In Those Genes

When Janina Jeff Ringo learned she was pregnant with her first child, she knew pretty quickly she wanted a home birth. People have been giving birth at home for time immemorial, so it seemed straightforward. What she found was anything but. 

In this episode, In Those Genes host and your favorite neighborhood Geneti-SIS Dr. Janina Jeff Ringo tells her story of pregnancy, home birth, and postpartum care. She traces how birthing moved from the home to the hospital, what genetics can tell us about the disproportionately poor outcomes Black birthing people experience, and how the professionalization of obstetrics decimated the number of Black midwives. 

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In Those Genes is an educational podcast that contains explicit language and discussions about pregnancy, abortion, childbirth, maternal mortality, medical racism, postpartum complications, and reproductive healthcare that may be difficult for some listeners. No worries, we got you! You can still get all the facts dropped in our cleaned transcript, affectionately known as The Nucleus, which will be available soon.

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Want to learn more about the experts featured in this episode? Check out their work below.

Dr. Monica R. McLemore is a nurse scientist, professor, and leading scholar in antiracist birth equity research, reproductive health, rights, and justice. Her work examines how research, healthcare systems, and public policy can better support the dignity, autonomy, and lived experiences of pregnant and birthing people. She is also the Professor in the department of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing and the Interim Director for the Center for Anti-Racism at University of Washington.

University of Washington profile:
https://nursing.uw.edu/person/6239345-monica-rose-mclemore/

Instagram:

Nicole Deggins, CNM, MSN, MPH, is a certified nurse midwife, birth advocate, Black doula trainer, community educator, and the founder of Sista Midwife Productions. Her work supports Black midwives, doulas, birth workers, and families while challenging the historical and present-day systems that shape birth in the United States.

Learn more about Nicole and Sista Midwife Productions:
https://www.sistamidwife.com/

https://www.sistamidwife.com/our-founder

Instagram:

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This episode is part of our 3-part mini-series on reproduction. It’s funded in part by the Greater Good Science Grant on Intellectual Humility, the National Academies' Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, and listeners like you who donate to the show.

In Those Genes is a Black woman-led, independently produced podcast funded by listeners like you. Every episode takes weeks of research, reporting, and production and we’re in the final stretch of producing Season 3. Help us finish the season strong by donating $5, $10, or $20 today!  

Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/inthosegenes

PayPal:https://paypal.me/inthosegenes

Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/inthosegenes

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend! Follow the show so you don’t miss new episodes, leave us a rating or review to help others find us, and connect with us on socials. However you choose to show your support, thank you fam. We appreciate you!

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Additional Resources:

Sista Midwife Productions

Birth education, advocacy, training, and support centered on Black families and birth workers.

https://www.sistamidwife.com/

Black Doula Directory

Find Black doulas providing support in communities across the country.

https://www.blackdouladirectory.com/

Black Midwife Directory

Find Black midwives and learn more about the different pathways and models of midwifery care.

https://www.sistamidwifedirectory.com/

National Black Midwives Alliance

A Black midwife-led organization working to honor the legacy, build the power, and amplify the voices of Black midwives.

https://blackmidwivesalliance.org/

Black Mamas Matter Alliance

Resources, advocacy, research, and community initiatives advancing Black maternal health, rights, and justice.

https://blackmamasmatter.org/

https://blackmamasmatter.org/resources/

CDC Hear Her Campaign

Information for pregnant and postpartum people, their loved ones, and healthcare professionals about recognizing concerns and listening to patients.

https://www.cdc.gov/hearher/

Urgent Maternal Warning Signs

Some pregnancy-related health concerns can occur during pregnancy or up to one year after delivery. Learn which symptoms require immediate medical attention.

https://www.cdc.gov/hearher/maternal-warning-signs/index.html

Birth — Birth Without Bias

A community-centered platform where Black and brown parents can find and share prenatal, birthing, postpartum, and pediatric healthcare experiences.

