MOTHER Lab Podcast

MOTHER Lab Podcast

by MOTHER Lab
Education
Season 3
Social Personhood & Pregnancy Loss: Where Anthropology Meets Maternal Health
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Leigh Stuckey, who is an anthropologist, migration researcher, doula, and educator at the University of Michigan. Her work sits at the intersection of culture and medicine, approaching reproductive justice through an anthropological framework. We sat down with Dr. Stuckey to discuss pregnancy loss, social personhood, and the cultural worlds that shape reproductive experiences. Contact Dr. Leigh Stuckey to learn more about her ongoing project on pregnancy loss and the language used to describe it, or to connect for a conversation. Email Dr. Stuckey: ltwstu@umich.edu Visit www.motherlab.org for more on our work. Register for the 9th Annual BMHC: bmhc.vfairs.com DM us on Instagram @mother_lab with your podcast topic ideas!
S3 · E3
Feb 19, 2026
34:31
Reproductive Justice and Black Maternal Health
In this episode, we are joined by Christian Nunes, who is a leading women's advocate and President of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Christian is also the Founder and CEO of Equity Bound Solutions LLC, a consulting firm that focuses on creating equitable solutions for various organizations. We sat down with Christian to discuss her grassroots activism and experience advocating for mental health and women's and children's issues. Christian not only shares her leadership in NOW, but also her own personal encounters with the maternal health landscape in our present day. She elaborates on intersecting issues involving racial equity, immigration, and economic inequality. Visit www.motherlab.org for more on our work. DM us on Instagram @mother_lab with your podcast topic ideas!
S3 · E2
Nov 18, 2025
24:08
Portraits of Resilience: Art and the Black Maternal Experience
In this episode, join us as we kick off Season 3 of the MOTHER Lab Podcast with a powerful conversation featuring Ashley January, a contemporary painter whose work is deeply rooted in Black maternal health advocacy. We sat down with Ashley to explore how her personal experience with pregnancy complications and her son’s premature birth shaped her artistic vision. Ashley shares how she uses color, texture, and composition to tell the stories of Black mothers, birthing people, and families who have experienced birth trauma. We discuss the emotional balance between vulnerability and empowerment in her work, the impact of her piece She was given agency in the process and survived, and how she envisions her art evolving as a tool for advocacy and change. Plus, don’t miss the details on the 8th Annual Black Maternal Health Conference, happening April 4-5, where this year’s theme centers on the role of fathers in addressing maternal health disparities. Register now: www.bmhc.vfairs.com Visit www.motherlab.org for more on our work. DM us on Instagram @mother_lab with your podcast topic ideas!
S3 · E1
Mar 3, 2025
35:09
Season 2
From Loss to Leadership: Advocacy in Black Maternal Health with Candice Marshall and Tiffany Vassell
In this episode, we talk with maternal health advocates Candice Marshall and Tiffany Vassell about their experiences and insights into Black maternal health. We explore Candice’s journey through personal loss and her advocacy work to support mothers facing racial disparities, as well as Tiffany’s transition from labor and delivery nurse to a dedicated advocate for midwifery care and reproductive justice. Join us as we discuss the power of personal stories, recent policy wins in maternal health, and the importance of culturally sensitive care for women of color. Tiffany Vassell's Book, "Preparation for a Hospital Birth", can be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Preparation-Hospital-Birth-Tiffany-Vassell/dp/B0BHTKCJRC Find Propa City at: https://www.propacityco.org/ Register for the 8th Annual Black Maternal Health Conference at: www.bmhc.vfairs.com Find the MOTHER Lab at: https://motherlab.org/
S2 · E8
Jan 18, 2025
41:30
Unpacking Reproductive Justice: History, Autonomy, and the Fight for Equity
In this first part of our reproductive justice series, we talk with our hosts Lena, Kimberly, and Hilary about the foundations and significance of reproductive justice in today’s society. We explore the definition of reproductive justice, its historical roots, and the movement's evolution led by women of color. Delving into the history of bodily autonomy in the United States, we discuss key legal milestones like Roe v. Wade and its recent overturning, examining how these events have shaped the fight for reproductive rights. Find us at the MOTHER Lab: https://motherlab.org/
S2 · E7
Dec 16, 2024
25:46
Data, Disparities, and Maternal Health: Tackling Environmental Justice with Dr. Amy Yeboah Quarkume
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Amy Yeboah Quarkume, Associate Professor of Afro-American Studies at Howard University, about the intersection of environmental justice and Black maternal health. We explore Dr. A’s groundbreaking "What's Up with All the Bias" project, which examines how environmental pollutants disproportionately affect Black maternal health. Dr. A shares insights on the most impactful pollutants, the challenges in data collection, and the role of data science in driving change. We also discuss her work with the CORE Futures Lab and the importance of engaging emerging scholars in addressing these critical health disparities. Visit us at the MOTHER Lab here: https://motherlab.org/
S2 · E6
Nov 18, 2024
24:53
Inside Birth Centers ft Nashira Baril, Katherine Rushfirth, and Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha
In this episode, we talk with Nashira Baril and Katherine Rushfirth from the Neighborhood Birth Center in Boston, along with our very own Dr. AO. We explore the journey of launching a birth center, the essential role these community spaces play, and the impact of investing in midwifery care. Tune in for an insightful discussion on how to enhance birth experiences and the benefits of supporting midwifery! Being Known: https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13240 Learn more about the Neighborhood Birth Center here: https://neighborhoodbirthcenter.org/ Visit us at the MOTHER Lab here: https://motherlab.org/
S2 · E5
Aug 8, 2024
32:44
Maternity Care Deserts with Chloe Schwartz
Join us for a conversation with the Massachusetts Director of Maternal and Infant Health Initiatives for March of Dimes, Chloe Schwartz. In this episode, we discuss pursuing a career in Maternal Health, the work of the not-for-profit organization March of Dimes, and a report released by March of Dimes that discusses the prevalence of maternity care deserts. To learn more about March of Dimes, please visit their website at: https://www.marchofdimes.org/ To sign up for action alerts from March of Dimes, you can do so at: https://www.marchofdimes.org/get-involved/advocate
S2 · E4
Jan 15, 2024
25:24
Mental Health Matters: A deep dive into Reproductive Psychiatry
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Bamgbose and Eynav Accortt about the importance and misconceptions surrounding maternal mental health and their new study linked below! Seeking Black Pregnant Individuals! This is a flyer inviting you to participate in our study testing the effectiveness of a new mobile Health application to manage stress in pregnancy. This study is being run by researchers from Cedars-Sinai’s Reproductive Psychology Program and in close collaboration with our community partners, Candlelit Care and Maternal Mental Health Now. We are recruiting pregnant women (12-32 weeks gestation) who identify as Black, are at least aged 18 and live anywhere in the United States to participate in our research study. There are 2 virtual research visits and each requires an hour to complete surveys as well as 1-3 hours to interact with the application. After completion of each part of the study you will receive a $20 gift card, and can earn between $60-100 depending on your level of participation. You can access our survey via QR code of through this link: https://iredcap.csmc.edu/surveys/?s=WKKP99AHTHPEJ8RW Please visit this link for resources talked about during the podcast.
S2 · E3
Dec 1, 2023
30:19
Education for all: A conversation with Dashanna Hanlon
Join us for the second episode of our new season! In this episode we have a conversation with Dashanna Hanlon: creator of Not Ya Mama's Childbirth Education Course, who is committed to educating parents across the country. Caring for Mamas is Dashanna's way of starting the conversation about how families navigate pregnancy, parental transitions, and what postpartum care looks like beyond the first twelve weeks.
S2 · E2
Oct 20, 2023
22:16
1 of 2