In light of the backlash against Kate Hudson's comment (which I'm sure was entirely a joke but the reaction is definitely interesting) that the laziest thing she's ever done is to have a c section, I chat to the brilliant director of Birthrights, Rebecca Schiller. 

She has a MA in war studies. Yeah. Her passion for human rights and, after years of being a doula, she realised that there were some series issues around women, birth and human rights. After too many stories of women feeling a lack of power or respect she decided to do something about it. I highly recommend reading the articles on http://www.birthrights.org. uk.

We aslo move, somehow, onto the subject of women being pigeon holed. The working mum, the organic mum, the stay at home mum. And how we get pitted against eachother. And wouldn't it be fun if we could just be women, 360 degree women that change and are layered and are not defined by whether we have children or not, whether we bottle or breastfeed, or if we decide we want to give birth through the love tunnel or the sun roof. Perhaps we can be a chardonnay drinking, homework nailing, organic pie making, sex fiend woman and break all the stereotypes. And I realised I was an organic cucumber, cesarean sex fiend. And we might even do tshirts. We cannot be defined as simply as society would like. But we do deserve all the information and the respect that we can make strong decisions. 

She's also written an absolutely brilliant book called Why Human Rights in Childbirth Matter, that the Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives said 'should become essential reading for all maternity professionals'. 

I can't wait to read Rebecca's new book coming out in April. I promise to do another interview with her, partly so she'll bring me more duck eggs from her home, and also because I think she is so wonderfully balanced, informed, highly respectful and compassionate. 

In a sea of layered, complicated, important and sometimes angry debate around childbirth, she is a mast to hold onto.

EP. 18 - What the hell is a doula anyway, the cesarean debate, birth rights, sex fiends

We talk about how and why the Hotbed as born, why sex is hard in long term relationships/with kids, why confidence is such a big issue in having good sex, is it possible to have hot hot sex after the age of 30? And obvs we talk about masturbation and vibrators. 

The heart of it is, the question Hotbed is trying to answer is...can you have a good sex life in a long term relationship, with kids, busy jobs, arguments about where the socks are?

We will be doing lots of of these, possible as it's own Hotbed podcast, as this is a huge subject. We want to find some real answers people. 

WEBSITE: www.thehotbedcollective.com
INSTAGRAM: thehotbedcollective
LIVE EVENTS: the next one is on the 9th November...details on our insta

EP. 19 - Sex in a long term relationship: can it be hot? With The Hotbed Collective

In this episode I talk to Angelica Malin, founder of the online lifestyle magazine About Time. We talk about starting a business, the highs and lows of being your own boss, the modern work world, wearing spandex to work, being responsible online, being on shpilkies and vitamin drips!

EP. 20 - Starting a business, health and brain-time

Women who are changing the world - how they get sh*t done and why they do it. 

Production assistance by Shola Aleje and opening music by Gerald Healey

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