Coffee and Consent

Natasha Vargas-Cooper and Andrea Haskins, co-authors of the Radical Moms Union Substack, join us on the podcast to discuss the #backoffbobbie campaign they launched in August 2023 to draw attention to predatory formula marketing, coming largely from the formula company Bobbie. Bobbie employs manipulative and exploitative tactics to trash breastfeeding and create lifelong customers. We also get into the main themes around breastfeeding, and how breastfeeding advocates are framed as judgmental, shame-y, and unsympathetic. This is an episode you won't want to miss!

Rad Mom Radio: Slutty College vs Playing House (RMU "trad wives" podcast episode)

Follow Natasha on Instagram

Follow Andrea on Instagram

In this long-awaited episode, we dive into some sensitive topics including transgender ideology (and so-called "inclusive language"), how transhumanism has invaded the birth world, and how "3rd party" reproduction harms women and children. This is really just the tip of the iceberg, and we will be picking apart some of the specifics in greater detail in the future. For now, we hope this episode provides some insight if you're new to these ideas and realities.

'Whose Body Is It?' podcast - 22. 'From Transgender to Transhuman' with Athena from Wild Willing Wisdom

Athena’s analysis of Martine Rothblatt's book 'From Transgender to Transhuman'

'Whose Body Is It?' podcast - 10. Transhumanism & Autogynephilia with Jennifer Bilek

'Whose Body Is It?' podcast - 28. The Attack on Our Sexed Bodies with Jennifer Bilek

Jennifer Bilek

'Whose Body Is It?' podcast - 26. Gaslighting Mothers, Transgenderism, and Vaccine Injury with Robbie Rose Part 1

'Whose Body Is It?' podcast - 27. The MCR-5-Transgender Connection with Robbie Rose Part 2

Jennifer Lahl, founder of the Center for Bioethics and Culture

'Free Birth Society' podcast - "To Buy a Baby, You Must First Rent a Woman" with MaryLou Singleton: Surrogacy Series Part 1 of 3

'Free Birth Society' podcast - Pain for the Childless Mother: Briana's Story of Surrogacy Part 2 of 3

'Free Birth Society' podcast - "Consent Cannot Be Purchased" with Yolande Norris-Clark (Part 3 of 3 Surrogacy Series

Weeeelcome back, y’all! We are here, kicking off season 2 of Coffee and Consent! 

No, Nicki has not had her baby yet, but in this season premier, Nicki shares about something many women can relate to: being unsupported in her choice to freebirth. Like we state at the top, we hope to make it clear that our message is not one of spite or bitterness. Lack of support is one of the primary reasons women choose things in their births that are not right for them, and in this episode, we explore what it’s like to make choices in the absence of support from family. It all hinges on what will be the focus of (most) episodes going forward, which is radical responsibility and taking charge of your life and your family. We hope you enjoy!

This week, we are very excited to bring you a special episode featuring Nicki's husband James! James tells us of his experience during Nicki's philosophical evolution (which, by association, resulted in his own). James also shares his fears and advice for men whose partners are pursuing a birth outside the system. James grew up knowing almost nothing about reproduction and birth and is now an enthusiastic advocate for women knowing about their bodies and taking responsibility for their births. We hope you find this episode inspiring and helpful and we hope it sparks some meaningful discussions with your spouses, families, and communities. 

As always, we would so appreciate you leaving a rating and review on Apple podcasts.

James French - Instagram

This episode is one for the books. We touch on so many different topics that are all intertwined and interconnected in a culture that does not value babies as whole, thinking, feeling, sentient human beings. Some of the sides of this issue discussed in this episode include industrialized maternity care, ultrasound, contraception, abortion, surrogacy, IVF, circumcision, the formula industry, and sleep training. If you couldn't tell, we could spend all day talking about all of these issues and our goal is to touch on each facet more in-depth in future episodes. 

Please enjoy this episode and consider leaving us a review on Apple podcasts! 

Contraception: Why Not by Janet Smith, PhD 

American Circumcision Documentary 

Instagram - Coffee and Consent

Back on the podcast this week, Nicki welcomes Gina to the show! Gina is a navy veteran, a mom of 4, and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant. Gina shares her breastfeeding journey, including navigating a lack of support from an IBCLC in her early motherhood days, we discuss oral ties, and how birth impacts breastfeeding. We are so appreciative that Gina took the time out of her schedule as a busy mom and hardworking professional to share her wisdom on the show. You can find Gina on Instagram and from there, learn how to set up one-on-one consults with her.

If you would please consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple podcasts, we would super appreciate it!

Gina Motsay, IBCLC – Instagram

USLCA – Find an IBCLC

La Leche League International (LLLI)

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

International Lactation Consultant Assocition (ILCA)

Chrysalis Orofacial

While Alicia and Nicki land on many different facets of this topic, they all revolve around this element that we are all familiar with, and that women in particular are socialized to default to. We are bringing to light the fact that many women, particularly during their pregnancies and in preparation for their births, put their own wants and needs on the back burner to accommodate the desires of those around her. This then translates into a lack of boundaries, a lack of responsibility, general loss of self-confidence, and the cycle continues in our children. We discuss the painful realities that we face on a daily basis, either first-hand in our own lives, or coming from the women and families we interact with. We hope you find this episode inspiring, thought-provoking, and encouraging, to prioritize your needs and the needs of your baby ahead of the preferences of other people in your life. People-pleasing is costly and our children bear the brunt. 

