Born Free Method: The Podcast

Nathan Riley, MD, Father of 2
  • 4.2 (336)
  • MEDICINE

There are a lot of birth-related podcasts out there. But here you are...considering this one! As with all of our projects at Born Free Method, this project is one of a kind. If you are fed up with modern maternity care, stop grumbling and groaning and take action! This podcast can lead the way. Somehow we manage to blend birth, spirituality, medicine, fitness, ecology, ceremony, psychedelia, psychology, and more all into one great offering, leaving a lingering whiff of "my body, my choice" in our wake. We're happy that you're here for the show! nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com

  1. Rudi Verspoor: Lost in Dilution - Reclaiming Hahnemann's True Vision of Homeopathy

    6H AGO

    Rudi Verspoor: Lost in Dilution - Reclaiming Hahnemann's True Vision of Homeopathy

    If you feel like homeopathy is baloney, you’re not alone. This was my general position on this centuries-old “science” until I met Rudi Verspoor, one of the world’s leading scholars on the work of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy. In collaboration with Steven Decker, Rudi undertook a decades-long re-examination of Hahnemann’s complete medical system — not merely homeopathy, but the broader framework Hahnemann himself called Heilkunst, meaning “the art of making whole.”As a result of the general failure of existing homeopaths and homeopathic schools to incorporate these insights, Rudi helped found the Hahnemann College for Heilkunst, which provides a four-year program internationally to train practitioners in Heilkunst. Rudi has written and co-written numerous books, including Homeopathy Renewed: A Sequential Approach to the Treatment of Chronic Illness, Homeopathy Re-examined: Beyond the Classical Paradigm, The Dynamic Legacy: Hahnemann from Homeopathy to Heilkunst, Autism: The Journey Back — Recovering the Self Through Heilkunst, and Scandal in Köthen: The Real Homeopathic Love Story, among others.At the heart of Verspoor’s work is the conviction that classical homeopathy, as widely practiced today, represents only a fragment of what Hahnemann truly envisioned — and that the complete system of Heilkunst, with its emphasis on causal prescribing, inherited disease, and the dynamic energy underlying health, offers a far more profound path to healing.Reach out to Rudi’s team if you want to work with one of the best: reception@homeopathy.com 00:13:00 - How Samuel Hahnemann’s work has been distorted over the centuries; sustantive power versus generative power (duality of life force); vitalism has been largely ignored in western medicine; palingenesis versus homeostasis; heilkhunst; physician versus medician; bio-logic 00:34:15 - Law of similars; case study of china bark and arsenic; wesen = essence (everything living thing and thought and diseases has a wesen); Hahnemann’s dilutional experiments that crossed over from material to dynamics 00:49:00 - In the world of dynamics, we can start to treat emotional and traumatic wesens; how did homeopathy become a practice of merely palliating symptoms? Why hasn’t homeopathy performed well in randomized control trials? Remedies for chronic miasms; remedies for “being pissed off” 01:17:30 - Vaccination versus immunization drawing from Steiner and the history of small pox inoculation; vaccinations ultimately weaken the immune system; original antigenic sin; homeoprophylaxis Reach out to Rudi’s team if you want to work with one of the best: reception@homeopathy.com References from this conversation: * Rudi’s paper on chronic miasms (free after you create an account) * 1796 white paper on homeopathy by Hahnemann * THE DYNAMIC LEGACY: Hahnemann From Homeopathy to Heilkunst - An On-going Study of the Meaning in the Writings of Samuel Hahnemann within the Context of the Dynamic System of Thought Leading Thereby to a More Powerful System of Cure for Disease Related episodes: * Of Yarrow and Men: the Seasonal Alchemy of Huma Decay Born Free Method: The Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This episode was sponsored by Born Free Method. The Born Free Method digital playground includes over 60 hrs of pre-recorded lessons (w/ slides) spread out over 180+ lessons when you enroll. You will also be invited to a Zoom call (recorded) every other week hosted by me, Sara, and both. We also often have guest speakers, and you will have access to recordings for all 100+ of our past calls/interviews.All of this for just $200 per month. More ways to work with Nathan:Support for Midwives | Private Consultation | Clear & FreeMedical Disclaimer: Born Free Method: The Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.Music provided by RealMovieScores / Pond5 Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 32m
  2. Hadhee Jah: Traditional midwifery is losing ground, a conversation with The Last Birthkeeper

