This week's episode is part of a special 3-part conversation with Doa Rahman. Doa (she/her/hers) is a yoga instructor, life coach for Muslim women, and a skilled writer (you can find her enriching offerings at @allthingsdoa on Instagram). Our conversation explores race, identity, and forging your own path while honoring the footsteps of those who came before you. The road to honoring our most authentic selves isn't always easy, but our values, beliefs, and individuality are always worth fighting for. 

If you'd like to get in touch, email me at [email protected] or find me on IG @ladypartspodcast or @lovelyquills. Stay safe, practice self-gentleness, and remember to embrace ALL your parts. 

This week's guest is Yuko Kudo! Yuko was born in Japan and immigrated to the United States in  2003. She's a multi-dimensional artist and creator, who uses art and storytelling to create community. Additionally, Yuko is the Founder and Artistic Director of the "I AM" Series Global, which showcases artists' talent within themes focusing on claiming one's various, complex identities and belonging.  

Our conversation (recorded in May during quarantine) centers around community healing and starting that process within yourself. We discuss the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on our respective communities, share ways to get involved in making a local impact, and ruminate on our 2020 self-care practices.  Unfortunately, the audio encountered some issues but the message still comes through loud and clear. 

To engage with Yuko, please her on Instagram at Yukoislovelivelight or her website www.yukoislovelivelight.com. To send in a question or suggestion for future episodes, email me at [email protected] or find me on Instagram at @ladypartspodcast.

Fiona Teng, a Hong Kong-born, Bay Area-made, and New York City-based fierce writer of color and Afro-Brazilian drummer,  joins us on Ladyparts this week! Our conversation centers around PCOS, IUDs, the "care" (or lack thereof) in the healthcare system, undoing the patriarchy, and investing in the wellness of young girls and women. 

Be sure to show her some social media love on Instagram @fionayinghengteng. To dive deeper into some of the items we mentioned, check out @saifaemerges for intersex activism and reproductive justice posts. If you'd like to get in touch, emails us at [email protected] or send a voice message at anchor.fm/ladyparts to hear your questions on future episodes! 

In this episode, we explore what topics we'll explore on this season of the Ladyparts Podcast, how listeners can get make their voices heard, and our host, Neeka Deen, shares her unique journey with uterine fibroids. If you're joining us on launch day, Happy International Women's Day! 

About Fibroids: According to The Center for Innovative GYN Care, seventy to eighty percent of American women will develop uterine fibroids by age 50. For African-American women that becomes a staggering 90%. Even with an already high rate of occurrence, African-American women are two to three times more likely to have recurring fibroids or suffer from complications from them. We'll continue to dive deeper into this topic and others on future episodes!

You can discover new episodes of Ladyparts every other Sunday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and Anchor.  Want to share your thoughts on a future episode? Email us at [email protected] or send a voicemail at anchor.fm/ladyparts. You can also find us on Instagram at @ladypartspodcast.