In this powerful episode of LaidOPEN Podcast, I sit down with medical researcher, writer, and host of Modern Hysteria, Micah Larsen, to dive deep into her deeply personal and courageous journey through PMDD, menopause, and preeclampsia. With warmth and unflinching honesty, Micah illuminates the painful gaps in our healthcare system and the persistence of medical misogyny—and, more importantly, how we can begin to dismantle those barriers.

We explore:

• The courage it takes to speak openly about taboo topics like incontinence, childbirth, postpartum challenges, and menopause.

• How narrative and advocacy are essential tools for transforming women's healthcare.

• Micah's Montana farm: a place of solace, healing, and self-acceptance that has helped her reclaim her body and spirit amid the storms.

This episode is equal parts urgent call to action and celebration of resilience—a reminder that better women's healthcare starts with brave conversations and compassionate communities.

Note: This episode includes discussions of very heavy themes, including suicide. If you're feeling fragile, you might choose to listen in gentle doses, on a different day, or skip it altogether. But know this: this is an inspiring conversation—and I hope it helps ignite a true women's medical rights movement.

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction to the LaidOPEN Podcast

00:06 Meet Micah Larson: Advocate for Women's Health

02:10 The Inspiration Behind Modern Hysteria

04:13 Navigating Women's Healthcare Challenges

05:30 Addressing Taboos and Listener Engagement

09:29 Personal Stories and Medical Advocacy

11:46 Understanding Surgical Menopause

16:31 The Struggles of PMDD and Hormone Therapy

20:43 Challenges in the Healthcare System

30:08 The Struggles of Menopause and Misdiagnosis

31:45 The Last Fertility Taboo: Egg Donation

33:58 Women's Healthcare and Systemic Issues

36:35 Personal Stories of Medical Trauma

51:46 The Healing Power of Gardening

57:34 Reflections on Embodied Freedom

01:00:38 Closing Thoughts and Resources