Host:
Melissa Harley, B.A., AdvCD/BDT(DONA), CLC, LCCE, FACCE
Guest:
Rose Archer, Doctoral Researcher, Birth Doula, Certified Chaplain

In this thoughtful and deeply grounded episode of the CCDS Doula Collaboration Podcast, host Melissa Harley sits down with researcher, birth doula, and Board Certified Chaplain Rose Archer, author of the paper “Surviving in the Midst of ‘Nowhere’: Disrupting the Conceptualization of a Maternity Care Desert,” to explore how community-centered research can reshape our understanding of maternity care deserts and inform doula practice.

Rose shares how her professional work as a chaplain and doula, alongside deeply personal experiences with pregnancy and postpartum complications, led her to pursue doctoral research focused on reproductive health inequities in Black birthing communities. Drawing directly from her published research on Gadsden County, Florida, Rose challenges dominant data-driven narratives and highlights how large-scale classifications often miss the lived realities of families navigating care.

Together, Melissa and Rose discuss the importance of centering community voices, honoring intergenerational knowledge, and recognizing doulas as trusted connectors who help bridge gaps in access, trust, and care. This episode offers doulas, educators, and advocates a grounded framework for translating research into meaningful, relationship-centered practice.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:
• What maternity care deserts are and how they are officially defined
• Why large data sets often fail to capture community realities
• How transportation, time, and trust shape access to care
• The role of community advisory boards in ethical research
• What “reproductive liberatory consciousness” means in practice
• How doulas function as trusted connectors within communities

Quotes from the Episode:
💬 “I can actually recall the night I knew I wanted to do research.” — Rose Archer
💬 “There’s a disconnect here between the narrative that we see on a large scale and the narrative that we’re living in community.” — Rose Archer
💬 “We don’t want to pathologize communities.” — Rose Archer
💬 “Doulas are often the trusted person that someone calls when something doesn’t feel right.” — Melissa Harley

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
📌 Surviving in the Midst of ‘Nowhere’: Disrupting the Conceptualization of a Maternity Care Desert — Published in Sociology of Health & Illness (available via PubMed)@0/
📌 March of Dimes — Maternity Care Desert classifications
📌 Gadsden County Healthy Start Coalition
📌 Healthy Start Programs — Community-based maternal and infant health support
📌 Telehealth initiatives through state Departments of Health

About the Guest:
Rose Archer is a birth doula, Board Certified Chaplain, and doctoral student in African American Studies at Emory University, where she is also a McKnight Doctoral Fellow. Her research is deeply shaped by her professional work alongside birthing people and families, and focuses on the intersections of race, gender, and reproductive health.
Her recent scholarship examines how maternity care deserts are defined and experienced, centering the community-based strategies of African American birthing people living in rural communities. Her article, “Surviving in the midst of ‘Nowhere’: Disrupting the Conceptualization of a Maternity Care Desert,” published in Sociology of Health & Illness, has received national recognition. Using qualitative methods such as archival research and in-depth interviews, Rose explores how structural forces constrain reproductive autonomy and how communities actively disrupt and reimagine reproductive health inequities.

🎙 About the Host:
Melissa Harley, B.A., AdvCD/BDT(DONA), CLC, LCCE, FACCE is the founder of Capital City Doula Services and the CCDS Doula Collaboration, and has been a dedicated birth professional for over two decades as a birth doula, childbirth educator, and lactation counselor. A DONA-approved trainer since 2010, she has trained more than 1,500 doulas worldwide and served on the DONA International Board of Directors for seven years, including as DONA International President in 2020. In recognition of her lasting contributions to the doula profession, Melissa is the 2025 recipient of the Penny Simkin Award for Excellence in Doula Care.

In addition to her work with Capital City Doula Services, Melissa currently coordinates DONA’s conferences and webinars and remains deeply committed to education, mentorship, and strengthening the global doula community through her teaching, writing, advocacy work, and leadership.

To connect with Melissa, visit:
@
📩 Have a topic suggestion or want to be a guest?
Contact Melissa at: @
🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more birth workers find the CCDS Doula Collaboration Podcast.

Episode Title: Episode 5: From Being in the System to Serving in It — Keena Armstrong’s Journey as a Parent-Educator, Therapist & Doula

Host: Melissa Harley, B.A., AdvCD/BDT(DONA), CLC, LCCE, FACCE
Guest: Keena Armstrong, M.S., Counselor, Doulas, LMHC

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of the CCDS Doula Collaboration Podcast, host Melissa Harley sits down with Keena Armstrong, LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor, parent-educator, birth doula, and postpartum doula, to explore her full-circle story—from growing up in the foster care system to becoming a compassionate, community-based provider serving families within it.
Keena shares how her lived experiences shaped her life’s mission to support others through birth, mental health challenges, and family transitions. With authenticity and clarity, she reflects on her own struggles with postpartum anxiety, her journey to licensure, and her vision for wraparound support for birth and foster parents alike.
This episode is a moving testament to the impact of healing-centered care and the importance of bringing lived experience into professional service. It will leave birth workers and mental health providers alike inspired, informed, and reminded of the deep value in showing up with heart.

How Keena’s childhood in foster care informs her work todayThe role of doulas and therapists in postpartum mental healthHow Keena balances advocacy, parenting, and community careHer vision for a Fourth Trimester Recovery Space and what comes next

💬 “I want people to normalize and understand that some things that come with becoming and being a parent are normal. Being touched out and overstimulated—that’s normal.” — Keena Armstrong
💬 “You’re being a doula to those foster parents, right? How neat is that?” — Melissa Harley
💬 “It felt amazing… My goal and my vision board said I’d be licensed by the end of the year. And it happened.” — Keena Armstrong
💬 “Support isn’t linear—it’s circular. And I move through those roles and hats seamlessly.” — Keena Armstrong

📌 Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMHC) – Offered through PSI, MIMH, and other training organizations- https://postpartum.net/professionals/certification/
📌 Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS-US) – Screening tool for postpartum mental health – https://epds-us.vcu.edu
📌 Healthy Start Programs- community support, some with doula programs
📌 Postpartum Support International (PSI) – ⁠www.postpartum.net⁠

About the guest: Keena Armstrong is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida and a trained birth doula since August 2019. Currently pursuing her Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMHC), Keena brings a deep passion for social work, child welfare, and advocacy into every aspect of her work. As a proud mother and devoted partner, she is driven by a commitment to nurture, uplift, and empower those in need. Keena’s mission is to help change the world by promoting mental wellness, supporting families, and being a strong voice for the vulnerable.

🎙About the host: Melissa has been a dedicated birth professional for over two decades as a birth doula and childbirth educator. A DONA-approved trainer since 2010, she has trained over 1,300 doulas worldwide, blending evidence-based practices with insights from her extensive leadership experience. She served on the DONA Board of Directors for seven years, (DONA International President – 2020), contributing to strategic planning, education, and advocacy initiatives. Currently, she coordinates DONA’s conferences and webinars, fostering ongoing professional growth in the perinatal community. Based in Florida, Melissa remains an active doula trainer, childbirth educator, & lactation counselor. To connect with Melissa, visit ⁠www.capitalcitydoulaservices.com⁠📩 Have a topic suggestion or want to be a guest? Contact Melissa at: ⁠⁠www.capitalcitydoulaservices.com🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review!

*Audio Only Episode*

Host: Melissa Harley, B.A., AdvCD/BDT(DONA), CLC, LCCE, FACCE
Guest: Sarah Yastrab, Birth Doula

In this insightful episode of the CCDS Doula Collaboration Podcast, host Melissa Harley welcomes birth professional Sarah Yastrab for a conversation rooted in faith, family, and the depth of doula work. Sarah shares the meaningful experience of supporting her daughter through labor and birth—an intergenerational moment filled with emotion, purpose, and presence.

Drawing from her lived experience within the Orthodox Jewish community, Sarah invites listeners into a thoughtful discussion about how doulas can respectfully support families navigating sacred and long-standing cultural practices. Together, she and Melissa reflect on the importance of cultural humility, emotional awareness, and creating safe spaces for all families.

This episode includes content that may be sensitive for some listeners, including the impact of antisemitism and discussions of Orthodox Jewish birth traditions. At CCDS, we are committed to honoring diverse perspectives, holding space for growth, and embracing the complexity that comes with truly client-centered care.

