Munch on some ice chips and PUSHHHHH (sorry) play on this week's episode, in which we dare to apply our culty analysis to the ever-polarizing "free birther" community. Free birthing is a controversial catch-all term in and of itself, generally describing a style of medically unassisted birth that has turned into not just a movement but possibly a cult—why? Because this is America, and if something has the potential to turn culty, then it probably will! Doula (and loyal listener of the pod) Hehe Stewart joins for a discussion of power dynamics, misinformation, and why so-called free birthers have been pitted against the traditional medical establishment in a way that puts everyoneeee in danger. Trying our best to bring both cheekiness and empathy to this very casual and low-stakes discussion (joke). Love you culties!!!

Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod @amanda_montell@reesaronii @chelseaxcharles

Watch the new season of Sounds Like A Cult on YouTube!

To subscribe to Amanda's new Magical Overthinkers podcast, click here :)

Further reading:
Listen to the Whispers before They Become Screams: Addressing Black Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in the United States
Racism During Pregnancy and Birthing: Experiences from Asian and Pacific Islander, Black, Latina, and Middle Eastern Women
When Giving Birth, Opting to Go It Alone
Insights into the U.S. Maternal Mortality Crisis: An International Comparison
Born Free: Unassisted Childbirth in North America
Just ‘birth’: the phenomenon of birth without a healthcare professional
She Wanted a ‘Freebirth’ at Home. When the Baby Died, the Attacks Began

Thank you to our sponsors! 
Head to Squarespace.com for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, go to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
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Munch on some ice chips and PUSHHHHH (sorry) play on this week's episode, in which we dare to apply our culty analysis to the ever-polarizing "free birther" community. Free birthing is a controversial catch-all term in and of itself, generally describing a style of medically unassisted birth that has turned into not just a movement but possibly a cult—why? Because this is America, and if something has the potential to turn culty, then it probably will! Doula (and loyal listener of the pod) Hehe Stewart joins for a discussion of power dynamics, misinformation, and why so-called free birthers have been pitted against the traditional medical establishment in a way that puts everyoneeee in danger. Trying our best to bring both cheekiness and empathy to this very casual and low-stakes discussion (joke). Love you culties!!!
Follow us on IG<a href="https://www.instagram.com/soundslikeacultpod/"> @soundslikeacultpod</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanda_montell/"> @amanda_montell</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reesaronii/">@reesaronii </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/chelseaxcharles">@chelseaxcharles</a>
Watch the new season of Sounds Like A Cult on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmandaMontellPodcasts">YouTube</a>!
<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Age-of-Magical-Overthinking/Amanda-Montell/9781668007976"></a>To subscribe to Amanda's new Magical Overthinkers podcast, <a href="https://bio.site/magicaloverthinkers">click here :)</a>
Further reading:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36767014/">Listen to the Whispers before They Become Screams: Addressing Black Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in the United States</a></li>
<li><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9713108/">Racism During Pregnancy and Birthing: Experiences from Asian and Pacific Islander, Black, Latina, and Middle Eastern Women</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/07/health/when-giving-birth-opting-to-go-it-alone.html">When Giving Birth, Opting to Go It Alone</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/jun/insights-us-maternal-mortality-crisis-international-comparison#:~:text=Research%20from%20other%20studies%20has,period%20(2020%E2%80%932022).">Insights into the U.S. Maternal Mortality Crisis: An International Comparison</a></li>
<li><a href="https://iro.uiowa.edu/esploro/outputs/doctoral/Born-free-unassisted-childbirth-In-North/9983777384702771">Born Free: Unassisted Childbirth in North America</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/freebirth-just-birth">Just ‘birth’: the phenomenon of birth without a healthcare professional</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/she-wanted-a-freebirth-at-home-when-the-baby-died-the-attacks-began/">She Wanted a ‘Freebirth’ at Home. When the Baby Died, the Attacks Began</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to our sponsors! 
<ul>
<li>Head to Squarespace.com for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, go to <a href="https://www.squarespace.com/?channel=Podcast&amp;subchannel=atc&amp;source=soundslikeacult">https://www.squarespace.com/CULT</a> to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.</li>
<li>Go to the App Store or Google Play store and download the FREE Ibotta app to start earning cash back and use code CULT. </li>
<li>Earn points by paying rent right now when you go to <a href="https://go.biltrewards.com/podcast-r/cult?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=podcast-rewards&amp;utm_campaign=cult&amp;APP_SOURCE=PARTNER_PAID_MARKETING&amp;lang=en&amp;locale=en_US&amp;sub_channel=PRT&amp;vendor_code=BL">joinbilt.com/CULT</a>.</li>
<li>Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at <a href="https://www.mintmobile.com/?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=audio&amp;utm_campaign=mint_podcast&amp;utm_content=cult&amp;dnfemfkahqkdlf=cult">mintmobile.com/</a><a href="https://www.mintmobile.com/?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=audio&amp;utm_campaign=mint_podcast&amp;utm_content=cult&amp;dnfemfkahqkdlf=cult">cult</a>.</li>
</ul>

A podcast about the modern-day “cults” we all follow. Each episode asks the culty questions we’re all wondering… Do you think SoulCycle is a cult? What about Elon Musk stans? Or the Royal Family? What about spiritual influencers? Is Instagram itself a cult? Sounds Like A Cult, hosted by Amanda Montell, author of Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, analyzes a different zeitgeisty group every week to try and answer the big question: This group sounds like a cult, but is it really? And if so, how bad is it? 

Follow Us:

Podcast Instagram - @soundslikeacultpod

Host Amanda Montell - @amanda_montell (Preorder her new book!)

A podcast about the modern-day “cults” we all follow. Each episode asks the culty questions we’re all wondering… Do you think SoulCycle is a cult? What about Elon Musk stans? Or the Royal Family? What about spiritual influencers? Is Instagram itself a cult? Sounds Like A Cult, hosted by Amanda Montell, author of Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, analyzes a different zeitgeisty group every week to try and answer the big question: This group sounds like a cult, but is it really? And if so, how bad is it? 
Follow Us:
Podcast Instagram - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/soundslikeacultpod">@soundslikeacultpod</a> 
Host Amanda Montell - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanda_montell">@amanda_montell</a> (<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Age-of-Magical-Overthinking/Amanda-Montell/9781668007976">Preorder her new book!</a>)

A show about the modern day "cults" we all follow.

Sounds Like A Cult

A podcast about the modern day "cults" we all follow. Do you think SoulCycle is a cult? What about Elon Musk stans? Or the Royal Family? What about spiritual influencers? Is Instagram itself a cult? We’re Sounds Like a Cult, a podcast that analyzes a different zeitgeisty group every week to try and answer the big question: This group sounds like a cult, but is it really? And if so... how bad is it?

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