Birthright: Recent Episodes
Kimberly Seals Allers
Birthright, hosted by Kimberly Seals Allers, a podcast about joy and healing in Black birth. By seeking out and exploring positive birth stories we can find ideas, solutions and blind spots in our quest to make the birth experience equitable for all Black birthing bodies.
Our Guests: Chanel Porchia Albert, Ancient Song Doula Services; Linda Jones, Black Women Birthing Justice; Quatia Osorio, Urban Perinatal Education Center; Dr. Sayida Peprah-Wilson, Frontline Doulas
Episode Description: The truth is, while we wait for the medical system to confront and change its dangerous practices, it’s Black birth workers who are picking up the pieces of the infant and maternal health crisis. Doulas, midwives, and community workers punch the clock day in and day out to ensure we survive and thrive in our birthing experiences, but who’s taking care of them? In this special roundtable discussion, Kimberly sits down with Black women doulas from around the country who are leading the charge for better compensation and representation on a legislative level all while trying to care for themselves and their fellow sisters in birth work. Pull up a seat. You don’t want to miss this much needed conversation about the state of joy in Black birth work.
- Download Irth, the only app where you can find prenatal, birthing, postpartum, and pediatric reviews of care from Black and brown birthing people. Leave a review today to help inform and protect others! Search reviews to empower yourself.
- Learn more about having a safe and empowered birth by downloading the free ebook: Birth with Irth: A Mini-Manual to Pregnancy and Childbirth for Black People
- For Black breastfeeding resources, visit Black Breastfeeding Week, Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA), and Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE).
- Catch up on episode extras from seasons 1 and 2 on BIRTHRIGHT’S YOUTUBE PAGE!
- Subscribe to be notified of new episode releases every Wednesday! Love Birthright? Leave a rating and review.
- Get full episode details and transcripts on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
- Join the movement for equity in birth and breastfeeding by supporting our Patreon account. As a member, you’ll get access to exclusive bonus content, Birthright swag, and more!
- Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundationand the Commonwealth Fund.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our Guest: Deidra Washington
Other Guests: Mike Washington
Episode Description: Having a plan for pregnancy and parenting comes in handy. But what happens when things move differently than expected and you have to make adjustments? Deidra Washington and her husband Mike know all about scrapping plan A and finding the beauty in plan B. In this episode, the Florida-based mother and father of two girls get real with Kimberly about facing fears, ditching tradition, and loving hard for the next generation. Grab your tissues because you might find yourself getting teary-eyed listening to this couple’s story of teamwork, family, love, and future-building.
- Catch up on episode extras from seasons 1 and 2 on BIRTHRIGHT’S YOUTUBE PAGE!
- Subscribe to be notified of new episode releases every Wednesday! Love Birthright? Leave a rating and review.
- Get full episode details and transcripts on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
- Join the movement for equity in birth and breastfeeding by supporting our Patreon account. As a member, you’ll get access to exclusive bonus content, Birthright swag, and more!
- Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundationand the Commonwealth Fund.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode Description: Narratives are powerful. They can influence policy, shift cultural norms, and drive systemic change. What about the narrative in Black maternal health? How do we shift the mainstream narrative in Black birth and breastfeeding away from doom and gloom and negative statistics to centering joy and possibility? What is needed, who is missing and quite frankly, will the powers in Hollywood ever let us own this narrative? In this episode, Kimberly talks with New York Times best-selling author, award-winning writer and producer, Tonya Lewis Lee, whose most recent work, Aftershock, takes a compelling look at the Black maternal mortality crisis.
About Guest, Tonya Lewis Lee:
Tonya Lewis Lee is an award-winning producer, entrepreneur, and advocate for women’s health. She has produced several TV projects including The Watsons Go To Birmingham[7] which Lewis Lee wrote, The Giver, She's Gotta Have It and MONSTER. Back in 2009, Tonya produced Crisis in the Crib, a documentary about the nation’s unconscionable Black infant mortality crisis, centered in Memphis Tennessee. This year, she co-produced Aftershock, now streaming on Hulu, a powerful documentary which follows the stories of two amazing men whose lives are forever changed by Black maternal deaths. Follow @aftershockdoc on Instagram.
For more resources, visit www.BirthrightPodcast.com
Catch up on episode extras from season 1 and 2 on BIRTHRIGHT’S YOUTUBE PAGE!
