Podcasts by Birth Words: Language For a Better Birth
Birth worker Sara Pixton draws on her backgrounds in applied linguistics and social work to explore the power of words during the childbearing season and how we can all come together to better care for and honor those who give birth.
Further podcasts by Sara Pixton
Podcast on the topic Kindererziehung
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Amazing: A Pandemic Birth Story with Ella Mink from 2023-11-30T19:38
In this episode, Ella Mink shares her story of giving birth to her first daughter during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ella was 17 years old at the time and had an amazing water birth at a birth center...
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Stories: Powerful Tools for Social Change from 2023-10-31T02:45
In this episode, Sara considers the power of telling your birth story--or your pregnancy or postpartum story. Stories remind us that we are each unique, whole individuals with immeasurable worth...
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Unethical: How Ethics Fade from View in the Birth Space from 2023-09-25T19:53
In this episode, Sara confronts the topic of ethics in the birth space. Unfortunately, ethically objectionable things happen frequently in the birth space. Even more unfortunately, they are ofte...
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Rebirth: Birth Words is Back for Season 2... With a Twist! from 2023-08-15T12:00
After a two-year hibernation, Birth Words is being reborn! Season 2 of Birth Words will offer monthly episodes, plus a new twist... listen to this episode to find out more!
TRANS...
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Narratives: What to Do When Someone Starts Telling a Birth "Horror Story" from 2021-06-21T09:00
In this episode, Sara discusses what to do when family, friends, or others start telling birth "horror stories" at baby showers or in birthing spaces. She uses the framework of narrative analysi...
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Necessary: Talking About Pelvic Floor Health with Dr. Betty DeLass, DPT from 2021-06-07T09:00
In this episode, Sara interviews pelvic floor PT Betty DeLass. Betty discusses the importance of normalizing pelvic health through talking about it! She also makes an exciting announcement about...
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Bonding: The Benefits of Talking to Your Baby in Utero! from 2021-05-17T09:00
Sara summarizes fetal hearing development, then describes the benefits of talking to your baby during pregnancy--for both you and baby!
TRANSCRIPT:
Hello...
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Magical: A Conversation with Women's Health Coach Meredith Ashton Cohen About the Menstrual Cycle from 2021-05-03T09:00
In this episode, guest Meredith Ashton Cohen uses the metaphor of the changing seasons to describe the menstrual cycle and how to live your best life by better understanding each season of the m...
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Roots: Rebroadcast of Birth Words, Episode 1 from 2021-04-19T09:00
This week on the podcast, I'm bringing Birth Words back to its roots. I aired the first episode of Birth Words on June 29, 2019. Since then, I've produced over 70 unique episodes, and gained lot...
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Communication: Changing the Way You Speak to Fit Your Circumstances from 2021-04-05T09:00
In this episode, Sara discusses the concept of communicative repertoires: the idea that we modify the way we speak to fit the circumstances we're in and our relationships (real or intended) with...
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Teacher: Learning Life's Lessons During an 80-Hour Labor, with Michelle Knight from 2021-03-22T09:00
In this week's episode, I talk with Michelle Knight about how the process of giving birth was a great teacher that shaped Michelle's approach to life afterward. We also discuss the power of shar...
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Spring: Reconceptualizing Due Dates from 2021-03-08T10:00
In this episode, Sara talks about linguistic relativity, her favorite season shift (from winter to spring) and how the term "due date" can be all kinds of problematic!
Resources:...
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Workshop: A Sneak Peek into the Birth Words In-Depth Workshop for Birthworkers from 2021-03-01T10:00
Birthworkers, this one's for you!
In this week's special episode, listen to four birthworkers discuss what they learned from and loved about the Birth Words In-Depth Workshop for B...
Unknown: An Interview with Birthing from Within Trainer Nikki Shaheed from 2021-02-22T10:00
In this week's episode, Nikki Shaheed talks about how to discover your heart's question to guide your birth, the various archetypes for approaching the birth experience, and the etiquette for La...
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Respect: Honorifics and the Circle of Support from 2021-02-08T10:00
In this episode, we consider how and to whom we show respect through language. Specifically, we consider the use and impact of titles (or lack thereof) by birth care providers. Sara invites you ...
