Choosing Nourishment Over Restrictive Diets with Jessica Ash
Watch this episode HERE
In this week’s episode of the podcast, we are shaking it up from our normal birth story rotation… I’m chatting with Jessica Ash, who candidly details her journey through various restrictive diets as she attempted to heal chronic hormonal and fertility problems, only to realize that her fixation on restriction was hindering her path to true, vibrant health. 
Jessica is a wealth of wisdom when it comes to food, real nourishment, and rising above the mainstream norms of nutritional deprivation.
Here’s what you’ll hear in her episode: 

Jessica’s journey through the trials of PCOS and multiple autoimmune disease diagnoses, and how she tried restrictive diets like veganism, paleo, keto, and carnivore in order to find a solution to her symptoms, yet only found herself in a toxic cycle.
Jessica discusses the “undernourished state”, the scarcity mindset it breeds, and how nutritional wealth can be transferred across generations, particularly when you experience a well-nourished and nutrient-dense pregnancy.
How nourishing our bodies on a cellular level is the gateway to our full-being wellness, and how it can help us to explore health as a soul-journey.
The cultural push to self-harm through extreme dieting and severance from our intuitive and biological indicators trying to tell us how to eat.
The importance of progesterone in women's health, specifically metabolic functioning, and how to foster a healthy flow of progesterone through radical self-nourishment.
The reason why women have become so disconnected from their intuition when it comes to food and the importance of intuitive eating (yes, women can enjoy carbs, meat, and dairy!) 

Choosing Nourishment Over Restrictive Diets with Jessica Ash

The Free Birth Society Podcast features honest, gripping, inspiring, and transformative freebirth stories hosted by the founder Emilee Saldaya in conversation with wild women worldwide. 

In the vast tapestry of childbirth experiences, a thread runs undisturbed, unmedicated, and true to its ancestral roots: freebirth. This differs from your usual home birth with doulas or midwives in attendance. Freebirth stands apart, where birthing is solely in the hands of the birthing woman, accompanied only by her intuition, rhythms of nature, witnessed by her family.

The Free Birth Podcast invites you to a unique corner of the universe where we dive deep into the raw essence of birth, untamed and unassisted. Pushing against the tides of modern obstetrics and its violent approach, we venture into stories of women who've boldly chosen to claim this primal rite of passage. Here, we're not merely sharing tales; we're challenging the status quo and redefining the very narrative of childbirth.

As we unravel discussions on rights in childbirth, dissect varied care models, and amplify the unfiltered voices of freebirthing women from around the planet, our purpose remains clear: to spotlight the distinction and significance of wild birth. This isn't an argument against the myriad ways women choose to birth, but rather an affirmation that freebirth has its revered space in the continuum of birth choices.

Join us in celebrating a movement that underscores the powerful message and has changed the lives of thousands: Birth, in its purest form, is not a medical event but a profoundly personal journey. 

The Free Birth Society Podcast is your compass to navigate and rediscover that journey.

*Freebirth = Birthing in the absence of any hired professionals, away from medical institutions or their agents. Also known as family birth, unassisted birth, wild birth. 

*Sovereign birth = Birthing outside of the medical paradigm, inclusive of births with authentic midwives and doulas. We include many stories on the show where women birthed outside of the medical system with doulas and radical birth keepers.  While these births are not freebirths, they are certainly sovereign births!

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Education

Training

Language Courses

Higher Education

K-12

Educational Technology

Watch this episode HERE
Jalynn was aware that the medical system was dangerous for her, as a woman, and a black mother. Thankfully, her first birth was fairly straight forward. She left the birth center clear that she would not go back, not because it was traumatic, but because it simply wasn’t worth leaving her house for. 
With her second, Jalynn stepped into full responsibility with a wild pregnancy and the freebirth of her dreams surrounded by sisterhood and support in a community ashram. She fully actualized her dream birth. 
We’re talking about an epic birth space decorated by a dear sister, friends chanting and vocalizing with her during birth, live flute music, and plants infused with affirmations by Toni Jones herself. It was no fear, all flow, with Jalynn completely centered and held by her community, which transitioned into a brilliantly supported postpartum as well.
Jaylnn goes on to fully integrate this huge uplevel and leave nursing school to pursue a truly holistic path, which is unfolding and gaining power as she does the work to shine her light and show women the way out of the system and into sovereign birth-work.
Here’s what you’ll hear in Jalynn’s Story:
✨Her weariness of the hospital, the racist roots of obstetrics, and the high maternal death rate of black moms.
✨Her desire to find a black woman to support her, but the difficulty she experienced finding midwives of any race to respect and honor her choices.
✨How her first birth sparked an insatiable desire to step into her authentic self.
✨The spiritual confirmation she experienced learning about freebirth and the dangers of ultrasound.
✨Her intuitive self care during her wild pregnancy.
✨Her magical birth surrounded by sisters and fully supported postpartum.
✨Choosing authentic birth education over certified nursing or doula work in the system.
 