Subscribe to be notified for new episode releases every Wednesday! Love Birthright? Leave a rating and review.
Get full episode details and transcripts on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundationand the Commonwealth Fund.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our Birthing Person: Felicia Banks
Other Guests: Marco Antonio Perez Estrada, Wahinehula Kaʻeo
Episode Description: Felicia didn’t know if she’d ever give birth to a baby after an ectopic pregnancy that left her with one fallopian tube — but after years of physical and spiritual healing, she got exactly what she always wanted on the island of Hawaii. Originally from Idaho, Felicia has reclaimed love and peace as a stay-at-home mom and massage therapist who enjoys exploring the outdoors, hiking, and being by the ocean. Join Kimberly for this week’s episode, as she chats with this mama about how she found joy and healing after heartache and uncertainty and birthed her miracle baby surrounded by Black women.
ABOUT FELICIA
Felicia Banks is originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho and has long had an interest in holistic healing and a natural way-of-life. She graduated as a licensed massage therapist from the College of Massage Therapy at Bingham Memorial Hospital in 2010. While running her own business, she sang in a traveling band, and worked as a nanny and caregiver to an elderly woman before eventually moving to Hawaii in 2019. She currently lives on the island as a stay-at-home mom.
Resources/References
- Kalauokekahuli is a nonprofit organization that supports Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander families by providing culturally-based prenatal, birth, and postpartum education and services. The organization was co-founded by Wahinehula Kaʻeo, who serves as the development director.
- Hale Kealaula LLC is owned by midwife Selena Green, CPM, LM, RP. The organization provides doula support and care for home births, water births, and hospital births. They’re dedicated to supporting women and babies. They believe that every client has a right to safe, satisfying health care with respect for human dignity and cultural beliefs.
For more resources, visit www.BirthrightPodcast.com
Catch up on episode extras from season 1 and 2 on BIRTHRIGHT’S YOUTUBE PAGE!
Subscribe to be notified for new episode releases every Wednesday! Love Birthright? Leave a rating and review.
Get full episode details and transcripts on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundationand the Commonwealth Fund.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Our Guests: Roslyn J. Smith, Safiya Rayford, Raena Granberry
Therapist: Saleemah McNeil
Episode Description: In this first Restoration episode of season 2, reproductive psychotherapist and CEO of Oshun Family Healing, Saleemah McNeil, and host Kimberly Seals Allers gather at SaksWorks Flagship in NYC to provide Black women who’ve experienced medical-related trauma space to heal. The three Black women who joined the conversation virtually include a woman who received racist comments from an OB/GYN. Another who was neglected by her midwife, which resulted in a full-term stillbirth. And a third who had her concerns ignored and lost her baby after a premature delivery.
For more resources, visit www.BirthrightPodcast.com
Catch up on episode extras from season 1 and 2 on BIRTHRIGHT’S YOUTUBE PAGE!
Subscribe to be notified for new episode releases every Wednesday! Love Birthright? Leave a rating and review.
Get full episode details and transcripts on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundation and the Commonwealth Fund.
Our Birthing Person: Teddy Atim, Mary Harper Holly
Other Guests: Helen Zimba
Episode Description: This week, we’re examining the stigma against pregnant and birthing people living with HIV and centering the challenges and realities of healthy, joyful births even with a diagnosis. Host Kimberly Seals Allers follows the journeys of two HIV-positive mothers—Teddy, a mother of three living in rural Uganda, and Mary, a mother of one based in Fort Worth, Texas. Find out how both mamas overcame miseducation and judgment in their communities surrounding their HIV status and gave birth to HIV-negative children.
Resources/References
- Teddy Atim is a mother of three living in Banda, a rural fishing village in the East African country of Uganda. Teddy was diagnosed with HIV while pregnant with her first child. She’s now a mother mentor at mothers2mothers.
- Mary Harper-Holly, 47, is a divorced mother of one living in Fort Worth, Texas. After giving birth while living with HIV, Mary serves her community as the Founding Director and CEO of Pay It 4-ward Projects, a community-based non-profit organization supporting the unhoused and indigent communities of Dallas and Tarrant Counties.
- Helen Zimba serves as the HIV Programs Manager at The Afiya Center. She’s also a Full Spectrum Doula at Southern Roots Doula Services, where she supports pregnant and birthing people who are living with HIV and their families.
