Mistreatment of Women in Medicine Part 2 — with Pam Waugh

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Heather Evans continues exploring the mistreatment of women in medicine—this time with a very personal perspective. Heather sits down with her mother, Pam Waugh, to talk about her journey of being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Together, they open up about the challenges Pam faced in getting doctors to listen, the delays in care, and the emotional toll of being dismissed in the medical system.

This episode sheds light on how systemic bias in healthcare impacts women across generations, while also honoring Pam’s resilience and story.

In this episode of The Boxes Podcast, Heather Evans takes us inside one of the deepest, most damaging systems we live under: the mistreatment and dismissal of women in medicine.

From the medieval roots of “hysteria” to the exclusion of women in research until 1993, we uncover how medical science has too often been built on patriarchal assumptions rather than truth. We look at endometriosis as a powerful case study of neglect—a disease affecting 1 in 10 women worldwide, yet still taking an average of 7–9 years to diagnose—and explore how biases continue today in pain management, menopause research, and even medical coding.

You’ll learn:

• Why women still make up only ~37% of clinical trial participants

• How labels like “WW” (Whining Woman) still haunt patient charts

• Why women are 50% less likely than men to be prescribed pain medication for the same symptoms

• The broader consequences of systemic bias, from medication side effects to surgical outcomes

This episode isn’t just history—it’s a call to action. Together, we can demand better research, better care, and a medical system that sees women as fully human.

If you’ve ever been dismissed, minimized, or mislabeled, this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Boxes Podcast, I break down my song Out of My Head—a song born from the feeling of sitting in the backseat of my own life instead of holding the wheel. I talk about how the patriarchy tries to shove us into square molds that were never made for us—and how I’ve realized I’m not square at all…I’m star-shaped. 🌟

Together, we’ll explore what it means to reclaim our agency, question the boxes we’ve been placed in, and find freedom in embracing the shapes we were always meant to be.

✨ I also share an exciting announcement: I’m co-hosting [Un]boxed: A Night of Voice & Community on Friday, November 7th at 6:30pm at Wild Goose Creative in Columbus, Ohio. It’s going to be a powerful evening of music, poetry, and conversation that uplifts women’s voices.

🎟️ Grab your ticket here: Eventbrite Link

What happens to the mind, body, and soul of a woman who’s always being watched, judged, controlled, or erased? In this raw and unflinching episode, Heather Evans unpacks the hidden mental health costs of living under patriarchal systems—through the lens of her song S.O.S.

From religious silencing to the invisible labor at home, from media’s impossible beauty standards to workplace double binds, and the constant hypervigilance of simply trying to stay safe—Heather explores how these pressures shape women’s inner worlds.

This is more than a conversation—it’s a lifeline for anyone who has felt the quiet cry for help beneath the surface.

🎧 Themes we explore:

• Religious trauma and the “Good Girl” script

• Emotional labor and the second shift at home

• Media-driven self-surveillance and body image struggles

• Workplace burnout, bias, and suppressed ambition

• Chronic survival mode and the mental toll of living unsafe

It’s time to break the silence, reclaim our stories, and imagine a world where survival isn’t the goal—freedom is.

🚨 Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual violence.

In this powerful and emotionally charged episode of the Boxes Podcast, we confront a difficult but necessary topic—sexual violence against women—and explore how rage, when acknowledged and channeled, can become a force for healing, advocacy, and change.

Host Heather Evans opens with sobering statistics and a vulnerable conversation about her song “Rage”, a piece born from the fire of injustice and pain. Rage, she shares, isn’t always destructive—it can be the spark that compels us to act.

Later in the episode, we welcome Nicole Bromley—speaker, author, survivor, and founder of OneVOICE—for an inspiring dialogue about reclaiming your story, transforming trauma into purpose, and using your voice to speak out and stand up for others. Nicole shares how she turned her own rage and heartbreak into a life of advocacy and hope for survivors across the world.

📝 Show Notes & Resources:

• www.OneVOICE.org
• Hush (Book by Nicole Bromley)
• Breathe (Book by Nicole Bromley)
• SOAR Workbook
• Survivor Community: Unleash
• OneVOICE Podcast
• Follow Nicole: @nicole_bromley

💬 Whether you're a survivor, a supporter, or someone learning how to make a difference—this episode invites you to unpack the emotion of rage and reframe it as a catalyst for justice, healing, and impact.

Mini Episode – Poetry Break: Unladylike

In this mini Poetry Break, we explore the raw power of rage in a culture that demands women stay quiet and composed. "Unladylike" is a visceral spoken word piece about the pressure to suppress anger in the name of femininity—and the liberation that comes when we let it rise. What if rage isn’t something to fear, but something to use? Tune in for a short but fierce reflection on reclaiming our voices, our power, and the fire within.

In this episode, we’re unboxing Invisible Strings —and investigating the unseen forces that quietly shape our choices, silence our voices, and keep us in boxes we never asked for.

We’ll journey from the rigid 1950s housewife trope to the current far-right rhetoric creeping into our modern world, exploring how control over women has been systemically woven into everything—from education and economics to politics and power.

This episode gets historical, a little political, and deeply personal. You’ll hear the story behind my song Invisible Strings, written as a battle cry for every woman who’s been told to stay small, stay silent, and stay put. Together, we ask the question: How do we cut the ties we can’t even see?

If you’ve ever felt held back by expectations, by systems, or by the subtle messages that tell you who you’re supposed to be—this episode is for you.

David Thiele Produced Invisible Strings and crushed it!!

In this mini episode, I share Skyscraper — a poem about shedding smallness and daring to take up space. It’s an ode to speaking up, standing tall, and owning your voice without apology. If you’ve ever felt the urge to shrink yourself to fit in, this one's for you. Let’s rise together!!

Unboxing: Invisible Strings coming May 9th!

In this raw and deeply personal episode, Heather unpacks the story behind her song Boxes—a journey from silence to strength. She shares the experiences that left her feeling disempowered and unheard, and how she reclaimed her voice through music. With vulnerability and honesty, Heather explores the moments that shaped her, the emotions that fueled her lyrics, and the transformation that followed. We hope this episode inspires you to break free from your own boxes and find the courage to speak your truth.

In this special episode, Heather shares a powerful piece of poetry inspired by her conference room table experience from Episode 1. She reflects on the challenge of standing up for what’s right, even when minds refuse to change. With honesty and heart, she explores the courage it takes to speak up, knowing the outcome may stay the same. We hope this episode encourages you to embrace bravery, even in the face of resistance.