Are you an expectant mother feeling overwhelmed by the thought of childbirth? Welcome to the podcast for Christian women seeking to overcome fear and embrace God’s BEST for their lives. I’m your host, Alise Marsh, a childbirth educator, doula, wife, and mom, here to help you navigate your motherhood journey with confidence and clarity, so you can achieve your dream of experiencing a positive and empowering birth all while growing deeper in your relationship with God. Your best birth and postpartum is waiting for you! I believe there’s nothing like motherhood to give us a glimpse into the heart of our God, who sees us Perfectly, Wonderfully Made.
20: Katie Cowles - Stronger than she ever knew.
Mar 08, 2018
Show notes
20 - Katie Cowles - Stronger than she ever knew.
Perfectly, Wonderfully Made - Alise Marsh
Subscribe
Today on the show my guest is Katie Cowles. Katie found me through instagram about 2 years ago and she hired me to doula for the birth of her baby! I’ve been so blessed to get to know Katie and her family over the last couple years. We recorded this episode back in the fall and I’m so excited to share it with you now! Katie is a NICU nurse, a mama to her son Oliver who is 17 months, and wife to her husband Cameron. She shares her story of having an unmedicated birth in the hospital setting after being induced. Katie shares about what it looked like for her to trust that everything was going to be okay, and believe she could birth her baby. You’re going to love this sweet mama!
I loved when Katie shared about how giving birth to her son was one of the first times she realized she could be so strong. So much stronger than she ever knew. How true is that in those seasons of our lives when we are pressed and pushed we realize just how much is IN US. Motherhood is like a daily outpouring of ourselves. We give of ourselves. We nurture, we get up, we rise again, but the craziest part about it all, is that as we give the Lord pours back into us. We pour out ourselves and the Lord pours his identity into us. His strength into us. And slowly, ever so slowly we start to look more like him. It’s beautiful and brilliant and hard as hell all at the same time.
Connect with Katie on IG @katieaerial If you would like to support Sarah Koch and her family, you can find out more my clicking HERE!
I believe in you and in birth and our innate ability to have babies. I’m here to tell you the truth. To provide you with current, evidenced based information about childbirth, so that you can make the decisions that are best for you and your family and no one else. I believe that when families are informed and educated about their choices surrounding birth, their confidence increases, which provides them the foundation needed for a safe & satisfying birth experience. Remember, mama, you are stronger than you think you are. Everything you’ll need to have this baby, you already possess. You just might have to discover that it’s there. I’m just here to point you in the right direction. Head on over to yourbestbirthcourse.com to enroll and begin your journey! Use the promo code: PODCAST at check out for $50 OFF of your course.
I would love to get to know you! Find me on IG @perfectlywonderfullymade and Facebook @yourbirthclass. It would mean so much to me if you would share the show with your friends & family. Email me anytime with your comments about the show alise@alisemarsh.com
19: Nichole Gibbons - Choosing Faith Over Fear
Feb 22, 2018
Show notes
19: Nichole Gibbons - Choosing Faith Over Fear
Alise Marsh
Subscribe
My guest on the show today is Nichole Gibbons. Nichole is a mama to two adorable little boys and married to her husband Jordan. I met Nichole originally in the photography world through my husband and then got to know her better through our church. She’s a portrait photographer and also on staff at Foursquare Church in Puyallup as the Content Director. She’s pretty talented you guys. You’re going to have to go find her on social media. I chat about Nichole’s two birth stories, mom guilt, being called into ministry, and what it looks like for her to spend time with Jesus.
I would love to get to know you! Find me on IG @perfectlywonderfullymade and Facebook @yourbirthclass. It would mean so much to me if you would share the show with your friends & family. Email me anytime with your comments about the show alise@alisemarsh.com
18: Jenna Urdiales - Braving the messy middle, holding onto hope until you get to joy.
Feb 13, 2018
Show notes
18: Jenna Urdiales - Braving the messy middle, holding onto hope until you get to joy.
