Is beef tallow actually good for your skin? James Giles, founder of True Origin Skincare, breaks down the ingredients, the myths, and how to apply tallow balm for real results.

In this episode of Momtroversial, Alyssa and Leeah talk with James about his journey from searching for relief from an autoimmune condition to building a regenerative tallow skincare line. You'll hear the science behind tallow, why regenerative farming matters, how he balances a full-time job and a small business with family life, and why authentic marketing builds real community.

⚠️ This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor before making changes to your skincare or health routine.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE

- The science and ingredients behind tallow skincare

- Debunking myths about nutrient density in tallow

- Regenerative farming and sourcing quality suet

- Bioactives like castor oil and rose hip

- Application tips (hint: damp skin)

- Using tallow for sunburn and skin healing

- Balancing entrepreneurship, a full-time job, and family

🛍️ MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

True Origin Skincare: https://trueoriginskincare.com?ref=momtroversialpodcast

Use code: Momtroversialpodcast

(Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission or referral credit when you shop through this link or use our code, at no extra cost to you.)

🤝 CONNECT WITH JAMES

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trueoriginskincare

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trueoriginskincare

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 👋 Meet James Giles & True Origin Skincare

03:04 🩺 James's Autoimmune Journey & the Science Behind His Products

06:58 🐄 Discovering Tallow & Balancing a Full-Time Job with a Small Business

12:02 🧴 Formulation Approach & Authentic Social Media Marketing

15:55 🔬 Debunking Tallow Nutrient-Density Myths & Finding Mentorship

19:55 🌱 Regenerative Farming, Scaling & Manufacturing Challenges

24:00 🌍 How Regenerative Farming Impacts Soil + Family Support

28:00 🥩 Sourcing Quality Suet & the Power of Raw Content

32:02 🌹 Castor Oil, Rose Hip & Bioactives + Where to Find James

36:55 💧 How to Apply Tallow: Damp Skin Tips

42:03 ☀️ Tallow for Sunburn & Skin Healing

46:54 ✨ Future Products & the Passion Behind True Origin

52:00 🎙️ Closing Thoughts & Key Takeaways

📲 FOLLOW MOMTROVERSIAL

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/momtroversial.podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momtroversial_podcast

⚠️ Reminder: This content is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified professional about your health.

#MomtroversialPodcast #BeefTallow #TallowSkincare #NaturalSkincare #RegenerativeFarming #SmallBusiness #TrueOriginSkincare #MomPodcast #WomenInBusiness

Wondering what a home birth really looks like from the inside? Alyssa shares her home birth story with her husband Ryan, her mom Dianna, and midwife Karen Pope, CNM (Certified Nurse-Midwife).

Hear how trust, communication, and informed consent shaped every decision, from the first signs of labor to the moment baby arrived.

⚠️ This episode shares personal birth experiences and opinions. It is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, so please talk with your own qualified healthcare provider about your care and birth decisions.

🎙️ In this episode:

- Alyssa's full home birth story, from her last date night to birth at home

- Dianna's honest first reactions to the idea of a home birth

- Karen's perspective on informed consent, trust, and communication with your midwife

- The difference between a pregnancy mindset and a labor mindset

- Supporting women in their birth choices, including elective C-sections

- Postpartum care, placenta delivery, and recovery

- Delayed cord clamping and minimal intervention

- How midwives work in home and hospital settings, and how emergency decisions are handled

Hosted by Alyssa Crone. Featuring Ryan, Dianna, and Karen Pope, CNM.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 🎙️ Introduction: Alyssa's Home Birth Story & Meet Karen Pope, CNM

02:36 🧠 Pregnancy Mindset vs. Labor Mindset

05:07 💬 Supporting Women in Their Birth Choices

07:04 👩‍👧 Dianna's First Thoughts on Home Birth

10:23 🤱 Postpartum Care & Placenta Delivery

15:45 🏡 Midwives in Home & Hospital Births

16:41 🌙 Labor Begins & Last Date Night

18:32 💧 Water Breaks & Early Signs of Labor

19:59 🤝 Karen Arrives & Checking Progress with Permission

23:23 🌸 Normal Birth & Avoiding Unnecessary Exams

25:14 ⏱️ Delayed Cord Clamping

30:04 🫶 Building Trust & the Labor Support Team

35:07 🌿 Supporting Women Through Transition & Recovery

37:30 🛁 Transition & Active Labor in the Pool

41:10 👶 Birth & Family Support

45:33 💪 Labor Pain, Blunt Support & Staying vs. Going to the Hospital

47:17 🤍 Respecting Birth Choices, Emergency Protocols & Final Reflections

👩‍⚕️ Connect with Karen Pope, CNM

🌐 Website: https://tucsonhomebirth.com

✉️ Email: karen@gracefulbeginnings.llc

✅ Karen offers free consultations and lists Tricare coverage.

