39. Birth as a rite of passage // KRISTINA TURNER

39. Birth as a rite of passage // KRISTINA TURNER

From Forest of Thought by Ingrid M. Rieser

March 24, 2026 · 1h 24m

About this episode

In this episode, Ingrid M. Rieser and Kristina Turner discuss the complexities of birth as a rite of passage and the evolving culture surrounding it.

Birth can be difficult to talk about, because it's so complex and paradoxical. It can be beautiful and traumatic, often at the same time; it’s intensely personal and highly political; it’s something extraordinary that is also entirely ordinary. You give birth to a baby and you also birth yourself as a mother. Another paradox is how birth has become much safer because of the advancements of modern medicine, and yet that very medicalisation has created new risks. Women who give birth in hospitals are more likely to have complications; the amount of women who have births without any interventions is rapidly declining. Is it possible to build a culture of birth that takes the best parts of modern medicine and combines them with a deep respect for the wisdom of women’s bodies? Instead of seeing birth as a medical event, how do we honor it as a rite of passage? In this episode, Ingrid shares some of her personal journey of pregnancy and birth, in conversation with author and birth activist Kristina Turner. They discuss how the view of birth has changed in the past centuries, and what ingredients are needed for a healthier birth culture to take root. Kristina Turner is a writer, birth…

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