The Heavy Flow Podcast

This week on Question Period, I'm talking about why it's impossible to discuss menstrual health without also addressing feminism in response to a listener comment.

Heavy Flow Listener Survey Episode 13: The Period Paradox with Elizabeth Yuko Episode 15: Feminism, Activism and Periods with Kiran Gandhi

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

In this episode, I’m talking to Valentina McCachren, founder of Lovefestjourney about our PCOS stories and how it’s shaped our journey to and through motherhood.

• Being diagnosed with PCOS
• The holistic approach Val took to support her cycles
• Connecting with a pregnancy after the full throttle focus of fertility
• How fertility challenges shaped our respective experiences of motherhood

Website Instagram Facebook

Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic The Herbal Clinic and Dispensary

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

If you're interested in using Fertility Awareness for birth control, you might be wondering what your options are for birth control during your fertile window. Ashley Hartman Annis, a fertility awareness educator and full spectrum doula in training, joins me to talk all things barrier methods.

• Benefits and risks associated with barrier methods of birth control including condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, and sponges
• Everything you've ever wanted to know about spermicide: what it is, how does it affect your cervical fluid, natural and DIY options (use at your own risk!)
• Withdrawl
• Using barrier methods within the context of Fertility Awareness
• Who is responsible for birth control in a relationship?
• Tips for finding condoms that work for you and your partner

Website Instagram Facebook

Caya diaphragm Femcamp cervical cap Anneres Health - Canadian distributor of Caya and Femcamp Natural MD Radio: Why condoms are a women's issue Sustain Naturals Bedsider Scarleteen Natural spermicide options: Neem, homemade spermicide recipe, 

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

Today I’m talking to Lisa Hendrickson-Jack, Fertility Awareness Educator, Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner and host of the Fertility Friday podcast. In this episode, we talk about the fertility awareness method, how hormonal birth control really affects our hormonal health, the long history of suppressing the feminine and how reclaiming the power of our menstrual cycles is key to dismantling the patriarchy.

• Lisa’s experience with hormonal birth control and how it led her to become a holistic reproductive health practitioner
• What is Fertility Awareness
• The three main fertile signs: cervical mucus, basal body temperature and cervical positioning
• How hormonal birth control really affects our hormonal health, both when we’re on it and transitioning back to natural cycles
• Using your menstrual cycle as a diagnostic tool for what’s out of balance in your health and life
• Do we really need to have periods?
• Our culture’s long history of suppressing the feminine
• The power of the menstrual cycle and why reclaiming that power is key to dismantling the patriarchy

Website Fertility Awareness 101 Video Series Facebook  Instagram Twitter Pinterest

Cunt: A Declaration of Independence, Inga Muscio Fertility Friday Podcast #106 with Nora Pope Heavy Flow Episode 21 with Lara Briden Heavy Flow Episode 11 with Holly Grigg-Spall Fertility Friday Podcast #173 with Lara Owen Heavy Flow Episode 16 with Clare Kenty

I receive an affiliate commission from some of the links above.

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

Today on Question Period I'm switching things up. Instead of a listener question, I'm sharing what happened with my own period when I got hooked on decaf vanilla soy lattes.

Question Period: Should you eat soy? 

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

Today I’m talking to Dr. Lara Briden, naturopathic doctor and author of the Period Repair Manual. We are going back to basics and learning all the things we didn’t back in health class: what a normal menstrual cycle and period is like, the importance of ovulation, using your period as a monthly health report card and why you should care about your ovulatory health even if you're not interested in having a baby.

• Why ovulation and menstrual health is important beyond baby making
• The various phases of the menstrual cycle and what’s normal for each
• How to recognize signs of ovulation
• What are anovulatory cycles and some of the causes behind them
• The difference between your period and the bleed you get on hormonal birth control
• How long a period should be and what your flow should look like in terms of colour, clotting and volume
• Some of the causes of period pain and when to know that your pain goes beyond normal
• Your period as a monthly health report card and how you can interpret it
• Why getting off sugar is the key to regular ovulation

Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Period Repair Manual

• Taking Charge of Your Fertility
• Dr. Jerrilyn Prior

I receive an affiliate commission from some of the links above. 

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

Are you looking for natural relief from menstrual cramps? Today I'm discussing some of the natural ways to relieve cramps and painful periods.

• What causes menstrual cramps and painful periods 
• Nutrition tips for reducing pain associated with your period 
• Why magnesium is the best supplement for hormonal imbalance
• The benefits of movement and exercise 
• How your period products might be contributing to cramps
• Using CBD for period pain relief 
• What to do when nutrition doesn't work 

• PMS Busting Smoothie 
• Ginger Turmeric Latte 
• Superfood Scramble 
• Natural Calm Magnesium 
• Question Period: What are the best period products to use? 
• Episode 20: Pot + Periods with April Pride

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

Today I’m talking to April Pride, founder of cannabis lifestyle brand Van der Pop. In this episode we discuss the benefits of cannabis, particularly for women’s health issues; the stigma attached to women using cannabis; how to navigate the brave new world of weed; and a few of the different ways to consume cannabis.

• How cannabis works in our bodies and why it’s so beneficial for women’s issues
• The stigma that affects women who use cannabis
• April’s favourite way to consume cannabis for period pain
• The differences between CBD and THC and how to navigate various cannabis strains
• Breastfeeding + cannabis consumption
• How estrogen affects cannabis tolerance
• Nutrition tips for PMS cravings and blood sugar balance
• The business side of cannabis

Van der Pop Website Van der Pop Instagram Facebook Twitter

VdP Women & Weed Survey

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

Is it normal to pee your pants after childbirth? Laura Wood, a pre- and postnatal movement specialist, aka & She Moves, joins me to talk about pelvic floor and why it's never normal to pee your pants, ever.

• What is your pelvic floor and what does it do?
• How pregnancy and childbirth can affect your pelvic floor
• The different types of incontinence and how you can correct them
• Other signs and symptoms that your pelvic floor might be too weak or too tight
• Why you should see a pelvic floor physiotherapist to assess your pelvic floor
• Yoga poses to help you tune into your pelvic floor

Website Instagram & She Moves Community Facebook

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

Today I’m talking to Sarah Barmak, author of Closer: Notes from the Orgasmic Frontier of Female Sexuality. In this episode, we talk about orgasms, how our culture informs female sexuality and consent.

• How female and male sexuality is hardwired in our brains
• What is an orgasm and why do we have them?
• How our culture affects female sexuality
• The broad spectrum of female orgasms including external, cervical and uterine orgasms
• Is the vagina an absence or a presence?
• Your amazing cervix!
• The benefits of exploratory pleasure
• Consent in the age of #MeToo

• Website 
• Twitter 
• Sarah’s Tedx Talk - Women’s Sexuality Isn’t ‘Complicated’
• Closer: Notes From the Orgasmic Frontier of Female Sexuality 

• Episode 4 - Cycle Syncing with Gabrielle Lichterman
• Emily Nagoski
• The Dirty Normal 
• Natrishka
• Carly Boyce 
• What Consent Means in the Age of #MeToo

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