Host: Jodi Congdon

Guest: Alyssa Knapp, Founder of Integrative Wellness Journeys

Episode Summary:

In this honest and energizing episode of the Birth Boss Podcast, Jodi sits down with returning guest Alyssa Knapp to talk all things summer business planning—especially for moms juggling work, client care, and that deep craving to enjoy the season.

From "mean mommy mode" to calendar chaos, this episode dives into:

• How to prep your business now to enjoy more freedom later
• Managing mom guilt while staying responsive in client care
• Setting boundaries around time, tech, and self-expectations
• Using simple systems like timers, nine-grids, and the Eisenhower Matrix
• Reframing summer to support both fun and function

Whether you're a doula, lactation consultant, a wellness birth pro, or a service-based perinatal entrepreneur, this episode will give you both the permission and the plan to create a spacious, intentional summer—with less stress and more joy.

Timestamps & Key Moments:

 00:01 – Welcome back Alyssa!

 01:13 – Why prepping before summer hits is essential

 03:30 – Working while the kids are outside: the guilt and the grace

 05:57 – Boundaries, expectations, and excited vs. exhausted energy

 10:18 – Summer planning tips: map your calendar, simplify, set goals

 12:40 – Why summer is the runway for a strong fall launch

 16:30 – The power of setting realistic expectations (and saying “not now”)

 19:03 – Creating a summer-proof Instagram strategy with a 9-grid

 24:21 – Taking social media weekends off = LIFE-CHANGING

 29:39 – Tools that help: timers, visual planning, and mindset shifts

 31:50 – The ultimate organizing tool you didn’t know you needed

Resources Mentioned:

• Eisenhower Matrix
• Timer strategy for boundary-setting with kids
• Instagram 9-grid idea for summer content
• Alyssa's programs and wellness planning offers (linked below 👇)

Connect with Alyssa Knapp:

 🌐 Integrative Wellness Journeys

 📸 @integrativewellnessjourneys

Enjoyed this episode?

Please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow boss who's ready to plan less, play more, and stay grounded this summer. ☀️💼✨

✔️ Find Jodi Congdon:

Instagram
Website

Birth + Postpartum Professionals (Facebook Group)

✔️ Create Your Six or Seven-Figure Doula Business:

Birth Boss Society (for Solo Doulas and Agency Owners)

Hip to Heart Birth Boss Academy

✔️ From Solo Doula Business to Agency:
Hip to Heart Agency Program

Feeling burned out by marketing that doesn’t seem to work — or worse, doesn’t feel like you? In this honest episode of the Hip to Heart Birth Boss Podcast, Jodi breaks down exactly why traditional marketing advice fails doulas, and what to do instead.

We’re unpacking strategies that feel better and actually bring in clients: from content that converts (without going viral), to local referrals, collaborations, and borrowing audiences with ease. You'll hear stories from real doulas inside our CEO Track who saw big shifts by simplifying, focusing, and aligning their approach.

Whether you’re stuck in content chaos or wondering if you’re just not cut out for marketing… this episode is the exhale you’ve been waiting for.

🎧 Listen now, take a breath, and let’s reset how you market — together.

🔗 Resources Mentioned: For in-depth strategies and community support: https://www.hiptoheart.com/birth-boss-society-landing-page

✔️ Find Jodi Congdon:

Instagram
Website

Birth + Postpartum Professionals (Facebook Group)

✔️ Create Your Six or Seven-Figure Doula Business:

Birth Boss Society (for Solo Doulas and Agency Owners)

Hip to Heart Birth Boss Academy

✔️ From Solo Doula Business to Agency:
Hip to Heart Agency Program

In this episode, my focus is uncovering the financial challenges faced by doulas today and I explore the main reasons why some achieve significant financial success while others continue to struggle. 

The importance of a smart business model is a top priority in building a financially stable business, but the close second and third are pricing that not only reflects your value but also allows you to live comfortably and the need for scalable income streams. I happily share the strategies that I used to build my business and encourage other birth and postpartum professionals to take actionable steps towards the growth and expansion of theirs.

✔️ Find Jodi Congdon:

Instagram
Website

Birth + Postpartum Professionals (Facebook Group)

✔️ Create Your Six or Seven-Figure Doula Business:

Birth Boss Society (for Solo Doulas and Agency Owners)

Hip to Heart Birth Boss Academy

✔️ From Solo Doula Business to Agency:
Hip to Heart Agency Program

In this episode I'm chatting with postpartum doula Jen Tawil, who uniquely combines her experience as a former private investigator with her doula practice and from that came the creation of her first digital course, Trust But Verify: The Childcare Interview Process.  

Passive income is a must when we are building our businesses because it allows us to intentionally divide our time between in person clients and working on our business, creating more free time and income coming in that we aren't trading time for.

All it took was one client sharing her method for choosing childcare that made Jen realize there was a huge need for PI expertise in her client community.  Throughout the episode, Jen emphasizes the importance of informed decision-making and the creation of resources that empower parents.

Private Eye Parent was designed to equip families with the tools to conduct thorough interviews for childcare, ultimately aiming to reduce anxiety and enhance peace of mind, staying right in line with exactly what doulas do.

Find out more about Jen:

IG https://www.instagram.com/theprivateeyedoula

Trust But Verify Course: www.privateeyeparent.com/course-waitlist

✔️ Find Jodi Congdon:

Instagram
Website

Birth + Postpartum Professionals (Facebook Group)

✔️ Create Your Six or Seven-Figure Doula Business:

Birth Boss Society (for Solo Doulas and Agency Owners)

Hip to Heart Birth Boss Academy

✔️ From Solo Doula Business to Agency:
Hip to Heart Agency Program

In this episode of the Birth Boss podcast, I'm sitting down with with Hilary Melchiors, owner of the Doula Group of Evansville, and fun fact, the only certified postpartum doula in a 75 mile radius of her!  This brings up some differences in the way we started and currently run our agencies, which is somewhat dependent on our geographical location, which turned into a highlighting a huge benefit of agencies that is rarely talked about... providing sustainability for doulas.

We discuss how being a doula has evolved over the years and how now, with insurance coverage and employer benefits, the importance of certification is more apparent now than ever before. This brings up the a deeper conversation about the need for better doula training and community building within our profession and why collaboration over competition wins every time. 

Find Hillary here:

doulagroupofevansville.com

https://www.instagram.com/doulagroupofevansville/

thebirthgeeks.com

https://www.instagram.com/thebirthgeeks/?hl=en

hillarymelchiors.com

https://www.instagram.com/disruptordoula/

✔️ Find Jodi Congdon:

Instagram
Website

Birth + Postpartum Professionals (Facebook Group)

✔️ Create Your Six or Seven-Figure Doula Business:

Birth Boss Society (for Solo Doulas and Agency Owners)

Hip to Heart Birth Boss Academy

✔️ From Solo Doula Business to Agency:
Hip to Heart Agency Program

In this episode of the Birth Boss podcast, I'm hanging out with Alyssa Knapp, a holistic business coach, and we are chatting in depth about the journey of entrepreneurship in the health and wellness industry. 

Throughout the conversation, we discuss the importance of integrating mind, body, and spirit in coaching, finding your niche, and balancing business growth with personal well-being. Alyssa shares her expertise on the significance of incorporating specific systems in business that set her up for success, understanding the phases of growth, and above all else, effective time management strategies. 

The conversation also touches on how valuable networking with the right people is, sales strategies for heart-centered entrepreneurs like doulas, and the value of investing in yourself as the business owner. 

Find Alyssa here;

Website: https://www.alyssaknappcoaching.com/

Simplify + Automate Masterclass: https://www.alyssaknappwellness.com/systems-to-cashflow

IG: https://www.instagram.com/integrativewellnessjourneys

✔️ Find Jodi Congdon:

Instagram
Website

Birth + Postpartum Professionals (Facebook Group)

✔️ Create Your Six or Seven-Figure Doula Business:

Birth Boss Society (for Solo Doulas and Agency Owners)

Hip to Heart Birth Boss Academy

✔️ From Solo Doula Business to Agency:
Hip to Heart Agency Program

In this episode I emphasizes the importance of not only recognizing, but normalizing entrepreneurship within the doula profession. I share a little bit about my personal journey from being a doula to establishing an agency, highlighting the significance of viewing myself as a business owner from early on, and not "just a doula". 

Throughout this episode I highlight the need for continuous learning, setting business goals, and investing in both personal and professional development, which led me into the reasons I created (and curated!) the Birth Boss CEO Summit, an event aimed at empowering doulas to embrace their entrepreneurial spirit and build successful businesses that align with their lifestyles.

