The ISLA MAMA PODCAST

Jael is a courageous and wise 25 year old woman. In this episode she shares the birth of her first born son, who she freebirthed in her hometown in rural Alaska. Jael shares about her experience living nomadically since she was a little girl, and how this extended into her adulthood to forge a life off the beaten path to a world more free. She walks us through her pregnancy journey where she discovers what birth meant to her and how she created her own path - one that was not shown to her but formed from her connection to the growing life within her. Her birth is one which shows the liberation and expansion that can come from a birth fully claimed and walked by the Mother herself, one that is full of wisdom, faith, and power. You can find Jael and follow along her journey here: https://www.instagram.com/lastfrontierfreebirth

In this episode Melissa shares her three birth experiences, leading her to freebirth. All of her births are beautiful in their own ways and inform so much of who Melissa is as a woman, mother, and partner. Through many choices and forks in the road, Melissa’s story allows us to see what is possible when we choose for ourselves…not just in birth but in life as a whole. When we claim our stories in their fullness and allow them to offer healing and purpose, we are no longer are victims to them, but grateful and receptive to what is here and now. I know you will love listening to Melissa! She also has a podcast to shine light on sovereign birth you can connect with Melissa and listen at @birth.throughtheveil.

Ashley is a Mother of two living with her family in a tiny home on Vancouver Island. Her story is one that reminds us what choices are ours to make, and to question the status quo. In this episode she shares with us how she navigated both of her pregnancies and births with the care of a trusted midwife, and how they have shaped her as a woman. You can find Ashley on her YouTube channel where she shares about her family life and naturally-minded living. https://www.youtube.com/@thathippiefamily @wearethathippiefamily

Christina is a woman of God living on Vancouver Island. In this episode she shares her story of early birth with us. She speaks to a longer than expected 3 years of waiting until she conceived her first baby and the ways it challenged her, and encouraged her to deepen her healing. She then takes us through early birth due to pregnancy loss of that baby. Standing firm in her own knowing and faith that she would give birth to this baby in her own time and at home despite medical fear mongering - she did just that. Christina’s story speaks to a version of birth which is often medically managed without question, and reminds us that it can be honoured and supported just as the birth of a full term baby would be.  You can find Christina on instagram at @christina_cook17

Introducing Charlotta, a powerful yet serene spirit hailing from the tranquil landscapes of Finland. After traversing the globe, she has found herself back in her homeland, where she now navigates the tender waters of motherhood with her beloved daughter by her side. Charlotta's journey into motherhood has kindled a quiet fire within her soul, inspiring her to advocate for a more gentle and intuitive approach to pregnancy, birth and parenting. As a Sensuality Empowerment Coach, her mission is to guide mothers in rediscovering the wisdom of their bodies and the power of their intuition, fostering grounding, peace and joy throughout the journey of pregnancy, birth and beyond. Her heart swells with passion as she witnesses a growing movement of women and men reclaiming the wonder and perfection of our bodies in the sacred realms of birth and motherhood. Through her own experiences and unwavering dedication, Charlotta brings to life the vision of Alchemy of Motherhood—a sanctuary where mothers and women can find inspiration, support and community on their journey of embracing the sacred and conscious aspects of womanhood and motherhood. With a gentle touch and a deep well of wisdom, Charlotta invites women to explore their inner fire, nurture self-connection, and cultivate a profound sense of belonging. In her practice, she seamlessly weaves elements of Sacred Sexuality, offering a holistic space for women to embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, guided by love, authenticity, and the whispers of the divine feminine.

Kelly is a a testament to what is possible with a mind that is strong and is a real example of what it means to “birth how you live”. She takes us through how she sees challenge as an opportunity and how the hard things in life are actually the experiences which create the fullness and richness of life. She shares how impactful cold immersion has been for her and her mental capacity and resilience, and how it ripples into everything else in her life, including the birth of her baby. In this episode she shares the her dream come true with the birth of her first son, Hendrex. Birthed in the home she built with her husband - naturally and able to be fully present with every moment.  This episode is particularly special for me as Kelly is my blood relative and I was at her birth. Witnessing her strength as a woman and now a mother has changed my heart so deeply. She is, and has been one of the most inspiring people throughout my life which has allowed me to do what I do today. You can connect with Kelly in the following ways: IG: @kdballancing https://www.instagram.com/kdballancing/ E-mail: kelly@betterlivingservices.ca

Victoria is a gentle, kind, and faithful mother of 4 babies, 2 who are here with us today, and 2 who were only here for a time in the womb. In this episode she shares her birth experiences and how they have informed who she is, and how she moves through the world with deeper compassion than she ever had before. Through the bliss of experiencing homebirth with her son, she learned about the potential of women and Gods perfect design. Her third pregnancy offered her a depth of insight to the close proximity of life and death, and Victoria graciously shares the vulnerable story of grieving one baby, while another continued to grow and be born. Despite the confusion, defeat, challenge, and grief….Victoria speaks with such grace and true faith in God. Her story is one which reminds us of the fullness of birth, and the many ways it restores and fulfills the true capacity of each woman. Victoria hopes to welcome many more babies should she be blessed to Mother them in this lifetime…and I pray she is. She is a courageous, loving and deeply devoted Mother and her story is a beautiful one.  **In the episode Victoria spoke that she went into labor in her second pregnancy at 36 weeks, but meant to say 31+6 - this being premature labor.  You can find Victoria here and hear about her offerings for women and mothers: https://www.instagram.com/valorandbloombirth/ Listen to full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Link in bio! 

