Beyond the PUSH

From contraception and abortion care to deciding if, when and how to become a parent, reproductive choice depends on access, information and autonomy.

This episode asks what it takes for people to make decisions about their own bodies and lives.

Guests:

Maura Daly — Midwife and Humanitarian Health Specialist

Ritah Niwamanya — Midwife and Treasurer, National Midwives Association of Uganda

Mia Kolak — Midwife, Public Health Researcher and Lecturer

Hosted by: Anna af Ugglas and Kimberly Durdin

Download related resources at: https://www.pushcampaign.org/beyond-the-push

What is obstetric violence, and why is it so often normalised or dismissed? Speakers unpack the many forms it can take, the systems that enable it and what safe, respectful care should look and feel like. Guests: Inderjeet Kaur — Midwife and Founder of Fernandez Foundation’s First Midwife-led Unit Aparajita Gogoi — Executive Director, Centre for Catalysing Change, and Women’s Health Advocate Carolina Combria — Co-founder of Associação SaMaNe and Maternal Health Equity Advocate Hosted by: Merette Khalil and Kimberly Durdin Download the related resources at: https://www.pushcampaign.org/beyond-the-push

Midwives are often misunderstood. This episode separates fact from fiction, explores the full scope of midwifery beyond birth and explains how midwives differ from nurses, doulas and doctors.

Guests:

Sheetal Samson — Midwife, Leader and Educator

Eunice Atsali — Midwife, Lecturer and Maternal Health Researcher

Melanie Jackson — Midwife, Researcher and Host of The Great Birth Rebellion Podcast

Hosted by:

Ana Gutiérrez and Kimberly Durdin

Download related resources at: ⁠https://www.pushcampaign.org/beyond-the-push

How much choice do women really have in pregnancy and birth? A conversation about informed consent, birth settings, interventions, shared decision-making and supporting people to make the choices that are right for them.

Guests:

Dianne Garland — Waterbirth Specialist and Midwifery Consultant

Priyanka Idicula — Midwife, Co-founder of Birthvillage and Birth Educator

Eugenia Montesinos — Director of Midwifery Services, Tisch Hospital, NYU Langone Health

Download related resources at: https://www.pushcampaign.org/beyond-the-push

What does good healthcare actually look and feel like? Midwives, advocates and women explore respectful, person-centred care and how listeners can recognise, expect and ask for the care they deserve.

Guest:

Sheena Byrom — Midwife, Author and Director of All4Maternity

Martha Abornyementy — Midwife and Founder of the For Mom and Baby Foundation

Margreet Barnadt — Midwife, Founder of Healthy Mom and Baby Clinic, and Antenatal Educator

Download related resources at: https://www.pushcampaign.org/beyond-the-push

What does it take to get the care we deserve?

Through candid conversations with midwives, advocates and women, we explore birth choices, reproductive rights, breastfeeding, obstetric violence and the inequalities that shape care. No conversation is too uncomfortable, and nothing is off limits.

The first two episodes launch on 8 October 2026, with a new episode every Thursday. Follow Beyond the PUSH wherever you listen to podcasts.