⭐ Matriarch Rising Festival: Get your tickets NOW! - https://www.matriarchrisingfestival.com 
⭐ Don't miss the MatriBirth Midwifery Institute,  Enrollment opens May 20th!!
Connect with Free Birth Society 

A Black Woman’s Solution to Maternal Death Rates in the System: Jalynn’s Freebirth

Watch this episode HERE
We have a really inspiring episode today, as I welcome Zainab, from Saudi Arabia, now living in Michigan. Zainab is a brilliant maiden who has blazed a path of autonomy, teaching Fertility Awareness Method and body literacy to Arab women in her mother tongue of Arabic.
Zainab grew up without initiation into her first bleed, and didn’t even have a word to use for her vagina. She experienced intergenerational shame.
Her awakening began when she discovered FAM along with a calling to share this knowledge with her sisters, particularly those in her home country, where she found women hungry to tune into their bodies and claim their freedom.
Zainab came to Matriarch Rising Festival and experienced it as a touchpoint of what's possible when women in their power come together. She witnessed the centering of mothers, the normalization of freebirth and embodied womanhood, and, of course, the pure, delicious magic. She took these lessons home with her, forever changed.
This year we’re hyped to have Zainab back at MRF offering her workshop The Cycle Wisdom Map, an exploration of body literacy through the lens of the natural cycles around us. Come and experience the uplevel Zainab did! Go to matriarchrisingfestival.com to get your ticket. Join us sisters - it’ll be the highlight of your year - and it may just change your life. 
Here’s what you’ll hear:
✨The body disconnection and shame she was taught as a young woman.
✨Her passion for FAM and joy of translating teachings into her mother tongue.
✨Her leap teaching in Arabic, and the incredible response from women ready to step into their power.
✨Teaching from the “daughter” stage of life.
✨The importance of centering mothers.
✨Cultural amnesia and how her grandmother birthed at home, yet her mother birthed in the hospital.
✨The life altering power of MRF and how it changed her.
 
⭐ Matriarch Rising Festival: Get your tickets NOW! - https://www.matriarchrisingfestival.com 
⭐ Don't miss the MatriBirth Midwifery Institute,  Join the waitlist and receive all the details late spring
Connect with Free Birth Society 

The Women Are Ready: Zainab Brings Body Literacy to Saudi Arabia

Watch this episode HERE
Today I have the great pleasure of welcoming to the show Dr. Elderberry, and yes, that *is* her legal name. Elderberry is a naturopath, a vitalist herbalist, a homeopath, and a wild mother. I’m so excited for her to share her wisdom of homeopathy, minerals, practicing herbalism energetically, and tuning into mother nature. 
This is an especially fun episode as Elderberry is one of our headliners at Matriarch Rising Festival (@matriarchrisingfestivalnc) this summer, where she will be offering her teachings on homeopathy and supporting your wellbeing beyond the physical. Elderberry’s practice is truly womb to tomb, and she is deeply passionate about the power of sovereign healing. 
If our conversation today lights you up, you won’t want to miss the chance to learn from Elderberry, and our pantheon of wise woman headliners, at MRF this June. Go to matriarchrisingfestival.com to claim your ticket, and get ready for a life changing 5 days; grab your ticket now! Here’s what you’ll hear in our conversation: 
✨How she grew up in the allopathic model, identified it as quackery, and moved beyond. 
✨Why she differs from other naturopathic doctors and their frequent “prescribing.” 
✨What homeopathy is. 
✨What vitalist herbalism is. 
✨The magic of minerals. 
✨The playful relationship mothers and children can have with homeopathy. 
✨The importance of tapping into the energetics of plants. 
✨Her shift from importing herbs to local foraging, and building a free apothecary. 
✨The natural and free childhood she is supporting her son to experience. 
✨How this healing framework goes beyond the physical.
 
