The LIFTS Podcast
The LIFTS Podcast (formerly Mother Love) is a Montana-based podcast centering lived experience and amplifying diverse voices from across the state. Through conversations with caregivers, providers, and advocates, we explore bold ideas and creative solutions for supporting the littlest Montanans and their families. If you have feedback, or an idea for a guest or topic, email us at stories@hmhb-mt.org.
Episodes
101 episodes
Sarah Buchanan + Stephanie Fitch - Human Stories Behind Montana’s Maternal Health Gaps
Episode Description:In this episode of the LIFTS Podcast, host Emily Freeman speaks with Stephanie Fitch (Billings Clinic) and Sarah Buchanan (Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services) a...
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Season 5
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Episode 12
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29:23
Tehya Tiegen - Home Visiting and Hope
Guest Bio: Tehya Teigen is a 29-year-old proud mother of two and the wife of a Navy veteran. She is a recovering addict who believes in second chances, healing, and the power of self-love. Her journey serves as a reminder tha...
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Season 5
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Episode 11
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16:53
Maria Emmer-Aanes - It Takes a Village
Guest Bio: Maria Emmer-Aanes is the Executive Director of The Village Playspace and the Early Childhood Coalition of Beaverhead County, where she works alongside parents, partners, and neighbors to build strong, connected com...
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Season 5
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Episode 10
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26:04
LIFTS Out Loud: Julianne Denny - Birthwork as Medicine
Guest Bio: Julianne Denny (She/Her) Cree, Ojibway, Mi’kmaq Raised in ceremony, Julianne lives in Montana with her family. She is an Indigenous doula supporting families across rural communities, providing cultu...
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Season 5
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Episode 9
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21:05
Suzanne Bendick - The Stories That Connect Us
Guest Bio: Suzanne Bendick is the Co-Executive Director, co-founder, and former board member of Roots Family Collaborative, a highly respected and deeply impactful organization she has helped shape over the past nine years. A...
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Season 5
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Episode 8
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24:29
Dr. Jessica Liddell - Building Support for Maternal Mental Health
Guest Bio: Dr. Jessica Liddell is an Associate Professor at the University of Montana School of Social Work and Affiliate Faculty in the School of Public and Community Health Sciences. Her work focuses on pregnancy and childb...
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Season 5
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Episode 7
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18:05
LIFTS Out Loud: Jake Maher + Callie Triller - Ryan's Journey Home
Guest Bios: Episode Details: In this powerful episode of the LIFTS Podcast, host Emily Freeman sits down with Callie Trier and Jake Maher to share Ryan’s Journey Home ...
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Season 5
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Episode 6
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19:06
Carrie Krepps - Building Connection and Community for Montana Families
Guest Bio: Carrie joined Florence Crittenton in 2010 as Grants Officer and quickly moved into the role of Development Director in 2011, a position she held for eight years before becoming Executive Director in 2...
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Season 5
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Episode 5
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30:47
LIFTS Out Loud: Mindy Petranek - Just Showing Up
Guest Bio: Mindy Petranek is a fourth-generation rancher in central Montana, where her family has lived and worked the land since 1914. Together with her husband and son, she embraces life “at the end of the road,” finding jo...
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Season 5
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Episode 4
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12:10
Pamela Ponich - Peer Recovery Doulas in Montana
Episode Description:In this episode of the LIFTS Podcast, host Emily Freeman talks with Pam Ponich, Perinatal Program Manager for One Health, about an innovative program changing the face of perinatal...
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Season 5
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21:28
Maureen Ward + Tracie Kiesel - What Families Need to Know About Montana's New Car Seat Law
Guest BiosMaureen Ward: Since 2019, Maureen has served as Injury Prevention Program Manager for Montana DPHHS, leading strategies to promote safety and well-being across the state. She holds a Master’s in Adult Education fr...
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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27:08
Stephanie Morton, HMHB - New Season, New Name!
Welcome to Season 5 of our podcast (formerly Mother Love, now known as The LIFTS Podcast)! Today we'll chat with HMHB's Executive Director, Stephanie Morton, to discuss the upcoming podcast season, our updated name, and more. LIFTS ...
