Birth, Death and Doulas

Global Doula Project

5.0 (1)
Society & Culture

A podcast for anyone who believes that more compassion at the beginning and end of life just might be the key that changes the world. Join us as we delve into heartfelt conversations with doulas, anthropologists, researchers and parents about the science and social impact of loving support during life's greatest transitions.

Sep 14

The Dying are Still Living: an interview with Kimberly Wamba of Sacred Life Care Initiative

What if we stopped seeing those at the end of their lives as “almost dead”, and instead as “still living”? Anne Kathryn speaks with Kimberly Wamba of Sacred Life Care Initiative, a Global Doula Project grant recipient in 2026. Sacred Life Care Initiative offers support to the dying and their caregivers in Canton, MI, free of charge. Kimberly shares how death doulas can support the dying and their loved ones in asking difficult questions and facing hard truths, as well as simply offering them a chance to be raw and honest at this unique and tender time. She also offers her beautiful philosophy of relating to the dying as people who are just as much alive as she is. writing by Kimberly Wamba, Ph.D. Seen The Unopened Invitation: A call to our communities about support at life's end To learn more about Sacred Life Care Initiative, visit: https://sacredlci.org/ To learn more about the Global Doula Project, and how we support birth and death doulas, visit: www.globaldoulaproject.org Follow Global Doula Project Instagram @globaldoulaproject LinkedIn Global Doula Project Facebook Global Doula Project 01:40 – Introduction to Kimberly Wamba and Sacred Life Care Initiative 03:21 – Kimberly explains what led her to work as an end-of-life doula 06:49 – discussion of lessons Kimberly has learned from dying people 09:40 – isolation at the end of life 10:50 – how can a death doula fill in gaps left by friends and family at the end of life? 17:38 – how death doulas can support families before a death is even imminent 26:41 – reintegrating death as a part of life 29:30 – resistance to care at the end of life 39:25 – Kimberly shares her poem, Seen
Apr 18

Episode 5: Postpartum doula training for women experiencing incarceration

What are the benefits of offering postpartum doula training to people experiencing incarceration? In this episode of Birth, Death, and Doulas, host Anne Kathryn Rice is joined by Alex White (Hour Children), Nubia Earth-Martin (Birth from the Earth), and Jen Chandlee (Luminous Postpartum Doula Training). Together, they discuss the postpartum doula training program for women experiencing incarceration run by Hour Children in partnership with Global Doula Project. The program allows these moms to receive postpartum care from people who understand the experience of incarceration, and an emphasis on re-entry work – connecting them with resources for when they are no longer part of the program – sets them up for future success. Those who go through the postpartum doula training receive certification that allows them to continue to practice after release if desired. Alex, Nubia, and Jen share how the program has enormously benefitted moms and babies, as well as being a powerful experience for the trainers themselves. Time stamps: 00:32 – Overview of Hour Children and the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility postpartum program 02:55 – Global Doula Project partnership with Hour Children 08:04 – The role of postpartum doulas within Bedford Hills Correctional Facility 09:09 – Re-entry support for moms who are no longer part of the doula program 20:50 – The positive impact of maternal support programs on recidivism rates 25:30 – Addressing racial disparities and systemic bias in maternal healthcare 32:45 – ACTT framework: asking questions, claiming your space, trusting your body, telling your story To learn more about Global Doula Project visit: www.globaldoulaproject.org Follow Global Doula Project on Instagram and LinkedIN: @globaldoulaproject Intro music composed for Global Doula Project by Stefano Fasce. Outro music is Magnify by Aves. Cover art by Virginia Elena Patrone.
12/13/2025

"Through the Eyes of a Death Doula": a conversation with the filmmakers

Director Capucine Salvi-Offer and Producers Tony Tehle and Mara Kikuchi give us a peak inside the creative process behind the making of the feature length documentary film "Through the Eyes of a Death Doula." The filmmakers were honored to be invited to document the sacred final moments of Tari Esposito, a terminally ill patient who decided to end her life by Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), a process that is legal in 11 U.S. states and many countries around the world. In this episode, Capy, Mara, and Tony, tell why they are passionate about sharing Tari's story, normalizing conversations about death and dying, and educating the public on the important role that death doulas play in society. You can learn more about the film here: https://www.throughtheeyesofadeathdoula.com/ You can contribute to the production of the film here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/global-doula-project/through-the-eyes-of-a-death-doula Learn more about the Global Doula Project here: https://www.globaldoulaproject.org/ Sign up for newsletter here: https://www.globaldoulaproject.org/newsletter
10/27/2025

“Born anew”: the transformative effects of birth, postpartum, and death

Are birth and death more similar than we think? Is grief present when a woman brings forth new life, and rebirth encompassed in living through loss? Regina Kelly experienced a life-altering, transformative loss very early in her life: when she was just eight years old, her mother died unexpectedly. Though this experience rocked her world, it also birthed her desire to walk with others through the “threshold moments” of birth, postpartum, and death. In this conversation, Regina explores the intricate connections between birth, postpartum, and death, and how each of these experiences causes us to be “born anew”. She shares how her personal experiences have shaped her work as a birth and postpartum doula, and what she’s learned about the importance of community, nourishment, and connection to the local environment during these monumental transitions. She also discusses the importance of self- care for doulas, and the necessity of open conversations about end-of-life wishes. In this episode: 4:50 - Regina shares about the loss of her mother, how it shaped her identity 13:20 - the healing power of eating local foods 22:25 - the value of having children present around birth and death 30:15 - the importance of self-care for doulas 38:10 - how doulas can use their unique gifts to serve families To learn more about Global Doula Project, visit: www.globaldoulaproject.org Follow Global Doula Project on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram @ globaldoulaproject You can read Regina's writing at: https://reginakelly.substack.com/ To learn more about Regina and where she completed doula training, visit: https://postpartum-care-directory.innatetraditions.com/practitioner/regina-kelly/
08/14/2025

“Birth is universal”: learning from other cultures is essential for the maternal health revolution

What do Western countries have to learn about birth from cultures that experience devastatingly high rates of infant mortality? Content warning: extensive discussion of infant loss Charlotte Brielle has worked in countries including Tanzania, South Africa, and Ecuador, where she has encountered tragically high rates of infant mortality due to lack of resources. Yet, she believes that the West has so much to learn about birth practices, rituals, and traditions from these cultures. She persuasively makes the case that the whole of society stands to benefit from better supporting women through the physical, emotional, and social transitions of matrescence – the process of becoming a mother. Time stamps: 3:10 – Charlotte’s journey to becoming a birth worker 4:21 – Charlotte’s experience at a birth clinic in Tanzania: birth, death, and cultural perspective 12:12 – The need for better tools to support families through perinatal loss 25:58 – How supporting moms can change the whole of society for the better 34:35 – Upcoming Wombs of the World summit in Berlin, Germany, bringing together birth workers from around the world 38:17 – Other ways to work with Wombs of the World To learn more about the 501(c)(3) public charity Global Doula Project, and how we support birth and death doulas, visit: www.globaldoulaproject.org To learn more about Charlotte’s organization, Wombs of the World, and how they empower birth workers around the world by bringing knowledge from diverse birth cultures, visit: https://www.wombsoftheworld.com/ To learn more about the upcoming summit in Berlin, visit: https://www.wombsoftheworld.com/summit Follow Global Doula Project on Instagram and LinkedIn @globaldoulaproject Follow Wombs of the World on Instagram and LinkedIn @wombsoftheworld
05/22/2025

"Compassion pieces": How death doulas fill in the gaps - interview with Sheila Burke

How can death doulas pick up the “compassion pieces” often dropped by the conventional medical system when a loved one is dying, or has died? In the first episode of Birth, Death, and Doulas, host Anne Kathryn Rice interviews Sheila Burke about how the death of her husband, Shane, from an aggressive form of lung cancer began her journey to becoming a death doula. Sheila came to understand how sacred the process of dying is, and how much dying people and their loved ones can benefit from someone who can compassionately hold space for the emotional and spiritual dimensions of death, where conventional medicine typically only addresses the physical aspects. In this episode, Sheila and Anne Kathryn talk about the need for compassionate honesty, hopeful last hurrahs, the real value of palliative care, and the importance of honoring the supernatural experiences that are common when someone dies. In this episode: 02:57 – Sheila and Shane’s love story 07:01 – Children’s closeness to the dead 09:17 - Shane’s diagnosis 13:25 - Navigating treatment options 23:05 - Maintaining hope when death is imminent 29:20 - The importance of honest communication in healthcare 33:08 - The role of death doulas for end-of-life support 36:56 - Creating meaningful goodbyes To learn more about the Global Doula Project and how they support birth and death doulas, visit: www.globaldoulaproject.org To learn more about Sheila Burke’s work and books: https://endoflifedoulacle.com/ Find Sheila’s podcast, Talk Deathy to Me, at: https://talkdeathytome.com/welcome/ Follow Global Doula Project on Instagram @globaldoulaproject Follow Sheila on Instagram @deathdoulacle

6 Episodes

A podcast for anyone who believes that more compassion at the beginning and end of life just might be the key that changes the world. Join us as we delve into heartfelt conversations with doulas, anthropologists, researchers and parents about the science and social impact of loving support during life's greatest transitions.

Creator

Global Doula Project
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

6
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2025 Global Doula Project
Show Website

Birth, Death and Doulas

Society & Culture

Society & Culture

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