Doula That!

Part 3: Doulas Escorted Out, Birth Outcome, and the Aftermath In the final installment of the series, doulas Sheila Lawrence and Jain McKinney describe being repeatedly removed from a hospital labor room after a breech client’s care became entangled in provider resistance, bias, and shifting “chain of command.” After the client received an epidural, an older white male OB told the doulas he needed...

In Part 2 of this powerful three-part series, we continue the firsthand account from Shira Lawrence and Jet’aime McKinney as they navigate an increasingly complex and high-stakes hospital experience during a birth in Georgia. What begins as a moment of hope—with a provider finally listening—quickly shifts into a deeper examination of power, bias, and control within the hospital system. This episod...

Co-Hosts: Ravae Sinclair, JD, CLC, PBD(NBPP), PPD(NBPP) Dr. Denise Bolds doulathatpodcast@gmail.com Episode Summary We’re relaunching the Doula That! Podcast with a conversation that requires depth, context, and care. In this episode, we sit down with Black doulas Shira Lawrence and Jet’aime McKinney to begin unpacking the story behind a viral video showing their removal from a hospital birth. Thi...

Ravae Sinclair and Denise Bolds discuss their experiences with being scammed by Augustine Colebrook, who promised a Belize retreat for November 2024 but changed it to February 2025, causing scheduling conflicts. Despite paying in installments, they were unable to get refunds, with Colebrook citing financial difficulties and potential bankruptcy. They highlight the broader issue of Colebrook's hist...

Member Meeting ???? Ravae Sinclair and Denise Bolds discussed their observations from a recent meeting of DONA International, a nonprofit organization for doulas. They highlighted issues such as the lack of transparency, missing meeting minutes for three years, and inconsistencies in financial reporting. They noted that DONA's membership has declined from 7,000 to around 2,700 certified members in...

 Be Aware of Scammers! Ravae Sinclair, a co-host of the Doula That podcast, shares her experience of being scammed by Augustine Colebrook, who promised a retreat for birth workers. Ravae paid $1,400 for a retreat scheduled for November 2024, but it was changed to February 2025, which was unacceptable. Despite multiple requests for a refund, Colebrook delayed and eventually took an additional...

The Day After The Day After The Election Ravae Sinclair and Denise Bolds discuss the emotional and physical impact of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, expressing feelings of betrayal and fear for the future. They highlight the potential loss of reproductive rights and privacy due to the Supreme Court's conservative leanings and the erosion of bodily autonomy. They also address the broader impl...

Denise Bolds and Ravae Sinclair share their experiences and insights on personal growth, wellness, and inclusivity in the birth work community. They emphasize the importance of self-love, setting boundaries, and prioritizing self-care for effective leadership and service. They also discuss the challenges of navigating identity and leadership as black women in the field, and the need for inclusivit...

Personal updates, business growth, and nonprofit work. Ravae and Denise are back after a 3-month break, catching up with listeners. They discuss their busy schedules, podcast hiatus, and future plans. Denise Bolds shares updates on her personal and professional life, including travel and business growth. Ravae Sinclair expands agency, launches online training programs, and supports nonprofit while...

Childbirth education and lack of recognition from evidence-based birth organization. 0:02 Ravae and Denise discuss their podcast updates, current events in the birth space, and advocacy for safe and comfortable spaces. Denise Bolds and 5 other women, including 2 black women, have been working on a Longitudinal Study to improve birth outcomes for black and brown families. Despite their efforts, the...

Doula referrals in a Facebook group. 0:00 Denise Bolds and Ravae Sinclair discuss common issues on social media related to birth work and leadership. Ravae Sinclair and Denise Bolds discuss a post in a Facebook group for doulas of color where a request for referrals for a "high profile or celebrity burning person" was made in the middle of the day on February 6. The original poster asked a doula t...

·       Katt Williams' comedy special and 2024's revealing themes. 0:00 o  Ravae Sinclair and Denise Bolds discuss Katt Williams' comedy special, which they find refreshing and relevant to current events. o  They emphasize the importance of owning up to one's actions and being held accountable for hurting or stealing from others. ·  &nbsp...

Balancing doula work with family life as a single mom. 0:00 Aspiring doula struggles with balancing work and family as a single mom to young children. Challenges of being a single parent and doula. 2:09 Single parents face significant stress, and adding on-call responsibilities may not improve quality of life. Plan ahead for childcare during nighttime calls as a doula. Doula work, business tips, a...

Evaluating quality of doula courses. 0:00 Ravae Sinclair and Denise Bolds discuss the importance of vetting courses for quality education in the birth and postpartum industry. They share their concerns about the lack of reliable information and poor communication in some courses, highlighting the need for a trustworthy platform for continuing education. Ravae Sinclair and Denise Bolds discuss tips...

Backup doula coverage during holiday season. 0:04 Be ready for the end of the year with induction times, weather considerations, and illness preparation. Choose a backup doula early and get their commitment in writing to ensure peace of mind during emergency situations. Prepare the family for potential switch from in-person to virtual support if needed, and activate the backup doula as a last reso...

The impact of leadership change on doula career and black maternal health. 0:09 Ravae Sinclair reflects on the abrupt transition out of leadership with DONA International and its impact on her doula career and the Black maternal health crisis. Race and dysfunction in a doula organization. 1:30 Denise Bolds shares her personal experience with disappointment and betrayal after a unanimous vote to pr...

·       Balancing doula work with family life as a single mom. 0:00 o  Aspiring doula struggles with balancing work and family responsibilities as a single mom to young children. ·       Challenges of being a single parent and doula. 2:09 o  Single mom of a five-year-old faces stress as a primary caregiver and seeks su...

Introduction What are you reading? Memoirs, resilience, and black women's experiences. 0:00 Ravae Sinclair and Denise Bolds discuss books they're reading. Denise is reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" and "Recovering Black Storytelling and Qualitative Research." Denise Bolds shares her interest in storytelling and its importance in preserving cultural heritage. Ravae Sinclair shares her...

Introduction: What are you watching on TV? Doula work and TV shows. 0:26 Denise Bolds shares her TV viewing habits, mentioning she's in a doctoral program. Denise and Ravae discuss Black Cake, a Hulu series based on a book, with a focus on Black storytelling and family history. Ravae and Denise discuss TV shows, including "Gilded Age" and "Queen Charlotte," and share their thoughts on the episodes...

·       Doula skills and backup support during the holiday season. 0:08 o  Ravae Sinclair and Denise Both share what's in their cups during a podcast episode. o  Doulas seek backup support during holiday season and beyond. ·       Doula backup and communication. 3:43 o  Doula discusses importance of having a...

·       Current events, menopause, and beverages. 0:08 o  Denise Bolds shares her drink of choice, French onion bone broth, and discusses its benefits for intermittent fasting. o  Ravae Sinclair share her drink of choice, sweet tea with Apple Crown Royal.  ·       Breastfeeding organization's apology for promoting exp...

Join us for a captivating journey through the world of healthcare careers and the unique challenges faced in the birth world. In this episode, we dive deep into the experiences of two remarkable individuals who have dedicated their lives to making a difference in maternal health and beyond. (0:10) Denise Bolds shares her incredible 40-year healthcare career journey, taking us from her beginnings a...