https://irthapp.com/

To learn more about doulas and continuous labor support:

https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2019/02/approaches-to-limit-intervention-during-labor-and-birth

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Credits:

Featured Story: Dr. Janina Jeff Ringo

Experts:

Lead Producer: Sam Riddell

Marketing Support: Danya AbdelHameid

Cover Art by David Perrin

Host & Executive Producer: Dr. Janina Jeff Ringo

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Follow Us

Instagram: @inthosegenespod

www.inthosegenes.com

For as long as Vena Moore can remember, she’s had painful periods. She started menstruating earlier than most, in fifth grade, and later found out that the years of discomfort and pain were due to fibroids growing in her uterus. So when in her late 30s Vena entered perimenopause – the pregame to menopause – she found the change freeing and firmly embraced it. 

In this episode, we dive into the science behind why Black people tend to start puberty earlier, what scientists know about the genetic and environmental factors behind fibroids, and how genetics may influence when menopause begins and how it is experienced.

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In Those Genes is an educational podcast that contains explicit language and discussions about early puberty, sexual harassment, menstruation, reproductive pain, fibroids, menopause, asexuality, and gender-affirming healthcare that may not be suitable for all listeners. No worries, we got you! You can still get all the facts dropped in our cleaned transcript, affectionately known as The Nucleus, which will be available soon.

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Want to learn more about the guests featured in this episode? Check out their work below.

Vena Moore is a Brooklyn-based writer whose personal essays and social commentary explore race, gender, aging, relationships, neurodivergence, and the freedom of living life on her own terms. You can read her work on Medium, where she writes about everything from dismantling white male supremacy to proudly embracing life as a cat lady.

https://vmoore472.medium.com/

Omisade Burney-Scott is a seventh-generation Black Southern feminist, storyteller, social justice advocate, and the creator of The Black Girl’s Guide to Surviving Menopause. Through storytelling, art, community gatherings, and intergenerational conversations, her work centers the experiences of Black women, femmes, trans people, and gender-expansive people navigating menopause and aging.

https://blackgirlsguidetosurvivingmenopause.com/

Instagram: @omisadeburneyscott

Dr. Sarah-Ann Anderson-Burnett is a pediatrician and adolescent-health physician whose work centers on reproductive justice, health equity, and patient autonomy. Her insights help us understand puberty, menstrual pain, precocious puberty, puberty blockers, and why young people deserve a voice in decisions about their bodies. Dr. Anderson-Burnett is also the Assistant Vice President of Health and Wellness & Director of Health Services and Quality Improvement at Barnard College.

https://barnard.edu/magazine/spring-2023/meet-dr-sarah-ann-anderson-burnett

Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and nationally recognized expert in uterine fibroids and women’s health. She specializes in helping patients understand the full range of treatment options available for fibroids, including alternatives to hysterectomy. Dr. Gillispie-Bell is also an associate professor for Ochsner Health in New Orleans. 

https://www.ochsner.org/doctors/veronica-gillispie/

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This episode is part of our 3-part mini-series on reproduction. It’s funded in part by the Greater Good Science Grant on Intellectual Humility, the National Academies' Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, and listeners like you who donate to the show.

In Those Genes is a Black woman-led, independently produced podcast funded by listeners like you. Every episode takes weeks of research, reporting, and production and we’re in the final stretch of producing Season 3. Help us finish the season strong by donating $5, $10, or $20 today!  

Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/inthosegenes

PayPal:https://paypal.me/inthosegenes

Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/inthosegenes

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend! Follow the show so you don’t miss new episodes, leave us a rating or review to help others find us, and connect with us on socials. However you choose to show your support, thank you fam. We appreciate you!

.

Additional Resources:

The Black Girl’s Guide to Surviving Menopause

A Black woman-led, queer-centered multimedia platform using storytelling, art, and community to normalize menopause and aging across the experiences of Black women, femmes, trans people, and gender-expansive people.

https://blackgirlsguidetosurvivingmenopause.com/

A menopause resource hub from the Black Women’s Health Imperative featuring information, tools, and perspectives created with Black women in mind.

https://powerinthepause.bwhi.org/resources

The Asexual Visibility and Education Network, or AVEN

Educational resources, community conversations, and information for people exploring asexuality and the ace spectrum.

https://www.asexuality.org/

To learn more about menopause and perimenopause:

https://womenshealth.gov/menopause

https://womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-basics

To learn more about uterine fibroids:
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/uterine

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/uterine/conditioninfo/treatments

To learn more about puberty and precocious puberty:

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/puberty

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/puberty/conditioninfo

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Credits:

Guest: Vena Moore

Experts:

Lead Producer: Sam Riddell

Marketing Support: Danya AbdelHameid

 Cover Art by David Perrin

Host & Executive Producer: Dr. Janina Jeff Ringo

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Follow Us

Instagram: @inthosegenespod

www.inthosegenes.com

***UPDATE: In May 2026, PCOS was renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). At the timing of this recording the medical name for PMOS was PCOS***

Arrows Fitz lives a very public life. In 2014, he was a cast member on MTV’s The Real World and he’s since racked up millions of views online talking about fashion, androgyny, and his experience navigating the world as a Black transmasculine person. But behind the scenes, Arrows has quietly been dealing with Polycystic Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS, formerly referred to as PCOS), a complicated hormone disorder that often goes undiagnosed.

In this episode, we follow Arrows’s journey from puberty into adulthood and the years of symptoms that ultimately led to his diagnosis. We break down why puberty is a lot like the New York City subway system: kind of messy and hardly ever on schedule. We also dig into the role genetics plays in PMOS, the unanswered scientific questions about PMOS in Black communities, and why turning 35 doesn't automatically close the door to pregnancy. 

In Those Genes is an educational podcast that contains explicit language and discussions about reproductive health, gender identity, menstruation, fertility, and sexuality that may not be suitable for all listeners. No worries, we got you! You can still get all the facts dropped in our cleaned transcript, affectionately known as The Nucleus, which will be available soon.

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Want to learn more about the guests featured in this episode? Check out their work below.

Arrows Fitz is an artist, filmmaker, musician, and fashion influencer living in Los Angeles. He works for a nonprofit by day and makes rock music under his stage name PTEROS by night. You can check out his creative work, including his acclaimed short film "My Mama Wears Timbs," on his YouTube channel and follow his fashion journey on Instagram @ArrowsFitz.

Dr. Sarah-Ann Anderson-Burnett is a pediatrician who specializes in reproductive health and sees her patients navigate puberty in real time. Her insights on hormonal development, PCOS, and patient-centered care were invaluable to this episode. Dr. Anderson-Burnett is also the Assistant Vice President of Health and Wellness & Director of Health Services and Quality Improvement at Barnard College. You can follow her work at @drsarahannab on Instagram.

Dr. Monica McLemore is a birth equity researcher and advocate for trans and Black birthing people. Her work centers on reproductive justice for marginalized communities. She also holds a Professor position at NYU Meyers. You can follow her work at @mclemoremr on all social media platforms (except Twitter).

 This episode is part of our 3-part mini-series on reproduction. It’s funded in part by the Greater Good Science Grant on Intellectual Humility, the National Academies' Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, and listeners like you who donate to the show.

In Those Genes is a Black woman-led, independently produced podcast funded by listeners like you. Every episode takes weeks of research, reporting, and production and we’re in the final stretch of producing Season 3. Help us finish the season strong by donating $5, $10, or $20 today!  

Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/inthosegenes

PayPal:https://paypal.me/inthosegenes

Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/inthosegenes

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend! Follow the show so you don’t miss new episodes, leave us a rating or review to help others find us, and connect with us on socials. However you choose to show your support, thank you fam. We appreciate you!

