Podcast Summary: The Doula Darcy Podcast

Episode: World Doula Week – What's a Doula to Do?
Host: Darcy Sauers
Date: March 22, 2026

Episode Overview

In honor of World Doula Week, Darcy Sauers, a business coach and experienced doula, shares actionable marketing strategies and community-building tips specifically tailored for doulas. Emphasizing collaboration and authenticity over sales-y self-promotion, Darcy lays out her top five ways to boost your visibility, uplift fellow doulas, and raise awareness of doula support in your community. The episode is packed with practical advice, mindset shifts, and encouragement—perfect for both new and established doulas looking to grow their impact.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Leveraging World Doula Week for Marketing

• World Doula Week is an opportunity to spread awareness about the value of doula support—use it to talk about the profession without overt self-promotion ([00:44]).
• Notable Quote:
  • “World Doula Week is like a great thing to kind of hide behind a little bit and casually promote your services. So it's a lot easier to go on social media to go talk in your community about, ‘Hey, everybody, it's World Doula Week,’ not, ‘Hey, everybody, I'm the best doula. You should hire me.’” — Darcy ([01:06])

2. Top Five Ways to Capitalize on World Doula Week

a. Share Client Testimonials ([02:02])

• Use testimonials as storytelling tools that showcase the impact of doula work.
• Share screenshots of messages, DMs, and Google reviews, or turn them into attractive social media graphics using Canva.
• Sprinkle testimonials everywhere—website, social media, and especially during World Doula Week.
• If you don't have enough testimonials, reach out to past clients and ask for feedback.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Would you please send me a testimonial?” — Darcy (modeling simple outreach, [03:08])

b. Refresh Your Website ([03:11])

• Use this time as a reminder (like checking smoke alarms on the equinox!) to review and update your website.
• Remove outdated information, add new services, fix typos, and ensure easy contact options are available.
• Expect increased web traffic during World Doula Week—make your site shine!
• If you lack a website, Darcy recommends her Doula Website Templates, which are SEO-optimized and easy to use.

c. Daily Social Media Posting ([04:32])

• Schedule daily posts during World Doula Week, highlighting:
  • Benefits of having a doula
  • Why you love being a doula
  • Client testimonials
  • Fun facts about doulas
• Use prompts available at worlddoulaweek.org and from resources like Darcy’s Doula Village for post ideas.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Use World Doula Week as an excuse to post every day…riding on the momentum of World Doula Week to build momentum in your community.” — Darcy ([05:41])

d. Engage with Local Events ([06:25])

• Check for existing World Doula Week events in your area and volunteer to participate or help organize.
• If nothing exists, take the initiative to host an event—even something simple like a coffee shop meet-and-greet for doulas to connect with the public.
• Collaborative events promote awareness faster than solo efforts.
• Notable Quote:
  • “The fastest way to spread awareness about doula support in your community is to collaborate with the other doulas.” — Darcy ([07:26])
• Personal Reflection:
  • Darcy shares her experience of building community awareness:
    • “When I started out 15 years ago, no one in our community knew what a postpartum doula was...It took me collaborating with the other postpartum doulas and birth doulas to do events, to teach classes, do all the things, working together.” ([08:00])

e. Host a Giveaway ([08:58])

• Create excitement without giving away your valuable time.
  • Suggestions include branded baby onesies or pamper gift baskets for expectant or new moms.
• For entry, have participants follow, tag friends, comment, and share your post.
• Collaborate with other doulas for more buzz (e.g., chip in for a “mega” gift basket).
• Notable Quote:
  • “Don’t be like, ‘I'm giving away—I’m doing a free birth for World Doula Week.’ You don't want to do that…give away something that is not your time.” — Darcy ([09:21])

Mindset Shifts: Collaboration Over Competition

• Embrace abundance and generosity—supporting other doulas lifts everyone up.
• Don’t be afraid to tag and highlight fellow doulas in your area.
• Let go of the fear of competition; community awareness benefits all doulas and families.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Don’t come at this as ‘I've got to be the only doula. I’ve got to be the best doula. I'm not going to mention these other doulas in case someone hires them.’ That is not the way to win at this.” — Darcy ([10:32])
  • “In the spirit of World Doula Week, be generous, be collaborative and be social on social media. Happy World Doula Week.” ([10:46])

Key Timestamps

• 00:44 – Open: Introduction to World Doula Week and its purpose
• 01:06 – Reframing self-promotion during World Doula Week
• 02:02-03:08 – Sharing testimonials and collecting new ones
• 03:11-04:32 – Refreshing your website and mentioning Darcy's templates
• 04:32-06:25 – Posting daily on social media; prompt resources
• 06:25-08:58 – Local event participation; creating your own events; importance of collaboration
• 08:58-10:32 – Hosting giveaways; strategies and cautions
• 10:32-10:46 – Final encouragement on collaboration and mindset

Memorable Moments

• Darcy’s candor about the discomfort doulas often feel with self-promotion, and her practical workaround using World Doula Week as a “cover.”
• Personal anecdotes about the early days of building awareness for postpartum doulas, illustrating the power of teamwork and perseverance.
• Repeated encouragement to “be generous, be collaborative and be social” as a guiding principle for World Doula Week and beyond.

Conclusion

This episode is a rallying call for doulas: leverage World Doula Week not just to boost your own business, but to bring the entire doula profession into greater public awareness. Darcy’s five-step approach is practical, rooted in lived experience, and deeply aligned with values of generosity and community.
“Happy World Doula Week!” ([10:46])