Born Free Method: The Podcast

When we talk about birth as a sacred experience, it’s not about feeling no pain and golden light with classical music playing. It will be bloody and probably messy, but there’s a deep, transformative power when we embrace the rites of passage we’re meant to go through as humans.Those unmedicated, oxytocin-filled, physiological births are becoming a rarity, but they’re sacred. It means intact relationships, more empathy in the culture, and more people who have a sense of harmony with their environment. If we want to see a change in the world, we must consider how we bring babies into it.Today I’m joined by Kimberly Ann Johnson, a Sexological Bodyworker, Somatic Experiencing trauma resolution practitioner, yoga teacher, birth doula, and single mom. Kimberly is doing some unique work, and we’ve bonded over the role of hospital interventions in natural childbirth. She doesn’t shy away from the complex, controversial conversations, and she joins us to explore how we can start to repair the harm we’ve done as a society regarding birth.Visit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/110Made possible by:FullWell - code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamins and men's virility vitamins on the planet!BIRTHFIT - code BELOVED to get one month FREE in their B! Community!BiOptimizers - code BELOVED for 10% off the only sleep aid you'll ever need!Organifi - code BELOVED for 20% off their Harmony cacao blend!Learn MoreWebsite | KimberlyAnnJohnson.comPodcast | Sex Birth TraumaBook with Stephen Jenkinson | ReckoningInstagram @kimberly.ann.johnsonConnect with meInstagram @nathanrileyobgynTikTok @nathanrileyobgynBeloved Holistics ShopMedical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN 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 EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theholisticobgyn/message Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

A sacred hunt is a spiritual practice. On the hunt, there's an incredible attunement to the oscillation between masculine and feminine, that occurs in nearly every moment of our lives. It’s as much about connecting with the land, and the animal you're hoping to kill, as it is about holding a rifle and learning how to shoot.Kyle Kingsbury introduced me to the experience, and together with a group of my guy friends, we went on a three-day hunt led by today’s guest, Mansal Denton, and his two guides. Mansal makes the trip special, starting by writing a love letter to the animal you’re going to kill. Many ceremonial elements are threaded throughout, and we came away with an incredible experience.(00:10:32) A Study of TOOL(00:15:38) The Sacred Hunt(00:28:18) Radical Responsibility(00:38:22) Rites of Passage(00:49:07) Societal Impact(00:57:01) The Fear of DeathVisit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/109Made possible by:FullWell - code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamins and men's virility vitamins on the planet!BIRTHFIT - code BELOVED to get one month FREE in their B! Community!Immune Intel AHCC - code BELOVED10 for 10% off their incredible immune-boosting product to clear HPV from your body!BiOptimizers - code BELOVED for 10% off the only sleep aid you'll ever need!Organifi - code BELOVED for 20% off their Harmony cacao blend!Learn MoreInstagram @MansalDentonBook | Sacred Hunting: Rekindling an Ancient Spiritual PracticeConnect with meInstagram @nathanrileyobgynTikTok @nathanrileyobgynBeloved Holistics ShopMedical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN 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 EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theholisticobgyn/message Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

In my days as a resident doing hundreds of circumcisions, I didn’t give much thought to the implications. We were taught the benefits of the procedure and counseled patients the same. But outside of religious rites, the United States is the only nation that circumcises infants in this standardized way.So, why do we continue to cut the genitals of our newborn baby males when the rest of the world does not?This is the question filmmaker and author Brendon Marotta set out to answer in his latest film, American Circumcision. The film explores both sides of the circumcision debate, and it’s won multiple awards. It's a very polarising topic, but Brendon takes an unbiased approach, featuring numerous experts for and against.(00:08:44) Misinformation & Gaslighting(00:16:53) The Procedure(00:19:26) A Social Construct(00:30:04) Developing a Culture of Compliance(00:52:57) The Circumcision Experience(00:59:36) Society’s Actions as a Reflection of Our Children(01:09:24) Identity is a Prison(01:21:28) The Ability To Be WrongVisit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/108Made possible by:FullWell - code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamins and men's virility vitamins on the planet!BIRTHFIT - code BELOVED to get one month FREE in their B! Community!BiOptimizers - code BELOVED for 10% off the only sleep aid you'll ever need!Organifi - code BELOVED for 20% off their Harmony cacao blend!Learn MoreWebsite | BrendonMarotta.comFilm | American CircumcisionInstagram @BDMarottaPodcast | The Brendon Marotta ShowConnect with meInstagram @nathanrileyobgynTikTok @nathanrileyobgynBeloved Holistics ShopMedical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN 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 EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theholisticobgyn/message Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

