SwissCast Shows: Where Swiss Life Meets English Voices

Send us Fan Mail

Join us on Patreon

or

Support the show

Please connect with us:

Click here to share your story and be our next guest!

Check out Julia's upcoming courses

Check out Christine's doula services

Lilybee's store with pregnancy, birth and postpartum essentials

All Swiss Birth Stories Episodes

Plans rarely survive contact with labour, and that’s exactly where this story shines. We sit down with Ladina, a Swiss parent who grew up in the US and Brazil, to trace two very different births at Triemli Stadtspital in Zurich—one long and medically complex, the next fast and grounded in simple tools and trust.

We start with the first pregnancy and a nerve-wracking NIPT delay over the holidays that coloured the months that followed. Labour opened with back pain and slow dilation, a middle-of-the-night epidural for much-needed rest, and oxytocin to restart contractions. Doctors weighed a C-section as her baby’s heart rate dipped, then broke her waters to reassess. With clear communication and steady midwifery support, her team helped her continue toward a vaginal birth. Postpartum brought a hot, crowded ward, sleepless nights, and the classic “flirt weeks” that soon gave way to evening fussiness. Breastfeeding clicked early, freezer meals saved their sanity, and expectations reset as reality arrived.

The second time, everything felt different. With a toddler at home, there was less anxiety and more trust in her body. A TENS machine became her secret weapon for back labour, letting her arrive at the hospital already seven centimetres dilated despite being two weeks past her due date. Induction was planned, then labour started on its own; she birthed without an epidural in a calm room with minimal staff. We dig into the Beleghebamme continuity-of-care model at Triemli, why it matters even when schedules don’t align, and how the right ally can keep options open without pressure.

Family life after birth adds honest layers: preparing a firstborn with simple rituals, navigating rough affection and parental triggers, and handling weeks of illness that often trail big transitions. We explore sleep ups and downs, self-weaning when pregnancy changed milk, and a daughter who refused bottles at daycare, pushing Ladina to pump at work and leave early pickups. The big takeaway is practical and humane: some babies sleep, some don’t; tools like TENS, doulas, and continuity of care help; and confidence grows when we allow plans to change without losing our voice.

If you care about natural birth, epidurals, induction, TENS in labour, breastfeeding, bottle refusal, sibling bonding, and Swiss maternity care, this story delivers grounded insight and real-world strategies.

Subscribe for more Swiss Birth Stories, Write a review, and share this podcast to help more parents in Switzerland and beyond find the show.

@swissbirthstories

@lilybeezurich

@juliathedoula.ch

www.juliathedoula.ch

www.lilybee.ch

www.swissbirthstories.com

• TENS machine rental from Lilybee: https://www.lilybee.ch/shop/tens-rental/
• Beleghebammen Zürich | Carolina Iglesias, Eva Kaderli

Mentioned in this episode:

Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.Network

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

SwissCast Network

In this episode of Passport to Wealth™, host Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA, sits down with Christopher J. Hughey, entrepreneur and founder of Americans Moving to Spain, to uncover what US citizens really need to know before taking the leap abroad. From navigating Spain’s digital nomad and non-lucrative visas to understanding how culture, bureaucracy, and lifestyle differ from the US, this episode pulls back the curtain on what life in Spain truly looks like for Americans.

Christopher shares what inspired him to create a platform helping thousands of US expats move abroad, the most common mistakes Americans make when relocating to Spain, and how to prepare financially, emotionally, and logistically for your move. Whether you’re exploring retirement abroad, remote work in Spain, or simply dreaming of Mediterranean life, this conversation is packed with actionable insight, practical visa guidance, and hard-earned wisdom for anyone ready to start a new chapter overseas.

For a trusted path to expert cross-border guidance don't forget to go to passporttowealth.com .

Have a question? Leave us a voicemail

Mentioned in this episode:

Order "The Expat Money Playbook"

Passport to Wealth is a proud member of the SwissCast Network

Discover more podcasts for English-speaking Switzerland

SwissCast Network

Send us Fan Mail

Join us on Patreon

or

Support the show

Please connect with us:

Click here to share your story and be our next guest!

Check out Julia's upcoming courses

Check out Christine's doula services

Lilybee's store with pregnancy, birth and postpartum essentials

All Swiss Birth Stories Episodes

This episode is a must listen for every pregnancy. Henar's story of finding answers, self-advocacy, hard work and tenacity, as well as leaning in when things went differently than planned holds lessons for everyone embarking on pregnancy and birth in Switzerland.

What happens when modern diabetes tech collides with decades‑old pregnancy protocols? We sit down with Henar, a Spain‑born mum in Switzerland living with Type 1 diabetes, who turned a “high‑risk” label into a plan rooted in data, calm choices, and unwavering self‑advocacy. From preconception A1C goals and fine‑tuning basals to balancing nutrition, exercise, and hormones, she shows how preparation can rewrite expectations without ignoring real risks.

The cracks appear where many parents feel them most: care that’s split between specialists who rarely speak, blanket recommendations to induce at 38 weeks, and hospital assumptions about “big babies.” Henar walks us through bringing her endocrinologist and hospital team into one conversation, documenting individualised thresholds, and buying time for spontaneous labour. When her baby arrived malpositioned and pushing stalled, she chose an epidural, tried every repositioning strategy, and then moved into a caesarean that felt informed, respectful, and peaceful. The golden hour still happened. The love still crashed in to that operating room. You will not want to miss the description of her first few moments with her son.

Postpartum, the story shifts to pain management gaps, anaemia, and the vital role of practical support. We dig into breastfeeding with Type 1 diabetes: why milk let‑down can drop blood sugar, how CGMs and pumps with low‑glucose suspend help at night, and the simple power of snacks within reach. We also explore returning to work, protecting pumping windows, and making a values‑based call on extended breastfeeding despite criticism. Along the way, we spotlight the real issue: a data lag that hasn’t caught up with continuous glucose monitoring, smarter pumps, and broader access that make tighter control possible.

If you’re navigating pregnancy with Type 1 diabetes or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers clear strategies, compassionate perspective, and a reminder that protocols are starting points, not destinies. If it resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who needs encouragement today. Your notes and stories help this community get smarter and stronger.

Subscribe for more Swiss Birth Stories, Write a review, and share this podcast to help more parents in Switzerland and beyond find the show.

@swissbirthstories

@lilybeezurich

@juliathedoula.ch

www.juliathedoula.ch

www.lilybee.ch

www.swissbirthstories.com

• Book: Think Like a Pancreas
• Facebook Group: Type 1 diabetes and pregnancy
• Articles:
• For research papers, Henar thinks this one gives a good example on how good control is beneficial for the pregnancy outcome: Sobhani NC et al., Continuous glucose monitoring metrics in pregnancy and perinatal outcomes (AJOG / 2024) — (large CGM-outcome study).
• And then some papers on how the old studies are not valid anymore, and that more research is needed:
• Helman et al., Time trends in pregnancy-related outcomes among women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (2020, population cohort)
• Berger & Melamed, Timing of delivery in women with diabetes in pregnancy (review, 2014)

Mentioned in this episode:

Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.Network

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

SwissCast Network

Welcome to the MyBestSelf Podcast, AI edition. Megan partners with Alice (the AI) to talk about how we use AI to improve our life. In this first episode, we get to hear Alice come to life and then dive right into some super interesting topics.

Mentioned in this episode:

Passport to Wealth is a proud member of the SwissCast Network

Discover more podcasts for English-speaking Switzerland

SwissCast Network

Order "The Expat Money Playbook"

Snapping at your kids or easily overwhelemed when you’re doing your best to hold it all together?

Tera Wages helps people identify and process emotions more clearly, and in this episode we talk about what it looks like to move through overwhelm, guilt, and emotional overload when you are trying to lead at work and stay present at home.

What Tera shares:

• Why overwhelm often builds when we lose touch with what we are actually feeling, and how naming the real emotion can help you move through it faster
• How guilt and shame affect mom entrepreneurs differently
• How co-regulation with your partner can create more calm at home and make it easier to show up with clarity in your business

This stuck with me:

Tera explains that so much of what we call stress or overwhelm is actually unprocessed emotion sitting in the body. That is such a useful shift for mom entrepreneurs because her 4-min reset gives you something practical to do in the middle of a full day, instead of just telling yourself to push through.

More from Tera Wages:

IG @connectioncodes

www.connectioncodes.co

💡Dive deeper here: www.HeyBossMama.com/023

🍓CONNECT WITH MANOUCHKA

Instagram

LinkedIn

The Mompreneur Space Facebook Group

Website

👋 WHO AM I?

Hey, I'm Manouchka Elefant, a business coach for mompreneurs with 15+ years in marketing and a specialization in positive psychology. After becoming a mom, I quickly realized that building a business with kids in the mix takes more than ambition. It takes clear strategy, honest support, and the kind of accountability that helps you actually follow through.

That's what led me to create Hey Boss Mama, a space where we talk honestly about business, motherhood, mindset, and what it really takes to stop doubting and start executing. If you're into real talk, smarter marketing, and support that helps you keep moving forward, hit follow for the latest Hey Boss Mama episodes.

I'm based in Switzerland, coaching mompreneurs everywhere English is spoken.

Mentioned in this episode:

More 👀 on your business!

Want more clients to find your business, but your marketing still feels reactive?

SAVE YOUR SPOT 🔥Back to Business MASTERMIND

Should I lower my prices? It’s a question every service-based business owner faces at some point, often in moments of doubt or sales stress.

In this episode, I show you how to pause, assess, and respond instead of reacting. You’ll learn the common triggers behind pricing discomfort and how to protect your value with clarity and confidence.

Pricing Tool Kit Link: https://thepricinglady.com/calculate-this/

The Price Check Guide: https://thepricinglady.com/price-check-guide/

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Dina Holzapfel, neuroscientist and founder of Red. House of Collagen in Zurich, as we explore the science and benefits of red light therapy.

What You'll Learn:

1. How red light therapy works at the cellular level by boosting mitochondrial energy (ATP production)
2. The difference between red light (630-660nm) and near-infrared wavelengths and what each targets
3. Benefits for skin health, collagen production, inflammation, brain function, and overall wellness
4. Safety considerations and practical tips for using red light therapy
5. How to choose quality devices and avoid common consumer pitfalls

Guest: Dina Holzapfel is an engineer, neuroscientist, and entrepreneur who founded the world's first red light therapy mindfulness studio in Zurich, Switzerland.

Free vs. Member Extended Cut:

This free episode covers the fundamentals of red light therapy, how it works, and practical applications. Members get extended discussion on collagen production comparison (supplements vs. red light therapy), red light therapy effects on eye health and children's myopia, and detailed guidance on shopping for at-home devices.

Check out the So Frickin' Healthy Website

Leave us a Voicemail

Join the So Frickin' Healthy Community

Watch us on YouTube

Connect with us on Substack

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the So Frickin' Healthy Community

Get access to our extended cut episodes and support the show by signing up as a Member of the So Frickin' Healthy Community. You can join as a free or paid Member!

Join the So Frickin' Healthy Community

Ready to hit reset without the boring juice-only drama?

The Urban Cleanse is calling your name — come see what it's all about!

Organilicious - Danna, Functional Medicine Health Coach

Coming back to work after burnout isn't just about resuming what you did before, with better stress management techniques.

It’s about reshaping how you choose to live, work, and lead yourself.

Today, we’re exploring how recovery is often a wake-up call—a chance to reconnect with who you are and what matters most. And how living more in line with your values can help you build a work life that is sustainable, fulfilling and burnout-proof.

00:29 Real-Life Examples

01:58 What are you values, really?

03:56 Confronting our Values

05:11 Aligning Your Values with Work

08:11 End-of-Life Clarity

Back After Burnout is for education and inspiration only and does not constitute medical, mental-health, legal, or employment advice. Every burnout journey is unique—always consult qualified healthcare and workplace professionals before acting on anything you hear. Resources shared are tools Karina has personally found helpful; they may not suit every listener. Use what serves you and leave the rest.

Mentioned in this episode:

Back After Burnout is a proud member and a production of the SwissCast Network

Discover more great podcasts for English-speaking Switzerland

SwissCast Network

Send us Fan Mail

Join us on Patreon

or

Support the show

Please connect with us:

Click here to share your story and be our next guest!

Check out Julia's upcoming courses

Check out Christine's doula services

Lilybee's store with pregnancy, birth and postpartum essentials

All Swiss Birth Stories Episodes

Joanna is a small business owner living in Glarus with her family. She owns Moon and June, a non-alcoholic apertif made in Switzerland.

A decade can change everything. Joanna went from a fast-paced banking career and a midwife-led hospital birth in Poland to a slow, deliberate, deeply supported home water birth in the Swiss mountains—finding a new kind of confidence along the way. Her story threads through motherhood, blended family life, and the tension between authority and intuition, showing how respectful care and continuity with midwives can reshape not only labour but the whole arc of becoming a parent again.

We walk through the first birth’s quiet triumphs and the subtle harms of the “clock”—that moment when protocols override pace. Then we shift to Switzerland, where an English-speaking midwife, a birth pool, and careful postpartum planning set a different tone. When Joanna’s longtime OB condemned home birth with fear-based warnings, she didn’t debate; she re-centred. With a low-risk pregnancy, a known midwife duo, and a registered transfer plan, she turned down the noise and trusted what felt right for her body and baby.

The labour unfolds like a lesson in physiology and presence: waters leaking at home, a rainy walk, a Spike Lee movie, then the unmistakable climb. Warm water, skilled hands, and a steady voice—“You’re a strong woman”—help Joanna surrender to the urge to push. One surge, and her daughter is born into the pool. Postpartum shines too: daily midwife visits, an easy latch after past struggles, food prepped, visitors paused, and a blended family gently knitting together. The episode’s heartbeat is a simple metric of success: leaving birth more confident than when you began.

If you care about home birth in Switzerland, midwife-led care, respectful maternity care, older motherhood, postpartum planning, or the realities of blended families, this is the story for you.

Subscribe for more Swiss Birth Stories, Write a review, and share this podcast to help more parents in Switzerland and beyond find the show.

@swissbirthstories

@lilybeezurich

@juliathedoula.ch

www.juliathedoula.ch

www.lilybee.ch

www.swissbirthstories.com

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanna_k_perry/
• Website: https://www.moonandjune.ch/

Mentioned in this episode:

Discover more great podcasts at SwissCast.Network

The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

SwissCast Network