Hot+Brave

Hosted by bebo mia inc

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Sep 2026

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About the show

Hosted by birth worker and activist Bianca Sprague from bebo mia Inc (https://bebomia.com/), Hot + Brave is like a hilarious conversation with your feisty friend who doesn’t give a f*ck. Brave stories, business support, hot topics and #truthbombs that will either balm your soul or light fire to your rage.

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September 29, 2026Episode 1224 min

S7E12: How Do You Raise Your Doula Rates Without Losing Clients?

Send us Fan Mail How do you know when it's time to raise your doula rates, and how do you do it without panicking that nobody will book you again? In the Season 7 finale of Hot + Brave , Bianca talks about one of the hardest parts of running a doula business: charging enough to make the work sustainable. We get into how to know when you've outgrown your current rate, deciding how much to increase it, what happens with existing and returning clients, how to communicate your new price without over-explaining, and the reality that raising your rates might mean some people don't book you. Because being fully booked, exhausted and barely making money isn't a successful doula business. This is heart work AND it is a business. You'll also get a simple exercise to help you decide whether your current rate still makes sense: If I were setting my rate TODAY, knowing what I know now, would I choose this number? If the answer is no, it might be time for an increase. Resources Want help figuring out your pricing and doula business? Bianca offers 1:1 business consulting to help you crunch the numbers and build a business that actually works for you. And that's a wrap on Season 7 of Hot + Brave! We'll be back in a couple of months with Season 8. Until then, go back and catch up on any episodes or seasons you've missed. Thanks for listening, friends. ❤️ LINKS + RESOURCES 👉 👉 👉 Book at call with Bianca here. Maternal Support Practitioner Certification: Join the September MSP cohort Birth Truth Tool: Not sure whether what you're hearing is evidence, routine practice or coercion? The Birth Truth Tool gives you research and language you can use in the moment. Get the $39 Birth Truth Tool Free Doula Resource Directory: Find or recommend baby stores, prenatal yoga, perinatal therapists, chiropractors, lactation support, pelvic floor physios, photographers and other resources for doulas and families. Explore the Doula Resource Directory Trauma Processing Group: For birthworkers who need a place to process difficult births with people who understand this work. https://bebomia.com/birth-worker-mental-health/ Grab your doula training spot here (heyyy there's payment plans) 📚 Scholarships: APPLY HERE (opens in September for March session) BIRTH DOULA COURSE - www.bebomia.com/birthdoula use the code FIRST200 for $200 off! Community Building Tool ONLY $10 - www.bebomia.com/community-building FREE Ultimate Ebook all about becoming a doula - get it here! www.bebomia.com/freewebinar Free doula workshop and discount code 👍🏽 bebomia.com/bizshop/ 😎 Grow your business fast! www.bebomia.com/shop New Doula swag!! 7 Simple Steps to Double your Client Base 👈🏽 new course alert this week 💥 Use code SEVEN Support the show www.bebomia.com Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , YouTube , Pinterest , LinkedIn or Twitter .

September 22, 2026Episode 1153 min

S7E11: How Do Doulas Deal With Difficult Providers?

Send us Fan Mail What do you do when a provider is dismissive, talks over your client, pressures them into a decision, or clearly does NOT want a doula in the room? In this episode of Hot + Brave , Bianca talks about one of the trickiest parts of doula work: dealing with difficult providers while keeping your client, not the conflict, at the centre of the room. We talk about what advocacy actually looks like, questions you can ask when something doesn't feel right, dealing with "hospital policy," what to do when a provider challenges you, supporting clients through coercion or harmful care, and knowing when to speak up and when to step back. Because your job isn't to win a fight with the provider. Your job is to help make sure the person giving birth doesn't disappear inside the room. LINKS + RESOURCES Maternal Support Practitioner Certification: Join the September MSP cohort Birth Truth Tool: Not sure whether what you're hearing is evidence, routine practice or coercion? The Birth Truth Tool gives you research and language you can use in the moment. Get the $39 Birth Truth Tool Free Doula Resource Directory: Find or recommend baby stores, prenatal yoga, perinatal therapists, chiropractors, lactation support, pelvic floor physios, photographers and other resources for doulas and families. Explore the Doula Resource Directory Trauma Processing Group: For birthworkers who need a place to process difficult births with people who understand this work. https://bebomia.com/birth-worker-mental-health/ 👉 👉 👉 Book at call with Bianca here. Grab your doula training spot here (heyyy there's payment plans) 📚 USE CODE SUMMER10 for 10% off Scholarships: APPLY HERE (opens in September for March session) BIRTH DOULA COURSE - www.bebomia.com/birthdoula use the code FIRST200 for $200 off! Community Building Tool ONLY $10 - www.bebomia.com/community-building FREE Ultimate Ebook all about becoming a doula - get it here! www.bebomia.com/freewebinar Free doula workshop and discount code 👍🏽 bebomia.com/bizshop/ 😎 Grow your business fast! www.bebomia.com/shop New Doula swag!! 7 Simple Steps to Double your Client Base 👈🏽 new course alert this week 💥 Use code SEVEN Support the show www.bebomia.com Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , YouTube , Pinterest , LinkedIn or Twitter .