About the Guest:
Sarah Yastrab is a birth doula based in Woodmere, New York. Her journey into birth work began when her daughter asked Sarah to support her through a successful VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). This personal connection inspired Sarah to pursue formal doula training with Melissa.
A mother of four children, Sarah brings decades of personal experience with pregnancy and motherhood to her practice. Having spent many years immersed in maternal support within her community, she combines professional training with lived experience to guide families through their birthing journeys. Sarah currently serves expectant parents throughout Long Island, offering compassionate and informed support during one of life’s most transformative experiences.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ How personal identity and professional experience intersect in birth work
✔️ Why it’s vital to honor religious and cultural traditions in doula support
✔️ The importance of learning directly from communities we wish to support

Quotes from the Episode:
💬 “My family is a family of Holocaust survivors. We’re only 80 years since the Holocaust and there’s no greater expression of joy. There’s no greater expression of hope. There’s no greater expression of faith and trust in a better future than having a baby.” – Sarah Yastrab
💬 “You’re a soul and they’re a soul and you’re just two souls in a room and just connect on that level. Everything else can exist outside, but when you’re together, you’re there for a reason.”– Sarah Yastrab
💬  “It does go back to what you said in the beginning, which was respect, and I do believe that there is the right doula for the right clients.” – Melissa Harley

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
📌 Orthodox Jewish Culture Resources – Encouraging understanding and solidarity
📌 Intergenerational Birth Experiences – Reflections on supporting family through labor

About the Host:
Melissa Harley, B.A., AdvCD/BDT(DONA), CLC, LCCE, FACCE is an experienced doula trainer, childbirth educator, lactation counselor, and maternal health advocate. A doula since 2003, she has trained over 1,000 doulas and mentored countless professionals across the perinatal field. Melissa served as the President of DONA International in 2020 and is the founder of ⁠Capital City Doula Services⁠ and host of the CCDS Doula Collaboration Podcast, which amplifies the voices and stories of doulas, educators, and birth professionals around the globe.

🎙 Host: Melissa Harley, B.A., AdvCD/BDT(DONA), CLC, LCCE, FACCE

📩 Want to be a guest or share your feedback? Reach out at https://capitalcitydoulaservices.com.

🎧 Subscribe to the CCDS Doula Collaboration Podcast wherever you listen, and don’t forget to leave a review to help others find the show!

Host: Melissa Harley, B.A., AdvCD/BDT(DONA), CLC, LCCE, FACCE
Guest: Abigayle Braudaway

In this heartwarming episode of the CCDS Doula Collaboration Podcast, host Melissa Harley welcomes a very special guest—her niece, Abigayle Braudaway—who also happens to be the first baby Melissa ever supported as a doula! Now, 23 years later, Abbey is expecting a baby of her own, bringing the journey full circle in a deeply meaningful way.
Melissa and Abbey discuss what it’s like to grow up surrounded by birth work, how Abbey’s perspective on pregnancy and birth has been shaped by her upbringing, and the emotions surrounding her transition into motherhood. Abbey also shares her thoughts on birth planning, fears about infertility, and the affirmations she’s using to embrace this journey with confidence.

Join us for a conversation filled with love, nostalgia, and the excitement of a new generation coming into the world.

In this episode:
✔ How growing up with doulas in the family shaped Abbey’s perspective on birth
✔ Abbey’s journey to conception and her thoughts on overcoming infertility fears
✔ Her vision for birth, including natural birth preferences and provider choices

Standout Quotes:
💬 “I was worried about infertility before we even started trying. I was already seeing doctors, doing tests, and preparing for the worst. And then, on my birthday of all days, I took a test, and it was positive. It felt like a sign from God.” – Abigayle Braudaway
💬 “Doulas are always teaching about birth confidence, and I just keep telling myself: My body was designed for this.” – Abigayle Braudaway
💬 “Pregnancy is 40-plus weeks for a reason—it’s not just about growing the baby, it’s about growing into the role of being a parent.” – Melissa Harley

Resources Discussed:
📌 Affirmations for Pregnancy & Birth – The power of positive thinking and self-affirmation in preparing for labor
📌 The Breast Crawl – How newborns instinctively find the breast when placed skin-to-skin after birth
📌 Finding a Birth Provider Who Supports Your Vision – Questions to ask OBs and midwives to ensure a good fit
📌 Home Birth & Midwifery Care – The importance of risk assessment and transfer plans for out-of-hospital birth

About the guest: Abigayle “Abbey” Braudaway is a dedicated medical assistant specializing in dermatology who currently resides in North Alabama with her husband, Uriah. The newlyweds are excitedly awaiting the arrival of their first child in September 2025.
Deeply family-oriented, Abbey treasures relationships with her loved ones above all else. She finds joy in creating meaningful memories and quality experiences with family members.
When not serving patients in dermatology, Abbey focuses on nurturing the connections that matter most to her and embracing each moment of her journey into parenthood. Abbey was also the FIRST doula baby for podcast host and doula, Melissa Harley, known as “Aunt Melissa” to Abbey.

