New Friends and Free Births

In this lively and intimate episode, Bethany Mandel and Kara Kennedy are joined by Arden Jamison, a woman she recently bonded with on a homeschooling apple-picking trip — the kind of instant connection that happens when you realize someone else also wrangles a throng of kids.The trio dives deep into faith, motherhood, and autonomy, exploring how religion shapes their choices around family and education. The conversation turns candid as they share personal experiences with home birthing, comparing the spiritual, practical, and political dimensions of bringing life into the world outside of institutions. Kara also gives a preview of her latest investigation into freebirthing groups, revealing a subculture that’s both radical and tenderly devoted to maternal sovereignty.