Pregnancy is an entire transformation; there’s far more to it than urine dipsticks, fundal heights, and Dopp tones. If we keep doing things within the strict, sterile, traditional boundaries of patient and doctor, we’ll never move closer to an optimal style of maternity care. It’s not a disease process, and a different type of care is required.Brooke Schmoe is the founder and midwife of probably the most unusual midwifery practice you’ve ever heard of: The Midwife Bus. Working in a birth center, Brooke realized that she was drawn to providing care to the underdogs and people who didn't have a lot of love. Remembering a guest lecture back in midwifery school, she reached out to a midwife who had a mobile clinic, and from there, The Midwife Bus was born.I'm very excited to bring this episode to you, and I hope it inspires you to be a part of the positive change in your community.(00:10:26) A Very Unusual Midwifery Practice(00:20:35) Acts of Service(00:26:14) A More Optimal Style of Maternity Care(00:31:11) Trauma-Informed Care(00:35:51) School of Hard Knocks(00:42:28) Midwife Boundaries(00:50:31) Home Birth Insights(00:54:05) A Self-Sustaining Nonprofit(00:57:25) Experimenting With Franchising(01:00:13) Change Requires CareVisit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/106Made possible by:FullWell - code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamins and men's virility vitamins on the planet!BIRTHFIT - code BELOVED to get one month FREE in their B! Community!BiOptimizers - code BELOVED for 10% off their new CollaGenius!Organifi - code BELOVED for 20% off their Harmony cacao blend!Learn MoreWebsite | TheMidwifeBus.orgDonate to The Midwife BusThe Midwife Bus on Instagram @TheMidwifeBusConnect with meInstagram @nathanrileyobgynTikTok @nathanrileyobgynBeloved Holistics ShopMedical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN 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 EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5--- Send in a voice message:... Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

Like many people in the hospital system, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there must be more I could be doing to help. But what if we could improve that system? Not replace it but integrate it into a more whole-person approach.Anthroposophic medicine is a patient-focused integrative medical system, and it can be very validating for those who feel like something's been missing. Here to explore its history and application is Dr. Adam Blanning. I encourage you to approach this conversation with an open heart. Adam has incredible insights into how we can reimagine the human experience and heal the person through the lens of the fourfold human being.(00:09:17) Deepening the Healer’s Toolkit(00:17:47) Anthroposophic Medicine(00:30:27) The Role of Plant Study(00:38:46) Working Through Warmth & Fever(01:04:06) The Fourfold Human Being(01:11:58) Reflections on Consciousness & RemediesVisit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/103Made possible by:FullWell - code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamins and men's virility vitamins on the planet!BIRTHFIT - code BELOVED to get one month FREE in their B! Community!BiOptimizers - code BELOVED for 10% off the only sleep aid supplement you'll ever need!Immune Intel AHCC - code BELOVED10 for 10% off their incredible immune-boosting product to balance your adrenals and clear HPV from your body!Organifi - code BELOVED for 20% off their Gold Chocolate Latte! "A healthy hot chocolate!"Connect with Dr. Adam BlanningDenver Center for Anthroposophic TherapiesPhysicians' Association for Anthroposophic MedicineConnect with meInstagram @nathanrileyobgynTikTok @nathanrileyobgynBeloved Holistics ShopBelovedHolistics.comMedical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN 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 EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theholisticobgyn/message Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