🎙About the host: Melissa has been a dedicated birth professional for over two decades as a birth doula and childbirth educator. A DONA-approved trainer since 2010, she has trained over 1,200 doulas worldwide, blending evidence-based practices with insights from her extensive leadership experience. She served on the DONA Board of Directors for seven years, (DONA International President – 2020), contributing to strategic planning, education, and advocacy initiatives. Currently, she coordinates DONA’s conferences and webinars, fostering ongoing professional growth in the perinatal community. Based in Florida, Melissa remains an active doula trainer, childbirth educator, & lactation counselor. To connect with Melissa, visit ⁠www.capitalcitydoulaservices.com⁠

📩 Have a topic suggestion or want to be a guest? Contact Melissa at: ⁠⁠www.capitalcitydoulaservices.com

🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review!

Episode Title: From Doula to Patient: Danielle Sollars on Holding Space for Self & Others Through Cancer Treatment

Host: Melissa Harley, BA, AdvCD/BDT(DONA), CLC, LCCE, FACCE
Guest: Danielle Sollars, RN, CD(DONA)

In this meaningful episode of the CCDS Doula Collaboration Podcast, host Melissa Harley sits down with Danielle Sollars, an experienced doula and labor nurse, to discuss an unexpected twist in her journey—being diagnosed with breast cancer while actively supporting birthing families. Danielle shares how she navigated the emotional and physical challenges of her diagnosis while continuing to provide doula care, how her experience changed her perspective on advocacy and self-care, and the ways her clients, backup doulas, and medical team rallied around her in support.

Melissa and Danielle discuss the parallels between birth and healing, the importance of surrender, resilience, and support systems, and how doulas can hold space for others while also receiving care themselves. Danielle also shares how this journey has influenced her work as a doula, her insights on boundary-setting, and her plans for growing her birth practice in a new city.

✔ How Danielle balanced her doula work while undergoing cancer treatment
✔ The unexpected ways her clients supported her during this time
✔ The parallels between birth work and facing a health crisis
✔ The importance of boundaries, self-care, and receiving support as a doula
✔ How Danielle’s experience has reshaped her birth work and advocacy

Quotes from the Episode:
💬 “It was almost like my clients were doulaing me right back. The love and support I received was incredible.” – Danielle Sollars
💬 “I kept relating everything back to birth—facing the unknown, surrendering, taking it one step at a time. It all felt so familiar in a different way.” – Danielle Sollars
💬 “Doulas are so often the ones holding space for others. But this was a powerful reminder that we also need to let people hold space for us.” – Melissa Harley
💬 “Sometimes we overthink this doula thing. At its core, it’s about meeting people where they are, with love and support—and that’s exactly what your clients did for you.” – Melissa Harley

About Danielle:
Danielle is not just a birth doula, childbirth educator, and birth photographer, but a unique blend of these roles with over 2 decades of experience in the birth field. She is certified through DONA (Doulas of North America) and has supported over 100 births since becoming a full-time doula in 2018. Her diverse background includes working in ob/gyn offices, a birthing center, and as a labor and delivery nurse in a hospital for 5+ years. What sets her apart is not just her extensive experience, but also the calming presence she brings to the birth space.
🌐 Website: ⁠Birth Chattanooga – Labor with Danielle⁠
📸 Instagram: ⁠@labor_with_danielle⁠
💙 Facebook: ⁠Labor with Danielle⁠
Resources Mentioned
📌 ⁠Coloring pages for labor⁠ as a mindfulness tool
📌 The ⁠role of patient advocates⁠ in medical settings

0:01 Introduction and Background of Danielle Dollars
03:23 The Role of a Doula vs. Labor Nurse
05:45 Navigating Personal Challenges: Breast Cancer Diagnosis
08:11Continuing Doula Work During Treatment
10:39 Support from Clients and Community
13:12 Sharing the Journey on Social Media
15:49 Coping with Side Effects and Personal Growth
16:39 Emotional Transformation Through Hair Loss
17:50 The Importance of Support Systems
18:48 Advocacy in Medical Care
19:37 Using Experience to Help Others
20:20 Self-Care and Coping Mechanisms
22:20 Resilience and Surrender in Treatment
23:47 Boundaries and Self-Preservation
26:07 Finding Joy in Work During Hard Times
27:23 Future Aspirations in Doula Work
29:35 Prioritizing Self-Care as a Doula

