The Doula Johanna Podcast: Keeping Death Close. Living More Fully.

Johanna Canady
  • 5.0 (1)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

What if remembering that life ends could help you live with more joy, honesty, and purpose? Hosted by Dr. Johanna Canady—birth and aspiring end-of-life doula, mother of three, and soulful guide. This podcast explores what it means to live well while embracing the full cycle of life and death. In each short, reflective episode, Johanna invites you into conversations about grief, presence, love, impermanence, and transformation, reminding you that keeping death close is not morbid, but deeply life-giving. For seekers, caregivers, and anyone longing to live with more awareness, tenderness, and truth. Connect with Johanna on Instagram @doulajohanna or visit www.doulajohanna.com for birth support, ressources and community.

  1. Midlife Reset & Inner Compass | How to Live With Intention, Purpose & No Regrets in Your 40s+

    FEB 5

    Midlife Reset & Inner Compass | How to Live With Intention, Purpose & No Regrets in Your 40s+

    Are you in your forties or fifties wondering what comes next in life, love, and purpose? In this episode, I help you reframe midlife not as an ending but as an awakening and reset. You’ll learn how your inner compass can guide you toward more intentional living, richer relationships, meaningful work, and a grounded sense of joy even amid transition. This video explores: 0:00 Introduction 1:04 What Is the Inner Compass? 2:37 No Regrets Women Circle Community 3:34 Becoming Braver, Not Selfish 4:44 Relationships in Midlife 7:26 Work, Purpose & Meaning 8:44 Trust & Interdependence 9:44 Following Your Inner Compass 10:24 Closing & Next Steps Whether you’re juggling family life, careers, identity shifts, or long-held dreams, this talk helps you embrace midlife with intention and depth rather than fear and regret. Welcome to my channel. I’m Johanna, a former molecular biologist turned birth doula and hospice volunteer in training. I create weekly videos to help women in midlife live with more intention, softness, and depth by noticing the beauty of our ordinary days. 🌙 Birth Doula Support in Munich: https://doulajohanna.com/birth-doula-support/ Customized Childbirth Preparation (English-speaking): https://doulajohanna.com/contact/ 💛 Explore end of life reflections & living more fully: https://doulajohanna.com/death-doula-support/ ✨ New community coming soon for mothers in midlife: https://doulajohanna.com/community/ 📬 Subscribe to Newsletter (reflections + tools): https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/777532/153375709920757750/share 📌 Find me here Instagram: https://instagram.com/doulajohanna Website: https://www.doulajohanna.com Etsy resources: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DoulaJohanna Listen on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7KcnWjJieuLm5aYJfFSoqT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-doula-johanna-podcast-how-to-be-your-own-life-doula/id1786126722 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe — let me know how you’re living with intention today! Keywords: doula johanna podcast, living with intention, purpose after 40, midlife transformation, midlife personal growth, midlife women empowerment, midlife motherhood, midlife reflection, legacy & meaning, intentional living, life after 40, inner peace, women in midlife, self improvement, life advice, life coach for women, intentional motherhood #intentionalmidlife #midlifereset #livewithintention #midlifepurpose #noregretswomen #midlifewellbeing #meaningfulliving #midlifemoms #relationshipsafter40

    11 min
  2. Time Blocking for Mothers Over 40 (How to Plan Your Ideal Week Without Burnout)

    JAN 29

    Time Blocking for Mothers Over 40 (How to Plan Your Ideal Week Without Burnout)

