Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 29 minutes ago
Listen to this episode here - freebirthsociety.com/podcasts/free-birth-society/episodes/2148620835
Today on the show I welcome one of my closest friends and favorite people, Julia. Julia lives here in community with us, and so I’m extra excited to have her on to share her story. Julia is a truly wild mother of 3, turns out - soon to be 4, a homesteader, a gorgeous and insanely talented homemaker, and really just the embodiment of strength, fortitude, and integrity. Can you tell I adore her? She has freebirthed twice, and the second time she *literally* labored right here on my land, the Matriarch Rising Festival grounds! How magical is that?
Julia began her mothering journey quite young, having found her sweetheart at age 17. When Julia found herself unexpectedly pregnant she was already living outside mainstream culture and knew she didn’t want to birth in the hospital. Sadly though, the medical midwife she hired found ways to create drama throughout her pregnancy and birth.
A huge awakening, followed by a move from L.A. to North Carolina to figure out this homestead life, brought Julia’s and my family together in organic friendship. It’s all very cute, she invited me to be her birth attendant, our husbands met and fell in love, and the rest is herstory. Though she and her family have certainly faced challenges living this rural farm lifestyle, Julia consistently devotes herself to her family, community, and the fullness of her family’s vision.
Julia’s two freebirths were very different experiences. The birth of her son although powerful and sweet, hit her very hard, so for the birth of her daughter she *chose* pleasure and presence.
Julia’s story is such a powerful reminder that we can make big choices in our lives and really manifest our dream reality. Come see the beautiful land Julia fell in love with too, at Matriarch Rising Festival this summer! Go to Matriarchrisingfestival.com to get your tickets today. Once you experience community here, you may just have to return home and create it for yourself! Julia will be leading the toddler yoga and mother meet ups at MRF, so come join in and say hi to my bestie.
Here’s what you’ll hear in Julia’s story:
✨How she loved being pregnant for the first time, but was constantly fear mongered by her medical midwife.
✨Her first drama filled first birth with a licensed midwife.
✨Covid in L.A. and her family’s big leap relocating to North Carolina.
✨Homesteading while pregnant and the fast and really rocking freebirth of her son.
✨Rural living and her family’s various moves to find their farm land here in WNC.
✨The intensity of the end of her pregnancy.
✨The fast but dreamy and pain-free freebirth of her daughter.
✨Her community supported postpartum.
✨Experiencing three generations of women at MRF.
⭐ Matriarch Rising Festival: Get your tickets NOW! - matriarchrisingfestival.com
⭐ Join the MatriBirth Midwifery Institute waitlist! Details drop later this spring- freebirthsociety.com/mmiwaitlist
CONNECT WITH FREE BIRTH SOCIETY 👇
We're *so close* to hitting our goal of videos for our Sovereign Birth collection on Youtube! Help us get there by submitting your video here - freebirthsociety.com/submit-your-story
Get our *FREE* Freebirth Starter Kit here - freebirthsociety.com/starterkitoptin
The Podcast: Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and let us know your biggest takeaway – whether it’s inspired you to freebirth or to dive deeper into sovereign living. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/free-birth-society/id1231912533
-The Complete Guide to Freebirth: a self-guided online intensive course that will teach you everything you need to know about how to birth freely and in your power. freebirthsocietycourses.com/cgtf
-Follow us on Instagram @freebirthsociety for more daily inspiration on freebirth and so much more. instagram.com/freebirthsociety
-The Lighthouse: our exclusive membership for radical, curious, wild women. We only welcome new women to our private sanctuary a few times per year. freebirthsociety.com/membership-waitlist
-Feature Emilee: If you want Emilee Saldaya on your podcast send an invite to podcast@freebirthsociety.com
-If you feel called to make a donation to the podcast, it would be greatly appreciated. Click here to donate - paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=2YJBSCNYXT52Y
Listen to this episode here - freebirthsociety.com/podcasts/free-birth-society/episodes/2148620835
Today on the show I welcome one of my closest friends and favorite people, Julia. Julia lives here in community with us, and so I’m extra excited to have her on to share her story. Julia is a truly wild mother of 3, turns out - soon to be 4, a homesteader, a gorgeous and insanely talented homemaker, and really just the embodiment of strength, fortitude, and integrity. Can you tell I adore her? She has freebirthed twice, and the second time she *literally* labored right here on my land, the Matriarch Rising Festival grounds! How magical is that?
Julia began her mothering journey quite young, having found her sweetheart at age 17. When Julia found herself unexpectedly pregnant she was already living outside mainstream culture and knew she didn’t want to birth in the hospital. Sadly though, the medical midwife she hired found ways to create drama throughout her pregnancy and birth.
A huge awakening, followed by a move from L.A. to North Carolina to figure out this homestead life, brought Julia’s and my family together in organic friendship. It’s all very cute, she invited me to be her birth attendant, our husbands met and fell in love, and the rest is herstory. Though she and her family have certainly faced challenges living this rural farm lifestyle, Julia consistently devotes herself to her family, community, and the fullness of her family’s vision.
Julia’s two freebirths were very different experiences. The birth of her son although powerful and sweet, hit her very hard, so for the birth of her daughter she *chose* pleasure and presence.
