SisterSong—leader of the reproductive justice movement—defines reproductive justice as "the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities." But how do systems of oppression such as racism, ableism, and sexism, make it harder for some to access reproductive care? In S5E20, Lina and Hạ talk with Juliette Friedland, co-chair for diversity and inclusion at Optum UnitedHealth, about the disadvantages and inequalities of reproductive health, and the history and future of obstetrics and gynecology.

Discovering where you come from contributes to knowing where you're heading. We are built from the generations before us—our mothers and grandmothers before them—through their sacrifices, pain, and all they've had to endure. Each mother loves and nurtures differently, and sometimes that love and nurture are affected by historical and cultural complexities.

In S5E19, Hạ, Harjit, and Margaux dedicate a tribute to the matriarchs of their lives, sharing stories of generations prior and reflect on how they are shaped by the narratives of their ancestors.

Raising children is a community effort, but our society can make us feel we should be able to do it successfully alone. But the instincts are not always natural, and the expectations are not always met. And the advice you receive may not be the help you need. Matrescence—the physical, mental, and emotional transition into motherhood—comes differently to different women. Returning from parental leave, in S5E18, Margaux talks to Dr. Manpreet Kaur about the support network needed during the postpartum period, and how their knowledge of medicine and being working physicians contributes to their new roles as mothers.

Asian Americans are often stereotyped as educated, thriving, intelligent—"model minorities" who are perceived as achieving higher degrees of socioeconomic success to accomplish the American Dream. But stereotypes of the model minority, while seemingly positive, can cause damage and harm to the demographic. The often invisibility of anti-Asian racism and hate crimes are indistinguishably connected to the model minority myth. In S5E17, Hạ talks to fellow medical student and Asian-American Derek Chang about how increases in anti-Asian hate crimes have affected their Asian identities, and reflects on their experiences growing up and living under the model minority myth.

Oxford English Dictionary defines masculinity as "Qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of men." Societies and cultures have long built the image of what a man should say, should feel, should be, and it is often projected in a way that is opposite of what it means to be a woman. In S5E16, Harjit and Mariam talk to medical students Sajjad Askaryar and Neil Sahasrabudhe about challenging societal and cultural definitions and standards of what it means to be a man, and embodying masculine traits in a way that is healthy and authentic to their own identities.

You probably wouldn't say "hip hop" and "health care" in the same sentence. But despite their surface differences, hip hop ties into health care's disparities. Hip hop is a form of resistance, voices of the unheard—it is a culture that is so often appropriated and viewed in a lesser-than lens because its origins come from a place in society that normally does not hold power. In S5E15, Harjit and Hạ discuss growing up among hip hop cultures, the influences the genre has had on their lives, and how it impacts their patient/provider interactions.

The Black Experience should be celebrated every day, not just during Black History Month. Through traumas and adversities, there are also successes and excellence that are worth highlighting and uplifting in our everyday conversations. But to round out this year's Black History Month, on a special episode, Lina and Harjit talk to Juliette Friedland and Liese Rodger about their lived experiences as Black women, and share thoughts on how to elevate and listen to Black voices—remembering the history, living the present, and striving for the future.

Student-run clinics are one of the most comprehensive examples of experiential learning in medical school education—and in combination, are meant to provide primary care services to underserved communities. But the structure of student-run clinics can create a moral dilemma between experiential learning and empowering patients for their better health. In S5E13, Hạ and Harjit talk to medical student Siale Teaupa about the flaws of student-run clinics and providing health care for underserved and uninsured patients with an anti-racist, equity, and inclusive lens.

Across identities and ethnicities, sexual liberation can look different to different people. But, the expectations, objectification, and sexualization placed onto women from societal pressures to appeal to the standard norm are common. And, on top of power-dynamic struggles, the narrative around sex-positivity for women of color can be very different from some of the mainstream feminist conversations. In S5E12, Harjit, Lina, and Mariam talk about how the sexualization of those who identify as women impacts our life stories, and the importance of unapologetically exploring your sexuality on your own terms.

With its high-stress environment, medical school can be an isolating experience. The competitive nature of medicine can sometimes make it difficult to foster authentic relationships that offer support and add to your overall well-being. When you think about a true, wholesome friendship—what does it entail? In S5E11, Leen, Harjit, and Lina talk about how their views on friendships have changed as they've grown into their own identities, and the importance of creating and maintaining authentic relationships in medicine.