Perfectly, Wonderfully Made - Alise Marsh
Subscribe
I’m so excited for you guys to meet my friend, Jenna Urdiales today. Jenna & I became friends when we were both on staff at Puyallup Foursquare Church. Jenna is just amazing. There is no one like this woman. She’s hilarious. One of those friends you can cry with, cuss with, and laugh with. She is married to her husband, Phil and they have 2 beautiful little girls they live with in Florida and 1 sweet boy in Heaven. Jenna has a masters degree from SouthEastern University and is the director of Excel Preschool Academy in Florida. I’ll tell you a little secret too, she’s writing a book. And after you listen to our conversation you’re going to want to read it. We chat about grief, braving that messy middle part of your life, and hope in a God will never fail us. It's a good one.
Interested in making your own bath bombs? Emma Finley has created a lovely blog post on creating your own bath bombs! You can check it out here.
My online childbirth course is coming to you all soon! We will be ready to launch in just a couple weeks, and my followers will get first access to the course! Head on over to my website alisemarsh.com and check out the promo!
I would love to get to know you! Find me on IG @perfectlywonderfullymade and Facebook @yourbirthclass. It would mean so much to me if you would share the show with your friends & family. Email me anytime with your comments about the show alise@alisemarsh.com
17: Erin Tangen - You are enough. Learning to do less, so that God can do more.
Jan 31, 2018
Show notes
17: Erin Tangen - You are enough. Learning to do less, so that God can do more.
Perfectly, Wonderfully Made - Alise Marsh
Subscribe
Today on the show I chat with my friend Erin Tangen. I met Erin this last fall when we went to Malibu, the Young Life Camp in Canada, for Women’s Weekend. Erin is one of those “fun moms.” You know the kind. The kind of mom that is up for adventure at any time, loves to be creative, and has a passion for learning. She has been married to her husband, Sean, for 22 years. They have 2 kids ages 9 & 11. Erin & her husband have been in full time ministry for 15 years with Young Life. We chat about homeschooling, big moves, having babies, and a life in ministry as a mama.
My online childbirth course is coming to you all soon! We will be ready to launch in just a couple months, and my followers will get first access to the course! Head on over to my website alisemarsh.com and check out the promo!
I would love to get to know you! Find me on IG @perfectlywonderfullymade and Facebook @yourbirthclass. It would mean so much to me if you would share the show with your friends & family. Email me anytime with your comments about the show alise@alisemarsh.com
16: Shannon Addison - Real life survival mode & the grace that sustains us.
Jan 18, 2018
Show notes
16: Shannon Addison - Real life survival mode & the grace that sustains us.
Perfectly, Wonderfully Made - Alise Marsh
Subscribe
This week on the show I chat with my friend Shannon Addison. Shannon is a mama to three gorgeous little girls. She’s a full time mama, wife, and loves to create beautiful photos in the margins of her life. I met Shannon a few years ago in our MOPS group, and I knew pretty quickly I liked this girl. We record this episode when her newest baby girl was just 4 weeks old. It’s an authentic, real and fun conversation. We talk about postpartum life, finding a relationship with the Lord, miscarriage, and what it feels like to add babies to your family. We talk about real life survival mode, and those things that carry us through. I know all you mamas out there are going to be so encouraged by this authentic conversation. You might even catch a whiff of baby fever if you’re lucky.
My online childbirth course is coming to you all soon! We will be ready to launch in just a couple months, and my followers will get first access to the course! I can't wait for you all to see the course!
I would love to get to know you! Find me on IG @perfectlywonderfullymade and Facebook @yourbirthclass. It would mean so much to me if you would share the show with your friends & family. Email me anytime with your comments about the show alise@alisemarsh.com
15: 2018 - Happy New Year!
Jan 02, 2018
Show notes
15 - Happy New Year!
Perfectly, Wonderfully Made - Alise Marsh
Subscribe
Happy New Year everyone! I love this time of year. We reflect on the year before us, and dream about what is to come. Yes, you guessed it, I’m one of those “goals” type of people. That person that loves to set goals, achieve, drive, and passionately pursue ideas set deep in my heart. But this New Year feels so different. A year of heartache and challenge has changed me. In a very good. A very rich and real way.