📅 Karen is not taking clients May–June 2027 (as of September 2026).

🔗 Follow Momtroversial

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/momtroversial.podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momtroversial_podcast

Momtroversial is three military moms keeping it real. It's fine, we're fine, everything is fine!

⚠️ Disclaimer: This episode reflects personal experiences and opinions and is not medical advice. Please consult your own qualified healthcare provider about your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.

#MomtroversialPodcast #MilitaryMoms #HomeBirthStory #WaterBirth #Midwife #BirthChoices #InformedConsent #MomPodcast #Motherhood #MilitaryFamily #ParentingPodcast #Tricare

⚠️ Disclaimer: This episode discusses personal experiences with home birth, mastitis, and postpartum mental health. Alyssa and Leeah are sharing what worked for them — this is not medical advice. Please consult your OB, midwife, or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.

Postpartum with baby #3 hits different — and Alyssa and Leeah are back to talk about exactly how. In this honest, practical conversation, they compare recovery, sleep, mastitis, and postpartum anxiety across multiple births, and share what actually felt easier this time around.

In this episode:

• How postpartum prep changed from baby to baby — packed bags, birth prep, and setting up the baby space early
• Home birth vs. birth center vs. hospital transitions, compared side by side
• Leeah's postpartum experience while PCS-ing from South Korea to Florida
• Why having older kids can make postpartum easier, not harder
• Sleep strategies: swaddles, sleep sacks, co-sleeping for feeds, and protecting a morning sleep block
• Mastitis — how fast it can hit, the symptoms, and what helped avoid antibiotics
• Postpartum anxiety: spiraling thoughts, nervous-system stress, and grounding tools that helped
• Why paternity leave matters more with multiple kids and big life transitions
• Small family rituals that help reconnect with older siblings during the newborn season

Notable Quotes:

• "The third baby is the best baby."
• "We're on zone defense now instead of being like man to man."
• "I would have three more babies with no epidural before I would do mastitis again."

Timestamped Chapters

00:00 🎙️ Why they missed each other and what this episode covers
02:52 👶 Comparing third postpartum experiences across multiple kids
03:49 🎒 Earlier prep for Killian and what stayed the same
05:29 🏠 Home birth prep — physical and mental readiness
07:25 🔄 How the transition home changed postpartum stress
08:12 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Bringing a newborn home with older siblings
10:44 💡 Why older kids can make postpartum easier
12:42 🤝 How home birth helped the older kids understand the baby
14:06 🗣️ What postpartum mental health topics they are (and aren't) covering
15:32 😴 Sleep deprivation, pain, and early feeding weeks
16:06 ✈️ Leeah's postpartum during a cross-world move
18:28 💕 Why Cillian felt like the right baby for this season
19:59 🌙 Safe co-sleeping and night feeds without waking dad
22:48 👶 Baby temperament and why baby #3 can feel easier
23:36 ☀️ Split-night support for a real morning sleep block
25:43 🔦 The red-light headlamp trick for night feeds
28:08 🍼 Swaddle transitions and rough sleep nights return
29:19 🚨 Mastitis hits — symptoms, speed, and how fast it changes
30:16 💊 What helped Alyssa avoid antibiotics
31:22 😣 Leeah's mastitis experience — her worst sickness
33:37 ⏳ Why mastitis can still happen later in postpartum
38:32 😰 Postpartum anxiety, fear spirals, and intrusive what-ifs
44:08 🌙 Leeah's anxiety showing up as dreams and nervous-system stress
45:39 🙏 Breathing exercises and prayer as grounding tools
47:34 👨‍👶 Why paternity leave matters so much
49:16 📊 Comparing Ryan's leave across different babies
52:00 🧭 How routine and support ease the postpartum transition
55:56 💬 Momtroversial Moments: snuggle time before bed
58:30 💬 Momtroversial Moments: kids learning games differently

#MomtroversialPodcast #MomtroversialMoments #PostpartumJourney #PostpartumRecovery #ThirdBaby #HomeBirth #MilitaryFamily #PCSLife #PostpartumAnxiety #NewbornSleep #BigSiblings #MotherhoodUnfiltered #MomLife #MilitaryMoms #ParentingJourney #NewbornCare #MomSupport