September 15, 2026Episode 1035 min

S7E10: What happens if 2 clients go into labor at the same time?

Send us Fan Mail What happens when TWO of your doula clients go into labour at the same time? It happens. Birth is unpredictable, and even clients with due dates weeks apart can end up labouring on the same day. In this episode of Hot + Brave , Bianca talks about how to handle overlapping births without panicking, why every doula needs a solid backup system, and how to make sure your clients feel supported no matter who walks into the birth room. We cover choosing and paying your backup, deciding which birth you attend, introducing your backup to clients, what belongs in your contract, shared-care models, and why the 3 a.m. "ARE YOU AVAILABLE?!" scramble is NOT a backup plan. The big takeaway: having a backup isn't planning to fail, it's community care! Our full-spectrum Maternal Support Practitioner Certification runs every March and September and teaches both the care AND business sides of building a sustainable doula practice. Already certified? Check out our Certification Transfer Program, or grab our Doula Contract Bundle for done-for-you contracts that include backup care. We have the prenatal calculator here: bebomia.com/calc Ready to become a doula? Our next full-spectrum Maternal Support Practitioner training starts September 17th. If you want a self-study option, you can also save $200 on our Birth Doula Certification with the code FIRST200 , bringing the training to just $479. And if you're trying to figure out whether doula work fits into your actual life, you can book a free career strategy call with Bianca. 👉 👉 👉 Book at call with Bianca here. ⭐️ We have some links for you which you will LOVE! ⭐️ Grab your doula training spot here (heyyy there's payment plans) 📚 USE CODE SUMMER10 for 10% off Scholarships: APPLY HERE (opens in September for March session) BIRTH DOULA COURSE - www.bebomia.com/birthdoula use the code FIRST200 for $200 off! Community Building Tool ONLY $10 - www.bebomia.com/community-building FREE Ultimate Ebook all about becoming a doula - get it here! www.bebomia.com/freewebinar Free doula workshop and discount code 👍🏽 bebomia.com/bizshop/ 😎 Grow your business fast! www.bebomia.com/shop New Doula swag!! 7 Simple Steps to Double your Client Base 👈🏽 new course alert this week 💥 Use code SEVEN Support the show www.bebomia.com Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , YouTube , Pinterest , LinkedIn or Twitter .

September 8, 2026Episode 926 min

S7E9 - what is it like being on call as a doula?

Send us Fan Mail What does being on call as a birth doula actually mean? Do you have to stay home for five weeks waiting for your phone to ring? What happens if you have kids, pets, a wedding to attend, therapy, a massage booked, or just... a life? Being on call can feel like one of the most intimidating parts of becoming a birth doula, but once you have good systems in place, it really does become a normal part of your life. In this episode of Hot + Brave , Bianca shares what she learned from almost 20 years of living the on-call doula life, including the basic rules she followed, how to arrange childcare and pet care, using backups, shared-care models, and what to do when you have an important event during your client's on-call window. We're also talking about something doulas don't hear enough: you are allowed to keep living your life while you're on call. Being committed to your clients doesn't mean missing every wedding, recital, concert, anniversary or important moment for the rest of your doula career. That's why we have backup doulas and why communicating expectations with clients from the beginning matters. In this episode: • The basic rules of being on call as a birth doula • How close you need to stay to your clients • Staying sober and prioritizing sleep while on call • Using Emergency Bypass so you don't miss a client's call • What to do when you need your phone off for therapy, appointments or important events • Creating childcare AND backup childcare plans • Planning pet care for unpredictable births • How a shared-care doula model can make on-call life more accessible • Why every birth doula needs a backup • Taking planned time off during an on-call window • How and when to tell clients your backup will be primary • What to put in your doula contract about backup care • Whether you should swap back into a birth after your backup arrives • Why you need to PAY YOUR BACKUP • How to have a life outside of doula work without letting your clients down Bianca also shares a script you can use when reminding a client that your backup doula will be primary during a planned period of time, plus tips for making that transition feel easy and expected for everyone. And if you're listening to all of this thinking, absolutely not, I never want a 2 a.m. call telling me to put my pants on and drive to a hospital , that's okay too. Birth support isn't the only way to be a doula. Fertility support, postpartum work and childbirth education can all allow you to do meaningful care work without being on call. Ready to become a doula? Our next full-spectrum Maternal Support Practitioner training starts September 17th. If you want a self-study option, you can also save $200 on our Birth Doula Certification with the code FIRST200 , bringing the training to just $479. And if you're trying to figure out whether doula work fits into your actual life, you can book a free career strategy call with Bianca. 👉 👉 👉 Book at call with Bianca here. ⭐️ We have some links for you which you will LOVE! ⭐️ Grab your doula training spot here (heyyy there's payment plans) 📚 USE CODE SUMMER10 for 10% off Scholarships: APPLY HERE (opens in September for March session) BIRTH DOULA COURSE - www.bebomia.com/birthdoula use the code FIRST200 for $200 off! Community Building Tool ONLY $10 - www.bebomia.com/community-building FREE Ultimate Ebook all about becoming a doula - get it here! www.bebomia.com/freewebinar Free doula workshop and discount code 👍🏽 bebomia.com/bizshop/ 😎 Grow your business fast! www.bebomia.com/shop New Doula swag!! 7 Simple Steps to Double your Client Base 👈🏽 new course alert this week 💥 Use code SEVEN Support the show www.bebomia.com Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , YouTube , Pinterest , LinkedIn or Twitter .

