Inside the Box

We’re flipping the script with a brand-new segment: "Can I Say This Out Loud?" - the unfiltered Q&A where no pelvic floor question is off-limits.

In this episode, Caitlin takes the mic and puts Kat and Tash in the hot seat to answer your burning (and sometimes blush-worthy) questions about all things pelvic health.

We dive into the questions you’ve been too afraid to ask out loud (until now), including:

• How do I know if I have a prolapse?
•  Can you have an overactive pelvic floor and a rectal prolapse at the same time?
• Why do I still leak when I sprint or land even though I do pelvic floor exercises?
• And yes… are we, as pelvic floor physios, struggling with anything ourselves?

This episode is full of raw honesty, real talk, and expert insight from three women who live and breathe pelvic health. No taboo, no judgement, just evidence-based, relatable truth.

So, can you say this out loud? Hell yes you can. And we’re here for all of it.

Got a question for a future episode of Can I Say This Out Loud? Slide into our DMs @insidethebox_pod

In this episode, we sit down with South Australian Senator Marielle Smith, a passionate advocate for women’s health, equity and access; to explore what real change looks like at the policy level, and how it translates to everyday women seeking care.

What We Cover

• Marielle’s Story & “Why”

A look into who Marielle is, what a typical week in Parliament involves, and the personal experiences that fuel her commitment to women’s health advocacy.

• Senate Inquiry into Perimenopause & Menopause

Key findings from the national inquiry, including gaps in diagnosis, education, and access to care—and what women across Australia said they need most.

• The 2025 Federal Investment in Women’s Health

What the upcoming funding means for:

• Perimenopause support
• HRT accessibility
• Pelvic pain management
• Better pathways for frontline, multidisciplinary care

Medicare & Pelvic Health Physiotherapy

A practical breakdown of what Medicare currently covers, where the major gaps sit, and why improving access to pelvic health physiotherapy is essential.

• What’s Next in Women’s Health Policy

Marielle shares what she’s working on now from expanding early-access services to strengthening allied health integration and her vision for improving women’s health in the years ahead.

Follow Marielle @senatormariellesmith

In this episode, we are joined by Dawn Sandalcidi, a renowned paediatric pelvic health physiotherapist, to explore the often-complex world of bladder and bowel dysfunction in children. Dawn brings her decades of experience, clinical insight, and trademark enthusiasm to unpack what can be one of the trickiest, yet most rewarding areas of pelvic health.

Key Topics Covered include:

• Putting the puzzle together in paediatric continence - Dawn shares how no two children are the same and why understanding the bigger picture of bladder, bowel, and behavioural patterns is key to successful outcomes.
• Making therapy fun - Practical ways to engage children in physiotherapy, from playful cues to visual learning tools and reward systems that make progress feel achievable.
• Constipation in children – assessment, diagnosis and treatment
  We unpack how common constipation really is, what warning signs parents should look for, and the step-by-step approach to effective treatment and maintenance.
• The importance of maintenance - Why resolving constipation isn’t the end of the story. Dawn explains the relapse risk and the importance of long-term management for healthy habits.
• What to expect as a parent and how to prepare for appointments, what the assessment process looks like, and how to manage expectations through what can be an emotional journey
• Navigating toilet phobia and refusal - Gentle strategies to reduce anxiety and help children feel empowered, not pressured, when it comes to toileting.
• Positioning and the pelvic floor in little people. Simple adjustments that make a big difference. Dawn breaks down why toilet posture, stool supports, and relaxed pelvic floors are essential for success.

Follow Dawn @kidsbowelbladder 

In this episode pulled from the archives, Kat and Tash sit down with Rosie, founder of Everform Therapywear, to unpack the story behind one of the most innovative Australian brands in women’s recovery wear.

From juggling motherhood and business growth to redefining how compression supports the pelvic floor, Rosie opens up about the real journey of creating purposeful, evidence-informed garments that help women heal, move, and feel confident in their bodies again.

💬 We chat about:

• The evolution of Everform Therapywear — from an idea to a trusted recovery essential
• What it’s really like to build a business while raising small children
• How and why therapywear supports pelvic floor recovery after pregnancy and birth
• Common myths about compression and the pelvic floor — and how not all garments are created equal
• The importance of collaboration between clinicians and creators in women’s health

Rosie shares her passion for empowering women through wearable recovery, combining science, style, and support in a way that’s redefining postpartum care.

Exclusive Listener Offer:
 Enjoy $30 off your next Everform order with the code INSIDETHEBOX30 at everformtherapywear.com.au

This week on Inside the Box, we're diving deep into the multifaceted world of chronic pain, and how to treat it with both science and empathy. Our guest is Nicola Michell, the founder of City Physio in Sydney’s CBD, a titled Pain Physio who thrives on complexity, loves a challenge, and is on a mission to prevent chronicity where possible.