 ⭐ Matriarch Rising Festival: Get your tickets NOW! - https://www.matriarchrisingfestival.com 
⭐ Don't miss the MatriBirth Midwifery Institute,  Join the waitlist and receive all the details late spring
Connect with Free Birth Society 

Remineralizing the Spirit with Herbalist Dr. Elderberry

Watch this episode HERE
This may be the most important episode of the season, so I’m glad you’re tuning in this week. Today’s story is from Mina, a freebirthing mother, and RBK graduate in Serbia.
Though Mina dreamt of birthing at home, she knew of no other women around her making that choice, so she birthed her first two babies in a very old school, very dark hospital. Mina faced obstetric violence and abuse and did not want to return.
And so she didn’t. She freebirthed her third. When she found herself pregnant as a newly single mother, Mina of course chose freebirth again, for her breech baby, born at 44 weeks surrounded by her sweet children.
Mina credits The Radical Birth Keeper School for her deep understanding of sisterhood, through which she has cultivated a blossoming community of women in her country also creating change. These women are choosing sovereign birth; they are stepping out of the system and into their full power, just as Mina did.
Obviously Mina’s choice to freebirth is huge, but I was struck by the real ripple effect that happens after a woman freebirths in her community, and then devotes herself to sovereign birth-work. Mina is truly changing birth culture in Serbia, and it’s a really, really big deal.
As Sister MorningStar says, “What one woman can do, all women can do.”. If Mina can do it, you can, too. There are just a few short days left to enroll in our only round of The Radical Birth Keeper School this year. Don’t wait, your time is now. Join us, for The Radical Birth Keeper School Spring 2024 cohort. Wherever you are, there are women around you hungry for wise sisters to support them in their sovereign birth choices. Go to radicalbirthkeeperschool.com and become the lighthouse in your community.
Here’s what you’ll hear in Mina’s story:
✨Her first birth in the hospital and subsequent separation from her baby.
✨The sickening state of maternal care (or lack thereof) in Serbian hospitals.
✨How she tried to strategically use the hospital during her second birth, but still faced abuse.
✨The culture of silence and corruption surrounding homebirth and midwives in Serbia.
✨Her first freebirth and the powerful shift it initiated.
✨The mentorship, sisterhood, and profound growth she experienced in The RBK School.
✨How she chose a fourth pregnancy, single motherhood, and a true family supported freebirth.
✨The importance of finding like minded women and embodying the change in birth culture you wish to see.
 
⭐ Join the Radical Birth Keeper School! Enrollment is open NOW!
⭐ Don't miss the MatriBirth Midwifery Institute,  Join the waitlist and receive all the details late spring
Connect with Free Birth Society 

A Serbian Breech Freebirth at 44 Weeks: The Ripple Effect of Mina’s Power

Today on the show we have Savannah, a graduate of The Radical Birth Keeper School, and she’s here to tell her big and important story of birth, single motherhood, loss, and claiming her freedom as a woman.
Savannah’s first birth resulted in heartbreaking, but so common, midwifery sabotage and betrayal, with a totally unnecessary transfer to the hospital. Many years later, Savannah re-partners, and finds herself pregnant again. Tragically, she lost that baby on her 40 week date. Savannah tells us the gutting story of birthing her stillborn son in the hospital. She shares how in her mourning, she was guided to this very podcast, and then to our Radical Birth Keeper School, where she found deep healing and support.
In navigating her first birth outside the system and contending with fear, Savannah steps fully into her power and freebirths her next baby, just 11 months after the loss of her last baby.
These are the kinds of real and difficult conversations we do not shy away from in The Radical Birth Keeper School. Birth work is death work. If you’re ready to lean into the depth of this work, this is our last call for this year’s session of The Radical Birth Keeper School. Go to radicalbirthkeeperschool.com and grab one of our last spots now. 
Grab some tissues and settle in for Savannah’s story. 
Here's what you'll hear in Savannah’s story:
✨How a vision during her unexpected pregnancy solidified her decision to bring her son to earth
✨The sabotage by medical midwives of her home birth and the unnecessary hospital transfer
✨How she intuited during her second pregnancy that something was wrong 
✨Her joy of experiencing birth, but also the grief that her baby had left his body
✨The wisdom and guidance received through her loss
✨How she found The RBK School, enrolled, and allowed it to blow her world wide open
✨Her third pregnancy and the magic of attending Matriarch Rising Festival at 35 weeks pregnant
✨Her fast and intense freebirth witnessed by her husband and son
✨The deep work of integrating grief with a new baby
 
⭐ Join the Radical Birth Keeper School! Enrollment is open NOW!
⭐ Don't miss the MatriBirth Midwifery Institute,  Join the waitlist and receive all the details late spring
Connect with Free Birth Society 

Choosing Nourishment Over Restrictive Diets with Jessica Ash

Download our free app to listen on your phone