Best Laurel Gourrier Podcasts (2024)

1
175 | Learning Lessons Through Trauma - Javana Baptiste 1:19:52

6M ago1:19:52

1:19:52

Javana’s birth experience taught her some important lessons about self-advocacy and the current structure of maternal health in the United States. The gaps in education about options and the variance in how providers operate through the perinatal process led her down a road of challenges and fear. Over thirty hours of labor started with mild, irreg…

1
174 | Trusting Our Power - Raquel & Chris Williams 1:25:33

7M ago1:25:33

1:25:33

The year 2020 will forever be etched in the minds of those who lived to tell the tale. Oh, the stories we will tell. The smoke and mirrors were dispersed and the United States revealed its true self. We bore witness to Riot, after Riot, after Riot. The revolution appeared to be televised after all. But deep in our communities the true revolution wa…

1
Courtney Williams - The Journey Pregnancy App 45:19

8M ago45:19

45:19

Our guest, CEO of Emagine Solutions Technology Courtney Williams, is the creator of The Journey Pregnancy App. The app enables patients to vital signs during pregnancy and then transmits this information in real-time and creates a record. Beyond that it issues a call to action for users to contact their providers when they enter vitals that are out…

1
172 | Trusting Intuition, Rooted in Autonomy - Emoni Cobb 40:26

10M ago40:26

40:26

Meeting Emoni and listening to her pregnancy and birth reminds one of the classic interview of a young Serena Williams when the interviewer asked her repeatedly why she thought she was going to win her match. Her father Richard Williams interrupted the interview and told the reporter to “leave that alone.” The “that” he referred to was Serena’s con…

1
Community Check-In | Hypermesis Gravidarum (HG) 20:27

11M ago20:27

20:27

By Laurel Gourrier

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171 | Along the Road to Healing - Stacee & Shawn Shannon 1:24:42

12M ago1:24:42

1:24:42

Stacee describes her current state of being as her motherhood era. She has birthed two of their children with her husband, and to look at them now you would have no clue what it took to get here. Conception did not come easy. Childbirth brought its challenges. Postpartum complications nearly ended it all. Stacee and Shawn’s family was forged in the…

1
170 | Building it Better - Esther McCant 1:06:07

1y ago1:06:07

1:06:07

Esther McCant, founder and CEO of Metro Mommy Agency, opened up about her five pregnancies, which included a miscarriage that would push her to self-advocate with her medical provider. Esther’s first pregnancy happened within the first few months of her marriage. Six weeks later, she learned that she had a blighted ovum and her provider prepared he…

1
169 | My Black Fatherhood - 2023 23:45

1+ y ago23:45

23:45

Storytelling is always where the truth lies. It's an authentic account of our experiences - without modification, questions, or uncertainty. Validation that our experience and voice matter. We know what the narrative has been created around black fathers, what they are or aren't doing. What fatherhood has or hasn't meant to them. In our community, …

1
168 | Survival is the Floor, Joy is the Ceiling - Raena Boston 1:20:13

1+ y ago1:20:13

1:20:13

Raena Boston, Founder of the Chamber of Mothers and The Momtras, joined us to share her three birth experiences and the makings of motherhood. Raena's first pregnancy lead her down a new path for her family by choosing a birth center instead of a hospital. Her provider was off-putting and the idea of shifting to different providers within the pract…

1
167 | Prepare and Then Let Go - Dasia Gant 1:17:58

1+ y ago1:17:58

1:17:58

A few years have passed since we last heard from Dasia. She shared her first birth story which included a home birth transfer to the hospital where she endured birth trauma. Since our last chat on the podcast, Dasia added birth doula to her growing list of titles and passions. This second pregnancy was unexpected but welcome. Her threshold of knowl…

