Born Free Method: The Podcast Protocols and Data Can’t Love You: Why Birthwork Needs a Revolution (Nathan & Sara get chatty, June 2025)
Born Free Method has undergone a makeover…a massive makeover. Our pet project is now the most comprehensive pregnancy support program on the planet, including 60+ hours of lessons, twice monthly recorded group calls (and access to the recordings of all past calls), a private community forum, and direct access to Nathan and Sara for life.
After we had a moment to decompress from this massive undertaking, Sara and I sat down to reflect on the journey of launching Born Free Method back in May, 2023, and then rebuilding the whole program based on the feedback of our community and new insights from births that we have attended since the launch.
The Born Free Method can best be described as a digital playground for seekers—students, midwives, birthing families, and misfits alike. Through our thriving community at the Born Free Method, we honor imperfection, speak to love and surrender to the current of childbirth. Through it all, one thread has emerged above all: community matters. The “data” or any curriculum proposed by a childbirth support program pales in comparison to the connections forged from direct support by an OBGYN and a midwife to birthing families, where stories are medicine, and transformation begins with telling the truth.
This conversation dances between birth and belief, method and mystery. We explored public perception of birth choices, breastfeeding, and the brave work of reimagining maternity care. Amid reflections on family, mentorship, and fractured systems, a deeper current ran through this conversation: our ongoing courage to question, to hold space, to show up. And as a bridge between worlds…we are bound to get stepped on, which we discuss as well.
Here is a sampling of what we cover in this conversation:
* New updates to the Born Free Method, now redesigned as an interactive, self-guided platform with comprehensive explanation of low- and high-risk pregnancy and birth scenarios.
* Reflections on the program’s evolution, emphasizing the importance of community feedback, personalization, and ongoing learning.
* The importance of the supportive environment that we've built, where mentorship, vulnerability, and experiential learning are prioritized over rigid dogma.
* Broader themes around faith, family dynamics, and control, linking personal stories to societal patterns of power and belief.
If you’re interested in enrolling as a midwife or a student or if you’re a birthing family looking for support, head to www.bornfreemethod.com. Code STUDENT50 gets you 50% if you enroll in the month of June!For our comprehensive digital playground, live calls, and lifetime, direct support), we also offer payment plans! (3-month and 12-month options)
If you aren’t ready for the full investment, we offer a less-pricey but more limited Fertility Deep Dive. You can also pay a monthly subscription to simply attend our twice monthly live calls (and view past recordings).
Medical Disclaimer: Born Free Method: The Podcast is an educational program. No information conveyed through this podcast should be construed as medical advice. These conversations are available to the public for educational and entertainment purposes only.
Music provided by RealMovieScores / Pond5
Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe