Heartseed Health Podcast

Thad Frye is a delightful and kind person who work in private practice with adults working through grief and loss, past traumas, major life transitions, anxiety, depression, self esteem issues and sports traumas and creative performance enhancement.In our conversation here we explore:How and why Thad started working with BrainspottingWhat is Brainspotting and how it worksThe relationship between Brainspotting and the bodyWhat Brainspotting can treatHow Brainspotting is different from EMDR therapyWhere and how to find a Brainspotting therapistThis episode is vital for anyone looking to understand Brainspotting as a modality or who is seeking a basic understanding of the somatic interfaces of the mind.

We learn:Why Scott and Amanda chose to get into farming.“If you're gonna work hard at anything in life, this is work worth doing.” - BrianThe story of how the 63rd st. Farm and CSA came into being.We talk about permaculture: what it is and why it’s valuable for farming.Why they chose to be a CSA (Community Support Agriculture).“I don't really want to put a price tag on what this tomato costs because that's really tough. There's a price that we see in the grocery store, and then there's an actual what it does cost and then there's the ‘I love this tomato so much you couldn't put a price tag on it because it's beautiful.” - AmandaThe Importance of Relationships when it comes to food and farms and farmers.“You know that there's an imbalance. And one way to get past the imbalance is to really engage with your farmer is to really end for the farmers to engage with their community.” - BrianHow Scott, Amanda, and their team take care of themselves as farmerImportant tips on choosing as CSAListen to Amanda’s tips and then check out: Localharvest.org

In this episode we talk with Sara Brody, a doula, a reproductive health coach, and an evolving student of spiritual midwifery and founder of Moon-Lodge a platform for reproductive education and coaching.Sara attended Birthingway College of Midwifery, where she gained much knowledge of the reproductive sciences, while also mastering important clinical skills and the ways of nonviolent communication. She’s traveled to Ina May Gaskin’s, ‘The Farm’ where she was able to learn how to trust the beauty of the reproductive process from the spiritual midwives themselves. She’s also apprenticed the art of midwifery by several midwives who have continued the tradition of the ancient apprenticeship model, passing down their knowledge to her, so I can continue to teach their lessons to the next people who decides to walk a similar path.“I think the birth is such a dance between mama and baby, and it's two people trying to figure out how to make this this huge transition and, and opening that threshold the door of the life that's about to breathe their first gasp of air.“In this episode we cover topics like:How and why Sara created Moon Lodge, an educational resource about the female reproductive system.What it means to prepare for parenthood physically, emotionally, and spiritually and why it’s so important.“I've learned that the families have been my biggest teacher when it comes to my work now. And what I realized is that through pregnancy, for most of the people that I have helped, they are overwhelmed with being pregnant. And that although there might be a consciousness around all the, all the stuff that had that the transition is stirring in them, there isn't a lot of space to address it.”What is “the new midwife” and what is her role?“I think getting in touch, touch with your true sense of self before entering into a transition that is extremely life changing is an incredible way to prepare.”You can learn more and connect with Sara at Moon-Lodge.com and on Instagram.

In this honest conversation, Noah and Hannah Kinderlehrer talk about the path to embodied wholeness and how to cultivate the qualities necessary to stay the course. They explore the myth of “happily ever after” and how we, in our actual lives, can find ways to muster the strength to continuously face into the unfolding landscapes (and whatever mucky bogs we may have to traverse alongside the floral meadows).Who is Hannah?Hannah Kinderlehrer believes with all her heart that we are all whole as we are. She has studied dance for 32 years, graduated from Naropa University, and is a Certified Peacemaker and Certified Hakomi Practitioner. She has been a student of Buddhism for 16 years and is a holistic coach, leads teacher trainings, facilitates therapeutic women’s groups, chronic illness support groups, teaches embodied meditation, and Rites of Passage classes and works at Strength In Motion Wellness Center. Learn more about her work at riseandthrive.careTopics we Cover:How and why Hannah embraces the darkness and how she finds the light."The Dark is not scary. If I really go and rest in it. It's just dark."How Hannah accesses the inner strength to dive into pain, discomfort, and resistance.“It actually is impermanence, that has kept me sane, knowing that can I stay with us in the most surrendered receptive way possible, knowing it will change versus clamping down on it”What it means to reclaim the birthright of embodimentHow to find the spark of strength within.Hannah and Noah share some of the techniques they use to help people develop the skills involved in living from their strength.“So it's a it's been a process it certainly has not been a overnight lightning bolt Eureka, I'm not sure if I've ever had one of those. Everything has come from building building building, working working working, and then opening opening opening, and surrendering and seeing what's there. And being able to recognize who I really am, which is a being that deserves love the same way this being gives love. “The Importance of Community and How to cultivate it.“We underestimate how much having community within our lives comes back and serves the people we are closest to.“Please Enjoy! And if you find it worthwhile, please share it with a friend or family family member.