As a dietitian, Kate Morton strongly believes in a food-first approach. That's why she created Funk It, a women's health company that makes all-natural food-based products for the menstrual cycle, including seed blends.At its core, seed cycling is a straightforward practice that involves taking pumpkin and flax seeds daily during the follicular phase of your cycle and sunflower and sesame seeds during your luteal phase. I’ve seen so many women benefit from seed cycling, experiencing a resolution of their menstrual issues, from fertility challenges to thyroid and adrenal problems and more. Something packed into these incredibly nutrient and energy-rich seeds does wonders for women's menstrual cycles.[00:08:37] The Birth of Funk It[00:11:54] Kate’s Extensive Background as a Dietician[00:19:18] How Your Lifestyle Affects Your Hormones[00:31:04] The Power of Data[00:37:00] The Goal Is Your Normal Consistent Cycle[00:50:09] Disordered Eating[00:55:13] Principles of Eating For Your Menstrual Cycle[01:07:04] Seed CyclingVisit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/101Made possible by:FullWell - code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamins and men's virility vitamins on the planet!BIRTHFIT - code BELOVED to get one month FREE in their B! Community!BiOptimizers - code BELOVED for 10% off the only sleep aid supplement you'll ever need!Organifi - code BELOVED for 20% off their Gold Chocolate Latte! "A healthy hot chocolate!"Connect with Kate MortonWebsite | FunkItWellness.comTikTok @funkitwellnessInstagram @funk.it.wellnessPeriod Chats PodcastConnect with meInstagram @nathanrileyobgynTikTok @nathanrileyobgynPractice: BelovedHolistics.comMedical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN 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 EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theholisticobgyn/message Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

Our cultural conditioning tells us that women aren’t capable of giving birth independently and that we should apply every possible intervention to reduce the difficulties associated with childbirth. For Michel Odent, that’s a neutralization of the laws of natural selection.Early in his career, Michel worked as the only doctor in a maternity unit with six midwives. He took a deep interest in their experiences and asked them questions that changed his thoughts on birth work. As a general surgeon, he credits a lot to his interdisciplinary perspective. He believes that’s what allows him to make connections that other overly-specialized people do not.Michel is a legend in the maternity care space and has been a hero of mine for many years. This interview was such an honor, and I am very grateful to host this conversation for you on the podcast. You're going to love this one.[00:10:42] An Alternative View of Practicing Medicine[00:12:02] Rethinking the Process of Birth[00:22:33] Cultural Misunderstanding of Physiology[00:26:51] The Socialization of Childbirth[00:36:21] Shifting to a New Paradigm[00:45:43] Interdisciplinary Perspective[00:49:11] Avoiding DeathVisit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/100(Transcript HERE)Made possible by:FullWell - code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamins and men's virility vitamins on the planet!Organifi - code BELOVED for 20% off their Pumpkin Spice Gold Latte! "It's like autumn, and a marshmallow had a baby!"Immune Intel AHCC - code BELOVED10 for 10% off their incredible immune-boosting product to balance your adrenals and clear HPV from your body!BIRTHFIT - code BELOVED to get one month FREE in their B! Community!Connect with Michel OdentMichel Odent's BooksConnect with meInstagram @nathanrileyobgynTikTok @nathanrileyobgynPractice: BelovedHolistics.comMedical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN 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 EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theholisticobgyn/message Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

For almost nine years, Natasha Kingsbury battled with bulimia. For years before that, she fought anorexia. The whole time, nobody knew. Her story highlights the fact that no one look signals an eating disorder. It could be the ultra-thin model, the ripped athlete, the guy always showing off his abs or the sexy Playboy Club host.Disordered eating and body dysmorphia are something I’m seeing come up more and more in my practice and among friends and family. It’s much more common than we think, and it shows up in unexpected ways.I am so delighted that I have a person in my life who's willing to come on and talk about this issue which is often kept under wraps. Tash's story is so illuminating, and she shared so many insights not only for people who may be struggling with disordered eating but also for those who think it might be affecting someone they love.[00:12:06] Background & Family Life[00:14:29] Natasha’s Origin Story[00:20:54] An Evolving Relationship with Self[00:28:22] From Restriction to Purging[00:35:24] Getting Off Track[00:42:29] Blossoming Into Her Womanly Body[00:48:50] The Healing Journey[00:57:16] A Mind-Body-Spirit ApproachVisit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/98Made possible by:FullWell - code BELOVED10 for 10% off the best prenatal vitamins and men's virility vitamins on the planet!Organifi - code BELOVED for 20% off their Pumpkin Spice Gold Latte! "It's like autumn, and a marshmallow had a baby!"BiOptimizers - code BELOVED for 10% off the only magnesium supplement you'll ever need!BIRTHFIT - code BELOVED to get one month FREE in their B! Community!Connect with Natasha KingsburyInstagram @livingwiththekingsburysConnect with meInstagram @nathanrileyobgynTikTok @nathanrileyobgynPractice: BelovedHolistics.comMedical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN 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 EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theholisticobgyn/message Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

