Why are women still dismissed, disbelieved, or even endangered in medical settings? In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Her Health Confessions, author and feminist policy analyst Anushay Hossain joins Britney to explore the painful truths behind medical gaslighting, PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), and the broader crisis in women’s health.

Anushay shares her near-death experience giving birth in a top American hospital—an ordeal that left her questioning the very system she once trusted. From maternal death and misogyny in medicine, to the underdiagnosis of conditions like PMDD, Anushay unpacks why women’s pain is so often ignored or pathologized.

🎧 Topics we explore:

- What is PMDD, and why it’s so often missed or misdiagnosed
- How depression, anger, and rage can be misunderstood in women
- The link between childhood trauma, emotional suppression, and hormonal disorders
- Why feminism and addressing misogyny must be part of the medical conversation
- Real examples of medical gaslighting stories that show how trauma can start in the doctor’s office

This is a must-listen for any woman who’s ever been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or made to feel “hysterical.” From PMDD tips to systemic reform, this episode challenges outdated paradigms and calls for a future where women’s symptoms are taken seriously—and their stories heard.

📚 Anushay’s book: The Pain Gap: How Sexism and Racism in Healthcare Kill Women
🎧 The Pain Gap Podcast
📲 Follow Anushay

Disclaimer:
The Her Health Confessions podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, nursing, or other professional healthcare services. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor-patient relationship. The information shared is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for guidance on your health concerns.

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What does it take to rebuild your identity after life completely changes? In this powerful episode of Her Health Confessions, Paralympic gold medalist and cancer survivor Brenna Huckaby shares her extraordinary story. From losing her leg at age 14 to rising as a world champion snowboarder, while navigating PMDD, motherhood, and the mental aftermath of medical trauma.

Diagnosed with osteosarcoma as a teen, Brenna faced amputation, identity loss, and emotional isolation. But it didn’t end there. As she opens up about PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), ADHD, and the lesser-seen mental toll of being an amputee, Brenna reflects on what true resilience means and how she’s continually redefined success through grit, community, and radical honesty.

What is PMDD really like from the inside? How does trauma shape the nervous system and influence the experience of ADHD in women? What does it mean to be seen beyond the medal, the diagnosis, or the prosthetic?
Whether you’re navigating chronic illness, amputee life hacks, women’s health challenges, or feeling lost in a season of reinvention, this episode offers validation, insight, and fierce inspiration.

🎧 Topics we explore:
 – PMDD and mental health in athletes
 – Life after amputation: identity, pain, and power
 – ADHD in women and neurodivergent coping tools
 – How Brenna handled media scrutiny, motherhood, and trauma
This is a must-listen for anyone seeking real conversations on paralympic snowboarding, body trust, and emotional healing all through the lens of one woman’s unstoppable journey.

CONNECT WITH ME:
Instagram: / thepmddchick
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Website: https://www.thepmddchick.com/

BRENNA SOCIALS:
Instagram: / bren_hucks
Website: https://brennahuckaby.com/

DISCLAIMER:
The Her Health Confessions podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the provision of medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor-patient relationship. The information shared on this podcast or through any linked materials is used at the listener's own discretion. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should not ignore or delay seeking medical advice for any health concerns and are encouraged to consult their healthcare provider for appropriate care.

More Info:
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Is plant medicine right for me? What are the dangers of psychedelics and their healing potential? In this powerful episode, neurologist and ceremonialist Dr. Maya Shetreat shares the science and soul of psychedelic-assisted therapy, psychedelic treatment for PTSD, and healing through sacred plants.

We explore:
– How psychedelics deactivate the default mode network and open neuroplasticity
– What they don’t tell you about ayahuasca plant medicine
– The difference between microdosing and heroic doses
– How to safely prepare for a plant medicine ceremony
– Working with plant spirit medicine and San Pedro
– The risks of bypassing integration and chasing peak experiences

Dr. Maya also shares her personal story, her son's healing, and how to navigate this path with reverence, safety, and deep transformation.

Whether you're exploring psychedelic therapy, microdosing, or wondering how to prepare for a plant medicine journey — this episode is your grounded guide.

Website: https://www.drmaya.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DRMAYASHETREAT/

CONNECT WITH DR MAYA:
Website
Instagram

DISCLAIMER:
The Her Health Confessions podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the provision of medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor-patient relationship. The information shared on this podcast or through any linked materials is used at the listener's own discretion. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should not ignore or delay seeking medical advice for any health concerns and are encouraged to consult their healthcare provider for appropriate care.