For more resources, visit www.BirthrightPodcast.com
Catch up on episode extras from season 1 and 2 on BIRTHRIGHT’S YOUTUBE PAGE!
Subscribe to be notified for new episode releases every Wednesday! Love Birthright? Leave a rating and review.
Get full episode details and transcripts on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundationand the Commonwealth Fund.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Our Birthing Person: Leslie Fickling
Other Guests: Chanel Stryker-Boykin, Doula; Paul Ryan, CEO of Just A Baby; “Dave,” anonymous donor
Episode Description: Society puts a stigma on Black single mothers, stereotyping and devaluing them. But what happens when you become a single mother by choice and choose sperm donation as your pathway to parenthood? This week’s guest, Leslie, used an app, a cup and a Black male donor she met in person to get the baby she so wanted. In this insightful conversation, Leslie takes host Kimberly Seals Allers on a lesser-told journey of reaching Black motherhood in a less traditional way, but still ultimately finding her joy.
For Resources/References, visit www.BirthrightPodcast.com
Catch up on episode extras from season 1 and 2 on BIRTHRIGHT’S YOUTUBE PAGE!
Subscribe to be notified for new episode releases every Wednesday!
Love Birthright? Leave a rating and review.
Get full episode details and transcripts on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundation and the Commonwealth Fund.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
What is our birthright? This is the question that host, Kimberly Seals Allers, asks every guest at the conclusion of every episode. And the answers have varied from inspirational, tear jerking, compelling and raw. Enjoy this compilation of our team's favorite answers to, What is our birthright? Whatever it is, we're reclaiming it one story at a time.
Resources/References
Learn more about having a safe and empowered birth by downloading the free ebook: Birth with Irth: A Mini-Manual to Pregnancy and Childbirth for Black People
Get full episode details and transcripts (posted by midday) on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
New episodes are released every other Wednesday!
Subscribe now!
Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundation.
Our Birthing Person: Aquarius Watkins
Other Guests: Dr. Joy Baker, M.D., OB/GYN
Episode Description: While rural communities around the country—like LaGrange, Georgia—are battling limited maternity care access, mothers like Aquarius Watkins, are still striving for joyful birth experiences. With the help of a local Black OB/GYN, here’s how Aquarius advocated for herself and manifested her dream birth. Come join host Kimberly Seals Allers as she travels into the community south of Atlanta where mothers and perinatal physicians are working together to center joy and healing.
- Aquarius Watkins is a 30-year-old stay at home mom in LaGrange, Georgia; a rural community about one hour south of Atlanta. Born and raised in LaGrange, Aquarius gave birth to her first baby in her hometown with the support of a local OB/GYN.
- Dr. Joy Baker is a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist in her hometown of LaGrange, Georgia. After completing her medical school and residency training at Morehouse School of Medicine and Grady Health System, she worked in urban and rural communities for 10 years. In 2019, she became one of the first OB/GYNs to earn special certification in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, as well as treatment of addiction in pregnancy. Today, she supports birthing people at Weststar West Georgia Medical Center. IG handle: @deliveringjoymd
- Chanel Stryker-Boykin is the owner of In Joie's Arms Birth Doula Services, LLC, and a Holistic Labor Support Specialist (Doula), Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, and a Community Childbirth and Lactation Educator in the Metro Atlanta area.
For Resources/References, visit www.BirthrightPodcast.com
- Catch up on episode extras from season 1 and 2 on BIRTHRIGHT’S YOUTUBE PAGE!
- Subscribe to be notified for new episode releases every Wednesday! Love Birthright? Leave a rating and review.
- Get full episode details and transcripts on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
- Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
- Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundationand the Commonwealth Fund.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Our Birthing Person: Christina Elmore
Other Guests: Kimberly Durdin, LM, CPM, IBCLC
In this week’s episode, Christina Elmore, actor (Twenties, HBO’s Insecure) and mother of two, takes us to her second birth for a ride through her expectations, fears, and A-ha moments as she found Black birthing joy in Los Angeles. In a hopeful and hilarious conversation with host Kimberly, along with insightful commentary from her midwife, we also explore how Hollywood (including her role as Condola) is helping rewrite the narrative of Black motherhood.
