GynoCurious

In this episode of GynoCurious, Dr. Amy Novatt welcomes back Dr. Uchenna Ossai (UC), a pelvic health physical therapist, sexuality educator, and counselor. They push back on the social media story that testosterone is a cure-all for women’s sexual concerns. Sexual health, Dr. Ossai explains, is shaped by biology, psychology, culture, and relationships, and it shifts with age, religion, and circumstance. No single hormone or product can fix it.

Dr. Ossai walks through what she sees in her practice, from vulvodynia and painful sex to prolapse and bowel issues. She describes how she reads a patient’s gait, posture, and breathing before any internal exam, and how shame can show up in the body, like a pelvic floor that’s always clenched. The two talk about why team-based care across gynecology, urology, psychology, and PT is so hard to find: medical deserts, rushed appointments, and clinicians who are uncomfortable talking about sex. Dr. Ossai also shares how she adapts to each patient. For some, the goal is pleasure and intimacy. For religiously conservative patients who see sex as mainly functional, she leads with education about how the body works.

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Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

In this episode of GynoCurious, host Dr. Amy Novatt welcomes back bestselling author, speaker, and life coach Jen Butler for an in-depth conversation about premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)—a severe, debilitating condition affecting 2–8% of women of reproductive age that remains widely misunderstood and under-diagnosed. Dr. Novatt opens with a clinical overview, defining PMDD according to the DSM-5 and distinguishing it from typical PMS, while noting that it can take up to 12 years for women to receive an accurate diagnosis due to medical dismissiveness and lack of awareness.

Jen shares her personal journey of recognizing that something was wrong—first by tracking her daily moods in a journal and noticing a striking cyclical pattern, then navigating a frustrating initial encounter with her gynecologist who dismissed her symptoms as "just bad PMS" and prescribed birth control that triggered daily crying and a full-blown panic attack. It wasn't until a doctor friend identified her as "textbook PMDD" during a neighborhood walk that Jen finally had a name for what she was experiencing. She speaks candidly about the initial shame and stigma she felt around needing an SSRI, and how that same medication—taken just two weeks per month—has been life-changing. The conversation also covers the lifestyle changes Jen made in parallel, including quitting drinking, adopting a regular fitness routine, abandoning diet culture, and beginning CBT, all of which helped clarify her diagnosis and support her overall wellbeing.

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Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

In this episode of GynoCurious, host Dr. Amy Novatt welcomes Sydney Nitzkorski, a registered dietitian, personal trainer, and co-author of Complete Bone and Joint Health Plan, to unpack the differences between arthritis and osteoporosis—two conditions often confused but with distinctly different mechanisms and symptoms. Sydney explains that osteoporosis is a silent disease, producing no pain until a fracture occurs, while osteoarthritis actively announces itself through joint stiffness, swelling, and cartilage breakdown. They explore why women are disproportionately affected as they age and why understanding the distinction matters for effective treatment and prevention.

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Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

In this episode of GynoCurious, host Dr. Amy Novatt sits down with Dr. Mallory Stuparich, a fellowship-trained minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon based in Los Alamitos, California, to take a deep dive into endometriosis — a chronic, estrogen-dependent inflammatory condition affecting roughly 10% of women and girls of reproductive age worldwide. Dr. Stuparich describes endometriosis as a systemic, neuro-immune condition rather than a purely hormonal one, drawing connections to autoimmune disorders, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and POTS.

The two doctors then walk through what a real diagnostic workup looks like, from the "four Ds and an I" symptom pattern (dysmenorrhea, dyschezia, dysuria, dyspareunia, and infertility) to the value of a specialized pelvic exam and transvaginal mapping ultrasound — dispelling the myth that normal imaging rules out the disease. They also cover emerging blood-based tests, the recently updated ACOG guidelines allowing clinical diagnosis without surgery, and the critical distinction between ablative and excisional surgery.