More Info:
• Watch Her Health Confessions on YouTube
• Follow Her Health Confessions on Instagram
• Follow Britney (The PMDD Chick) on Instagram
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More Info:
• Watch Her Health Confessions on YouTube
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Could mold toxicity be the hidden root cause behind your symptoms?

In this compelling episode of Her Health Confessions, I sit down with Nic and Delaney, the functional medicine practitioners behind The Detoxing Duo, to explore their powerful personal story of navigating and healing from severe mold toxicity. After years of battling symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, hormonal imbalances, gut issues, and anxiety, they discovered they were living in a home with hidden mold exposure. A discovery that changed everything.

We dive deep into:

- What are the signs of mold exposure?

- How to know if you have mold toxicity and where to start

- The most common mold toxicity symptoms in women

- How mold sickness impacts hormones, gut health, and nervous system regulation

- What supplements you can take for mold toxicity

- Mold detox protocols and why functional medicine offers a more complete approach to treating mold toxicity

- The emotional and spiritual healing required to fully recover

You'll also hear why so many women are misdiagnosed or dismissed when experiencing symptoms of mold toxicity, and how your home environment may be silently affecting your women's health. Whether you’ve wondered, “How do I know if I have mold toxicity?” or you're actively seeking mold toxicity treatment, this episode will empower you with real answers and practical next steps.

If you're navigating fatigue, anxiety, inflammation, or recurring infections—this could be the root cause you’ve never been told about.

CONNECT WITH ME:
The PMDD Chick Instagram
The PMDD Chick TikTok
The Detoxing Duo Instagram

DISCLAIMER:
The Her Health Confessions podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the provision of medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor-patient relationship. The information shared on this podcast or through any linked materials is used at the listener's own discretion. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should not ignore or delay seeking medical advice for any health concerns and are encouraged to consult their healthcare provider for appropriate care.

More Info:
• Watch Her Health Confessions on YouTube
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What if one of the most critical aspects of women’s health has been overlooked for decades? In this eye-opening episode of Her Health Confessions, Priyanka Jain, co-founder and CEO of Evvy, shares how the vaginal microbiome is the missing piece in understanding fertility, pregnancy complications, chronic infections, and even conditions like endometriosis and PCOS.

Priyanka reveals the shocking truth about women’s health research—how clinical trials excluded women until 1993, why women are diagnosed four years later than men for the same diseases, and how the medical system continues to fail women by ignoring critical biomarkers unique to the female body.

Throughout this conversation, Priyanka explains what the vaginal microbiome actually is, why it plays a vital role in overall health, and how imbalances contribute to recurrent infections, infertility, and pregnancy complications. She unpacks why conventional treatments often fail, the biggest myths about vaginal health, and how Evvy is working to revolutionize women’s healthcare through at-home microbiome testing.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who has struggled with BV, yeast infections, UTIs, fertility concerns, or hormonal imbalances. Priyanka’s insights shed light on the gaps in women’s health research and offer a new perspective on how better testing and awareness can finally close the gender health gap.

Evvy website

CONNECT WITH ME:
Instagram: / thepmddchick
TikTok: / thepmddchick

DISCLAIMER:
The Her Health Confessions podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the provision of medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor-patient relationship. The information shared on this podcast or through any linked materials is used at the listener's own discretion. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should not ignore or delay seeking medical advice for any health concerns and are encouraged to consult their healthcare provider for appropriate care.

More Info:
• Watch Her Health Confessions on YouTube
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• Follow Britney (The PMDD Chick) on Instagram
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Ever wondered how happiness is studied or why it’s so essential to living a fulfilling life? In this transformative episode of Her Health Confessions, Dr. Emma Seppälä, Yale lecturer and best-selling author, unpacks the science of happiness, emotional intelligence, and trauma recovery. Emma shares powerful insights on how self-awareness, breathwork, and resilience can help you navigate life’s toughest challenges and reclaim your sense of calm.
Discover the science-backed tools to build emotional intelligence, recover from trauma, and find balance in an overwhelming world. Emma also dives into the surprising role of breathwork in calming your nervous system, explaining how techniques like SKY Breath Meditation can help heal PTSD and foster inner peace. Whether you’re seeking personal growth, ways to tackle stress, or the courage to live more authentically, this episode offers practical tips to transform your mental and emotional well-being.

