What Women Are

What a gift to have Dr. Kayla Borchers join me again as we dive into all things related to women + pelvic floor health! As we discuss the struggles that so many women face—diastasis recti, lower belly pooching, urinary leakage, and pelvic floor heaviness—Dr. Kayla reminds women that options exist to help support you in finding relief from these symptoms. And as with all good medicine, it comes bac...

What a joy it was to meet and learn from Dr. Kayla Borchers as she shared with me about her own story and about how she fell in love with science and the gift of the human body! In this episode, we hear from Dr. Kayla as she talks about her journey: discovering a love for medicine in high school, meeting and marrying her husband, and learning how to balance her vocation to motherhood with her love...

This week, Cathy Denny (Dr. Lorio’s mom!) joins us again as she shares about her experience of working as a nurse for 50 years. Having been a nurse anesthetist in labor and delivery, Cathy shares about the various things she saw and experienced while serving women and helping them to bring their babies into the world. It is so easy to forget just how far we have come in the field of women’s health...

A dream of mine has been to interview the woman who raised me and who taught me so much: empathy, resilience, and selfless generosity. Today, I share with you the gift of my mother’s story. A woman of so much life experience, my mom was born in the 50’s, lived through the changes of the Second Vatican Council, saw an older brother go off to fight in the Vietnam War and how that affected him, becam...

Today, I am overjoyed to share with you the news that my husband and I are pregnant! This miracle, however, is so hard for me to fathom because it comes after two long and heartbreaking years of infertility. One miscarriage and thousands of tears later, I was asked to give a talk at a CCRNO Women’s Retreat this past January 2026. While I felt called to speak on our call and identity as women—that...

As a bioethicist focusing in women’s health and integrated sex education, I am especially passionate about equipping parents to have hard—but necessary—conversations with their children. One of the most important topics to consider? S*x, pornography, and the ways that our children might be exposed to things that they are not yet prepared to understand. As the primary educators and greatest experts...

In honor of the Feast Day of one of Sarah’s favorite saints, today’s episode continues Sarah and Alex’s conversation from last week! As Alex shares about the gift of St. Joseph, we hear are about how his example and witness exist as the perfect foil to phony masculinity and the lies of the manosphere. May this week’s episode encourage you as it highlights the gift of St. Joseph, a man who exhibits...

In today’s episode, Sarah answers various questions about women posed to her by her husband, Alex: women and men in sports, Jesus’ understanding of women in the world, a few of the (many!) issues found within the manosphere, women working outside the home, and the need for woman’s presence in the world. Tune in for some unfiltered, real talk with Sarah about how she sees these issues that affect e...

March 8 has been one of my favorite days of the year since I was a little girl, and that is true for one main reason—it’s my birthday! But at some point in college, after I had already realized that I had a passion for women and a desire to serve women with the teachings of John Paul II, Edith Stein, etc., I also discovered that it is International Women’s Day! Coincidence? I think not. There is s...

Join Dr. Sarah Lorio for another episode of the What Women Are Podcast as she shares another conversation with her dear friend, Dr. Angela Parise, MD, a pro-life OB-GYN with a deep passion for women's health. In this week’s episode, Dr. Parise beautifully shares her personal journey within her OB-GYN practice and the hard decision she faced when she ultimately decided to stop prescribing birth con...

In this episode of the What Women Are podcast, Sarah interviews Dr. Angela Parise, an OB/GYN with a deep passion for women's health. They discuss Angela's journey from her childhood in Staten Island, NY, to her medical career: highlighting the influence of family, faith, and mentorship. Angela shares some of her experiences in the medical field, the challenges of balancing personal and professiona...

In this episode, Sarah shares a talk that she recently gave to young women in college about her journey and insights on the importance of community, the theology of the body, and the unique vocation of women. She emphasizes the power of prayer and love, encouraging listeners to take Jesus into their daily lives, recognize God's voice, and utilize scripture as a tool for empowerment and spiritual g...

In this episode, Sarah and Shannon delve into the complexities of perimenopause and menopause, discussing the hormonal changes women experience and the importance of individualized care. They explore the impact of inflammation and stress on hormonal health, the significance of strength training, and the evolving narrative around hormone replacement therapy. The conversation also touches on emotion...

In this episode, Sarah interviews Shannon McCormick, who shares her journey of working as a nurse as well as the difficulties she encountered in her personal life. Reflecting on the importance of her faith, the difficulties she enountered in her first marriage, and the challenges she faced as a single mother, Shannon's story is one of encouragement for any woman out there whose life has been full...

In this episode, Sarah reflects on the pro-life movement, emphasizing the importance of how we see the gift of our own lives and elaborating on the battle for hope. Sarah shares insights on what it means to take every thought captive and illustrates with practical tips the daily struggle for freedom and love, encouraging listeners to embrace their unique gifts and live fully in reality as it is. G...

In today's episode, Ginny shares about her passion for women's health and providing quality care to women in all stages of life. She discusses her personal story of developing her business, The Women's Health RN, the challenges she personally faced in the healthcare system, and the need for a more integrated approach to women's health. Ginny emphasizes the significance of understanding nutrition,...

In this episode of the What Women Are podcast, Sarah interviews Ginny Noce, a Women's Health Registered Nurse and FEMM instructor. Ginny shares her personal journey, including her struggles with faith, relationships, and health. She discusses the importance of friendship during her high school years, her transformative experience at Franciscan University of Steubenville, and how her relationship w...

In today's episode, Sarah sits down again with Sister Tracey as they explore the power of words and their connection to the Incarnation. While discussing practical steps for spiritual growth, they explore the reality of communing with God in the midst of our ordinary, daily lives. Their conversation emphasizes the significance of community and encouragement in one's spiritual journey, all while hi...

In this episode of the What Women Are podcast, Sarah sits down with Sister Tracey Dugas, who shares her personal journey of faith, discernment, and call to religious life. From her early experiences in South Louisiana to living out her Vocation with the Daughters of St. Paul (FSP), Sister Tracey reflects on the importance of recognizing God's voice and the ongoing process of discernment. She discu...

In this episode, Sarah sits down again with Carly to explore how to best accompany women in various stages of life in the arena of mental health. They discuss the complexities of postpartum depression, its prevalence, and the importance of seeking help.  They talk about the necessity of self-care and setting boundaries. Carly also provides insights on how parents can connect and walk with their ad...

In this episode, Sarah sits down for coffee with Carly Nolan, a licensed professional counselor, about the journey to having a private practice. Carly shares her experiences navigating adolescence, the value of therapy, and how her background in history informs her counseling approach. They discuss the significance of friendships, the challenges of being a new counselor, and the balance between pr...

In today's episode, Sarah sits down with her husband, Alex Lorio, to discuss the importance of educating young men about the gift of their bodies and the power of their sexuality. In their conversation, they discuss the impact of social media and of pornography on young people, and they offer practical advice for parents navigating the world of technology with their children. Emphasizing the need...

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Dr. Tara Berner to discuss the importance of educating young women about their biology: their cycles, their hormonal health, and their anatomy. They emphasize the need for parents to have these conversations with their children and encourage seeing the discussion of these topics as a series of conversations, not just as "the talk." Together, they discuss why t...

Dr. Tara Berner, MD, joins Sarah again to share more of her story, going deeper into details about her journey as a physician and mother, the challenges of starting a family while practicing medicine, the work of balancing family life with a demanding career, and her personal wrestling with the question of contraception. She discusses the beauty of a woman’s natural cycles, the unexpected joy of h...

In today's episode, Sarah sits down for coffee with Dr. Tara Berner, MD, who shares her journey from a unique upbringing in Louisiana to becoming a physician, wife, and mother of seven. She reflects on the influence of her family, particularly her grandparents and father, who inspired her passion for medicine. Tara discusses her college experience, the challenges of medical school, and the importa...