logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
1h 1m

Imperfect Birth Stories with Sophie Walk...

HUGH VAN CUYLENBURG, RYAN SHELTON & JOSH VAN CUYLENBURG
About this episode

In this episode of our Summer School, we are joined by Sophie Walker, creator, and host of Australian Birth Stories.

With over 17 million downloads, and 500 episodes, Australian Birth Stories podcast has been accredited by the Australian College of Midwives and has been instrumental in educating and empowering both people who are giving birth, as well as birthing partners.

Hugh shares the incredible trauma and fear involved with his first experience of birth, and how tools of education and empowerment, such as Lael Stone’s excellent counselling, helped him prepared for birth a second time around.

The power of information is invaluable, and Josh opens up about how Hugh’s experience with birth shaped his own, and what the experience was like for him.

Sophie, it was such a pleasure.

To watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link: https://youtu.be/3sey26-L4Rw 

🎧 Things to listen to:

💻 Things to check out:

📖 Things to read: 

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with post-natal depression or anxiety surrounding birth, these are a few great websites we’ve found

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Oct 5
Kemi Nekvapil - A Compass for When You're Lost
If you’re not navigating your life through your values, what are you using? 🎟️ Our live show Together Again is on sale now! Tickets here - https://bit.ly/4mEK9Ep Our lord and saviour is back (in a secular, informal way). Kemi Nekvapil is back in the Academy of Imperfection to ta ... Show More
1h 16m
Oct 2
Josh van Cuylenburg - Midlife Crisis Averted
The mid-life update we've all been waiting for. 🎟️ Our live show Together Again is on sale now! Tickets here - https://bit.ly/4mEK9Ep In the final instillation of the Vulnerabilitea Volume 2 Cards Announcement Week, where Ryan, Hugh and Josh have each answered one of the 52 bran ... Show More
22m 39s
Sep 30
Hugh van Cuylenburg - This Is Burnout
Hugh’s turn! 🎟️ Our live show Together Again is on sale now! Tickets here - https://bit.ly/4mEK9Ep This week, to celebrate the launch of our BRAND NEW Vulnerabilitea House Cards (with 52 brand-new life changing questions), Ryan, Hugh and Josh will each be answering a VII questio ... Show More
30m 31s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 16
The Mum Who Delivered Her Own Baby Via C-Section
At 38, with no partner but unwavering determination, Bree embarked on a fertility journey that would test her resilience but ultimately fulfill her lifelong dream. After navigating the emotional rollercoaster of two failed IUIs, Bree's persistence led her interstate where she acc ... Show More
24m 22s
May 2025
Ep. 349: Preparing for Birth as a Rite of Passage with Britta Bushnell, PhD
In this episode of The Birth Lounge podcast, HeHe delves into the transformative journey of birth and parenthood with guest Dr. Britta Bushnell—an expert in childbirth education, mythology, and parenting. The episode explores the impactful themes from Dr. Britta's book, 'Transfor ... Show More
1h 30m
Aug 2024
Unmedicated Birth Story: Journey from a Traumatic Birth to a Healing Unmedicated Birth with Erika Bielska
Today's birth story is a little bit different. Erika shares two very different birth experiences. She shares the trauma she experienced and had to process from her first birth, and how redemptive her next birth was. She does an excellent job of pointing out what did not go h ... Show More
1h 3m
Aug 2024
How to Birth Like a Mammal
Lindsay is a mother of three, photographer, birth coach, and podcast host at Birth Like a Mammal™, a community that teaches parents and doulas how to give birth like a mammal. After over a decade of supporting families as a doula and working in birth advocacy, Lindsay founded Bir ... Show More
44m 13s
Aug 5
Birth Is Not a Medical Emergency: The Fight for Autonomy in Women’s Health with Dr. Stuart Fischbein from Birthing Instincts
In this powerful episode, Dr. Stuart Fischbein—renowned OBGYN, midwifery ally, and co-host of the Birthing Instincts podcast—unpacks the truth behind modern obstetrics, the rise in unnecessary interventions, and what it really means to trust your body during birth. We explore my ... Show More
1h 44m
Oct 6
Wild and Rooted Homebirth in Australia: Part One of Rose’s Story
Growing up, homebirth was the norm for Rose. Both she and her brother were born at home, and her mother was heavily involved in the Homebirth Australia movement. At age 26, while island-hopping around the Caribbean, Rose discovered she was pregnant. She decided to return to Austr ... Show More
45m 45s
Oct 2023
A Good Girl Takes Back Her Power (Part 2 of 2)
Brittany described herself as a “good country girl” when pregnant with her first child. Her wishes for that birth were to merely make it out alive with her baby, and she completely deferred to her private care obstetrician when it came to the birth experience. Now, pregnant with ... Show More
38m 55s
Apr 2024
Hypnobirthing 101: Simple Tools to Make Your Birth Better
Before I fell pregnant, I honestly couldn’t have taken less interest in pregnancy, birth or babies & for the first two thirds of my pregnancy my attitude remained the same. Until I read a book & that book sparked an obsession and sent me deep down the rabbit hole and I am now utt ... Show More
53m 25s
Dec 2024
Welcome to A Bridge to Motherhood: Navigating Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum with Confidence
Feeling overwhelmed by the unknowns of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum?In this trailer, I’ll introduce you to A Bridge to Motherhood and what you can expect from this podcast.How I’ll help guide you through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with practical advice and expert insigh ... Show More
1m 51s
Nov 2024
Ep 280: Rachel’s Birth Story - Weaning Off Anxiety and Depression Meds
Rachel always wanted to be a mother, but before she could begin that journey, she felt it was important to get off of depression and anxiety medication. After spending three months weaning off her meds, she very quickly got pregnant. Her pregnancy, although a source of great exci ... Show More
1h 3m