Keeping Your Power® with Traci Doula

TraciDoula
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement

Welcome to Keeping Your Power® with Traci Doula! Where the power of beliefs becomes fierce resilience. Join Traci, a bold and beloved birth doula, mentor, life coach, and empathy-filled advocate, as she dives into raw, real, and redemptive conversations about overcoming life’s hardest challenges. From birth trauma to toxic family dynamics, adoption journeys to professional burnout, Traci shares insights drawn from 20+ years of experience and a life forged in fire. Through powerful storytelling, practical coaching, and heartfelt encouragement, this podcast helps you uncover your voice, reclaim your joy, and keep your power, no matter the season you’re in. For anyone who’s ever felt silenced, stuck, or sidelined, this is your invitation to rise. • Real talk. • Rooted in compassion. • Fueled by purpose. Subscribe now, and let’s walk this journey together.

  1. Mar 20

    Birth Trauma, Patient Rights, and the Story Behind Mother May I with Cristen Pascucci

    EPISODE 24: Naming Obstetric Violence and Telling the Truth — with Cristen Pascucci In this episode, I sat down with my longtime friend Cristen Pascucci, founder of Birth Monopoly, to have a real and honest conversation about obstetric violence and what’s actually happening in maternity care. This isn’t always an easy topic, but it’s one we can’t ignore if we want things to change. We talked about: What obstetric violence really is and why naming it matters Cristen’s personal birth experience and how it led her into advocacy The stories of families who felt dismissed, coerced, or violated in their care Why there’s resistance—even within the birth community—to talking about these issues The importance of truth-telling instead of minimizing or gaslighting How systems and past experiences shape the way people are treated in birth Cristen’s film Mother May I and the heart behind creating it This episode is about being willing to see what’s real, even when it’s uncomfortable. Because resilience isn’t about ignoring harm—it’s about naming it, learning from it, and expecting better moving forward. Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it 📌Pregnant and birth planning? Grab some goodies for a more comfortable pregnancy and easier labor https://beacons.ai/tracidoula Connect with me! TikTok - @tracidoula4  Instagram - tracidoula  Facebook - tracidoula  Website - https://tracidoula.com

    56 min

  2. Mar 6

    From Doula to Midwife: Victoria Wilson on Honoring the Past and Changing Birth Care

    EPISODE 23: From Doula to Midwife: Advocacy, Burnout, and Staying in the Fight — with Victoria In this episode, I sat down with Victoria, a birth doula of more than ten years who’s now pursuing her path to becoming a certified nurse midwife. Our conversation was honest, reflective, and full of the real experiences that come with working in the birth world. We covered: The emotional highs and lows of supporting families through birth Imposter syndrome and finding confidence in your calling Victoria’s moment catching a baby during a home birth and realizing midwifery was her path Why birth advocacy isn’t about fighting the system, but understanding it The importance of collaboration between doulas, nurses, and doctors Addressing systemic issues and disparities in maternity care How small conversations can lead to real changes in hospital policies This conversation is a reminder that improving birth care isn’t about picking sides—it’s about staying teachable, staying connected, and continuing the work even when it feels hard.   Connect with me! TikTok - @tracidoula4  Instagram - tracidoula  Facebook - tracidoula  Website - https://tracidoula.com

    1h 1m

  3. Feb 20

    Kevin on Adoption: Reflections on Parenting and Support Gaps Through International Adoption

    EPISODE 22: Adoption from Both Sides — with My Fiancé Kevin This episode felt especially close to my heart because I sat down with my fiancé, Kevin, to talk about adoption from both sides—his perspective as an adoptive father of two, and mine as an adoptee. We kept it honest, real, and grounded in what adoption actually looks like over time, not just the version people like to post online. We talked about: The “adoption is saving children” narrative and why Kevin pushes back on it Infertility and how fear can shape adoption decisions Bringing our daughter home from China and our son home from Thailand How every adoption journey is different, even within the same family The lack of agency support, post-adoption resources, and trauma education Why therapy and honest conversations should be part of every adoption process The everyday realities adoptive families face, including intrusive questions and identity struggles This episode is about growth, empathy, and staying teachable. Adoption can hold heartbreak and healing at the same time, and we need more honest spaces for people to process it all. Share this episode with someone in the adoption triad or anyone who wants to understand adoption beyond the surface. Connect with me! TikTok - @tracidoula4  Instagram - tracidoula  Facebook - tracidoula  Website - https://tracidoula.com

    53 min

  4. Feb 6

    Advocating for Birth Autonomy: Real talk with Traci Doula and Jen Hamilton

    EPISODE 21: Being Teachable, Building Trust, and Keeping Birth Human — with Jen Hamilton In this episode, I sat down with Jen Hamilton, labor and delivery nurse, advocate, and one of the brightest lights in the birth world. This conversation was honest, practical, and full of those “yep…that’s real” moments that remind you why agency and voice matter so much in birth. We talked about: Self-reflection, blind spots, and how bias shows up in birth work Why being “teachable” matters more than being right How defensiveness and fear can block informed consent The difference between supporting agency vs. pushing compliance Trust, accountability, and why apologies matter even when harm wasn’t intended How Jen educates patients in real time through “narration” and clear communication Birth trauma that comes from not being listened to, dismissed, or rushed Jen’s book Birth Vibes and how families can communicate what matters most We laughed, we got real, and we kept coming back to the same truth: people may not remember every detail, but they will remember how they felt. Birth is not just physical. It’s emotional. It’s personal. And families deserve to leave feeling respected, informed, and whole. Connect with me! TikTok - @tracidoula4  Instagram - tracidoula  Facebook - tracidoula  Website - https://tracidoula.com

    1h 12m

  5. Jan 23

    Beyond Awareness: Frances and Traci Doula Demand Real Solutions for Black Maternal Health

    EPISODE 20: Black Maternal Health, Action Over Awareness with Frances In this episode, I sat down with Frances for a real, necessary conversation about Black maternal health and the broken systems surrounding it. We didn’t soften this one. We talked openly about racism, colorism, privilege, and the very real consequences Black mothers continue to face in healthcare. Frances shared her own story, growing up in foster care, navigating the world as a neurodivergent Black woman, and working inside healthcare spaces from ERs to trauma rooms. She’s seen firsthand how race impacts the care people receive, and she’s not here for surface-level solutions. We talked about: Why “just get a Black provider” isn’t a realistic or fair solution How access, numbers, and systems actually work The problem with performative “COVID activism” What real accountability and action should look like in hospitals and birth work Why white birth workers cannot wait to be told what to do Frances’s upcoming guide, Beyond Awareness, and moving from talk to action This episode is uncomfortable, and it needs to be. Black mothers are dying, and awareness alone isn’t saving lives. Action does.   Connect with me! TikTok - @tracidoula4  Instagram - tracidoula  Facebook - tracidoula  Website - https://tracidoula.com

    1h 10m

  6. Jan 9

    Keeping Your Power During Advocacy and Loss with Labor Junkie RN

    EPISODE 19: High-Risk Birth, Misinformation, and Grief — with Sarah (L&D Nurse) In this episode, I sat down with Sarah, a labor and delivery nurse who’s spent years in high-risk birth settings and has seen the full range of what families walk through. We started with a story that hit home, Sarah shared how her little sister got dangerous misinformation from TikTok about baby movement during labor, and how that led to a traumatic delivery. That moment was a turning point for her and became part of why she now shares factual birth education online. We talked about: How social media misinformation can change outcomes in birth What “high risk” actually means (and what it doesn’t mean) Autonomy, informed consent, and why the birth team’s beliefs matter Bias in maternity care and how it shows up, even unintentionally What it looks like to be truly present for families in hard moments Grief and loss, Sarah shared about losing her close friend Amy and how that pain carries into daily life and work This episode is about education, truth, and holding space, both in birth and in grief. If you’ve ever questioned your intuition, felt overwhelmed by information online, or are walking through loss…you’re not alone. Share this episode with a friend, a parent, or a birth worker who needs it.   Connect with me! TikTok - @tracidoula4  Instagram - tracidoula  Facebook - tracidoula  Website - https://tracidoula.com

    1h 13m

  7. 12/26/2025

    The Realities of Home Birth: Myths, Emergencies, and Honest Midwife Insight with Miri and Kimberly

    EPISODE 18: Midwives, Myths, and the Gray Areas of Birth — with Miri & Kimberly Taylor In this episode, I sat down with two of my favorite midwives, Miri and Kimberly Taylor, to talk through some of the harder, often uncomfortable conversations happening in the birth world right now. We started with the term “lay midwife”, why it’s confusing, often misused, and how it’s frequently used to dismiss the education, skill, and experience of midwives outside the hospital system. We talked about: Why the term “lay midwife” creates fear and misunderstanding The black-and-white thinking around hospital vs. home birth What resilience really looks like in maternity care How midwives assess whether someone is truly informed or just reacting to trauma Why transfers are not failures, but good clinical judgment The importance of asking hard questions and informed consent The pressure families face to navigate a broken system What midwives and providers can do better, inside and outside hospitals Both Miri and Kimberly brought honesty and clarity to what safe, ethical midwifery care actually looks like, across birth centers, home births, and hospitals. This episode is about nuance, preparation, and staying grounded in evidence instead of fear or ideology.   Connect with me! TikTok - @tracidoula4  Instagram - tracidoula  Facebook - tracidoula  Website - https://tracidoula.com

    1h 10m

  8. 12/12/2025

    Real Talk on Resilience: Navigating Infant Loss and Birth Trauma with Ashley Nerison

    EPISODE 17: Birth Trauma, Loss, and Honoring Everly’s Story — with Ashley Nerison This episode comes with a heartfelt trigger warning, as it includes discussion of traumatic birth and infant loss. I sat down with Ashley—a strong, honest mom who shared her story of losing her daughter, Everly, after a planned home birth that took a devastating turn. We talked about: The planning and intention behind choosing home birth The moment labor shifted and the silence that followed How a shoulder dystocia changed everything in an instant The NICU stay, Everly’s five days of life, and the grief that followed The lack of postpartum support and the importance of informed care What Ashley wants families and birth workers to know about real risk and preparation Ashley’s courage to tell Everly’s story is a reminder that every family deserves honest, transparent care—and that birth conversations must include both beauty and heartbreak. Please take care of your heart as you listen.   Connect with me! TikTok - @tracidoula4  Instagram - tracidoula  Facebook - tracidoula  Website - https://tracidoula.com

    1h 23m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Keeping Your Power® with Traci Doula! Where the power of beliefs becomes fierce resilience. Join Traci, a bold and beloved birth doula, mentor, life coach, and empathy-filled advocate, as she dives into raw, real, and redemptive conversations about overcoming life’s hardest challenges. From birth trauma to toxic family dynamics, adoption journeys to professional burnout, Traci shares insights drawn from 20+ years of experience and a life forged in fire. Through powerful storytelling, practical coaching, and heartfelt encouragement, this podcast helps you uncover your voice, reclaim your joy, and keep your power, no matter the season you’re in. For anyone who’s ever felt silenced, stuck, or sidelined, this is your invitation to rise. • Real talk. • Rooted in compassion. • Fueled by purpose. Subscribe now, and let’s walk this journey together.

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