    Time Blocking for Mothers Over 40 (How to Plan Your Ideal Week Without Burnout) If your calendar feels like a list of obligations instead of a life you actually want, this video is for you. We all have the same 168 hours in a week, but in midlife, especially as mothers over 40, we can’t plan the way we did at 25. In this episode, I walk you through my time-blocking method for mothers over 40 and show you how I build an ideal week that protects what matters most: sleep, marriage, kids, friendships, meaningful work, movement, and personal time, without burnout. This video is part of my Perimenopause Reframe Series. Not because the schedule is only for perimenopause, but because it’s designed to honor midlife energy, nervous system needs, and real-life responsibilities. In this video, you’ll learn: • The 2 questions that make weekly planning simpler (and less overwhelming) • How I build my week visually using categories and color blocks • Why life-first scheduling creates more joy and less resentment • My best midlife productivity rules (shared at the end) If you want support, structure, and a community of women building intentional lives in midlife, join us here: No Regrets Women’s Circle https://the-no-regrets-womens-circle.mn.co/plans/1933001?bundle_token=1cee55e20107367a6559180066f54af4&utm_source=manual Music used via Async: Track: Last Straw of Summer License / Code: NWR02VV2EGMRLMRT 💢 Your turn: What is the one thing you want your calendar to protect first, sleep, connection, movement, or personal time? Tell me in the comments. Welcome to my channel. I’m Johanna, a former molecular biologist turned birth doula and hospice volunteer in training. I create weekly videos for women in midlife who want to live with more intention, softness, and depth by keeping the end in mind and noticing the beauty of ordinary days. If you are an expat preparing to give birth in Germany: Birth Doula Support in Munich https://doulajohanna.com/birth-doula-support/ Customized Childbirth Preparation (English-speaking): https://doulajohanna.com/contact/ 🌙 Exploring end-of-life reflections, legacy, and living more fully: End of Life Doula Support (Munich area) https://doulajohanna.com/death-doula-support/ 💛 A new community is coming soon For mothers in midlife who want to live with presence, meaning, and as few regrets as possible https://doulajohanna.com/community/ 📬 Stay connected Newsletter with reflections, tools, and updates https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/777532/153375709920757750/share Find me here Instagram: https://instagram.com/doulajohanna Website: https://www.doulajohanna.com Etsy resources: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DoulaJohanna 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7KcnWjJieuLm5aYJfFSoqT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-doula-johanna-podcast-how-to-be-your-own-life-doula/id1786126722 ► See More: • https://youtu.be/AqYT5BLSpos?si=wUfNW2GWmk4QedvW • https://youtu.be/AEEVYaHrjpE?si=b440KmYLKBeKv4t5 ►Best Playlist: • https://youtu.be/35xZhDfkY6A?si=nDZT1OEbhbt2XEfn ►Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@doulajohannapodcast #timeblocking #midlifemother #intentionalliving #weeklyplanning #motherhoodafter40 #midlifeproductivity #noregretsliving #idealweek #burnoutrecovery

    19 min
  3. Mothers in Midlife: 5 Hidden Energy Leaks That Steal Your Strength & How to Stop Them

    JAN 29

    Mothers in Midlife: 5 Hidden Energy Leaks That Steal Your Strength & How to Stop Them

    Mothers in Midlife: 5 Hidden Energy Leaks That Steal Your Strength & How to Stop Them If you’re a mother in midlife and you feel tired in a way that sleep alone doesn’t fix, this episode is for you. ✨ This is not a “let’s complain about life” video. Midlife can be a powerful phase. But it’s also a season where so much depends on us, and we simply can’t afford to leak energy everywhere without paying a price. When we keep giving and giving, we eventually crash — and that helps no one. 💡 In this video, I’m naming five common energy leaks that make everything feel harder in this season of life — including how to recognize them and protect your energy, mood, and health. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 02:43 – Energy Leak #1 04:20 – Energy Leak #2 05:44 – Energy Leak #3 07:05 – Energy Leak #4 08:11 – Energy Leak #5 👇 Tell me in the comments: Which energy leak feels most true for you right now? 🌿 Join the No Regrets Women’s Circle If you want to do this with other women in the same season of life, you are warmly invited to join: https://the-no-regrets-womens-circle.mn.co/plans/1933001?bundle_token=1cee55e20107367a6559180066f54af4&utm_source=manual 📌 Subscribe so you don’t miss the next video in this series — where we’ll talk about planning your week to protect your energy: #perimenopause #midlife #midlifemoms #motherhood #womenshealth #burnoutprevention #intentionaliving #noregretswomenscircle #bodyandhealth #livingmorefully 📣 About the channel Welcome to my channel. I am Johanna, a former molecular biologist turned birth doula and hospice volunteer in training. I create weekly videos to help women in midlife live with more intention, softness and depth by noticing the beauty of ordinary days. 👇 Essential Services/Resources (Keep These Links) If you are an expat preparing to give birth in Germany: Birth Doula Support in Munich — https://doulajohanna.com/birth-doula-support/ Customized Childbirth Preparation (English-speaking) — https://doulajohanna.com/contact/ 🌙 Exploring end of life reflections & intentional living: End of Life Doula Support (Munich) — https://doulajohanna.com/death-doula-support/ New community coming soon: https://doulajohanna.com/community/ 📬 Stay connected Newsletter: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/777532/153375709920757750/share Instagram: https://instagram.com/doulajohanna Website: https://www.doulajohanna.com Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DoulaJohanna Listen On: Spotify Podcast — https://open.spotify.com/show/7KcnWjJieuLm5aYJfFSoqT Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-doula-johanna-podcast-how-to-be-your-own-life-doula/id1786126722 #midlifemoms #intentionalliving #energytipsforwomen #noregretsliving #midlifereset #burnoutprevention #midlifewellbeing #motherhoodafter35 #mindfulliving #midlifejourney

