Welcome to Season 2 of Owning Space.

Content warning: This episode includes discussions of eating disorders, body image and disordered eating. Please listen with care.

To kick off the new season, I sit down with writer and broadcaster Emma-Louise Boynton to explore sex, shame, desire, pleasure and the messages so many women absorb about our bodies and sexuality.

We discuss the shame that can surround sex and desire, where it comes from and what can happen when we begin talking openly about the things we’ve been taught to keep quiet. We explore the social conditioning that shapes how women understand their sexuality, what we’re taught makes us desirable and how difficult it can be to separate what we actually want from what we’ve been told we should want.

Emma-Louise also speaks openly about her experience with an eating disorder and spending years feeling at war with her body. We talk about body image, intimacy and the relationship we have with ourselves behind closed doors, and how that relationship can affect the way we show up in the rest of our lives.

We also explore sexual double standards, the expectations still placed on women, and what it can mean to question those narratives and begin writing our own.

This is an open and honest conversation about unlearning shame, reconnecting with our bodies and making space for women to talk about sex, desire and pleasure without judgement.

Emma-Louise’s book, Pleasure: The Reclamation of My Body, is out now.

Find Emma-Louise on Instagram: @emmalouiseboynton

If you’re enjoying Owning Space, follow the podcast on Spotify and Apple so you don’t miss future episodes. It really helps the show grow.

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @owningspacepodcast

Watch the full video version on YouTube.

Welcome back to Owning Space Women’s Health Weekly, your short-form catch-up on some of the latest research, news and developments shaping women’s health.

This week, I’m looking at new developments around a saliva test for endometriosis, research examining differences in the treatment women and men receive for the same health conditions, the growing conversation around testosterone use during menopause, and a major change in access to a breast cancer treatment on the NHS.

IN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE

• ​Endometriosis and the potential role of saliva testing in diagnosis
• ​Differences in medical treatment between women and men
• ​Testosterone use during menopause and the gaps in the evidence
• ​NHS access to Enhertu for advanced breast cancer

As always, all research and sources referenced in the episode are linked below if you’d like to read more about any of these topics.

RESEARCH & FURTHER READING

Endometriosis saliva testing

NICE – guidance and evidence relating to technologies for the rapid diagnosis of endometriosis, including biomarker testing. Technologies for the rapid diagnosis of endometriosis

Differences in treatment between women and men

PLOS One – Measured treatment differences between sexes and genders: A scoping review. Researchers found significant sex differences in treatment in 33 of 38 retrospective case series included in the review. ⁠Read the research

Testosterone use in menopausal women

US Food and Drug Administration – scientific workshop examining the evidence and remaining knowledge gaps around testosterone use in menopausal women, including sexual function, cognition, mood, musculoskeletal health and long-term safety. ⁠ Testosterone Use in Menopausal Women

Enhertu and advanced breast cancer

NICE – guidance on trastuzumab deruxtecan, known as Enhertu, for HER2-low advanced or metastatic breast cancer.⁠ NICE guidance on Enhertu

If you’re enjoying Women’s Health Weekly, follow or subscribe to Owning Space wherever you listen so each new episode lands straight with you and you’ll be the first to know whenever a new podcast episode drops.

And if you’ve been enjoying the show, a quick rating or review makes a huge difference and helps more people discover Owning Space.

For more women’s health news, updates and conversations, follow @owningspacepodcast on Instagram and TikTok.

Until next week, keep taking up space. 💛

#WomensHealth #Endometriosis #Menopause #Testosterone #BreastCancer #WomensHealthResearch #GenderHealthGap #NHS #Enhertu #EndometriosisDiagnosis

Welcome back to Owning Space Women’s Health Weekly, your short-form catch-up on some of the latest research, news and developments shaping women’s health.

This week, I’m looking at new research into paracetamol use during pregnancy and reproductive development in daughters, what we’re learning about the female brain through menopause, the research gaps that still exist around women’s neurological health, and a new study exploring unmet breastfeeding goals and the support women receive after birth.

IN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE

• ​ Paracetamol use during pregnancy and reproductive development
• ​ Brain changes across menopause
• ​ Gaps in research around menopause and neurological health
• ​ Unmet breastfeeding goals and support after birth
• ​

As always, all research and sources referenced in the episode are linked below if you’d like to read more about any of these topics.

RESEARCH & FURTHER READING

Paracetamol in pregnancy & reproductive developmentHuman Reproduction Open – research examining prenatal paracetamol exposure and reproductive development in

infant girls

https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoag073

Female brain changes across puberty, pregnancy & menopauseNature Communications – research using MRI data to examine structural brain changes across major female hormonal

transitions.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-76755-2

Menopause & neurological healthNature Reviews Neurology – a research roadmap examining how menopause may affect brain health and neurological conditions, and highlighting major gaps in the evidence base. The review notes that around two-thirds of women report cognitive concerns during the menopausal transition.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41582-026-01244-5

Breastfeeding goals after full-term birthJAMA Network Open – Met and Unmet Breastfeeding Goals Following Full-Term Deliveries. In the study sample, 40.3% of participants who had stopped breastfeeding had not met the goal they set during pregnancy, and unmet goals were associated with breastfeeding difficulties and less helpful support.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2853807

If you’re enjoying Women’s Health Weekly, follow or subscribe to Owning Space wherever you listen so each new episode lands straight with you and you’ll be the first to know whenever a new podcast episode drops.