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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6:18
Session Voices: Mary Collins - Big Work at the Local Level
In our final episode of this season's "Session Voices" series, we talk (again) with Mary Collins, of UM's Center for Children, Families and Workforce Development. Mary talks about the many steps left to codify and implement new policies, now th...
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Season 4
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Episode 13
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32:30
Session Voices: Jackie Mohler - Post-Session Engagement
In this episode we chat with Jackie Mohler, Executive Director of Family Outreach. Jackie discusses her legislative work on behalf of Montanans living with disabilities, and the ways in which engagement can -- and should -- continue after the s...
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Season 4
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Episode 12
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22:15
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Session Voices: Dillon Sarb - Storytelling as Community Organizing
In this episode of Session Voices, we speak with Dillon Sarb, a community organizer with Catalyst Montana. Dillon will help us to better understand the role played by community organizers in the political ecosystem, and share a little bit about...
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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19:12
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Session Voices: Karen Filipovich - Empowering Families Through Advocacy
This week’s guest is Karen Filipovich, Executive Director of Montana Head Start. We’ll learn how Head Start has engaged with the legislature this session, and discuss the transformative power of storytelling to strengthen families and build com...
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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16:43
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Session Voices: Jenny Eck - Finding Common Ground
Today, we’re joined by former Montana State Legislator Jenny Eck. Jenny served three terms in the House of Representatives, including two terms in leadership roles. We’ll discuss her path to the legislature, and the importance of finding common...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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22:27
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A Mining City Story: Megan Bristol - Nurse Midwife
Guest: Megan Bristol, MSN, CNM (Intermountain Health St. James Hospital)In tandem with Jenna Clark (Ep. 04), Megan provides birthing families a midwife option in a hospital setting. We’ll talk about her work in Butte, and the Maternal He...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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23:49
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Session Voices: Amy Stiffarm - Birth of a Bill, SB 319
In conversation with Amy Stiffarm, PhD, MPH, we learn about the creation of Senate Bill 319, supporting and promoting doula care in Montana. Learn more about the value of doula care, and SB 319, here:https://hmhb-mt.org/fo...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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20:37
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A Mining City Story: Jenna Clark - Nurse Midwife
Guest: Jenna Clark, MSN, CNM, WHMP (Intermountain Health St. James Hospital)Working in partnership with Megan Bristol (Ep. 05), Jenna offers midwifery care at St. James Hospital. Learn what makes midwifery different from an OB approach, ...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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26:11
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Session Voices: Grace Decker - How (and Why) to Engage
In this episode of "Session Voices" we chat with Grace Decker, coordinator of Montana Advocates for Children (MAC). We'll talk about how to engage with the legislative process, the unusual but necessary guidelines around clothing and decorum, a...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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18:25
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A Mining City Story: Amy Lowney - Craniosacral & Massage Therapist, Postpartum Doula
Guest: Amy Lowney, MSN-RN, LMT, CST (Prima Natural Wellness)Amy pivoted from her work as a hospital labor and delivery nurse, and now offers complementary wellness services to moms...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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38:05
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Session Voices: Mary Collins - Legislature 101
Welcome to Session Voices, our special miniseries exploring the 2025 Montana legislative session. In this episode, Emily talks with Mary Collins, Project Director at the University of Montana’s Center for Ch...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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19:34
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A Mining City Story: Jessica Walsh - Lactation Specialist
Guest: Jessica Walsh, IBCLC, BSN, RNC (Intermountain Health St. James Hospital)In her role as Lactation Specialist, Jessica provides an invaluable resource for families, guiding them through their infant-feeding journey and supporting th...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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1:02:28
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A Mining City Story: Dorothy Troutman - Doula & Birth Educator
Guest: Dorothy Troutman, BSN, RNC, C-EFM, CLC, SBD, SpBCPE, CCE, CEIM, Certified Body Ready Pro, and Body Ready Birth Educator - Doula (Sacred Birth Doula Services); Labor and Delivery Nurse (Intermountain Health St. James Hospital)Join...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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1:03:16
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