Things My Mother Forgot to Mention

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: we need to talk about this stuff . This week, we sat down with the wonderfully wise and funny Kathleen Sachs, and wow—did she deliver. Here’s what we covered: How menopause is technically just one day—and what comes before and after What our mothers never told us about hormones, hot flashes, and pelvic pain Kathleen’s no-holds-barred experience with pe...

This one’s a whole journey , so buckle up (or maybe unbutton your jeans and get comfy). Jan’s sharing her deeply personal—and yes, wildly specific—story of life post-menopause. From tight pelvic floors to uteruses that drop like it’s hot , this episode dives into the truth about GSM (Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause) and why it’s more than just hot flashes. Here’s what we’re talking about: What...

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Tracy Meyer—a psychology professor, mom, and longtime educator who’s spent over 20 years teaching young adults about sexuality, development, and the things lots of mothers forgot to mention. We talk about the gaps in sex education, the myths still floating around, and how we can all do better—whether we’re raising kids or trying to understand our own bodies. He...

This episode is all about that wild ride known as coming of age. We dig into the physical changes, the unspoken questions, and the things that were forgotten to be mentioned. Here’s what we explore: Our first memories of starting our periods What we were (and weren’t) told about our changing bodies How shame, silence, or support shaped those experiences Bras, pads, and navigating early body image...

** Content warning: This episode mentions rape** On this episode, we’re joined by our guest, Kandy Christensen, who shares her powerful personal journey—from being raised to comply, to reclaiming her voice and agency after years of silence, confusion, and trauma. This conversation covers deeply personal and sometimes difficult ground, but we believe in naming it, talking about it, and healing out...

Content Warning: We mention Sexual Abuse in this episode. Today we're going there! We're talking sex, in all its confusing, complicated, hilarious, and healing glory. You’ll hear: How sexual trauma shaped Patti’s early experiences — and her journey toward healing Why Jan’s first marriage was a sexual blur The myth of orgasming through vaginal sex — only 18% of us do Clitoral geography, t...

This one hits close to home. We brought in our dear friend and seasoned relationship coach, Lisa Merlo-Booth, to unpack the relationship lessons we didn’t get from our mothers (or Hollywood, for that matter). In this episode, we get real about: Growing up with dysfunctional templates and learning to spot red flags Why jealousy is not love—and neither is ordering for you at dinner The danger of fal...

This episode’s all about the messy, magical reality of relationships —and how many of us entered them without a clue. We dive into our personal stories, the generational myths that shaped us, and what we’ve learned the hard way. Here’s what we cover: The relationship advice that was missed How family dysfunction models our love templates Codependency, love addiction, and breaking toxic patterns Wh...

In this week’s episode, we talk with the grounded and deeply wise Laura Blundo about her very real (and very relatable) journey through perimenopause, menopause, and all the bodily WTFs in between. We chat about: What it’s like when no one tells you about periods, sex, or menopause The emotional side of menopause—and yes, grief is a thing Vaginal atrophy (it’s real, it’s painful, and it’s not just...

This episode is all about perimenopause—when it starts, what it really feels like, and how to navigate the wild hormonal rollercoaster with your sanity (and friendships) intact. Here’s what we get into: Patti’s just entering the night sweats chat (literally) Jan’s been-there-done-that tale of hormonal hell and healing What your doctor probably won’t tell you about hormone therapy (and what a funct...

Welcome! We’re Patti Meyer and Jan Bergstrom—and this is Things My Mother Forgot to Mention , the podcast where we talk about all the stuff no one warned us about. In our debut episode, we’re letting you peek behind the curtain as we: Introduce ourselves (spoiler: one of us is a tech nerd, the other a trauma therapist) Share the origin story of this podcast dream-turned-reality Talk about why we h...