• Stop Complaining about Doula Agencies Taking a Commission
    May 16 2026
    Why Doula Agencies Take a Cut (and Why Hard Conversations Matter)

    The Doula Darcy cuts right to the chase on this episode, urging doulas to stop complaining about typical 25–30% agency commissions (noting 45–50% is excessive) and explaining that agencies earn their cut by handling contracting, negotiations, interviews, background checks, references, invoicing, client management software, and the stress and risk of running the business so doulas can focus on providing care.

    Drawing from Agency Owner Office Hours in My Doula Village, Darcy describes common challenges such as boundary-pushing clients and unreliable contractors, emphasizing that having short, hard conversations early—including firing a problematic doula or declining a difficult client—protects the business and future clients. 00:00 Stop Complaining About Cuts 02:41 Agency Owners Handle Problems 03:55 Job vs Entrepreneur Mindset 04:45 What Agencies Cover For You 06:46 Hard Conversations Save You 09:18 Why Agencies Are Great Training 11:47 Join My Doula Village 13:38 Maine Retreat And Doula Community 14:51 Find Your Doula Besties About The Doula Darcy: Doula Business Coach & Marketing Strategist Since 2010, Darcy has built a thriving postpartum doula business (now doula agency) in New Hampshire. With her team of postpartum doulas handling the day-to-day in person clients, Darcy spends her time and energy helping other doulas grow & scale their businesses with a focus on sustainability and not burning themselves out. Prior to having her own 3 children and becoming doula, Darcy worked for 10 years in the advertising and marketing world. She was able to replace her corporate income quicker than most new doulas because of her previous career & expertise. Darcy now uses this experience to help other doulas build their own thriving practices. Learn more at https://www.thedouladarcy.com

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    16 mins
  • Low-Cost Decisions Are Costing You High-Paying Doula Clients
    May 4 2026

    You Can't Build a High-Value Doula Business with Low-Value Decisions

    In this candid and "slightly spicy" episode, Darcy challenges a pattern she's seeing across the doula industry: the constant search for the fastest, cheapest, and free-est way to build a doula business.

    From low-cost trainings to DIY websites and free mentorship requests, she breaks down why this mindset is quietly sabotaging doulas and why it directly impacts their ability to attract paying clients.

    This conversation isn't actually about spending more money. It's about understanding value, self-worth, and the connection between how you invest in yourself and how clients perceive (and pay for) your services.

    What You'll Learn
    • Why "cheap and fast" thinking is hurting your doula business
    • The powerful mindset shift: viewing your business decisions through a client's lens
    • How your willingness to invest impacts your ability to get hired
    • The truth about low-budget websites and high-ticket services
    • Why self-worth, not strategy, is often the real bottleneck
    • How to start attracting clients who value and pay you well
    A Perspective Shift to Try

    Darcy shares a simple but eye-opening exercise:

    Next time you see a post asking for the cheapest or fastest way to become a doula…
    👉 Replace it with "childbirth education" or "birth preparation"

    Would you recommend the cheapest, fastest option to a pregnant mom?

    If not… why are you doing it in your own business?

    Key Takeaway

    "If you are not willing to invest in yourself, no one is going to be willing to invest in you."

    About The Doula Darcy

    Since 2010, Darcy has built a thriving postpartum doula business (now doula agency) in New Hampshire.

    With her team of postpartum doulas handling the day-to-day in person clients, Darcy spends her time and energy helping other doulas grow & scale their businesses with a focus on sustainability and not burning themselves out.

    Prior to having her own 3 children and becoming a doula, Darcy worked for 10 years in the advertising and marketing world. She was able to replace her corporate income quicker than most new doulas because of her previous career & expertise. Darcy now uses this experience to help other doulas build their own thriving practices.

    Learn more at www.thedouladarcy.com

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    11 mins
  • Pitch Like a Pro: How Doulas Can Land TV, Press & Podcast Features
    Apr 27 2026

    In this episode, Darcy sits down with PR expert and seasoned doula Kristin Revere, founder of Gold Coast Doulas, to break down how doulas can bootstrap their own public relations strategy without spending thousands on a Public Relations agency. From pitching local media to leveraging national features, Kristin shares actionable, real-world strategies to help doulas get visible, build authority, and ultimately attract more clients.

