What if we could map where trauma is stored in the body?

Meet Tracy Bale, the president of the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) and a leading neuroscientist exploring the connection between the brain, body, environment, and mental health. She is the Anschutz Foundation Endowed Chair in Women's Integrated Mental and Physical Health Research, Director for InterGenerational Stress and Health and the Director for Sex Differences Research in the Department of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at the University of Colorado. In this episode, we dive into whether women experience stress differently and discuss emerging scientific research that could change how we approach mental health.

More from MOTHER:

Subscribe to the newsletter: themotherverse.substack.com

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Follow Tracy:

The Bale Lab - https://www.balethompsonltp.org/bale/research

Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/thebalelab.bsky.social

(00:00) Intro

(02:40) The science of stress

(07:55) Biology of a stress response

(11:15) Stress vs trauma

(14:40) Women experience stress differently

(22:40) Generational and transgenerational trauma

(31:05) The biological mechanisms of the mind-body connection

(36:30) The potential of psychedelics

(48:00) Lessons about life, nature, universe

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You can see how much society values women's health by the magnitude of the crisis in maternity care.

Meet Leah Hazard, a practising midwife, activist, award-winning author, and mother of 2 daughters. Her book Womb: The Inside Story of Where We All Began is a vital investigation of the body’s most miraculous and misunderstood organ. From smart tampons to womb transplants, trans healthcare to reproductive justice, she explores how the uterus affects us all as individuals and as a society. In this episode, we unpack why the health of mothers, midwives, and maternity systems tells us everything about the health of society at large. 

More from MOTHER:

Subscribe to the newsletter: themotherverse.substack.com

Want to create some magic together? Reach out to us: forms.gle/zfKWVCbw1ERKUgKB8

Follow Leah:

Website - leahhazard.co.uk

Womb: The Inside Story of Where We All Began - amazon.co.uk/Womb-Inside-Story-Gripping-Statesman/dp/0349015805

Bluesky - bsky.app/profile/leahhazard.bsky.social

Instagram - instagram.com/leahhazard

Substack - leahhazard.substack.com

(00:00) Intro

(01:10) The role of midwives in society

(11:40) The difference between a midwife and a doula

(13:00) What happens during labour

(17:45) Uterus as a muscle

(22:00) Birth Plans vs. Birth Preferences

(26:30) Artificial wombs

(35:40) Organoid placentas and endometrium

(38:00) The uterine microbiome

(43:40) Lessons about life, nature and the universe

(45:10) Leah’s Next Book: Birth Wars

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The global beauty industry is worth over $260 billion, but has it lulled us into a collective beauty sleep? This week’s episode is a wake-up call. 

Meet Jessica DeFino, an award-winning beauty reporter and critic (the New York Times, the Sunday Times, Vice, The Guardian). A one-time editor for the Kardashian-Jenner Official Apps and a former product obsessive, she now explores how beauty culture impacts people — physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Jessica also publishes The Review of Beauty newsletter, which “basically gives the middle finger to the entire beauty industry,” HuffPost says, and has been praised in New York Magazine, Forbes, and Adweek’s 2023 Creative 100.

More from MOTHER:

Subscribe to the newsletter: themotherverse.substack.com

Want to create some magic together? Reach out to us: forms.gle/zfKWVCbw1ERKUgKB8

Follow Jessica:

Website - https://www.jessica-defino.com/

The Review of Beauty - https://jessicadefino.substack.com/

"Science of Skincare is not Science or Care" by Jessica DeFino - https://jessicadefino.substack.com/p/the-science-of-skincare-isnt-science

(00:00) Intro

(05:20) Skin types are a myth

(08:30) The scientific narrative in skincare marketing

(10:05) Why "clinically proven" is a marketing term

(12:05) The (real) science of skin

(19:20) How skin interacts with different systems in the body

(24:40) Endocrine disruptors

(29:00) Embodied relationship with your skin

(32:25) Beauty privilege, socioeconomic benefits, and spiritual tax of chasing beauty

(34:45) Value of beauty in nature

(38:00) Lessons about life, nature, and the universe

(42:34) Jessica's non-skincare skincare routine

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could hormones be the key to longevity?

