Full Story The Birth Keepers: When Emilee met Yolande – episode two
Jan 6, 2026
Emilee Saldaya, a self-styled birth activist and founder of the Free Birth Society, teams up with Yolande Norris-Clark, a doula and online birth influencer. They delve into the radical idea of 'free birth,' rejecting traditional medical practices. Emilee shares her journey from a performer to an advocate, while Yolande discusses her upbringing and transition to promoting unmedicalised births. The conversation raises alarms over their bold claims, controversial practices, and the significant influence they hold over their followers, questioning both safety and credibility.
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From Hula Hoops To Free Birth Leader
- Emilee Saldaya transitioned from an LA hula-hooper and doula to leading the Free Birth Society movement.
- Her early performative confidence and entrepreneurial streak helped her build an online following that later monetised birth activism.
Doula Work That Shaped Her Views
- Emily worked as a doula and on the LA Doula Project offering free support to low-income women.
- She described experiencing trauma from witnessing hospital births and wrote to colleagues about feeling 'unravelled' by recent births.
Why Some Women Distrust Hospitals
- The podcast frames US maternal care as a system that can brutalise women, pushing some to seek alternatives.
- Financial incentives, litigation fears and consent failures help explain high C-section rates and distrust in hospitals.