If you're listening on Apple podcasts, please consider leaving us a rating and review!

Freebirth Society Podcast - Stepping Into Radical Responsibility with Leisa Masters

Coffee and Consent - 10 Questions to Ask a Prospective Midwife (our FREE guide!)

We had the pleasure of chatting with Taylor Kulik, occupational therapist, and sleep & well-being specialist. Taylor shares her sleep training journey and how it ultimately unfolded, as well as how the societal expectations of infant sleep contribute to the harm of the family unit, breastfeeding, and attachment. In this episode, we dive into safe bedsharing, misconceptions about whether it is in fact safe, and the problems that arise when providers withhold safe bedsharing information. We are so thankful that Taylor took the time out of her busy schedule as a wife, mom, advocate, and coach, to chat with us about such important topics. While we understand some families feel that sleep training is their only option, or that it is developmentally advantageous, we acknowledge that sleep training is fundamentally incompatible with fostering a secure attachment relationship, which requires coregulation, responsiveness, and proximity. We hope you find this episode informative, encouraging, challenging, and affirming. Thanks again, Taylor! 

As always, please understand that we are all moms and having our little ones close sometimes means they are a part of these episodes and we make no apologies for that.

Taylor Kulik - Postpartum & Family Wellness

Taylor Kulik - Instagram 

La Leche League - The Safe Sleep Seven 

Dr. James McKenna - The Motherbaby Dyad & Safe Cosleeping 

Hold On To Your Kids by Dr. Gordon Neufeld & Dr. Gabor Mate 

Let's Sleep On It: Reclaiming Parenthood Podcast - Bedsharing, Breastfeeding, and Mother's Mental Health with Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett 

Let's Sleep On It: Reclaiming Parenthood Podcast - Outsourcing our parenting authority and more with Alicia Crews of @instinctualbirthing PART 1 

Let's Sleep On It: Reclaiming Parenthood Podcast - Outsourcing our parenting authority and more with Alicia Crews of @instinctualbirthing PART 2

Isla Grace Sleep 

American Psychology Association - The Lasting Impact of Neglect

It was our pleasure to sit down with Olivia to bring you this episode full of information, insight, honesty, and inconvenient truths! Olivia is mother, medical freedom advocate, birth & postpartum doula, and is passionate about nutrition and holistic healing. Her perspective is so valuable in this era of censorship, and we really appreciate her taking the time to chat with us. We sincerely hope that listening to this episode encourages you to research any and all medical treatments that you or your children are offered. A few important things to remember: companies that make these shots are not liable for injury or death; you have the universal, fundamental human right to refuse any medical treatment; vaccine injury is real and more common than any of us are really aware of.  

Olivia Friel - Instagram 

Just the Inserts 

The Holistic Mother - Instagram

 The Unvaccinated Child by Judith Thompson and Eli Camp

The Moth in the Iron Lung by Forrest Maready

The Truth About Vaccines

The Vaccine-Friendly Plan by Dr. Paul Thomas

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations by Stephanie Cave

Vaccines, Autoimmunity, and the Changing Nature of Childhood Illness by Dr. Thomas Cowan

Evidence of Harm by David Kirby

The Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert Sears

Dissolving Illusions by Suzanne Humphries

How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor by Dr. Robert Mendelsohn

We are back this week with an episode surrounding the topic of provider - specifically obstetric - abuse. While it is extremely common, normalized, and accepted, abuse is the leading cause of birth trauma. In this episode, we briefly discuss the history of obstetrics, including its racist and misogynistic roots. While midwifery is believed to be the "answer" to the mainstream abusive models of care, it is actually very much the same, since midwifery has been appropriated and regulated by the same entities which own and regulate obstetrics. We share abuse stories from women and hope to remind our listeners that the stories and experiences shared here are quite literally the tip of the iceberg. You know and love someone who has been abused by their provider(s), because essentially all women have. Please see the abuse highlights on Alicia's Instagram and Nicki's Instagram for some of the stories relayed in this episode and many, many more. 

Fertility Friday Podcast episode 368 - Why Your Doctor Isn't Helping You with Your Period Problems 

"Obstetric abuse is whatever a person who has been subjected to it believes it to be." -Sarah Leahy, Birth Uprising

Alicia Crews - Instagram

Nicki French - Instagram

Commonwealth Fund - Maternal Mortality Maternity Care US Compared 10 Other Countries 

NCBI - Maternal and Newborn Care in the United States - Birth Settings in America 

Evidence Based Birth - What is Home Birth? 

Freebirth Society Podcast - Beyond Complicity: Birth Work Outside the System

"You're gonna show up for your appointment and at the appointment, we'll let you know what's negotiable and what's not."