What if telling your story could save someone’s life? I think it can. This podcast mixes personal stories with public health data to uncover the politics (and policy) of childbirth in the US. We talk about big issues in public health and how they are experienced personally. Let's go!
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The First Horseman of the Apocalypse: (Get Your) Vaccines and (Protect the) Public Health
Host [Host Name] interviews Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. about vaccine credibility and the financial beneficiaries of the anti-vaxx movement.
4 Sept 2025
Birth Influencers, Free Birth, and the Importance of Skepticism
Dr. Sarah Smith, a medical professional, discusses birth influencers and free birth, advocating for skepticism and highlighting the benefits of midwives in this interview.
28 Aug 2025
Ivana Nikoline Brønlund and the Racist Roots of Parent-Child Separation
Host Sarah Jessica Parker interviews Dr. Anya Sharma, a leading sociologist, about the historical and ongoing impact of systemic racism on child welfare policies.
21 Aug 2025
The Fetishization of Motherhood: Medals, Nazis, and Trumpists
Dr. Erika Briesacher discusses how pronatalist policies, including medals and bonuses, fetishize motherhood with roots in Nazi ideology and contemporary Trumpist politics.
14 Aug 2025
The Mom-ster Episode: Postpartum Mood Disorders
Host Sarah Jessica Parker and guest Dr. Jane Smith discuss postpartum mood disorders and overcoming shame to find support.
7 Aug 2025
Tough Stuff: Birth Trauma and Believing Women
The hosts discuss birth trauma, obstetric violence, and historical practices like Twilight Sleep, highlighting the challenges women face in having their pain believed; this is a discussion episode.
31 Jul 2025
Abandoning Shame: Fertility, Sterility, and the Isolation of Pregnancy Loss
The hosts of Birthzillas explore the stark contrast between fertility and sterility, highlighting the profound isolation experienced after pregnancy loss and examining historical perspectives on reproductive health.
24 Jul 2025
Why Can't We Have Nice Things? Maternity Leave Edition
The hosts discuss the policy and political issues surrounding maternity leave, exploring its potential role in reducing violence against women and men.
17 Jul 2025
Birthzillas and the Politics of Childbirth
The hosts of "Birthzillas" podcast examine the political landscape surrounding childbirth and preview upcoming topics for the season.
27 Mar 2025
Tell me a story: Why Representation of Birth Matters
Send us a message! <3 In the final episode of season one, we talk about the importance of representation, why more people should tell their birth stories, and whether or not my children are plague vectors. We take a look at what's coming up in season two and end with some thoughts on how our evolutionary roots as a social species make storytelling a key way of passing on cultural and embodied knowledge. Let's go!
20 Mar 2025
Dads Matter: Feminism, the Manosphere, and why Good Men can Change the World
Send us a message! <3 In this episode we talk about the importance of good dads, the dangers men and boys face online, and why we all need each other. Join us for the second to last episode of the season! (Warning for those listening at work or around kids: I do swear twice.) Let's go!
13 Mar 2025
When birth goes bad: Birth Trauma and Obstetric Violence
Send us a message! <3 In this episode we talk about what birth trauma is, how institutional trauma work, and why we should be taking obstetric violence seriously. We deal with some tough stuff and ask what to do when the problem is both legal and social. Let's go!
6 Mar 2025
On Getting Free Together: Reproductive Justice and Birth Advocacy
Send us a message! <3 In this episode we talk about reproductive justice, birth advocacy, and why legal rights aren't enough. I recommend Sabia Wade's book Birthing Liberation: How Reproductive Justice Can Set Us All Free, talk about histories of reproductive coercion, and consider the limits of law (and why we need justice instead!). Putting on your thinking hat and let's go!
27 Feb 2025
#FundtheResults: What we know about health equity and inequality
Send us a message! <3 In this episode we talk about medical racism, health equity, and some of the systemic issues that shape the US maternal mortality crisis. We talk about some uncomfortable stuff, but it's good medicine! Let's go.
20 Feb 2025
Why Birth Culture Matters: Institutions, Actors, and Attitudes towards Birth
Send us a message! <3 This week we take a look at the different cultures in hospital and home birth, and talk a bit about birth centers. We also hear Veronica's story: a nurse who didn't want to give birth at her own hospital because the head OBGYN pressed women into cesareans. We end by talking about some concrete steps you can take to improve birth culture in your area. Let's go!
13 Feb 2025
Hospital and Home: How History shapes Birth
Send us a message! <3 In this episode we talk about how OBGYNs developed in the US and why that's very different than the rest of the world. We touch on the Flexner Report, which reshaped medical care in the US, get some stats on the maternal mortality crisis here, and talk about policy solutions to some of these problems. Then we hear from home birth Midwife Kim who tells us a little bit about her profession. Let's go!
6 Feb 2025
Who gets to decide? Bodily Autonomy and Consent
Send us a message! <3 Major announcement in here: the University of Kansas is readying a book contract for Birthzillas and Madwives! So, stay tuned for more information. In the rest of today's episode we talk about bodily autonomy and consider who has the last word in deciding when/how to intervene in birth. We talk a bit about home birth and hospital birth and get ready for next week's visit by Midwife Kim!
30 Jan 2025
The Birth Story
Send us a message! <3 In this episode we talk about the importance of stories, how often women's health complaints are dismissed for no reason, testimonial justice, and medical trust. And bonus: I share my birth story and talk about why putting the social back in social sciences is important.
23 Jan 2025
Birthzillas Introduction
Send us a message! <3 In this episode we introduce Birthzillas, talk about the importance of sharing birth stories, and answer your questions about the politics of childbirth.
Who has been a guest on Birthzillas: The Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Robert F Kennedy Jr
Dr Sarah Smith
Dr Anya Sharma
Dr Erika Briesacher
Dr Jane Smith
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Contact Birthzillas: The Podcast
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
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