Doula Well Podcast

We continue our series of conversations with birth workers who have made a mark in our field. Today’s guest is Dr. Amy Gilliland! We have a wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation about how doulas relate to each other, a doula’s scope, the medical system, and more! Dr. Gilliland is an independent PhD researcher and educator. She is the author of ‘The Heart of the Doul

Doula Well Podcast Season 3 has dropped! I'm shaking a few things up and the theme of this season is simply 'Conversations'. The next 10 episodes or so of the podcast will simply focus on talking to movers and shakers I want to hear from! (While I'm at it, I'll have a more chill episode release schedule, too!) This allows me more freedom to pour myself into a very exciting upcoming

What if our conventional ways of doula support actually hinders our clients in their parenting? That sounds harsh, but this conversion with Dr. Britta Bushnell is anything but. With her warm, inviting, and wise spirit, Dr. Bushnell gently points us towards a practice model that honors new parents in their role. I’m so excited for you to hear this interview! As the author of the w

There are times when the doula needs support…and a lot of it! In this episode, I chat with Tracey Abney all about doula’ing through hard births and health issues. With refreshing vulnerability, Tracey shares candidly about certifying as a doula through her own repeated pregnancy losses, managing a bustling business through maternity leave, and pivoting her business through baff

When our clients face loss, it can be a shock. What should doulas consider when their clients miscarry? How does support look when a client’s baby receives a fatal diagnosis? How do you process the immediate trauma of a lost heartbeat in the labor room, while still showing up for the family? With grace, compassion, and skill Dr. Abby Jorgensen offers guidance to birthworkers supp

Is there any legal liability a doula could have as a birth attendant? Could a doula ever be sued or deposed? Just when you thought you were feeling confident…there’s a whole host of dicey situations a doula may find themselves in! Birth Injury Lawyer Marlie Willer can help! Following Marlie’s work has honestly given me such hope and clarity concerning birth justice. Marlie fo

As we continue discussing ‘on-call life’ as a primary source of burnout for doulas, I am so happy to share a conversation with a birthworker who’s found an innovative way to still serve families and avoid on-call burnout. Kyleigh Banks burst onto the scene with her Instagram account ‘Autonomy Mommy’ which currently boasts over 27K followers. Kyleigh runs a highly successf

“Unless I’m at a birth.” Every doula feels - or has felt - the tension of being on-call in their careers. And ‘being on call’ is one of the most-cited reasons for doula burnout. That’s why I wanted to dedicate several episodes regarding the on-call life in this season tackling doula burnout. I could think of no better place to start than this vulnerable, honest, and enl

You would be hard pressed to find a birthworker who does not have an experience with a hostile provider. And there’s perhaps no better professional in the birth world to understand how to work with hostile providers than L&D nurses! Sarah Lavonne is the pioneering founder & CEO of Bundle Birth, A Nursing Corporation. This episode was one of my favorites to record because I’ve b

Despite awareness and accountability of obstetric violence having grown over the last decades, mistreatment remains pervasive in maternity care. And being witnesses to obstetrical violence can certainly burn doulas out! Dr. Hillary Melchiors is paying attention, and has insights and solutions that will help doulas navigate OB violence and sustain themselves through their careers.