Birthing Instincts

In this episode, Blyss and Stu are joined by Nathan Riley and Carol Gautschi to discuss the profound importance of in-person gatherings within the birth work community. The conversation covers the unique value of face-to-face interactions, the differences between organic and inorganic communication, and the challenges and rewards of organizing birth-related events. They reflect on the impact of being physically present with others, the human connection in birth work, and ways to support and sustain these vital gatherings for a more connected and informed community.
About Carol:
Carol Gautschi CPM LM has actively attended homebirths since 1978 and has worked as a Classical Holistic Midwife on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula since 1979. She has been married since 1974 to Paul (backtoedenfilm.com), and has 7 children and eight grandchildren.
For her first 25 years Carol served as an unlicensed midwife. This opportunity gave her lots of observational skills, creative ingenuity and a immense responsible trust in the power of physiological birth. Her teaching style is unique because, in addition to teaching the clinical nuts and bolts of her subjects, she emphasizes the unseen (or intuitive) realm of birth. She fosters the importance of the midwife relationship not just with the mama but the baby. 
Carol has been teaching the art of Classical Midwifery since the early 1990s, both in the US and across many countries. In September, she hosted her first international Classical Midwifery conference on the island of Crete in Greece. Many describe her passion as inspiring, rooted in her belief that when women are responsibly awakened to their creative selves, birth unfolds with the grace and power it was designed to carry, laying a miraculous foundation within her and the family. Witnessing this beauty over the years has become a passion. Carol believes that God is the primordial Midwife and she serves under that mantle with honor and humility.
Instagram: @_midwyf_
Website: classicalmidwifery.com & gentlebirths.net
About Nathan:
Dr. Nathan Riley is a board-certified OB/GYN and hospice & palliative care physician, and the co-creator of the Born Free Method. Through his private practice, Beloved Holistics, he supports midwives in 23 states, offering truly collaborative, physiologic, and relationship-centered care.
Nathan is a trusted voice in the birth world, frequently invited onto leading podcasts and to speak at conferences about autonomy in maternity care, the art of true informed consent, and the importance of honoring the physiology of birth. Nathan is the vision behind the Born Free Twins–Breech gatherings, which have expanded into a midwife-led team directed by Sara Rosser. What began as a training for birthworkers on the nuances of physiologic vaginal breech and twin births has grown into something much more.....a place for ceremony, community, healing, and collective strength.
Beyond his clinical work, Nathan is a devoted stay-at-home father of two and proudly married to his high-school sweetheart, Stephanie. His personal and professional lives are woven together by a commitment to presence, compassion, and helping families and providers return to a more intuitive, holistic model of care.
Instagram: @Nathanrileyobgyn
Website: Bornfreemethod.com

References:
Born Free Twins-Breech Gathering bornfreemethod.com/conference
birthinginstincts.com/workwithstu
patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
bridgemidwives.com/communitycircles

Discussed in This Episode
The Value of In-Person Connections
The Power of Human Connection in Professional Settings
The Impact of Social Media on Personal Interactions
Balancing Traditional Wisdom with Modern Technology
Challenges and Rewards of Organizing Events
Creating Inclusive and Economical Conferences
The Sacredness of Birth and Professional Passion
Supporting Each Other in the Birth Community
 
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by
Wholesome Organics Beauty Company | Go to wholesomeOBC.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off your order.
WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.
Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyss
Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
Email: [email protected]
Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on the podcast, Blyss and Stu take a hard look at what’s happening to the world of doula support as insurance and institutions move in. They’re joined by two seasoned doulas, Ivy Joeva and Shellie Poulter, who bring decades of experience advocating for women in birth. Together, they unpack how policy, regulation, and insurance reimbursement can quietly shift doula care away from individualized, relationship-based support and toward institutional control. They talk honestly about what’s gained, what’s lost, and why protecting the integrity of doula work matters if we truly want better birth outcomes.
About Ivy:
Ivy Joeva is a doula, coach, and educator serving women and couples seeking a conscious path to parenthood. She provides support throughout the childbearing year, including fertility coaching, holistic preparation for birth, postpartum recovery care, and counseling for all forms of pregnancy loss. 
Rooted in a trauma-informed, mind-body approach, Ivy sees these transitions as opportunities for transformation and healing. A graduate of UC Berkeley and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Ivy became a doula in 2009 and serves clients across the United States and abroad.
Instagram: @IvyJoeva
Website: ivyjoeva.com
About Shellie:
Shellie trained in Osteopathic and Naturopathic medicine in 2005 and has been working as a doula/birth keeper and cranio-sacral therapist, mentor and lecturer for over 20 years. She teaches birthing biomechanics and trauma and birth rights informed, non-violent communication courses as well as co-hosting The Birth Untethered Podcast with former midwife and Birthkeeper Kemi Johnson. Shellie lives on a narrowboat with her family, exploring the English countryside whilst campaigning for human rights in birth.
Instagram: @theserenitydoula
Website: theserenitydoula.co.uk
References:
Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark: The Phenomenon Of Parents Opting Out Of Birth Certificates For Their Kids | Midwife Lindsey Meehleis
Dr. Pompa Podcast: What You're Not Told About Birth in the Hospital System with Dr. Stuart Fischbein
The Way Forward with Alec Zeck: Ep 213: The Corrupted World of Medicalized Birth with Dr. Stu Fischbein
The Way Forward with Alec Zeck: Ep 214: Exposing the Most Dangerous Childbirth Myths & Procedures with Dr. Nathan Riley

