Today’s podcast episode is a challenge… are you truly behind on tasks or simply expecting too much from yourself? Today we evaluate our “failures” of 2025 and in doing so also evaluate our self-expectations! 

One thing that is universally true about all of us and therefore all of our businesses: We must keep growing. Yes, GROWING. We have to. It’s natural. There’s not a world in which our natural instinct is to shrink! We grow, we flourish, we bloom, we thrive. That is what we do when left in the best of environments. Imagine your business like your favorite plant. You don’t just put it in a corner and hope it’s good enough, you water, you feed it, you tend it, you prune it, you repot it, etc. to help it thrive and in that thriving you have pride because you know it is thriving because of you! 

This week’s episode is a mix of honesty, birth-room reality, and the kind of end-of-year reflection doulas rarely give themselves time for. After two babies arrived on my supposed CEO days (because of course they did), I found myself thinking about the emotional skill it takes to support clients through births that don’t go according to plan—and how that mirrors the emotional skill it takes to evaluate our own businesses honestly. I’m talking about rates, worth, sustainability, and the surprising places where we limit our own growth, even when we swear we’re dreaming big.

According to the National Institute of Health: “Doula care in perinatal care was significantly correlated with positive delivery outcomes including reduced cesarean and premature deliveries. Doula support, specifically in low-income women, was shown to improve breastfeeding success, with quicker lactogenesis and continued breastfeeding weeks after childbirth. The emotional support provided by doulas was seen to reduce anxiety and stress during the labor period and reduce the length of labor. Women with a doula during childbirth helped raise their confidence and autonomy throughout labor.” But we know that right? Today’s episode is about the important work we do.

Here’s the truth — clarity without support usually fades. Planning is step one, but implementation? That’s where growth actually happens.
In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why I invite you to work with me, what that offer really represents, and how learning to sell your own services with confidence is part of stepping into true CEO energy.

There was a time when my business was pure chaos — lots of hustle, lots of energy, and very little direction. I call it my squirrel era. 🐿️
In this episode, I’m sharing how I went from reactive and overworked to strategic and sustainable. We’ll talk about why clarity beats hustle every time, how to figure out what actually moves your business forward, and what it means to start running your doula business like a CEO instead of a squirrel with a to-do list.

Going full-time as a doula? Yeah—it’s a lot. Life doesn’t stop just because you’re trying to build a business that actually works. In this replay, I’m talking with one of my first ever coaching students, Dominique Jones, about what it took to find her rhythm in the chaos. She’s real, she’s brilliant, and her story might sound a lot like yours.

We have a guest!!! At long last we are joined by Lisa Vee of the podcast Loudmouth Lisa about why selling feels so awkward for heart-led birth workers — and how to reframe it into something sacred, powerful, and effective. Lisa shares personal stories, myth-busting, and tangible strategies so doulas can stop undercharging, stop getting ghosted, and finally book clients with confidence.

Sometimes the hardest part of being a doula isn’t the long labors or tricky consultations—it’s learning how to take a compliment. In this episode, I share the story of being called the “best doula in DC” by clients and what it stirred up for me as both a birth professional and business coach. We’ll talk about imposter syndrome, celebrating wins, and why learning to receive positive feedback is essential for growing a sustainable doula business. If you’ve ever struggled to believe what your clients already know about you, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I’m sharing a more personal side of my journey—the reality of being a trauma and sexual assault survivor while building a thriving doula business. Healing and helping can feel like they pull us in opposite directions, but I’ve learned they can also fuel one another in powerful ways. My hope is that this conversation gives you permission to honor your own story while still pursuing the work you love.

"From babies to teens, the messy middle of life and business" is a concept I know well. In this episode, I dive into the realities of balancing my personal life—raising two teenagers and a preteen—with the demands of supporting new parents and guiding doulas in their careers. In today’s episode I share my personal journey through "the messy middle," offering insights into managing the complexities of family life alongside a thriving business.

It’s fall and it’s good to be back at it with the Doula Tips and Tits listeners! Today’s episode dives into the productivity and business changes that came with my summer time off (and how it wasn’t entirely time off after all! Babies!)

We are givers. That is a superpower. But it also can be an excuse to not charge more and be sustainable ourselves! If you are slowly wasting away you are serving NO ONE well. I need you to take that seriously with me please. 

Being a passion-driven doula does not equal being broke dear doula! Open your eyes and mind to the possibility of great financial sustainability AND passion and ethics in this work. We can be about justice and equity and support from a place of passion. Both can be true at once.

Be a rule breaker!!! I am talking today about how you should be breaking all the rules. Now, what do I mean when I say that? Keep listening so that you have the correct context for what this even means. When I say that, what I mean is traditional business practices don't always apply to us as doulas. 

What does a doula business coach even do?? If you’re asking yourself this question today we are breaking it down! Thanks to a question from a prospective client this past month. 

You became a doula to support families—not to create reels. But visibility still matters. In this episode, I’m breaking down what real, sustainable marketing looks like and how to build trust *without* burning out on Instagram.

Jhenielle asked: [summarized] How do you balance the flow of information that you send to clients in a way that they're not getting too much information and overwhelm, but also not sending too little information. When some people hire you immediately after finding out they’re pregnant and others in the 3rd trimester who do you balance what to send to both of those people and automate some of that?

Summer can feel weird when the birth calendar thins out. But slower seasons are part of sustainable doula work. In this episode, I’m offering ideas for how to rest, plan, and use your slower season to your advantage—without guilt or pressure.

Feel like you’re working your ass off and still not seeing growth? You’re not alone—and it’s not your fault. In this episode, I break down the most common reasons doula businesses stall out, and what to do instead to actually move forward with clarity and momentum.