Call to Action: If you loved this episode, share it with a parent or birth worker who needs it! Tag us and let us know your biggest takeaway. ⸻ 🌿 Connect with Us: @sophiabirth @bayareahomebirth @bornwildmidwifery Stay Wild 🌳✨

    50 min
  3. 132. Catching Her Own Baby: Holistic Birth, Breastfeeding & Empowerment with Jordan Dizon

    JUN 23

    132. Catching Her Own Baby: Holistic Birth, Breastfeeding & Empowerment with Jordan Dizon

    In this inspiring episode, Sophia talks with Jordan Dizon — a DONA-trained birth doula and lactation support specialist — about her incredible personal birth story, catching her own son, navigating NICU challenges during COVID, and how she supports families holistically through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Jordan shares her passion for shifting hospital policies, her experience with postpartum anxiety and rage, and her practical advice on nutrition, colostrum harvesting, and creating a breastfeeding plan. This heartfelt conversation is full of wisdom for both expecting parents and fellow birth workers. ⸻ 📚 What You’ll Learn: • How Jordan caught her own baby during birth • Navigating NICU stays and COVID restrictions • The power of nutrition: beef liver vs. prenatal vitamins, iron, vitamin A • Tips on hand expression & colostrum harvesting • How to craft a personalized lactation plan • Why she’s passionate about policy change and holistic newborn care • Her upcoming e-courses for expecting parents and birth workers ⸻ 👤 Guest Bio: Jordan Dizon is a DONA-trained birth doula and lactation support specialist dedicated to educating parents on the physiology of pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. She helps families advocate for themselves through a holistic, heart-centered approach and sees her work as an act of love and servanthood. She’s also an upcoming IBCLC, a nutrition response practitioner, and an advocate for better postpartum mental health support. ⸻ 🔗 Links and Resources Mentioned: • Follow Jordan: Instagram @Wellnessandwomb • Holistic recommendations: www.smearnatural.com | @Smearbybrit • Stay tuned for Jordan’s upcoming e-courses for expecting parents and birth workers! ⸻ ✅ Call to Action: Loved this episode? Share it with a friend, tag us, and let us know your biggest takeaway! ⸻ 🌿 Connect with Us: @sophiabirth @bayareahomebirth @bornwildmidwifery Stay Wild 🌳

    37 min
  4. 131. Father’s Day Special: Dads on Birth – From Hospitals to Home

    JUN 16

    131. Father’s Day Special: Dads on Birth – From Hospitals to Home

    In this heartfelt Father’s Day episode, we bring together a panel of fathers who’ve experienced a wide range of births — hospital, birth center, home birth, cesarean, and IVF journeys. They share their honest reflections on becoming dads, supporting their partners, and what birth taught them about love, fear, and fatherhood. 🔍 What You’ll Learn: ​ What dads really think when home birth is first mentioned​ How men prepare emotionally and practically for labor​ Their biggest fears, surprises, and favorite moments​ How different birth settings shaped their entry into fatherhood​ What they would say to other fathers preparing for birth 🎤 Featured Guests & Birth Summaries: ​ Jake – 1 home birth​ Patrick – 1 hospital, 2 birth center, 2 home births​ Bryan – 2 home births, IVF journeys​ Will – 1 birth center, 1 home​ Andy – 2 cesareans, 3 vaginal hospital births, 2 home births​ Chris – 1 cesarean, 1 home birth Know a dad who needs to hear this? Share this episode with him. And if you’re curious about home birth or have questions, reach out — we’re here for you. 🤝 Connect with Us: Instagram: @sophiabirth @bayareahomebirth @bornwildmidwifery 🌿 Stay Wild

    59 min
  5. 127. Plant Wisdom, Birth as Initiation & Reclaiming Herbal Traditions with Sarah Dolan

