Back in Action: Catch Up with The Birth Geeks

Welcome back to The Birth Geeks podcast! In today's episode, hosts Hillary Melchiors and  Robin Elise Weiss catch up after a long break and dive into a range of exciting updates and developments in the birth and doula community. They talk about Hillary's upcoming trip to France for the European Doula Network conference and reflect on their busy year, including Hillary's rebrand of her doula agency. From discussing the challenges of balancing doula work with personal life to sharing insights from recent conferences and legislative advocacy efforts, this episode is packed with valuable information and heartfelt moments. Stay tuned as they also hint at upcoming topics and interviews that will enrich the birth and doula community. Let's get started! Links mentioned in this show: Cost of Living Doula Fee Calculator EPDUS-US (Mental Health Screening Tool) Overview Hosts Hillary and Robin reconnect after a long break. They discuss a road trip from Louisville to Minneapolis. Hillary prepares for the European Doula Network in France. They reflect on their busy lives and roles in DONA International. Robin organized the Doulas Doing Business Summit for business management support. They share challenges doulas face in balancing passion and business. Hillary is involved in academic activities related to doulas. Both discuss personal challenges, including Hillary's house fire. They reflect on parenting and the transition to becoming empty nesters. A recent vacation sparked a desire for more travel and reading. The speaker advocates for doulas and perinatal mental health screening. They highlight legislative progress for doulas and maternal care improvement. The agency's rebranding and certification efforts are mentioned. Emphasis on community outreach and agency operations amid challenges. Upcoming plans include discussions on rebranding and financial sustainability. Excitement about interviews and research on perinatal mental health. The speaker shares a personal experience attending a memorial for Penny Simkin. Light-hearted discussion on fame preferences and humorous birth community anecdotes.