Dr. Louise Newson is one of the world’s leading voices in menopause and hormone health, a GP, best-selling author, and founder of Newson Health, the largest menopause clinic globally. She has transformed the landscape of women’s health through her groundbreaking work in clinical care, research, education, and public advocacy. Louise founded The Menopause Charity, hosts the UK’s No.1 medical podcast, and developed a free menopause training programme downloaded by over 30,000 clinicians worldwide. 

More from MOTHER:

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://themotherverse.substack.com/

Want to create some magic together? Reach out to us: https://forms.gle/zfKWVCbw1ERKUgKB8

Follow Louise:

Website - drlouisenewson.co.uk

Newson Clinic - newsonhealth.co.uk

The Dr. Louise Newson Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/@menopause_doctor

(00:00) Intro

(01:20) Highlights from the UK tour

(03:40) What does a healthy hormone cycle look like?

(06:50) Why is estrogen so central to women’s health?

(09:00) Autoimmune conditions and inflammation

(10:00) Endometriosis and hormone treatment

(11:00) Quick summary of estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone

(12:30) What happens during perimenopause and menopause?

(15:30) What is HRT?

(17:00) Hormone therapy as a longevity tool

(19:10) How does getting started with HRT work?

(20:20) The controversy around the Women's Health Initiative Study in 2022

(23:20) Is hormone therapy unnatural?

(27:10) If you could commission any study…

(28:20) What is inflammation, and why does it matter?

(31:40) Social media, hormone myths, and misinformation

(33:20) How should we redesign our approach to menopause?

(34:50) Lessons about life, nature and the universe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens in the brain during menstrual cycles, post-partum and menopause?

Meet Emilė Radytė, the founder of Samphire Neuroscience, a technology company creating neuroscientific solutions for women. Their first product Nettle uses brain stimulation to treat period pain non-invasively. In this episode, Emilė brings the neuroscientific perspective to the show and explains what happens in the brain as the female body undergoes key physical transformations.

Enjoy!

Want to become a MOTHER-sponsor and create some magic together? Reach out to us: https://shorturl.at/0RHLM

00:00) Intro

(01:10) Insights from studying depression and its link to the menstrual cycle

(02:20) Neuroscience 101: How the brain operates chemically and electrically

(04:40) Phases of the menstrual cycle

(12:30) Menstrual Phase: Brain activity and the role of pain sensitivity

(18:50) Follicular Phase: Creativity, dopamine, and social engagement

(20:45) Ovulation: Hormonal peaks and Mittelschmerz

(27:50) Luteal Phase: Emotional introspection and the influence of progesterone

(33:20) Alpha waves in the luteal phase

(37:50) Brain stimulation technology & Nettle

(42:50) Applications in postpartum depression and menopause

(45:40) Consciousness and the brain

(47:10) Lessons about life, nature and the universe

Follow Emilė:

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eradyte/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/radytee/

Samphire Neuroscience - https://samphireneuro.com/

Links mentioned:

Cycle-Brain Guide - https://www.samphireneuro.com/nettle/science/publications/cycle-brain-guide

"Women’s health research lacks funding – these charts show how" - https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-023-01475-2/index.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine a digital twin for a pregnancy: a model based on the unique geometry of a mother's uterus, capable of anticipating potential complications.

Michelle Oyen, PhD, a materials scientist and Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Wayne State University, is bringing the engineering perspective to pregnancy. She explains that many aspects of pregnancy involve forces—rupturing, pushing, growing, stretching. These are all mechanical events. If we can describe pregnancy in engineering terms, we can model it. Collaborating with other visionaries in the field, Michelle is working on developing the first-ever Virtual Pregnancy model.

Enjoy!

Want to become a MOTHER-sponsor and create some magic together? Reach out to us: https://shorturl.at/0RHLM

(00:00) Intro

(04:29) Why pregnancy is a mechanical event

(06:35) How pregnancy is similar to running a marathon

(08:11) How female anatomy is designed for pregnancy

(10:20) The female immune system

(12:10) Why the placenta is so misunderstood

(15:28) Digital twins & Virtual Pregnancy models

(25:56) Applying engineering principles to menopause

(31:26) Key challenges to creating artificial womb technology

(37:53) What has studying pregnancy taught Michelle about life, nature, and universe

Connect with Michelle:

Michelle's profile - https://engineering.wayne.edu/profile/hx4827

Michelle's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-oyen/

Michelle's Twitter - https://x.com/michelleoyen

Links mentioned:

Kristin M. Myers - https://kristinmyerscolumbia.com/

"Womb: The Inside Story of Where We All Began" book by Leah Hazard

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can better sex education and values transform our culture?

Meet Cindy Gallop, a legendary advertising executive, the founder of MakeLoveNotPorn, and one of the most influential entrepreneurs in SexTech today. At MakeLoveNotPorn, Cindy's mission is to help end rape culture by showing how wonderful great, consensual, communicative sex is in the real world, and role-modelling good sexual values and behaviour. Her next milestone is to tackle sex education by building age-appropriate sex content. Along the way, she is going to overcome every challenge the SexTech industry faces.

This isn't just an episode about the future of SexTech. It's a masterclass in disruptive business thinking.

Enjoy!

Want to become a MOTHER-sponsor and create some magic together? Reach out to us: https://shorturl.at/0RHLM

(00:00) Intro

(01:10) The unexpected start of Make Love Not Porn

(02:30) Cindy’s viral TED Talk that shocked audiences

(06:00) The importance of breaking down society’s shame around sex

(08:40) Cindy’s advice for parents

(11:00) A new model for open, age-appropriate sex ed

(14:10) The "hierarchy of acceptability" in SexTech funding

(16:20) How embracing sexuality can unlock creativity

(19:00) Cindy on living happily outside traditional norms

(23:40) The perks and pitfalls of dating younger men

(25:30) Why Cindy may need to create a sex-positive bank

(28:40) A bold new platform for ads that people actually want to watch

(31:20) How AI could help shift consent culture in media

(34:10) Why female entrepreneurs should aim to make serious money

Links:

MakeLoveNotPorn - https://makelovenotporn.tv/

The WeFunder Campaign - https://wefunder.com/makelovenotporn (invest at your own risk)

Cindy's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cindygallop

Cindy's LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/cindygallop

Cindy's TED talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/cindy_gallop_make_love_not_porn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens inside a psychedelic retreat? Meet Dr. Lauren Macdonald - a psychiatry doctor, group retreat facilitator and psychedelic therapy guide. She worked with patients in psychedelic clinical trials at Imperial College London and now leads psychedelic retreats around the world. Her approach includes integrating traditional and Western medicine. In this episode, you'll hear what happens at The Reconnection, Lauren's bi-annual retreat for women.

Enjoy!

Want to become a MOTHER-sponsor and create some magic together? Reach out to us: https://shorturl.at/0RHLM

(00:00) Intro

(01:20) Weaving psychedelics with modern medicine

(08:20) What is a psychedelic experience like

(14:00) Inside "The Reconnection" retreat

(18:40) The reason women come to the retreats

(20:00) What does being an "embodied" person mean?

(23:30) Psychedelics and Women's Health

(29:50) Psychospiritual approach to medicine

(34:30) Insights from women who attend psychedelic retreats

(41:00) Neuroplasticity and post-retreat glow

(45:10) Disclaimers, important words of caution

(50:30) Lessons from psychedelic work

Connect with Lauren:

https://drlaurenmacdonald.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drlaurenmacdonald

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lauren-macdonald-3b2298b9/

Links mentioned:

Roland R. Griffiths, PhD - https://hopkinspsychedelic.org/griffiths

Laura Wilkes (co-creator of The Reconnection) - https://www.instagram.com/laurajwilkes_/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would it take to create an Artificial Ovary?