1
166 | Bennies Babies - Trinity Stephens 39:09

1+ y ago39:09

39:09

Birth doula and student-midwife Trinity Stephens is serving the Southwestern Ohio birthing community at an early age. She's 17 years old but has been a birth worker for four years. She completed her initial training with her Aunt Rhonda and has continued to build her skills and garner further education through training and hands-on work with local …

1
165 | Shades of Blue - Kay Matthews 1:08:26

2y ago1:08:26

1:08:26

This is a story that includes loss - In memory of Troya Simone Kay’s expectation of pregnancy was to feel joy. Her life was falling into place the way she wanted it to regarding her personal and professional life. She inquired about the effects of her workload and the pregnancy. Her provider said as long as she felt good, she could continue working…

1
164 | A Sigh of Relief - Jenni & Bryson 56:52

2y ago56:52

56:52

Creatives Jenni & Bryson had built a life together, centering their work in music and writing before their baby girl joined the family. Their pregnancy journey started with extreme nausea for Jenni. She sought medical support for her discomfort and found relief in prescription nausea medication. Jenni was interested in midwifery care but was “riske…

1
163 | Strength in Vulnerability - Shay Australia 1:38:58

2y ago1:38:58

1:38:58

Black & Queer Mama, Shay Australia and her Filipino partner, Paul, took a deep dive into preconception into what pregnancy would look like for him and her clear expectations of his engagement. He was locked in and in agreement with how he wanted to show up. They both made changes during the pregnancy to improve their health, which included smoking …

1
162 | Built to Birth - Priya & Harsh Gandhi 1:21:38

2y ago1:21:38

1:21:38

With the culmination of a marriage biodata form, a year of cyberstalking, and the power of liquid courage Priya and Harsh finally connected. After a short courtship, they would marry during the Covid-19 pandemic. The couple found out they were expecting their first child while still managing the pandemic and the challenges it would bring to their p…

1
161 | NICU Grad to Advocate - Mya Morenzoni 59:17

2y ago59:17

59:17

After a high blood pressure read at 20 weeks gestation, Mya started care with Maternal Fetal Medicine out of an abundance of caution. Seven weeks later, she would report to the hospital with a headache, feeling sick, and an even higher blood pressure reading, ultimately diagnosed with preeclampsia. Mya, a registered nurse, immediately knew her birt…

1
HUES Women's Health Advocacy Institute-Dr. Nicole Carter 56:34

2y ago56:34

56:34

Dr. Nicole Carter founded HUES Women's Advocacy Institute to train Women of Color as health and wellness advocates to support other Women of Color in self-efficacy and advocacy. Her work stems from a personal experience managing three autoimmune disorders and connecting with her college students about their shared health concerns. She took on the r…

1
159 | Redemptive Reflection - Elizabeth Rocha 1:30:28

2y ago1:30:28

1:30:28

High school sweethearts Elizabeth and Jose Luis started to build their family shortly after marriage. There was no family history of infertility, but after many conversations within their circle, they felt it was worth starting a family as soon as possible. After learning more about ovulation tracking, they were expecting their first child without …

1
158 | A Journey of Intentionality - Janelle & Mivon Green 1:53:35

2y ago1:53:35

1:53:35

*We recommend listening to this episode in two parts, there is so much to learn from Janelle & Mivon’s story, and we hope you take the time and space to connect to all the intricacies of it* Janelle & Mivon perfectly timed their conception to align with their wedding day. They were able to share their pregnancy with their wedding guests as a sweet …

1
157 | A Redemptive Birth - Celia Bouza & Whitley Mingo 1:09:35

2y ago1:09:35

1:09:35

Celia Kelly Bouza and her husband, Terrell, welcomed two children in the last three years while managing their busy careers at ESPN. Leading up to their son Axel’s pregnancy, they were met with a PCOS diagnosis for Celia and a miscarriage. The provider was supportive and helped them manage fertility support, and their journey was off to a great sta…

