Episode 1

full
Published on:

23rd Mar 2026

2 Hours, 2 Doulas & 2 Doctors: The Truth Behind the Headlines (pt. 1)

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.

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series, where we intentionally move beyond headlines and social media assumptions to center their lived experience, professional insight, and the full context of what occurred.

This episode lays the foundation—who they are, how they practice, and what led up to the hospital encounter.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

  1. The intention behind this conversation: listening over speculation
  2. Shira and Jet’aime’s backgrounds in education, birth work, and community care
  3. What it means to serve families in a maternal health desert
  4. The client’s journey navigating limited provider options in rural Georgia
  5. Why the family made the decision to travel to the Atlanta area for birth
  6. The behind-the-scenes realities of doula support (logistics, planning, advocacy)
  7. How hospital systems operate through hierarchy, policy, and liability
  8. Early signs of bias, miscommunication, and resistance in triage
  9. The critical moment when a breech diagnosis shifts the course of care
  10. The client’s clear request for pain management vs. provider insistence on cesarean

Key Themes

  1. Patient Autonomy vs. Hospital Policy
  2. Bias and Communication in Birth Spaces
  3. The Role of Doulas as Advocates and Care Partners
  4. Access Gaps in Rural Maternal Healthcare
  5. What Happens When Systems Don’t Listen

About Our Guests

Shira Lawrence

Birth & Postpartum Doula, Trainer, and Childbirth Educator.

Founder of a nonprofit supporting vulnerable teenage girls.

Serves families in maternal health deserts, often navigating high-risk and limited-access environments.

Jet’aime McKinney

Birth & Postpartum Doula, Agency Owner, and Educator based in Metro Atlanta.

Former educator turned full-time birth worker after a personal birth experience transformed her path.

Supports families through advocacy, education, and community-centered care.

Important Context

This episode is grounded in the doulas’ firsthand account.

We are not providing legal advice or speaking on behalf of the hospital or medical team.

Our goal is to create space for clarity, understanding, and informed dialogue.

Continue the Conversation

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series.

👉 Part 2 drops soon—be sure to subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss what happens next.

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About the Podcast

Doula That!
We are experienced birth workers with diverse careers, bringing decades of expertise to the world of birth, babies, and families. Join us on this journey as we delve deep into the realms of birth, postpartum care, and the business aspects of this incredible field. Our aim is to shed light on the unfiltered realities of birth work and guide you through building a successful birthing career.

About your hosts

Ravae Sinclair

Profile picture for Ravae Sinclair
Ravae Sinclair is a highly experienced birth worker with a rich history spanning two decades, during which she has passionately served over 800 families. Holding numerous certifications including those of a birth doula, postpartum doula, certified childbirth educator, and breastfeeding professional, Ravae's multifaceted expertise has made her a prominent figure in the field. Beyond her roles in maternal and perinatal care, she also boasts a legal background as a licensed attorney.
Ravae's impact extends across the United States, where she leads three influential doula groups situated in Milwaukee, Atlanta, and Washington D.C. Her unwavering commitment to maternal health and support has been pivotal in these regions. You can learn more about her work at www.birth-connections.com.
As a trailblazer in the birth world, Ravae is the visionary founder of Birth Connections Global, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving maternal health care. She is also the driving force behind the National Birth & Postpartum Professionals group, an association uniting perinatal health professionals from various disciplines. Her dedication to creating positive change is further evident through her roles as a board member in organizations such as the National Association to Advance Black Birth (NAABB), Iowa Black Doula Collective (IBDC), and Health in the Hood.
Ravae's commitment to mentorship and support extends to fellow birth workers, acting as a mentor and coach. She facilitates essential discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion within organizations, and offers valuable family-centered legal guidance to those intentionally expanding their families. Her dedication to simplifying the work of birth workers is evident in the birth worker contract templates available on her website at www.ravaesinclair.com. Ravae Sinclair is truly a dedicated and versatile professional, making significant contributions to the field of maternal health and support.

Denise Bolds

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Biography Denise Bolds MSW, Adv.CD (DONA), CLC, CBE. www.BoldDoula.com
Black Women Do VBAC
Denise Bolds is Bold Doula, she holds a MSW degree and is a doctoral student at Saint John Fischer University. She is experienced in case managing high- risk pregnancies for managed care organizations. Ms. Bolds was one of the first MSW Social Workers hired in NYS for Medical Management in Health Management Organizations. She is a DONA International Advanced Certified Birth Doula with 281 births of experience since 2014. She is certified as an Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Instructor. Ms. Bolds is also a Certified Lactation Counselor providing breastfeeding support and breastfeeding classes. Ms. Bolds is the owner and developer of ‘Black Women Do VBAC’ She offers mentoring and training to birth doulas; and is known for her advocacy and empowerment in Black birth-work. Ms. Bolds is a noted public speaker, workshop presenter and podcast producer (Independently and formerly with Lamaze); she is MWBE certified in NYS/NYC. She is a native New Yorker born in Harlem NYC and is a successful single mom of a 33-year-old son. She loves skydiving, collecting stones, tarot decks and beaches.