The Heavy Flow Podcast

The Heavy Flow Podcast

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The Heavy Flow Podcast episodes

  • Episode 29 - Menstruating with a bleeding disorder with Jenna Lovell

    This week I’m talking to Jenna Lovell, founder of My Missing Factor, about her experience with Von Willebrand disease, how it affects her menstrual and overall health, and the gender disparity in bleeding disorder treatment.

    This episode of Heavy Flow is supported by Diva Cup, a sustainable, easy-to-use, cost-effective and eco-friendly menstrual cup.

    What we discussed: 
    • How Jenna’s horrific early periods led to her to be diagnosed with Von Willebrand disease (VWD)
    • The common symptoms of VWD
    • How VWD affects your menstrual health without being a reproductive disorder or disease
    • The gender disparity in bleeding disorder treatment
    • Why the birth control pill is often prescribed to women with bleeding disorders, despite factor therapy being the gold standard of treatment
    • The blood taboo
    • How fertility awareness helped Jenna better understand and manage her bleeding disorder
    • Sex and sexuality with a bleeding disorder

    Connect with Jenna:

    Website Facebook Instagram

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    Heavy Flow Episode 6 with Jessica Murnane Women Who Bleed "What is Normal?" Part One, WWB Period Video Logs

    Subscribe & leave a review: 

    If you're into Heavy Flow, please subscribe in iTunes and write a review - that's the best way to support the show and help others find this podcast!

    Music Credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios Graphic Design: Rachel Laird

    1 hr 10 min
  • Question Period: Why do my boobs hurt before I get my period?

    This week on Question Period, we're talking about breast pain and tenderness, known as cyclic mastalgia. 

    This episode of Heavy Flow is supported by Diva Cup, a sustainable, easy-to-use, cost-effective and eco-friendly menstrual cup.

    What we discussed: 
    • What causes breast pain and tenderness with PMS 
    • Specific nutrients and supplements for breast pain 
    • Dietary changes to manage estrogen dominance, inflammation and fluid retention 

    Resources mentioned in this episode: 

    Heavy Flow Guide to Seed Cycling

    Subscribe & leave a review: 

    If you're into Heavy Flow, please subscribe in iTunes and write a review - that's the best way to support the show and help others find this podcast!

    Music Credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios Graphic Design: Rachel Laird

    14 min
  • Menstrual Cup-stravaganza 2018 with Amanda Hearn of Put A Cup In It

    This week I'm talking to Amanda Hearn, co-founder of PutACupInIt.com. We get into everything you've ever wanted to know about menstrual cups and more, answer some listener questions and bust some menstrual cup myths.

    This episode of Heavy Flow is supported by Diva Cup, a sustainable, easy-to-use, cost-effective and eco-friendly menstrual cup.

    What we discussed: 
    • Amanda’s journey from being too embarrassed to buy tampons to spreading the good word about menstrual cups
    • How Put A Cup In It was born
    • The infamous PACII Quiz
    • The best way to take care of your cup
    • How can you find a cup that works without spending a fortune
    • Tips and tricks for inserting and removing your cup
    • Answering listener questions about cups
    • The difference between a cup and a disc
    • Using a cup with an IUD
    • Busting cup myths

    Connect with Put A Cup In It:

    Website Instagram Facebook Twitter

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    Put A Cup in It Shop "The" Cup Quiz Milton tablets Feminine Wear Using menstrual cups with heavy periods

    Subscribe & leave a review: 

    If you're into Heavy Flow, please subscribe in iTunes and write a review - that's the best way to support the show and help others find this podcast!

    Music Credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios Graphic Design: Rachel Laird

    49 min
  • Question Period: How to use seed cycling to balance hormones

    This week on Question Period, how to use a seed cycling protocol to balance your hormones, relieve PMS, reduce painful periods, regulate or shorten your cycle.

    Download the Heavy Flow Guide to Seed Cycling.

    This episode of Heavy Flow is supported by Diva Cup, a sustainable, easy-to-use, cost-effective and eco-friendly menstrual cup.

    Subscribe & leave a review: 

    If you're into Heavy Flow, please subscribe in iTunes and write a review - that's the best way to support the show and help others find this podcast!

    Music Credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios Graphic Design: Rachel Laird

    14 min
  • Poop + Periods with Melissa Ramos

    Melissa Ramos, the founder of Sexy Food Therapy, joins me to talk about why digestion is key to hormonal health, nutritional guidelines for healthy hormones and answers the age-old question: what’s the deal with period poops?  

    What we discussed:
    • How Melissa went from her career in advertising to running Sexy Food Therapy
    • Reframing self-care as self-parenting
    • The link between stress and hormonal health
    • What your digestion has to do with your period and hormones
    • The two phases of liver detoxification and why it’s the key to hormonal health
    • Setting and enforcing boundaries
    • The differences between blood, urine and saliva hormone testing
    • A few nutritional guidelines for healthy hormones
    • What causes period poops
    • How to promote progesterone production

    Connect with Melissa:

    Website Facebook Instagram

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    The Period Repair Manual Question Period: Should I eat soy? Question Period: What happened when I got hooked on soy lattes? Giddy Yo Yo 

    I receive an affiliate commission from some of the links above. This helps to support Heavy Flow at no extra cost to you!

