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Energetics, Intuition, and Staying Unbothered by the Noise in Pregnancy and Birth
In episode 25 of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay shares that she hasn’t released an episode in six months due to grief during the summer of 2025, cognitive shutdown, and full-time travel after selling her house, which made recording difficult with her girls always with her.
She refocuses the podcast and her Birth Like a Mammal™ work on energetics: how scarcity vs. abundance mindsets and trust in intuition shape pregnancy, birth, and Motherhood, and how inner confidence can reduce reliance on external “saving” from hospitals or providers.
She argues doulas need more education and supportive community aligned with mammalian biology and physiological birth, she emphasizes shutting out others’ noise and staying rooted in inner wisdom, and invites pregnant women needing guidance in preparing for birth to apply for limited one-on-one coaching spots.
Key Takeaways:
Quotes:
Support the show
Questions?
Looking for further support during pregnancy?
Birth Like a Mammal™ offers coaching, classes, and a birth prep workbook to help you prepare for a truly mammalian birth.
Humans are mammals and we are designed to birth like mammals.
Find us on:
Website
TikTok
Music Credit:
Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Edited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions
Tracee’s Journey from Obstetric Birth to Free Birth PART 2
In this episode of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, host Lindsay Askins sits down with Tracee Schaeffer, a former doula client, now a BLAM team member, a Mother of 10, a doula, and one of Lindsay's dearest friends. They discuss in detail Tracee's extensive and varied birthing experiences: Tracee has birthed ten babies every way possible from unmedicated hospital births, inductions, home births, and Cesareans. She shares with us her insights on how different care scenarios impacted her postpartum and Mothering experiences.
They recount stories from Tracee's pregnancies, from a traumatic hospital induction with her third child to a planned home birth that ended in an emergency Cesarean of twins. This episode highlights the importance of care providers, the mental shifts required for each new birth experience, and how Tracee navigated her journey from conventional medical practices to trusting her instincts in home births without midwives. They also touch on Tracee's inspiration to become a doula and the impact of her and LIndsay's advocacy work. This episode is a deep dive into maternal health, birthing choices, and the powerful journey of Motherhood, doula work and friendship.
This recording is divided into two episodes, 23 and 24. We try to keep our episodes an hour or less in consideration of all that Mothers juggle on a daily basis!
Support the show
Questions?
Looking for further support during pregnancy?
Birth Like a Mammal™ offers coaching, classes, and a birth prep workbook to help you prepare for a truly mammalian birth.
Humans are mammals and we are designed to birth like mammals.
Find us on:
Website
TikTok
Music Credit:
Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Edited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions
Tracee’s Journey from Obstetric Birth to Free Birth PART 1
In this episode of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, host Lindsay Askins sits down with Tracee Schaeffer, a former doula client, now a BLAM team member, a Mother of 10, a doula, and one of Lindsay's dearest friends. They discuss in detail Tracee's extensive and varied birthing experiences: Tracee has birthed ten babies every way possible from unmedicated hospital births, inductions, home births, and Cesareans. She shares with us her insights on how different care scenarios impacted her postpartum and Mothering experiences.
They recount stories from Tracee's pregnancies, from a traumatic hospital induction with her third child to a planned home birth that ended in an emergency Cesarean of twins. This episode highlights the importance of care providers, the mental shifts required for each new birth experience, and how Tracee navigated her journey from conventional medical practices to trusting her instincts in home births without midwives. They also touch on Tracee's inspiration to become a doula and the impact of her and LIndsay's advocacy work. This episode is a deep dive into maternal health, birthing choices, and the powerful journey of Motherhood, doula work and friendship.
This recording is divided into two episodes, 23 and 24. We try to keep our episodes an hour or less in consideration of all that Mothers juggle on a daily basis! Join us next week for Part 2!
Key Takeaways:
Notable Quotes from Tracee:
Support the show
Questions?
Looking for further support during pregnancy?
Birth Like a Mammal™ offers coaching, classes, and a birth prep workbook to help you prepare for a truly mammalian birth.
Humans are mammals and we are designed to birth like mammals.