Our Birthing Person: Kayden Coleman
Other Guests: Nadine Ashby; Queer, Trans Birth Worker & Educator
A powerful season two launches with Kayden’s story, a Black trans father of two daughters who reclaimed his birthright during his second birth. After a series of hurtful experiences during his first birth, Kayden discovered doulas who educated him and empowered him to voice his desires when he gave birth to his second daughter. In the midst of it all–including social media hate from others and poor care from medical professionals, he shares how he ultimately found joy in creating life and became a viral advocate for reproductive rights of other trans males. Listen in!
RESTORATION: Healing Black Birth Trauma
Birthright is about joy and healing in Black birth. In this special episode, we heal. Listen in to our live virtual event and special season finale where two Black moms, one who experienced disrespect and harm in her birth and another who lost her baby after a premature delivery, sit with a therapist and a healer to begin their restorative process.
Guests:
- Nneka Symster is a licensed Social worker who has two decades of experience helping individuals and families build and strengthen their relationships with themselves and others. Her work includes supporting diverse populations, including self -harming young adults and the LGBTQIA community. She also specializes in helping women and couples who suffer with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, miscarriage and loss. In her work, she uses multiple techniques to best serve her clients, including Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, interpersonal therapy and mindfulness. Ms. Symister received her Master’s in Clinical Social Work from The Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Urban Education from the State University of Albany. She is also EMDR trained. She is deeply involved in her community serving as member of state and national professional organizations, including the National Association of Social Workers, National Alliance on Mental Illness and The Links, Incorporated. Nneka Symister is the founder of My Local Therapist, LLC (@nneka_symister) where she provides mental health services in New York.
- Amissa Brewer-Hofmann, MPH, is a medical student who will be applying to radiology residency this fall. Amissa Brewer-Hofmann is a combined medical and public health masters student at Columbia University. She enjoys reading, pilates, warm weather, and a good picnic. Academically, she has an interest in radiology and wants to improve health outcomes for minoritized infants and birthing folks. Amissa lives in Washington Heights, Manhattan with her husband and 3-month old son, Henry.
- Jeneá Harper is a Child Protective Investigator for the Department of Youth, Children and Families in Rhode Island. Jeneá was born and raised in Providence, RI and graduated from Rhode Island College with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice. She has over 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents and families in and out of her community. Jeneá uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to ensure the youth she works with are safe and their families are receiving any resources needed to be successful. Jeneá is inspired and motivated daily by her husband and 2 year old son. Jeneá’s philosophy is in the infamous African proverb “Oran a azu nwa” , it takes a community or village to raise a child.
- Mystique Hargrove, Instagram: @blackbirthhealer, Facebook: The Black Birth Healer
Resources/References
- Learn more about Nneka Symister at her Website Mylocaltherapist.org
- Watch episode extras on BIRTHRIGHT’S YOUTUBE PAGE!
- Interested in having a doula for your pregnancy, birth or post-partum period? Resources for finding Black Doulas: National Black Doulas Association & The Bridge
- Interested in a home birth? Learn more at...
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Compilation of insights from our host, Kimberly Seals Allers and guests
Resources/References
- Learn more about having a safe and empowered birth by downloading the free ebook: Birth with Irth: A Mini-Manual to Pregnancy and Childbirth for Black People
- Get full episode details and transcripts (posted by midday) on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
- New episodes are released every other Wednesday! Subscribe now!
- Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundation.
Our Birthing Person: Carla Williams, MD
Other Guests: Kiki Jordan, Midwife
Episode Description (short/two sentences)
What happens when a medical insider opts to give birth outside the hospital? For one, we should all pay attention. In this week’s episode, Dr. Carla Williams, a Black Latina OBGYN in New York, shares why she had her first birth at the hospital and never went back for baby number two, and as we spoke days before she was about to give birth to her third child, she was preparing for another home birth. Many people think home births are for the “crunchy granola” crowd but more and more mainstream mamas, including corporate types and even medical professionals have seen the in-hospital experience and choose to find their joy at home. Dr. Williams also shares tips for those considering a home birth and advice to her OB/GYN colleagues on what they can do to improve the birthing experience for Black people.
Resources/References
- Our Birth Story: Carla Williams, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN and holistic women’s healthcare provider serving patients in Westchester, NY. She attended medical school in the Dominican Republic and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in Bronx, New York. She offers patient-centered care with a dual approach: a focus on nutrition and movement for overall wellness coupled with conventional medical practices as necessary. She is a married mother of two who has personally experienced birth in both the hospital and in-home setting. She’s currently expecting her third child and preparing for her second home birth. , IG handle: @drcarlawilliams
- Learn more about Kiki Jordan and Birthland midwifery at https://www.birthlandmidwifery.com
- Watch episode extras on BIRTHRIGHT’S YOUTUBE PAGE!