And if you’ve been enjoying the show, a quick rating or review makes a huge difference and helps more people discover Owning Space.

For more women’s health news, updates and conversations, follow @owningspacepodcast on Instagram and TikTok.

Until next week, keep taking up space. 💛

Welcome back to Owning Space Women’s Health Weekly, your short-form catch-up on some of the latest research, news and developments shaping women’s health.

This week, I’m looking at new research around premature menopause and cardiovascular health, what we’re learning about heart health following breast cancer radiotherapy, the conversation around postpartum psychosis, and fascinating early research exploring semaglutide, GLP-1s and ageing.

IN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE

• Premature menopause and high blood pressure
• Breast cancer radiotherapy and long-term heart health
• Postpartum psychosis and maternal mental health
• Semaglutide, GLP-1s and emerging research into ageing

As always, all research and sources referenced in the episode are linked below if you’d like to read more about any of these topics.

Premature menopause & hypertension
JAMA – research exploring the association between earlier menopause and subsequent hypertension in women from the UK Biobank.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2853911

Breast cancer radiotherapy & heart health
JAMA Network Open – research examining breast radiotherapy laterality and ischaemic heart disease according to existing cardiovascular risk.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2853516

Postpartum psychosis
The Guardian – further reading on postpartum psychosis, maternal mental health and gaps in research and awareness highlighted by recent events.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/sep/04/lindsay-clancy-trial-postpartum-psychosis-experts

Semaglutide, GLP-1s & ageing
Nature – research examining late-life semaglutide treatment, biological ageing and lifespan in female mice.

Important note: this is preclinical research in mice and does not establish that semaglutide slows ageing or extends lifespan in humans.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10940-7

If you’re enjoying Women’s Health Weekly, follow or subscribe to Owning Space so new episodes land directly with you and you’ll be the first to know whenever a new podcast episode drops.

And if you can, leave a rating or review. As an independent podcast, it genuinely supports the show and makes it easier for more people to discover Owning Space.

For more women’s health updates and content, follow @owningspacepodcast on Instagram and TikTok.

And if there’s a story, study or development you think I should cover in a future episode, send it my way.

Until next week, keep taking up space. 💛

Welcome to the first Owning Space Women’s Health Weekly, a new short-form episode bringing you a snapshot of the latest research, news and developments shaping women’s health.

For this first episode, I’m looking back across August at some of the stories and research that caught my attention, from HRT and dementia to at-home HPV testing, changes in heart attack diagnosis, birth trauma and England’s growing gynaecology waiting list.

Going forward, Women’s Health Weekly will be released every Monday morning, giving you a quick way to start the week informed about what’s happening in women’s health, both here in the UK and globally.

IN THIS AUGUST ROUNDUP

• HRT and dementia research
• At-home HPV testing and cervical screening
• Heart attack diagnosis and women
• Birth trauma and childbirth-related PTSD
• England’s growing gynaecology waiting list

RESEARCH & FURTHER READING

HRT & dementia
Alzheimer’s & Dementia - peer-reviewed research
https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.71679

UK Biobank - research overview
https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/research-stories/menopause-hrt-cuts-dementia-risk-if-started-early/

HPV self-testing & cervical screening
NHS England - HPV home-testing rollout
https://www.england.nhs.uk/2026/08/nhs-rolls-out-discreet-home-testing-kits-against-cervical-cancer-for-millions-of-women/

NHS London - cervical self-swabbing rollout
https://www.england.nhs.uk/london/2026/08/27/self-swab-cervical-screening-now-offered-at-every-gp-in-london/

Heart attack diagnosis & women
American College of Cardiology - updated Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction
https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/journal-scans/2026/08/25/13/59/global-cv-societies-release-updated-universal-definition-of-mi-esc-2026

Birth trauma & childbirth-related PTSD
Midwifery - childbirth-related PTSD research
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266613826002627

Gynaecology waiting lists
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists – latest waiting-list figures
https://www.rcog.org.uk/news/gynaecology-waits-worsen-for-third-month-as-demand-rises-rcog-warns/

Follow Owning Space wherever you’re listening so you don’t miss the next Women’s Health Weekly, released every Monday morning.

For more conversations around women’s health, our bodies and the stories that deserve more space, follow @owningspacepodcast on Instagram and TikTok.

And if there’s a story, study or development you think I should cover in a future episode, send it my way.