What makes Dr. Emma Seppälä an expert? She’s a Yale lecturer, faculty director at Yale’s Women’s Leadership Program, and Science Director at Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research. Her groundbreaking research has been published in leading journals and featured in outlets like The New York Times and CBS News. She’s also the author of The Happiness Track and the upcoming Sovereign, which explore the keys to happiness and well-being.

If you’ve ever asked yourself how to increase your emotional intelligence, wondered about the best breathwork techniques, or felt stuck in patterns of stress or trauma, this episode is for you.

Emma Seppala Website

Emma Seppala Instagram

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Have you ever wondered how unresolved trauma shapes the mind, body, and nervous system? In this enlightening episode of Her Health Confessions, Dr. Danica Harris delves into the world of complex PTSD, somatic psychology, and trauma-informed care. Drawing from her personal experiences and professional expertise, Dr. Harris unpacks the connections between childhood trauma, emotional abuse, and chronic health conditions like fibromyalgia.

Could unhealed trauma be behind persistent mental health challenges or physical symptoms? How does nervous system regulation play a role in breaking free from survival mode? What is the difference between traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and somatic, body-based therapy approaches? Dr. Harris answers these critical questions while highlighting practical steps toward healing, emphasizing the power of small, intentional actions to rebuild body trust and regulate the nervous system.

This is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the profound impacts of trauma on mental and physical health while exploring transformative approaches to healing.

Dr Danica Harris website

Dr Danica Harris Instagram

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Have you ever wondered how post-COVID syndromes are triggering a wave of chronic illnesses? In this insightful episode of Her Health Confessions, Dr. Bruce Hoffman dives into the complex world of conditions like Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), dysautonomia, and chronic inflammation. Drawing from decades of clinical experience, Dr. Hoffman uncovers the intricate interplay between histamine sensitivity, hormone imbalances, gut health, and the nervous system's regulation.

Could post-COVID dysregulation be behind PMDD-like symptoms or unexplained chronic fatigue? How does MCAS contribute to widespread inflammation, and what can be done to stabilize it? What role do hidden environmental triggers, trauma, and diet play in these conditions? Dr. Hoffman answers these pressing questions while emphasizing the importance of holistic, personalized healing approaches to address the root causes.

As a pioneer in integrative and functional medicine, Dr. Hoffman is uniquely qualified to guide us through the interconnected nature of body systems and how they relate to women’s health. Whether you’re navigating post-COVID symptoms, PMDD, MCAS, or chronic health challenges, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and actionable insights.
This is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the deeper roots of their health challenges and explore transformative paths to healing.

Dr Bruce Hoffman website

Dr Bruce Hoffman Instagram

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Curious about the intersection of fitness, nutrition, and women's health? National bodybuilding pro athlete and Clinical dietitian, Astrid Naranjo takes us through her journey through amenorrhea recovery and how she rebuilt her health by embracing strength training for women. Astrid breaks down common questions, like "Will lifting weights make me bulky?" and "Is cardio or strength training better for weight loss for women?" She also dives into the science of macronutrients vs. micronutrients, explaining their roles and how to balance them for sustainable weight loss and muscle gain.

Astrid sheds light on the mental, physical, and nutritional hurdles women face. Whether you're trying to figure out how to lose weight and gain muscle or seeking a deeper understanding of macronutrients and micronutrients, this episode is packed with practical advice, scientific insight, and empowering guidance.

Astrid's Instagram

Astrid's Website

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What does overcoming addiction and rebuilding a life after incarceration truly look like? Lara Love Hardin, a New York Times bestselling author, Oprah's Book Club pick, and prison reform advocate, shares her extraordinary journey of drug addiction recovery, her time in rehab, and her transformation from facing 32 felonies to becoming a five-time New York Times bestselling author. Known for her captivating TED Talk and memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love, Lara sheds light on the realities of women in prison, the struggles of female inmates, and the societal barriers they face.

In this episode, Lara dives into the impact of generational trauma, her personal journey with addiction, and how women’s incarceration often stems from deeper systemic issues. She opens up about working alongside literary icons like Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, how her experiences inspired her advocacy, and what it truly means to break the cycle of shame.

Lara Love Hardin Instagram

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