Every season is written and produced in a way that tells the truth from the survivors’ perspective, in a respectful, honest, and ethical way.

Yet they start the episode and season saying “pregnant persons”. I’m not MAGA, or conservative, I just can’t take anything regarding the maternal healthcare crisis but not acknowledging *women* as serious journalism. We’ve been erased enough, study and put voices to our stories & for the .001% of those who find themselves pregnant and don’t identify as women who happen to see this, you are welcome & wanted & validated without removing the identity of women.

As an OBGYN who frequently accepts birth center/homebirth transfers, I was really excited to listen to S23 of this podcast. However, the stories presented are one-sided by necessity: although the host begins each episode by noting that she had reached out to the midwives for comment and that they have failed to respond, she neglects to mention that they are bound by HIPAA to maintain patient confidentiality. Therefore, what we are left with is a series of stories told by patients with varying degrees of health literacy, with absolutely no view from the other side. The episode “Terror” really sent this season over the edge. This narrator - who, mind you, transferred to a birthing center specifically for the *all natural* approach - is all too quick to conflate things that are standard birth center practices with being “gaslit” or as part of some huge conspiracy. She seems outraged that her labor was painful and that nothing was done to help move it forward, when she specifically chose to deliver in a setting without epidurals and without the ability to augment labor! She also seems very quick to suggest that the midwives were falsifying her medical records after the fact - “they said that I declined a cervical check, which I did, but only because I thought it was the best thing to do” (!!!) She then goes on to do the exact same thing with the OBGYN who ultimately delivers her - acting like the fact that she had swelling and a second degree tear was because of some kind of negligence or greater conspiracy. This woman sounds like a nightmare patient and it’s frankly irresponsible to call her a “survivor” and present her insane ramblings alongside the story of the woman who actually lost her baby.

… with a survivor of the Jonestown Massacre. I started listening to the Dallas Origins midwifery episode, as someone who did IVF in DFW and gave birth in Plano, TX. I’ve started the show over from S1 and I’m now on S5. After S4, I had to leave a review. This creator, Tiffany, is so special. I don’t have enough experience or words to explain, so I won’t try. I plan to finish binging the show and add this on Patreon! Keep up the great work, please. 🫶

I have been listening to this podcast from the beginning but season 23 has been so important to me as an OB practicing in a more rural part of Texas. It’s so hard for people to come forward after a bad outcome with a midwife because that means their own decision played a part in the outcome. The guilt involved with that has benefited midwives in hiding bad outcomes. I’m so grateful for the survivors willing to come forward this season. You will make a difference in maternal care in Texas!

This used to be one of my favorite podcast. This last season is soo bad. Back to the catfishing stories please

I love that this podcast highlights so many people who are taking advantage of by companies and people. However, the most recent season finale supports the abuser. Unborn people who are intentionally killed daily. Long time listener here and I’m disappointed at the logical consistency.

Used to be such a good podcast and one of my favorites 😞 just garbage now. Typical podcast journey… find one you love, get obsessed, they slowly go down hill and get all freaking political and have their own agendas instead of focusing on the people and their stories. Always the same but I had high hopes on this one 😞

I keep waiting for these moms in the birthing center season to take any accountability for choosing to deliver in a center, based on Google reviews and Instagram pictures, because they wanted a beautiful magical birth with pictures and cute memories, instead of a hospital where physicians can intervene and the bright lights and monitors don’t look great on your insta-story. The moms who have had bad outcomes at these centers all say the same tired things - I wonder why the midwives didn’t know something was wrong. Well … if you want an unmonitored birth, because laboring in a bathtub with flower petals appeals more to you than having machines beeping, then no one will know when the baby’s heart rate goes down. And when your birth stalls, you choice bouncing around on a peanut and getting a chiropractor to come to your super cute decorated birthing room instead of getting pitocin. But they all “did their research”. By going on ticktock. Please let this be a lesson to anyone who is considering “a different approach to birthing” - if you’re going to abandon your lovely birthing plan to ambulance your way to real hospital and real doctors when things get emergent, do yourself and your baby a favor and just deliver in the hospital in the first place. Might not look as cute on Instagram and sound as magical in your Facebook mom group, but ultimately everything these women went through would have been caught much sooner if they hadn’t prioritized all those dumb things instead of the safety of them and the baby.