    1D AGO

    Hadhee Jah: Traditional midwifery is losing ground, a conversation with The Last Birthkeeper

    Hadhee Jah is an Ayurvedic postpartum doula and birth sovereignty advocate originally from the Maldives, whose work bridges ancestral wisdom with the modern experience of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery. Rooted deeply in her Maldivian heritage, she has dedicated her life to reclaiming traditional approaches to motherhood and postnatal care.Hadhee’s path into birth work was profoundly shaped by her own birth story. During her labor, she experienced a deep spiritual connection with her grandmother — a transformative moment that awakened her commitment to honoring the wisdom carried across generations. That personal experience, along with the challenges she navigated in her own postpartum journey, became the foundation for her calling.Drawing on Ayurvedic principles and Maldivian communal birth traditions, Hadhee champions practices such as warm oil massage, belly binding, and nurturing postpartum rituals that prioritize the full recovery and emotional wellbeing of new mothers. Central to her philosophy is the belief that the postpartum period is not merely a brief recovery phase, but a sacred, lifelong journey — a perspective she describes as “birth sovereignty,” guiding women to birth and mother with fierce self-trust.Hadhee has spoken extensively on the importance of community-based, grassroots maternal care, advocating for mothers to reclaim their autonomy within healthcare systems. She advises women on choosing the right midwife and navigating hospital environments to create empowering, personalized birth experiences.She is the author of the book, Postpartum Is Forever, in which she draws on her Maldivian heritage to present a vision of postnatal care rooted in ancestral wisdom and Ayurvedic tradition. The book argues for viewing postpartum not as a medical milestone to complete, but as an ongoing dimension of a woman’s identity and health.Connect with Hadhee through her website, Instagram, and Youtube. Purchase her book HERE. 00:06:45 - Birth is completely medicalized in the Maldives, but there used to be a rich history of traditional midwifery. Traditionally, it was typical to “warm” the women postpartum for 40 days. This wisdom is still being passed on secondarily, “the wisdom wants to find somebody to carry it forward”.00:12:36 - What did traditional midwifery used to look like in the Maldives? The way in which babies come into the world holds great import for the future of the world. You are gifted with the experience of giving birth!00:23:28 - What was the impulse that provoked policy change around midwifery in the Maldives and what lessons might be learn for the future of midwifery care in the United States?00:27:55 - Hadhee’s free birth, and why she ended up in the hospital despite her baby being born happy and healthy00:43:00 - What are the detriments to childbirth of a woman feeling watched or observed?00:47:02 - Ayurveda, belly binding, and yoni steamingConnect with Hadhee through her website, Instagram, and Youtube. Purchase her book HERE. References from the conversation: * The Last Birthkeeper (Hadhee’s 10-minute documentary) * Train with Hadhee’s teacher to become an Ayurvedic postpartum doula Related episodes: * Carol Gautschi: Confronting Fear (and the Law) in Midwifery * Who Holds the Wisdom? Learning to Transgress Hegemony in Midwifery and Maternity Care * In the Waters of Rememberance: Honoring an Obstetrics Hero Born Free Method: The Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This episode was sponsored by Born Free Method. The Born Free Method digital playground includes over 60 hrs of pre-recorded lessons (w/ slides) spread out over 180+ lessons when you enroll. You will also be invited to a Zoom call (recorded) every other week hosted by me, Sara, and both. We also often have guest speakers, and you will have access to recordings for all 100+ of our past calls/interviews.All of this for just $200 per month. More ways to work with Nathan:Support for Midwives | Private Consultation | Clear & FreeMedical Disclaimer: Born Free Method: The Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.Music provided by RealMovieScores / Pond5 Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 10m
  3. Carol Gautschi: Confronting Fear (and the Law) in Midwifery