Until next week, keep taking up space. 💛

Content note: This episode includes discussions of endometriosis, chronic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding and workplace discrimination.

After being unfairly dismissed following surgery for severe endometriosis, Sanju Pal spent more than seven years fighting for justice in what became one of the UK's most significant employment law cases relating to women's health.

In this episode of Owning Space, we discuss Pal v Accenture, the landmark legal case in which judgment was handed down on 19 January 2026. We explore what led to the case, how it has helped shape conversations around endometriosis, disability and employers' responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010, and why so many people living with endometriosis continue to face barriers at work.

This is an honest conversation about living with chronic pain, navigating workplace discrimination, advocating for change, and why employers need to better understand the realities of menstrual health. We also discuss the importance of speaking up, creating more inclusive workplaces, and ensuring that no one has to choose between their health and their career.

Whether you're living with endometriosis, another chronic illness, supporting someone who is, or simply want to better understand workplace equality, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

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Follow @owningspacepodcast for conversations that expand how we understand women's health and strengthen women's place in society.

You can watch the full video version on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of Owning Space, I sit down with Emilie Lavinia, Wellbeing Editor at The Independent, host of the Well Enough podcast and writer of the All Being Well newsletter, to explore sexual wellness, modern womanhood and the cultural forces shaping how women experience health and relationships today.

We discuss what is really driving the wellness industry, from empowerment to wellness washing, and question what it actually means to be well in a space that is increasingly commercialised. We also explore the pressures placed on women in modern society, from performance culture to identity, and how these shape the way women relate to their bodies, health and self worth.

We talk openly about porn, shame and intimacy, and examine the growing influence of the manosphere, exploring what it reveals about shifting gender dynamics, power and the cultural backlash facing women today.

This is a sharp, honest and culturally informed conversation about the realities of being a woman today.

Find Emilie on Instagram: @emilielaviniauk

If you’re enjoying Owning Space, follow the podcast on Spotify and Apple so you don’t miss future episodes, it really helps the show grow.

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @owningspacepodcast

Watch the full video version on ⁠YouTube

In this episode of Owning Space, I’m joined by neuroscientist and founder of Ditto Daily, Alice Van Der Schoot, to explore the complex links between ADHD, PMDD, autism, Ehlers Danlos syndrome and endometriosis.

We discuss why ADHD often presents differently in women, how hormonal shifts across the menstrual cycle influence dopamine and mood, and what brain imaging research reveals in PMDD. We also examine why ADHD and autism appear at significantly higher rates in people with Ehlers Danlos syndrome, and the emerging connective tissue theory that may help explain the overlap between body-wide and brain-based conditions.

This is a research grounded conversation about hormone sensitivity, cyclical mood changes, misdiagnosis and the reality of living with multi system conditions that do not fit neatly into one category. We also touch on how when science evolves but medical systems don't, people are left behind.

A vital listen for anyone navigating neurodivergence, PMDD, connective tissue disorders or complex women’s health challenges.

#ADHDinWomen #PMDD #WomensHealth #NeurodivergentWomen #Endometriosis #EhlersDanlos #OwningSpacePodcast

Find Ditto Daily here:
Website: https://www.dittodaily.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ditto.daily

Follow @owningspacepodcast for conversations that expand how we understand women’s health and strengthen women’s place in society.

You can watch the full video version on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

What happens when you spend years being dismissed, misdiagnosed, and treated as a medical mystery?

In this episode of Owning Space, Aneka is joined by author and patient advocate Tilly Rose to talk about invisible illness, systemic failure in healthcare, and the power of patient advocacy.

After living with complex, multi-system symptoms for decades, Tilly was close to being discharged without a diagnosis. What followed was a turning point that changed everything, leading to life-saving answers, a global community, and a powerful new voice in women’s health.

This conversation explores what it means to be unheard, the emotional toll of misdiagnosis, and how advocacy, persistence, and collective knowledge can save lives.

A vital listen for anyone navigating chronic illness, medical gaslighting, or learning how to take up space within a system that too often overlooks women.

Tilly’s book, Be Patient, is available here

#WomensHealth #PatientAdvocacy #InvisibleIllness #ChronicIllness #MedicalGaslighting #Misdiagnosis #HealthcareInequality #PatientVoice #HealthJustice #BePatient #OwningSpacePodcast

Alex, Founder of Hypermobility HQ, joins me to talk about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, hypermobility and the realities of living with a connective tissue disorder. We explore the links between EDS, gut health, autoimmune conditions and ADHD, and why so many women with chronic pain, including those with endometriosis, are left unseen by traditional medicine. Alex also shares insights from her upcoming book Help! I’m Hypermobile and her belief that “incurable” does not mean “untreatable.”

If you’re curious to learn more about hypermobility, EDS and how these conditions connect across the body and mind, this episode is for you.

#EDS #Hypermobility #HypermobilityHQ #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #MedicalGaslighting #WomensHealth