S10 Ep5 - Active Birth with Janet Balaskas

Hello and welcome back to the She Births podcast. Today’s expert interview is with Ema Taylor, a degree-qualified naturopath, clinical nutritionist and fertility awareness educator, co-founder of the supplement range, Mother Natal, and a mum of two with baby number three on the way. We talk about the real reasons so many couples are struggling to conceive right now, and why sperm quality is the most common issue Ema sees in her clinic. She explains how to read your fertile window from your own body, the blood tests your GP probably isn’t ordering. If you’re planning on conceiving, or ready to go again, this conversation is for you. And if you’re using assisted conception or have experienced miscarriage or loss, it’s especially for you. There is so much we can do to support our body, mind and nervous system on this journey. At the end Ema shares her two birth stories. Her daughter was born at 8.14am, the exact minute Ema herself was born. Her son arrived on the bathroom floor after a walk to the local cafe with her three-year-old holding her hand before the midwives arrived. If you’re dreaming of conceiving, Ema’s program EXPAND guides you and your partner through her seven pillars of preconception care. You’ll find more info at emataylor.com Here’s Ema ___________________________________________ If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and leave a comment or review - so we can continue to bring you more from She Births, We love hearing from you

Hello dear listeners This podcast today is very close to my heart. A few weeks ago we held the very first of the She Births book tour event, at Gertrude and Alice in Bondi. My family was there. So many beautiful she births families as well, some of you I've known for close to two decades now. Plus Colleagues and collaborators. It was one of those nights where you look around and think — OMG this is it - I have been working 4 solid years on this book and it's taken even longer than that to get here. It was incredibly special - I spent a lot of the day crying. Jessy and I had a cup of tea before and both felt like we were in an altered pre labour state - like waters were about to break. Then somehow we carried it and it was an amazing night. I shared the stage with one of my dearest friends — Jessica Chapnik Kahn. Jessy is a writer, musician and performer who has spent more than twenty years working across theatre, television, film, music and literature. She's the co-author of A Repurposed Life with Ronni Kahn of OzHarvest, the author of the children's book Lenny and the Ants, and the poet behind MADRE — a collection born out of the birth of her son. She lives in Sydney with her husband, musician Nadav Kahn, and their children. I was doula at both of Jessy's births - both very different experiences that we talk about in a separate podcast called “can birth be spiritual”.. Our conversation was focused on the book of course but also very personal - and we laugh a lot, well everyone does, so I hope you do too. We talk not about she births and the inner work to create something so magical I share my mission and values, my future dreams and more. So — settle in and enjoy. ___________________________________________________ 📖 She Births: Your practical guide to a beautiful birth - is out now - at all great book stores - https://shebirths.com/she-births-book/ Written by @nadine_shebirths Published by @murdochbooks 🌿 Explore our online program, in-person masterclasses at shebirths.com Subscribe for more conversations on birth, motherhood.

This Sunday is Mother's Day, and my gift to you is my book baby. I feel incredibly vulnerable sharing this book and even more so the latest podcast I am sharing today, but I hope you hear something inspiring and relatable. Even if you have done She Births and had all your babies, this book will reveal aspects about your journey as a woman and birth you did not think about before. I wanted to share a bit of the why, how and what about the book. My heart and my soul with you all. I've been completely guided to write this book over the last 3 years. After more than twenty years as a doula and almost eighteen years teaching She Births, I've watched what women need shift. Our OG program is extraordinary, but families need more now. We need to understand ourselves on a deeper level to make decisions that are truly right for our family. So I wrote She Births: Your Practical Guide to a Beautiful Birth

Today on the She Births podcast, I’m joined by Jacqui Minell — She Births mum, Pilates, barre and yoga teacher, and mother to three boys: Will, Ed and Tom. This is not just one birth story. It’s three. And woven through them is fertility, loss, resilience, and the powerful realisation that birth can feel both familiar and completely different — even in the same body. If you’re preparing for birth again — or even reflecting on a previous experience — this episode is essential listening. We talk about fertility challenges and conceiving naturally after assisted cycles. We explore what changes when you truly prepare the body and the mind — and why no two labours are ever the same. There’s also a very honest, practical birth conversation covering: ✨Castor oil smoothies ✨Crazy curries ✨Curb walking ✨A posterior baby ✨A frank breech baby We discuss how Jacqui used chiropractic neuro-emotional techniques to help clear beliefs from the body — processing gender disappointment and even supporting her baby to turn. We dive into what Jacqui calls “training James” — how she intentionally prepared her partner differently for each birth, and how that shifted everything. Beyond birth, we explore postpartum recovery, newborn feeding challenges, including tongue and lip ties, and the deeper relationship and identity shifts that come with matrescence.

In this final episode of the She Births® Podcast for 2025, we close the year with a deeply meaningful and expansive conversation. I sit down with She Births® dad, Aaron Tait—educator, humanitarian, former Navy serviceman, and author of the powerful new book Far Horizons. Together, we explore the rich tapestry of Aaron’s life and his remarkable journey through fatherhood, identity, birth, and masculine transformation. At just 17, Aaron was deployed to Iraq—one of the youngest Australian men sent after September 11. Years later, he purchased a one-way ticket to Africa with his partner, Kaitlin, dedicating his life to humanitarian work. Through all of this, birth became one of his greatest initiations. In this conversation, we dive into: ✨ His two epic birth experiences and how they reshaped his understanding of love, responsibility, and partnership ✨ Masculinity today — what’s working, what’s hurting men, and what desperately needs to evolve ✨ The three phases of masculine growth: Knight, Prince, King ✨ Why birth profoundly impacts men (even though we rarely talk about it) ✨ How men can move through rites of passage with integrity, courage, and heart Aaron’s story is one of depth, service, humility and awakening. And his book Far Horizons is a game-changer — I highly recommend gifting it to the men and boys in your life this Christmas. (Especially since only 10% of men read! Let’s help change that.) A beautiful, important conversation to wrap up the year. Tune in, share it with your community, and let’s continue building a culture where all parents are supported, seen, and transformed through birth. Love Nadine xx Takeaways 80% of readers of my book are women. Birth is a rite of passage for both parents. The presence of a doula can be invaluable during labor. Ayahuasca can lead to profound personal transformation. Men often struggle with proving their worth through actions. The military experience can shape a man's identity. Forgiveness can come from unexpected places. Parenting requires continuous learning and adaptation. Books can foster empathy and understanding in men. Traveling can be a powerful way to reset one's life.