Out of the Reeds Episode 16: Answer Your Calling

A Doula, a Corporate Exit, and the Question That Changed Everything What if the life you built on paper is exactly the one that’s keeping you from your real calling? Amanda Saxon, founder of Sunrise Doula in Jacksonville, Florida, shares the raw, surprising journey from corporate success to deeply heart-centered birth work—and the moments of motherhood that forced her to stop performing the “good girl” version of success. Natasha Preckajlo guides a conversation that gets honest about fear, fulfillment, money, intuition, and what it actually takes to leave security behind. Amanda opens up about the pull she felt toward motherhood long before she became a doula, why she secretly hoped to be fired so she could finally make the leap, and how her own birth experiences reshaped the way she supports other women. You’ll discover: Why “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” became a life-changing question How Amanda moved from marketing and corporate strategy into doula work The emotional truth behind wanting a natural birth and facing an unexpected reality Why she now helps mothers prepare for the parts of birth that don’t go according to plan How creativity, boundaries, and self-trust became part of her healing and her business Amanda also shares the tension so many women know well: how to answer a calling without burning out, how to charge what your work is worth, and how to build a life that supports both your family and your purpose. Her perspective on discernment, sisterhood, and creating systems for sustainable care makes this episode especially powerful for moms, birth workers, and anyone standing at the edge of a big life change. If you’ve been wrestling with fear, wondering whether you’re allowed to want more, or trying to find your own “groove” in the middle of chaos, this conversation will meet you there. Essential listening for women ready to trust themselves, rewrite the rules, and keep going.