As we celebrate two years of podcasting and journey toward 100 episodes, I’m bringing back this Most Loved episode — the powerful free birth story of first-time father Aaron Cloutier.

At 52, Aaron welcomed his son Thomas Cade in an unassisted home birth with his partner Anna. In this conversation, he shares the raw and beautiful reality of supporting his partner through pregnancy, labor, and birth, while navigating moments of fear, trust, and surrender.

Aaron reflects on:

• Growing up the youngest of eight children, surrounded by strong male role models and many sisters who became mothers.

• How his decades of experience as a chiropractor and natural health practitioner shaped his perspective on birth and physiology.

• The unexpected detour to the hospital when concerns about bleeding arose — and the powerful decision to leave against medical advice and continue the journey at home.

• Witnessing Anna’s courage through prodromal labor, the turning point when she fully surrendered, and the radiant moment Thomas was born.

• The transition into fatherhood later in life and what it means to be truly present as a dad.

Aaron’s story reminds us that free birth is not just the mother’s passage — it also reshapes the men who stand beside them, calling forth courage, trust, and devotion.

About Aaron Cloutier
Aaron is a chiropractor, natural health practitioner, and nutritional therapist with over two decades of experience in vitalistic, relationship-centered care. A Maine native, he lives in Augusta with his partner Anna and their son Thomas.

Connect with Aaron through his website: www.acabarhealth.com

Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠

Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠

Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam Ali

Disclaimer:

The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.

Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

As we celebrate two years of podcasting and journey toward 100 episodes, I’m bringing back this Most Loved birth story — a powerful and raw account from Anna Blash on the free birth of her son, Thomas.

Anna’s story unfolds over 70 hours of labor, beginning with a prophetic dream, a detour through the hospital system, and ultimately a triumphant return home where she birthed in her own power. Along the way, she faced her deepest fears, surrendered to trust in her body, and stepped fully into her role as mother.

In this conversation, Anna shares:

• The red thread lineage that shaped her relationship to birth and voice.

• A vivid prophetic dream that foreshadowed her birth.

• How bleeding in early labor led her to a hospital stay — and the moment she chose to leave against medical advice.

• The inner work with archetypes, spiritual practice, and Jungian analysis that prepared her for free birth.

• The ecstatic, liminal, and at times brutal hours of laboring at home — complete with chanting, visions, drumming, and profound encounters with her lineage.

• How she navigated a short cord, heavy bleeding, and the arrival of her son posterior after days of prodromal labor.

• The wild postpartum: placenta rituals, burning the cord, and the challenges of early breastfeeding.

Anna’s story is one of devotion, resilience, and remembrance — a reminder that birth is both deeply personal and profoundly ancestral.

About Anna Blash
Anna lives in Maine with her partner Aaron and their son Thomas. She is a craniosacral therapist and space-holder passionate about natural living, spiritual practice, and creating sacred containers for others walking the free birth path.

Contact Anna: [email protected]

Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠

Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠

Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam Ali

Disclaimer:

The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.

Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

As we celebrate two years of podcasting and journey toward 100 episodes, I’m bringing back this Most Loved Wise Woman episode — a rich and practical conversation with Molly Caldwell on fertility awareness and the four seasons of the womb cycle.

Molly shares her own red-thread lineage story — growing up within the silence of Catholic shame around sexuality, unpacking her induction birth imprint, and reclaiming her cycle after years of hormonal contraception. Her path of healing led her from doula training into fertility awareness as the missing piece for embodiment, sovereignty, and cyclical wisdom.

Together, we explore:

• How your womb cycle mirrors the four seasons of the earth — follicular (spring), ovulatory (summer), luteal (fall), and bleeding (winter).

• Tangible practices for each phase: from preparing nourishing foods before bleeding, to honoring ovulation as a time of creation and ceremony.

• Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) — tracking cervical mucus, basal body temperature, and cervix shifts as a natural way of knowing your body.

• How period shame and disconnection impact postpartum, fertility, and women’s sovereignty — and ways to restore reverence.

• Reframing PMS and the luteal phase as powerful invitations for alignment and soul work.

Molly’s wisdom invites us into a profound homecoming with our bodies. Through fertility awareness and cyclical living, we remember that our wombs are not a burden — they are nature itself, offering rhythm, guidance, and healing.

About Molly Caldwell
Molly lives in central Maine, where she tends the cycles of life through fertility awareness, growing food and flowers, herbalism, and earth connection. She is a threshold tender, innate postpartum care provider, vaginal steam facilitator, and aspiring fertility awareness educator. She is currently creating a framework for teaching fertility awareness and womb care to adults and teens, and is available for workshops and collaborations in Maine.

Connect with Molly on Instagram: @liminalrites

Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠

Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠

Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam Ali

Disclaimer:

The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.

Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

As we celebrate two years of podcasting and journey toward 100 episodes, I’m bringing back this Most Loved episode — the very first Dad’s Version of a birth story. This is part two of a two-part series; if you haven’t yet, listen to Episode 86 for Britney’s powerful telling of their daughter Pari’s birth.

In this conversation, Nate shares his perspective on preparing for and witnessing the home birth of his first child. With honesty and vulnerability, he speaks about:

• The influence of his father and grandfathers on his own path into manhood and fatherhood.

• How intentional inner work, plant medicine, and meditation shaped his readiness to become a father.

• The challenges of preparing for birth while living communally and financially uncertain.

• The importance of presence, planning, and holding space for his partner during pregnancy and labor.

• How faith, surrender, and clear preparation allowed him to fully step into his role as partner and father.

Nate’s reflections illuminate the often unseen inner journey of men in the birth portal — reminding us how critical fathers are to the sacred container of birth. This is a powerful listen to share with the men in your life.

About Nate
Nate is a dedicated father, partner, and space-holder. His spiritual journey has been deeply shaped by time in the forest, plant medicine, and meditation practices. He is now bringing that wisdom into fatherhood and his work in men’s circles. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with his partner Britney and their daughter Pari.

To connect with Nate, reach out via his partner Britney on Instagram: @britneybeckstrand

Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠

Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠

Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam Ali

Disclaimer:

The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.

Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

86. MOST LOVED [BIRTH STORY] WITH BRITNEY - FIRST TIME MOM HOME BIRTH - PART 1 MAMA'S VERSION

As we journey toward 100 episodes and two years of podcasting, I’m bringing back this As we celebrate two years of podcasting and approach 100 episodes, I’m bringing back this most loved birth story from the archive. This is part one of a powerful two-part series, sharing both Mama and Dad’s perspectives on a first-time natural home birth. Tune in next week for Dad’s version, another listener favorite..

In this conversation, Britney opens up about the preparation, surrender, and wisdom that shaped her first home birth. She shares the deep insights she carried into postpartum, and how birth transformed her calling as a mother and as a guide for women.

About Britney Beckstrand Britney is a devoted mother, yoga and meditation teacher, and facilitator of women’s circles in her community. She is passionate about helping women remember the power they hold through conception, pregnancy, birth, and beyond. 

Today, Britney continues to weave her gifts as a space holder, tending to her family, her community, and her own growth as a woman. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her partner Nate and their daughter Pari.

Find her on Instagram @⁠⁠britneybeckstrand⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠

Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠

Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam Ali

Disclaimer:

The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.

Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

In this deeply moving episode, I sit with Olivia Roff — a Mystical Doula and Spirit Baby Medium whose own birth journeys became the portal into her spiritual calling.

Olivia shares the medicine of her stories:

• Her first home birth that ended in hospital transfer and forceps delivery, and the long postpartum journey that followed.

• Two profound losses — a very early miscarriage and another at nearly twelve weeks — that she now calls early births.

• How her daughter’s spirit guided her through conception, pregnancy, and an intense but transformative second home birth.

• The awakening of her unique gift as a spirit baby channel, supporting women navigating baby loss, infertility, and the sacred thresholds of motherhood.

Through her vulnerability, Olivia reminds us that birth stories — whether marked by trauma, loss, or empowerment — hold deep medicine for our healing, reclamation, and wisdom.

Stay tuned at the end for a special reading with my own spirit baby.

About Olivia Roff

Olivia is a mother, Mystical Doula, and Spirit Baby Medium who supports women through loss, conception, pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Rooted by the sea in the UK, she works with women worldwide to bring compassion, reverence, and spiritual guidance to some of life’s most tender thresholds.

Connect with Olivia on Instagram: mystical_birthing

Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠

Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠

Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam Ali

Disclaimer:

The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.

Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

This is the final episode in our four-part mini-series with Whapio of The Matrona, where we have been exploring the cosmology of life and birth.

In the first three conversations, we journeyed through conception and the return of the wise woman, the holistic stages of labor, and the quietude at the top of the mountain just before the active pushing phase begins.

In this final episode, we move into the completion of second stage and beyond:

• the spontaneous nature of true second stage,

• the “birthing tides” and the sacred pause,

• the baby’s transition to breathing,

• the profound role of the father,

• and the extraordinary, altered states of consciousness that birth opens for mother and family alike.

Whapio invites us to re-imagine birth as undisturbed, physiologic, and deeply spiritual—reminding us that less interference allows more of the sacred design to unfold. Together, we reflect on the revolution of language we use around labor and the reverence that arises when we let physiology lead.

This is a teaching to savor and return to. If you haven’t already, please go back and listen to the first three episodes in order to receive the full arc of this series:

1. Conception & the Return of the Wise Woman

2. The Holistic Stages of Birth: Embarking, the Foothills, and Climbing the Mountain

3. The Quietude at the Top of the Mountain

4. The Revolution of Words & the Sacred Completion of Birth (this episode)

You can learn more about Whapio and her work at thematrona.com.

Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠

Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠

Offerings:

⁠⁠The Wise Woman: A Path to Remembrance⁠⁠ — 6-week live online container. For women ready to reclaim their lineage of wisdom, remember who they are beneath the noise, and walk in sacred sisterhood. Weekly Monday evening ceremonies, rich chapter material, and a private community space for deep connection.

Ready to step in? ⁠⁠Join us now⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Beyond a Doula support⁠⁠ — in-person Southern Maine + virtual worldwide; for women seeking instinctual, natural, undisturbed birth

⁠⁠Self-paced courses⁠⁠ — conception through postpartum; sacred, spiritual, grounded, physiological, sovereign

⁠⁠Embodied Wise Women’s Community + Private Podcast Feed⁠⁠

Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam Ali

Disclaimer:

The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.

In this special four-part mini-series with Whapio of The Matrona, we journey into the cosmology of life and birth through her unique lens of wisdom.

In this episode, Whapio and I explore the holistic stages of birth—what it means to view labor not just as a clinical process, but as a profound journey of transformation. We talk about the early foothills of labor, the veil, altered states of consciousness, the importance of language, and the revolutionary ways we can describe and experience birth.

Whapio reminds us that birth is not just medical or clinical—it is practical, sacred, and transformational. Together, we reflect on how the words we use shape our reality and how honoring the wisdom of women’s bodies opens space for sovereignty in birth.

This episode takes us right up to the top of the mountain—the latent portion of second stage, that quietude just before the active pushing phase begins. Next week’s episode will guide us into that powerful threshold.

This conversation is part of a mini-series that builds with each episode, so we encourage you to listen in order:

1. Conception & the Return of the Wise Woman

2. The Holistic Stages of Birth (this episode)

3. The Transition of the Newborn & the Role of the Father

4. The Revolution of Words in Birth

Be sure to tune into all four parts to receive the full arc of Whapio’s teachings.

You can learn more about Whapio and her offerings at thematrona.com.

Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠

Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠

Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam Ali

Disclaimer:

The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.

Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

In Part Two of my conversation with my mentor and teacher Whapio of The Matrona, we continue to unravel the depth and cosmology of conception and birth. As a student in her 2025 Midwifery & Birthkeeper cohort, it is an honor to bring you this continuation of her teachings.

In this episode, Whapio guides us into a profound exploration of birth as a quantum, cosmological rite of passage. She shares her vision of the holistic stages of labor, the significance of the father or partner in “receiving the light,” and the necessity of changing the very language of birth to reflect its sacredness.

Together, we explore:

• The father’s essential role in conception, birth, and receiving the light

• How honoring this role transforms family dynamics and even addresses patterns of violence

• Why language matters in reshaping birth culture, and Whapio’s vision of “holistic stages of birth”

• The importance of presence, quietude, and allowing women to access deeper states of consciousness during labor

• The resurrection of the monitrice as the illuminated wise woman — bridging skills, intuition, and companionship for women in birth

Whapio’s words are a call to return birth to its rightful place as a soulful, cosmological, and transformative rite of passage — one that belongs wholly to women, families, and communities.

@whapio_and_thematrona

Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠

Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠

Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam Ali

Disclaimer:

The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.

Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.

In Part One of this extraordinary two-part series, I sit down with my mentor and teacher, Whapio of The Matrona — midwife, educator, and visionary — with whom I am currently apprenticing in her 2025 Midwifery & Birthkeeper cohort.

Whapio shares her personal journey from practicing midwife in the 1980s to becoming a teacher and consciousness-raiser through The Matrona. Together we explore the midwifery renaissance, the return of the village wise woman, and Whapio’s cosmological framing of conception and fertilization as sacred, noble rites of passage.

We dive into:

• Whapio’s story of midwifery, teaching, and The Matrona

• The renaissance of home birth and the tensions between freedom and licensing

• The return of the village wise woman as an illuminated guide for all life passages

• A sacred reframing of conception and fertilization as cosmological, mystical experiences

• Why weaving mysticism with intelligence is essential to women’s wisdom

Stay tuned for Part Two, where we continue this powerful conversation and go even deeper into cosmology, birth as a portal of consciousness, and the elevation of women’s wisdom in our time.

@whapio_and_thematrona

Website: ⁠⁠www.emilygracenixon.com⁠⁠

Instagram: @⁠⁠embodiedwomenswisdom⁠⁠

Leave me a review on ⁠⁠⁠iTunes⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Music: The Ancients (feat. Loga Ramin Torkian) by Azam Ali

Disclaimer:

The information and resources provided by me are not intended to constitute or replace medical or midwifery advice or a Mother’s intuition. Instead, all information provided is intended for education purposes only. My advice is not to be seen as medical diagnosis or to treat any medical illness or condition of Mother or baby/fetus.

Keywords: natural birth, home birth, freebirth, physiological birth, birth stories, postpartum healing, women’s circles, rites of passage, womb wisdom, feminine embodiment, sisterhood, conscious conception, birth trauma healing, matrescence, menopause, first-time mom birth story, VBAC, spirit baby.