Rounding out the episode, Dr. Stuparich shares lifestyle and dietary strategies — including anti-inflammatory eating patterns and the supplement NAC — that can help manage symptoms alongside medical or surgical treatment. The episode closes with a call for patients to trust their instincts, seek second opinions when something feels wrong, and never suffer in silence. Listeners looking for a specialist can find Dr. Stuparich across social media under her name, and Dr. Novatt reminds her audience that persistent pain always deserves investigation, whatever its cause.

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Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

On this episode of GynoCurious, Dr. Amy Novatt sits down with fashion industry veteran Lisa Metcalfe to explore the language we use around aging and what it really means to reinvent yourself in midlife. After a 40-year career in fashion, Lisa made a bold move in 2022, leaving New York City for the Hudson Valley, a shift that unexpectedly plunged her into loneliness before leading her to build a thriving community of women through dinners, vulnerability, and shared stories.

The conversation digs into the double standards women face around aging, from backhanded compliments like "you look great for your age" to the fashion industry's obsession with anti-aging. Lisa and Amy trace how the words used by parents, partners, and peers shape self-perception, and share research showing that positive beliefs about aging can add years to your life and improve physical and cognitive health. They also open up about deeply personal territory: breast cancer recovery, menopause, postpartum changes, and the silence that so often surrounds women's bodies.

Ultimately, this episode is a celebration of curiosity, authenticity, and boldness as tools for a fulfilling third act. Lisa shares how her journey led her to found a support group called "Your Third ACT-ually" and open a Hudson Valley thrift shop that's become a hub for connection. The takeaway: reinvention isn't loss, it's opportunity, and staying curious, honest, and unafraid of failure is what keeps women feeling alive at any age.

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Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

In this solo episode of GynoCurious, Dr. Amy Novatt takes a deep dive into urinary tract infections — one of the most common bacterial infections affecting women, with an estimated 150 million cases worldwide each year. She breaks down what UTIs are, how they develop, who is most at risk, and why women face a lifetime risk of over 50% of experiencing at least one. From anatomy to hormonal changes to birth control methods, Dr. Amy explains the many factors that make women uniquely vulnerable to these infections.

Dr. Amy then walks through the latest science on diagnosis, challenging the outdated assumption that the bladder is sterile and introducing the concept of the urinary and vaginal microbiome. She explains how shifts in lactobacillus levels — particularly around menopause — increase the risk of infection, and how modern diagnostic tools like urine dipsticks, clean-catch cultures, and imaging are used to accurately identify and distinguish UTIs from conditions like overactive bladder or vaginitis. She also addresses a critical and often overlooked point: asymptomatic bacteria in the urine should not automatically be treated with antibiotics.

Finally, Dr. Amy reframes UTI treatment and prevention through a holistic, microbiome-centered lens. She discusses the judicious use of antibiotics — shortest effective course, first-line agents only — and highlights promising non-antibiotic strategies including vaginal estrogen, cranberry tablets, D-mannose, methenamine, and probiotics. She closes with a look at emerging therapies like UTI vaccines and bacteriophage therapy, urging listeners to have informed conversations with their providers rather than defaulting to antibiotics at the first sign of symptoms.

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Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

In this episode of GynoCurious, Dr. Amy Novatt sits down with Lola Mainieri, a psychology graduate and menstrual health researcher, to explore the deep-rooted cultural shame surrounding menstruation. Lola shares how reading about the effects of birth control on the brain sparked her academic fascination with menstrual health, which led to her senior thesis examining how a person's attitude toward their period affects body image and self-objectification. Together, Amy and Lola trace the historical stigma around menstruation — from menstrual huts and food contamination myths to supernatural concepts like "mana" — and connect those ancient fears to the silence and shame that still persist today.

The conversation turns to the present-day consequences of menstrual stigma, including period poverty — the struggle many face to afford basic menstrual products. Lola highlights alarming statistics: one in four students in the U.S. can't afford period products, menstrual products are still taxed as luxury goods in many states, and widely used tampons have been found to leach harmful metals into the body. Dr. Amy and Lola discuss how these barriers drive girls out of school during their periods, the urgent need for free products in public restrooms, and the broader lack of scientific research into products designed for people who menstruate.

