Best How To Prepare For Labor And Delivery Podcasts (2025)

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Husbands, This One Is for You: How to Love Well in Birth and Postpartum 35:05

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10h ago35:05

35:05

Send us a text Betsey and Jimmy sit down to talk about how childbirth teaches both mom and dad the true meaning of sacrificial love. Jimmy shares honestly about feeling unprepared during their first birth, how that shaped the Push Lab, and how he grew into his role as a father through trust in the Lord. Together they offer simple, faith rooted step…

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275: Why (and how) you should prioritize veterans' health 34:56

7h ago34:56

34:56

Nearly 16 million veterans live in the United States, and while 9 million receive care through the Veterans Health Administration, about 40% rely entirely on civilian healthcare. That’s where the challenge begins: many veterans are navigating a system that isn’t designed for their unique health needs. Veterans outside the VA system often face barri…

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274: The nurse engagement tactic leaders may be missing 31:07

7d ago31:07

31:07

Nurse turnover rates have improved since the pandemic peak, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods: 40% of nurses report that they intend to leave their job within five years. As nurse leaders turn their attention from fighting fires to finding strategic levers for nurse retention, they may be missing a surprising opportunity: career pathing.…

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273: MaineHealth isn’t just surviving against the odds — it’s thriving 41:31

20d ago41:31

41:31

In 2025, health systems are facing a relentless set of headwinds—from policy upheaval and shifting demographics to rising costs and rural access challenges. For some organizations, these pressures form a perfect storm. At Advisory Board’s Chicago Summit, host Rachel (Rae) Woods sat down with MaineHealth COO Kelly Elkins to explore how the $4B, 13-h…

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272: How leaders need to rethink their approach to philanthropy 34:37

21d ago34:37

34:37

To make philanthropy a reliable revenue stream, health systems need more than just generous donors—they need strategy, structure, and sustained investment. In this episode, Abby Burns speaks with Advisory Board philanthropy expert and founder of Twin Point Insights, Erin Lanahan, about how not-for-profit health systems can build high-performing fun…

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271: Inside Ochsner Health's strategy for successful VBC 35:22

28d ago35:22

35:22

Ochsner Health has been pushing the envelope on value-based care for decades. The New Orleans-based system has succeeded in driving significant cost savings—while improving quality— states that traditionally rank lower in America's Health Rankings The question is: how do they do it? This week, host Abby Burns invites Ochsner Health Network’s Eric G…

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270: Service line snapshot: What every health leader needs to know 29:38

1M ago29:38

29:38

Each year, Advisory Board delivers an update on the most significant trends shaping service line strategy – identifying exactly what service line and strategy leaders should prioritize in the year ahead. In this episode, host Rae Woods is joined by Advisory Board experts Lindsey Paul, Kristin Strubel, Gabriela Marmolejos, and Ellie Wiles to unpack …

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How to Reframe Childbirth Pain Before You Go Into Labor 17:02

1M ago17:02

17:02

Send us a text So many moms go into labor terrified of pain, but what if pain wasn’t something to fear, but something to reframe? In this episode, Dr. Betsey shares her personal birth stories of facing discouragement from doctors and nurses during her first labor, and the life-giving encouragement she received from her doula and midwife in her seco…

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269: The government shutdown, and what rural executives need to know before Nov. 5 4:05

1M ago4:05

4:05

In this special episode of Radio Advisory, recorded at 9:30 a.m. ET on Oct. 1, 2025, host Rae Woods walks through two major healthcare policy disruptions: the federal government shutdown and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Rae explains the immediate implications for care delivery and funding as Medicare telehealth and Hospital-at-Home waiv…

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268: Create an ambulatory care network that’s smarter — not just bigger 28:26

1M ago28:26

28:26

For years, health systems have approached ambulatory care as a pipeline for inpatient volumes. But today’s health care environment calls for a new mindset—one that prioritizes ambulatory capabilities designed to drive enterprise-wide success. Challenging this longstanding approach is just the first step. In this episode, host Rachel (Rae) Woods wel…