    FEB 12

    Carol Gautschi: Confronting Fear (and the Law) in Midwifery

    Carol Gautschi is a midwife with over 50 years in practice, and she has walked a very unorthodox path. Like many, Carol herself was plagued by fear of birth from an early age. She was sexually and physically molested separately by two different doctors in her first two births – and also given grossly inaccurate information postpartum that caused breastfeeding delay and hindered bonding. These experiences strongly planted seeds for the need of global reform, moving her to sense the sacredness and vulnerability of the moments during, before and after birth. Those moments had been stolen from her. She decided to hire a midwife for her third birth. The time spent with this midwife transformed her, helping her see that labor is wondrously spiritual, powerful, and a profoundly healthy force. She believes that women are being robbed by a society that does not see to care about the uniqueness of this time, this right of passage, and that not treating it with tender, sensitive respect, women are doing themselves harm– more harm then we can imagine. From that moment on she believed that birth was the highest place a woman can go in her body on this planet. For Carol, becoming a midwife was a metamorphosis. She has served families as an empirical midwife and doula or Monitrice since 1978, a deeply humbling honor.In this conversation, we dive in to the many fears prohibiting quality midwifery care and birth support, from the law to our own traumas. Connect with Carol through her website or by email: classicalmidwife@gmail.com . 00:01:43 - Carol’s midwifery beginnings (and what makes her so special). How does it feel to be called an “elder midwife”? Carol shares that she originally didn’t even like women at the time that she was being called to midwifery. Carol was drawn to this work through abuse she experienced at the hands of an OBGYN in her own births. 00:13:30 - Birth story of a baby born into a toilet after an exam revealed the baby wasn’t even engaged to the cervix. 00:1710 - Developing a healthy relationship with fear. A story of a large baby, episiotomy, and divine intervention. We can holding space for birth, we are acting on behalf of the Holy Spirit. At some point, every midwife has to make the decision not to allow the spirit of fear to drive their behaviors. 00:40:40 - Many “believers” misrepresent Christianity and Jesus (Yeshua), and this inauthenticity of Yeshua’s teachings is a great source of fear that has no place in childbirth. 00:44:35 - How is fear shaping modern midwifery care? Jacob’s contension with God in the Bible as a source of direction when faced with a dead baby. Ethical versus lawful care. Fear versus discernment. 00:58:10 - We have a moral obligation to disobey unjust laws. To whom do we owe our obligation? What happens when the legal system hits back? Honesty and integrity always win. As a midwife, you have the right to refuse care to people who aren’t doing their best to take care of themselves. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This episode was sponsored by Born Free Method. The Born Free Method digital playground includes over 60 hrs of pre-recorded lessons (w/ slides) spread out over 180+ lessons when you enroll. You will also be invited to a Zoom call (recorded) every other week hosted by me, Sara, and both. We also often have guest speakers, and you will have access to recordings for all 100+ of our past calls/interviews. All of this for just $200 per month. More ways to work with Nathan:Support for Midwives | Private Consultation | Clear & Free Medical Disclaimer: Born Free Method: The Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.Music provided by RealMovieScores / Pond5 Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 23m
  4. Maestro Hamilton Souther: Plant Medicine, Sorcery, Shamanigans, and Liberation from Trauma

    FEB 4

    Maestro Hamilton Souther: Plant Medicine, Sorcery, Shamanigans, and Liberation from Trauma