1
156 | Peace & Power - Deborah Woodson 1:26:03

2y ago1:26:03

1:26:03

Intentional family planning set up Deborah Woodson and her husband, Mike, for an empowering journey. She started eating healthier and working out before they started trying. YouTube offered helpful insight about ovulation, and they conceived soon afterward. Homebirth was top of mind, but they were in a relocation transition, so they started care wi…

1
155 | An Unexpected Arrival - Kelly Barnes 54:46

2y ago54:46

54:46

Yoga Instructor and traveling Occupational Therapist, Kelly Barnes shared her quicker than expected homebirth at 37 weeks. An experience she describes as "challenging, overwhelming, and rewarding all at the same time." Her expectations regarding when and how she would give birth were dismantled but the result was pure magic. Kelly maintained an act…

1
154 | The Other Side - Danielle Miller 32:04

2y ago32:04

32:04

In collaboration with Pacify Health, this month’s episodes will focus on the doulas. You’ll hear conversations with four Pacify Doulas, getting a chance to reflect on “ The Other Side” of birth. Today we meet Danielle Miller. Danielle Miller was an established lactation counselor when the call to birth doula work pulled her in as a change agent sup…

1
153 | The Other Side- Zoerina Ledwidge 21:15

2y ago21:15

21:15

In collaboration with Pacify Health, this month’s episodes will focus on the doulas. You’ll hear conversations with four Pacify Doulas, getting a chance to reflect on “ The Other Side” of birth. Today we meet Zoerina Ledwidge. A college assignment captured Zoerina’s attention; it was a report on the maternal mortality rates in the DC area. She took…

1
152 | The Other Side- Yasmin Baskin 45:01

2y ago45:01

45:01

Yasmin had a natural inclination to work with babies at an early age. She thought she would be a gynecologist or pediatrician; the pain of seeing sick children shifted her career plans. She became a teacher instead, and her love for being an educator was helpful when choosing birth work. After training in birth and postpartum work, she included lac…

1
151 | The Other Side - Lare Ngofa 43:26

2y ago43:26

43:26

In collaboration with Pacify Health, this month’s episodes will focus on the doulas. You’ll hear conversations with four Pacify Doulas, getting a chance to reflect on “ The Other Side” of birth. Today we meet Lare Ngofa. Free-Spirited, science-loving Lare is a birth and postpartum doula who entered the birth worker world when she caught her baby co…

1
Celebration of Life - Shawnise Chantell 45:34

2y ago45:34

45:34

This is a story about loss and rebirth; specifically what the Medical Industrial Complex deems a “near miss.” A maternal near miss occurs when someone nearly died but survived a complication that occurred during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy. Consider where your mind, body, and spirit are sitting during the ti…

1
149 | Love is in the Details ~ Oona-Ife & Anthony Olaiya Wright 1:25:59

2y ago1:25:59

1:25:59

Oona-Ife and Anthony were hosting friends at their home when they decided she should take a pregnancy test. She took the test because she had spent the night throwing up after a night of eating steak and butter pecan ice cream. They learned they were expecting a baby, and the news brought so much joy that they had to stifle their excitement from th…

1
148 | A Midwife’s Unplanned Homebirth - Gianna Fay 54:24

2+ y ago54:24

54:24

Gianna and Evan have welcomed three children into the world. The words joy, blessing, and purpose have marked each pregnancy and birth. They learned that they would be having a girl after the birth of two sons. Their daughter's birth would make her the first girl born on Evan's side of the family in over 100 years. After having two healthy and norm…

1
147 | On their Terms - MyLin & Lindsay Stokes Kennedy 39:12

2+ y ago39:12

39:12

MyLin and Lindsay started their lives together after marriage with the hopes of expansion. When they decided to have more children, they were not fully aware of the obstacles they would encounter. The sticker shock regarding Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) expense steered them towards traditional or old-school insemination with a known donor. Patie…

1
146 | Outward Growth from Within - Michah Thomas 43:04

2+ y ago43:04

43:04

Michah met pregnancy with sickness in the form of a heavy dose of Hyperemesis Gravidarum, also known as HG. It is a condition that presents in pregnancy as severe and persistent nausea and vomiting caused by hormone fluctuations. HG caused Michah to experience weight loss, food aversions, and anxiety about her baby's growth. She found comfort in th…

1
145 | Fear & Triumph - Ashlee Grant 59:09

2+ y ago59:09

59:09

Fear and triumph are two words that Ashlee Grant uses to describe her collective birthing experiences. She would navigate the uneasiness of a first pregnancy after miscarriage culminating in a surgical birth of her and her husband's choosing, solidifying their bond as partners. She found the still, small voice that strengthened their resolve. Ashle…

1
144 | Letting Go of Expectations - Danielle Henderson & Shandell Rosa 52:08

2+ y ago52:08

52:08

Visualization is a powerful tool, especially for preparing for labor; it can turn our hopes into expectations. Much was the case for Danielle Henderson as she and her husband, Jeff, began preparing for a home birth for their first child. She was healthy and did not feel that the hospital was the best setting for her birth. This idea was new for her…

1
143 | The Journey, the Pain , the Promise - Brittany Turner 1:15:25

2+ y ago1:15:25

1:15:25

Before meeting her partner Tony, Brittany Turner didn't think it would be possible for her to have children. After suffering three miscarriages, she had been on a journey to understand the cause of her losses. There is undergoing bloodwork, genetic testing, and numerous ultrasounds, with no definite answer. So when she and Tony decided they were re…

1
142 | Lessons Learned - Vienna Fernandez 1:30:01

2+ y ago1:30:01

1:30:01

For Vienna Fernandez, the births of her children have provided the most significant life lessons about who she was, who she is, and who she is still striving to be. As a birthing mother of three, each experience was different in its own right, pulling back new layers of learning each time. When pregnant with her first child, there was a sense of lo…

1
141 | Forged in the Storm - Letitia & Brandon Gordon 55:06

2+ y ago55:06

55:06

Letitia and Brandon Gordon discovered they were expecting their second child when she was in nursing school. She found herself in a season of busyness and wanted to complete as much schoolwork as possible while managing her own business and their family. Much to their surprise, Leticia started noticing signs of labor when she was 28 weeks gestation…

1
140 | Reclamation - Jennifer Walton 51:56

2+ y ago51:56

51:56

“It’s not the baby. It’s you.” These are the words that Jennifer Walton would hear from her medical provider as he determined with a quick cervical check that she would need to deliver her baby via surgical birth. He later told her that she would never be able to deliver vaginally because a baby couldn’t fit through her pelvis. Jennifer didn’t want…

1
139 | Birth Beyond the Status Quo - Ashlee Johnson 1:02:59

2+ y ago1:02:59

1:02:59

Ashlee Johnson's passion for birthwork grew from her first pregnancy and childbirth. She would bring forth life three times with a dedicated birth team. She welcomed being pregnant and can recall the first pregnancy as an enjoyable time despite hearing so many negative stories that people felt compelled to share with her. It would be a chance encou…

1
138 | A Journey of Unwavering Submission - Ashley & Adrian Cleckley 1:26:24

3y ago1:26:24

1:26:24

During a global pandemic, Ashley and Adrian would welcome their first child while living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The safety and travel restrictions limited their access to their family, causing Ashley to feel immediately dependent on her doctor. Despite being inclined to more natural resources for medical support, she felt that pregnancy…

1
137 | Birthing Joyfully Through the Unexpected - Beatriz Gutierrez 58:47

3y ago58:47

58:47

A seemingly normal pregnancy was quickly unraveled when Beatriz received the news that she had preeclampsia. She had been managing a plan to birth at home with a hospital-based midwife to support any medical challenges and a homebirth midwife to support the birthing space she wanted. A top of the list item was a midwife that spoke Spanish, as her h…