Additional resources:

Black Women Birthing Justice: Birth Justice and reproductive justice resources created by and for Black birthing communities.

https://www.blackwomenbirthingjustice.com/

Birth Injustice: Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the State (2nd Edition) by Black Women Birthing Justice. Free digital versions available online.  Includes stories, chapters, recommendations from trans people who've had both births and abortions in the latest edition.

https://buyetextbook.com/product/birthing-justice-black-women-pregnancy-and-childbirth-2nd-edition-original-pdf/?gad_source=1

The Power and Limits of Classification: A Trans Man's Medical Case Study. Lisa H Harris, MD, published in The New England Journal of Medicine (2019). A case study examining how medical classification systems can both help and hinder care for trans people navigating healthcare systems.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7395710/

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To learn more about PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome, formerly known as PCOS):

ACOG (American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists) - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome FAQ: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos ACOG

NICHD PCOS Resources Page: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pcos/more_information/resources NICHD

Monash University PCOS Center of Excellence (International Guidelines): https://www.monash.edu/research/explore/research-impacts/health/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos NICHD

The Endocrine Society - PCOS Information: https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/pcos N

Endocrine Society - PMOS Name Change Information: https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2026/pcos-name-change

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To learn more about intersex health and variations in sex development:
https://interactadvocates.org/
https://isna.org/faq/what_is_intersex/

To learn more about fertility, reproductive aging, and ovarian reserve testing:

Credits:

Guest: Arrows Fitz

Cover Art by David Perrin

Host & Executive Producer: Dr. Janina Jeff Ringo

Follow us

Instagram: @inthosegenespod

Threads: @inthosegenespod

Bluesky: @inthosegenespod

TikTok: @inthosegenespod

www.inthosegenes.com

Three crucial moments in the reproductive lives of people with a uterus. One series exploring the genetics, history, and lived experiences of Black people that medicine too often overlooks.

Join us for a journey through puberty, menopause, and birth and the genetics behind the stories our bodies carry.

The Genetics of Reproduction begins July 1, wherever you listen to podcasts.

There’s a commonly held belief that Black folks are thicker, bigger, and carry more fat than others…but where did this idea that our bodies only look a certain way come from? Join us as we disentangle fact from oftentimes fat-phobic fiction when it comes to assumptions about how our bodies are shaped.

This week we travel to 1989 to a conversation with Dr. Edwards and NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw and we bring in the science we learned last week about what role genetics has in athletic ability to this critical conversation about Black superior athletes.

Serena Williams. Usian Bolt. Michael Jordan. Some of the world’s strongest, fastest, and most decorated athletes are Blackity Black. Sometimes people chalk this up to genetics, claiming that this sort of extraordinary athleticism is unique to Black folks’ ancestry. Is there any truth to that claim? In this episode, we untangle what role genetics has in athletic ability and map out how Black Americans came to be viewed as superior athletes in the first place.

Oral history is such an integral part of our family history and our collective story as African descendents; without our elders passing this history to us much of our Black History would remain unknown. This Black History Month, we revisit an episode from Season 1 that features one of my newest ancestors, the late “Uncle Warren” and other elders in my hometown of New Orleans as they discuss their views and concerns about commercial genetic testing.

It isn’t hard to point out the person in the room who is clapping off beat. But how can we use the scientific method to study why some folks are rhythmically coordinated and others not? How does one’s ancestry play into this? In this bonus episode, we head to the In Those Genes lab with neuroscientist AZA Allsop, MD, PhD to map out a hypothetical study using genetics and neurology that could help explain why some of us can catch a beat and others not.

We all got that one friend that just can’t seem to catch the beat. And yes…yes, they usually are. But is rhythm really a thing you either have or you don’t? Are some of us just born with a rhythm and others not? Could this be explained by genetics? In this episode, we break down what rhythm actually is, and talk to experts who help us understand how neuroscience, genetics, and culture shape the conversation around Black people and our relationship to rhythm and music.