“Comadrona” is a three-part podcast that served as a senior thesis for GCH B.A. student, Naomi Delaplane-Yusem in Spring 2025. In this project, she explored how Indigenous midwifery continues to thrive in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, despite the rise of medicalized models of care, particularly in women’s health.
She wanted her thesis to be grounded in creativity and connection, and a podcast felt like the perfect medium. Over six months, she developed and produced this series, which weaved together storytelling, academic analysis, and the sounds of traditional birthwork in action. In March 2025, she traveled to the highlands of Guatemala, where she had the privilege of learning alongside traditional midwives, known as comadronas. She lived at a local birth center, attending prenatal and postpartum visits, witnessing births, participating in ceremonies, and sharing meals and conversations with the comadronas.
This podcast invites listeners into her journey in Guatemala. It not only documents her experience but also examines the contrasts between midwifery care in the United States and Guatemala. Additionally, she unpacks the concept of “cultural humility” and explores how it could transform modern birthwork.
Episode 1: Pregnancy
This episode serves as an introduction to the series and offers an overview of the differences, and similarities, between health care models in the United States and Guatemala. Naomi weaved together excerpts from her time in Quetzaltenango to lay the foundation for a story-led exploration of maternal care. Through reflection, she gets curious about how two very different systems can still share a common thread: commanding women’s health.
Episode 2: Birth
In this episode, Naomi dives deeper into her experience in Guatemala, sharing the teachings and wisdom of the comadronas. Through interviews, shared lessons, and group discussion, she aims to create a space for learning, one shaped directly by the voices of the women she learned from.
Episode 3: Postpartum
This episode explores what it means to practice cultural humility within biomedical spaces. In a conversation with Ph.D. student and friend, Martina Spain, they reflect on what Indigenous birth practices can teach us: not just about care, but about active listening, respect, and the relationship between provider and patient. Together, they dared to question if stepping back might actually be the most powerful way to step forward in redefining healthcare.