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Holy Wild Birth

Holy Wild Birth

By: Brooke Collier and Lauren Hall
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 For Christian mamas and birth workers who desire to embrace physiological birth... outside of the medical system. Holy Wild Birth is a podcast embracing the reclamation of giving birth rooted in God’s original design, undisturbed. Here we share home birth stories highlighting God’s presence as the Great Midwife as well as conversations about all aspects of a holistic, Spirit-led childbearing year from the perspectives of traditional midwife Lauren Hall (Rooted in Eden Private Contract Association) and birth keeper and childbirth educator Brooke Collier (Sister Birth). Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/holy-wild-birth/supportBrooke Collier and Lauren Hall Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • Gemma:: A Radically Holy Birth (and Re-Birth)!

    Gemma:: A Radically Holy Birth (and Re-Birth)!
    Apr 1 2026
    This episode is a deeply personal conversation with Gemma, who shares her journey through birth work, loss, faith, and what it has meant for her to be transformed along the way.Gemma has spent over eight years in the birth world, moving between the medical system, traditional midwifery, and unassisted birth, while building a homesteading life in rural British Columbia. Her story opens with profound loss, carrying and birthing twins at home, followed by a hemorrhage that brought her face to face with surrender in a way she had never experienced before. Just two weeks later, she found herself pregnant again, stepping into a season where peace and fear coexisted in a very real way.She shares how her upbringing in New Age and how her previous births left her feeling physically overwhelmed and, at times, traumatized. There was a deep longing to be rescued from the intensity of it all, paired with the weight of feeling like she had to carry everything on her own. During this pregnancy, everything began to shift. Gemma describes encounters with Jesus through dreams and visions, even as she wrestled with resistance. A question stayed with her, “Who told you you couldn’t be saved?” It marked the beginning of releasing the need to prove her strength and allowing herself to receive help.Hearing other women’s stories of inviting Christ into their births gave her language for what that could look like & she began to lean into faith more intentionally, especially as she navigated concerning symptoms and long stretches of time alone while her husband worked as a train conductor, often gone 12 hours a day.When labor began, she eventually came up against a wall of fear. In that moment, she felt a sense of being given true choice, an invitation to continue or seek help, and she chose to surrender more deeply.. Alone, she describes it as peaceful, flowing, and effective in a way that surprised her.She shares candidly about navigating meconium-stained waters and then a larger amount appearing later, and how she worked through the emotions that came with that. Worship music became a powerful anchor throughout labor, and at one point, crying out to God brought an immediate shift in her body and spirit.As birth progressed, she realized her baby was breech. She describes feeling coached through the pushing phase, staying present and supported as she brought her baby into the world.Throughout the story, fear becomes something different than an obstacle. It becomes an invitation to lean in, to trust more deeply, and to continue surrendering. LINKSHer post in our FB group: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=2274989219664289&set=gm.1601978701221077&idorvanity=181048103314151Gemma on IG (it’s on pause/archived for now): Gemma Epp 🕊️ (@wyldbirth) • Instagram profilereach out by email wyldbirth@gmail.comA Sacred Beginning book: A Sacred Beginning: Nurturing Your Body, Mind, and Soul during Baby's First Forty DaysConnect with the Holy Wild Birth team:Email us to say hi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠holywildbirth@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Put in a request for future topics and/or submit a question for future Q&A episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fill out the form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to tell your birth story on the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Holy Wild Birth Podcast : Guest Application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hang out with us and other Holy Wild Women in our FREE, private community (off Facebook):⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hearthmother Ministries Community⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a holy, wild birthkeeper with us this fall inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hearthmother Journey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠From Lauren:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midwifery consults: Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rootedinedenpma@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠From Brooke:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trust God, Trust Birth Workshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - a 5-part high-level roadmap to a confident home birth (pay what you can)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Faith-Filled Home Birth Workshop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- a free, 3-part video series delivered to your inbox⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Embrace Birth Journey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- comprehensive and holistic faith-based home birth preparation (courses + private community)
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Cup of Tea :: Slow Growth, Sacred Work

    Cup of Tea :: Slow Growth, Sacred Work
    Mar 11 2026

    In this episode of This Cup of Tea, we share what’s been unfolding behind the scenes in our lives and work lately — the questions that keep coming up, the slower-than-expected growth of Hearthmother Journey, and the sacred moments reminding us why we’re doing this work.