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267: Care variation reduction: A $100B opportunity 22:17

2M ago22:17

22:17

Health systems know they need to pull out all the stops when it comes to improving operational efficiency, given their financial climate. That doesn’t necessarily mean they need entirely new strategies — but they do need to make the most of the tried-and-true tactics. Care variation reduction (CVR) has been part of the operational excellence playbo…

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Trusting God in the Unknowns of Childbirth 10:21

2M ago10:21

10:21

Send us a text Pregnancy and childbirth come with so many unknowns — and for many Christian moms, those unknowns stir up fear. What if labor doesn’t go as planned? What if the stories we’ve heard become our reality? In this episode of The Push Lab, Dr. Betsey shares faith-filled encouragement for navigating the uncertainties of birth. You’ll learn …

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266: Your EHR can do more for you. Here’s how. 30:45

2M ago30:45

30:45

Making the most of the electronic health record (EHR) is not just a win for the CIO—it’s a non-negotiable for sustaining your business, supporting your workforce and serving your patients effectively. The EHR is a mainstay of our digital healthcare infrastructure. It’s a massive ongoing investment with the potential for enormous operational and str…

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265: A quick look at what's happening with vaccines 9:18

2M ago9:18

9:18

In this special episode of Radio Advisory, recorded on September 10th, 2025, host Rae Woods explains how recent federal actions led by HHS Secretary RFK Jr. are shaping vaccine policy and public health infrastructure. As she unpacks what’s happened so far, Rae outlines the implications for vaccine access, public trust, and hospital readiness. She a…

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264: Research funding is being slashed. What’s the real industry impact? 28:11

2M ago28:11

28:11

In the past several months, the Trump administration has frozen, cancelled, or rescinded millions—even billions—of dollars in federal funding for scientific and clinical research. This is funding that flows directly from bodies like the NIH to universities, academic medical centers, and others to facilitate basic science research, translational res…

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Training Your Body for Peace Before Birth 10:39

2M ago10:39

10:39

Send us a text Stress shows up in every pregnancy. Sometimes loud and obvious, sometimes quiet and constant. But what if those daily moments of stress are actually shaping the way you’ll respond in birth? In this episode of The Push Lab, Dr. Betsey unpacks why your nervous system plays a bigger role in labor than you think, and how learning to calm…

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[Encore] How hospitals and post-acute providers can rebuild their relationships (and why they need to) 29:47

2M ago29:47

29:47

This episode originally aired on April 15, 2025. In times of uncertainty, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by what’s out of your control. That’s why over the next few weeks we’re revisiting three powerful conversations that remind us where to focus: on operational excellence, on what is within your control, and on the urgency to act now. Whether you'r…

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[Encore] Hospitals are at capacity. What can we actually do about it? 25:13

2M ago25:13

25:13

(This episode originally aired on February 25, 2025.) In times of uncertainty, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by what’s out of your control. That’s why over the next few weeks we’re revisiting three powerful conversations that remind us where to focus: on operational excellence, on what is within your control, and on the urgency to act now. Whether …

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[Encore] The $400M referral problem (and steps to fixing it) 25:01

3M ago25:01

25:01

(This episode originally aired on October 1, 2024.) In times of uncertainty, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by what’s out of your control. That’s why over the next few weeks we’re revisiting three powerful conversations that remind us where to focus: on operational excellence, on what is within your control, and on the urgency to act now. Whether yo…

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263: What 130+ healthcare leaders are saying about Trump’s big, beautiful bill 38:24

3M ago38:24

38:24

Healthcare organizations have always faced operational, financial, and strategic pressures—but in 2025, those challenges are intensifying. A wave of current and anticipated policy changes is reshaping the industry, leaving leaders to navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain landscape. To better understand how executives are preparing for what…