Discussed in This Episode
Role of Doulas in Individualized Care
Challenges Faced by Doulas
Insurance and Doula Services
Impact of Doula Support on Maternal Outcomes
Regulations and Restrictions on Midwives and Doulas
Navigating Hospital Policies as a Doula
Financial and Operational Challenges for Doulas
Advocacy and Support Strategies for Doulas

 
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by
Wholesome Organics Beauty Company | Go to wholesomeOBC.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off your order.
WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.
Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyss
Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
Email: [email protected]
Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this week’s episode, Blyss and Stu explore the history, benefits, and controversies surrounding fluoride in drinking water, highlighting different perspectives and potential health implications. 

References:
The Way Forward Podcast: Ep 213: The Corrupted World of Medicalized Birth with Dr. Stu Fischbein
The Highwire: EPA LOSES HISTORIC FLUORIDE CASE
The Tennessean: Fluoride has been a public health game changer. Florida is set to ban it anyway
Dr. Stu Blog: Gotta love Dr. Fogelson
Jama Network: Maternal Urinary Fluoride and Child Neurobehavior at Age 36 Months
Book: The Fluoride Deception

Discussed in This Episode
Fluoride: History and Controversies
Skepticism Around Fluoride
Public Sentiment and Legislative Views on Fluoride
Health Risks and Benefits of Fluoride
Concerns About Fluoride in Vulnerable Populations
Filtering Fluoride and Its Impact on Brain Health
 
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by
Wholesome Organics Beauty Company | Go to wholesomeOBC.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off your order.
WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.
Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyss
Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
Email: [email protected]
Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week Dr. Stu and Midwife Blyss welcome special guest Dr. Poppy Daniels, a holistic OB-GYN with over 22 years of private practice experience. They discuss the severe side effects of Depo-Provera, revealing alarming risks like bone loss, weight gain, immune suppression, and even brain tumors. She advocates for a more informed and individualized approach to female health, emphasizing the need for comprehensive hormone testing and functional medicine. 
About Poppy Daniels:
Dr Poppy Daniels is a holistic OBGYN with 22 years in private practice. She has an interest in Functional Fertility, Integrative Women's Health & a root-cause oriented approach to wellness.
Website: Drpoppyandco.com
Facebook: Dr. Poppy
Instagram: @drpoppybhrt
X: @drpoppybhrt

References:
Book: THE DANGERS OF DEPO

Discussed in This Episode
Dr. Poppy's Journey to Holistic OBGYN
The Dangers of Depo-Provera
The Dark History of Depo-Provera
Depo-Provera's Side Effects and Risks
The FDA Petition and Political Complications
New Study on Depo-Provera and Brain Tumors
The Importance of Informed Consent
Detoxifying from Depo-Provera
The Role of Progesterone in Pregnancy
 
Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by
Wholesome Organics Beauty Company | Go to wholesomeOBC.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off your order.
WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.
Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use  code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Connect with Dr. Stu and Blyss
Join our Patreon! patreon.com/birthinginstinctspodcast
Instagram: @birthinginstincts/@birthingblyss
Website: birthinginstincts.com/birthingblyss.com
Email: [email protected]
Podcast webpage: birthinginstinctspodcast.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this week’s episode Stu is finally back and excited to engage in a candid discussion with Blyss about the overlooked risks of using tampons, highlighting a 2024 study that found harmful metals and chemicals in these products. They explore the hidden dangers of tampons. Stu emphasizes the lack of long-term safety testing and regulatory oversight for menstrual products, and Blyss discusses alternative menstrual products.

References:
Substack Article: Delivered Directly: Tampons, Toxins, and the Diseases Medicine Cannot Explain

Discussed in This Episode
Flu Vaccine Discussion
Tampons, Toxins, and Health Risks
HPV and Unexplained Reproductive Issues
Toxic Shock Syndrome and Tampon Safety
Metal Contaminants in Tampons
Chemical Exposures in Menstrual Products
The Research Void and Regulatory Failures
Alternative Menstrual Products

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care 

This show is supported by
Wholesome Organics Beauty Company | Go to wholesomeOBC.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off your order.
WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.
Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy