Today in Focus The Birth Keepers: Building an empire – episode four
Jan 1, 2026
Emily Saldea, founder of the Free Birth Society, discusses her controversial journey of transforming the organization into a multimillion-dollar business amidst public scrutiny. The conversation explores the shift to a private membership model and the expansion into various paid offerings, including courses and retreats. Former students voice safety concerns about the training provided, which mixes marketing strategies with minimal emergency guidance. The episode also addresses the financial motivations underlying FBS's growth and the dire consequences for some participants.
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Private Membership Made A Business Empire
- Turning the Free Birth Society membership private allowed Emily Saldea to monetise and scale the community into a multimillion-dollar business.
- The paywalled model shifted FBS from grassroots support to a revenue-driven enterprise that expanded products and fees.
Follower To Paid Community Leader
- Serendipity Day joined FBS after hearing Emily Saldea and quickly believed it would change her life and bring clients as a doula.
- She moved from follower to paid community leader, running calls and promoting events for Emily.
Multiple High-Value Revenue Streams
- FBS diversified revenue: expensive membership, flagship courses, one-on-one coaching and live events, increasing profit per member.
- Services included high-ticket courses and costly hourly coaching, signalling commercialisation over purely educational aims.