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262: The price of policy: How tariffs are reshaping purchasing 33:24

3M ago33:24

33:24

For health system leaders, managing the cost of purchased goods is no longer just a budgeting exercise—it’s a strategic necessity. As margins tighten and supply chain disruptions persist, health systems are rethinking everything from vendor relationships to value analysis. In this episode of Radio Advisory, host Rachel (Rae) Woods welcomes Advisory…

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261: Maven Clinic on how holistic women's health is the key to reducing cost and engaging employees 40:05

4M ago40:05

40:05

For health care purchasers, women’s health is no longer a niche offering—it’s a strategic imperative. In this episode of Radio Advisory, host Rachel (Rae) Woods welcomes Dr. Neel Shah, Chief Medical Officer at Maven Clinic—the world’s largest virtual clinic for women’s and family health—to unpack the clinical, financial, and operational benefits of…

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260: What does progress in behavioral healthcare look like? Three leaders weigh in 48:48

4M ago48:48

48:48

To make progress on delivering behavioral healthcare at scale, we have to hold up examples of what progress looks like—and unpack how we achieve it. That was the goal of our live panel discussion at the Advisory Board Summit in Washington, D.C., moderated by Radio Advisory co-host Abby Burns. In today’s episode of Radio Advisory, hear Abby’s conver…

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259: Our expensive new normal: why traditional drug cost controls are obsolete 32:19

4M ago32:19

32:19

Treatments like cell and gene therapies (CGTs) and GLP-1s are transforming care, but with double-digit growth in drug spend year over year, this transformation comes with an unsustainable price tag. And it’s putting pressure on every part of the healthcare ecosystem, from patients and providers to employers and health plans. The strategies that pur…

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258: The ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill Act’: What’s changing, who’s affected, and what to do now 6:12

4M ago6:12

6:12

On July 4th, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” into law. In this “minisode,” host Rachel (Rae) Woods unpacks the sweeping implications of the most significant healthcare legislation since the Affordable Care Act. From enhanced subsidies expiring to major cuts to Medicaid and ACA marketplace coverage on the horizon…

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257: Paul Markovich on new builds, breakups, and bold healthcare bets 46:12

5M ago46:12

46:12

In this special live episode from the 2025 Advisory Board Summit, host Rachel (Rae) Woods sits down with a leader well-versed in bold transformation: Paul Markovich. After more than a decade as President and CEO of Blue Shield of California, Paul now leads Ascendiun—a new nonprofit parent company that includes Blue Shield of California, its clinica…

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256: How you can prepare for the financial impacts of Trump-era policies 31:07

5M ago31:07

31:07

Healthcare executives are closely watching legislative activity in Congress—anticipating shifts in government-funded insurance, new economic headwinds, and regulatory changes. And while change is certainly coming, what remains uncertain is how these forces will shape market dynamics and organizational finances. To help hospitals and health systems …

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How Your Day-to-Day Stress Response Affects You During Labor (And What to Do About It) 19:51

5M ago19:51

19:51

Send us a text Feeling anxious during pregnancy? In this episode, Dr. Betsey shares how stress affects your brain and decision-making—and why turning to Jesus in the moment matters. Learn the four stress responses, how to recognize your own patterns, and how daily surrender can prepare your heart and body for a peaceful birth. Grounded in scripture…

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255: Is healthcare really recession-proof? 39:50

5M ago39:50

39:50

When experts warn that the economy could be headed for a recession, people working across different corners of the economy get nervous. People working in healthcare, maybe less so. That’s because of a longstanding idea that healthcare is impervious to recession. Okay, maybe that’s overstating it. Healthcare is less susceptible than other industries…

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254: Stop searching for the “perfect” AI product and do this instead 29:31

5M ago29:31

29:31

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to generate excitement across healthcare, promising to reduce clinician burnout, fuel innovation, and ease financial pressures. But despite the hype, AI is far from a “plug-and-play” solution—and simply investing in AI won’t guarantee success. This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods is joined by Advisory Board AI e…