Kyla is a strong and determined woman devoted to supporting the feminine. Her story is one that speaks to potential women have to re-write the generational stories and create change in her lineage.   Kyla shares her homebirth and the arrival of her daughter. She speaks to the details of her birth which included interventions during and after her baby arrived, which she had not expected and which brought grief she had not prepared for. Her story shines a light on the unique experience of birth, and how each woman must choose what is best for her at that moment in time. Her story, despite not being the simple and effortless vision she had imagined, ultimately offered her the blessing of understanding the importance of being an informed woman birthing within the system and has led her into the deep service she offers now. You can find Kyla in the following ways:  www.tenderself.com  IG: @tenderself  or @kylaruddell

In this episode Lana is with us to share her amazing journey of becoming the woman she is today. Lana is a mother of 4 children, all born at home. Two supported with a trusted midwife, and two assisted by her beloved family and friends, and she shares each birth and their unique unfolding. Lana speaks to her health challenges that ultimately woke her up to what true healing is. A long journey to understand a new normal of wellness she didn’t even know was possible within in her body. Her devotion to the earth is interwoven into this journey as she continues to expand her capacity and potential for natural living, deeply connected motherhood, partnership, and community.  You can connect with Lana here: Instagram: @lana.songbirth https://www.instagram.com/lana.songbird/ E-mail: rooted.abundance.lana@protonmail.com

NinNeru is such a wise, humble, and hilarious young woman. In this episode she shares her own first conception, wild pregnancy, freebirth, and early postpartum experience. She shares the knowing she had to preserve her pregnancy for those closest to her and not share on social media, something that many feel obligated to do. Her message is one that invites us all to trust ourselves above all, and remember that birth is an extension of our already in motion life, with all its quirks and blessings interwoven within it. You can find her here: Instagram- instagram.com/qioflifebirthkeeper (@qioflifebirthkeeper)Email- qioflifebirthkeeper@gmail.com Website- qioflifebirthkeeper.com Podcast- The Qi Of Life Podcast on anywhere they listen to podcasts or links below: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5vtxvenwRfbGSDC1iibCog?si=1a49cbc560bb4e93  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-qi-of-life-podcast/id1677949589?app=podcast Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/@qioflifebirthkeeper

In this episode, Tianna joins us to share her birth story. She takes us through her journey of becoming a Mother for the first time and the many ways she has found purpose in the beautiful, and challenging parts. She speaks to the importance of knowing yourself, and your birth choices to allow for true freedom, and also the gentleness needed when things do not unfold the way you imagine they will. Tianna shares her 3 year breastfeeding journey and the emotional and cultural impacts she has experienced choosing to move with her and her daughters needs and her faith in her as her compass. Tianna is a doula and serving the Ottawa Valley (+ beyond)! You can find her and follow her journey here: @tianna.tettemer  merakibirthco@gmail.com Tianna Tettemer

Deena shares her vulnerable and touching story that takes us through her four pregnancies. She speaks to the grief she felt after going through her first birth where she was given interventions without fully understanding the impact it would have on her labor and birth experience, which propelled her into the work she does now in supporting women. Through a miscarriage, and the birth of her second daughter, she allowed herself to dig deep to find the the truth about what she was capable of and what birth has to offer. This led her to choose to birth her third daughter in the comfort of her own home, the healing autonomous birth she had always wanted. Deena works in a partnership with another doula and is passionate about making sure that her clients have informed consent when it comes to making any decisions about their pregnancy, birth and their baby.  Listeners can find her @littlemountaindoulas on instagram. Or her website www.littlemountaindoulas.com

In this episode we have a conversation that is simply not had nearly enough - abortion. Abortion is an experience that so many women have and impacts her for a lifetime in a myriad of ways both seen and unseen. Here, Anja takes us through her story from her first bleed to her own abortion story. Walking us through her journey from how her relationship with her womb started as a young girl, to then taking us with her as she shares how she navigated her pregnancy. Anja speaks to the death culture we live in where death is not honoured - where the life that was created is not spoken about, how it is referred to as something not living, and disregarded to be of any importance to her lived experience. Anja shares how the hiding and shame of abortion is detrimental to women processing her grief in its fullness - which ultimately allows for the purpose and truth of that experience to be seen and alchemized. If the terms pro choice and pro life are charged terms for you, I encourage you to listen and learn through this story. Asking yourself:+ What does it actually mean to be pro life/pro choice? + Can we separate political views from the reality that all life is to be celebrated, regardless of how it ends? + Can we pay attention and speak to the to the true nature and impact of abortion in all phases of a woman’s life? + Where does judgment and shame of who a woman is and what she believes inhibit her from receiving compassion and support? Join Anja and I in RIPENING here. You can connect with Anja in the following ways: website: https://www.theheavenlyheritage.com/instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealearthmama/substack: https://theheavenlyheritage.substack.com/

Briana James shares her journey with us to finding trust in her self and her body, and how it led her to birth her second baby in complete freedom. She speaks to how motherhood stripped away everything and revealed the raw, primal version of herself that was always here - the animal which is allowed to just BE. Briana shares her relatable, humble, and authentic self and her unique journey through her womanhood. She shares her slow cultivation of trust in herself as she moves through her maidenhood, birth, and motherhood. She speaks to certain aspects of her birth, which she describes as a “normal, ordinary birth”. The path that led her to birthing oceanside with just her husband and daughter (and me!). You can connect with Briana in the following ways: instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hohmcoming/ brianas offerings: https://briana-james-s-school.teachable.com/p/the-path

A short introduction from me. Why I am here. What I hope to use this space for. Welcome!