ToRAISE Questions Doula Podcast

In this episode of the ToRAISE Questions Doula Podcast 🎙️, Melanie sits down with Melissa Yeager, a former ToLABOR Birth Doula and Labor + Delivery Nurse, and now a Certified Nurse Midwife in a brand new practice. Melissa’s career journey is such a great example of how birth work can evolve. We talk about the steps she took along the way, what led her from Doula work and Nursing into Midwifery, and what it’s like to build something entirely new. 🌿 We also dive into what happens when doulas an...

In this episode, Melanie sits down with Richmond-based OB/GYN and host of the Birth With Power podcast, Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins. Having known each other for the past 14 years, they dive into Nicole's personal journey into medicine, what inspired her to become an OB/GYN, and the experiences that continue to shape her approach to caring for her patients today. As a physician of color practicing in a field where representation matters, Nicole also reflects on the perspectives and values she ...

🫶 Episode 128 features a conversation with Melanie Russell and Natalie Karasiewicz, sharing the story and vision behind the A Brighter Birth Collective. Melanie founded the collective 18 years ago in Richmond, VA, creating a space rooted in support, education, and community for growing families. Now, with Natalie recently opening the Charleston, SC location, A Brighter Birth Collective continues to expand its reach while staying deeply grounded in its mission 👐 ABB is more than a birth collec...

In this episode, we’re joined by Sarah Cole for a powerful conversation about one of the five essential components of our doula training: Collaboration 🤝 What does it really mean to collaborate as a doula within a maternity care system that’s often built on hierarchy? How do we support and advocate for our clients while maintaining respectful, professional relationships with providers and nurses? Sarah and I dive into the nuance of being a bridge in the birth space — not adversarial, not pass...

For many birth workers, doula work is more than a role — it’s a doorway. In this episode, we explore how working as a doula can shape, inform, and prepare someone for the path to midwifery 🌱 Through personal reflection and lived experience, this conversation with Tori Mitchell CNM, dives into the skills, lessons, and perspective gained at the bedside: holding space, building trust, navigating systems, and learning to listen deeply. We talk about how doula work lays a foundation for clin...