    JUN 10

    127. Plant Wisdom, Birth as Initiation & Reclaiming Herbal Traditions with Sarah Dolan

    In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Dolan—herbalist, student midwife, and tender of sacred thresholds—to explore the profound ways plant medicine and birthwork weave together. Sarah shares her path to midwifery, insights on herbs like nettle, calendula, and angelica, and her deep reverence for birth as a spiritual rite of passage. We talk NORA tea, postpartum care, the energetic language of plants, and how not all herbs are for all people at all times. What You’ll Learn: ​Sarah’s journey from herbalist to student midwife ​Nutrient-dense herbs for pregnancy and postpartum ​The role of teas vs. tinctures in plant medicine ​How plants reveal the parts of the body they support ​Birth as spiritual initiation ​Flower essences, Strong Woman Syrup, and how to work with plants respectfully Sarah Dolan is a daughter, sister, partner, and tender of relationships between humans and the living Earth. Her many-years-long yearning to apprentice herself to birthwork culminated in her joining the Born Wild team as a student midwife in early 2025. As a clinical herbalist and plant medicine maker, Sarah brings her knowledge and appreciation of the body’s innate wisdom to her birthwork. She honors passage through the portal of birth as a profound spiritual initiation and is grateful to hold sacred space for birth’s ordinary magic to arise. When Sarah is not foraging for wild medicinals, making tea, or reading about birth, she can be found hiking—chatting with the trees and collecting all manner of rocks and sticks—or at the beach, learning lessons from the waves. Links and Resources Mentioned: ​Shop: mooncanyonhealing.com ​Instagram: @mooncanyon, @sldolan0 ​Email: sarah@mooncanyonhealing.com ​Strong Woman Syrup: Taproot Medicine ​Postpartum Care Trio: Milky Oat x Moon Canyon If you’re feeling inspired by Sarah’s path or want to learn more about working with herbs through pregnancy and postpartum, be sure to follow her and check out her offerings. Connect With Us: @sophiabirth @bayareahomebirth @bornwildmidwifery Stay Wild

    56 min
  6. 130. Home Birth, Healing, and Holistic Wisdom with Alex Kelly

    JUN 9

    130. Home Birth, Healing, and Holistic Wisdom with Alex Kelly

    In this episode, we sit down with Alex Kelly—educator, mother, and holistic parenting advocate—to talk about her journey through cesarean and home birth VBAC, navigating severe pregnancy complications, and supporting a failure-to-thrive baby through breastfeeding challenges and supplementing. Alex shares how her background in holistic dentistry and integrative health shaped her parenting and recovery, and why she’s passionate about helping parents trust both natural and conventional approaches to care. What You’ll Learn: • The importance of laboring before a cesarean vs. scheduled cesarean • Alex’s experience with postpartum hypertension and hospital readmission • How sleep-breathing disorders and tongue/lip ties can affect children • The role of nutrition, baby aspirin, and L-arginine in pregnancy • Why baby position matters during labor (hello, long pushing stage!) • Insights into holistic dentistry and navigating conventional medicine with balance Alex Kelly is passionate about educating parents to parent in a naturally-minded way, without letting it cause unnecessary fear or anxiety. Raised by a holistic dentist and a first-generation American mom, she blends holistic and conventional wisdom in her approach to parenting, pregnancy, and health. Alex shares openly about her C-section and HBAC experiences, breastfeeding journey, and commitment to making informed, empowered choices for herself and her family. Links and Resources Mentioned: • Instagram: @thenaturalmindedmama • Website: thenaturalmindedmama.com • Dr. Hal Stewart (Alex’s father) – Expert in sleep breathing disorders and oral ties If Alex’s story resonated with you, tag us and share your takeaways on Instagram! Have a story of your own you’d love to share on the podcast? Reach out—we’d love to hear from you. Connect with Us: @sophiabirth @bayareahomebirth @bornwildmidwifery Stay Wild 🌳

    46 min
  7. 129. Biologically Normal Sleep & the Power of Nurture: A Conversation with Linda Fitzgerald

