In this episode of The Audacious Noor, I’m taking you back 18 years to the birth that changed everything, the birth of my first son and the moment I became a mum.

I was 19 years old, having my first baby, and while I didn’t have the knowledge about birth that I do now, there were still a few things I knew very clearly: I wanted to feel safe, I wanted to understand what my body was doing, and I wanted to birth as naturally as possible.

I share what pregnancy looked like for me, the care I received through the Ryde Hospital Midwifery Program, and the experience of being told at around 20 weeks that there were concerns about Down syndrome. That moment became one of my earliest lessons in how medical information is communicated, how quickly fear can enter pregnancy, and why asking questions matters.

We also get into the less serious parts, including my very questionable decision to try castor oil, labouring at home with my mum and sisters, discovering that I absolutely hated the water birth I had planned, and arriving at hospital only 45 minutes before my baby was born.

But more than anything, this episode is about looking back.

About recognising the things that made me feel safe and supported.

About seeing how much that first birth shaped the way I now view maternity care.

And about the little boy who completely changed the direction of my life.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Becoming a first-time mum at 19
• My experience with midwifery-led care
• Navigating a concerning ultrasound during pregnancy
• Why the way medical information is communicated matters
• The importance of feeling safe during birth
• Labouring at home and knowing when it was time to go in
• Changing my mind about the water birth I thought I wanted
• Movement, positioning and modesty during labour
• Giving birth within 45 minutes of arriving at hospital
• Why a birth doesn’t have to go perfectly to still feel beautiful
• How motherhood changed the entire direction of my life

Something to think about

If you’ve already given birth, what do you remember most about your experience?

Not just what happened medically but how did you feel?

What made you feel safe?

What made you feel supported?

And was there anything you thought you wanted beforehand that you completely changed your mind about once labour began?

If you’re currently pregnant, instead of only asking yourself “What do I want my birth to look like?”, try asking:

“How do I want to feel during my birth?”

Because years later, you may not remember every single detail but you will often remember how you were made to feel.

Come and find me on Instagram and share your story with me. These are the conversations I genuinely love having.

A little note: This episode shares my personal birth experience from 18 years ago. Some of the things I tried at the time, including castor oil, are not things I recommend today. Always discuss induction methods, concerns or medical decisions with your own maternity care provider.

Connect with me:

🤍 Mamacub Wellness

🌿 Instagram: @mamacubwellness

🎙️ The Audacious Noor Podcast

🌐 Website: www.mamacubwellness.com.au

Supporting women through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood with faith, confidence and evidence-based support.

As always, if this episode resonated with you, please share it with another woman who may benefit from this conversation and leave a review to help more women discover The Audacious Noor Podcast.

Courage • Confidence • Becoming

Running your own business can give you incredible freedom, but that freedom comes with a lot happening behind the scenes.

In this episode of The Audacious Noor, I’m sharing a little business and life update. I genuinely love what I’m building with Mamacub Wellness, but I’m also learning that growing a business doesn’t always mean doing more. Sometimes it means knowing what needs your energy right now and what can slow down for a season.

I’m also finally sharing something I’ve been working on behind the scenes: two new courses, a smaller mini course and a much bigger course that will bring together so much of what I teach around birth, mindset, education and advocacy.

And because I want to give these projects the time they deserve without constantly taking that time away from my family, The Audacious Noor is changing a little.

In this episode, I chat about:

• The freedom and pressure that comes with owning a business
• Building a business around your family instead of building your family around your business
• The reality of making money, making no money, having great months and questioning everything the next 😂
• My two upcoming courses and what I’m working towards
• Why I’m intentionally creating more space in my business
• Why success for me isn’t simply about building a bigger business it’s about building a bigger life

A little podcast update 🤍

For now, The Audacious Noor will be moving to fortnightly episodes during the school terms.

This might only be for a few months, or it might become our new rhythm. I’m giving myself permission to figure that out as I go.

The podcast isn’t going anywhere.

I still love sitting down and having these conversations with you. I simply want to make sure that when I do sit down behind this microphone, it’s because I genuinely have something I want to share not because I’m racing against another deadline.

There are some really exciting things happening behind the scenes, Insha’Allah, and this is only the beginning.

Sometimes growth isn’t about doing more. Sometimes it’s about making space for what’s coming next.

Thank you for being here and coming along for the journey. 🤍

I’ll see you in two weeks, Insha’Allah.

Connect with me:

🤍 Mamacub Wellness

🌿 Instagram: @mamacubwellness

🎙️ The Audacious Noor Podcast

🌐 Website: www.mamacubwellness.com.au

Supporting women through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood with faith, confidence and evidence-based support.

As always, if this episode resonated with you, please share it with another woman who may benefit from this conversation and leave a review to help more women discover The Audacious Noor Podcast.

Courage • Confidence • Becoming

Choosing the Birth Environment That’s Right for You

Where you give birth is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make during your pregnancy, but how do you know which option is right for you?

In this episode of The Audacious Noor, we’re taking an unbiased look at the different birth settings available in Australia, including public hospitals, private hospitals, birth centres, planned home birth and water birth.

This isn’t about telling you where you should have your baby. Instead, it’s about helping you understand your options so you can make an informed decision that aligns with your pregnancy, your values and your family’s needs.

We’ll also explore why your birth environment matters, how feeling safe can influence labour, and the questions every woman should ask before choosing where to give birth.

Whether you’re newly pregnant or preparing to welcome your baby soon, this episode will help you feel more confident navigating your choices.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why your birth environment can influence your labour experience.
• The role of oxytocin and why feeling safe matters during birth.
• What to expect when giving birth in a public hospital.
• Understanding Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) and continuity of care.
• The benefits and considerations of private hospital care.
• What birth centres are and who they’re designed for.
• Planned home birth in Australia and who may be eligible.
• The difference between a birth setting and a water birth.
• Evidence-based research around different models of maternity care.
• Questions to ask when choosing where to give birth.
• My own birth experiences and the birth setting I would choose if I could do it all again.

Questions to ask before choosing your birth setting:

• Where do I feel safest giving birth?
• What model of care is available to me?
• Will I have continuity with my care provider?
• Does this birth setting support the type of birth I’m hoping for?
• What are the hospital or birth centre’s policies regarding induction, monitoring and mobility?
• Can I labour or give birth in water?
• What happens if my birth doesn’t go to plan?
• Do I feel informed enough to make this decision with confidence?

My biggest takeaway from this episode:

There isn’t one “perfect” place to give birth.

The best birth setting is the one that is appropriate for your pregnancy, where you feel informed, respected, supported and safe. Every woman deserves to understand her options so she can make decisions based on evidence—not fear, pressure or someone else’s birth story.

Resources mentioned:

• Public hospitals
• Private hospitals
• Birth centres
• Midwifery Group Practice (MGP)
• Planned home birth
• Water birth
• Informed consent and shared decision-making

If you’re unsure what options are available in your area, speak with your maternity care provider early in your pregnancy and ask what models of care your local health service offers.

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could subscribe, leave a review and share it with another mum-to-be who might benefit from understanding her birth options. Every share helps more women access evidence-based, empowering birth education.

Connect with me:

🤍 Mamacub Wellness

🌿 Instagram: @mamacubwellness

🎙️ The Audacious Noor Podcast

🌐 Website: www.mamacubwellness.com.au

Supporting women through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood with faith, confidence and evidence-based support.

As always, if this episode resonated with you, please share it with another woman who may benefit from this conversation and leave a review to help more women discover The Audacious Noor Podcast.

Courage • Confidence • Becoming

What if confidence isn’t something you’re born with? What if it’s something you build every time you choose courage over comfort?

In this deeply personal episode, I share the story of one of the most terrifying yet transformative moments of my life standing on the edge of a bungee jump in New Zealand after dreaming about it for over 15 years.

What most people saw was a confident woman taking the leap.

What they didn’t see was the panic, the tears, the moment I walked away, or the battle that happened before I ever stepped off the platform.

This episode is a reminder that confidence doesn’t usually come before the scary thing it comes because of it.

We explore why we often mistake confidence for personality, how growth is found outside our comfort zone, the importance of having support around us, and how placing our trust in Allah allows us to keep moving forward even when fear is telling us to stop.

Whether you’re thinking about starting a business, speaking up, changing careers, beginning therapy, saying yes to a new opportunity, or simply taking the next step in your own life, I hope this conversation reminds you that you’re capable of far more than you think.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why confidence is built, not born.
• The real story behind my bungee jump in New Zealand.
• The unseen battle that often comes before someone else’s “confident” moment.
• Why courage always comes before confidence.
• The difference between being outgoing and being genuinely confident.
• How support from family, friends, mentors, therapists, coaches, doulas, and community helps us face fear without removing it.
• The uncomfortable moments behind building a business, recording a podcast, speaking publicly, and stepping into new opportunities.
• Trusting Allah when you don’t feel ready.
• Why waiting to feel confident may be the very thing keeping you stuck.
• How to start taking the leap, even when fear is still present.

A question to reflect on:

What are you standing on the edge of right now?

Whatever it is, don’t wait until you feel completely confident.

Take the first step.

Lean on the people Allah has placed around you.

Trust Him with what you cannot see.

One day you’ll look back and realise that confidence wasn’t waiting for you before you started it was waiting for you on the other side of the leap.

If this episode encouraged you, I’d love it if you shared it with a friend, left a review, or took a screenshot and shared it on your Instagram Stories. Don’t forget to tag me so I can personally thank you for listening.

Casey El Kalal
Founder Mamacub Wellness
Instagram: @mamacubwellness
Website: www.mamacubwellness.com

Connect with me:

🤍 Mamacub Wellness

🌿 Instagram: @mamacubwellness

🎙️ The Audacious Noor Podcast

🌐 Website: www.mamacubwellness.com.au

Supporting women through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood with faith, confidence and evidence-based support.

As always, if this episode resonated with you, please share it with another woman who may benefit from this conversation and leave a review to help more women discover The Audacious Noor Podcast.

Courage • Confidence • Becoming

What if the greatest fear a woman carries into birth isn’t her own?

In this episode, I share a conversation that stopped me in my tracks—a young woman who had never been pregnant, never experienced labour, yet was already terrified of giving birth because of the stories she’d heard from others.

This isn’t a conversation about silencing women or pretending birth trauma doesn’t exist. Birth trauma is real, and women deserve healing, support, and safe spaces to share their experiences.

But this episode asks an important question:

Who are we sharing our stories with, and what are we leaving them carrying?

Together, we’ll explore how our words shape the way women view birth, why fear can be unintentionally passed from one woman to another, and how we can begin sharing our experiences in a way that educates, empowers, and gives hope.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why birth trauma is real but why the audience we share it with matters.

• How hearing traumatic birth stories before pregnancy can shape a woman’s expectations of labour.
• The fear–tension–pain cycle and the impact fear can have on birth.
• Why positive and empowering birth stories deserve to be heard just as often.
• My own experience sharing positive birth stories and the hope they inspire in other women.
• The importance of reminding women that every birth journey is different.
• How to share your birth story in a way that teaches rather than transfers fear.
• Understanding that women have choices from care providers and birth settings to support people and informed decision-making.
• Why education should leave women feeling informed and confident, not powerless and afraid.

A question to reflect on:

The next time you tell your birth story, ask yourself:

Am I leaving this woman with confidence… or with fear?

A reminder to take with you:

“Don’t just tell women what went wrong. Tell them what you learned, what you would do differently, and what options are available to them. That’s how we educate without passing on fear.”

And finally…

“Your birth story belongs to you. But the fear from your birth story doesn’t have to belong to the next woman.”

Thank you for being here. If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with another woman who deserves to hear that birth isn’t defined by fear—and that hope deserves to be shared just as much as hardship.

With love,

Casey 🤍

Connect with me:

🤍 Mamacub Wellness

🌿 Instagram: @mamacubwellness

🎙️ The Audacious Noor Podcast

🌐 Website: www.mamacubwellness.com.au

Supporting women through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood with faith, confidence and evidence-based support.

As always, if this episode resonated with you, please share it with another woman who may benefit from this conversation and leave a review to help more women discover The Audacious Noor Podcast.

Courage • Confidence • Becoming

When Your Child Doesn’t Fit in the Box

A real conversation about my son and how tough it can be sometimes.

Parenting is beautiful.

It’s also messy, emotional, exhausting, and incredibly humbling.

In this deeply personal episode of The Audacious Noor, I open up about one of the hardest parts of my motherhood journey: raising a son who experiences the world differently.

As a mother of five, this isn’t a story about having all the answers. It’s about the tension between fiercely advocating for your child while also navigating the challenges that come with ADHD, learning differences, teenage independence, and the everyday realities of parenting.

I share the emotions behind the behaviour, the moments that have broken my heart, and the lessons Allah continues to teach me through this season.

This episode isn’t about labels.

It’s about seeing the child behind the behaviour.

Whether you’re raising a neurodivergent child, parenting a teenager, or simply feeling overwhelmed by motherhood, I hope this conversation reminds you that you’re not alone.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why behaviour is only one small part of a child’s story.
• Parenting a teenager while learning to let go without giving up.
• The emotional impact of criticism from someone you love.
• The importance of separating behaviour from identity.
• Advocating for children who don’t fit into society’s expectations.
• Growing up undiagnosed and how that shaped my parenting today.
• Holding boundaries while leading with compassion.
• Trusting Allah with your child’s journey, even when you can’t see the outcome.
• Why different doesn’t mean broken.
• The unseen work of motherhood and the power of continuing to plant seeds.

A reminder from this episode

“Your child is not their hardest day."

They are not their diagnosis.

They are not someone else’s opinion.

They are a soul entrusted to you by Allah.”

If this episode resonated with you…

I’d love it if you shared it with another parent who may need the reminder that they’re not alone.

Please consider following The Audacious Noor, leaving a review, and sharing the episode to help more families feel seen, supported, and understood.

Connect with me:

🤍 Mamacub Wellness

🌿 Instagram: @mamacubwellness

🎙️ The Audacious Noor Podcast

🌐 Website: www.mamacubwellness.com.au

Supporting women through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood with faith, confidence and evidence-based support.

As always, if this episode resonated with you, please share it with another woman who may benefit from this conversation and leave a review to help more women discover The Audacious Noor Podcast.

Courage • Confidence • Becoming

Have you ever felt like you don't fully belong anywhere?

Whether you're a revert to Islam, someone who grew up disconnected from your culture, or simply a woman who has walked into a room and felt like everyone else fits except you, this episode is for you.

In this deeply personal conversation, I share my own journey of feeling caught between different identities being Māori, reverting to Islam, marrying into a Lebanese family, and spending years wondering where I truly belonged.

For a long time, I believed I was the puzzle piece that didn't fit.

But one conversation changed everything.

In this episode, we explore how the stories we tell ourselves can become the very thing that keeps us feeling disconnected, and how shifting our perspective can completely change the way we see ourselves.

This isn't just a conversation about being a revert.

It's about identity.

It's about belonging.

It's about finding home within yourself and, most importantly, in your relationship with Allah.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Why so many women feel like they don't truly belong

- The unique challenges many revert sisters experience

- Feeling disconnected from your own culture and heritage

- Navigating marriage into a different culture

- Why language can feel like a barrier and how fear often holds us back more than ability

- The mindset shift that completely changed how I viewed myself

- Letting go of the pressure to "fit in"

- Growing in your identity without feeling like you need to prove yourself

- Raising children who feel connected to their faith, culture, and family history

- Why our greatest strength may be our ability to bridge different worlds

A reminder to take with you:

You do not need permission to belong.

You don't need to earn your place through perfect Arabic, cultural knowledge, or having all the answers.

Allah did not choose you because of your background.

He chose you because you are His servant.

Your journey, your experiences, and your story all have purpose.

Perhaps you were never the puzzle piece that didn't fit.

Perhaps you were always the piece that helps connect the rest of the picture.

Connect with me:

🤍 Mamacub Wellness

🌿 Instagram: @mamacubwellness

🎙️ The Audacious Noor Podcast

🌐 Website: www.mamacubwellness.com.au

Supporting women through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood with faith, confidence and evidence-based support.

As always, if this episode resonated with you, please share it with another woman who may benefit from this conversation and leave a review to help more women discover The Audacious Noor Podcast.

Courage • Confidence • Becoming

Finding the Right Doula for Your Journey

Have you ever found yourself scrolling through doula profiles wondering:

"How do I know which doula is right for me?"

In today's episode, we're having a real conversation about what actually matters when choosing a doula and why the "best" doula isn't always the best doula for you.

Every doula brings different strengths, experiences, training, personalities and approaches to birth support. The key isn't finding the most popular doula or the one with the most births attended. The key is finding someone who aligns with your needs, values and goals for your pregnancy and birth journey.

We discuss:

• Why connection matters more than qualifications alone
• The purpose of discovery calls and how to get the most out of them
• Understanding what you're actually looking for before hiring a doula
• The difference between education, support and advocacy
• Why doulas are not there to save you, but to empower you
• How doulas can support both you and your birth partner
• Why every pregnancy and birth deserves support, even if it's not your first baby
• The importance of finding a doula who understands your culture, faith and personal values
• Building a stronger Muslim birth support community

Questions to Ask a Doula

Before hiring a doula, consider asking:

1. What does your support look like throughout pregnancy?
2. How many prenatal sessions do you provide?
3. What is your approach to birth support
4. How do you support partners during labour?
5. What are your strengths as a doula?
6. What types of births do you commonly support?
7. How do you support women during early labour?
8. What happens if you are unavailable when I go into labour?
9. How do we communicate throughout pregnancy?
10. What do you believe your role is during labour and birth?
11. How do you help women build confidence before birth?

Most importantly, ask yourself:

• Do I feel comfortable with this person?
• Do I trust this person?
• Do I feel heard and understood?
• Can I imagine calling this person at 2am when labour begins?

Because birth support is about more than qualifications. It's about connection.

Connect with me:

🤍 Mamacub Wellness

🌿 Instagram: @mamacubwellness

🎙️ The Audacious Noor Podcast

🌐 Website: www.mamacubwellness.com.au

Supporting women through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood with faith, confidence and evidence-based support.

As always, if this episode resonated with you, please share it with another woman who may benefit from this conversation and leave a review to help more women discover The Audacious Noor Podcast.

Courage • Confidence • Becoming

Have you ever felt like one week you’re confident, motivated, and ready to take on the world, and the next week you’re exhausted, emotional, and questioning everything?

You’re not alone.

In this episode of The Audacious Noor Podcast, we’re diving into the hormonal seasons of womanhood and exploring why women are not designed to function the same way every single day.

Whether you experience a regular menstrual cycle, have irregular cycles, are approaching menopause, or have had a hysterectomy, your body is still communicating with you. The key is learning how to listen.

Join me as we explore the four seasons of a woman’s cycle, how hormones influence our emotions, energy, mindset, and nervous system, and how we can stop fighting our bodies and start working alongside them with more awareness and compassion.

In This Episode

• Understanding the four seasons of a woman’s cycle
• Why women are cyclical, not linear
• My personal experience after a hysterectomy
• The connection between hormones, emotions, and mindset
• Learning to recognise your body’s patterns
• Why not every thought deserves your trust
• Releasing tension from the body
• Working with your season instead of resisting it
• Building self-awareness and self-compassion

Reflection Activity

Take a few moments today and ask yourself:

✨ How is my energy today?

✨ How is my mood today?

✨ How is my patience today?

✨ How is my body feeling today?

✨ What do I need today?

Keep it simple.

Write down a few words each day and begin noticing patterns. 

Over time, you’ll learn to recognise your own seasons, giving yourself the understanding and grace you deserve.

Patterns create predictability.

Predictability creates peace.

A Gentle Reminder

You are not broken.

You are not lazy.

You are not inconsistent.

You are not too emotional.

You are a woman moving through seasons.

The goal isn’t to control every season.

The goal is to understand it.

To notice it.

To honour it.

And to work alongside it.

_________________

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with another woman.

Share it with your daughter who’s just starting her cycle.

Share it with your teenage niece who thinks she’s “too emotional.”

Share it with your younger sister who can’t understand why some weeks she feels unstoppable and other weeks she feels exhausted.

Share it with your best friend who’s constantly wondering why she can’t seem to stay motivated all month long.

So many of us were taught about periods, but we were never taught about our cycles.

Imagine how different things could be if young girls grew up understanding they weren’t broken, lazy, dramatic, or inconsistent.

Imagine if they knew they were simply moving through different seasons.

Let’s help more women understand the body they’ve been living in their entire lives.

Connect with me:

🤍 Mamacub Wellness

🌿 Instagram: @mamacubwellness

🎙️ The Audacious Noor Podcast

🌐 Website: www.mamacubwellness.com.au

Supporting women through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood with faith, confidence and evidence-based support.

As always, if this episode resonated with you, please share it with another woman who may benefit from this conversation and leave a review to help more women discover The Audacious Noor Podcast.

Courage • Confidence • Becoming

In this episode of The Audacious Noor Podcast, I explore something many women quietly carry but rarely talk about:

Hyper-independence.

The pressure to be the strong one.

The reliable one.

The woman who handles everything without asking for help.

But what happens when strength slowly becomes survival mode?

What happens when receiving support feels uncomfortable, rest feels guilty, and needing others feels unsafe?

In this episode, we unpack:

• The difference between healthy independence and emotional self-protection

• Why many women struggle to receive help, care, and support

• How childhood experiences and life circumstances can create hyper-independence

• The connection between burnout, motherhood, and nervous system overwhelm

• Why control can feel safer than vulnerability

• The role of trust, softness, and surrender in healing

• What Islam teaches us about support, community, and self-compassion

This is a gentle but honest conversation for the women who feel responsible for everyone, carry more than they admit, and secretly wonder why rest feels so difficult.

You do not have to earn rest.

You do not have to prove your worth through exhaustion.

And you were never meant to carry everything alone.

🌿 Hosted by Casey from Mamacub Wellness

🌿 Western Sydney Doula & Hijama Support 

Connect with me:

🤍 Mamacub Wellness

🌿 Instagram: @mamacubwellness

🎙️ The Audacious Noor Podcast

🌐 Website: www.mamacubwellness.com.au

Supporting women through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood with faith, confidence and evidence-based support.

As always, if this episode resonated with you, please share it with another woman who may benefit from this conversation and leave a review to help more women discover The Audacious Noor Podcast.

Courage • Confidence • Becoming