In this episode, Oni Blecher brings you an interview with menstrual educator Samantha Neal.Samantha has been working for over six years, contributing to the field of menstruation by way of workshops, comprehensive online education programs, private mentorship and circle facilitation. Samantha is within a new wave of menstrual educators, approaching the field slowly and carefully with the utmost sanctity and respect; researching and writing while based in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, Australia.She has worked with all ages, supported thousands of women and girls in their understanding and integration of menstrual awareness. Her widely loved online course, the Cyclical Living Immersion, has been received and celebrated by participants from around the world. Most recently, she has started an online container called ‘Altered’, a 4 week course exploring the liminal dimensions of menstruation. She is always tending budding projects as well as serving weekly tea ceremonies, continuing her deep studies and exploring under the guidance of her mentors Dr. Lara Owen and Moana Pearl.This interview is full of deep explorations around relationship; with self, with cycles, and with those who teach us. Enjoy ! To connect or work with Sam, have a look at her website: https://samantha-neal.comOr her Instagram:@samanthaneal_

Samantha Neal: In Deep Relationship with The Menstrual Cycle

Pregnancy Birth & Beyond where stories, science, traditions and new ideas meet. We work and live on Bundjalung Country, Australia.Visit us at www.pbbmedia.org

Health & Fitness

In this episode, Oni Blecher will be sharing an interview with Vanessa Marian. Vanessa is a dancer, choreographer and movement director, involved in many large scale and award winning projects.  As a dancer, Vanessa started with a foundation in Indian classical dance, she has also trained in many different dance styles across New York, Paris, Berlin, London, Tokyo, Brazil, India and regional Australia with a particular focus in street dance and the way it is born outside of the dance studio context, often by an oppressed people in reaction to political and socio-economic turmoil.In 2016, Vanessa founded Groove Therapy, aimed at making the mental and physical health benefits of dance accessible to all walks of life. Groove Therapy has brought the goodness of dance to at-risk youth, Indigenous communities, people with dementia, refugee girls and the average person, using the political and healing foundations that these street dance styles are built upon and mindfully appropriating it in new communities to help spark global conversation and cultural understanding.  Last year, Vanessa became a mother for the first time. As an woman with Indian heritage, born in the United Arab Emirates and migrating to Australia at five, Vanessa has a keen eye for social, cultural, and political observation, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and parenthood became Vanessa’s next landscape for intrigue in the way birth and motherhood can be seen from a large variation of perspectives including her own. Vanessa will be sharing her perspectives on ritual, culture, and race as it is pertinent to her experience and  background. This includes care from her parents, what she saw as important when looking for birth support, and so much more.  We Loved this conversation. We always love to hear from you. Let us know you found it or what you found interesting or leave us a comment, review, or rating. You can emails us as well ! At hello@pbbmedia.org

Race, Culture, and Ritual in Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum with Vanessa Marian

In this episode, Oni Blecher interviews Tallulah and Xanthe. Both are Bachelor of Midwifery students in the final year of their studies.  Tallulah grew up on Bundjalung Country and was immersed in a community that favoured an integrative approach to healthcare and wellness, Tallulah felt an innate pull to participate. Along her journey, she felt a deep calling to support women and families, naturally falling into midwifery. Xanthe first felt the calling of midwifery at 14 years old. She spent the next decade thinking about the seed that was planted from such a young age, eventually realising that this calling could no longer be ignored. She truly loves midwifery with her whole heart, and feels incredibly privileged to be walking into a profession that is so rich in culture and practice since the beginning of humanity.Tallulah’s philosophy is to be led by women and families. As Culturally Safe care is inherently defined by the perspectives of those receiving care, Tallulah aspires for the women she serves to feel the power handed back to them as the primary decision makers. Tallulah hopes to fulfil a graduate position in Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) and go on to facilitate home births as a private practice midwife, whilst offering a sliding scale of cost to make safe birth more accessible. Xanthe hopes to work alongside some of our most vulnerable people groups in the community as a midwife, also within a continuity of care model. She is driven by the desire to provide holistic care, where women, birthing people, and families feel deeply respected and heard. She strongly believes in the potential of the childbirth continuum being a time that can have deep and lasting positive change for families and communities when care is provided well. Both Tallulah and Xanthe had the privilege of undertaking an overseas placement in remote Papua New Guinea in November 2023 of which they talk about during this interview. It was here that their love for midwifery was solidified. They were reminded of the role of midwifery as primary healthcare, servicing families and communities. Being remote and without basic resources or staffing, the two learnt the value of teamwork, being resourceful and acting on instinct. Tallulah and Xanthe cherish the relationships they build with women and their families and see the art and profession of midwifery as an immense privilege, they can’t imagine doing anything else!If you have any questions for these two, feel free to send us an email at hello@pbbmedia.org

