A Wild Start to Doula Life

Imagine this: you walk into your first birth doula training, and BAM! You’re handed a tote bag that screams, “birth is for p*ssies.” Sounds like a weird episode of a sitcom, right? Well, that’s how Hannah Shealy kicked off her journey into the world of birthing badassery. As she dove deeper into her doula classes, something struck her: “This ain’t like the movies folks!”

Forget the Drama!

While most films portray birth as this dramatic, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride filled with screams and chaos, Hannah had a different mantra. “The real stories are in the moments leading up to that baby making its grand entrance,” she quips. She realized this misconception could scare the socks off anyone contemplating childbirth. Instead of adding to the fear factor, Hannah aimed to flip the script and empower soon-to-be-moms.

Meeting the Right Producer

In her quest to bring her unique vision to life, she sought out an “indie warrior” to help produce Birth is for P*ssies. Enter Celine Sutter! Ready to shake things up, Celine read Hannah’s script and thought, “Heck yeah, let’s do this!” And just like that, a partnership was born like a baby, but, you know, with less screaming.

Two Worlds, One Story

When the pilot premiered at SXSW, it tossed audiences into a whirlwind of birth stories from two completely different worlds. Hannah’s character, Maya, meets a fancy couple from Tribeca before diving into her first real doula experience with a single mom from the Bronx who’s got way more grit than glam. Talk about a plot twist!

Punk Rock and Birth? Sign Me Up!

Now, here’s where it gets really interesting. Hannah describes birth as slightly “punk rock.” Yep, you heard that right. So, she thought it only made sense to have a soundtrack that matches that vibe. Cue the music: enter Mikaela Mullaney Straus, or as we like to call her, King Princess. With her latest album Girl Violence flying off the shelves, it was almost like destiny that she’d be involved in this project.

Breaking the Mold with Sound

King Princess, who admittedly didn’t know much about birth before this gig, instantly connected with Hannah’s story. “God, birth is really punk rock!” she thought. With influences from the band IDLES and a sprinkle of “shrieky and feminine” energy, King Princess was all in. “Let’s make it sound kind of punk and crazy!” she declared. Because why not add a little chaos to the whole birthing process, right?

The Perfect Blend

What’s cool is how the themes of the show and the killer soundtrack mesh together—kind of like peanut butter and jelly, but, you know, for grownups. King Princess expressed her excitement about blending film and music, saying, “You can’t have one without the other!” It’s a mutual admiration fest of creativity.

Socially Relevant Debut

Sutter had her fingers crossed at SXSW, as showcasing this kind of narrative on television was a gamble, especially given the hot topic of reproductive rights in Texas. Thankfully, the audience didn’t just like it—they loved it! The pilot snagged the Audience Award at the Independent TV Pilot Competition. Talk about a rising star!

The Future Looks Bright

With this warm reception and trailblazing themes, Birth is for P*ssies is not just a show; it’s a movement. It paves the way for conversations around pregnancy that are fresh, fun, and fiercely unapologetic. Here’s to changing the narrative—one gut-wrenching, punk rock soundtrack at a time!