The Sage Steele Show: Riley Gaines & Louis Barker - Life as New Parents (EP 78)

Date: October 22, 2025
Host: Sage Steele
Guests: Riley Gaines & Louis Barker

Episode Overview

This heartfelt episode of The Sage Steele Show offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at Riley Gaines (noted former collegiate swimmer and women's sports advocate), her husband Louis Barker, and their early days as new parents to baby Margo. The conversation, held in their Tennessee home, is a deep dive into pregnancy, delivery, postpartum experiences, family values, and how their public roles as advocates intersect with private joys and challenges. The episode also traverses their romantic origin story, tense moments in the hospital, dealing with societal pressures, their approach to faith, and plans for the future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stepping Into Motherhood (01:35–05:40)

• Riley’s Natural Transition:

  • Riley shares that motherhood feels instinctual and is her “purpose in life.”
  • “I feel like stepping into this role as a mom now, like I was made for this. Like, I feel like this is my purpose in life, is being a mother.” (Riley, 01:44)
  • She describes an easy pregnancy, delivery, and a surprising desire for another child immediately after giving birth.

• Louie’s Emotional Experience:

  • Louie admits to being overwhelmed with emotion at the birth, trying to remain composed but ultimately crying when hearing Margo’s first cries. (06:00–07:14)
  • Riley notes how witnessing Louie’s reaction deepened her love and affirmed his suitability as a “girl dad.”
  • “As soon as I heard that cry, all bets were off.” (Louie, 06:00)

2. Family Dynamics & Gender Roles (08:16–11:01)

• Louie, raised with a brother, expected to have a boy first but instantly embraced being a “girl dad” upon Margo's birth.
• Riley shares appreciation for Louie’s selflessness, his treatment of women in her life, and efforts to bond with Margo (including buying pink camo and learning how to tie hair bows via Facebook reels).
• Lighthearted banter about “dad hacks” and balancing masculine/feminine traits in modern fatherhood.

3. Physical Recovery and Societal Narratives (13:25–17:15)

• Riley speaks about her rapid recovery and positive experiences, acknowledging the societal shaming that sometimes greets mothers who share uplifting birth stories.
• She stresses the importance of sharing positive narratives to counter the dominant discourse of trauma/fear around childbirth for future generations.
• “I want to be one of those birth stories that you hear and you realize, like, oh, there are good stories.” (Riley, 14:33)

4. Birth Story & Hospital Experience (18:03–32:01)

• Riley and Louie walk through the details: Riley’s planned natural birth, being induced, handling intense contractions, decision for an epidural, and tense moments with dropping heart rates.
• Louie’s protective yet calm presence; details of writing a thorough birth plan including vaccine preferences, people in the room, etc.
• Memorable moment: Using a mirror during delivery to see her baby being born, which Riley found highly motivating and emotional. (28:21–31:15)
• “I was like, I want to see what’s going on. ... I think that will help me with the pushing too.” (Riley, 28:21)

5. Placenta Encapsulation & Other Postpartum Practices (29:41–34:45)

• Riley explains her decision to keep and encapsulate her placenta into pills for supposed postpartum health benefits.
• Candid discussion and humor about the process—Louie teases about “placenta jerky.”
• They also discuss delayed cord clamping and selective newborn procedures (Vitamin K shot, but no immediate vaccines).

6. Deliberate Parenting Choices: Vaccines, Pediatricians, Research (36:07–49:36)

• The couple details extensive research on infant vaccinations, motivated by distrust in post-COVID authorities.
• Comparison between American and UK vaccination practices; decision to delay certain shots, select preservative-free options, and their research sources (“The Vaccine Friendly Plan” and “Vax Facts”).
• Insight into the difficulty finding unbiased information and medical professionals willing to support their choices.
• Discussion of incentives in the healthcare system for fully vaccinated patients and challenges in pediatric care for unvaccinated infants.

7. Balancing Public Advocacy and Family Safety (69:26–91:04)

• They recount the volatility and dangers attached to Riley’s advocacy for women’s sports—especially threats and violence encountered on college campuses.
• Louie shares the helplessness of being away during alarming incidents, such as Riley’s physical assault at an event.
• They explain their decision to shield Margo’s identity online and form boundaries around her involvement in public life.
• “You go for the family. ... She’s not going to be coming to campuses with us.” (Louie, 86:33)
• Honest assessment of adapting to the heightened risks after the public assassination of Charlie Kirk, a friend and fellow advocate, and how it has impacted their security considerations.

8. Their Faith as Anchor (96:42–103:19)

• Riley and Louie discuss faith as central to their marriage and approach to parenting, including how adversity led them to deeper spiritual surrender.
• Louie details his transition to a more active faith life in America and credits Riley and her family for spiritual growth.
• They deliberate the responsibility of churches to address moral and political issues from the pulpit, as relevant to navigating today’s culture wars.

9. The Love Story: College, Proposal, and Partnership (57:19–70:54)

• Lighthearted reminiscences about meeting as swimmers at the University of Kentucky, with Riley “calling dibs” on Louie and family reactions to dating a fellow swimmer.
• Louie’s unique, sentimental engagement: repurposing a family ring, picking a nontraditional design, and proposing in the rain outside the Titans’ stadium.
• The proposal and wedding segued into life’s major turning points, including Riley’s public advocacy.

10. Aspirations & Hopes for Margo (110:40–114:29)

• Riley and Louie share their dreams for Margo: to be loved, to value being a woman, to live in a fair and just world, and to benefit from the stands her parents have taken.
• “We want to leave them in a better place than we were. If we can do that, then we’ve done our job.” (Louie, 112:58)
• Nightly rituals of affirmations and prayers for Margo’s future.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Instant Motherhood:

  • “The moment she was placed on my chest, she starts looking for food. It just was all so natural. I have loved every single second of being a mom.” (Riley, 01:44–02:54)

• On Unexpected Joy:

  • “My legs are, like, still in the stirrups in the hospital bed... I look at him, I’m like, OK, I’m ready to do it again.” (Riley, 02:58)

• On Faith:

  • “When you know where your identity is found, who cares of things of this world?” (Riley, 75:31)

• On Parenting Partnership:

  • “I can so appreciate there...is a very touching emotional side to you.” (Riley to Louie, 54:37)

• On Navigating Public Life:

  • “We thrive in uncomfortable encounters...But if she’s uncomfortable with stuff, that’s...where I listen.” (Louie, 90:20–91:04)

• On Legacy for Their Child:

  • “We, like, tell her that she’s beautiful...she will be very smart, she will be very successful...and we say our prayers together every night.” (Riley, 110:40–112:58)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Motherhood & Birth Story: 01:35–13:25
• Louie’s Reaction as a New Dad: 06:00–09:14
• Pregnancy and Recovery Discourse: 13:25–17:15
• Hospital Experience & Delivery Narrative: 18:03–32:01
• Placenta Encapsulation & Postpartum Practices: 29:41–34:45
• Vaccination Choices/Research: 36:07–49:36
• Family & Safety Amidst Advocacy: 69:26–91:04
• Faith in Marriage & Parenting: 96:42–103:19
• Romantic Origin Story & Proposal: 57:19–70:54
• Hopes for Margo: 110:40–114:29

Tone & Style

The episode intertwines warmth, humor, vulnerability, and conviction. Riley and Louie are candid, thoughtful, and sometimes self-deprecating, with Sage steering the conversation toward the deeper motivations that inform their choices as partners and parents. The mood alternates between reflective, playful, fiercely principled, and sincerely grateful—a true peek into the heart of a family navigating extraordinary circumstances, still putting faith and family first.