In this episode of Feed the Matriarchy, we sit down with writer, Emmy Award-winning creative director, and author Lu Chekowsky (she/they) to explore the powerful intersection of advertising, body image, capitalism, and self-worth. Drawing from her years inside the advertising industry and the experiences chronicled in her memoir, Don't Buy What I'm Selling: On Breaking Up with Advertising and Finally Learning to Love My Whole, Fat Self, Lu pulls back the curtain on the messages women receive about their bodies and the systems that profit from our insecurities. Together, they discuss the monetization of shame, the cultural pressures that keep women disconnected from themselves, the relationship between grief and embodiment, and the radical act of learning to trust your own voice.

This conversation is a thoughtful, funny, and eye-opening examination of what happens when we stop buying what we've been sold and start defining freedom on our own terms.

To Purchase: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/lu-chekowsky/dont-buy-what-im-selling/9780316588515/?lens=little-brown

In this episode of Feed the Matriarchy, we're joined by some of the most important women in their lives: The Yayas—a group of lifelong friends whose bond spans more than 30 years. Together, we explore the power of sisterhood, loyalty, vulnerability, and the relationships that sustain us through life's biggest joys and hardest seasons. From navigating motherhood and personal growth to working through conflict, repair, and change, this conversation is a reflection on what it means to be deeply known and deeply loved. The Yayas share stories of friendship, honesty, laughter, resilience, and the intentional work required to build relationships that endure. We're celebrating chosen family, women supporting women, and the transformative power of having people who witness every version of who you've been—and who you're still becoming.

If you're lucky enough to have friendships that have carried you through decades, this episode will feel like coming home. And if you're still searching for that kind of community, it's a reminder that sisterhood is one of the most powerful forms of nourishment we can offer each other.

In this episode of Feed the Matriarchy, we sit down with Blakely Hunze-Austin, LPC—a licensed professional counselor specializing in sex therapy, eating disorders, trauma, OCD, addictions, and work with LGBTQIA+, kink, and poly/ENM communities—for a thoughtful conversation about sexuality, shame, pleasure, and authenticity. Together, we explore what it means to build relationships and intimate lives rooted in intentionality rather than obligation, fear, or societal expectations. Blakely shares insights on reducing shame around desire, learning from queer culture’s emphasis on self-awareness and communication, and creating space for people to explore what genuinely feels safe, affirming, and fulfilling. This episode dives into embodiment, identity, intimacy, and the radical act of choosing authenticity over performance in the ways we connect with ourselves and others.

Resource links:

For Blakely:  https://eroshealingandgrowth.clientsecure.me/

For Necklace:  https://www.womanizer.com

To find a registered sex therapist in your area: https://www.aasect.org/

In this powerful episode of Feed the Matriarchy, Heather and Johanna sit down with Dr. Lulu (Uchenna Umeh, MD she/her)—pediatrician, speaker, bestselling author, identity-affirming coach, veteran, and founder of Dr. Lulu’s Pride Corner and Dr. Lulu’s Angels Haven, Inc.—for an honest conversation about LGBTQIA+ affirmation, parenting, healthcare, and the transformative power of belonging. Together, they explore what it truly means to move beyond passive acceptance into active affirmation for queer and trans youth, why affirming care is life-saving care, and how parents, physicians, and communities can create emotionally safe spaces where children never have to earn love or belonging. Dr. Lulu also shares her personal journey to advocacy work, discusses unlearning bias and internalized homophobia, and offers insight into her upcoming book, First Do No Further Harm: Becoming Allies in White Coats.

This episode is a compassionate, empowering conversation about identity, allyship, self-trust, and the radical impact of affirming people exactly as they are.

Find more info about Dr Lulu and her work at https://drluluspridecorner.com/about/

In this episode of Feed the Matriarchy, Heather and Johanna sit down with Breeze (@Breezleweezle)—perinatal mental health therapist, content creator, mother of five, and creator of the Better Boys Project—to talk about raising boys differently in a culture shaped by patriarchy, emotional disconnection, and rigid gender roles. Together, they explore deconstructing evangelical beliefs, navigating religious trauma, fostering curiosity instead of shame, and teaching boys emotional intelligence, consent, and compassion. This conversation dives into motherhood, masculinity, power dynamics, authenticity, and the radical act of raising children who stay connected to themselves and others in a world that often teaches them not to.

In this episode of Feed the Matriarchy, Heather and Johanna dive into the complicated realities of parenting kids around body image while also unlearning the messages we inherited ourselves. Together, they explore motherhood, self-esteem, social media, and the pressures children face growing up in a culture obsessed with appearance. Through personal stories, practical strategies, and honest reflection, they discuss how to foster body trust, inclusivity, curiosity, and self-compassion in kids—without needing to be perfect ourselves first. This conversation is about raising children who feel at home in their bodies while learning to reconnect with our own along the way.

In this episode of Feed the Matriarchy, Heather and Johanna sit down with Penny MacDonell (she,her) to talk about living with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, navigating body image, and learning to see herself as beautiful in a world that rarely reflected bodies like hers. Penny shares her journey through chronic illness, medical procedures, family support, and the emotional impact of societal beauty standards that often exclude disabled and diverse bodies. Together, they explore disability, desirability, representation, and what it means to reclaim joy, sexuality, and self-acceptance at every stage of life. This is a powerful conversation about resilience, identity, and learning to love the body you live in.

In this episode of Feed the Matriarchy, Johanna sits down with Rose M., DNP, CRNA (she/her)—a healthcare provider passionate about inclusivity and equitable care—to talk about what it means to choose differently, even when nothing is “wrong.” Rose shares her experience of making intentional pivots, trusting the quiet inner nudge for something more, and navigating the doubt that can come from both within and around us.

Together, they explore how women are conditioned to second-guess themselves and how reclaiming self-trust can open the door to a more aligned, expansive life.

They also dive into body diversity and what it looks like to build body confidence when the world questions your body’s capabilities. This is a conversation about honoring where you’ve been, while still giving yourself permission to want something different.

In this episode of Feed the Matriarchy, Heather and Johanna sit down with Tamie Gangloff (MA, MFT / she, her)—therapist, author, and advocate—to talk about what it really means to live with a chronic condition in a world that doesn’t always listen. Tamie shares her personal journey of navigating chronic illness, advocating for herself within the healthcare system, and unlearning the internalized belief that she had to prove her pain to be taken seriously. Together, they explore the intersection of chronic illness, trauma, and mental health, and the powerful role of validation, community, and self-trust in healing. This is a conversation about resilience, being believed, and why no one should have to fight this hard to be cared for.

You can find Tamie's resources on her website : https://www.tamiegangloff.com/

In this episode of Feed the Matriarchy, Heather and Johanna talk about the privilege we hold—white, cis, socioeconomic, etc—and what it means to actually use it. Because naming it isn’t the work. The work is in how we show up, speak out, and create space for those diverse voices. This is an honest, imperfect conversation about responsibility, action, and choosing not to stay silent.