Today on the She Births podcast, I’m joined by Jacqui Minell — She Births mum, Pilates, barre and yoga teacher, and mother to three boys: Will, Ed and Tom.

This is not just one birth story. It’s three.

And woven through them is fertility, loss, resilience, and the powerful realisation that birth can feel both familiar and completely different — even in the same body.

If you’re preparing for birth again — or even reflecting on a previous experience — this episode is essential listening.

We talk about fertility challenges and conceiving naturally after assisted cycles. We explore what changes when you truly prepare the body and the mind — and why no two labours are ever the same.

There’s also a very honest, practical birth conversation covering:
✨Castor oil smoothies
✨Crazy curries
✨Curb walking
✨A posterior baby

✨A frank breech baby

We discuss how Jacqui used chiropractic neuro-emotional techniques to help clear beliefs from the body — processing gender disappointment and even supporting her baby to turn.

We dive into what Jacqui calls “training James” — how she intentionally prepared her partner differently for each birth, and how that shifted everything.

Beyond birth, we explore postpartum recovery, newborn feeding challenges, including tongue and lip ties, and the deeper relationship and identity shifts that come with matrescence.

We believe this is the reason why women need spaces to be witnessed. Why community matters and how Soul Mama Circles can support integration in that tender season.

This is a conversation about preparing for all, but expecting the best, and about how birth becomes more powerful each time you meet it consciously.

Jacqui’s story is also a reminder that how you prepare your body matters.

We hope this episode inspires you to prepare deeply, trust your body, and surround yourself with the right support. If you loved this episode, please subscribe to the She Births podcast so you never miss a conversation that could support your birth journey.

Thanks for listening

Nadine xx

PS...

If you’re looking for beautiful, aligned support during pregnancy and postpartum, here are some of our trusted recommendations we talk about in this podcast:

✨ Body Love Pilates – gentle, intelligent movement to support strength, connection and recovery. Use our She Births® community discount SHEBIRTHSLOVES to receive one month FREE.

✨ Birth Sling – designed to support movement, positioning and comfort in labour.
Use our She Births® community discount SHEBIRTHSLOVES for a $10 discount.

✨ Made for Mothers – thoughtfully designed postpartum essentials to nurture recovery and confidence. Use our She Births® community discount SHEBIRTHSLOVES for a 10% discount on Postpartum Packages.

✨ Obstetrician - Dr Bobby Teoh

✨ Chiropractic Neuro Emotional Technique – Pollie Wilkie, Bondi Junction

✨ You Tube - Jacqui's online birth prep class

Prepare for birth fearlessly with our in-person and online courses.

In this final episode of the She Births® Podcast for 2025, we close the year with a deeply meaningful and expansive conversation.

I sit down with She Births® dad, Aaron Tait—educator, humanitarian, former Navy serviceman, and author of the powerful new book Far Horizons. Together, we explore the rich tapestry of Aaron’s life and his remarkable journey through fatherhood, identity, birth, and masculine transformation.

At just 17, Aaron was deployed to Iraq—one of the youngest Australian men sent after September 11. Years later, he purchased a one-way ticket to Africa with his partner, Kaitlin, dedicating his life to humanitarian work. Through all of this, birth became one of his greatest initiations.

In this conversation, we dive into:
✨ His two epic birth experiences and how they reshaped his understanding of love, responsibility, and partnership
✨ Masculinity today — what’s working, what’s hurting men, and what desperately needs to evolve
✨ The three phases of masculine growth: Knight, Prince, King
✨ Why birth profoundly impacts men (even though we rarely talk about it)
✨ How men can move through rites of passage with integrity, courage, and heart

Aaron’s story is one of depth, service, humility and awakening.
And his book Far Horizons is a game-changer — I highly recommend gifting it to the men and boys in your life this Christmas. (Especially since only 10% of men read! Let’s help change that.)

A beautiful, important conversation to wrap up the year.
Tune in, share it with your community, and let’s continue building a culture where all parents are supported, seen, and transformed through birth.

Love Nadine xx

Takeaways

80% of readers of my book are women.

Birth is a rite of passage for both parents.

The presence of a doula can be invaluable during labor.

Ayahuasca can lead to profound personal transformation.

Men often struggle with proving their worth through actions.

The military experience can shape a man's identity.

Forgiveness can come from unexpected places.

Parenting requires continuous learning and adaptation.

Books can foster empathy and understanding in men.

Traveling can be a powerful way to reset one's life.

Titles

Exploring Fatherhood Through Birth

The Journey of Transformation

Sound bites

"I was blown away by Kaitlin during birth."

"I want people to see a far horizon and go for it."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Book Overview

01:59 Birth Experiences and the Role of Doulas

11:34 Fatherhood as an Initiation

16:51 Transformation Through Ayahuasca

18:14 Exploring the Themes of 'Far Horizons'

21:18 Exploring Masculinity and Parenting Dynamics

29:31 The Journey of Healing and Forgiveness

36:36 Transformative Experiences in Africa

40:46 Inspiring Change and Future Aspirations

The Dance of Motherhood: Navigating Relationships with DaughtersSeason 11 Episode 2.

Welcome to a new episode of the She Births podcast. I am a huge fan of Dr Shefali, as you might be too. However, if you are new to parenting, you may not have read her amazing books yet.

Dr Shefali is a New York Times bestselling author and world-renowned clinical psychologist. She has appeared on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday, with Oprah calling her book, The Conscious Parent, one of the most important parenting books of our time.

Her approach is grounded in psychology but deeply informed by Eastern mindfulness. She writes and speaks about breaking generational cycles and inherited trauma, building emotional resilience in children and much more.

She will be in Australia in March 2026 for a live speaking tour in Melbourne and Sydney - speaking on conscious parenting, emotional trauma, self-awareness and mental health in the modern age. Details are in the show notes. Come and say hi to me too at her talk in Sydney. Go to drshefali.com or @doctorshefali on Instagram.

I especially love how Shefali explains that conscious parenting is always happening - whether you are a parent or not. I love her invitation to see parenting as a mirror - and an opportunity to awaken. She makes conscious parenting so simple and grounded, but also enlightening.

In our conversation, we answer questions from our She Births families - discussing the significance of the mother-daughter dynamic. How teenage children push our boundaries as part of their individuation. And she describes the Parenting Map and different archetypes we fall into.

We delve into practical strategies for building self-worth in our children, managing anxiety in a chaotic world, and daily practices that can help us slow down and connect.

Ultimately, we highlight the spiritual awakening that comes through parenting, encouraging us to embrace imperfections and cultivate compassion for ourselves and our children.

Thank you for being here and for tuning in to She Births®. I hope this latest episode nourishes and empowers you in some way. If it does, please consider subscribing or leaving a heartfelt review — your support helps more families find their way to a beautiful birth.

Nadine xx

Links

Dr Shefali website https://www.drshefali.com/

She Births website https://shebirths.com/