    11 min
  4. Midlife & Perimenopause: Calm, Courageous, Intentional (A Reframe Without Panic)

    JAN 14

    Midlife & Perimenopause: Calm, Courageous, Intentional (A Reframe Without Panic)

    Midlife & Perimenopause: Calm, Courageous, Intentional (A Reframe Without Panic) Perimenopause is everywhere right now, but the way it’s talked about often feels heavy, negative, and honestly a little hopeless. This video is for the mother in midlife who is done with that story and ready to shift perspective. If you’re in your late 30s, 40s, or early 50s and you feel like something is shifting, not just in your body but in your priorities, patience, standards, and courage, you’re not alone. This season can feel intense, but it can also be incredibly powerful. In this episode, I share a different lens, one that doesn’t reduce you to symptoms or treat midlife like the beginning of the end. For many of us, this is a rare and precious chapter: most of the people we love are still around us, we’ve already done hard things, and we’re finally ready to live with more truth and less pressure to please. If you’re craving a calmer, stronger way to move through this season, you’re in the right place. 👉 Join the No Regrets Women’s Circle Body & Health Season (January) Weekly intentions, honest conversations, and small steps that actually fit into motherhood and real life. No perfection. No shame. Just support. https://the-no-regrets-womens-circle.mn.co/plans/1933001?bundle_token=1cee55e20107367a6559180066f54af4&utm_source=manual 💬 Tell me in the comments Does the word “midlife” feel empowering or still feel loaded? #perimenopause #midlife #midlifemoms #womeninmidlife #intentionalliving #noregrets #bodyandhealth #motherhood #hormonehealth #livingmorefully 🎶 Music licensed via Podcastle Track 1 License code Q62VHZET8XU3ZR6S Track 2 License code ABC123XYZ456 🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos about intentional living, midlife meaning and living more fully 💛 About Johanna & This Channel Welcome! I’m Johanna, a former molecular biologist turned birth doula and hospice volunteer in training. I create weekly videos for women in midlife who want more intention, softness and depth in everyday life. If you are an expat preparing to give birth in Germany: Birth Doula Support in Munich https://doulajohanna.com/birth-doula-support/ Customized Childbirth Preparation (English-speaking) https://doulajohanna.com/contact/ 🌙 Exploring end of life reflections, legacy and living fully End of Life Doula Support (Munich area) https://doulajohanna.com/death-doula-support/ 💛 A new community is coming soon https://doulajohanna.com/community/ 📬 Newsletter https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/777532/153375709920757750/share Find me here Instagram https://instagram.com/doulajohanna Website https://www.doulajohanna.com Etsy resources https://www.etsy.com/shop/DoulaJohanna Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7KcnWjJieuLm5aYJfFSoqT Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-doula-johanna-podcast-how-to-be-your-own-life-doula/id1786126722 #perimenopause #midlife #midlifemoms #womeninmidlife #intentionalliving #noregrets #bodyandhealth #hormonehealth #motherhood #livingmorefully

    13 min
  5. Intentional Living for Midlife Women | Create Systems, Not Goals

    JAN 14

    Intentional Living for Midlife Women | Create Systems, Not Goals

    ntentional Living for Midlife Women | Create Systems, Not Goals It’s a new year, and most goals are already in danger, not because you are lazy, but because a goal is only an outcome. If you want real change in 2026, you need a system. A small set of habits that still works when life is messy. In this short episode, I’ll show you how to: Choose one meaningful goal for 2026 that is upstream of everything else Use the Five Whys to find the deeper reason you actually want it Build a habit system inspired by James Clear’s Atomic Habits framework: make it obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying Design it to work on your worst days, not only your best days I’m Dr. Johanna Canady, birth doula and hospice volunteer. On this channel we keep death close, so we can live more fully. If you are a woman in midlife and you want a year that feels alive, intentional, and regret reducing, you are in the right place. Watch the Intention Setting Party replay here: https://the-no-regrets-womens-circle.mn.co/plans/1928186?bundle_token=ab5ebfe45ca38338b2c6e9aeca054192&utm_source=manual Join the No Regrets Women’s Circle here: https://the-no-regrets-womens-circle.mn.co/plans/1933001?bundle_token=1cee55e20107367a6559180066f54af4&utm_source=manual Want to try it today? Write one goal for 2026. Do the Five Whys until it feels true. Then choose one daily habit and run it through the four laws. Keywords: systems not goals, Atomic Habits, James Clear habits, Five Whys exercise, goal setting 2026, habit system, intentional living, midlife women, no regrets life, motivation vs discipline, behavior change, habit formation Hashtags: #AtomicHabits #JamesClear #Habits #SystemsOverGoals #GoalSetting #IntentionalLiving #MidlifeWomen #NoRegrets #FiveWhys #LivingMoreFully 💫 Welcome to my channel I am Johanna, a former molecular biologist turned birth doula and hospice volunteer in training. I create weekly videos for women in midlife who want to live with more intention, softness, and depth by keeping the end in mind and noticing the beauty of ordinary family life. 👶 If you are an expat preparing to give birth in Germany Birth Doula Support in Munich https://doulajohanna.com/birth-doula-support/ Customized Childbirth Preparation (English-speaking) https://doulajohanna.com/contact/ 🌙 Exploring end of life reflections, legacy, and living more fully End of Life Doula Support (Munich area) https://doulajohanna.com/death-doula-support/ 💛 A new community is coming soon A space for mothers in midlife who want to live with presence, meaning, and fewer regrets https://doulajohanna.com/community/ 📬 Stay connected Newsletter with reflections, tools, and updates https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/777532/153375709920757750/share Find me here Instagram: https://instagram.com/doulajohanna Website: https://www.doulajohanna.com Etsy resources: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DoulaJohanna Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7KcnWjJieuLm5aYJfFSoqT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-doula-johanna-podcast-how-to-be-your-own-life-doula/id1786126722 Music licensed via Podcastle.ai Track 1 1T35HZJCR22QZH43 Track 2 FMFQVZRJ7JIULBLA Track 3 SZ6POJF1QMWCG3PN Track 4 I9MW9CDHASPFHQLD #christmasoverwhelm #midlifemothers #intentionalchristmas #intentionalliving #motherhoodafter40 #mentalload #noregretsliving #midlifereset

