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

Johanna Canady
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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 & 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 3 Mindset Shifts for a Calmer Christmas

    12/05/2025

    3 Mindset Shifts for a Calmer Christmas

    If this Christmas was the last one you had with all the grandparents at the table, or the last one with your kids exactly as they are right now, what would actually change for you? If December usually feels stressful, heavy or chaotic, you are not alone. Mothers usually juggle an insane amount of tasks during the holiday season. In this episode I share how my work as a birth doula and hospice volunteer has gently changed the way I look at Christmas. Not to make it sad, but to help you enjoy it more and let go of what does not really matter. This conversation is for you if you want: + more ease in December instead of pressure + more clarity about what Christmas is really about for your family + more intentional moments that feel lived, not performed + more joy in the middle of a very imperfect, real life I will guide you through three simple shifts I am making this year so your Christmas feels lighter and more meaningful at the same time. Stay with me until the end for one extra tip that you can integrate this year to enjoy the holidays more, especially as a mother in midlife! If this episode gives you a bit more peace and perspective, share it with a friend who is already overwhelmed by Christmas and subscribe for more reflections on keeping death close and living more fully in ordinary family life. 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 Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-doula-johanna-podcast-how-to-be-your-own-life-doula/id1786126722 #birthdoulamunich #englishspeakingdoula #expatpregnancy #intentionalmidlife #keepingdeathclose #livingmorefully #midlifemagic #motherhoodafter40 #endoflifedoula #childbirthpreparationgermany #expatmoms #workingmoms #lifedoula #selfcareforwomen #momburnout #coachingformoms #momlifeafter40 #intimacyafterkids #motherhoodandmore

    10 min
  7. Have you ever thought about your own funeral?

    11/28/2025

    Have you ever thought about your own funeral?

    Have you ever thought about your funeral preferences? Most expats in Germany discover very quickly that the funeral system here feels completely different from what they grew up with. SInce losing several beloved people in my life, I was deeply aware of the emotional load families carry at the end of life made me understand how much easier everything becomes when we prepare a few things in advance. The hopsice volunteer training I am conducting right now only deepened that awareness. In this episode of my End of Life Essentials series, I walk you through the main funeral options in Germany, the realistic costs , and the pros and cons of each choice. We talk about earth burials, cremation, forest burials, sea burials, and even some unusual options that many people do not know exist. More importantly, I guide you through the questions that help you discover what feels right for you. Your ceremony preferences, the atmosphere you imagine for your goodbye, the stories you want people to remember, and the values you want to leave behind. This is not about being morbid. It is about living more fully today with clarity, peace of mind, and a sense that your loved ones will be supported when the time comes. What we cover in this episode: • Why thinking about your funeral preferences matters • Earth burial, cremation, forest burial, sea burial • Costs in the Munich area • Pros and cons for each option • Ceremony choices like music, flowers, readings, dress code • Questions to help you write your own eulogy • How to communicate your wishes to your loved ones • Two beautiful free resources to support you Free downloads: You can get the funeral checklist here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/777532/172211252979827988/share And you will receive the Eulogy Workbook through this link: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/777532/172217621505116051/share Join the Intention Setting Party for 2026 If you want to start the next year with clarity and purpose, I would love for you to join my Intention Setting Party. It is a warm, safe space to reflect, plan, and set meaningful intentions for the year ahead. You can join here: https://the-no-regrets-womens-circle.mn.co/plans/1928186

    17 min
  8. How to Protect Your Loved Ones If the Unthinkable Happens

    11/21/2025

    How to Protect Your Loved Ones If the Unthinkable Happens

    This is the third episode in my End of Life Essentials series, and today we are talking about something almost no one prepares for even though it can spare your loved ones weeks of stress and confusion. If the unthinkable were to happen, would your partner, your children or your closest friends know where to begin? Would they know where your important documents are, who to call, what accounts exist, or what you would want? Most of us assume our family will simply figure things out, but that is rarely the case. The truth is that creating one simple folder or binder can turn chaos into clarity at a time when your loved ones will already be grieving. This episode walks you through the essential documents every family needs and why preparing them now is one of the deepest acts of love you can offer. I also created a downloadable Plan Ahead Checklist so you can gather everything step by step without feeling overwhelmed. It is free, and it is designed to give you and your family more peace of mind: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/777532/171662106735675376/share If you want to live more intentionally and begin shaping a life with fewer regrets, I invite you to join my Intention Setting Party on December 28. It is a gentle space to reflect on the past year, connect with what matters and set your direction for the year ahead: https://the-no-regrets-womens-circle.mn.co/plans/1928186?bundle_token=ab5ebfe45ca38338b2c6e9aeca054192&utm_source=manual Thank you for being the kind of person who is courageous enough to look at these topics. Keeping death close helps us live more fully. I am so glad you are here. 🌟Welcome to The Doula Johanna Podcast 🌟 I’m Dr. Johanna Canady — your life doula for birth, death, and everything in between. Weekly reflections & conversations to help you: Live with more intention, gratitude, and courage Keep death close — and use it as a compass for a fuller, more meaningful life Reconnect with your body, joy, and purpose in motherhood and midlife ✨ Topics: motherhood, mortality, mindfulness, midlife, meaning, grief, legacy, abundance, and intentional living. 🌼 Join the Community I’m creating a home for English-speaking mothers who want to live more intentionally, keep death close, and grow together. It’s a space for connection, reflection, and real conversations about what matters most. 👉 Learn more & join us → https://doulajohanna.com/community/ 🤍 Other ways to work with me: Birth Doula Support (Munich area) → https://doulajohanna.com/birth-doula-... Death Doula Support → https://doulajohanna.com/death-doula-... 📲 Follow & connect: Instagram → @doulajohanna Website → www.doulajohanna.com Etsy Resources → Doula Johanna Shop

    13 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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