Find us on:
Website
TikTok
Music Credit:
Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Edited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions
In this episode of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, host Lindsay Askins interviews Aly McClain, a Mother of four and an RN from Nebraska who transitioned from hospital births to home births. Aly shares her contrasting experiences of a Cesarean in a hospital followed by three peaceful home births, emphasizing the transformation and healing she found in home birthing.
Aly discusses the importance of overcoming fear, the traumatic impact of hospital protocols, and the empowerment and hormonal benefits of mammalian birth at home. Both Lindsay and Aly reflect on their own journeys and the importance of asking questions, taking personal responsibility, and opting out of obstetrics for a mammalian experience in birth.
Aly shares how her background in nursing, combined with her personal experiences and a commitment to unlearning medical indoctrination, led her to advocate for home births. She also discusses the impact of birth trauma, the importance of personal responsibility, and the healing power of understanding mammalian biology. This episode is a powerful testament to resilience, the importance of the laboring space during birth, and the hope in all of us for healing and growth.
Key Takeaways:
Notable Quotes from Aly:
Aly McClain is a dedicated advocate for empowering first-time homebirth Mothers to embrace the beauty and serenity of homebirth. Aly is the host of the Peaceful Homebirth Podcast, a Registered Nurse, and Homebirth coach, Aly combines her passion for holistic health, mindset techniques, and practical wisdom to guide expectant Mothers through every step of their journey to a peaceful and empowering birth experience.
Support the show
Questions?
Looking for further support during pregnancy?
Birth Like a Mammal™ offers coaching, classes, and a birth prep workbook to help you prepare for a truly mammalian birth.
Humans are mammals and we are designed to birth like mammals.
Find us on:
Website
TikTok
Music Credit:
Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Edited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions
In episode 21 of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, host Lindsay engages in a deep and personal conversation with her former elementary school teacher, Bill Nation, now a licensed professional counselor in Texas.
Bill is 70 years old, has never witnessed a woman give birth, and is certainly not the target audience for this community. But after listening to episode 13 with Audrey Ross of @ajoyfulbirth, Bill realized his own birth was nothing like Lindsay and Audrey describe when sharing their own birth stories for him, or his Mother. And that hit him hard.
In this heartfelt episode, Lindsay and Bill discuss their shared past and Bill's evolving understanding of birth trauma after listening to the podcast. Bill reflects on his family’s historical attitudes toward pregnancy and birth, highlighting the contrast between mammalian and medicalized birth, as well as the societal expectations around Motherhood. Through these discussions, the episode underscores the deep emotional connections influenced by birth, and how important an awareness and understanding of birth trauma is for all of us.
This is an episode you do not want to skip. This is also an episode that you want to share with all of the men in your life. This is the episode you may want to share with your own parents. This is the episode that truly illustrates how deeply significant giving birth in alignment with our mammalian biology really is, and it affects ALL of us no matter what.
Key Takeaways:
Notable Quotes from Bill:
Bill Nation is a licensed counselor, a native Texan, and Lindsay's 6th grade Science teacher! He's known for his quirky sense of humor, appreciation of the absurd, and his research about his uncle, killed in WW2, for whom he was named. He lives in Texas with his wife, Maggie.
Support the show
Questions?
Looking for further support during pregnancy?
Birth Like a Mammal™ offers coaching, classes, and a birth prep workbook to help you prepare for a truly mammalian birth.
Humans are mammals and we are designed to birth like mammals.
Find us on:
Website
TikTok
Music Credit:
Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Edited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions
In episode 20 of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay sits down with Keturah Pawlik. Keturah is a doula and Mother of six. Originally from New York, she now lives in West Palm Beach with her family. Keturah believes in the power of storytelling and in sharing our wisdoms with others, offering a new perspective or lending our strength when it’s needed most.
In this episode, Keturah and Lindsay dive deep into the crucial support systems for both Mothers and Fathers during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period, highlighting the often-neglected emotional needs and hormonal changes experienced by Fathers. Keturah shares her six birthing experiences, emphasizing the importance of Mothers feeling supported by their partners and how we can help Fathers to do so. She makes the point that many marital/relationship issues that come up years after birth can usually be traced back to a baby's birth.