    10 min
  6. Hidden grief after miscarriage and abortion

    12/26/2025

    Hidden grief after miscarriage and abortion

    There are losses no one ever knew about. The pregnancy that ended before you could tell anyone. The abortion you chose in an impossible situation and still think about years later. If you are quietly grieving a miscarriage or abortion while everyone around you is oblivious, this conversation is for you. In this video I share my own experience of early loss and what I have learned as a birth doula and hospice trainee about the invisible grief so many mothers carry. This is not a debate about right or wrong. It is a gentle space to put words to what happened, to normalise your feelings and to remind you that you do not have to carry this alone, especially during the holidays when the pain can feel even sharper. You will hear about: how early miscarriages and abortions can feel very similar in a mother’s heart. why your mix of grief, relief, guilt, anger or numbness is a very human response how common hidden pregnancy loss and abortion really are why you owe no one your story, and why telling one safe person might hurt less than you think This channel, Keeping Death Close, Living More Fully, exists to honour the hard, hidden parts of life so that we can live with more honesty, tenderness and courage. If this video speaks to you, you are so welcome here. 1:1 doula support Supporting mothers through miscarriage, abortion and other forms of pregnancy loss is also part of doula work. If you would like someone to listen without judgement and with an open heart to your story, you are very welcome to reach out to your local doula or to me personally. You can contact me here: 📩 Email: info@doulajohanna.com 📸 Instagram: @doulajohanna Online sessions are possible, and if you are near Munich we can explore in-person support. Join the No Regrets Women’s Circle If you are looking for a non-judgemental online community of women who want to live as intentionally as they can, you are invited into the No Regrets Women’s Circle. We talk about body and health, money and work, relationships, fun, and also about grief, legacy and all the tender in-between spaces. Learn more and join here: 🌿 No Regrets Women’s Circle: https://the-no-regrets-womens-circle.mn.co/users/onboarding/plans?auto_join=true&from=https%3A%2F%2Fthe-no-regrets-womens-circle.mn.co%2F%3Fautojoin%3D1&space_id=21977603 If you feel comfortable, you can share in the comments by simply writing “I am remembering someone” or leaving a heart. You do not have to tell your whole story for your grief to be real. Thank you for being here. Hashtags #invisiblegrief #pregnancyloss #miscarriage #miscarriagegrief #babyloss #abortion #abortiongrief #earlypregnancyloss #griefsupport #doulasupport #birthdoula #deathpositive #intentionalliving #womenscircle #noregretswomenscircle Welcome to my channel. I am Johanna, a former molecular biologist turned birth doula and hospice volunteer in training. I create weekly videos to help women in midlife live with more intention, softness and depth by keeping the end in mind and noticing the beauty of our ordinary days. If you are an expat preparing to give birth in Germany: Birth Doula Support in Munich https://doulajohanna.com/birth-doula-support/ Customized Childbirth Preparation (English-speaking) https://doulajohanna.com/contact/ 🌙 If you are exploring end of life reflections, legacy and living more fully: End of Life Doula Support (Munich area) https://doulajohanna.com/death-doula-support/ 💛 A new community is coming soon A space for mothers in midlife who want to live with presence, meaning and as few regrets as possible. https://doulajohanna.com/community/ 📬 Stay connected Newsletter with reflections, tools and updates https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/777532/153375709920757750/share Find me here Instagram: https://instagram.com/doulajohanna Website: https://www.doulajohanna.com Etsy resources: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DoulaJohanna Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7KcnWjJieuLm5aYJfFSoqT Apple Podca

    10 min
  7. 5 Life Lessons I Learned From Death & Dying | Gentle Reflections for Women in Midlife