My maiden journey was season 20’s deeply disturbing catfish story. The podcast would’ve been much more compelling with additional editing. If it was tighter and less repetitive I would give it 5 stars. * after listening to most of the other seasons I need to revise my review down to 3 stars. In particular season 23 has strayed too far from what is like-able about the stronger, guilty pleasure, gossipy - take down an alleged relationship victimizer - seasons. Leaping into unethical birthing procedures is not the host’s strong suit.

I really enjoy all the seasons of this show but am very impressed and thankful for the most recent season reporting on birthing centers and the state of our countries health care system. We are in a crisis and Tiffany does an incredible job at detailing the seriousness women find themselves in this country.

Love this podcast. Tiffany’s voice is so easy to listen to and give kudos to her thoughtful content and approach with survivors

This newest season was just not good. I’ve loved this podcast since its inception, (except for one season, now two). The topic of this season is very interesting to me, because I’ve had a son in a hospital just like this. Given the treatment was far better than the place this season talks about. But almost every episode was just the same story, came off as super repetitive and eventually it just became more and more boring. I couldn’t even listen to the last quarter of the episodes. I would try and I’d just turn it off.

The Community Catch Up is great. The hotel story was scary and I wish you had named the hotel you were staying in. From the treatment at the front desk onward there were definite reasons to call them out

Couldn’t take hearing someone say midWIFF-ery one more time.

I listen to so many podcasts. This one is my favorite by far. Tiffany does an incredible job of making sure this podcast is about the survivors and their stories from their perspective. I can relate to so much and you feel like you really get to know the folks each season. I binged all 20+ seasons within a few months and now I’m left wanting more.

MAMA threatens my reproductive rights! Hear me out- the “conversation” surrounding birth is very one-sided. Let’s hear more input from out of hospital birth workers! Also, why are we framing midwives as medical professionals? They are not… no wonder care looks different from OB’s! Protect the traditions of midwives, don’t destroy it. These horrific stories are localized from ONE birth center- please do not bash/fear-monger/complain about the whole practice. Next thing you know, you’ll be taking away our right to birth out of the hospital- aka cheaper, more comfortable, and safe for a HEALTHY mom, pregnancy, and baby.

I just finished 4 episodes of 10. It seems to be the same thing over and over again. The first 4 episodes could have been done in 1 episode.

Extremely thorough and well researched and presented podcast. But I really don’t get this idea of “pressure” put on birth. I felt completely free to deliver our babies however my husband and I wanted. I honestly think some of this pressure is self induced if not all. The birth industry is definitely jacked up and I appreciate the light being shone on it but it really is just the first blip of the infinite experience of parenting.

I really love this podcast. I truly do believe that sharing personal experiences helps us all learn to trust our gut and saves lives. Thank you for your work! One minor detail I noticed in the season 11 episode with Nina from Feb 3, 2021, was at the end the statistics were great. However, a huge community that faces DV on the daily was completely forgotten about and that’s the Latino community. Hopefully if there’s another DV episode with facts being shared, they can be included as another marginalized group that faces DV on the regular at unprecedented rates. For season 23 I think it’s a very controversial topic. As a mother of two who had a traumatic non emergent cesarean followed up by a successful HBAC (home birth after cesarean) it bothered me quite a bit that Kristen kept calling cesarean moms high risk. There’s a lot of evidence out there that explains that just because you had a cesarean, that does not make you high risk. The risk for uterine rupture is .01% for cesarean moms and there is a risk to have repeat cesareans as well. Anyways I write this review for other women such as myself so that they don’t feel that just because they had a cesarean they are high risk. Do your research and find an informed, supportive provider. Thank you something was wrong community for all you do!

This podcaster is sensationalizing these experiences. If she looked into the full educational experience, there is MUCH more education than has been let on. There is a NATIONAL EXAM, as well as a state exam and STRICT state over site. It is unfortunate all sides of the story were not presented.