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Intricate: Kayte Gardner Tells Her Birth Stories from 2021-01-25T10:00
In this week's episode Kayte Gardner talks about the stories we tell ourselves about birth, birth trauma, and "high-risk" pregnancy and birth. Tune in to hear her tell her stories of loss and fe...
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Conduit: Communication Isn't a Matter of Boxing Up Meaning from 2021-01-11T10:00
In this episode, Sara discusses the conduit metaphor identified by linguist Michael Reddy. The conduit metaphor is an oversimplification of communication and language. This metaphor assumes that...
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Exalted: A Conversation with Alisa Crawshaw about the Noble Work of Parenthood from 2020-12-28T10:00
In this conversation, Alisa, doula and mother to two (soon to be three) talks about her birth stories. She discusses the people who guided her on her path to her beautiful births, and her orgasm...
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Assumptions IIII: Figured Worlds and Birth IIII from 2020-12-14T10:00
This episode is the last in the series on figured worlds. (Other episodes in this series include episodes 59, 61, and 63.) In this episode, Sara discusses her narrow lens and assumptions with re...
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Cool: My Husband's Perspective on Birth from 2020-11-30T10:00
This week, meet my husband, Clark, as he tells the stories of the births of our three children and reflects on the roles of preparation and language.
REFERENCES:
Gee, Jame...
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Assumptions III: Figured Worlds and Birth III from 2020-11-20T16:15:15
In this episode, Sara talks more about figured worlds and birth, diving into the importance of language, people, and objects. The typical, simplified picture that comes to mind is called a figur...
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History: A Discussion with Dr. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich About Her Book, A Midwife's Tale from 2020-11-02T10:00
In this episode, I interview Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author Laurel Thatcher Ulrich about her book, A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812. <...
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Assumptions II: Figured Worlds and Birth II from 2020-10-19T09:00
In this episode, we're digging more into figured worlds: the typical story of giving birth. What do people typically assume about the participants, activities, and ways of interacting during pre...
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Choice II: A Conversation with My Mom, Vicki Collet, About Thoughtful Language Choices from 2020-10-05T09:00
I'm thrilled to introduce you this week to the most special of all special guests: my mom, Vicki Collet!
Assumptions: Figured Worlds and Birth from 2020-09-21T09:00
In this episode, Sara introduces the concept of figured worlds. Figured worlds are the simplified mental perceptions we have of the way things typically work. In birth, common figured worlds hol...
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Partnership: Talking About Partners and Communication with Childbirth Educator, Yogini, and Doula Alleah Erica Clarke from 2020-09-07T09:00
In this week's episode of Birth Words, I get to introduce you to the lovely Alleah Erica Clarke. Alleah Erica is a yoga teacher, childbirth educator, and gestational coach. She hosts The Partner...
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Honor: A Critical Look at Caregiver-Client Conversation from 2020-08-24T09:00
In this episode, Sara looks at caregiver-client conversations and how they can reinforce asymmetrical power relationships. She invites birthgivers to mindfully choose a midwife or obstetrician w...
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Miscarriage II: Lara Freidenfelds and 'The Myth of the Perfect Pregnancy' from 2020-08-10T09:00
In this episode, Sara interviews author and historian Lara Freidenfelds about her book The Myth of the Perfect Pregnancy. Lara discusses the knowledge we've gained about early pregnancy...
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Empowering: Choosing Our Language to Honor Life-Giving Agents from 2020-07-27T09:00
In this episode, Sara considers the importance of using language that recognizes the power of birthgivers! She takes a critical look at some common descriptions and depictions of childbirth.
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Empowered: LMT Kristy Burtenshaw Discusses Fascial Release, Birth, and the Power of Our Words from 2020-07-13T09:00
This episode is an interview with licensed massage therapist Kristy Burtenshaw. Kristy discusses the role that fascia plays in the physiological and emotional process of birth, and how our words...
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Announcement from 2020-07-06T09:00
Heading in to year two of the Birth Words podcast, we'll be shifting to an every-other-week schedule. Tune in next week for another episode of Birth Words!
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Intentional: Choosing our Birth Language for Positive Change from 2020-06-29T09:00
In this episode, Sara considers the effects of our words. She invites birthgivers and birth workers alike to be intentional about using words that point towards positive change and honor the pow...
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Inception: You Can't Unsee An Empowered Birth from 2020-06-22T09:00
In this episode, birth videographer and podcast host Sarah Asay talks about birth videography and how she uses video as a mediating tool to capture birth experiences and communicate powerful mes...