In The Life of Two Midwifery Students, Xanthe and Tallulah

In this episode, Oni Blecher interviews Naomi Jannson. With over 20 years of experience as a health professional, Naomi weaves a wealth of expertise from diverse healthcare settings to provide clinical care and education.  Naomi inherited a strong relationship with Traditional Medicine from birth, growing up within a Traditional Medicine household and now practising as a second generation Chinese Medicine Doctor.  She obtained her degree as a Registered Nurse and practised in Australia and the UK in Emergency Medicine, further completing her Masters in Chinese Medicine and attended extensive postgraduate training in Australia, Japan, China, the UK, Europe, and the USA. With a deep respect for the Ancestors, History and Cultures of Traditional Medicines she practises her craft and maintains long term apprenticeship with Master practitioners in Australia, Japan and USA whilst studying the traditional manuscripts and learning opportunities with lineage teachers.  Traditional Medicine is Naomi’s life calling and she has truly dedicated herself to the Medicine and those who seek to receive or learn from her. A dedicated Advocate for Traditional Medicine especially in Women's Health and Birth/Reproductive Health services. She holds the vision of Culturally oriented and Mother centred experiences for Women during childbearing and rites of passage. Naomi often speaks at conferences and for podcasts to inform on the importance of Cultural Practices and Medicines in Women's Health. Naomi has also planned an upcoming postpartum conference on the 20 and 21st of April. ‘The Whole Picture’ postpartum conference is a dynamic 2 day event with inspiring speakers, offering CPD points and showcasing interdisciplinary innovations for optimal outcomes. Find Naomi and her offerings here:https://www.gentletraditions.xyz@gentle_traditions

Gentle Traditional Medicine with Naomi Jansson

In this epsiode, Oni Blecher speaks with Amanda Banks, co creator and producer of the new film Born at Home. Empowered by the homebirth of her second child in 2020, Amanda, together with long term dear friend Eleanor, set out to create a film exploring Homebirth in QLD. Amanda is mother of two children, both born at home. She has always had a passion for health which led her to works as an Acupuncturist in Brisbane, supporting families through fertility, pregnancy and beyond for over 8 years. Amanda was the former Convenor for Homebirth QLD for 2.5 years until mid 2023 and worked as a maternity consumer representative on the QLD Normal Birth Strategy.Supporting women has always been a passion of hers and after absorbing current research on the mainstream maternity system working with Homebirth QLD, she was driven to advocate for evidence based maternity care, women’s rights and access to safe birthing options and education. Amanda believes in the physiological process of birth, that birth is a rite of passage and a positive, supported birth experience can create a mother who feels confident in herself and in her parenting journey, amongst many other beneficial maternal and infant outcomes. We hope you enjoy this conversation and learning more about the film ! To check out more details and the upcoming film screenings, look at the links below ! https://www.bornathomefilm.com.auhttps://au.demand.film/born-at-home/

Born at Home Film with Amanda Banks

In this interview, Oni Blecher interviews Dr Michelle Gerbi. With a background as a chiropractor, perinatal health coach, functional medicine provider, certified perinatal health coach, postpartum corrective exercise specialist, and international board-certified lactation consultant, Michelle has had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the challenges, questions, and triumphs that come with being a mom. With over 17 years of experience focusing on postpartum women, Dr. Michelle Gerbi has helped thousands of moms overcome the most common and challenging issues that come with motherhood. In this episode, they discuss many topics but provide a special focus on breastfeeding, tongue tie, and the culture of under prepared postpartum. Michelle shares her extensive professional experince as well as her own personal birthing and breastfeeding journey. Enjoy this conversation and find Michelle through the links below. Instagram: @postpartummotheringmentorWebsite: www.drgerbi.com

Samantha Neal: In Deep Relationship with The Menstrual Cycle

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