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Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

In this episode of GynoCurious, Dr. Amy Novatt welcomes Charlessa Thatcher and Theda Zawaiza — two practitioners who have dedicated their lives to bringing qigong, tai chi, and other integrative movement practices to diverse and underserved communities. Charlessa, a certified Tai Chi EZ Senior Trainer, Qigong instructor, and licensed social worker, and Theda, a Qigong and Tai Chi teacher, massage practitioner, and former federal education policy analyst with a PhD, share their personal journeys into energy medicine and explain the foundational principles of qigong and tai chi — including the concept of qi (life force energy), meridians, and how these practices cultivate healing from within.

Charlessa shares her remarkable story of being diagnosed with multiple myeloma and undergoing two transplants — a stem cell transplant and a T-cell transplant — during which her daily qigong practice became a cornerstone of her recovery. Her joy and presence in the hospital were so palpable that nurses, doctors, and chaplains began asking to join her practice sessions. Theda also shares her own path to qigong through chronic back pain and the stress of decades working on Capitol Hill, and both guests explain the science behind their practices, including NIH-funded research showing benefits for stress reduction, cardiovascular health, immune function, chronic pain management, and fall prevention in older adults.

Together, Charlessa and Theda have launched Wellness Essentials, a women-owned, African American-owned business offering free and donation-based qigong, yoga, meditation, and pain management programming to communities that have historically had little access to these healing modalities.

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Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

In this episode of GynoCurious, Dr. Amy Novatt welcomes Jen Butler — best-selling author, speaker, and life and fitness coach — whose debut memoir, Mom Rediscovered: My Midlife Breakup with Drinking and Diet Culture, hit number one on Amazon in 2025. Jen shares her evolving definition of health, moving from a purely physical focus in her younger years to a much more holistic view that encompasses mental, emotional, and relational wellbeing. The two discuss how motherhood can profoundly disconnect women from their own bodies and sense of self, and how the roles we inhabit — mother, partner, daughter, professional — can both define and confine us.

At the heart of the conversation is Jen's personal journey with what she calls "gray area drinking" — the murky middle ground between a full-blown dependency and a completely uncomplicated relationship with alcohol. She describes how taking breaks from drinking became the first real boundary she set for herself, and how removing alcohol from her life cracked open a much larger excavation: confronting a lifetime of diet culture conditioning, a lost professional identity, and deep-seated body image struggles rooted in childhood. Jen also addresses the pressures unique to women around thinness, the dangers of normalizing weight-loss medications, and her own path to body neutrality — choosing strength and self-acceptance over the relentless pursuit of being smaller.

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Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

In this episode of GynoCurious, host Dr. Amy Novatt speaks with Nicole Notar, a patient-turned-entrepreneur who spent over 15 years undiagnosed before finally receiving excision surgery that revealed 73 endometriosis lesions throughout her body. Nicole shares her deeply personal journey — from symptoms beginning at age 9, to repeated dismissals by doctors, to a seven-hour surgery that changed her life — and explains how that experience drove her to found both a patient surgery fund (EndoExcisionForAll) and a clinical decision support startup (Vindicara) aimed at helping electronic health record systems flag endometriosis earlier.

Dr. Amy and Nicole dive deep into the complexities of endometriosis diagnosis, including the wide range of symptoms that extend far beyond painful periods — from gastrointestinal issues and chronic UTIs to thoracic involvement and infertility. They discuss why diagnosis can take up to 12 years, how endometriosis is routinely mistaken for IBS, vulvodynia, or interstitial cystitis, and why the mismatch between symptom severity and physical findings makes it so difficult to catch. Nicole also breaks down the critical difference between ablation (surface burning) and excision (root removal), explaining why excision is the gold standard — and why insurance reimbursement structures make it nearly inaccessible for most women.

Nicole's message is one of persistence: the care exists, it's getting easier to find, and you cannot afford to stop advocating for yourself.

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Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff