Keeping Your Power® with Traci Doula

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

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

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

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

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

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

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
 

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

Escaping Emotional Abuse in the Church: Stories of Strength and Self-Discovery with Detra Part II

EPISODE 16 : Faith, Abuse, and Finding Freedom — with Detra Part II
In this episode, I sat down with my friend Detra for part two of our conversation about moving through and out of emotionally abusive marriages, especially within church settings. Both of us spent decades in marriages that looked “godly” on the outside, mine was 31 years, Detra’s was 34. What we uncovered were the hidden patterns that kept us small, confused, and convinced that silence equaled faithfulness.
We talked about:
How church culture can hide or excuse emotional abuse under “submission”
The subtle manipulation and gaslighting that wear you down over time
The healing that comes from good therapy and solid truth-based support
The CORE principles from The Emotionally Destructive Marriage by Leslie Vernick
The freedom and clarity that follow leaving toxic environments
This one’s for anyone still questioning if what they’re living through is “bad enough.” You’re not crazy. You’re not faithless. And you don’t have to keep giving yourself up to prove your worth.
 
Connect with me!TikTok - @tracidoula4 Instagram - tracidoula Facebook - tracidoula Website - https://tracidoula.com

The Pain Beneath the Love with Traci Doula on Adoption and Finding Herself

EPISODE 15: My Adoption Story — The Truth, The Layers, and The Healing 
In this episode, I’m sharing something deeply personal, my own story as an adoptee. This is where I unpack what adoption has meant in my life, the complicated emotions that come with it, and the truths I wish more people understood.
I talked about:
Challenging the idea that love alone “fixes” adoption trauma
My story of finding out I was adopted and how those emotions changed with time
The attachment patterns that shaped my childhood and motherhood
What it was like to find my biological family and get my adoption records
Why every person in the adoption triad deserves empathy and space to heal
This one’s raw and close to my heart. If you’ve ever felt unseen, disconnected, or unsure where you belong, this conversation is for you.
 
Connect with me!TikTok - @tracidoula4 Instagram - tracidoula Facebook - tracidoula Website - https://tracidoula.com