As a HELLP syndrome survivor, this episode hit hard. I had HELLP with my first son, who is now 25, and it was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. I was hospitalized for a full week before his birth and another week after. He was born at 34 weeks, blue and not breathing — I couldn’t even hold him for the first three days. I was so ill, I don’t remember the first two days after delivery. It was life-threatening and taken extremely seriously by my medical team. Hearing how lightly Origins took her condition in this episode left me both heartbroken and furious. HELLP is not something to minimize — it’s dangerous, real, and can change or end lives. I’m so grateful this podcast gave voice to her story, and I hope it also raises more awareness of how serious maternal health complications can be — and how much better care needs to be. I believe in all types of birth and was able to give birth to my second child with the help of a midwife and no complications. As with everything in life, awareness is key.

Talks way too much at the beginning of episodes and honestly feels like they take up most of the episode with just them talking. Give the interviewees more time to speak jeez.

I enjoy this podcast and feel it is well scripted, and the interviews are well edited so listening is smooth. The topics are interesting.

Tiffany’s continued repetition comes off as annoying and lacking empathy, seems fake. Season One was the only season worth listening to.

This is terrible. Cancel this show. It’s Nothing like it used to be. Disgusting.

I used to love this podcast. Season 16 killed it for me. She could have shared her story in an episode or 2. I too am sick of the poor me attitude and overanalysis of situations in which she is always a victim . Maybe the world just doesn’t revolve around you? To add this show gets worse every season . What a waste of a good idea for her to go off on her agenda. I wish I could give zero stars and warn people to stop after season 5.

The early seasons of this show were great. Unfortunately, the term “survivor” started to be used for every woman in the world that had a bad dating experience. Dating someone that is not as into you as you are to them, is not abuse…it is a fact of young adulthood. Let’s relax and get back to calling out the true abusers.

It’s pregnant WOMEN, not pregnant person. Woke is dead, babe. You’re just submitting to the ‘patriarchy’ once again. Stop erasing women!!!!

This podcast is awful !!!!! Season 1 started playing after another podcast finished. I feel like someone should compensate me for the time I wasted. The family in season 1 is insufferable, Sara is sooo extra , her sister is a clown !!! I couldn’t make it to the end , so I don’t know what the BF did , besides kick her dog (which is bad ) and ruin the fathers ribs (ridiculous) I’m a Northeast Catholic so I get religion but there’s no way anyone should listen to this , except for penance !!!

Wish there was real effort to tell a coherent story, they can certainly afford it.

FINALLY “midwives” Kaitlyn Wages and Gina Thompson are being exposed as the liars and con artists they have ALWAYS BEEN. BUT the host lost me at “pregnant person”, we will not be erasing women like this. DISGUSTING.

I want to say I can’t believe the negative reviews I’ve just read but then again, it’s a hateful time we live in so maybe I shouldn’t be so shocked. This podcast is wonderful and I’m thankful for a host like Tiffany, who has created a safe place for survivors to share their trauma with the world. Don’t listen to the negativity when considering a podcast. The research put into these episodes is impressive and I’ll forever be a supporter ❤️

I hope everyone mad about the term “pregnant person” has the day they deserve

So I’ve had mixed feelings about this show in the past. In some of the past seasons I have had trouble empathizing or sympathizing with people who seem to make bad choices and surround themselves with bad people. Don’t get me wrong NO ONE deserves to be treated badly or abused no matter their life choices, but it was harder especially when it came to bad friendships, like girl trust your gut you don’t have to be her friend. BUT I have so appreciated the spotlight on DV and birth trauma. Both of these topics need to have light and we need to hear these stories to change things. Thank you to all who have shared their stories. Overall this show has more good than bad. I would recommend.

I have such a love hate relationship with this podcast /: I love the mental health awareness & the stories that are shared. However, it seems like every week I come to the podcast to see the new weeks episodes & every single time at least for the last 3 weeks it’s been a Wondery+ only episode, it’s very annoying and seems like it’s used just to make more money. I stopped listening to the podcast for 3 months because of this very reason and when I came back to it I had 10 or so episodes to catch up on which was awesome, but now it seems like I have to take a break again for 3 months. Update: 1 year later & the problem hasn’t changed. Disappointing

Love love love this show! Every season is great, and Season 23 is no exception. The survivors are so strong, and I appreciate their ability to share uncomfortable truths to offer other people community. As a birth trauma mama, I thank you!

I really like this podcast so far but I don’t like how it’s edited so much. There’s no natural pauses 😩 I wish it wasn’t edited so much and we could kist hear the interview unfold naturally.

