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The LIFTS Podcast (formerly Mother Love) is a Montana-based podcast centering lived experience and amplifying diverse voices from across the state. Through conversations with caregivers, providers, and advocates, we explore bold ideas and creative solutions for supporting the littlest Montanans and their families. If you have feedback, or an idea for a guest or topic, email us at stories@hmhb-mt.org.
100 Episodes
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Guest Bio: Tehya Teigen is a 29-year-old proud mother of two and the wife of a Navy veteran. She is a recovering addict who believes in second chances, healing, and the power of self-love. Her journey serves as a reminder that recovery is possible and that every day is a new opportunity to rise stronger than before. Episode Details: In this episode of the LIFTS Podcast, host Emily Freeman talks with Tehya Tigan, a Helena mom of two, about how Montana’s home visiting programs supported h...
Guest Bio: Maria Emmer-Aanes is the Executive Director of The Village Playspace and the Early Childhood Coalition of Beaverhead County, where she works alongside parents, partners, and neighbors to build strong, connected communities for kids and families in rural Montana. Her work is rooted in a simple belief: when families feel supported and connected, everyone does better. Maria is the co-founder of the Beaverhead Brigade, a grassroots nonprofit created to restore after-...
Guest Bio: Julianne Denny (She/Her) Cree, Ojibway, Mi’kmaq Raised in ceremony, Julianne lives in Montana with her family. She is an Indigenous doula supporting families across rural communities, providing culturally grounded care and guidance through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Julianne's doula work: https://www.morningstarbirthworkz.com/ Episode Description: In this episode, Emily Freeman sits down with Julianne Denny, an Indigenous doula serving families in rural Montana...
Guest Bio: Suzanne Bendick is the Co-Executive Director, co-founder, and former board member of Roots Family Collaborative, a highly respected and deeply impactful organization she has helped shape over the past nine years. A devoted mother of two, Suzanne is a visionary nonprofit leader known for her thoughtful approach, deep listening, and unwavering commitment to improving community health and wellbeing. Her professional background includes formal training as a Postpartum Doula, Cert...
Guest Bio: Dr. Jessica Liddell is an Associate Professor at the University of Montana School of Social Work and Affiliate Faculty in the School of Public and Community Health Sciences. Her work focuses on pregnancy and childbirth, reproductive justice issues, birth justice and equity, community engagement, and making healthcare systems more equitable. Her current research focuses on the use of doulas to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in Montana. Dr. Liddell graduated from t...
Guest Bios: Episode Details: In this powerful episode of the LIFTS Podcast, host Emily Freeman sits down with Callie Trier and Jake Maher to share Ryan’s Journey Home — a story of foster care, recovery, and the power of community. When Callie and her family welcomed baby Ryan into their home straight from the NICU, they knew he would need love, stability, and a strong village to help him thrive. What they didn’t expect was the friendship that would grow between their family and Ry...
Guest Bio: Carrie joined Florence Crittenton in 2010 as Grants Officer and quickly moved into the role of Development Director in 2011, a position she held for eight years before becoming Executive Director in 2019. Before Florence Crittenton, Carrie was Education Coordinator for the Montana Hospital Association and gained development and project management experience with the Helena Symphony and Montana State University Athletics. Over her 15 years at Florence Crittenton, Carrie has wo...
Guest Bio: Mindy Petranek is a fourth-generation rancher in central Montana, where her family has lived and worked the land since 1914. Together with her husband and son, she embraces life “at the end of the road,” finding joy in the rhythm of rural living and the adventures that come with it. Passionate about connection and community, Mindy hopes to shed light on the beauty and challenges of ranch life while helping others find meaningful ways to connect with the land and each other. E...
Episode Description: In this episode of the LIFTS Podcast, host Emily Freeman talks with Pam Ponich, Perinatal Program Manager for One Health, about an innovative program changing the face of perinatal support in Montana — the Peer Recovery Doula certification. Pam, a longtime psychotherapist and program developer, helped create this dual certification for Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialists and Full Spectrum Doulas. The program recognizes the powerful overlap between peer su...
Guest Bios Maureen Ward: Since 2019, Maureen has served as Injury Prevention Program Manager for Montana DPHHS, leading strategies to promote safety and well-being across the state. She holds a Master’s in Adult Education from Montana State University and brings 15 years of higher education administration experience, helping her develop and implement effective injury prevention initiatives. Tracie Keel: Tracie has 19+ years of experience in injury prevention and harm reduction across Montana,...