Melissa Michaels, Ed.D., is the Founder and Director of SomaSource® Educational Programs, Surfing The Creative® International Rites Of Passage Programs, and Golden Bridge, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving and empowering the lives of young people through rites of passage, mentoring, and community support based in Boulder, CO.She creates movement based cross-cultural educational opportunities focusing on the potential that is available at major life thresholds. Mapping the journey from trauma to dynamic well-being, her work utilizes the expressive and social arts to establish body and heart as resources authentic expression. Rooted in rhythm and fueled by breath, this work inspires the sacred union between Spirit, flesh, psyche, and deed.Melissa is a social artist, dancing and dedicated to our collective renewal through the liberation of the creative spirit.In this conversation we explore:How Melissa came to dance and movement as a healing practice.“I really had many opportunities for experiencing something bigger than myself, but the dance also gave me a place to really go into the depths of my own suffering, and eventually wake into the majesty of my own being”Why dance is such a powerful practice for healing.“I finally found a way to stay present with the depths of my angst, and the ever expanding landscape of my own creativity.”The importance of embodiment, and how to use the body as a resource for regulation and sequencing emotions and experiences.“The dance has been a place where we've been able to move out of the reptilian conversations and move into really love infused, but psycho spiritually sound interactions.”Dance as a tool for turning towards the discomfort and pain, which is an essential part of the healing process.Melissa Experiences with Cancer and how her experiences dancing served her.“Let's be kind to ourselves and anybody navigating through [cancer] or any kind of crisis, needs and deserves, extraordinary kindness, extraordinary protection, and nourishment and space and respect and agency.”Where do we go from here? The collective movement forward.“It's all about how do we build bridges between us and moving as collective forces for change for good. And so, to me, it's like, where is their soul resonance? And what are we trying to do together? And let's get to it.”Golden Girls GlobalOther Resources Mentioned:Peter Levine & Somatic Experience (I highly recommend his book In an Unspoken Voice)Bill Plotkin and his work. (I highly recommend his books: Nature and Human Soul, Wild Mind, and Soulcraft.

In this conversation we explore: -How and Why Lopa started Rasa….(with a newborn?!)- How Lopa defines Emotional Resilience .- The difference between resilience and bypassing. - How Lopa stays committed to Integrity.- Connection between mental health and physical health.- Adaptogens: What they are and how the affect the nervous system.- How Rasa was formulated as a balancing herbal formula- Lopa’s relationship to Earth and our responsibilities to take care of her.“I never feel more myself than when I’m in Nature”- Lopa’s practices and rituals for emotional resilience.Visit: https://wearerasa.com/ to learn more about Rasa and check them out on instagram @wearerasaand Visit: https://www.heartseedhealth.com to get your free guide to Emotional Resilience or to connect with Noah.