1
136 | Receiving Energy from Water - Adenike & Brandi 1:19:02

3y ago1:19:02

1:19:02

Adenike and Brandi have a strong connection with their ancestor's presence in their lives. So when they decided to expand their family, they weren't surprised when they showed up, guided, and protected them during the birth of their daughter. Their pregnancy journey involved five tries with Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). After two unsuccessful at…

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135 | The Impact of Village: Rebirth of the Mother - Dr. Vernette Kountz 1:10:57

3y ago1:10:57

1:10:57

Dr. Vernette Kountz holds many titles, but she sums it all up as just "Black girl magic trying to create a legacy." As the mother of seven children - three biological, two bonus girls from marriage, and having birthed as a surrogate to twin girls in 2018, she has a pretty dynamic outlook on motherhood. This has been impacted by her call to birthwor…

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134 | Making Peace with the Unknown - Ivory & Ernest Levert Jr. 1:15:36

3y ago1:15:36

1:15:36

Ivory and Ernest welcomed their baby girl to their family this year as they managed the uncertainties of life as the pandemic has waged on. They opened up with us to share their journey through childbirth and the lessons they learned from their individual and coupled experiences. A previous miscarriage had introduced a fear of pregnancy loss that l…

1
133 | Birthing in the Body - Gianna Fay 1:18:09

3y ago1:18:09

1:18:09

Gianna Fay, a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), tapped into herself as a resource as she ventured into her pregnancies. She also called upon people she had connected with along her journey as a birthworker. She started her first pregnancy living and working in Alaska. Gianna had access to the military base for care and where she worked. Allowing her t…

1
132 | Trusting the Surrender ~ Aureyl Pitts-Thomas 1:15:52

3y ago1:15:52

1:15:52

Aureyl describes that when she found out, she was pregnant, and when her body began confirming, it was two different time frames. Late in 2019, her husband got a stomach bug while traveling, which resolved itself within a day. Aureyl started feeling sick a few days later and thought she had caught the same bug her husband had. Yet even after return…

1
131 | Unplanned Homebirth - Erica Maddox 32:45

3y ago32:45

32:45

Joining us for her second birth story share, Erica Maddox came back with a whole new set of skills as an experienced birth worker, allowing her to show up for herself in a way that helped her create an experience that helped her heal. Erica was a teen mom when she experienced early delivery with her first child. Twelve years later, she would delive…

1
130 | Birth Rooted Overseas - Rokhaya Ndiaye 44:31

3y ago44:31

44:31

A journey of many places and re-focus on perspective about her work and life, Rokhaya decided to see how life would be in Jamaica. With the help of a friend who happened to be a travel agent, Rokhaya made arrangements for her first visit there, one of those being set up with a tour driver. This tour driver would end up being her husband, and come M…

1
129 | Victorious Together - Chelsea Butler 1:05:11

3y ago1:05:11

1:05:11

Chelsea always knew that her first child would be a son. However, she couldn't predict the circumstances of when she would become pregnant. A global pandemic would bring her aspirations of acting to a screeching halt as production stopped. She shifted gears as she needed to prepare for caring for herself and a new baby. Emotional issues developed a…

1
128 | Mother the Mother - Megana Dwarakanath 45:34

3y ago45:34

45:34

Megana knew that she wanted a family, and before meeting her husband, she had even considered taking on the role of parenting without a partner. But soon after moving to a new city, she met her husband; they fell in love and began discussing expanding their family. They both wanted to have two kids before Megana got a bit older and had planned to s…

1
127 | Friendship to Family - Giánni & Ron 40:18

3y ago40:18

40:18

Giánni and Ron expanded their family in 2019 and 2020, welcoming two beautiful daughters to fortify their new marriage. They were already parents building their blended family, but these pregnancies connected all of the dots and allowed them both to journey through the highs and lows of creating a new life together. They were both interested in hav…

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