ToRAISE Questions Doula Podcast
The ToRAISE Questions podcast offers thoughtful, unfiltered conversations for doulas and birth workers who want to deepen their knowledge, elevate their practice, and uphold the integrity of birth work.
Each episode features insights from experienced professionals in the field, helping you grow with intention and purpose.
Questions, feedback, show ideas, want to be a guest?!
We want to hear from you!
→ Email: melanie@tolabor.com
→ Instagram: instagram.com/tolabor
→ Facebook: facebook.com/toLabordoulas
Interested in becoming a Doula?
Visit our website for more: tolabor.com
Episodes
103 episodes
Back to Back and Overlapping Births: How to Navigate a "Birth Bender"... Episode 124
😅 What happens when you’re called to two births at the same time—or you’ve just walked out of one birth and another client needs you? It’s one of the most stressful and tender realities of doula life… and one we don’t talk about enough.<...
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Episode 124
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1:03:15
Finding Your Path: A New Doula’s Journey from Retreat to Real Life with Rae Thweat... Episode 123
🕊️ Connection, creativity, and community — plus the best food ever. Rae’s story will leave you inspired to slow down, fill your cup, and do the work you love.Watch the full video version here: https://youtu.be/kC_J5nNxzDMIn...
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Episode 123
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33:11
A New Kind of Doula Training... Episode 122
🌿 Melanie Russell is back with big news: ToLABOR’s brand-new Combo Doula Training + Retreat has arrived!Watch the full video version here: https://youtu.be/kdZoxtDIT9QThis unique approach to doula education goes beyo...
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Episode 122
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37:32
We're Back!!... Episode 121
🎙️ Melanie Russell is back in the studio — and it feels so good!Watch the full video version here: https://youtu.be/8l6T131Q4tIAfter an 8 year hiatus, the ToRAISE Questions Doula podcast returns with fresh energy and a whol...
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Episode 121
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49:46
When Your Client is Also Your Sister... Episode 120
Thérèse spends time talking to Valerie Drews who is a birth doula in the Chicago area (http://www.sacred-pregnancy.com/ ),about her experience being a doula for her sister's births. Is it hard to stay in the role as doula when you are also a fa...
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1:12:17
A Birth Story... Episode 119
Dana Jarmon shares her birth story with Thérèse. Dana a birth doula herself, discusses the impact of having a doula present at her birth and also how it may have informed her own doula practice. www.kindredspiritsdoula.com.
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1:13:36
Traumatic Birth: A Deeper Understanding... Episode 118
Thérèse has a conversation with Heather Self, a birth doula who had an extremely traumatic birth and the impact it has had on her practice as a doula.
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1:16:59
A Summer Recap from Thérèse... Episode 117
It's been a long time since our last podcast and Thérèse takes a few moments to say hello again and talk about some of the lessons learned on her journey this past summer.
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19:09
Supporting a Client Desiring a VBAC... Episode 116
Thérèse has a conversation with Emily Bruno, a Certified Birth Doula and one of the owners of My Birth in Richmond VA about how to best support a client who is planning to have a VBAC.
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1:26:41
The Life of A Doula... Episode 115
Thérèse has a conversation with Karry Wolf Anderson, a doula in the Chicago area. They discuss Karry's life as a mother, wife, doula and massage therapist and how she balances it all throughout these years of being active in birth work.
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1:17:37
Breastfeeding Part 2... Episode 114
Thérèse continues her conversation with Cary York, a lactation consultant about how we can support a person who is having latch issues as well as, the different postions that can be used while breastfeeding.
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1:17:32
Breastfeeding Part 1... Episode 113
Thérèse talks with Cary York, a lactation consultant about undisturbed breastfeeding, what it looks like and how it can be protected in that first hour and the days after birth
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1:12:37
Reproductive Rights... Episode 112
Thérèse talks with Cheyenne Varner cheyennevarner.com about an article she recently wrote entitled, "8 Things to Know About Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice".
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1:00:49
Doula Mentorship... Episode 111
Thérèse talks with Emily Landry, www.emilylandrydoula.com, from Tulsa Ok about a service she offers to new doulas, doula mentorship.
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1:01:00
A Conversation with Jocelyn Alt About Hospital Doula Programs... Episode 110
Thérèse talks with Jocelyn Alt, a certified professional birth doula in Seattle how has helped to start a successful hospital doula program where the doulas get paid a living wage and and the clients and staff reap the benefits as well.
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1:13:14
Workshops, Life and Birth... Episode 109
Thérèse and Melanie spend time together talking about the toLabor doula workshops, how they help to emulate the spirit, the intention necessary in birth work and how they may help to transform our own personal lives.
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1:05:23
Jen Kamel the Creator of the Organization, VBACFacts... Episode 108
Thérèse talks with Jen Kamel the creator and director of VBACFacts.com about the true risks of a VBAC, what does the evidence show, what are the practices in place, why are these practices in place and so much more.
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1:08:26
A Conversation with the Organization Everyday Miracles... Episode 107
Thérèse talks with the Debby Prudhomme & Melissa Gutierrez Nelson from the non-profit organization Everyday Miracles. This Minneapolis MN based organization provide free birth doula services and classes to any pregnant woman on medicad.
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1:06:39
Case Study- How to Handle a Difficult Client Situation... Episode 106
Thérèse and Melanie have a conversation wth Kate, a doula from Pennsylvania who faced an unexpected and difficult situation with their clients in the midst of their labor
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1:18:57
A Conversation with the Creator of a Non-Profit Community Doula Project Part 2... Episode 105
Thérèse continue her dialogue with guest, Stephanie Spencer the Director of Urban Baby Beginning, a non-profit organization that provides doula and childbirth services to low-income women.
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48:55
A Conversation with the Creator of a Non-Profit Community Doula Project Part 1... Episode 104
Thérèse speaks with guest, Stephanie Spencer the Director of Urban Baby Beginngs, a non-profit organization that provides doula and childbirth services to low-income women.
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1:05:28
A Conversation with a Newborn Intensive Care Nurse... Episode 103
Thérèse and Melanie speak with Sarah Howell a NICU nurse at a large city hopstal and gives insights on how a doula can help negoitate that time with and for their clients.
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1:16:40
A Conversation with a Federally Funded Community Based Doula... Episode 102
Thérèse speaks with guest, Alice Wheeler who is a doula in a federally qualified community health center in Lancaster, PA
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59:09