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253: A new way to measure patient access 29:05

6M ago29:05

29:05

Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a policy update on the bill containing Medicaid cuts that is making its way through Congress, and the recent MAHA Commission Report. If you were to ask any healthcare leader what the top challenges in our industry are, it’s a fair bet that “improving patient access to care” would be on the list. There have b…

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252: Contain, extract, recover: Inside the Ardent Health cyberattack 41:08

6M ago41:08

41:08

In this special live episode from the 2025 Advisory Board Summit, Ardent Health Services President & CEO Marty Bonick and Chief Digital and Transformation Officer Anika Gardenhire recount the harrowing story of a ransomware attack that brought their 30-hospital system to a standstill on Thanksgiving Day 2023. Cyberattacks on healthcare systems are …

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251: Former HHS leaders weigh in on navigating Trump 2.0 (and answer your questions) 40:25

6M ago40:25

40:25

5/22 Update: The House early Thursday narrowly passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a budget bill that includes a number of healthcare provisions that could have a significant impact on Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act. It has been over 100 days since President Donald Trump began his second term. During that time, Radio Advisory ha…

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250: VBC success is possible. Here's how Advocate Health does it. 34:16

6M ago34:16

34:16

Believe it or not, 60% of healthcare payments in the US are tied to value. But it’s still surprisingly hard to find examples of health systems that have been doing VBC at scale, successfully, over time. So that’s what Advisory Board researchers set out to do. And across 66 conversations with 44 systems, we found four systems with approaches worth e…

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[Encore] The changing tide of Medicare Advantage 21:46

6M ago21:46

21:46

(This episode originally aired on October 22, 2024.) For years, the best word to describe Medicare Advantage (MA) was “untouchable.” Hugely popular among seniors, profitable for health plans—the hybrid public-private payment model grew to the point that it now covers more seniors than traditional Medicare. But in the past few years, the tide has st…

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249: What is 340B, and why is it in the hot seat 32:15

7M ago32:15

32:15

The federal drug purchasing program known as 340B was created in 1992 to help select provider organizations stretch scarce resources to care for patients. More than three decades later, health systems of all shapes and sizes have come to rely on 340B for their financial sustainability. But the program has come under criticism. And in recent years, …

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248: Drugs, surgeries, and shortages: the state of obesity care in 2025 35:19

7M ago35:19

35:19

In 2025, 6% of US adults are taking a GLP-1. But the popularity of weight-loss drugs isn’t the only thing changing the obesity care landscape. On Radio Advisory, we’ve talked about what comprehensive obesity care looks like, the reality of weight bias, and the strain high-cost drugs like GLP-1s are having on employers and plans. But we haven’t done…

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247: How hospitals and post-acute providers can rebuild their relationships (and why they need to) 28:49

7M ago28:49

28:49

Let’s face it: Hospitals and post-acute providers can find themselves at odds. Post-acute is an area of the industry that is often misunderstood and sometimes villainized. But when post-acute care struggles, it directly impacts hospital operations. The industry needs a solution. It starts with understanding that the post-acute space is not a monoli…

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When the World Says “No More Kids” – But God Says “Trust Me 17:55

7M ago17:55

17:55

Send us a text What does Forrest Frank, Chappell Roan and a rude stare at Warby Parker have in common? They all made me reflect on how our culture views children—and how wildly different that is from how God sees them. In this episode, I’m unpacking the quiet grief of feeling like kids are “too much” for public spaces and the holy reminder that eve…

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246: Plans have trust and cost problems. Here's how to manage both. 35:55

7M ago35:55

35:55

Every stakeholder in healthcare is getting squeezed by mounting financial pressures, and health plans are no exception. Higher utilization and rising treatment costs are hitting plans hard. At the same time, plans are facing heightened public scrutiny. It may seem like the wrong time for plans to focus on cost management, but the combination of mar…

