Femammal

Barb VanEsseltine is retired from a long career as an IT Project Manager. She is passionate about her volunteer work with gun violence prevention efforts in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and she shows her dogs in dog agility competitions. In this episode, she shares her experience of hormone-receptor positive breast cancer, which was treated with a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy. She discusses th...

Kirsten Schofield is the founding Creative Director at Underpinnings Lingerie, a Louisville, Kentucky-based lingerie boutique which has been in business for four years. Underpinnings Lingerie caries 210 bra sizes, from 28A to 54N—the second largest size selection in the United States. In this episode, Kirsten demystifies bra sizing, and she makes the health case for getting the right support. She...

Estefanía Lens shares about her experiece of Insufficient Glandular Tissue (IGT), a disorder that prevents sufficient milk production for successful breastfeeding. She is a wife and mother of three children ages four and under. She is originally from Uruguay, where she taught psychology to undergraduates and undertook research. She moved to the United States with her American husband in 2016. In t...

Jamie Calzi is a breast cancer survivor who shares her story from early diagnosis, a double mastectomy, and breast reconstruction surgery. She is a wife, mother of two, fur mom to Presley, and her granddaughter and grandson on the way know her as Gigi. She is also a yoga instructor. Jamie reflects on the emotional challenges of her battle and the hard-earned wisdom she gained. Bluebird Ink Beautiq...

Leah A. Jacobson is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, the author of the book “Wholistic Feminism,” and the founder of The Guiding Star Project, a 501c3 non-profit organization. She earned a Master’s Degree in Health and Wellness and has spoken internationally on issues pertaining to women’s healthcare. She is the mother of seven children. In this conversation she shares her jo...

Shemika Whiteside, MSSW, CSW is the co-founder and executive director of Zora's Cradle, a nonprofit organization in Louisville, Kentucky that provides essential services to expectant mothers through a holistic approach. Shemika earned her Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Louisville, and her research interests include maternal morbidity of Black and Latinx expectant moth...

I share updates for Season 2, introduce this season's them on breast health, and tell my own story of dealing with recurring breast cysts and benign breast lumps in my 30s.  Contact Femammal: Email femammalpodcast@gmail.com Follow the podcast on Facebook at Femammal Podcast If you have feedback or want to be a future guest, please get in touch! Logo design: copyright Darragh Hannan

In the final episode of Season 1, I share what I learned this season about how to create safe spaces where we can have more open conversations about women's embodied experiences. I offer seven tips for better dialogue, and I look ahead to Season 2, premiering in January. Contact Femammal: Email femammalpodcast@gmail.com Follow the podcast on Facebook at Femammal Podcast If you have feedback o...

Shalah Bottoms is a Self-Care Coach and Founder of Shalah B Coaching. She earned a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Kentucky and has over 9 years of experience supporting other women as they create visions of their best selves and work toward making it a reality. As a coach, Shalah empowers women who do it all to prioritize the peace, joy, and structure they need to thriv...

This week's guest is Haley Smith, who is a mother of two and has worked professionally as a childcare provider. In this conversation, she opens up about her experiences with depression, ADHD, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She reflects on the challenges of misdiagnosis, finding interventions that help, and where the joy is in prioritizing her health and her family. Please be aware that s...

Callie Allison, RN shares her stories of dealing with a diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) as a teenager, as well as undergoing surgery for an imperforate hymen. She reflects on navigating health issues as a teen athlete, what she wishes she had known as a teenager, and how she could have better advocated for herself. She now works as a nurse in Louisville, Kentucky. She has worked in...

Jessica Mannen Kimmet shares her perspective as a birder, a gardener, and a mother on how to become more attuned to the changing seasons and what our bodies need in each season to live in a more integrated way. Contact Femammal: Email femammalpodcast@gmail.com Follow the podcast on Facebook at Femammal Podcast If you have feedback or want to be a future guest, please get in touch! Logo design: cop...

Catie Eichhorn shares about her diagnosis of endometriosis, undergoing multiple surgeries and finding hormonal medications to improve her symptoms. She opens up about how it has impacted her sense of self and her definition of family, and her joyful resilience in the face of a chronic diagnosis. The Empowered Health podcast also has an endometriosis episode: https://empoweredhealthshow.com/2019/07...

A conversation with Kristen Drahos, PhD, about the challenges and benefits of eating an anti-inflammatory diet. She offers these resources for more research: Autoimmune and AIP (Auto-Immune Protocol) specifically: https://www.thepaleomom.com/start-here/the-autoimmune-protocol/ The Paleo Approach ( https://www.ebay.com/itm/274389831320?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1Aqkk_6GkR5W0Muc...

Christina Valenzuela, who is a certified instructor in the Boston Cross Check method of Natural Family Planning, shares insights into the patterns of energy, mood, and social personality that women experience throughout the monthly menstrual cycle. She shares tips on how to use this cyclical energy pattern to our advantage, and red flags for when symptoms deserve medical investigation. She also sh...

Melissa Hennessy, a health coach and new mother, discusses being diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, a painful bladder and pelvic condition. She shares her health journey from getting a diagnosis to advocating for treatment and the quality of life she has now thanks to pelvic floor physical therapy and dietary changes. She also dives deep into how this diagnosis impacted her sense of self and he...

Introducing Femammal, the new podcast dedicated to holding space for women to explore what it means to live well in our bodies. We will look for the joy in our experience of being female mammals through frank interviews with women about our bodies, life cycles, communities, and families. Here is the article mentioned in the show, which is how this podcast came about: "Catholics Need Better Co...