- Interested in having a doula for your pregnancy, birth or post-partum period? Resources for finding Black Doulas: National Black Doulas Association & The Bridge
- Interested in a home birth? Learn more at The Black Home Birth Initiative
- Considering a doula for your pregnancy, birth or post-partum period? Resources for finding Black Doulas: National Black Doulas Association & The Bridge
- Learn more about having a safe and empowered birth by downloading the free ebook: Birth with Irth: A Mini-Manual to Pregnancy and Childbirth for Black People
- New episodes are released every other Wednesday! Catch up on the full season.
- Get full episode details and transcripts (posted by midday) on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
- Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundation
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Raising Rebels is a parenting podcast featuring courageous conversations with real parents. Parenting can be so lonely. Our work is to encourage children to be fully themselves in a society that doesn’t always celebrate them. On this Episode host Noleca Radway talks with adrienne maree brown about the special work of Aunties. IG: @RaisingRebelsPod.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Who: Kimberly Seals Allers Birth story
Alma Seals, Kimberly’s mother
Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens
Dr. Neel Shah
Episode Description (short/two sentences):
On this special episode, Kimberly Seals Allers interviews her mother to hear her own birth story, discusses the history of medical interventions, the role of feminist movements and the power of our matrilineal birthing line. Special guests, historian Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens and Harvard professor, Dr. Neel Shah, add powerful context to the birth practices in the early 1970’s and how the legacy of enslaved Black women still impacts birth outcomes today.
Resources/References
- Read more about the history of forceps in this article by our guest, Neel Shah, MD, MPP How forceps permanently changed the way humans are born
- Learn more about Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens and her work on her website, https://www.deirdrecooperowens.com
- Purchase Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens’ Book Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and the Origins of American Gynecology
- Click to watch episode extras on BIRTHRIGHT’S YOUTUBE PAGE!
- Interested in having a doula for your pregnancy, birth or post-partum period? Resources for finding Black Doulas: National Black Doulas Association & The Bridge
- Learn more about home births The Black Home Birth Initiative
- Learn more about having a safe and empowered birth by downloading the free ebook: Birth with Irth: A Mini-Manual to Pregnancy and Childbirth for Black People
- Get full episode details and transcripts (posted by midday) on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
- New episodes are released every other Wednesday! Subscribe now!
- Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundation.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Who: Allegra White
Keith White, Husband
Kalle White, Daughter
Episode Description
In our episode today, our guest Allegra, a Doula and mother of 5, was so determined to not be at the hospital for long she ended up delivering her baby girl in the front seat of her car, with her husband and 11-year old daughter on assist. In addition to sharing this particular birthing experience, we reminisce on her four beautiful births, including twin girls, giving birth the first time at 19 years old, and all the birthing knowledge she has accumulated along the way. For Allegra, knowledge of her body and the birthing process was her pathway to joy.
Resources/References
- Bio: Allegra White is a doula, wife and mother of five girls. After starting her family at the age of 19 and facing many challenges, she decided that all women should have the opportunity to journey into motherhood with a full range of support. Her company, “Milf-Made”, began as a desire to pay forward her experience by helping pregnant women feel like their best selves through advocacy, information and service. She describes herself as a compassionate, truthful, Caribbean- raised but Brooklyn-made, heart on her sleeve type of gal. Allegra is currently accepting applications for on-call hairdressers for her household of growing women.
- She is the founder of Milf-made. Follow on Instagram @awhitemom
- Interested in having a doula for your pregnancy, birth or post-partum period? Resources for finding Black Doulas: National Black Doulas Association & The Bridge
- Learn more about home births The Black Home Birth Initiative
- Learn more about having a safe and empowered birth by downloading the free ebook: Birth with Irth: A Mini-Manual to Pregnancy and Childbirth for Black People
- Get full episode details and transcripts (posted by midday) on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
- New episodes are released every other Wednesday! Subscribe now!
- Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundation.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Giving birth to twins during the pandemic can be stressful enough. And too many Black women feel like they do not have meaningful relationships with their OB/GYN. So when Folashade Butler, of the metro Washington D.C. area, found herself delivering her twins earlier than expected and in less than ideal circumstances, she found comfort and felt more confident mostly because of one thing--her relationship with her doctor. And it was her OB/GYN, who helped her birthing video go viral. Listen to find out why!