September 1, 2026Episode 830 min

S7E8 - Can You Be a Doula If You’ve Had a Traumatic Birth?

Send us Fan Mail Can you become a doula if your own birth was traumatic? YES. In fact, birth trauma is one of the most common paths that brings people into doula work. Maybe you weren't listened to. Maybe you experienced coercion or had things done to your body without meaningful consent. Maybe you felt completely alone during one of the most vulnerable experiences of your life. And somewhere in processing what happened, you started thinking: I don't want anyone else to feel the way I felt. In this episode of Hot + Brave , Bianca talks about the path from birth trauma to becoming a doula, and why your lived experience can be an incredible asset in birthwork when it is paired with processing, support and good doula training. We're also talking about the harder part of this conversation: what happens when your own trauma gets activated while supporting someone else's birth. Your experience can make you empathetic, observant and fiercely committed to protecting autonomy. But your clients cannot be responsible for healing what happened to you. Their birth belongs to them, even when they make choices that are completely different from the ones you wish you had been able to make. In this episode: • Why so many people become doulas after experiencing birth trauma • What lived experience can bring to your doula work • The difference between trauma that informs your care and trauma that takes over the room • How to know if you are ready to support your first clients • Why wanting to “save” clients can become harmful • Supporting clients who make choices you wouldn't make yourself • Secondary trauma and the difficult things doulas witness • Why lived experience isn't a substitute for comprehensive doula training • Turning anger about what happened to you into skilled advocacy • Whether becoming a doula can actually be part of healing your own birth trauma Your traumatic birth does not disqualify you from becoming a doula. For many doulas, it becomes part of what makes them so deeply committed to this work. The goal isn't to erase your experience. It is to have the support, training and tools to make sure your story strengthens your care without becoming your client's responsibility. And yes, becoming the doula you needed can be incredibly healing. Just remember: doula work can be part of your healing. Your clients cannot BE your healing. 👉 👉 👉 Book at call with Bianca here. ⭐️ We have some links for you which you will LOVE! ⭐️ Grab your doula training spot here (heyyy there's payment plans) 📚 USE CODE SUMMER10 for 10% off Scholarships: APPLY HERE (opens in September for March session) BIRTH DOULA COURSE - www.bebomia.com/birthdoula use the code FIRST200 for $200 off! Community Building Tool ONLY $10 - www.bebomia.com/community-building FREE Ultimate Ebook all about becoming a doula - get it here! www.bebomia.com/freewebinar Free doula workshop and discount code 👍🏽 bebomia.com/bizshop/ 😎 Grow your business fast! www.bebomia.com/shop New Doula swag!! 7 Simple Steps to Double your Client Base 👈🏽 new course alert this week 💥 Use code SEVEN Support the show www.bebomia.com Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , YouTube , Pinterest , LinkedIn or Twitter .