About Your Host:
Melissa has been a dedicated birth professional for over two decades, supporting more than 1,000+ families as a birth doula and childbirth educator. A DONA-approved trainer since 2010, she has trained over 1,200 doulas worldwide, blending evidence-based practices with insights from her extensive leadership experience. She served on the DONA International Board of Directors for seven years, including as President in 2020, contributing to strategic planning, education, and advocacy initiatives. Currently, she coordinates DONA’s conferences and webinars, fostering ongoing professional growth in the perinatal community.
Based in Florida, Melissa remains an active doula trainer, childbirth educator, and lactation counselor, committed to excellence and the advancement of birth work.

📩 Have a topic suggestion or want to be a guest? Contact Melissa at: ⁠CCDS Podcast Guest Inquiry Form⁠

🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review!

Episode Title: Doula, Advocate, Changemaker: Talethia Edwards on Birth Work & Community Leadership

Host: Melissa Harley, BA, AdvCD/BDT(DONA), CLC, LCCE, FACCE
Guest: Talethia Edwards – Doula, Advocate, Community Leader, and Author

In this inspiring episode of the CCDS Doula Collaboration Podcast, host Melissa Harley sits down with Talethia Edwards, a powerhouse in the birth and community advocacy space. Talethia shares her journey from becoming a doula to advocating for marginalized communities and working in urban planning. She discusses the deep intersections between birth work and community development, emphasizing the importance of doulas engaging in local advocacy. Talethia also shares about her reflective journal, Only Paper Understands, and how it can be a resource for doulas as they process experiences working with clients.
✔️ Talethia’s path to becoming a doula and how personal experience led her to advocacy
✔️ The role of doulas in community development and how birth work connects to broader social issues
✔️ The impact of Healthy Start doula programs in providing equitable access to doulas
✔️ The importance of reflective writing for doulas in processing birth experiences
✔️ Strategies for balancing a demanding career, personal life, and self-care
🗣 “We really doula in community. That support—emotional, psychological, and physical—is about getting individuals and communities to the next place safely.” – Talethia Edwards
🗣 “We don’t have a right to be in the birth space, so it is an honor to be invited. But it’s also a huge responsibility.” – Melissa Harley
📚 Only Paper Understands – Talethia Edwards’ reflective journal for personal growth ⁠(Amazon Link)⁠

🌐 Website: ⁠https://talethiaedwards.com/⁠
📷 Instagram: @TOEdwards
💼 LinkedIn: Talethia Edwards

About Talethia:
Talethia O. Edwards is a doula, author, community activist, wife, and mother of eight. Talethia became very passionate about family engagement and parental involvement by being hands-on with her own children who have a myriad of complexities that caused her to have to advocate and “fight” on their behalf.
Talethia realized that her voice was not only needed for her own family and children but for others who have yet to feel so empowered.
Talethia continues her commitment and advocacy through volunteerism and service through board work with agencies like Kids, Inc. of the Big Bend, Early Head Start, CACA Head Start, The PHI Center, Tallahassee Lenders Consortium, and committees like the Early Childhood Obesity Prevention (ECOP) task force, the Leon County school district advisory committee, and Title I advisory committee and more.
As her commitment and service list goes on, she is firmly committed to forwarding the work of parental engagement, advocacy, and empowerment because she believes in strong families and strong communities.

About Your Host:
Melissa has been a dedicated birth professional for over two decades, supporting more than 1,000+ families as a birth doula and childbirth educator. A DONA-approved trainer since 2010, she has trained over 1,200 doulas worldwide, blending evidence-based practices with insights from her extensive leadership experience. She served on the DONA International Board of Directors for seven years, including as President in 2020, contributing to strategic planning, education, and advocacy initiatives. Currently, she coordinates DONA’s conferences and webinars, fostering ongoing professional growth in the perinatal community.
Based in Florida, Melissa remains an active doula trainer, childbirth educator, and lactation counselor, committed to excellence and the advancement of birth work.
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