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Reflective: Consider the Influences on and of Your Words from 2020-06-15T09:00
In this episode, Sara invites listeners to be reflective about the words that they use in the realms of racial injustice and in all aspects of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
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Special Episode 1 | Competency (Rebroadcast) | Cultural Humility and Diversity: A Conversation with Dr. Sayida Peprah from 2020-06-08T14:22:13
This special episode is a rebroadcast of a conversation with Dr. Sayida Peprah, previously aired as episode 28. In this interview, Dr. Sayida discusses the importance of being authentic, humble,...
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Intuitive: Two Hypno-Home Birth Stories from 2020-06-08T09:00
In this episode, mother Jess Burdette shares the stories of her two home births, which she prepared for with Hypnobabies. She discusses the importance of being intentional about the words and st...
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Silence II: Black Lives Matter from 2020-06-01T09:00
In this episode, we revisit the topic of silence and discuss how silence, though appropriate in some scenarios, is inappropriate in others. We consider the death of George Floyd, the astonishing...
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Hope&Choice: Birth Moms Stacey and Chanel Discuss the Language of Adoption from 2020-05-25T09:00
In this episode, Stacey and Chanel, who each chose adoption for their birth children years ago, discuss the important role that language played and continue to plays in the choices.
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Silence: Communication Beyond Language from 2020-05-18T09:00
This episode unpacks the role of silence in the birth space.
REFERENCES:
Buckley, Sarah. Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: A Doctor’s Guide to Natural Childbirth and Gen...
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Empowerment II: Dr. Michelle Coats Discusses Whole-Person Pregnancy Care from 2020-05-11T09:00
In this episode, Dr. Michelle Coats talks about how she cares for her clients during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She shares her perspective of the transformative and empowering process of ...
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Metaphor: What Underlies the Way You Speak About Birth? from 2020-05-04T09:00
In this episode, Sara introduces the idea of concept metaphors: the metaphors that operate underneath our speech (often subconsciously). She explores several concept metaphors relating to pregna...
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Transformative: A Conversation About Words and Physiology with Birthful's Adriana Lozada from 2020-04-27T09:00
In this episode, Adriana Lozada shares her insights about the power of her birth podcast, Birthful, and the power of positive birth frameworks. She also discusses how language can be a barrier t...
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Agentive II: Affirmations for Giving Birth in the Time of COVID-19 from 2020-04-20T09:00
This episode is a mash-up of Episode 15 (Affirmations) and Episode 41 (Agentive). Sara talks about the linguistic power of affirmations and the importance of using language that rightly frames t...
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Hopeful: A Conversation with Kerry Tuschoff, Hypnobabies Founder and Director from 2020-04-13T09:00
In this podcast episode, Hypnobabies founder and director, Kerry Tuschoff, shares her thoughts about the power of language during pregnancy and birth. Kerry gives examples of common phrases used...
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Agentive: Giving Birth in the Time of COVID-19 from 2020-04-06T09:00
In this episode, Sara considers the unique situation of the global COVID-19 pandemic and what birthgivers can do to claim their power as life-giving agents engaged in a praiseworthy work.
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Self-Love: A Birth Photographer's Perspective On Body Positivity with Lindsey Rivera from 2020-03-30T09:00
This episode is a conversation with Salt Lake area birth photographer Lindsey Rivera. Lindsey discusses her experience with birth and how it has shaped her career as a birth photographer who rev...
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Pregnancy: "Expecting," "With Child," and Other Colloquialisms from 2020-03-23T09:00
In this episode, Sara talks about some colloquialisms used to refer to pregnancy.
REFERENCES:
Etymonline. (2020). Pregnant. In Listen
Validate: A Comparison of Two Birth Stories with Renee Basham from 2020-03-16T09:00
In this episode, doula Renee Basham shares about the difference validation made in her pregnancy and birth experiences. Renee is the Executive Director of Hope's Embrace, a non-profit organizati...
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Rebroadcast: Discourse: Ways of Speaking and Ways of Being in Birth from 2020-03-09T09:00
This episode is a rebroadcast of Episode 4, Discourse: Ways of Speaking and Ways of Being in Birth. Sara explains the linguistic concept of discourse (and Discourse) and what that looks like in ...