    From an 8-year marriage misunderstanding that finally came into clarity, to Brooke’s confirmation, to witnessing a breathtaking breech birth, we talk about the small and big ways God has been moving.

    We also share about the development of our Hearthmother Midwifery Unschool, our love of spreadsheets, app creation, and why building slowly might actually be the point.

    Pour a cup of tea and join us for a conversation about faith, vocation, motherhood, and trusting the quiet seasons.

    Show Notes:


    rainbow arch - Chris Harrison | BibleViz

    Laurens Bible Plan app - Threads of Scripture — Hearthmother Reading Plans

    bible project podcast Two Psalms That Sum Up the Hebrew Bible

    brookes substack - https://open.substack.com/pub/sothisisbrooke/p/on-the-eve-of-my-confirmation?r=6cizmf&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

      • Connect with the Holy Wild Birth team:

        • Email us to say hi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠holywildbirth@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

        • Put in a request for future topics and/or submit a question for future Q&A episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fill out the form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

        • Apply to tell your birth story on the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Holy Wild Birth Podcast : Guest Application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

        • Hang out with us and other Holy Wild Women in our FREE, private community (off Facebook):⁠⁠⁠ Hearthmother Ministries Community⁠⁠⁠

        • Become a holy, wild birthkeeper with us this fall inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hearthmother Journey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

        From Lauren:

        • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

        • Midwifery consults: Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rootedinedenpma@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

        From Brooke:

        • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

        • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trust God, Trust Birth Workshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - a 5-part high-level roadmap to a confident home birth (pay what you can)

        • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Faith-Filled Home Birth Workshop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- a free, 3-part video series delivered to your inbox

        • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Embrace Birth Journey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- comprehensive and holistic faith-based home birth preparation (courses + private community)
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • Roundtable:: Ways of the Hearthmother in all of life

    Roundtable:: Ways of the Hearthmother in all of life
    Feb 25 2026
    The Way of the Hearthmother episodeIn this special roundtable conversation, we gather students and graduates of the Hearthmother Journey to reflect on how The Way of the Hearthmother has shaped not only their birth work, but their inner lives, families, and daily rhythms.From first impressions to unexpected transformation, this conversation is honest, grounded, and deeply encouraging for anyone walking the path of sacred birth work — or considering it.Whether you are a doula, birthkeeper, mother, or woman longing for rooted work that flows from presence rather than performance, this episode offers lived testimony of what happens when formation runs deeper than information. In This Episode We Discuss:First EncountersEach woman shares her first introduction to The Way of the Hearthmother — whether through the podcast or through the course itself — and her initial reaction.What surprised themWhat felt confronting or affirmingHow they knew (or didn’t know yet) that this would change something in themWe explore the difference between consuming content and being formed by a way of life.The shift from technique to presenceOffering care that flows from rootedness rather than hustleReimagining what “success” looks like in birth spacesCreating offerings that feel aligned, spacious, and deeply personalThey reflect on how their posture — not just their skills — has changed.Marriage and communicationParenting and homemakingCommunity leadershipPersonal boundaries and discernmentSpiritual formationHow does The Way of the Hearthmother show up in the ordinary?In morning rhythmsIn hospitalityIn tending a homeIn how they listenIn how they hold space for themselvesPanel participants (all Hearthmother Journey grads or current students):Olivia Shingledecker, midwife apprentice, doula, and health coachAutumn Rose, traditional midwifeKrista Matlock, birthkeeperTrinity Miller, student midwife and doulaHannah Gingerich, doula and student midwifeConnect with the Holy Wild Birth team:Email us to say hi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠holywildbirth@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Put in a request for future topics and/or submit a question for future Q&A episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fill out the form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply to tell your birth story on the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Holy Wild Birth Podcast : Guest Application⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hang out with us and other Holy Wild Women in our FREE, private community (off Facebook):⁠⁠ Hearthmother Ministries Community⁠⁠Become a holy, wild birthkeeper with us this fall inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hearthmother Journey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠From Lauren:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midwifery consults: Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rootedinedenpma@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠From Brooke:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Trust God, Trust Birth Workshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - a 5-part high-level roadmap to a confident home birth (pay what you can)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Faith-Filled Home Birth Workshop ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- a free, 3-part video series delivered to your inbox⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Embrace Birth Journey ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- comprehensive and holistic faith-based home birth preparation (courses + private community)
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
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