Motherhood as a Creative Practice with Kallen Mikel

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/]

Birth as an Altered State of Consciousness with Whapio

In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by elder, midwife, educator, and visionary Whapio Diane Bartlett for a conversation about birth as a journey of consciousness and transformation. Together, we explore what it means to move beyond a purely medical understanding of birth and into a multidimensional experience that includes emotional, relational, and spiritual layers. Whapio shares her decades of experience supporting families, offering a powerful perspective on why every birth has the potential to be transformative, what it means to have your own birth, and how partners, caregivers, and advocates can support rather than interrupt this process. This conversation invites a deeper way of seeing birth, not as something to be managed, but as a rite of passage to be experienced. LEARN MORE [https://brittabushnell.com/whapio/]