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Failure? Let's Eradicate the Word from Our Birth Vocabulary from 2020-03-02T10:00
This episode takes a critical look at the term "failure to progress."
REFERENCES:
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Rebroadcast: An Overview of Linguistics from 2020-02-24T10:00
This week's episode is taking us back to the Birth Words basics. A rebroadcast of episode 2, this episode summarizes what linguistics is and how it intersects with birth.
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Love: A Conversation with Mother Katherine Grande from 2020-02-17T10:00
For this week's episode, I interview my friend Katherine Grande about her birth experiences. Katherine had a meaningful impact on my perspective on birth during my first pregnancy and beyond. Sh...
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Analysis: A Discourse Analysis of "What to Expect When You're Expecting" from 2020-02-10T10:00
In this episode, Sara digs into an excerpt of the common pregnancy book, What to Expect When You're Expecting. Through her analysis, she reveals the assumptions, perspective, and effec...
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Impactful: A Conversation About Trauma-Informed Care with Therapist Sarah Adelmann from 2020-02-03T10:00
In this week's episode, therapist Sarah Adelmann of Resilient Birth shares guidelines about how to mindfully choose our words as part of giving trauma-informed care to survivors of trauma and ab...
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Romance: How to Say 'Give Birth' in Three Romance Languages from 2020-01-27T10:00
In this episode, I discuss how to say "give birth" in French, Spanish, and Italian
REFERENCES:
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Sacred: A Conversation About Birth and Motherhood with Mother Jenessa Berg from 2020-01-20T10:00
In this episode, I talk with Jenessa Berg. She shares her thoughts about motherhood as a creative process, birth-related terms that can be taken multiple ways, and the circle of support during b...
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Serving: Reflections on Rachel Remen's Essay, "Helping, Fixing, or Serving?" from 2020-01-13T10:00
In this episode, I revew key points made by Rachel Naomi Remen in her essay, "Helping, Fixing, or Serving?" I consider their application to birth and the importance of viewing all in the birth s...
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Competency: Understanding and Interacting in Varied Cultural Settings from 2020-01-06T10:00
This week's episode is a special one recorded AT the Evidence Based Birth Conference in Lexington, KY, where Dr. Sayida Peprah delivered two powerful keynote addresses. In this interview, Dr. Sa...
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Decomposition: A Close Look at the Lexical Features of Some Birth Words from 2019-12-30T10:00
In this episode, Sara takes a close look at some pairings of words commonly used in birth and what lexically defines each word. Often, one word better contributes to an empowered birth experienc...
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Infertility III: A Conversation with Natasha Marchand of Bebo Mia from 2019-12-23T10:00
In this episode, I continue the conversation from previous episodes about the language surrounding infertility. Natasha Marchand, co-founder of Bebo Mia, discusses the unique situations of would...
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Life-Changing: Interview with Dunstan Baby Language Educator Kelly Buck from 2019-12-16T10:00
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Deliver: An Etymological History of Giving Birth from 2019-12-09T10:00
This episode takes a look at the history of the use of the word "deliver" in relation to childbirth.
REFERENCES:
Exodus 1:19. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/text/exod...
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Pain: A Necessary Part of Birth? from 2019-12-02T10:00
In this episode, I tackle the topic of pain during labor and childbirth.
REFERENCES:
Chooi C. S. L., Nerlekar R., Raju R., Cyna A. M. (2011). The effects of positive or negative wo...
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Infertility II: A Social and Historical Perspective with Margaret Quinlan from 2019-11-25T10:00
In this episode, I interview Margaret Quinlan and hear her perspective about the social phenomenon surrounding the topic of infertility.
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Collaboration: Birth Geeks and Birth Words Unite! with Hillary Melchiors from 2019-11-18T10:00
In this episode, I collaborate with Hillary Melchiors from the Birth Geeks podcast, as we discuss three guiding principles for positive language during pregnancy and birth.
Transcript: Listen
Consent: A Progression of Decision-Making in Birth from 2019-11-11T10:00
In this episode, I tackle the hot topic of consent in the birth space.
TRANSCRIPT:
Before we jump into the content on toda...
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Photography: An Interview with Birth Photographer Sarah Roberts of Yellow Kite Lifestyle Photography from 2019-11-04T10:00
Sarah Roberts, birth photographer, shares her birth experiences and journey to becoming a birth photographer. We discuss the rhetorical role of being a birth photographer in the community and ho...
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Power: A Conversation with Rebecca Dekker of Evidence Based Birth about Power Dynamics in Birth from 2019-10-28T09:00
This episode features a very special guest: Dr. Rebecca Dekker, founder of Evidence Based Birth. Dr. Dekker shares her thoughts and experiences surrounding problematic and empowering language us...
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Complexities II: A Close Look Conflicting Beliefs Reflected in Communication During Birth from 2019-10-21T09:00
In this episode--an extension of Episode 9 (Complexities)--Sara examines two excerpts from birth stories to further consider the complexities of our communicative interactions. She dissects the ...
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Choice: A Story about Emergency C-Section from 2019-10-14T09:00
Episode 16 features Lisa Cowan, a Utah-based birth doula with a unique birth story. She shares her story about her unexpected cesarean birth and how the words of others affected her throughout h...
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Affirmations: A Linguistic Perspective from 2019-10-07T09:00
In this episode, I take a linguistic lens to consider the role and implications of birth affirmations.
REFERENCES:
Austin, J.L. (2014). How to do things with words. In Jaworski & N...
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Healing: A Postpartum Journey from 2019-09-30T09:00
In this episode, I welcome Heidi Pyper, a fellow doula who shares her experiences about a difficult postpartum period. She discusses how problematic language made it challenging to get the help ...
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Empowerment: A Chat with Bilingual Doula Carla Belliard from 2019-09-23T09:00
In this episode, I talk with Carla Belliard, a bilingual doula serving Utah. We discuss her linguistic background and how it affects her work as a doula.
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Imagery: A Powerful Semiotic System from 2019-09-16T09:00
In this episode, I consider the power of drawing on imagery and symbols during the birth experience.
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VBAC: Interview with Julie and Meagan of The VBAC Link from 2019-09-09T09:00
In this episode, I pick the brains of Julie Francom and Meagan Heaton of The VBAC Link. We discuss the important way that the words we choose affect the experiences of women giving birth after a...
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Amazing: Birth Stories of Positive Partner Support from 2019-09-02T09:00
In this episode, my friend Crystal discusses her two birth experiences and how she felt supported through positive language.
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Complexities: Communication During Childbirth from 2019-08-26T09:00
?In this episode, Sara considers some complexities of communication. When we speak, we're not only producing phrases or sentences. Our speech also communicates our underlying beliefs and assumpt...
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Miscarriage: An Autoethnographic Perspective from 2019-08-19T09:00
In this episode, I unpack a personal experience with miscarriage to shed light on some factors that make miscarriage a difficult experience. I use an autoethnographic lens--Dell Hymes' SPEAKING ...
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Infertility: A Matter of Identity from 2019-08-12T09:00
This episode explores an important and sensitive topic. I unpack my own experiences with infertility in light of related linguistic and psychological work.
REFERENCES:
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Transformational: A Birth Story from 2019-08-05T09:00
In this episode, my friend Joanie tells the story of her first birth. Joanie says that if she had to describe her birth experience in just one word, she'd call it ?transformational.
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Genesis: An Unmedicated VBAC Story from 2019-07-29T09:00
In Episode 5, I tell the story of my life-changing VBAC and how I prepared for it by immersing myself in positive narratives and language practices.
URLS mentioned in...
Discourse: Ways of Speaking and Ways of Being in Birth from 2019-07-22T09:00
In episode 4, Sara explains the linguistic concept of discourse (and Discourse) and what that looks like in a birth setting. Listen to this episode to learn more!
URLS mentioned in ...
Linguistics: An Overview from 2019-07-08T06:00
In this episode, Sara gives an overview of the different branches of linguistics and coins the term "perinatal linguistics" to describe the work at the intersection of birth work and applied lin...
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Emergence: The Birth of a Podcast from 2019-06-30T04:43:37
In this episode, Sara tells the backstory about how the Birth Words podcast came to be.
URLS mentioned during this episode: www.summitbirthutah.com/birthwords
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Emergence: The Birth of a Podcast from 2019-06-30T04:43:37
In this episode, Sara tells the backstory about how the Birth Words podcast came to be.
URLS mentioned during this episode: www.summitbirthutah.com/birthwords
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