“I define health as happiness, I think that they ride in tandem. And for me, happiness and health is being embodied. I'm really living in my body if I'm really here and present. That's when I find health and happiness.”In this episode we explore Sara’s personal healing journey and how she discovered and fell in love with Ayurvedic medicine.“I was terrified of my own voice, and was wading in these deep waters of trying to find myself and terrified of who I was who I am. And My voice is such a huge part of who I am. So for so long, I pushed it away out of fear. Until finally I I got so sick that I couldn't deny it anymore. I actually had tumors form in my, at the base of my neck, this perfectly beautiful place That is the channel from my heart to my mouth, where my voice comes from. And this block shows up there and it's like, Oh, perfect, Thanks for, for really showing me what's going on here. And the greatest medicine to healing myself from this and it ended up being a pretty aggressive type of cancer was to sing. I literally sang myself into wellness. “The darkness and confusion of the post-adolescent pre-adulthood period where one is a “Wanderer in the Cocoon.”How Ayurvedic medicine treats illness.This beautiful medicine has been passed down through through the vocal cords and through this heart resonance. And the sutras all basically tell us the different angles in which to heal ourselves through Earth medicine. It's just incredible. I'm so grateful that I found it. It's perfect.What a typical Ayurvedic consultation looks like.So the three main doshes are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. And each of these doshas basically create us, and they do this beautiful dance within our body and every single person has their own unique combination of the doshas, even though there's three of them, there's no single person in the whole entire world who express their doses the same way as someone else. We're snowflakes.Some practical tips for treating insomnia and constipation from an Ayurvedic and Chinese Medical PerspectiveWhy Oil and Ghee are amazing and why you should rub oil all over your body before you take a shower! (And how it can help you if your arthritis).Sara’s Music “Moon Over Mountains” on Spotify and iTunes.To Get In Touch with Sara: emmitts16@gmail.com

Summary:- Katie explains in depth what trauma is and how it impacts the brain, and why and how trauma causes us to see the world as a threat.- We talk about how and why trauma “disorients us from health.”- We explore the parallels of the Eastern and Western models of trauma.- Katie explains what EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is and how it helps with the process of healing trauma.- We look at how trauma can cause us to shut off parts of ourselves and make our lives more limited.- We see how sometimes traumas can serve as an opportunity for growth.- Katie explains the “Rite of Passage” that can follow a traumatic experience and the possibilities it creates for post-traumatic growth.- Noah and Katie draw parallels to the process of becoming a parent as a Rite of Passage.-Full Show Notes and Transcript available at heartseedhealth.com/podcast

Tracy Shulsinger is a Holistic Nurse Practitioner and Shamanic Healer practicing at The Healing Collective in Boulder, CO. After exploring how and why Tracy came to practice medicine, we dive into what Functional Medicine, the evolution of traditional Western medicine, is. Then we pivot and explore her practices as a Shamanic Healer and discuss how Western medicine and Shamanic healing can coexist and even work together.THIS EPISODE IS ABOUT OUR INFINITE POTENTIAL FOR WELLNESS - LEARNING HOW TO TAP INTO THE PART OF YOURSELF THAT IS WELL.Tracy shares why she focuses on the now, rather than on the the things that need to fixed, and teaches us about the paradox of finding health amidst the dis-ease.She explains why labelling a person as their disease is missing who they are and advocates for seeing the whole person. “We’re so much bigger than all of our aches and pains and challenges.”Tracy shares 7 practical tips around how we can take care of our whole selves and we learn about how she gets to the root of an illness.She recommends this TED Talk about the 30 day challenge (it’s only 3.5 minutes and worth listening to).Finally, we discuss how investing your in health now saves you significantly in the long run.To connect with Tracy:tracy@thehealingcollective.uswww.thehealingcollective.usTo Connect with Noah:noah@heartseedhealth.com

In this interview with Reuvain Bacal, a transformational coach who helps highly motivated men and couples, we explore what it means to live from who we truly are. Reuvain helps people become more aware of how their showing up and what habitual patterns may be holding them back. He also facilitates the practice of letting go these conditioned behaviors and embracing the authentic self. I've worked with him personally and I believe this is an inspiring conversation full of rich moments that can help all of us on the path of life.Some of the topics we cover include:The role of Anger in relationship and healthy ways of relating to it - how anger can serve as a teacher and opportunity for growth and learning.How challenges show us where we're stuck.The importance of taking responsibility and ownership for our experience.Why it's important to get comfortable with discomfort.Why intimacy is sometimes scary and uncomfortable for people.What some of the unique challenges around intimacy and authenticity are for men (hint: it has to do with fear).We discuss the process that leads us to living in ways that are not in alignment with who we really are (hint it has to do with childhood).We explore a paradigm from Chinese medicine that is useful in understanding the dynamics of authentic self and conditioned behaviors.We also explore why Reuvain chooses to work primarily in groups as opposed to one-on-one.