    MAY 19

    129. Biologically Normal Sleep & the Power of Nurture: A Conversation with Linda Fitzgerald

    In this episode, we sit down with infant sleep educator and Nurture Neuroscience Circle facilitator, Linda Fitzgerald, to explore how nurturing parenting practices shape emotional and mental health starting in infancy. Linda shares her personal story of moving to the U.S. during the pandemic, her journey into neuroscience-based parenting, and why “normal” infant sleep is so often misunderstood. We also dive into research on co-regulation, bedsharing, and the powerful impact of responsive care on long-term well-being. What You’ll Learn: • What biologically normal infant sleep really looks like • Why emotional attunement and co-regulation matter • The 7 “Safe Sleep” steps vs. sleep training myths • How nurturing parenting supports long-term mental health • Differences in parenting and healthcare between the U.S. and Czech Republic • The science behind responsive parenting and childhood resilience Linda Fitzgerald is an infant and child sleep consultant who specializes in attachment-based, brain-informed approaches that honor the parent-infant bond. Originally from the Czech Republic, she blends European and American perspectives in her work. Linda has been mentored by Dr. Lyndsey Hookway and trained as a Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner by Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum. She facilitates the Nurture Neuroscience Circle for new mothers in Fairfax, CA, and offers 1:1 sleep consultations. Links and Resources Mentioned: • Nurture Neuroscience Circle – Fairfax Registration • Instagram: @nurture_neuroscience_circle • The Nurture Revolution – Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum • Sweet Sleep – La Leche League • Why Your Baby’s Sleep Matters – Sarah Ockwell-Smith • Evolutionary Parenting – Sleep Resources • KellyMom.com Safe Sleep Resources: • Safe Sleep 7 – La Leche League infographic • Cuddle Curl & Safe Chest Sleeping • Free Co-Sleeping Guide – Cosleepy Recommended Book: • Nurture Revolution by Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum — A beautiful guide to infant brain development and the healing power of nurturing care. Instagram Accounts to Follow: • @drgreerkirshenbaum • @lyndsey_hookway • @cosleepy • @happycosleeper • @thebreastfeedingmentor Research We Discussed: • Maternal Affection & Mental Health: Study link Higher early maternal affection predicts lower adult anxiety and physical stress symptoms. • Maternal Sensitivity & Brain Development: Study link Lower maternal sensitivity linked to larger amygdala volume—associated with greater emotional reactivity. • REM Sleep & Memory Integration: Study link REM sleep “replays” experiences, supporting memory consolidation and brain development during milestones. Share this episode with a new parent, birthworker, or anyone curious about infant brain development. Tag us with your favorite takeaway! Connect with Us: @sophiabirth @bayareahomebirth @bornwildmidwifery Stay Wild 🌳

    52 min
  8. 128. Nourishing Fertility and Pregnancy with Anisa Woodall

    MAY 12

    128. Nourishing Fertility and Pregnancy with Anisa Woodall

    In this episode, we sit down with holistic prenatal nutritionist and mother of two, Anisa Woodall, to explore how intentional nourishment before conception can transform pregnancy and birth. Anisa shares her personal story of healing from depletion, her transition from midwife-attended birth to sovereign free birth, and how her work empowers women to reclaim their innate fertility and vitality. Together, we discuss how deep nourishment and self-trust prepare women for a resilient motherhood journey. What You’ll Learn: • Why pregnancy is inherently safe when the body is well resourced • How undernourishment before conception increases risks like hypertension, preeclampsia, and poor fetal development • The connection between fertility challenges and postpartum depletion • Practical ways to support fertility through nourishment and cycle awareness • What it means to truly listen to the voice of your womb • Anisa’s personal birth journeys — from home birth to free birth — and how they shaped her work Anisa Woodall, MS CN, is a holistic prenatal nutritionist with over nine years of experience in functional nutrition. After overcoming her own health and fertility challenges stemming from a vegetarian diet, Anisa now guides women to prepare for pregnancy through deep nourishment, cycle awareness, and self-trust. She is the creator of Resilient Motherhood, a comprehensive preconception course, and host of The Resilient Fertility Podcast. Anisa is passionate about helping women reconnect with the wisdom of their bodies for fertility, pregnancy, and empowered birth. Links and Resources Mentioned: • Website: anisawoodall.com • Instagram: @anisawoodallnutrition • Podcast: The Resilient Fertility Podcast If you loved this conversation, be sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast — and share this episode with a friend who’s preparing for pregnancy or walking the motherhood path! ⸻ Connect with Us: @sophiabirth | @bayareahomebirth | @bornwildmidwifery Stay Wild. 🌳

    1h 26m
See All (133)

5
out of 5
20 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 and Lea Ritter
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    133
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sophia Henderson and Lea Ritter

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada