On Health for Women

I’m so excited to share an encore interview with the brilliant, hilarious, and incredibly insightful Emily Nagoski, author of  Come As You Are ,  Come Together , and  Burnout  (co-written with her sister). Emily is a renowned sex educator who brings a blend of scientific rigor and relatable storytelling to the conversation about women's sexual health and pleasure. Get ready for...

In this fresh and delightful episode I sit down with Olivia Amitrano,  herbalist, host of the popular What’s the Juice podcast and founder of Organic Olivia, a successful botanical medicines company. Olivia opens up about her transformative journey through herbalism, personal growth, and the essential practice of honest self-reflection on the relationships in our lives and our relationship to...

Trigger Warning: This episode contains sensitive topics related to pregnancy loss and fertility challenges. Listener discretion is advised. In this deeply personal and powerful episode of "On Health," I sit down with Chelsea Leyland, a globetrotting DJ, mother, epilepsy and endometriosis activist, documentary filmmaker, and menstrual health entrepreneur. Chelsea shares her journey through endometr...

"I think one of the most important things about fistula is that it is completely preventable and treatable. So this is a solvable problem. We used to have this problem here in the US and now we don't." – Bonnie Ruder Obstetric fistula affects around 2 million women globally, with 50,000 to 100,000 new cases each year. This devastating, yet entirely preventable condition profoundly impacts women's...

In recognition of Maternal Mental Health Month I am re-sharing this 2023 conversation with the founders of The Motherhood Center in NYC. With Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADS) being the #1 complication associated with birth in the US and the #2 cause of maternal mortality, this remains a critical conversation. It’s not just you. You're not crazy. You're not a bad mom. You're not alone....

I've been wanting to share this episode with you for awhile, so I finally dusted off the archives and here it is. The sound quality is not as sharp as our more recent episodes - our production values have definitely improved - but I'm certain you'll find it timely and useful. Despite increased attention on the dangers of burnout, recent surveys report that a majority of the population across many...

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Should you use it for your perimenopause or menopause symptoms? Does it prevent dementia? Heart disease? Is it safe? Who should and who shou;dn’t take it? Join me for this powerful conversation with Dr. Sharon Malone, an OB-GYN with 30 years of clinical experience - and an advocate for menopause awareness, and I explore these questions.  In this episode we u...

In this must-listen episode I'm thrilled to welcome Dr. Lisa Mosconi, a leading neuroscientist and author of The Menopause Brain,  and my friend, back to On Health to demystify the profound impact of menopause on the female brain. Dr. Mosconi offers invaluable insights into how menopause is more than a hormonal shift - it's a significant neuroendocrine change, and a potentially very impo...

The teen years are a trope and a meme in our culture. We’re inevitably warned the minute we have a baby and admire her cute little face at a family gathering, in a restaurant, waiting in the checkout at the grocery: Just wait until she’s - or he’s -  a teen. And it’s no wonder - the teen years - which we all remember too - are fraught with big changes: big hormonal shifts, changes in our neur...

Welcome to On Health where today I talk about understanding stress during pregnancy, bust myths, and share real tips to take care of yourself before and when the stress hits the fan. In this episode I explore:  The impact of how we talk about stress in pregnancy and its effects on moms-to-be on Why it's important to understand stress during pregnancy The pressure to always feel happy when you...

Jillian Turecki, my guest for this On Health episode, is a beacon of light and a font of love and wisdom. A certified relationship coach, teacher, and writer with over 20 years of experience, she's fueled by an insatiable curiosity about what makes a relationship thrive, and she's helped thousands through her teaching and writing revolutionize their relationship with themselves so they can transfo...

Fatigue, achy muscles, painful joints, brain fog, strange skin rashes… Could it be the flu? It’s possible. In fact, that’s what women are sometimes told! But these can be symptoms of an autoimmune condition.  Autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and Hashimoto’s, to name just a few, have a definite gender bias. Women account for an astonishing 80% of all...

I’m not going to lie. I was much more prepared for puberty, pregnancy, motherhood, and even menopause than I was for aging. And you all know that’s a big deal to say because we’re largely unprepared for all the other phases of our lives, too. But the reality is, we’re aging from the day we’re born, and much of what we’ve internalized about aging - the fears, judgments, stereotypes - and even ‘symp...

At some point, too many of us internalized the belief that being a woman means complete self-sacrifice, not setting healthy boundaries for our well-being, and not taking care of our fundamental needs – even for sleep, quality food, and relaxation. Further, as moms, we often take on the lioness's share of the household. As partners, we plan the dates and stay in touch with old friends. At work...

Intergenerational trauma refers to the transmission of unresolved trauma and its psychological, emotional, or even physical effects from one generation to another. This phenomenon can manifest in various ways, impacting individuals' mental health, coping mechanisms, and relational patterns. The cycle of intergenerational trauma underscores the importance of acknowledging, understanding, and active...

Self-care - it’s both a profoundly important concept for our physical and mental well-being - a radical step in a culture that demands ever more of us, and it’s a phenomenon that has been trivialized by the wellness world - and any number of influencers and companies that suggest a bubble bath and a candle is enough for what stresses us. But real self care is so much more - it’s an inside job...

In the midst of the chaos that seems to be almost a constant in the world, it's easy to forget that individual lives and losses are still happening every day and can be deeply affecting us or those around us, as can family mental health issues. Sometimes those bigger global issues give us perspective, take us out of our own worries, and that can feel actually broadening and helpful and can pu...

Like so many moms, Erica Djossa, a registered psychotherapist specializing in maternal mental health, entered motherhood assuming her “maternal instinct” would guide her through any challenges she faced. Yet, like so many mothers she'd counseled, she too, found herself struggling with identity loss, the mental load of motherhood, and the pressure to be perfect. Eventually, she had a breakdown that...

Here's a little secret: hidden inflammation, not genetics, is the most common underlying cause of chronic illness. Hidden inflammation is a root cause of: Premenstrual syndrome Period pain Chronic aches and pains Digestive problems Allergies and eczema Trouble losing weight Trouble sleeping Depression Alzheimer’s Autoimmune diseases Heart disease, Cancer, Diabetes The problem is most doctors are n...

In recent years, the term "medical gaslighting" has come to represent the phenomenon and disproportionate impact of medical dismissal of women and other marginalized groups. All too often, women leave the doctor’s office questioning themselves and their symptoms and are too often pressed into silently endure their suffering, sometimes until it's tragically too late. How can we identify when medica...

Grief and loss touch us all in ways both small and big throughout our lives, yet our culture often struggles to embrace the messy emotions that grief brings. On today’s On Health episode, I'm joined by author and cancer thriver Kris Carr to discuss her latest book, "I'm Not a Mourning Person,” which dives deep into the complexities of grief and healing. We explore how life's ruptures turn our worl...

Considering whether to embark on the journey of freezing your eggs? Naturally, this comes with a myriad of questions and considerations. If you're pondering this path and wondering if it's the right move for you, you're not alone. Join me in today's "Let's Chat About That," where I address a vulnerable question from a listener who's navigating the idea of freezing her eggs and unpack some of the m...

Menopause is a transition that is so hushed, misunderstood, and often considered "taboo” in our culture. But what many fail to notice is that menopause is a beautiful new chapter in life that deserves respect, recognition, and reverence. I'm on a mission to change the conversation around menopause to one of profound power and wisdom - because at this stage in life, we have ARRIVED! Also on this mi...

As we transition into autumn, with to-do lists piling up and the pressure of getting back "on track," it's an important time to revisit an age-old and perenially resonant topic: Perfectionism. It's part of how we end up overwhelmed, doing it all, and never feel like we're doing enough. i know that feeling, too! Perfectionism, that relentless inner sense of 'not-enoughness; that far too many women...

The US, known for medical progress, is facing higher maternal mortality rates than almost any western country, and too many women don’t get the birth experience they hoped for. Enter my guest, the amazing Chanel Porchia-Albert, founder of Ancient Song Doula Services, who is here to chat with us about breaking barriers and bringing doula care to everyone. Get ready to learn about doulas' impact on...