What Matters Most in Parenting? I Asked My Adult Sons.

What Matters Most in Parenting? I Asked My Adult Sons.

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by two very special guests: my sons, Kaden and Rumiah. Now in their mid-twenties and building lives of their own, they reflect on what it was like growing up in our family, from outdoor adventures and family rituals to conflict resolution, sibling relationships, and the values that shaped them. Together, we explore what children remember long after childhood ends, how family culture influences identity, and the surprising ways parenting continues to ripple through adulthood. This heartfelt conversation offers a rare opportunity to hear parenting reflected back through the eyes of the people who experienced it firsthand (tissues are highly recommended).

Motherhood as a Creative Practice with Kallen Mikel

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by visual artist and mother Kallen Mikel for a conversation about creativity, transformation, nature, and the profound ways pregnancy, birth, and parenthood shape both the artist and the art. Together, we explore creativity as a process of opening, the symbolism of transformation, the relationship between motherhood and artistic expression, and why creating art and becoming a parent both ask us to surrender to the unknown. Kallen shares how pregnancy and parenting have transformed her creative process, why nature remains at the heart of her work, and how symbols like butterflies, snakes, seeds, and the body itself become invitations to recognize our own ongoing transformations. This conversation is an invitation to see birth, parenthood, and creativity not as separate experiences, but as interconnected expressions of life force, imagination, and becoming. LEARN MORE [https://brittabushnell.com/kallen-mikel/]

Preparing for the Fourth Trimester with Sarah Trott

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by Sarah Trott, creator and host of the Fourth Trimester Podcast, for a conversation about preparing for postpartum and why the support we receive after birth matters just as much as the preparation we do before it. Together, we explore the realities of the fourth trimester, the importance of redefining productivity, building meaningful support systems, protecting emotional well-being, and learning to trust yourself as you navigate the profound transition into parenthood. Drawing from a decade of conversations with perinatal professionals, Sarah shares the themes that continue to emerge around recovery, resilience, community, and the power of asking for, and accepting, help. This conversation is an invitation to prepare not only for birth, but for the transformational season that follows, with greater compassion, connection, and care. LEARN MORE [https://brittabushnell.com/fourth-trimester-sarah-trott/]

Being a Parent Without Losing Your Erotic Self with Darshana Avila

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by trauma-informed somatic educator, practitioner, and speaker Darshana Avila for a conversation about eroticism, intimacy, desire, and reconnecting with ourselves during the perinatal period and beyond. Together, we explore the difference between sex and erotic energy, the impact of pregnancy and parenthood on our relationship with pleasure, body image, intimacy, and desire, and why becoming a parent often invites us into a profound reckoning with our erotic selves. Darshana shares practical ways to approach intimacy during postpartum, the importance of consent within long-term relationships, and how reconnecting with our own bodies can become a pathway toward healing, self-compassion, and deeper connection. This conversation is an invitation to move beyond performance, pressure, and expectations and toward a more expansive understanding of eroticism as vitality, creativity, pleasure, and life force. LEARN MORE [https://brittabushnell.com/darshana-avila]

Fatherhood, Healing, and the Power of Showing Up

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by fatherhood advocates Bobby Brown and Brandon Rennels for a conversation about the often-overlooked transformation men experience when they become fathers. Together, we explore identity shifts, healing childhood wounds, father-son relationships, mental health, birth preparation, advocacy, and the profound responsibility that can emerge when a new life enters the world. Bobby and Brandon share personal stories about their journeys into fatherhood, reflecting on how becoming a dad invited them into deeper self-awareness, emotional growth, and a renewed sense of purpose. This conversation is an invitation to recognize fatherhood not simply as a new role, but as a rite of passage that deserves support, community, and care. LEARN MORE [https://brittabushnell.com/fatherhood/]