    For me, the word “maestro” brings to mind a conductor of a symphony orchestra. In the plant medicine setting, a maestro does something similar: orchestrate the journey, paying attention to everything that is happening in the space, including working with spirits, singing to the spirits of the plants (icaros), and creating sanctuary, within with everything you might experience is self-harmonizing, self-grounding, self-orienting, self-healing, and self- . This is not exclusive of the “bad” stuff that might arise in a ceremony. Those “bad spirits” can be brought into sanctuary for healing, too. Hamilton Southern has lived in the Peruvian Amazon for two decades, and it took him 14 years of intensive training to get to a place where he felt he could fully accept his role as a facilitator of plant medicine visionary experiences. While listening to this conversation, it’s important to remember that the medicine - whether it be ayahuasca, Hauchuma/San Pedro, cannabis, or psilocybin mushrooms - is not providing the cure. These medicines simply invoke an invitation for you to become liberated from whatever is holding you back. All of the “good” and “bad” stuff that comes up in these visionary experiences are a part of you. Are you willing to lean in to accept the possibility of healing? Read Hamilton’s books. Visit BlueMorpho.org for his retreats and online course. You’ll find community, education, support, compassion, and new ways of looking at the world. Tell them Nathan Riley sent you. 00:12:20 - Assuaging the fears and apprehensions of those who have heard horror stories about ayahuasca and unethical practices in this space. 00:20:29 - When things get scary in sanctuary, you can invoke “sanctuary”. The primary tenets: 1) time is infinite, space is eternal; 2) source is in through and all around us; and 3) everything within sanctuary is self-healing, self-harmonizing, self-orienting, self-grounding, and self-balancing. Bring the darkness into sanctuary and heal that as well. 00:28:29 - When scary things emerge in a medicine journey, lean in with curiosity rather than making assumptions about the intentions of the figures that may arise in your visions. 00:32:23 - Hamilton’s first ayahuasca ceremonies were no walk in the park. They were more like a hard drive disc defragmentation. 00:40:50 - Perhaps we should seek healing from trauma. Perhaps should be seeking liberation from trauma. 00:43:07 - 250 years of Western medicine shouldn’t wipe out 50,000 years of ancestral medicine application. Rather, “modern medicine” should seek to clarify the prior 50,000 years of medicine that preceded it. This is a huge value to Hamilton’s work in opening the world to these medicines. Dosing with plant medicines has less to do with body mass and more with individual temperament, and knowing how much to give to a person for the desired goal requires practice and patience as a facilitator. 00:53:00 - How does one reach a point where they are ready to offer medicine themselves? 00:57:18 - What is the role of the facilitator/Shaman/maestro in a ceremony? 01:02:18 - The importance of being able to distinguish reality from illusion in a visionary plant medicine experience. 01:09:51 - Integration after a medicine journey is as important if not more important than the medicine experience itself. 01:21:55 - A proper “dieta” prior to ayahuasca and why these restrictions are valuable to the experience. Pros and cons of mixing visionary medicines. 01:35:00 - Medicine versus sorcery 01:41:07 - Birth trauma and visionary plant medicines Read Hamilton’s books. Visit BlueMorpho.org for his retreats and online course. You’ll find community, education, support, compassion, and new ways of looking at the world. Tell them Nathan Riley sent you. References from the conversation: * Buddha in Red Face, by Eduardo Duran Related episodes: * Hamilton Souther: On the Use of Plant Medicines in Releasing Birth Trauma * You are the Church: Psychedelics Within and Without Ceremony, a Conversation with Payam * Kimberly Ann Johnson: On Grieving the Loss of Sanctity in Birth This episode was sponsored by Born Free Method. The Born Free Method digital playground includes over 60 hrs of pre-recorded lessons (w/ slides) spread out over 180+ lessons when you enroll. You will also be invited to a Zoom call (recorded) every other week hosted by me, Sara, and both. We also often have guest speakers, and you will have access to recordings for all 100+ of our past calls/interviews. All of this for just $200 per month. More ways to work with Nathan:Support for Midwives | Private Consultation | Clear & Free Medical Disclaimer: Born Free Method: The Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.Music provided by RealMovieScores / Pond5 Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 50m
  5. Andy Schoonover: Reengaging the Consumer with the Cost of Healthcare with the founder of CrowdHealth

    JAN 29

    Andy Schoonover: Reengaging the Consumer with the Cost of Healthcare with the founder of CrowdHealth