In this heartwarming conversation I talk to Avani Dilger, founder of Natural Highs, about the work she's doing to cultivate health in our community and throughout the world.We discuss:Why Avani dedicated her life to understanding drug use and addiction and to helping treat and prevent it. She wanted to know:"Why do beautiful people end on a path that can hurt them?” What is the internal thing that drives people to do destructive things?”How Avani's experiences with altered states through dance fit into her understanding of addiction.How her experience with dance speak to the experience of craving, seeking, and despair.Why she chose to study “alternative forms of psychology”?How the work of Christine Caldwell, a pioneer in somatic psychology - helped Avani reach a body centered approach to working with addiction and helped her understand how addictive dynamics show up long before people ever use drugs and how we can address those issues early on.What she learned from working at traditional addiction centers:We explored the relationship between substance abuse and the justice system, the criminalization of substance abuse.How Natural Highs got startedAvani started listening: When people use substances, what are they actually looking for? What’s underneath? Avani had conversations with kids and adults and understanding what they were looking for.“Substance abuse is complicated and complex and we need to come to this topic with humility. The reason we’ve been so successful in connecting with people who are struggling is because we don’t pretend we have all the answers. It’s more about collecting the building blocks that are helpful to people. The program is not a finished thing, it’s a living process."So some of the things they do in the Natural Highs programs includes:Hosting Sober RavesOpen MicsStarted a Record Label.The Importance of Rituals:The Yerba Mate Ritual: Avani incorporates the sharing of Yerba Mate as central part of the Natural Highs programs because a big part of addiction is not just the chemical substance, but is the ritual. People can’t imagine not doing something that’s so tied into their social life. The gesture of a ritual: handing something to someone.“It’s not the drug that gets people together, it’s the ritual and we can be more creative with that”The Rituals in our modern lives are often not healthy. How can we create healthier rituals for ourselves in our lives? Rituals are important because they can provide a sense of safety.The Number one most important thing youth and adults want to get out of Natural Highs: Learning about Brain Chemistry.People want to understand how their brain and bodies work and don’t usually have an opportunity to learn. Natural Highs doesn’t tell people whether or not they should take drugs, but rather says “this is what the drugs do to your brain and body, you decide what to do.”Over 85% of participants say they either decrease their use or stop their use of substances.What are people looking for when they take substances: altered consciousness and spiritual experiences. Natural Highs acknowledges the intelligence behind the impulse to change our perception and experience of consciousness. Learn how to change your state of mind without hurting yourself. Learn how to do it in a way that can allow for shifting consciousness long-term.We discuss how sex and love are related to drugs.We explore the difference between seeking growth and transcendence and the desire to escape and the reality that all of us have both of these impulses within.“The moment you name something and make it okay a space opens up for you do something with it.”Natural Highs includes classes around mental health issues like anxiety and depression. What is anxiety and how can you work with it?Now they have more people coming to the Natural Highs programs who are coming because they’re interested in learning about anxiety and depression.The next phases for Natural Highs… expansion of the program globally.To Learn More or Support Natural Highs Please Visit their website.

