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 [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUcyOV9GNThDMW13M1hIOEREZV9tbnRGZUF5d3xBQ3Jtc0trQ1FUQ01SeXF1SmpJM3phU2E1SWY5VXVWXzR4MDE3NWlnM2pUaXdzNHFfT2Z0VGFSZTNGOGUyajN0QlFVZ3dPVXZ6OVlTX0ZOSFZmenJma08yQUQwN0o5a203czRMRHlJR1BJNWMwOGg1azdvQUczWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbeacons.ai%2Ftracidoula&v=wx9T6cUvvfY] Connect with me! TikTok - @tracidoula4 [https://www.tiktok.com/@tracidoula4]  Instagram - tracidoula [https://www.instagram.com/tracidoula/]  Facebook - tracidoula [https://www.facebook.com/tracidoula/]  Website - https://tracidoula.com [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 [https://www.tiktok.com/@tracidoula4]  Instagram - tracidoula [https://www.instagram.com/tracidoula/]  Facebook - tracidoula [https://www.facebook.com/tracidoula/]  Website - https://tracidoula.com [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 [https://www.tiktok.com/@tracidoula4]  Instagram - tracidoula [https://www.instagram.com/tracidoula/]  Facebook - tracidoula [https://www.facebook.com/tracidoula/]  Website - https://tracidoula.com [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 [https://www.tiktok.com/@tracidoula4]  Instagram - tracidoula [https://www.instagram.com/tracidoula/]  Facebook - tracidoula [https://www.facebook.com/tracidoula/]  Website - https://tracidoula.com [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 [https://www.tiktok.com/@tracidoula4]  Instagram - tracidoula [https://www.instagram.com/tracidoula/]  Facebook - tracidoula [https://www.facebook.com/tracidoula/]  Website - https://tracidoula.com [https://tracidoula.com/]