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245: Headcount might not explain your labor challenges. What will? 32:31

8M ago32:31

32:31

It feels like only yesterday that workforce challenges were the biggest problem facing the healthcare industry. While COVID-19-related staffing shortages may have declined, an inefficient workforce can still threaten health system operations and finances. Often, systems turn to staffing ratios or benchmarks to determine whether they need more cuts …

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The Truth About Pushing Techniques (And The Most Frustrating Part of My Job). 21:03

8M ago21:03

21:03

Send us a text In this episode of the Push Lab Podcast, Dr. Betsey discusses the critical aspects of childbirth education, focusing on the importance of pushing techniques and the misconceptions surrounding them. She emphasizes the need for mothers to advocate for themselves during labor, particularly regarding the choice between Valsalva and open …

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244: What’s happened in Washington (so far) and what policy changes we’re bracing for 47:05

8M ago47:05

47:05

In the first two months of the Trump administration, the political and regulatory environment have shifted considerably. Since the inauguration, we’ve fielded dozens of questions about the slew of executive orders, cuts to research funding, HHS layoffs, tariffs, and an unstable economic outlook. All of that is coupled with the potential for major p…

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243: What’s now and what’s next in value-based care 34:06

8M ago34:06

34:06

There is a lot happening in federal policy that may affect healthcare payment transformation and care delivery. But we’ve said it before: healthcare leaders can’t afford to focus on fighting near-term fires at the expense of driving long-term success and sustainability. Amidst the uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to push forward conversat…

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242: How you should rethink your life sciences-health system partnerships 25:21

8M ago25:21

25:21

Partnerships between health systems and life sciences play a critical role in giving patients access to the best data, therapies, and technologies available in the market. However, these partnerships can be less fulfilling if both sides don’t align on purpose and expectations. This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board expert Fanta C…

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The One Expert Every Pregnant Mom Needs Before Childbirth 12:24

9M ago12:24

12:24

Send us a text Preparing for childbirth isn’t just about birth plans and breathing techniques—it’s about getting your body ready for the big day! In this episode of The Push Lab Podcast, Dr. Betsey, pelvic floor physical therapist and birth expert, breaks down how pelvic floor therapy can help you prevent tearing, reduce pain, and feel more confide…

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241: When disaster strikes: Evacuating Unicoi hospital 33:37

9M ago33:37

33:37

On September 27, 2024, Ballad Health was forced to evacuate Unicoi Hospital in rural Tennessee due to a freak flash flood caused by Hurricane Helene. After two failed rescue attempts, an aerial operation managed to successfully airlift all 70 people who were trapped on the rooftop of the small community hospital. In an era where extreme climate eve…

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77. Practical Tips for Letting Go of Worry While Pregnant 18:17

9M ago18:17

18:17

Text Your Birth Bestie Are you looking for ways to let go of worry and enjoy your pregnancy with confidence and peace of mind? In this episode, we will cover: The practical strategies for managing anxiety and embracing a calm, trusting mindset during pregnancy. Why personalized midwifery care supports emotional well-being alongside physical health.…

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240: Hospitals are at capacity. What can we actually do about it? 24:13

9M ago24:13

24:13

We’ve said it before on Radio Advisory: hospital volumes are back. But leaders know this isn’t necessarily a sigh of relief. With a lot of hospitals at—or even over—capacity, hospital leaders need to find ways to improve patient throughput and reduce length of stay. And trust me, they’ve been trying. The question is, why is it so hard to address ca…

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239: UNC Health: The care variation reduction story you need to hear 42:53

9M ago42:53

42:53

The cost and quality of care can vary dramatically—even within the same health system. This has real ramifications for patients and clinicians, not to mention system outcomes. But reducing unwarranted variation in clinical care is much easier said than done. In 2019, UNC Health launched a care redesign office to take on the job. They identified 24 …