The episode concludes with actionable advice and resources. Both Lindsay and Keturah have created resources and workshops tailored for dads, such as Lindsay's Dad Doula class, to equip them better for becoming a Father and foster a healthy family dynamic. Keturah offers a workshop for dads in Florida, promoting a collaborative and supportive approach to preparing for a new baby.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
Where to find Keturah:
Winging it with Ket
Instagram
Email: [email protected]
SHOW MENTIONS:
Lindsay on Keturah's Podcast Episode
Contribute to the Dad Doula book!
Be Her Village
5 Things to Ask Your Care Provider PDF
Support the show
Questions?
Looking for further support during pregnancy?
Birth Like a Mammal™ offers coaching, classes, and a birth prep workbook to help you prepare for a truly mammalian birth.
Humans are mammals and we are designed to birth like mammals.
Find us on:
Website
TikTok
Music Credit:
Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Edited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions
In episode 19 of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay interviews Diana Forsell. Diana is a Mother to two boys, with two very different birth stories. She is the host of the Healing Birth podcast where she shares an incredible variety of birth stories from women all over the world. Diana brings an unshakeable trust in our biology and our bodies to her podcast episodes as she believes that birth is designed to work, especially when you leave it alone.
In this episode, Diana and Lindsay discuss what happens to women when we go from maiden to Mother in an undisturbed, mammalian passage of giving birth. They both share the same sentiments in the confidence that giving birth like a mammal gave them to then Mother their babies with confidence. Diana also shares how traumatic her first baby’s Cesarean birth was after her trusted midwife suggested she transfer to the hospital, and how her healing came during her second baby’s pregnancy. His home birth was redeeming to both her and her sons.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes from Diana:
Where to find Diana:
The Healing Birth podcast - on all streaming services
Website
Instagram
Support the show
Questions?
Looking for further support during pregnancy?
Birth Like a Mammal™ offers coaching, classes, and a birth prep workbook to help you prepare for a truly mammalian birth.
Humans are mammals and we are designed to birth like mammals.
Find us on:
Website
TikTok
Music Credit:
Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Edited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions
In episode 18 of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay sits down with Jessica Olson of Wildly Awakened Motherhood. Jessica is an embodied birth coach, focused on supporting women find healing and safety within their bodies, and home, before birth. She is a yoga practitioner, intuitive nutritionist, radical birth keeper graduate, and training in herbalism.
Jessica's approach to pregnancy, birth, and Motherhood is built on intuition, intention, and embodiment. She shares her own journey in discovering the aforementioned things after obstetrics derailed her first baby's birth. Jessica's insight in this conversation is deeply intellectual and intuitive.
Starting about 40 minutes into this episode, get rid of all distractions and stop what you are doing and really listen to Jessica's words. She dives deep into how our body stores and holds trauma, and how that affects us in life and birth. She makes some incredible connections between energy works and how we approach birth.
Key Takeaways:
1. The awareness we hold regarding our own body's knowledge and capabilities during pregnancy and birth will vastly affect our baby's birth.
2. The prevalence of "hero-ing" care providers in the system of obstetrics and how that affects women during labor and birth.
3. The Drama Triangle - what it is and how it works.
4. The labels we place on ourselves as women and Mothers.
5. What disassociation is and why we do it - how this applies to labor, birth, and Motherhood.
Notable Quotes:
“If you are an anxious person, if you are at home, and in your mind you are worrying about all the things that can go wrong, it’s going to derail your birth.”
“It’s only been in the last few hundred years that this idea of birth being "dirty" or "dangerous" has really been used to bring women into hospitals, it’s really been such a coercive system.”
“The idea that we need all these men to "hero" women....'you can’t do it by yourself, we are going to put you down with gas and pull your baby out'...it’s crazy to me.”
“The way our body experiences trauma isn’t just in the mind, our body holds it within our energetic system, within our fascia.”
“One of the parallel ideas is how we always try to escape the pain of birth rather than embracing the process of birth and where that pain is blocking you. We often try to escape our bodies where we feel uncomfortable.”
Follow and connect with Jessica:
Instagram
YouTube
Website
Podcast
*Please note: we had some audio issues during this recording - there are a couple places it's hard to hear. Thank you for your understanding.