August 25, 2026Episode 720 min

S7E7: No, Your First 5 Doula Clients Shouldn't Be Free

Send us Fan Mail There is a persistent belief in the doula world that when you're new, you should support your first few clients for free to “get experience.” Nope. In this episode of Hot + Brave , Bianca talks about why new doulas deserve to be paid from their very first client, the real costs involved in attending a birth, and the difference between intentionally choosing to volunteer and being expected to provide skilled care work for free. We also get into why dramatically underpricing your doula services doesn't just affect your own business. It can drive down rates across your local doula community and make it harder for birthworkers to earn a sustainable living. You can be generous. You can offer volunteer doula support. You can build philanthropy into your business. AND you can expect people who have the resources to pay for doula care to pay you. In this episode: • Why your first doula clients don't need to be free • The difference between volunteer doula work and unpaid labour • The hidden costs of attending a “free” birth • How new doulas can think about their starting rates • Why undercutting established doulas hurts the whole community • How to research doula rates in your local area • Why care work deserves to be paid • Building a sustainable and profitable doula business without abandoning your values Plus, stay tuned for the next episodes, where we'll get practical about how much to charge as a doula and how to calculate a package rate that actually supports you and your business. 👉 👉 👉 Book at call with Bianca here. ⭐️ We have some links for you which you will LOVE! ⭐️ Grab your doula training spot here (heyyy there's payment plans) 📚 USE CODE SUMMER10 for 10% off Scholarships: APPLY HERE (opens in September for March session) BIRTH DOULA COURSE - www.bebomia.com/birthdoula use the code FIRST200 for $200 off! Community Building Tool ONLY $10 - www.bebomia.com/community-building FREE Ultimate Ebook all about becoming a doula - get it here! www.bebomia.com/freewebinar Free doula workshop and discount code 👍🏽 bebomia.com/bizshop/ 😎 Grow your business fast! www.bebomia.com/shop New Doula swag!! 7 Simple Steps to Double your Client Base 👈🏽 new course alert this week 💥 Use code SEVEN Support the show www.bebomia.com Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , YouTube , Pinterest , LinkedIn or Twitter .

August 18, 2026Episode 638 min

S7E6: “How Many Births Have You Attended?” And Other Scary New Doula Questions

Send us Fan Mail What do you say when a potential client asks how many births you've attended? What happens when their partner isn't convinced they need a doula? And why does talking about your doula fees suddenly make even confident doulas want to crawl under the table? In this episode of Hot + Brave , Bianca tackles three of the hardest doula consultation questions and gives you actual scripts you can use with prospective clients. We're talking about how to explain the role of a birth doula without making partners feel replaced, how newer doulas can confidently talk about their experience, and how to state your doula fees without immediately discounting, apologizing, or letting your own money stuff take over the conversation. You'll also learn why a consultation is about finding the right fit, not convincing every family to hire you, and how preparing for the questions you're most afraid of can completely change the way you sell your doula services. In this episode: • What to say when a partner asks, “Why do we need a doula?” • How doulas support partners instead of replacing them • How to answer “How many births have you attended?” when you're a new doula • Talking confidently about your doula training and experience • How to state your doula fees without apologizing • Why you shouldn't immediately offer a discount when someone pauses • Scarcity mindset and doula business • How to prepare for difficult doula consultation questions Also mentioned: Go back to Season 3, Episode 11 for Bianca's episode on killing your consultations. This week at bebo mia: The Childbirth Educator Certification is $339 this week before increasing to $879, and it includes the CBE curriculum you can use in your own business. MSP registration is also open, and you can use SUMMER10 to save 10%. 👉 👉 👉 Book at call with Bianca here. ⭐️ We have some links for you which you will LOVE! ⭐️ CBE SALE HERE!!! Grab your doula training spot here (heyyy there's payment plans) 📚 USE CODE SUMMER10 for 10% off Scholarships: APPLY HERE (closes August 15th) BIRTH DOULA COURSE - www.bebomia.com/birthdoula use the code FIRST200 for $200 off! Community Building Tool ONLY $10 - www.bebomia.com/community-building FREE Ultimate Ebook all about becoming a doula - get it here! www.bebomia.com/freewebinar Free doula workshop and discount code 👍🏽 bebomia.com/bizshop/ 😎 Grow your business fast! www.bebomia.com/shop New Doula swag!! 7 Simple Steps to Double your Client Base 👈🏽 new course alert this week 💥 Use code SEVEN Support the show www.bebomia.com Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , YouTube , Pinterest , LinkedIn or Twitter .