Meet Ariella Shikanov, professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan. Earlier this year, her team at Shikanov Lab made history when they created a new Map of the Ovary.

With the support of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Ariella's team mapped gene expression in various regions of the ovary, marking a major milestone in our understanding of reproductive biology.

Enjoy!

Want to become a MOTHER-sponsor and create some magic together? Reach out to us: https://shorturl.at/0RHLM

(00:00) Intro

(03:00) How ovaries work: eggs, hormones, and follicles explained

(06:10) Puberty and how the brain controls your ovaries

(07:30) How your ovaries talk to other organs

(09:00) Key findings from Map of The Ovary research

(12:00) Oncofertility: preserving fertility during cancer treatment

(15:30) The challenge and hope of freezing ovarian tissue

(17:50) Delaying menopause: new approaches to keep ovaries functioning longer

(21:00) The future of artificial ovaries and extending hormone production

(24:00) How the immune system affects ovarian health, PCOS, and endometriosis

(28:00) Women’s immune health and its role in reproduction

(31:00) Ethical questions in ovarian research

(35:00) How delaying menopause could improve quality of life

(37:50) How Ariella’s work is shaping the future of women’s health

Links:

Ariella's X Profile - https://x.com/ariellashikanov

Shikanov Lab at University of Michigan - Research overview, publications, and projects related to preserving ovarian function and artificial ovary development.

https://www.shikanov.bme.umich.edu

Map of the Human Ovary - Spatial Atlas Research - A detailed explanation of the map created by Shikanov Lab, including its implications for fertility research.

https://news.engin.umich.edu/articles/spatial-atlas-of-the-human-ovary

Human Cell Atlas: Ovarian Map - A cellular atlas of the human ovary using spatial transcriptomics and single-cell sequencing data.

https://explore.data.humancellatlas.org/projects/f598aee0-d269-4036-90e9-d6d5b1c84429

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Could the discovery of breast milk microbiome transform the health of future generations?

Meet Dr. Lydia Mapstone (microbiologist) and Dr. Sioned Fôn Jones (chemist & biophysicist), the founders of BoobyBiome.

Sioned and Lydia explain that a mother’s breast milk contains a unique microbiome. This microbiome influences up to 40% of a baby’s gut and is the key to immune health. Currently, the only way to transfer breast milk microbiome to the baby is through breastfeeding. Even storing milk in the fridge isn’t the same, as exposure to oxygen compromises it. Sioned and Lydia are doing pioneering scientific research and building incredible products, like a "symbiotic" that will supplement formula milk with the necessary bacteria, and a device that preserves the microbiome in milk during storage. In recognition of their important work, they won the Potts Medal for outstanding contribution to science and were named in Forbes magazine's 30 under 30 list.

Enjoy!

Want to become a MOTHER-sponsor and create some magic together? Reach out to us: https://shorturl.at/0RHLM

(00:00) Intro

(01:30) The discovery of breast milk microbiome

(03:00) What is a microbiome?

(04:40) Infant gut microbiome and "dysbiosis"

(05:30) How does our mother's microbiome transfer to us?

(06:40) How infant gut microbiome links to health

(09:00) Consumerisation of microbiome: hypothesis vs scientific fact

(13:00) Breastfeeding rates today

(17:00) The issues with formula milk

(19:30) How breast milk adjusts to the needs of the baby in real time

(21:50) BoobyBiome's pioneering database of breast milk microbiome

(26:30) Breast milk superdonors

(28:20) C-sections and microbiome

(30:20) Booby Biome's ultimate mission

(32:00) Breast milk storage and oxygen exposure

(32:40) Personalised probiotics for women who are breastfeeding

Links:

https://www.boobybiome.com/

Donating breast milk for science:

https://www.boobybiome.com/donate

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/boobybiome

Lydia's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia-mapstone-phd-382688168/

Sioned's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sionedfjones/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.