Episode Description: My guests today are Folashade A. Butler, a woman in tech, speaker and mom of four, her husband Brandon, and Dr. Lynne Lightfoote, MD FACOG, a physician with Foxhall OB/GYN, whose response to Folashade’s birth caught everyone’s attention. Before her viral post-delivery moment, Folashade shares what it was like receiving prenatal care of twins during the pandemic, how she responded to her water breaking just as she was about to enter a restaurant and why she ended up delivering in an operating room. You’ll also learn about the special candle that Folashade brings to every birth and why.
Resources/References
- Folashade A. Butler is a wife and mom to four beautiful kids, including 7-month old twins! She is a speaker, relationship coach, woman in tech, and owner of Love & Livelihood, a community and podcast dedicated to helping people effectively navigate the intersection of love, life, and everything in between. Listen to Folashade’s Podcast Love and Livelihood.
- Meet Dr. Lynne J. Lightfoote, a Board Certified OBGYN and Champion for Women's Health. She completed her undergraduate studies from Wellesley College. She received her Medical Degree from the University of Virginia and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Lightfoote is board certified by The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She's currently a partner at Foxhall OB/GYN and Associates. Dr. Lightfoote’s practice encompasses the full spectrum of obstetrics and gynecology. Her goal is to provide personalized care from adolescence, fertility, pregnancy, menopause and beyond.
- If you’re looking to build a relationship with your Ob/GYN or need help finding a good one, check out these suggestions.
- Don’t forget to check out the Irth app, in your Google Play and Apple app stores, to search for Ob/GYN, hospital and pediatrician reviews from other Black and brown parents, as a tool to guide your provider selection process. Go to your community for referrals. Leave reviews to help others.
- Learn more about having a safe and empowered birth by downloading the free ebook: Birth with Irth: A Mini-Manual to Pregnancy and Childbirth for Black People
- Get full episode details and transcripts (posted by midday) on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
- New episodes are released every other Wednesday! Subscribe now!
- Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Black birthing needs healing. Too many Black women and birthing individuals are left holding trauma and unresolved hurt due to the mistreatment, dismissiveness, or disrespect they endured during the childbirth experience. It’s time to model healing journeys for those carrying birth trauma, so we can all find joy! In our first Birthright Live episode, I sit down with two Black mamas who are holding trauma and a psychotherapist, specializing in birth-related disorders and anxieties, for an unforgettable journey to restore and heal from their traumatic birthing experiences. The episode features tips for everyone to start their own healing journey and reminds us that watching others heal can be healing for all.
Who: Sasha Winslow, MS, FNP-BC, RNC-MNN, @sashalovesbooks
Alisha Liggett, MD, Founder of Empower Her Health @happyhealthydoctoralisha
Nneka Symister, LCSW, @Nneka_symister
Resources/References
- Watch the full live episode, filmed in part in NYC, on the Birthright Podcast YouTube page.
- Learn more about Nneka Symister at her Website Mylocaltherapist.org
- Read Alisha’s Story ‘The day I was reduced to a Black birthing body.’ A doctor reflects on pregnancy
- Learn more about having a safe and empowered birth by downloading the free ebook: Birth with Irth: A Mini-Manual to Pregnancy and Childbirth for Black People
- Get full episode details and transcripts (posted by midday) on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
- New episodes are released every other Wednesday! Subscribe now!
- Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundation.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Who: Angela Lewis, Mother, Actress, Activist
Erica McAfee, Founder of Sisters in Loss
Episode Description (short/two sentences)
There can be joy even after disappointment, shame and loss. It often requires the right perspective and a supportive birthing team that still honors your vision even when plans change. This week, actress Angela Lewis, a star of FX’s SnowFall, shares her birth story including how prior miscarriages shaped her experience. Our special guest, Erica McAfee, founder of Sisters in Loss, shares the facts about miscarriages and why we are so bad at processing pregnancy loss as a society/as a people. In the end, Angela’s birth culminates with a moment of true star power.
Resources/References
- Watch Angela Lewis as #AuntLouie on #SnowfallFX. Follow along on IG @luvangelalewis & @snowfallfx
- Learn more about Erica M. Mcafee https://www.ericammcafee.com
- Sisters in Loss a digital media platform where Black Women replace Silence with Storytelling around Pregnancy and Infant Loss and Infertility.