    Subscribe & leave a review: 

    If you're into Heavy Flow, please subscribe in iTunes and write a review - that's the best way to support the show and help others find this podcast!

    Music Credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios Graphic Design: Rachel Laird

    1 hr
  • Question Period: How long does it take to recover from childbirth?

    Lindsay Forsey, the founder of Tenth Moon, joins me to discuss how long it really takes to recover from childbirth - physically, emotionally and spiritually.

    Connect with Lindsay + Tenth Moon:

    Website Instagram Facebook

    Resources discussed in this episode: 

    Postpartum support resources

    Subscribe & leave a review: 

    If you're into Heavy Flow, please subscribe in iTunes and write a review - that's the best way to support the show and help others find this podcast!

    Music Credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios Graphic Design: Rachel Laird

    20 min
  • Episode 26: The Normalization of Women's Pain with Abby Norman

    Today I'm talking to Abby Norman, author of Ask Me About My Uterus. We discuss Abby's experience with painful periods and endometriosis, how women's pain has been normalized in our culture, and the changing period narrative and why pain needs to be a part of that conversation.

    What we discussed: 
    • Abby’s early experience with painful periods
    • The debilitating pain that changed her life forever
    • Our culture of discounting and disregarding women’s pain
    • How we prime young women for a lifetime of pain
    • The importance of discussing pain in the new period conversation

    Connect with Abby: 

    Website Instagram Twitter Facebook

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    Ask Me About My Uterus Call Your Girlfriend 

    I receive an affiliate commission from some of the links above. This helps to support Heavy Flow at no extra cost to you!

    Subscribe & leave a review: 

    If you're into Heavy Flow, please subscribe in iTunes and write a review - that's the best way to support the show and help others find this podcast!

    Music Credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios Graphic Design: Rachel Laird

    1 hr
  • Amenorrhea, irregular periods and stress with Nicole Jardim

    Today I’m talking to Nicole Jardim, a Certified Women’s Health Coach, aka The Period Girl. Nicole and I discuss amenorrhea -- the absence of menstruation and some of the possible causes, hormone testing, nutrition and lifestyle changes to help promote ovulation and regulate your period.

    This episode of Heavy Flow is supported by The DIY Podcast Launch Coaching & Guide, my step-by-step guide to taking your podcast from idea to iTunes.

    What we discussed:
    • How Nicole’s own period and birth control experience led her to become the Period Girl
    • What is amenorrhea and some of the possible causes
    • The effects of internal and external stress on your menstrual cycle
    • Why getting enough calories and nutrition is key for menstrual health
    • Which hormones you’re going to want to get tested if you have amenorrhea
    • Diet and lifestyle changes that will support ovulation and help your period return
    • Aligning with the moon cycle to promote regularity
    • How exercise helps and hinders our hormonal health
    • Your period and key supplements after hormonal birth control

    Connect with Nicole:

    Website Facebook Instagram Twitter

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    The effect of antibiotics on your period Episode 21 - What does a normal period look like with Dr Lara Briden  Seed cycling  f.lux 

    Subscribe & leave a review: 

    If you're into Heavy Flow, please subscribe in iTunes and write a review - that's the best way to support the show and help others find this podcast!

    Music Credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios Graphic Design: Rachel Laird

    1 hr 19 min
  • Question Period: Why do I breakout before my period?

    Find out how hormones affect the health and appearance of your skin, every day of your cycle and not just when you're PMS-ing.

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    What are the best period tracking apps? The "healthy sugar" myth

    Subscribe & leave a review: 

    If you're into Heavy Flow, please subscribe in iTunes and write a review - that's the best way to support the show and help others find this podcast!

    Music Credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios Graphic Design: Rachel Laird

    11 min
  • Menstruating with a disability + designing an accessible menstrual cup with Jane Hartman Adamé

    Today on the show I’m talking to Jane Hartman Adamé, co-founder and CEO of Keela Cup, about her experience menstruating with a disability and how it led her to design a more accessible menstrual cup.

    This episode of Heavy Flow is supported by The DIY Podcast Launch Guide, my step-by-step guide to taking your podcast from idea to iTunes.

    What we discussed:
    • How Jane’s own experience with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome led her to dream of an accessible menstrual cup
    • How the Keela Cup differs from conventional cups
    • The process of designing and manufacturing the Keela Cup
    • Why Jane and Andy decided to fund Keela via crowdfunding
    • The importance of inclusive design

    Connect with Jane and Keela:

    Website - Use discount code HEAVYFLOW for $10 off pre-orders (US only) Instagram  Facebook  Twitter 

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    Heavy Flow Listener Survey I Designed a Menstrual Cup That's Easier for Disabled People to Use Dog dancing

    Subscribe & leave a review: 

    If you're into Heavy Flow, please subscribe in iTunes and write a review - that's the best way to support the show and help others find this podcast!

    Music Credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios Graphic Design: Rachel Laird

    52 min

About The Heavy Flow Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Heavy Flow was a feminist, body-positive podcast about periods, reproductive health, and wellness hosted by Amanda Laird, author of Heavy Flow: Breaking the Curse of Menstruation, from 2017-2020.