We had a magical white Christmas in Washington. It started snowing on Christmas Eve and continued all night into Christmas morning. The snow was a perfect little Christmas gift. It was almost like the Lord was saying. I see you, Alise. I hear you. I’m here with you. I know these holidays have been joyous and spectacular, and heart breaking at the same time and I want you to know I’ve got good gifts for you. I have GOOD plans and purposes already set in motion for you. I know this year has been hard, and I want you to know I’ve seen it all and I’m here with you. You guys, I was a wreck. I pray I never forget the magic of watching my kids open their gifts this year and playing in the perfect white snow all afternoon. I just want to seal that memory in my brain forever.
I love “calendaring.” Oh you know sitting down with my Emily Ley Simplified Planner and looking at the months ahead, the weeks, the days ahead. I love the potential of what the future holds. The possibilities. The newness of another year. Another month. Another day. This year, the girl who thrives off of “doing,” achieving, and performance wants to learn something new. I love the hustle, I can’t lie. I love the drive. The push for just a little bit more. The rush, feels so good sometimes. But most of the time, while in the moment it can feel good, I find myself so depleted. I recently finished Shauna Niequest’s, book Present Over Perfect and I couldn’t have related to it more. So this year, I don’t have a list of goals or some beautiful bucket list or to do list. While I do love all of those things. I want to create white space. Margin. Room to breathe. Space to hear from my God. I want to say yes to the right things for me. There’s a whole lot out there to say yes to. Lysa Terkerst writes so perfectly about your Best Yes. I want to say no more often, so that I can say Yes to the right things. I’m going to disappoint people this next year. I just am. There’s not really anyway around that. I pray I disappoint those people closest to me as little as possible. My husband, my kids, and my best of friends. I want to get better at being ME this year. At being the woman, wife, mom, and friend God has made me to be. Just me. Simply me. I’m settling in you guys. After 31 years of life, I'm settling into my imperfections and finding confidence in a God who makes me strong. Becoming a mom has made me so much more confident. You realize just how freaking amazing you are mama, right?. I mean come on. We birth children for crying out loud. Anyone who has seen a woman birth a child, knows that is a miracle in itself. Our bodies change and adapt and continue to sustain us even on days we think they might quit. We get puked on and pooped on and peed on all while lovingly nurture tiny humans. We serve and we serve and we give grace to those who come to us asking for it. We try again. We wake up in the morning, when all we want to do sometimes is hide under the covers. We find joy, that can only come from the Lord and we share it with those who enter our home. I mean come on. It’s amazing right? You are a boss, mama. You’re killing it.
I want to encourage all of you to get quiet, if you haven’t already, and sit with the Lord. Ask him to give you a word, a sentence, a purpose for this year. For This season ahead, that lies in front of us.
The Lord has always called me to encourage women while sharing the Hope I have in Jesus. That hasn’t changed. I don’t believe it ever will. So, here I am doing the thing I believe God has called me to. I’m certainly learning, and growing, and working hard at it. Thank you for journeying with me. Friends, go find me on Voxer. That may be one of my very favorite ways to communicate with people in my life. There’s just something so powerful about hearing someone’s voice. Their emotion. Their thoughts, their feelings. I think that’s why I’ve loved podcasts so much. If you haven’t noticed yet, I do like to talk. This we cannot deny. So this your invitation, go find me on Voxer. I’d love to get to know you!
Okay let’s talk reading lists. I’ve been listening to more audio books these days, than I have physically reading them in my hands. I want to share with you a few books that I’ve recently finished and want you to read:
If there’s something you’ve read that you LOVE tell me, tell me. Send me a message, I’d love to know what you’re reading and what you’re loving. To be really honest, since having kids I kind of thought I was going to have to give up reading. I mean when was I going to find time for that. But, audio books have changed my life!
Many of you know about one of my favorite FREE resources I offer, but for those of you who are new, here for the first time, I’ve created a FREE 6 Day Email Childbirth Course, designed to prepare you for the best birth experience of your life. We will walk through 1 lesson each day for 6 days, getting you the information you need to make the decisions that are best for you & your family. Head on over to my website at alisemarsh.com and sign up for that course today if you’re pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant. So I’ve got some news, for you all. My very favorite listeners. I’m creating a full, comprehensive online childbirth course. We will cover it all. Everything you need to know. It will be ready for the world in a few months, and I’m just giddy thinking about you all getting access to this resource first! Hang tight, it’s coming! Sweet goodness at your fingertips from the comfort of your own home, for you to playback at anytime. I’ll keep you all updated as the release date gets closer.