In this episode we talk about:How and Why Jo co-created the Conscious Cleanse (hint: it involves a radical turn of events due to a major car accident).In the inspiring story of how Jo was able to challenge the medical paradigm to overcome a diagnosis of long-term disability and the role that yoga and nutritional therapy played in her recover.“You can Heal”Why diets didn’t work for Jo and what she learned from trying one after the next and why weight loss was not the primary answer to her recovery (hint: inflammation played a primary role).Love your body. Food is not the enemy, food can be medicine.Why it’s more important to focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t do when working to improve your health.How Jo reduced her pain from 9/10 to 5/10 in two weeks by shifting how she eats.The importance of Wisdom and the power of the mind in the healing process.“Everytime I found someone that said, “I believe you can heal,” I said, “You’re on my team.”How the Conscious Cleanse was designed with a universal message to apply to different people with different body types, lifestyles, and dietary preferences.“Vegetable are the center of your universe” - “Dark Leafy Greens are an inflammation powerhouse, the more dark leafy greens you get the better you’ll feel.”Fresh local foods taste better.The Conscious cleanse isn’t really a cleanse, it’s about getting back to basics and eating a healthy whole foods diet.It’s important to feel empowered to choose what you eat - that’s how this is different from a diet, you can choose what and how you eat.It’s important to be in community and have support when we’re shifting our lifestyle or diet and working to create new habits and positive behaviors - this is built into the Conscious Cleanse in a really great way.We discuss the Chinese medical concept of digestion and how that informs when and when not to eat raw or cooked foods. Resources Mentioned:Anna Forrest YogaMichael Pollan - Omnivore’s DillemaInspirational Video - “Never Give up” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448 Getting in touch:www.conciouscleanse.com - connect@consciouscleanse.com -noah@heartseedhealth.com - www.heartseedhealth.com

Welcome to the Heartseed Health Podcast (http://www.heartseedhealth.com/podcast). Together we’re learning to cultivate health as we talk to incredible health-inspiring people about projects, programs, and events.The beautiful and inspiring story of:-> What the Grief Support Network is and why Wendy created it?-> The importance of culture and how people relate to people who are grieving in the healing process.-> The Role of mindfulness in experiencing and moving through grief.-> The importance of being in community with others who are going through the same experience and a safe space where you’re allowed to show up authentically-> The importance of being with oneself and processing the grief within oneself as an individualThe Art of listening - how to listen to themselves and others, connect and be in community“I actually think that connection is the greatest way we have to heal”“The opportunity to express what was true and to not have to pretend that we were okay” The importance of Rituals“I experience grief as a catalyst, for really powerful change, for personal growth on so many levels”Why Yoga was essential to Wendy’s ability to move through grief. And What it is about Yoga that is so helpful.Hint: It brings together the physical, emotional, and spiritualGrief breaks you open and through that we have the capacity to feel more”“I want to teach people how to work with that thing that’s happening in their hearts, that opening, which leads to greater vulnerability, which leads to greater authenticity in our relationships and ultimately more joy”The role meditation and journaling can play in working through grief.The resistance that can come up working through grief.The importance of being witnessed.“No one can tell us what we need or how we should be or the answers to our questions more than we can find from within and grief is powerful teacher.”“How to find greater self-love and acceptance through grief”

Find everything at: http://www.heartseedhealth.com/podcastIn this episode we talk about meditation and mindfulness and how they cultivate our awareness and capacity to get the most out of life. We talk with Ben Gaibel, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Louiseville, CO, who works at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette, COLearn about Ben Gaibel's personal journey in becoming a social worker and therapist.Why moving towards life’s challenges and uncomfortable elements are an essential part of healing and growth and how facing challenges doesn’t have to be scary or depressing.How and why meditation and mindfulness are a part of the mental health work that Ben does.Learn about Jon Kabat Zinn and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction includes:formal meditation, yoga, walking meditation, body-scanning practicesInformal practice of bringing awareness into daily life - asks participants to commit to practicing every day home.Integrate mindfulness into life in a supportive community atmosphereWhy it’s essential to cultivate awareness and the ability to self-regulate.MBSR deepens the capacity to work with the challenges that come about being a human being.How meditation and mindfulness practices give us more choice in lifeHow mindfulness and meditation can serve as an antidote the “screen-time”.Why the mind-body connection is so important.How Technology can help us increase our awareness and mindfulnessThe value of of mindfulness and meditation for people affected by cancer.Why embracing our vulnerability can liberate us to experience more joy and gratitudeWe end with some incredibly useful tips on how to start and maintain a mindfulness practice.Ben Gaibel is leading a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction workshop series that is open to the public February 7th- March 28th, 2018 (orientation session January 31st 4:30-6:00pm) at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette, CO . You can learn more and sign up here…You can connect with him at Ben Gaibel Counseling or download free guided meditations at Mindful TrainCenter for Integrative Medicine at Good SamaritanResources mentioned:Full Catastrophe Living - Jon Kabat ZinnThe body Keeps the Score - Bessel Van der KolkApps: Headspace, BreathePeter Levine

