Transformed by Birth

Britta Bushnell, PhD
  • 5.0 (17)
  • KIDS & FAMILY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. Gathering Bones: The Pause Before Change

    22H AGO

    Gathering Bones: The Pause Before Change

    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 and reflect on where you are in your own unfolding. Whether you are navigating pregnancy, postpartum, parenthood, or another season of becoming, this is a reminder that not all phases are meant for forward motion. Some are for listening, waiting, and remembering what animates us from within. LEARN MORE

    38 min
  2. Birth as Portal: How Doulas Support the Transition into Parenthood

    DEC 23

    Birth as Portal: How Doulas Support the Transition into Parenthood

    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 her perspective on birth as a portal, the importance of moving beyond "should," and how mind, body, and spirit support can help parents quiet the noise, reclaim agency, and meet this threshold with clarity and self-trust. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, listen inward, and remember that birth is not only about bringing a baby into the world. It is about becoming someone new. LEARN MORE

    1 hr
  3. Beyond Baby Gear: What Babies Need Most

    DEC 16

    Beyond Baby Gear: What Babies Need Most

    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 messaging and social media overwhelm can pull parents away from their own inner knowing, and how returning to presence, responsiveness, and relationship can bring grounding back into the experience. This episode is an invitation to soften, breathe, and remember what babies need most. Whether you are expecting, newly postpartum, or supporting someone in this tender season, this conversation offers reassurance, perspective, and space to trust yourself. LEARN MORE

    1h 2m
  4. VBAC and the Power of Informed Choice

    DEC 9

    VBAC and the Power of Informed Choice

    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. We talk about voice, agency, and the inner work of navigating a system that often feels inconsistent and confusing. Whether you are preparing for your first or planning for another birth after a previous cesarean, this episode offers perspective, compassion, and space to breathe into what feels right for you. LEARN MORE

    1h 5m
  5. Birth, Story, and the Courage to Meet the Unknown

    DEC 2

    Birth, Story, and the Courage to Meet the Unknown

    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 of story as a guide, and how breech birth invites us to see the world differently. Together, we look at the humility and curiosity needed in birth work and the importance of staying present when the path ahead is unclear. This conversation reminds us that birth is never just a clinical event. It is a living, human rite of passage that asks us to listen deeply and step into the mystery with an open heart. LEARN MORE

    1h 20m
  6. Birthing Beyond the Gender Binary: One Papa's Pregnancy Story

    NOV 25

    Birthing Beyond the Gender Binary: One Papa's Pregnancy Story

    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 today's world and shares with honesty, humor, and clarity what this experience has meant for him, his partner, and their growing family. This conversation widens the story of birth and reminds us that pregnancy is a profoundly human experience. LEARN MORE

    58 min
  7. Mindful Communication: The Gift of Being Heard

    NOV 18

    Mindful Communication: The Gift of Being Heard

    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 seen and heard. This conversation invites us to slow down, soften, and consider how communication rooted in compassion can transform both parenting and our own inner landscapes. LEARN MORE

    1h 10m
  8. Reproductive Justice: A Framework for Liberation with Sabia Wade

    NOV 11

    Reproductive Justice: A Framework for Liberation with Sabia Wade

    What does liberation in birth really mean? In this episode, author and educator Sabia Wade, founder of Birthing Liberation, invites us to explore how power, consent, and even kink shape the way we give and receive care. Together, we trace how the body becomes both a mirror and a teacher, revealing our beliefs about worth, control, and freedom. This is a conversation about reclaiming the body as sacred, about rest and pleasure as acts of resistance, and about remembering that true healing happens when we center humanity in every act of care. LEARN MORE

    1h 10m
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Trailer

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Britta Bushnell, PhD
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Transformed by Birth

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