Welcome to Season 5 of our podcast (formerly Mother Love, now known as The LIFTS Podcast)! Today we'll chat with HMHB's Executive Director, Stephanie Morton, to discuss the upcoming podcast season, our updated name, and more. LIFTS podcast: https://hmhb-mt.org/podcast/ LIFTS online resource guide: https://hmhb-lifts.org/ LIFTS magazine: https://hmhb-mt.org/magazine/ Enjoying the podcast? We’d love your feedback and ideas for future episodes! Take our LIFTS Podcast Listener Survey at hmh...
In our final episode of this season's "Session Voices" series, we talk (again) with Mary Collins, of UM's Center for Children, Families and Workforce Development. Mary talks about the many steps left to codify and implement new policies, now that the session has ended, and the ways in which communities can work together to implement these changes. We discuss the power of local coalitions, particularly Early Childhood Coalitions (ECC's) -- what they are, why they exist, and how you can get inv...
In this episode we chat with Jackie Mohler, Executive Director of Family Outreach. Jackie discusses her legislative work on behalf of Montanans living with disabilities, and the ways in which engagement can -- and should -- continue after the session ends. Guest Bio: Jackie Mohler is Executive Director for Family Outreach Inc., a Montana-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports people with developmental disabilities and their families. She has earned a Master of Education degree fr...
In this episode of Session Voices, we speak with Dillon Sarb, a community organizer with Catalyst Montana. Dillon will help us to better understand the role played by community organizers in the political ecosystem, and share a little bit about a creative and impactful storytelling project centered around Medicaid expansion. Catalyst Montana: https://www.catalystmt.org/ Montana Medicaid Storybook: https://www.catalystmt.org/community/montana-medicaid-storybook Guest Bio: Dillon Sarb, or...
This week’s guest is Karen Filipovich, Executive Director of Montana Head Start. We’ll learn how Head Start has engaged with the legislature this session, and discuss the transformative power of storytelling to strengthen families and build community. Montana Head Start Association: https://www.mtheadstart.org/ Head Start: https://headstart.gov/ Best Beginnings: https://dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/childcare/BestBeginningsScholarships Zero to Five Montana: https://zerotofive.org/ Mother Love is ...
Today, we’re joined by former Montana State Legislator Jenny Eck. Jenny served three terms in the House of Representatives, including two terms in leadership roles. We’ll discuss her path to the legislature, and the importance of finding common ground with one another, in order to effectively move the political process forward. Guest Bio: Jenny is the Communication and Development Director at the Indian Law Resource Center where she promotes the organization’s mission of supporting the ...
Guest: Megan Bristol, MSN, CNM (Intermountain Health St. James Hospital) In tandem with Jenna Clark (Ep. 04), Megan provides birthing families a midwife option in a hospital setting. We’ll talk about her work in Butte, and the Maternal Health Connection program, which offers telehealth and hybrid care to women in Granite and Powell counties. https://doctors.intermountainhealth.org/provider/megan-m-bristol/2197974 https://news.intermountainhealth.org/because-every-woman-deserves-speciali...
In conversation with Amy Stiffarm, PhD, MPH, we learn about the creation of Senate Bill 319, supporting and promoting doula care in Montana. Learn more about the value of doula care, and SB 319, here: https://hmhb-mt.org/for-partners/doulas-and-birth-workers/ https://hmhb-mt.org/2025-doula-legislative-information/ Interested in supporting SB 319? Details and resources for providing testimony or written comment: Hearing date/time: Monday, February 24, 2025, 3:00 PM Senate Public Hea...
Guest: Jenna Clark, MSN, CNM, WHMP (Intermountain Health St. James Hospital) Working in partnership with Megan Bristol (Ep. 05), Jenna offers midwifery care at St. James Hospital. Learn what makes midwifery different from an OB approach, and how Jenna made her professional transition. https://doctors.intermountainhealth.org/provider/jenevieve-l-clark/2197973 Enjoying the podcast? We’d love your feedback and ideas for future episodes! Take our LIFTS Podcast Listener Survey at hmhb-mt.org...
In this episode of "Session Voices" we chat with Grace Decker, coordinator of Montana Advocates for Children (MAC). We'll talk about how to engage with the legislative process, the unusual but necessary guidelines around clothing and decorum, and the value of building relationships with lawmakers year-round. Links and Show Notes: Montana Advocates for Children MT Legislature Livestream Public Participation Link (requires account set-up) Guide to making public comment (from Zero to Five ...
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