    Andy Schoonover is the founder of CrowdHealth, a very unique alternative to conventional health insurance. They have a great track record for reimbursing on claims, and Andy compares his 20-odd refusals over the past 5 years to the 20% of denials that Americans with conventional insurance experience on the whole. How do they remain solvent if they are reimbursing for every claim? For starters, they don’t cover preventative care. They are truly filling the void that insurance is supposed to fill. With the savings that you can make by switching, you will have (a lot) more expendable income for changing your diet, lifestyle, and environment. This is an experiment in which I am participating with my family, as we just cancelled our health insurance policy in favor of a lower rate with CrowdHealth. And we still haven’t had to use it… Visit CrowdHealth and see for yourself. If you decide to join, you get a discount with my code RILEY 00:06:20 - Health insurance companies are massively wealthy, and yet 3 million Americans are carrying $10,000 or more in medical debt. Health insurance companies look for every reason to short you on reimbursements. They deny around 20% of claims. You pay a premium every month (either directly or your employer takes it from your paycheck) and you owe co-payments and service fees and you owe a deductible before your insurance policy even kicks in. This why health insurance companies remain so wealthy and you find healthcare unaffordable. CrowdHealth on the other hand denies 00:18:30 - What is the role of insurance to begin with? The government has been subsidizing health insurance premiums for the past decade and those subsidies are going away, thus your premiums are going up. 00:23:00 - How is CrowdHealth solving the issues being faced by the consumer? The money you save by transitioning to this less expensive model gives you more cash in hand to pay for those means of keeping yourself healthy without compromising tail risk for the rare catastrophe. By the way…it’s also cheaper to offer cash for your healthcare rather than using your insurance card. 00:29:45 - Physicians are often willing to charge you less if you pay in cash rather than relying on your health insurance policy because they get paid more. 00:36:20 - CrowdHealth covers childbirth, and won’t pay more than $3000 (which pales in comparison to the deductibles of conventional insurance). And they love home birth…They have had to tinker with maternity care coverage given that their average member age is 33 years, so LOTS of babies (and NICU admissions) have been covered. 00:43:00 - CrowdHealth offers two options: Bronze level or Black Swan. The former has a “deductible” of $500. That’s all. The latter is truly catastrophic coverage, but it the cheapest option on the planet for the rare, financial disasters that come as a consequence of health events. Visit CrowdHealth to check out the future of health insurance! If you decide to join, you get a discount with my code RILEY To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This episode was sponsored by Born Free Method. The Born Free Method digital playground includes over 60 hrs of pre-recorded lessons (w/ slides) spread out over 180+ lessons when you enroll. You will also be invited to a Zoom call (recorded) every other week hosted by me, Sara, and both. We also often have guest speakers, and you will have access to recordings for all 100+ of our past calls/interviews. All of this for just $200 per month. More ways to work with Nathan:Support for Midwives | Private Consultation | Clear & Free Medical Disclaimer: Born Free Method: The Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.Music provided by RealMovieScores / Pond5 Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

    53 min
  6. Edmund Knighton, PhD (Part 4) - Sacred Polarities: The Ra Material, Steiner, and a Man’s Work in Conception, Childbirth and Beyond

    JAN 27

    Edmund Knighton, PhD (Part 4) - Sacred Polarities: The Ra Material, Steiner, and a Man’s Work in Conception, Childbirth and Beyond

    Edmund Knighton, Ph.D., is a seasoned educator, clinical psychologist, and somatic movement practitioner whose multidisciplinary career spans more than three decades. He has engaged through various capacities with Waldorf education for over 35 years, once even serving as the president of Rudolf Steiner College. Drawing on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, the channeled material of “Ra” from the The Law of One, and somatic/transpersonal psychology, Edmund offers consulting for individuals, organizations, and families (including my own) committed to holistic growth. You won’t find Edmund on social media, but you can reach out to him by email: Fifthwanderer@gmail.com if you ‘d like to have his support in your home. In Part 1 of this series with Edmund, we discussed some of the basics around Steiner’s philosophy, the Waldorf pedagogy, a 3- and 4-fold approach to human wellbeing, and we started our venture into autism. In Part 2, we dove deeper into “autism” but also offered an invitation to consider the extrasensory gifts displayed by many “autistic” children. We also covered vaccines. In Part 3, we discussed the significance of the Holy Nights, a time of spiritual reflection and preparation leading up to Christmas as well as the days that follow. In Part 4, we focus on men. What is men’s work? What does it mean to embrace your feminine? What is meant by femininity and masculinity? What does this have to do with sex, childbirth, and love-making? 00:11:15 - A rebirth experience in a men’s circle for a man to feel welcomed into the world (by other men) as his full, integral self can be a very expansive yet confronting experience. Men’s work can reveal challenging parts within us, and the work of a men’s circle is also to help integrate and synthesize these experiences rather than suppress them. 00:21:00 - Each of us carries a multitude of masculine and feminine energetics. How does your masculinity invite the feminine to dance? (within yourself, with your partner, etc.) To create a clear binary between the masculine and feminine is to dismiss the beautiful complexities of how they dance with one another. 00:34:45 - The role of a woman’s body is “containing” the blood and body of her baby is a masculine activity. Perhaps children pull their mother into motherhood, not the other way around. Men has a co-creative role from being to end in bringing a baby Earthside. 00:46:25 - By getting in touch with our feminine, us men can logarithmically augment our power. How powerful are you really if you can’t hold a man’s hand and make eye contact for 60 seconds without losing connection to your self? Hug-by as a replacement for rubgy among children (and men). 00:59:55 - A true, embodied warrior knows that their sword without a dagger is sharp and dangerous. This is a metaphor for what is called “toxic masculinity”. This is also an apt metaphor for how a man wields his penis within his expression of the lover archetype. This metaphor comes through the story of Sir Lancelot and Lady Guinevere along with Mary Magdelene and Christ. 01:04:17 - If a man can’t enjoying giving himself pleasure, how can he possibly expect to provide pleasure to others? Men spend very little time touching themselves apart from masturbation. Edmund describes simple self-care exercises that can help us nourish our own pleasure centers, starting with self-touch. Edmund’s email: fifthwanderer@gmail.com To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. References from the conversation: * A Return to Eros: The Radical Experience of Being Fully Alive, by Marc Gafni * The Ra Material * Letters to a Young Poet, by Rainer Maria Rilke * Iron John: A Book about Men, by Robert Bly Related episodes: * Edmund Knighton, PhD (Part 1) - Certainty in Uncertainty: Parenting, Presence, and the Pedagogy of the Soul * Edmund Knighton, PhD (Part 2): Transcending Contemporary Views on Autism: Parenting, Perception, and the Future of Human Development * Edmund Kinghton, PhD (Part 3): - The Holy Nights, Advent, and the Pursuit of Spiritual Freedom * Blood-thirsty Goddesses, the Sexual Erotic, and a Shared Story of Value, with Hebrew Mystic Marc Gafni * John Wineland: Embracing the Liberation Paradigm from Sacred Masculinity to Conscious Parenting * What He Never Learned: Repair, Responsibility, and Men’s Silent Longing for Connection with Ted Riter This episode was sponsored by Born Free Method. The Born Free Method digital playground includes over 60 hrs of pre-recorded lessons (w/ slides) spread out over 180+ lessons when you enroll. You will also be invited to a Zoom call (recorded) every other week hosted by me, Sara, and both. We also often have guest speakers, and you will have access to recordings for all 100+ of our past calls/interviews. All of this for just $200 per month. Work with Nathan:Support for Midwives | Private Consultation | Born Free Method | Clear & Free Medical Disclaimer: Born Free Method: The Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.Music provided by RealMovieScores / Pond5 Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 26m
  7. Dr. Larry Palevsky: the Pediatrician You Didn't Know You Needed