    12/25/2025

    5 Life Lessons I Learned From Death & Dying | Gentle Reflections for Women in Midlife

    5 Life Lessons I Learned From Death & Dying | Gentle Reflections for Women in Midlife SAVE YOUR SPOT FOR THE INTENTION SETTING PARTY: https://shorturl.at/h9oqY Isn’t it depressing to think about death and dying? If part of you is curious about the end of life, but another part is afraid it will make everything feel heavier or darker, this conversation is for you. In this episode, I share 5 surprising truths about life that only became clear to me while studying death and dying during my hospice volunteer training. My intention is not to offer theory or overwhelm you, but to gently invite reflection—through questions and tiny actions you can carry into your own week. You will walk away with: -- A new way to think about your body as your only home, not a never-ending project -- A simple filter to see which worries will never matter at the end of life -- Gentle prompts to invest in the relationships you would regret neglecting -- A practice for noticing the ordinary moments that already make up your “good life” -- The nudge to stop waiting until you feel ready and take one small step toward what you really want This episode is especially for you if you are a thoughtful, slightly overwhelmed woman in midlife who is tired of rushing through her days and wants to live more intentionally—without burning everything down. If something in this video resonates, I would love to hear which of the five truths speaks to you most right now and what tiny experiment you are willing to try this week. Share it in the comments so we can learn from each other. Welcome to my channel. I am Johanna, a former molecular biologist turned birth doula and hospice volunteer in training. I create weekly videos to help women in midlife live with more intention, softness, and depth—by keeping the end in mind and noticing the beauty of our ordinary days. If you are an expat preparing to give birth in Germany: Birth Doula Support in Munich https://doulajohanna.com/birth-doula-... Customized Childbirth Preparation (English-speaking) https://doulajohanna.com/contact/ 🌙 Exploring end-of-life reflections, legacy, and living more fully: End of Life Doula Support (Munich area) https://doulajohanna.com/death-doula-... 💛 A new community is coming soon https://doulajohanna.com/community/ 📬 Stay connected https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/form... Instagram: / doulajohanna Website: https://www.doulajohanna.com Etsy resources: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DoulaJohanna 🎧 Listen on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7KcnWjJ... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast... #deathawareness #intentionalmidlife #livingmorefully #mementomori #midlifewomen #lifelessons #noregretsliving #meaningfullife

    15 min
  8. How To Make 2026 Your Most Intentional Year Yet (For Mothers In Midlife)

    12/12/2025

    How To Make 2026 Your Most Intentional Year Yet (For Mothers In Midlife)

    SAVE YOUR SPOT FOR THE INTENTION SETTING PARTY: https://the-no-regrets-womens-circle.mn.co/share/FViQ_HWLSGM4wCcd?utm_source=manual JOIN THE NO REGRETS WOMEN’S CIRCLE 2026: https://the-no-regrets-womens-circle.mn.co/share/FViQ_HWLSGM4wCcd?utm_source=manual If you are a mother in midlife and you feel that life is too precious to sleepwalk through another year, this episode is for you. In our forties, we are often told that midlife is a crisis. At the same time we are juggling kids, work, the household and often aging parents. It is easy to put our own body, dreams and joy at the very bottom of the list. I believe the opposite is true. These can be our most powerful years, if we start living with intention. We do not have endless time to keep postponing our own life. The time is now and we are stronger together than on our own. In this video I share a simple 3 step framework to make 2026 your most intentional year yet as a mom in midlife. You will learn how to review your year honestly, choose a few no regrets priorities and stop trying to do it all alone. I also invite you to my live online Intention Setting Party on 28 December, and introduce the No Regrets Women’s Circle, a yearlong community for mothers in midlife who want to live 2026 with intention instead of autopilot. Whether you join the party, become a member of the circle, or simply take the framework and run with it, my hope is that you step into 2026 feeling clear, grounded and supported. We may not know how many years like this we have ahead of us, but we can choose to make this one count, together. CHAPTERS 00:00 Why midlife mothers cannot afford to live on autopilot 01:00 My own journey toward intentional living 03:35 The 3 step framework for an intentional 2026 06:18 Invitation to the Intention Setting Party 09:15 Inside the No Regrets Women’s Circle 2026 15:10 What happens if nothing changes

    17 min
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About

What if remembering that life ends could help you live with more joy, honesty, and purpose? Hosted by Dr. Johanna Canady—birth and aspiring end-of-life doula, mother of three, and soulful guide. This podcast explores what it means to live well while embracing the full cycle of life and death. In each short, reflective episode, Johanna invites you into conversations about grief, presence, love, impermanence, and transformation, reminding you that keeping death close is not morbid, but deeply life-giving. For seekers, caregivers, and anyone longing to live with more awareness, tenderness, and truth. Connect with Johanna on Instagram @doulajohanna or visit www.doulajohanna.com for birth support, ressources and community.

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