Support the show
Questions?
Looking for further support during pregnancy?
Birth Like a Mammal™ offers coaching, classes, and a birth prep workbook to help you prepare for a truly mammalian birth.
Humans are mammals and we are designed to birth like mammals.
Find us on:
Website
TikTok
Music Credit:
Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Edited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions
In episode 17 of The Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay welcomes Joanna Cook, a Texas-based therapist and Mother, to discuss the profound impact of therapy on women struggling with birth trauma.
Joanna shares her journey from experiencing a traumatic birth to becoming a therapist specializing in nervous system regulation, somatic embodiment, and parts integration. She provides insight into her unique therapeutic approach that emphasizes safety and gentle reconnection and makes the significant point that no matter how deep your trauma is, there is always hope for healing.
Lindsay and Joanna also discuss the societal pressures and disconnections that contribute to trauma and stress the importance of personal empowerment in the healing process. This episode offers hope and guidance for those dealing with birth trauma and explores the upcoming birth trauma retreat in Texas.
Key Takeaways:
1. There is always hope for healing.
2. Our bodies physically store our trauma.
3. The nervous system is an integral part of healing from trauma.
4. Most mainstream therapists do not holistically understand trauma and often re-traumatize women seeking support.
Notable Quotes from Joanna
This episode's title is inspired by the book The Body Keeps the Score, a fantastic book explaining how emotional trauma affects our bodies physically. If you don't already own it, grab your copy now.
Joanna Cook is a therapist and life coach focusing on nervous system regulation, somatic reconnection, and trauma integration. After going through her own traumatic birth experience, she experienced severe disconnection and dysregulation. Once she learned about the nervous system and began the healing process, she experienced the spark and joy of reconnection and hasn't looked back. It is her joy to help guide others back to their power and innate healing capacities.
Connect with Joanna:
Facebook | Instagram | Substack | Website | Email
Support the show
Questions?
Looking for further support during pregnancy?
Birth Like a Mammal™ offers coaching, classes, and a birth prep workbook to help you prepare for a truly mammalian birth.
Humans are mammals and we are designed to birth like mammals.
Find us on:
Website
TikTok
Music Credit:
Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Edited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions
On this 16th episode of the Birth Like a Mammal™ podcast, Lindsay is joined by Carla Sargent, a former midwife now birth trauma healer and educator. Carla is a true GEM in the birth trauma healing world. Her experience as a midwife and many years supporting Mothers healing from birth trauma bring an incredible dialogue to this discussion today.
Carla hosted Lindsay on her podcast, Healing Birth with Carla, last November where she and Lindsay chatted about Lindsay's doula work, her advocacy work with Exposing the Silence Project, and how women can best set themselves up for a birth they need and want. You can find Carla's podcast on all major podcast streaming networks - Lindsay's episode is #49!
Today, Carla and Lindsay talk about how often birth trauma occurs, what are the factors that typically contribute to birth trauma, the common signs and symptoms of birth trauma in postpartum Mothers, and how birth trauma affects Fathers....a topic not often brought up but a very important component of this conversation.
Key Takeaways:
Notable Quotes:
Carla Sargent is a home birthing mother of three, an ex midwife, an educator, an author, a podcast host, and the founder (in 2015) of her birth trauma support and education business, Healing Birth. Through her holistic and unique Healing Birth work, Carla has helped hundreds of families to find healing after a traumatic birth, and to prepare for a positive and empowering next birth.
Where to find Carla and her work:
Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Podcast | Book
Support the show
Questions?
Looking for further support during pregnancy?
Birth Like a Mammal™ offers coaching, classes, and a birth prep workbook to help you prepare for a truly mammalian birth.
Humans are mammals and we are designed to birth like mammals.
Find us on:
Website
TikTok
Music Credit:
Snow Path by Vlad Gluschenko | https://soundcloud.com/vgl9
Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Edited by: Stefanie Wenninger | Pine Peak Productions
From the publisher's feed
Birth Like a Mammal™ is a community created for both parents and doulas. Lindsay has over a decade of professional doula experience supporting families during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.…