    ✨ What You'll Learn
    • The difference between paid advertising vs. earned media (and why PR is so powerful)
    • How to pitch yourself to local TV, radio, and publications
    • Why doulas are perfect for "feel-good" media stories
    • How to use holidays and awareness weeks (like Mother's Day & International Doula Month) for media opportunities
    • What makes a strong press release + follow-up strategy
    • The importance of building relationships with reporters and producers
    • How one media feature can lead to major national exposure (even The Washington Post!)
    • Why credibility + authority skyrocket when you're featured in media
    • How to repurpose media appearances for social content and SEO
    • Tips for on-camera confidence and interview prep


      Kristin is the founder of Gold Coast Doulas, a certified birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, podcast host of the Ask the Doulas Podcast, and co-author of Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby. With a background in public relations, she brings a unique and powerful perspective to helping doulas grow their visibility and impact.


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    35 mins
  • Introvert Doulas: Protect Your Energy While Growing Your Business
    Apr 20 2026
    Would you ever guess that The Doula Darcy is an introvert?

    She is! And this week, she's sharing encouragement and practical tips for introverted doulas. She explains how introverts recharge alone, why she books her own hotel room at events to decompress and rest early, and how learning about introversion (including the book Quiet) reduced her guilt and helped her plan downtime. Drawing on early career networking at Chamber of Commerce events and later building her postpartum doula business, she emphasizes that networking and marketing become easier when you lean into your passion for doula work, schedule quiet breaks (even 15 minutes), and let passion override fear. She invites introvert doulas to reach out and notes introvert challenges in postpartum and birth settings.

    Register for Darcy's free "How to Get Doula Clients" webinar here: https://douladarcy.com/webinar About The Doula Darcy: Doula Business Coach & Marketing Strategist Since 2010, Darcy has built a thriving postpartum doula business (now doula agency) in New Hampshire. With her team of postpartum doulas handling the day-to-day in person clients, Darcy spends her time and energy helping other doulas grow & scale their businesses with a focus on sustainability and not burning themselves out. Prior to having her own 3 children and becoming doula, Darcy worked for 10 years in the advertising and marketing world. She was able to replace her corporate income quicker than most new doulas because of her previous career & expertise. Darcy now uses this experience to help other doulas build their own thriving practices.

    Learn more at https://www.thedouladarcy.com
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    25 mins
  • What to Do When you Start Earning a Lot of Money as a Doula
    Mar 30 2026

    Money, mindset, and what to actually do when your income grows

    In this episode, Doula Darcy is diving into a topic that doesn't get talked about enough in the doula world. Money.

    Inspired by doulas in the My Doula Village community who are hitting consistent five-figure months, this conversation explores both the practical strategies and the mindset shifts needed to handle more income with confidence.

    What You'll Learn
    • Why making more money can feel uncomfortable (and what to do about it)
    • The financial mistake that led to a painful tax surprise, and how to avoid it
    • A simple system to manage your income using the Profit First method
    • How to prepare for taxes without stress
    • Why having multiple bank accounts can transform your business
    • The importance of saving for retirement (yes, even now)
    • How your nervous system responds to money and how to regulate it
    • Why doulas making more money can positively impact the world
    Mindset Shifts
    • More money is safe and allowed
    • You don't need to spend it just because it's there
    • Your nervous system needs time to adjust to new income levels
    • Money doesn't make you a bad person—it amplifies who you already are
    • You can choose generosity, impact, and abundance

    Making more money and keeping it is about becoming the kind of person who can hold, manage, and feel safe with money.



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    24 mins
  • World Doula Week - What's a Doula to Do?
    Mar 22 2026

    It's World Doula Week! But what the heck does that even mean and what are we supposed to be doing?

    Doula Darcy breaks it down for you in this episode and shares 5 actionable things you can do to piggyback off of World Doula Week and spread awareness about your own doula business.

    ✨ Connect with Darcy on Instagram : @thedouladarcy / thedouladarcy

    Join My Doula Village for deeper trainings on things like this and so much more!

    About The Doula Darcy: Doula Business Coach & Marketing Strategist

    Since 2010, Darcy has built a thriving postpartum doula business (now doula agency) in New Hampshire. With her team of postpartum doulas handling the day-to-day in person clients, Darcy spends her time and energy helping other doulas grow & scale their businesses with a focus on sustainability and not burning themselves out. Prior to having her own 3 children and becoming doula, Darcy worked for 10 years in the advertising and marketing world. She was able to replace her corporate income quicker than most new doulas because of her previous career & expertise. Darcy now uses this experience to help other doulas build their own thriving practices. Learn more at www.thedouladarcy.com

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    12 mins
  • Doula Marketing on Instagram: Simple Strategies That Actually Work to Reach Local Clients with Molly Cahill
    Mar 16 2026
    If you're a doula wondering what to post on Instagram to get more clients, this podcast episode is for you. Today I'm talking with Instagram expert Molly Cahill all about how doulas can use Instagram to grow a local business, attract more of the right clients, and stop overthinking social media. We cover what actually works on Instagram right now, why you do not need to go viral, and how to create content that helps potential clients get to know, like, and trust you before they ever reach out. We also talk about one of the biggest mindset shifts doulas need around Instagram: your goal is not to become famous online. Your goal is to become the go-to doula in your local area. Inside this conversation, you'll learn: what doulas should post on Instagramhow to use Instagram to get local doula clientswhy Instagram matters for birth workers and postpartum doulashow to use keywords and hashtags so pregnant women can find youwhy carousels, collaboration posts, and networking matterhow to make your Instagram profile easier for potential doula clients to understandwhy consistency matters more than chasing viral content If you've been asking: "What should I post as a doula on Instagram?" "How do I market my doula business on social media?" "How can I get doula clients from Instagram?" …this episode will give you practical ideas you can start using right away. This video is for the doula who wants more client inquiries, better visibility, and a simpler Instagram strategy, make sure you subscribe for more training on doula marketing, doula business growth, and how to build a sustainable doula business. ✨ Connect with Molly on Instagram : @mollyacahill / mollyacahill ✨ Connect with Darcy on Instagram : @thedouladarcy / thedouladarcy Join My Doula Village for deeper trainings on Instagram and so much more! About The Doula Darcy: Doula Business Coach & Marketing Strategist Since 2010, Darcy has built a thriving postpartum doula business (now doula agency) in New Hampshire. With her team of postpartum doulas handling the day-to-day in person clients, Darcy spends her time and energy helping other doulas grow & scale their businesses with a focus on sustainability and not burning themselves out. Prior to having her own 3 children and becoming doula, Darcy worked for 10 years in the advertising and marketing world. She was able to replace her corporate income quicker than most new doulas because of her previous career & expertise. Darcy now uses this experience to help other doulas build their own thriving practices. Learn more at www.thedouladarcy.com
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    41 mins
  • From Burned-Out Teacher to Online Childbirth Educator: A Doula Business Story with Lizzie Bollinger
    Mar 2 2026

    If you've ever thought about adding passive income to your doula business but felt overwhelmed by building a course from scratch this episode is for you.

    Today I'm joined by Lizzie Bolliger (aka Fierce Lizzie), founder of Unmedicated Academy, to talk about what it really takes to build an online offer as a birth worker.

    We cover:

    • How Lizzie went from high school math teacher to full-time online childbirth educator

    • The truth about "passive income" (and why marketing never stops)

    • Why most doulas never finish the digital course they start

    • The burnout that comes from only trading hours for dollars

    • And a done-for-you way to add childbirth education to your business

    Lizzie now works about 15 hours a week, homeschools her 3 kids, earns what she used to as a full-time teacher, and helps doulas license her comprehensive childbirth curriculum instead of building their own from scratch.

    If you're craving a hybrid doula business model, one that gives you more freedom, flexibility, and income, this conversation will open your eyes to what's possible.

    👉 Grab Lizzie's free curriculum licensing guide here.



    Join My Doula Village to get access to Lizzie & Darcy's deeper dive on this subject:
    https://douladarcy.com/my-doula-village-4

    Register for Darcy's upcoming free masterclass on Building a Hybrid Doula Business Model here:

    https://douladarcy.com/masterclass

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    33 mins