Nicola brings a rare mix of clinical insight, real-life experience, and passionate advocacy for better chronic pain management—especially for women. She’s also a mum to Audrey, chronically sleep-deprived, a strength-training junkie, black coffee lover, and still somehow finds time to keep up with Grey’s Anatomy.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• The Complex Nature of Chronic Pain
  What makes chronic pain so misunderstood—and so difficult to treat?
• Physio’s Role in Chronic Pain
  How can we, as physiotherapists, evolve our approach and better support patients in pain?
• Sleep & Pain: A Two-Way Street
  What we now know about the relationship between chronic pain and sleep disturbances
  • Nicola’s practical tips for helping your body access restorative sleep
• Pain on a Plate
  The impact of diet on chronic pain conditions
  • Nutritional insights for women’s pain management—what helps, what harms
• Perimenopause & Hormonal Shifts
  Why oestrogen plays a critical role in pain modulation, and how changing hormones in midlife can affect pain experience
• The Caregiver’s Burden
  How traditional female caregiving roles increase the emotional load—and how this intensifies chronic pain experiences
• The Science of Threat & Conditioning
  Classical conditioning, perceived threat, and how the brain “learns” pain
  • How this knowledge can reshape the way we talk to and treat people in pain

Whether you're a clinician looking to deepen your understanding, or someone navigating chronic pain yourself, this episode offers science-backed insights, honest conversation, and practical tools for a more holistic approach.

Connect with Nicola Michell
Instagram: @nicola_cityphysio
City Physio: https://cityphysio.com.au 

In this episode, we’re joined by Chloe Cox, a highly experienced pelvic health physiotherapist with a special interest in complex pelvic floor presentations. Chloe brings warmth, depth of knowledge, and a passion for helping people better understand how the pelvic floor contributes to both continence and bowel health.

We cover:

• The role of the pelvic floor in bowel function – what it does and why it matters
• Common symptoms patients may experience when the posterior compartment isn’t working well
• Assessment strategies for the posterior compartment, including coordination, tension, and strength
• How to optimise doing a poo – practical, evidence-informed tips
• How pelvic floor muscle training differs when we’re working with bowel function compared to urinary incontinence

This conversation is full of clinical pearls for practitioners and plenty of take-home messages for anyone wanting to better understand the often-overlooked connection between the pelvic floor and bowel health.

You can find Chloe by following her @chloe_thepelvicphysio

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Laura Whitburn — physiotherapist-turned-researcher and Senior Lecturer at La Trobe University — whose work shines a light on labour pain and intrapartum communication. Laura’s research explores the psychological, social, and environmental influences on the childbirth experience, with a focus on creating safer, more supportive care for women in labour.

We dive into:

• Laura’s journey from physiotherapy to anatomy teaching and research in labour pain
• What drew her to explore the complexities of labour pain
• The “distressed-to-dissociated” pain spectrum she introduced at Better Births
• How distress and dissociation present during labour, and when dissociation might actually be protective
• The critical role of communication in shaping a woman’s pain experience
• How psychological safety impacts labour and birth outcomes
• Practical strategies for clinicians and birth partners to foster supportive, safe environments
• How women preparing for birth can use this knowledge to advocate for themselves
• The one thing Laura wishes every woman and clinician knew about labour pain

This conversation is both insightful and empowering, offering evidence-based perspectives alongside practical tools for anyone supporting birth.

In this heartfelt and deeply important episode, we sit down with Amy to talk about her journey through secondary infertility and recurrent miscarriage. Together, we explore the physical, emotional, and relational challenges that come with infertility and loss, and the often-silent suffering that so many face behind closed doors.

We cover:

• The reality of secondary infertility and the complexities that make each experience unique.
• Navigating the heartbreak of recurrent miscarriage and its impact on identity, grief, and hope.
• The role of relationships—how partners, family, and friends can be both anchors and challenges through this journey.
• Advocating for yourself in the medical system and finding a path that feels right for you.
• How to support loved ones who may be struggling silently with infertility and loss.

Amy’s openness offers comfort, validation, and insight for anyone walking this path, as well as for those who wish to better understand and support the people in their lives who are experiencing it.

If you or someone you love has been affected by miscarriage or infertility, please know you’re not alone. 

In this episode, we sit down with pelvic health physiotherapist Nat McConochie to unpack some of the most important topics in perinatal pelvic health, guided by the latest ACSQHC (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care) guidelines.

Together, we explore:

• What the ACSQHC guidelines are and how they shape evidence-based best practice.
• How common OASI (Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury) really is—and why understanding the numbers matters.
• Risk factors every clinician and expectant mother should be aware of.
• The truth about the Epino device—does the research support its use?
• Paradoxical puborectalis—what it is, why it matters in late pregnancy, and how we can optimise function before birth.
• The role of physiotherapy in recovery—how to start rehab the right way for the best long-term outcomes.
• Early EAS (External Anal Sphincter) strengthening vs levator ani avulsion risk—finding the balance in early postpartum rehab.
• Supporting decision-making around mode of delivery after OASI—how to guide women through the evidence and personal considerations.

Whether you’re a physiotherapist, a birth worker, or a mum wanting to better understand your body, this conversation is packed with clear, practical, and compassionate guidance to help optimise recovery and protect pelvic health.

In this deeply moving episode of Inside the Box, we sit down with Professor Susan Walker, a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist from the University of Melbourne. With decades of clinical and academic expertise, Professor Walker brings insight, compassion, and clarity to some of the most challenging experiences in women’s health.

Together, we explore:

• What defines a high-risk pregnancy and how care is tailored accordingly
• The clinical and emotional realities of early infant loss and stillbirth
• How clinicians can better support women and families navigating grief
• The importance of language, presence, and compassion in moments of unimaginable loss
• Strategies for debriefing and safeguarding our own mental health while working in emotionally intense spaces

Whether you're a clinician, a student, or someone seeking to understand more about maternal care in complex scenarios, this conversation is a powerful reminder of the need to honour both our patients’ stories—and our own capacity for care.

Please note: This episode contains sensitive content. If you're currently grieving or feel vulnerable to discussions around infant loss, please take care as you listen.