More information + registration for the 2025 Birth Boss CEO Summit: https://www.hiptoheart.com/birth-boss-ceo-summit

✔️ Find Jodi Congdon:

Instagram
Website

Birth + Postpartum Professionals (Facebook Group)

✔️ Create Your Six or Seven-Figure Doula Business:

Birth Boss Society (for Solo Doulas and Agency Owners)

Hip to Heart Birth Boss Academy

✔️ From Solo Doula Business to Agency:
Hip to Heart Agency Program

In this episode, I am chatting with Ananda Lowe, owner of the Boston Doula Circle agency, about her journey of transitioning from a solo doula practice to an agency model. 

First we discuss the benefits of buying an established agency versus starting from scratch and then go into detail about the importance of organization and putting together the right team.  It's crucial to focus, of course, on doula skills, but also recognize what other things they can bring into your agency.  Building your admin team from within, most times, makes the most sense.

Next we go into the challenges of rebranding and navigating the business purchase process. Ananda shares her experiences and insights on agency ownership, emphasizing the need for effective communication within the business and the value of working with a variety of professionals to get the results your looking for... the ones that align and represent your brand exactly the way you envision.

A recurring theme in this conversation is the importance of building a close network of trusted people that understand and support the nuances of agency ownership.  Throughout the episode we also touch on the financial health of our businesses and why you can never lose sight of knowing your worth as the owner.

You can find Ananda here:

BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/103907/the-doula-guide-to-birth-by-ananda-lowe-and-rachel-zimmerman/

AGENCY: https://www.bostondoulacircle.com/ 

SOCIAL: @bostondoulacircle

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@bostondoulacircle2028

✔️ Find Jodi Congdon:

Instagram
Website

Birth + Postpartum Professionals (Facebook Group)

✔️ Create Your Six or Seven-Figure Doula Business:

Birth Boss Society (for Solo Doulas and Agency Owners)

Hip to Heart Birth Boss Academy

✔️ From Solo Doula Business to Agency:
Hip to Heart Agency Program

In this episode I talk all about the transformative power of in-person events! 

I love the unique energy and engagement that comes from face to face interactions and it's impossible to recreate those virtually.  That's not to say that virtual events can't be amazing, because they can, but nothing compares to having your community within arms reach.

I also share the story of how the Birth Boss Society was created, which was to fill the big gap in community and education for high-caliber doula business owners and how, from that, came the Birth Boss CEO Summit, a 3 day transformative event, live in Boston April 5-7.  

I can't wait for the deep personal connections, meaningful relationship building, rich engagement and the unmatchable energy that will be felt from everyone that attends.

For more information about the 2025 Birth Boss CEO Summit or to register: https://www.hiptoheart.com/birth-boss-ceo-summit

✔️ Find Jodi Congdon:

Instagram
Website

Birth + Postpartum Professionals (Facebook Group)

✔️ Create Your Six or Seven-Figure Doula Business:

Birth Boss Society (for Solo Doulas and Agency Owners)

Hip to Heart Birth Boss Academy

✔️ From Solo Doula Business to Agency:
Hip to Heart Agency Program

In this episode I am chatting with RN, IBCLC and entrepreneur Leslie Owens about her journey into the field, the importance of lactation support, and the need for more professionals in this area. We discuss the challenges faced by new parents, the benefits of breastfeeding, and the role of education and mentorship in becoming a lactation consultant, which is no easy feat... unless you have Leslie to help! 

Leslie shares how she created her program from her own journey of becoming an IBCLC and how she designed it to make the path to becoming an IBCLC more accessible for everyone.  We also discuss how it expanded her business and brings in passive income. 

We talk about the importance of finding time freedom and flexibility in our business practices, emphasizing the need for intentional family time and sustainable business models. We also explore the transition to an agency model, the significance of planning for the future, and the legacy that our businesses will create. 

All about Leslie:

Her secret podcast: 

https://mothernurture.myflodesk.com/birthboss

They can follow her at:

 www.instagram.com/mothernurtureatl

www.facebook.com/mothernurtureatl

The doors open to enroll in the second cohort of Lactation Consultant Launchpad™ on February 22, however there will be an early birth flash sale for those on the waitlist!

www.lactationconsultantlaunchpad.com

✔️ Find Jodi Congdon:

Instagram
Website

Birth + Postpartum Professionals (Facebook Group)

✔️ Create Your Six or Seven-Figure Doula Business:

Birth Boss Society (for Solo Doulas and Agency Owners)

Hip to Heart Birth Boss Academy

✔️ From Solo Doula Business to Agency:
Hip to Heart Agency Program