Thank you guys for hanging out with me today. I’m praying for you all. I’m praying for each person within the sound of my voice to feel the love of a God who cares so deeply for them. I’m praying you feel refreshed this New Years. That regardless of your circumstance, you can find hope in a God who has never left you and never will. You are incredible. Remember that, and let that soak in the next few days this week.
I would love to get to know you! Find me on IG @perfectlywonderfullymade and Facebook @yourbirthclass. It would mean so much to me if you would share the show with your friends & family. Email me anytime with your comments about the show alise@alisemarsh.com
Okay, one last thing before I let you go, would you take a few minutes right now, and scroll down in your podcast app and leave me a rating and write me a review if you haven’t yet? It takes just a few minutes and helps the show so much! I would be so thankful for your support. Thanks for listening! Next week, I’ll be back with another awesome mama and a powerful birth story for you. I’ve got some awesome guests in store for you this year. It’s going to be good. Thanks for joining me! Happy New Year!
14: CHRISTMAS Episode!
Dec 20, 2017
Show notes
14: Christmas Episode! My daughter and husband join me in singing carols and talking Christmas!
Perfectly, Wonderfully Made - Alise Marsh
Subscribe
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! I’ve got a fun Christmas episode for you today! Monroe came out to record with me and makes a special guest appearance. Christmas and this holiday season through the eyes of a small child is just so magical. My husband, Jeff, and I sit and chat about some of our favorite Christmas memories, traditions, and the things we are most looking forward to teaching our children about this time of year. It's a fun one you guys!
We know this time of year can be challenging for so many families. We pray you all find peace knowing the God of the universe loves you so deeply, so perfectly, and so unconditionally today and everyday of your life. That the God of the universe sent his beloved son as a baby to earth. All in an elegant and strategic plan to rescue His chosen people, YOU & ME.
Have a very merry Christmas everyone! I’ll be back next week sharing another amazing mama’s story with you all!
13: Moch Snyder - Cesarean Birth Stories: Finding our identity & worth in the Lord.
Dec 13, 2017
Show notes
13: Moch Snyder - Cesarean Birth Stories: Healing childhood trauma & finding worth in the Lord
Perfectly, Wonderfully Made - Alise Marsh
Subscribe
This week on the show my guest is Moch Snyder! She is wife to Jon, mama to Hudson, Owen, & baby boy #3 on the way! Moch has a powerful testimony and I’m so excited to share her story with you all. She was introduced to a relationship with Jesus through Young Life in high school. We chat about her full life with 2 small boys and 1 coming this February. Moch shares her heart for adoption and dream of opening an orphanage someday. We chat openly about her fears about bringing children into the world, how her past traumas affected her as a wife and mama, and how the Lord has continually shown up for her in each season of her life. Moch shares her 2 cesarean birth stories and her plans for baby number three!
We have a powerful conversation about shame, abuse, and comparison. Moch felt unworthy, exposed, and ugly because of the events she walked through in her past. The Lord has redeemed so much pain in her life, and used it to transform her into someone who is a worthy, rightful princess in the Kingdom of God. The Lord has shown her how beautiful she already is. It is a redemption story, sure to build your faith!
I would love to get to know you! Find me on IG @perfectlywonderfullymade and Facebook @yourbirthclass. It would mean so much to me if you would share the show with your friends & family. Email me anytime with your comments about the show alise@alisemarsh.com
If you are interested in sharing your birth story on the show, or know of a mama who has an incredible story to share please message me at alise@alisemarsh.com
12: Dana Ruch - Serving a God who turns our broken pieces into a beautiful masterpiece.
Nov 30, 2017
Show notes
12: Dana Ruch - Serving a God who turns our broken pieces into a beautiful masterpiece.