- Natural Birth Center Midwives in LA; Doula, Nina Phelan of The Soulful Birth
- Learn more about having a safe and empowered birth by downloading the free ebook: Birth with Irth: A Mini-Manual to Pregnancy and Childbirth for Black People
Get full episode details and transcripts (posted by midday) on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Who: Anna Malaika Tubbs, author of The Three Mothers, First Partner of Stockton, CA
Michael Tubbs, Former Mayor of Stockton, CA
Mika Cade, Doula
Episode Description
Anna who has lived in four countries, is a PhD candidate at Cambridge University and served as First Partner for the city of Stockton, CA. but when it came to pregnancy and childbirth, Anna went looking for a community of support. How do three doulas, three mothers and all the ancestors come into play? In this episode you’ll hear Anna’s powerful birth story and how she tapped into power she didn’t know she had to deliver her son Malakai. Not only was giving birth her entré into motherhood but it was also a pivotal turning point in Anna’s scholarship and the inspiration for her first book, The Three Mothers. Turns out, we can learn a lot about having a positive birth experience from three doulas, the three mothers and learning from our ancestors. Listen to learn! And then check out the video of Kimberly’s full interview with Anna about her new book where they discuss the dehumanization of Black mothers, and why positivity is such a powerful force in narrative change.
Resources/References
- Learn more about Anna Malaika Tubbs’ work https://annamalaikatubbs.com
- Purchase The Three Mothers book here: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/three-mothers/
- Follow Anna Malaika Tubbs @annastea_honesty, Mika Cade @doulamika & Michael Tubbs @michaeldtubbs
- Resources for finding Black Doulas: National Black Doulas Association & The Bridge
- Follow and learn: @ancientsong @mamaglow #BlackDoulas
- Learn more about having a safe and empowered birth by downloading the free ebook: Birth with Irth: A Mini-Manual to Pregnancy and Childbirth for Black People
- Get full episode details and transcripts (posted by midday) on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
- New episodes are released every other Wednesday! Subscribe now!
- Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
- Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundation.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
What does it take to have a positive birth experience? Apparently, depending on where you live, it can take a lot of time searching for the right provider. In this episode, Morine shares her beautiful birth story after moving from the Durham, N.C. to Knoxville, TN mid-pregnancy and her quest to find a provider who looked like her. Along the way I explore the history and impact of Black women Ob/GYNs, the standard of care white women receive, and how digital platforms are helping to level the playing field.
Check out HealthInHerHUE.com, a digital platform connecting Black women and women of color to culturally competent healthcare providers.
Looking for a Black provider? Check out the Association of Black Women Physicians, Black Doctors USA or the search portal at BlackDoctors.org as a starting point.
Learn more about having a safe and empowered birth by downloading the free ebook: Birth with Irth: A Mini-Manual to Pregnancy and Childbirth for Black People
Get full episode details and transcripts (posted by midday) on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
New episodes are released every other Wednesday! Subscribe now!
Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundation.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
On this episode of Birthright, Kimberly Seals Allers interviews Whitney Robinson, a design-loving product manager and mother of four. As with her other children, Whitney planned a home birth, but 25-weeks into her pregnancy she went into premature labor and, with her husband and support team, she was determined to turn the unthinkable into an unapologetically Black experience.
Resources/References:
- Stark racial disparities exist in pre-term births. For example, in 2019, the rate of preterm birth among African-American women (14.4%) was about 50 percent higher than the rate of preterm birth among white or Hispanic women (9.3% and 10% respectively). Source: CDC: Reproductive Health
- Learn more about having a safe and empowered birth by downloading the free ebook: Birth with Irth: A Mini-Manual to Pregnancy and Childbirth for Black People
- Get full episode details and transcripts (posted by midday) on www.BirthrightPodcast.com
- New episodes are released every other Wednesday! Subscribe now!
- Follow Kimberly Seals Allers on Twitter on Instagram: @iamKSealsAllers
Birthright is funded by the California Health Care Foundation.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Birthright, hosted by Kimberly Seals Allers, a podcast about joy and healing in Black birth. By seeking out and exploring positive birth stories we can find ideas, solutions and blind spots in our quest to make the birth experience equitable for all Black birthing bodies.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.