    JAN 14

    Dr. Larry Palevsky: the Pediatrician You Didn't Know You Needed

    Dr. Lawrence “Larry” Palevsky is a New York-based, board-certified pediatrician known for his holistic and integrative approach to children’s health. With over 30 years of clinical experience, he combines conventional medical training with alternative wellness philosophies. His counseling generally focuses on the mother-baby dyad (or triad with inclusion of the father), and he is very critical of vaccines and the childhood vaccine schedule (but also a number of other elements that have become a routine part of pediatric care). Find more of the good doctor at his website and Instagram. 00:14:15 - Dr. Palevsky’s nickname as a kid was Fat Mama Brown; he didn’t pursue holistic medicine, holistic medicine pursued him; value of critical thinking in medicine; the art of creating differential diagnoses 00:22:05 - What is the psychology behind pediatricians rejecting families from their practice for questioning vaccines? When you tell a lie often enough, it starts to become accepted as truth; the problems with “germ theory” using the hepatitis B vaccine as an example (more on Hep B later) 00:40:20 - Dr. Palevsky’s counseling to families is exactly what you would hope to receive from your pediatrician, but most pediatricians are merely offering vaccines at those early visits. 00:53:40 - What are some signs of a “sick baby” that might prompt urgent assessment by a pediatrician? Fevers below the age of 3 months, refusal to eat, constant crying, coughing, low activity, etc. 00:58:50 - Why it’s important to recognize the inherent trauma of childbirth; a newborn’s nervous system develops outside the womb more than inside; stop waking up your baby for feedings 01:03:10 - Hyperbilirubinemia and neonatal jaundice; nowadays, Dr. Pavelsky doesn’t often see jaundice in babies who don’t receive the Vitamin K shot or hepatitis B vaccine; AB blood type incompatibility is also a common association; bili thresholds and clinical signs that might be supported by a visit to your pediatrician 01:09:22 - More on Vitamin K and delayed cord clamping 01:11:25 - Hepatitis B vaccine 01:15:50 - Circumcision 01:20:25 - Vaginal birth versus cesarean and the role of chiropractics postnatally 01:26:15 - Tongue/lip ties: Are we overdoing laster therapies? 01:28:25 - Pros and cons of newborn screening 01:31:00 - Cradle cap 01:33:00 - Should you always treat a fever? It doesn’t always reflect infection. Learn more about Dr. Larry Palevsky at his website and Instagram. References from the conversation: * Dr. Palevsky’s recent appearance on Alec Zeck’s podcast (deeper dive on Dr. Pavelsky’s vaccine views) * House of God, by Samuel Shem * Bio-K-Mulsion oral Vitamin K drops for newborns Related episodes: * Adam Blanning, MD: On Anthroposophical Medicine, Embracing Fever, and the Future of Integrative Medicine * The real science from real practitioners on the safety of childhood vaccines with retired pediatrician Paul Thomas, MD * Brendon Marotta: On Circumcision: A Cure Looking for a Disease * The Secret Life of the Unborn Child: Dr. Thomas Verny on the Embodied Mind, Epigenetics, and Transgenerational Healing This episode was sponsored by Born Free Method. The Born Free Method digital playground includes over 60 hrs of pre-recorded lessons (w/ slides) spread out over 180+ lessons when you enroll. You will also be invited to a Zoom call (recorded) every other week hosted by me, Sara, and both. We also often have guest speakers, and you will have access to recordings for all 100+ of our past calls/interviews. There is also a private community to interact with other members and a monthly’s men’s group for fathers or soon-to-be fathers. Lastly, you get direct support from me and Sara by call/text/email. You get all of this for only $200 per month. Enroll now. Any questions? Just shoot Nathan and Sara an email: support@bornfreemethod.com Work with Nathan:Support for Midwives | Private Consultation | Born Free Method | Clear & FreeMedical Disclaimer: Born Free Method: The Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.Music provided by RealMovieScores / Pond5 Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 49m
  8. Edmund Knighton, PhD (Part 3) - The Holy Nights, Advent, and the Pursuit of Spiritual Freedom

    JAN 9

    Edmund Knighton, PhD (Part 3) - The Holy Nights, Advent, and the Pursuit of Spiritual Freedom