Perfectly, Wonderfully Made - Alise Marsh
Subscribe
Today on the show I chat with my friend Dana Ruch. Dana was a few grades ahead of me in high school and graduated with my husband, Jeff. Dana is Mental Health Counselor at a hospital in Tacoma. She is a certified health coach through the institute of integrative nutrition and a certified yoga instructor. Dana shares her story of recovery with us after being hit by a drunk driver, where she suffered a traumatic brain injury and had to deal with the symptoms of anxiety, emotional disregulation and poor memory. Dana was so blessed to keep her life through that accident and is a living testimony of the saving power of God. She met her husband, Jon after her accident and was married 8 months later. Dana got pregnant with her first baby on their honeymoon! She shares her struggles with depression in pregnancy and her unplanned cesarean birth with her first son. Dana lost her second baby when she miscarried after her oldest was just over a year old. She got pregnant quickly after her miscarriage and experienced a whirlwind of emotions during her second pregnancy. We chat about what she felt like walking into the hospital knowing she was going to have a second cesarean birth.
She found yoga through her recovery after her accident. Yoga was a way for her to not only heal her physical injuries and regain strength, but helped to heal her emotionally as well. We chat about life as a busy working mama, walking through life with the Lord when it’s just hard and uncertain at times, and learning to trust the Lord in each season of her life
Dana shares openly about her desires of being a stay at home mama, and being grateful for the season she is in. The Lord has been so faithful to redeem those broken pieces of her life. He’s taken things that have been roadblocks and challenges and used them to bring glory to His name. Dana shares that these challenging seasons of her life have drawn her closer to the Lord and she’s so thankful for that. We serve such a creative, beautiful God who so intricately and delicately shapes our broken pieces into something spectacular. I know you're going to find encouragement in her words today!
As always, I would love it if you would share the show with your friends & family. Find me on IG @perfectlywonderfullymade and Facebook @yourbirthclass. I would love to connect with you! Email me anytime with your comments about the show alise@alisemarsh.com
11: Katie Blackburn - 3 Babies in 3 Years - Her story of motherhood, special needs, and trusting the Lord.
Nov 21, 2017
Show notes
Katie Blackburn: 3 Babies in 3 Years - Her story of motherhood, special needs, and trusting the Lord
Perfectly, Wonderfully Made - Alise Marsh
Subscribe
I grew up going on family vacations with my friend and guest this week Katie Blackburn. Katie was just a little bit older than I was, and I always looked up to her so much even as a little girl. I looked forward to each winter vacation we would take together and the time we got to spend adventuring as kids. I've loved watching Katie become a mama and raise her three gorgeous babies. I'm so excited to share my conversation with Katie with you all this week. You guys are going to be so blessed by Katie's genuine love for people and her heart to chase after the things of God.
Katie is married to the love of her life, Alex. She has three babies, Harper Kristin (December 2012), Cannon Lee (May 2014), and Jordi Daniel (November 2015). She had three babies in three years, and loves the life she has been given. Just over a year ago now, in October of 2016, her son Cannon was diagnosed with autism, and she so openly shares about how the Lord has shown up for her and has brought peace to her in every season of her life. Katie is a writing instructor at her local college, a contributor at Coffee + Crumbs, and has co-authored her first book The Magic of Motherhood. Katie also writes beautiful essays about her faith & family on her blog Just Enough Brave.
Katie tells us she went into her first birth experience feeling pretty over confident and what she would later find out was very unprepared. She thought to herself, “how hard could this really be?” I'm sure there are many of us out there who can relate to those feelings.
With the birth of her third baby, she had different hopes and really wanted to try for an un-medicated birth. I loved our conversation about surrender. How she learned to give her desires over to the Lord in labor with her third baby. She had the hard & beautiful un-medicated delivery she had always hoped for.
Katie shares with us about her son, Cannon’s, autism II diagnoses. She talks about the blessing of being on the same page with her spouse, regarding Cannon, and how time with Jesus allowed her to gain perspective and strength for each day. Katie tells us the most unexpected thing about having a child with special needs was the way it changed her faith. The Lord became so much bigger and so much more real for her. Her prayer for Cannon is that the works of God might be displayed in and through him. I loved listening to Katie talk about hope and how she manages her days with three little ones. You’re going to love our conversation about self care and self comfort on today’s show.
As always, I would love it if you would share the show with your friends & family. Find me on IG @perfectlywonderfullymade and Facebook @yourbirthclass. I would love to connect with you! Email me anytime with your comments about the show alise@alisemarsh.com
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