August 11, 2026Episode 51 hr 7 min

S7E5: Why Are Old Doulas So Mean to New Doulas? With Cheyenne Williamson

Send us Fan Mail This conversation was supposed to start with an introduction. It did not. Before Bianca could even properly introduce Cheyenne Williamson, certified birth doula, writer, graphic designer, and creator of A Doula’s Guide to Labor Positions , Cheyenne came in hot about something happening inside the doula community, so Bianca hit record. They get into scarcity in doula work, competition between doulas, the lack of support for new birthworkers , and why experienced doulas should be helping newer doulas grow instead of gatekeeping the profession. Whether you're a brand new doula trying to find your place or you've been doing birthwork for years, this feisty conversation asks an important question: What kind of doula community are we actually building? 📕 BUY THE GUIDE HERE 👉 👉 👉 Book at call with Bianca here. ⭐️ We have some links for you which you will LOVE! ⭐️ Grab your doula training spot here (heyyy there's payment plans) 📚 USE CODE SUMMER10 for 10% off Scholarships: APPLY HERE (closes August 15th) BIRTH DOULA COURSE - www.bebomia.com/birthdoula use the code FIRST200 for $200 off! Community Building Tool ONLY $10 - www.bebomia.com/community-building FREE Ultimate Ebook all about becoming a doula - get it here! www.bebomia.com/freewebinar Free doula workshop and discount code 👍🏽 bebomia.com/bizshop/ 😎 Grow your business fast! www.bebomia.com/shop New Doula swag!! 7 Simple Steps to Double your Client Base 👈🏽 new course alert this week 💥 Use code SEVEN Support the show www.bebomia.com Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , YouTube , Pinterest , LinkedIn or Twitter .

August 4, 2026Episode 416 min

S7E4: Online vs In Person Doula Training: What Actually Prepares You for Real Clients?

Send us Fan Mail Should you choose online doula training or in person doula training ? It's one of the most common questions aspiring doulas ask, but it might be the wrong question. In this episode of Hot + Brave , Bianca Sprague explores what actually creates competent, confident doulas and why the quality of your doula certification depends far more on mentorship, community, practice, and reflection than whether you learn in a classroom or on Zoom. Bianca shares the story of how bebo mia became one of the first organizations to move doula training online, the backlash they received, and what they've learned after training doulas in more than 50 countries. If you're comparing birth doula training programs, wondering whether online learning is "good enough," or trying to choose the right full spectrum doula certification, this episode will help you know what questions to ask before you invest in your education. In this episode, we cover: Online vs in person doula training What makes a high quality doula certification program Why mentorship and community matter more than the classroom The science of how adults learn best Why weekend doula trainings often leave new doulas underprepared The benefits of online learning for aspiring birth doulas How to choose the right doula training for your learning style and career goals 👉 👉 👉 Book at call with Bianca here. ⭐️ We have some links for you which you will LOVE! ⭐️ Grab your doula training spot here (heyyy there's payment plans) 📚 USE CODE SUMMER10 for 10% off Scholarships: APPLY HERE (closes August 15th) BIRTH DOULA COURSE - www.bebomia.com/birthdoula use the code FIRST200 for $200 off! Community Building Tool ONLY $10 - www.bebomia.com/community-building FREE Ultimate Ebook all about becoming a doula - get it here! www.bebomia.com/freewebinar Free doula workshop and discount code 👍🏽 bebomia.com/bizshop/ 😎 Grow your business fast! www.bebomia.com/shop New Doula swag!! 7 Simple Steps to Double your Client Base 👈🏽 new course alert this week 💥 Use code SEVEN Support the show www.bebomia.com Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , YouTube , Pinterest , LinkedIn or Twitter .

July 28, 2026Episode 336 min

S7E3 - Thinking About Becoming a Doula? Here's What the Job Is Really Like

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Hot + Brave , Bianca Sprague pulls back the curtain on life as a doula. She shares what doulas really do beyond attending births, including client communication, prenatal appointments, being on call, building a sustainable doula business, and balancing doula work with family life and other careers. Whether you're exploring doula training , curious about birth doula certification , or wondering if a career as a doula is right for you, this episode offers an honest look at what the work really involves and how to build a fulfilling, sustainable practice. ⭐️ We have some links for you which you will LOVE! ⭐️ Grab your doula training spot here (heyyy there's payment plans) 📚 USE CODE BIRTHBIRD for $300 off Scholarships: APPLY HERE NEW BIRTH DOULA COURSE - www.bebomia.com/birthdoula use the code FIRST200 for $200 off! Community Building Tool ONLY $10 - www.bebomia.com/community-building FREE Ultimate Ebook all about becoming a doula - get it here! www.bebomia.com/freewebinar Free doula workshop and discount code 👍🏽 bebomia.com/bizshop/ 😎 Grow your business fast! www.bebomia.com/shop New Doula swag!! 7 Simple Steps to Double your Client Base 👈🏽 new course alert this week 💥 Use code SEVEN Support the show www.bebomia.com Follow us on Instagram , Facebook , TikTok , YouTube , Pinterest , LinkedIn or Twitter .

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