“If you’re going to make it in this world as a couple, hard conversations are important.”Every single person I bring to this podcast is someone who I know will be open to having the heartfelt conversations that need to happen about how we care for ourselves and one another.What makes today different is that I’ve let go of my role as interviewer, and I’m sitting side by side with my wife, Stephanie Riley, to talk about vasectomies and healing after pregnancy loss.In this candid and necessary dialogue, we opened up about what was a difficult time for both of us and explored how our perceptions have shifted over time as we’ve integrated the experience.This discussion wasn’t easy, and it’s a true reflection of the flexibility that you need to have a lasting, healthy partnership. You’re not entitled to have a joyful relationship that lasts a lifetime. It takes real work. You have to be willing to be humbled and to compromise and to learn to flow together.I hope that this conversation provides insight into how much empathy is needed on both sides when it comes to talking about contraception and whether you want to grow your family further.[00:14:34] The “Easy” Decision[00:22:42] A Dark Pit of Despair[00:32:58] A Rollercoaster of Emotions[00:42:49] The Bumpy Path to Surgery[01:00:12] The Procedure[01:04:32] Our Reflections on the JourneyVisit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/96Made possible by:Organifi - use our code BELOVED for 20% off their green and red juice for a natural boost to your energy and mood!BIRTHFIT - use our code BELOVED to get one month FREE in the B! Community!FullWell - use our code BELOVED10 for 10% off their high-quality prenatal vitamins!Immune Intel AHCC - use our code BELOVED10 for 10% off their incredible immune-boosting product!Connect with Stephanie Riley:Instagram @ohgeezowConnect with me:Instagram @nathanrileyobgynTikTok @nathanrileyobgynPractice: BelovedHolistics.comMedical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN 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 EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theholisticobgyn/message Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe

The opportunity to connect with your baby’s soul energy starts long before conception.Today’s special guest, Emily Greene, is a Psychic Medium and Spirit Baby Medium who has a beautiful ability to put clear language to something that is otherwise abstract. With her connection to spirit, Emily has helped many women conceive by opening their awareness to their innate intuitive abilities and connecting them to the souls of their children, past, present, and future.In our conversation, we explore the transformation that spirit babies are meant to bring in our lives, how you can start communicating with your spirit baby, and why conscious conception matters.[00:10:21] Finding Your Voice[00:12:34] Emily’s Reawakening[00:20:04] Spirit Baby Work[00:31:36] Working with Plant Medicine[00:35:30] Embodiment of the Essence[00:41:13] Full Sensory Perception[00:48:00] Intuitive & Psychic Development[00:55:14] Conscious Conception[01:08:18] Calling In Your Spirit Baby[01:22:23] Spiritual Blocks to Conception[01:30:49] Learn More & Connect with EmilyVisit the show notes for more: https://www.BelovedHolistics.com/95Made possible by:FullWell - use our code BELOVED10 for 10% off their high-quality prenatal vitamins!Organifi - use our code BELOVED for 20% off their green and red juice for a natural boost to your energy and mood!BiOptimizers - use our code BELOVED for 10% off supplements plus free gut health goodies!BIRTHFIT - use our code BELOVED to get one month FREE in the B! Community!Connect with Emily Greene:Instagram @EmilyTheMediumWebsite: EmilyTheMedium.comEmily The Medium PodcastConnect with me:Instagram @nathanrileyobgynTikTok @nathanrileyobgynPractice: BelovedHolistics.comMedical Disclaimer: The Holistic OBGYN 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 EdvardGaresPremium / Pond5--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theholisticobgyn/message Get full access to Born Free Method: The Podcast at nathanrileyobgyn.substack.com/subscribe