Kelli Brien Talks About Being a Doula and.a Midwife
Release Date: 10/04/2020
Interview with Maggie Runyon
The Birth Geeks' podcast
Maggie Runyon became a nurse to help and found out quickly that saving the entire healthcare system and everyone in it was a fast ticket to burnout. In this interview we discuss her book I Thought I Was Here to Help, along with strategies for advocacy, community, & support for all of us that work as perinatal professionals.
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Interview with Dr. Connie Liu
The Birth Geeks' podcast
Rural medicine, Indian Health Service, MD advocacy, and so much more
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Doula Power, Payment, and Policy: Insights from Andrea Ford’s Anthropological Perspective
The Birth Geeks' podcast
The messy magic of being a doula! In this episode of The Birth Geeks, we sit down with Dr. Andrea Ford, anthropologist, doula, and author of Near Birth, to explore the strange, powerful, and often contradictory world of modern birthwork. What even is a doula today? A sister or a professional? A rebel or a regulated service? A support system or a scapegoat? We unpack it ALL: The tension between respect and reimbursement Why doulas are praised for outcomes they can’t control What happens when community care meets institutional demands And how birthwork quietly...
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From NICU Mom to National Voice: LaToshia Rouse on Flexibility, Boundaries, and Birthwork That Matters
The Birth Geeks' podcast
How do you go from spreadsheets to spinning babies, and end up on national perinatal boards? In this episode, Hillary sits down with LaToshia Rouse, a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and speaker who brings her whole self (and sometimes her whole family!) to the work of changing maternal care from the inside out. We talk about: Parenting triplets and how NICU life shaped LaToshia’s why How doulas can support clients without overextending themselves What it really takes to build connections with hospital systems Why flexibility, strong boundaries, and knowing your...
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What We Miss When We Medicalize: Postpartum Depression in Global Contexts
The Birth Geeks' podcast
Today on The Birth Geeks, we spoke with Dr. Sarah Rubin about her research on motherhood and postpartum depression in South Africa. She shared eye-opening insights on how culture and social support shape the experiences of new mothers, especially in under-resourced communities. We dove into the challenges of measuring mental health across cultures and why context matters in global maternal health. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about birth, wellness, and understanding the bigger picture.
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Shaping Birth Experiences: Shannay Rocker on Home Births, Hospitals, and Building Doula Community
The Birth Geeks' podcast
Today on The Birth Geeks, we dove into the inspiring journey of Shanay Rocker, a fashion-industry pro turned Berlin-based doula. From her adventures moving from Australia to New York and finally Berlin, Shanay shared how motherhood transformed her life and led her to birth work. We explored what it’s really like to give birth and be a doula in Germany, the power of supportive communities, and building resilience as a parent and entrepreneur. Sinead’s story is proof that growth, adaptability, and following your passion can open doors you never imagined—wherever you are in the world.
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Navigating Birth, Burnout, and Being Queer in Midwifery with Katie Shannon
The Birth Geeks' podcast
On this episode of The Birth Geeks, we sit down with Katie Shannon, a certified nurse midwife and entrepreneurial powerhouse. Katie takes us through her inspiring journey from grad school to running her own successful home birth practice in the DC metro area. She shares lessons on building a business, finding balance, overcoming burnout, and the importance of partnering with the right people. Katie gives us a behind-the-scenes look at serving diverse clients and navigating licensing challenges, proving that with passion and dedication, you can create a thriving, meaningful business that truly...
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Doula Diversity, Overnight Myths, and Postpartum Support with Jen Chandlee
The Birth Geeks' podcast
Welcome to another episode of The Birth Geeks! In today’s conversation, host Dr. Hillary Melchiors sits down with Jen Chandlee, an experienced postpartum doula trainer, educator, and advocate. Not only was Jen Hillary’s own postpartum doula trainer, but she brings a wealth of knowledge from decades spent supporting families in diverse regions of the U.S., including Wilmington and Asheville, North Carolina. Together, they dive into how postpartum doula support has evolved, the increasing demand for it, and the important differences between birth and postpartum doula care. Jen shares...
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Amanda Chandler CPM
The Birth Geeks' podcast
In 2018, Amanda Chandler became the first licenced black Certified Professional Midwife in the state of Indiana, and in 2020 the first in Kentucky. Amanda is a trailblazer, nature lover, and birth geek extraordinaire. In this episode we talk about how closing rural hospitals' OB units impacts her work as a community midwife, her path to midwifery, career trajectory, challenging state policies, and so much more. I could think of no better way to celebrate Black Maternal Health Week than celebrating with the brilliant Amanda Chandler CPM.
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Spela Peternel: Doula Leadership & Knowledge
The Birth Geeks' podcast
When Spela completed her PhD in Biomedicine, she did not expect doula work to be her destiny. After years in this field and studying multiple specialized pathways, she knows in her heart that doulas make a difference not only for our clients, but also within communities. Through our conversation you will not only hear Spela's passion for birth work, but also some amazing stories about working as a doula in the country of Slovenia! Spela's leadership in her country, within the European Doula Network, and in the broader doula community worldwide is remarkable, and she's incredibly fun to chat...
info_outlineKelli Brien talks about the many aspects that drew her to birth work and how she's moved within the system to help make it a just an equitable place for all birthing people.