Julia’s story is such a powerful reminder that we can make big choices in our lives and really manifest our dream reality. Come see the beautiful land Julia fell in love with too, at Matriarch Rising Festival this summer! Go to Matriarchrisingfestival.com to get your tickets today. Once you experience community here, you may just have to return home and create it for yourself! Julia will be leading the toddler yoga and mother meet ups at MRF, so come join in and say hi to my bestie.
Here’s what you’ll hear in Julia’s story:
✨How she loved being pregnant for the first time, but was constantly fear mongered by her medical midwife.
✨Her first drama filled first birth with a licensed midwife.
✨Covid in L.A. and her family’s big leap relocating to North Carolina.
✨Homesteading while pregnant and the fast and really rocking freebirth of her son.
✨Rural living and her family’s various moves to find their farm land here in WNC.
✨The intensity of the end of her pregnancy.
✨The fast but dreamy and pain-free freebirth of her daughter.
✨Her community supported postpartum.
✨Experiencing three generations of women at MRF.
⭐ Matriarch Rising Festival: Get your tickets NOW! - matriarchrisingfestival.com
⭐ Join the MatriBirth Midwifery Institute waitlist! Details drop later this spring- freebirthsociety.com/mmiwaitlist
CONNECT WITH FREE BIRTH SOCIETY 👇
We're *so close* to hitting our goal of videos for our Sovereign Birth collection on Youtube! Help us get there by submitting your video here - freebirthsociety.com/submit-your-story
Get our *FREE* Freebirth Starter Kit here - freebirthsociety.com/starterkitoptin
The Podcast: Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and let us know your biggest takeaway – whether it’s inspired you to freebirth or to dive deeper into sovereign living. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/free-birth-society/id1231912533
-The Complete Guide to Freebirth: a self-guided online intensive course that will teach you everything you need to know about how to birth freely and in your power. freebirthsocietycourses.com/cgtf
-Follow us on Instagram @freebirthsociety for more daily inspiration on freebirth and so much more. instagram.com/freebirthsociety
-The Lighthouse: our exclusive membership for radical, curious, wild women. We only welcome new women to our private sanctuary a few times per year. freebirthsociety.com/membership-waitlist
-Feature Emilee: If you want Emilee Saldaya on your podcast send an invite to podcast@freebirthsociety.com
-If you feel called to make a donation to the podcast, it would be greatly appreciated. Click here to donate - paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=2YJBSCNYXT52Y
![Burn It Down to Build It Right: Our Third 40-Week Wrap Up
What do you do when youre in the middle of your third pregnancy and a hate group forms to threaten your life?
In this episode, I sit down with my husband—and third-time guest—Jonny, for a raw and real 40-week wrap-up.
We share honestly about what this year has demanded: deep growth, hard decisions, and the very real emotional weight of being publicly attacked while stewarding this freebirth movement.
We talk openly about our major fails in business and community building, our shift towards the private sector, and how we’re preparing to welcome our third baby at home while holding our family steady.
You’ll Learn:
• What it feels like to navigate a pregnancy marked by nausea, migraines, and total slowdown
• The story behind Jonny quitting his 6-figure job and choosing to stay home to live as an intact family
• Why their attempt to build a private school in rural North Carolina failed despite major investment
• The surprising link between moving during COVID and outgrowing their super rural life five years later
• What happens when you face a smear campaign and community fallout while running a business
• How pregnancy became a catalyst for burning down what no longer fit their family and business
• How Emilee chooses to question her inherited stories around scarcity and overwhelm in motherhood and walk a new path
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[09:38] Pregnancy as a catalyst for change, growth, and burning down what no longer serves
[29:22] Shifting from conventional jobs to a home-based family life for balance and connection
[50:14] Starting and ultimately closing a private school in rural North Carolina after major investment and challenges
[01:03:03] Realizing rural life no longer fits their family and beginning to reassess their future
[01:14:29] Facing a hate group and smear campaign while pregnant and running a business
[02:00:26] Preparing for a third freebirth and Jonny’s role in supporting birth and postpartum
Resources Mentioned:
The 40 Week Wrap Up: Host Emilee & Her Husband Share Their Journey | https://bit.ly/40WWUonSpotify or https://apple.co/4fk1ssk
The 40-Week Wild Pregnancy Wrap Up with Emilee & Jonny (Round 2) | https://bit.ly/40WWPonSpotify or https://apple.co/4fk1JeQ
A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas | https://bit.ly/acotar-books
Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas | https://bit.ly/togs-books
MatriBirth Mentor Institute (MMI) | https://www.freebirthsociety.com/mmi
The Lighthouse Membership Group | https://bit.ly/fbs-tlmg
The Complete Guide to Freebirth | https://bit.ly/fbs-cgtf
Free Birth Society YouTube Channel | https://www.youtube.com/@UCW5LVxPY3UnJ3iS5CAaD97A
Find more from Emilee on:
https://www.instagram.com/freebirthsociety/, https://www.youtube.com/@UCW5LVxPY3UnJ3iS5CAaD97A and the Free Birth Society website: https://www.freebirthsociety.com/ Burn It Down to Build It Right: Our Third 40-Week Wrap Up](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9iqWf5rlS8g/mqdefault.jpg)