We discuss: -Why it's important to be able to both "take the driver seat or the passenger seat" in bed and how a couple can explore both roles. -How boundaries are essential for healthy vulnerability. -How to identify your "intimacy threshold" and grow beyond it and why it's important to have access to multiple types of intimacy. -How Daniel is modeling manhood, fatherhood, and intimacy for his two sons. -The role intention plays in creating intimacy. We finish the interview with some great practical advice from Daniel about how to improve your relationships.

We all seek connection with those around us because it’s an innate human need. There are many ways we connect. We have casual conversations with our friends and small talk with strangers and acquaintances. Typically, we seek a deeper more intimate connection with our loved ones, and yet sometimes it’s surprisingly difficult to get there. Despite years of living together, deep love, and an everlasting commitment, it can still be difficult to talk about certain needs and desires. This is all the more so true in a newer relationship. In this potent conversation, Daniel and I transcend taboos to explore the territory of intimacy and vulnerability. We learn about what Daniel does as a sex therapist and he shares insights, useful advice, and tips around how we can improve our relationships and sexual connections. “What isn’t working in your sex life? How can you develop a vision of what you to cultivate in terms of a healthy relationship to your sexuality?” Daniel shares how to overcome the awkwardness of talking about sex and the importance of vulnerability. We discuss and important new metaphor for sex (https://www.ted.com/talks/al_vernacchio_sex_needs_a_new_metaphor_here_s_one) and we explore why we avoid speaking up about what we’re most thirsty for. Some additional topics include: - Why Suffering in Silence around sexual connection is harmful for everyone and how to better communicate with your partner about sex. - We explore of the commonality of sexual dissatisfaction in men and women and what can be done about it. - We discuss the place of power and privilege in conversation around sex, sexual pleasure, and intimacy. “Rather than saying any one group should be silenced or not heard either because we don’t agree with that group or because they’ve had power, or for any reason, ends up defeating the purpose of all of working to develop ourselves in a way that creates individual change on a community level”. - We explore the obstacles to intimacy for men and how men can go beyond that. Men avoid intimacy with other men in general. - Why it’s a common mistake for men look to get ALL of their intimacy needs from their romantic relationships. and how to grow beyond that. Murky unclear set of emotional, physical, and sexual intimacy needs. Don’t know how to articulate, what’s in the basket. - We also explore how Daniel is modeling healthy manhood and fatherhood for his sons. Come on, it doesn’t get much better than that! ;-) I think this is a really important episode and believe that there’s something out there for everyone to learn here. If you listen and enjoy it, please share with a friend or a family member that will enjoy it, and most importantly, put what you learn to use. Start a vulnerable conversation and see where it goes. Think about what you want from your sexual life and talk about it with a friend. Explore vulnerability and intimacy with someone other than lover. A lot of the change our culture needs will start right here in these conversations. Feel free to comment or get in touch with questions etc. Contact me: noah@heartseedhealth.com or Daniel via www.theintimacyinstittue.org As always, thanks for listening!

Astrid and Leela are two special woman who have co-created The Red Earth Herbal Gathering - a safe and sacred space to grow community centered around honoring the feminine and the divine. This two day transformative event happening August 19-20 on Pachamama Farm will be offering powerful workshops about plant-medicine and womanhood. The programs include a Rite of passage for girls becoming woman which will be facilitated by Lorene Wapotich - Founder and Executive Director of Feet on the Earth Programs Listen to our discussion to tap into the life-nurturing impulse behind this event, learn about other community events, and take away some inspiration. Join the movement of human beings promoting peace and nourishing life.

