Abiding Hysteria

In our second episode of the season, I have the pleasure of interviewing Emily Mendenhall, who is anthropologist, Guggenheim Fellow, and Professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She has authored six books, including Syndemic Suffering (2012), Global Mental Health ( 2015), Rethinking Diabetes (2019), Unmasked (2022), Savoring Care (2025) and Invisible Illness (2026). She...

In our premier episode of Season 2, I wanted to feature someone who is a longtime friend with a creative mind on just another level, Author and Artist Rue Sparks. Together we talk about their health story, Chiari malformation, their career, and more. I cannot recommend enough listening to the audiobook of their most recent novel, The Fable of Wren, as well as their other masterfully written and th...

What should have been a celebration became a horror story for this month's guest, Alice. Join host Rachael Woodard in a conversation about womanhood, medical neglect, surgery recovery, and Alice's hopes for the future in this month's episode of the Abiding Hysteria podcast. Strong trigger warnings for the following: Graphic descriptions of wounds & healing; descriptions of the technicalities o...

Join host Rachael Woodard as she interviews guest Logan Kinch about being childfree by choice, her health story, medical bias, and the intersection of these in her life. Trigger warnings for medical trauma regarding surgeries and pain. From the ages of sixteen to twenty one Logan Kinch underwent seven surgeries. After all of that pain and trauma Logan started her most difficult journey yet, gettin...

What does it take to run a business? A lot of time and energy, right? Imagine what it takes for someone with chronic illness or who is neurodivergent. In this episode of Abiding Hysteria, I sat down with Randi Pullar, of Chronically Cozy Life, to discuss what it's like being a neurodivergent chronically ill entrepreneur, helping others find their place in the world of entrepreneurship, the differe...

Join host Rachael Woodard and Ashley Bell, candidate for North Carolina's 10th district, in discussing Bell's career in healthcare, struggles with chronic illness, platform, and more! Ashley Bell is a lifelong public servant, educator, and healthcare professional running for Congress to bring compassion, competence, and common sense back to Washington. A physician associate, former public school t...

When Amanda went to the ER, her primary care doctor had told her she had appendicitis and that she needed to be seen immediately. She'd previously had a full hysterectomy, so imagine her surprise when the ER physician diagnosed her with ovarian cysts. In a series of events that paints a harrowing picture of the bias in our healthcare system and medical gaslighting, Amanda finally left the ER with...

In this episode of Abiding Hysteria I speak with Liana McKenzie about gender affirming healthcare experiences and a cancer diagnosis. Liana shares with us her personal journey with challenges and triumphs, her story of obtaining competent care as a trans woman, and what her experiences can teach us about the healthcare system's treatment of gender diverse individuals. Join us as we explore the sto...

In this month's episode we chat with Dr. Katherine Farris of Planned Parenthood to discuss reproductive health, the inclusive, accessible care that Planned Parenthood provides, and the importance of telling our health stories - especially those who are in the margins of society. Learn what it's like to visit a Planned Parenthood, how to find care and stay informed about laws in your state, why PP'...

In this deeply personal episode, I (host, Rachael Woodard) share my own difficult journey through chronic pain and chronic illness- a path filled with resilience, frustration, and ultimately, finding purpose. You'll hear how I came to start this podcast, why it's so important to me and so many others to share our stories, and how you can share yours. For too long inherent bias in the medical and i...

Welcome to Abiding Hysteria. I'm your host, Rachael Woodard. Join me as we give women and gender diverse people a platform to tell their health stories, both as patients and professionals in the field, and work to dismantle the gendered bias that has, for so long, been dismissed as simply "hysteria."