    Edmund Knighton, Ph.D., is a seasoned educator, clinical psychologist, and somatic movement practitioner whose multidisciplinary career spans more than three decades. He has engaged through various capacities with Waldorf education for over 35 years, once even serving as the president of Rudolf Steiner College. Drawing on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, the channeled material of “Ra” from the The Law of One, and somatic/transpersonal psychology, Edmund offers consulting for individuals, organizations, and families (including my own) committed to holistic growth. You won’t find Edmund on social media, but you can reach out to him by email: Fifthwanderer@gmail.com if you ‘d like to have his support in your home. In Part 1 of this series with Edmund, we discussed some of the basics around Steiner’s philosophy, the Waldorf pedagogy, a 3- and 4-fold approach to human wellbeing, and we started our venture into autism. In Part 2, we dove deeper into “autism” but also offered an invitation to consider the extrasensory gifts displayed by many “autistic” children. We also covered vaccines. In this 3rd part, we will discuss the significance of the Holy Nights, a time of spiritual reflection and preparation leading up to Christmas as well as the days that follow. Edmund explains the Advent spiral and how such practices foster a deeper connection with nature and a sense of freedom. Edmund emphasizes that love can be experienced in both contentment and suffering, and that freedom is a practice developed through challenging experiences. 00:11:30 - How to connect to your heart, darkness retreats, the value of stillness and silence 00:24:00 - The 4 weeks leading up to the advent are dedicated to the mineral, plant, animal, and human realms, in that order. Christmas Eve (the first holy night) is the beginning of the Waldorf advent, an invitation to open and conduct a personal and interpersonal inventory of where you can refine your life. There is also an important connection to the Zodiak during these Holy Nights. The magical number 12. December 24th - Adam and Eve day, celebration of Adama, the first human, neither male or female, opportunity to reflect on just being December 25th - Birth Of Jesus, Christmas day, Angels take a step back as the guide to give human beings more freedom December 26th and beyond (the Holy Nights) - move through the hierarchies, starting with the angels, then to the archangels, and so forth. January 5th - The final Holy Night January 6th - The Epiphany (which coincides with orthodox Christmas, but they aren’t the same) 00:46:10 - Studying the spiritual sciences requires us to ask: is this insight leading me closer to or further away from freedom? A lot of criticisms of Steiner’s way of speaking are due to the ways that German people in authority spoke back then along with customs of Victorian times. Is perfection possible? 00:59:55 - What is the purpose of the procession through the Holy Nights ritualistically and how do many Holy Nights practices fall short? It’s the path to freedom (e.g. becoming an ethical individual) through moral imagination, moral intuition, and moral inspiration beyond the 12 senses. This is actually the summation of child development in Steiner’s view. 01:10:00 - Celebrating Christmas with reverence 01:17:00 - Why are the Holidays so stressful? (beyond the obligations, familial stuff, etc.) It’s a part of the spiritual restlessness of this time of year. This is related to bloodlines: you have chosen your family and those with whom you are close as a means of stimulating spiritual growth. 01:26:10 - How do we expand our experience and skillset around the application of love? Love has far greater applications than many of us have been told. Even hatred is an effort to communicate love, albeit an intense and unskillful effort. Join Edmund alongside Jared Pickard at their upcoming “Being Human” online event, a 12-week cooperative practice rooted in the work of Rudolf Steiner. You’ll be learning directly from Edmund, Asha Nayaswami, Gabby Reece, Eben Britton, Joel Salatin, and more! This cohort begins February 5th. Go HERE for more information! Born Free Method: The Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. References from the conversation: * Beginner’s guide to Jung’s depth psychology * More insights on the weeks preceding the advent * A deeper look at the 12 Holy Nights Related episodes: * Edmund Knighton, PhD (Part 1) - Certainty in Uncertainty: Parenting, Presence, and the Pedagogy of the Soul * Edmund Knighton, PhD (Part 2): Transcending Contemporary Views on Autism: Parenting, Perception, and the Future of Human Development This episode was sponsored by Born Free Method. The Born Free Method digital playground includes over 60 hrs of pre-recorded lessons (w/ slides) spread out over 180+ lessons when you enroll. You will also be invited to a Zoom call (recorded) every other week hosted by me, Sara, and both. We also often have guest speakers, and you will have access to recordings for all 100+ of our past calls/interviews. * 12-month access is $750 * Lifetime access is $3997 (This option comes with some other perks as well, including direct support from me and Sara for life by phone/text/email) * Fertility Deep Dive ($499) if you just want to focus on pre-conception planning and fertility, but this content is included in both of our other offerings above. We have payment plans available for the lifetime package, and we have discounts available for any of our programs for students and birthworkers. Just shoot Nathan and Sara an email: support@bornfreemethod.com Work with Nathan:Support for Midwives | Private Consultation | Born Free Method | Clear & Free Medical Disclaimer: Born Free Method: The Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.Music provided by RealMovieScores / Pond5 Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

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About

There are a lot of birth-related podcasts out there. But here you are...considering this one! As with all of our projects at Born Free Method, this project is one of a kind. If you are fed up with modern maternity care, stop grumbling and groaning and take action! This podcast can lead the way. Somehow we manage to blend birth, spirituality, medicine, fitness, ecology, ceremony, psychedelia, psychology, and more all into one great offering, leaving a lingering whiff of "my body, my choice" in our wake. We're happy that you're here for the show! nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Nathan Riley, MD, Father of 2
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    164
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Nathan Riley, MD, FACOG
  • Show Website
    Born Free Method: The Podcast

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