This is a great interview with Dakota Hindman, a doula and ceremonialist. It was a lot of fun to connect with Dakota. I enjoyed hearing her thoughts on supporting families while they birth and appreciated the inclusion of ceremony and sanctity in the transformative process. We discussed some of the cultural shifts we’d like to see occur and how the current culture impacts the experience for a lot of people.

Hi Everyone and welcome to the Heartseed Health Podcast. In this episode we’re exploring the midwifery model of birth. We’ll be talking with 2 midwives from the Community Roots Midwife Collective in Longmont, Colorado. All of us (as far as I know) were birthed onto this planet by our mothers one way or another (thanks Mom!). It is a powerful and sacred event the can carry a lot of significance for the family. There are many different ways of approaching birth, and as a culture, here in the US, we tend to see it as a medical event that belongs in a hospital rather than a natural event that can happen in our homes. Now, most of us are incredibly lucky to be living in a place and an era where adequate health care options are available and where birth, which can involve life or death situations, can be supported by medical help if and when needed. Birth is a miraculous undertaking for the human body regardless of where it takes place. Every family has to make the decision of how they want and are able to bring new life into the world. Birth is the last place we want to be bringing shame or guilt and I think it’s incredibly important, that we treat everyone else’s choice with dignity and respect. As an acupuncturist I work with women in all of the stages of bringing new life into the world. From supporting fertility and conception, to dealing with morning sickness and other pregnancy challenges (including breech baby presentation), and in the promotion of labor and postpartum recovery. My experiences have taught me humility and respect for the strength and resilience of the human body and spirit, and has given me an equally deep appreciation for ancient and modern medicines. I hope everyone is able to listen to the episode with curiosity and an open mind. I’m happy to field any questions and I know Nichole and Lo are as well. I hope you Enjoy the interview - How Lo and Nichole decided to become midwives - How the Community Roots Midwifery Collective Came to be - Who tends to choose home births and why - What some of the common barriers to home birth are (and how some people overcome them). - The sliding-scale and the birth fund. - How birth affects everyone in our community. - A little about the experience of a home birth and how it can differ from other perinatal care. - How expecting couples can stay connected and maintain a supportive environment. - What do midwives do to take care of themselves? - Birth as a Rite of Passage… - Important things to think about with postpartum care. Recommended Resources: -Aviva Romm’s postpartum book (https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Health-after-Birth-Postpartum/dp/0892819308) - Citizens for Midwifery - http://cfmidwifery.org/index.aspx - Midwives Alliance for North America - https://mana.org/ - Colorado Midwives Association - http://coloradomidwives.org/ - Ina May Gaskin’s books: http://inamay.com/books/ Contact info: Collectivemidwifery@gmail.com www.midwifecollective.com Facebook Page Thank you again for listening the Heartseed Health Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please feel free to share it with other who may appreciate and enjoy it and I encourage you to subscribe either via iTunes or our website to get updated when the next episode comes out. I look forward to connecting again soon.

We are excited to announce the Heartseed Health Podcast! This podcast is part of an endeavor to promote more connectivity and awareness throughout our community about beautiful health-inspiring events, people, projects, and organizations. You can think of it as a local holistic health focused radio show. It is a mixture of interviews and “resource episodes” that include guided meditations and educational information on different topics. Here we have an interview with Rachael about her journey to becoming an somatic psychotherapist and dance movement therapist. We explore:  The impact of her childhood and growing up in rural western Virginia on her attitude towards life. The importance of curiosity, wonder, and awe and ways they can be cultivated. The value of exploring murky hidden places for growth and personal development. Pregnancy and Birth as a rite of passage. The role of partners in supporting the pregnancy and birth process. We hope that you enjoy our candid conversation and get some tangible benefit from it. Please feel free to offer feedback. You can Subscribe below via our website or iTunes app to be notified about future episodes and continue exploring health together!