Thank you for covering this difficult subject. As someone who had a traumatic birth, hearing the stories of other women really resonated. Women risk their lives through pregnancy and child birth. Each woman’s pregnancy is a unique medical case. I also found some people in the birthing/postpartum industry predatory to new moms. I appreciate raising awareness and hope it brings change

You lost me in season 23… episode 1 when you said “pregnant persons” rather than “pregnant women”… I was about to be new to this podcast as it came highly recommended by a friend… I won’t subscribe to this narrative.

Dear Tiffany & the SWW Team, I’ve learned so much by listening to your ernest, painful, healing, informative show. Understanding the way abusers operate and choose their prey was essential to my own emotional healing. But discovering the similarities between the women who have survived emotional abuse has been a game changer! Everyone is so intelligent and bright and kindhearted and also absolutely blindsided by the abuse. I can hear my own questions reflected back to me through the BRAVE women sharing their stories. Thank you for giving us a voice. Thank you for sharing your own story. Thank you for your actual empathy and true compassion for each person harmed. And thank you for being someone to finally hold abusers accountable. With Love & Gratitude, Kim Macy

Look, I get that Tiffany is chasing the bag and trying to push people toward Wondery for “ad-free listening,” but without the ads, these episodes would barely hit 20 minutes. Seriously. The intro alone runs 8–10 minutes, and the outro takes up another 5. That wouldn’t be such a big deal if there weren’t what feels like a hundred ads jammed in between. The editing could really use some work—sometimes you’re in the middle of a phone convo between two people, and boom, it randomly cuts to an ad mid-sentence. There’s no flow. It ends up being heavy on promotions and packed with filler that doesn’t add much. I was into Season 1, even with the editing issues and nonstop ads. But I just couldn’t get into Season 2. After reading the reviews, I’m relieved to see I’m not the only one feeling this way.

Marquita - I have never written a single podcast review. Your story broke my heart. I’m so sorry for your tragic loss and please know that you are saving so many lives by sharing your story. I will never forget you and your baby. I’m so so so sorry. When one mom cries, we all cry with her. ❤️

Each episode is molded around the host’s priorities, including an entire season all about her. This self prioritizing is most evident when every episode includes the storyteller praising the host. Imagine editing hours of words and choosing what to cut and what to leave in order to tell the story best…and not cutting the praise for yourself. It’s weird. The story doesn’t need praise on her. SHE needs praise on her. It’s weird it’s not enough to hear it and that she has to make it part of the story. Every. Single. Time. And she repeatedly calls herself an investigative journalist. She has no degree, no experience. It’s insulting. She’s a podcaster, period. She also has a manipulative way of twisting and misleading stories to paint every perp on one side of the political aisle and every victim on the other. This isn’t reality and therefore does harm to victims. The host has issues. Reddit has several subs on her self absorbed focus, victim exploitation, and inability to accept criticism. She doxes people and blasts them on her stories for even the smallest criticism.

I used to love this show for the interesting stories and drama- but Tiffany has increasingly gotten herself so in the weeks with excessive unnecessary detail, it’s unbearable to listen to. She researches with hard work and passion, but I just can’t stick around and waste more time on this podcast.

I wanted to love this so bad but the audio is just terrible. The way they pieced clips together and told the story just didn’t flow smoothly for me. The audio in earphones and my car speaker was such poor quality. The story itself is also poorly told by the people lol. They don’t tell it detailed enough and the narrator doesn’t ask follow up questions enough. I’m hoping the seasons since are done better.. it has potential for sure

Tiffany used to have a great way of telling stories, but lately, it seems like she’s been diving a bit too deep into some topics, making information episodes stretch to 45 minutes episodes its unnecessary. Sometimes, she also tends to have victims who tell their story that are so similar it like they are repeating the exact same stories, which can make thinks that you accidentally played the same episode. Please go back to the old Way of telling people stories.

This is great to hear before/after giving birth, bc navigating how to advocate for your life and your baby’s life. My heart is broken hearing the midwife that gave birth, I think season 23. I will not forget your story and your kind heart. Your experience tears me up. You are an amazing and strong person. Shame on Origins.

Who do you think you’re helping?

PS: Sacramento/Roseville for a show PLEASEEEE! Wish I would have found this podcast a couple of years ago! On season 5 and wow definitely know which church cult you’re talking about in Roseville. Love this podcast!!