When it comes to ending period poverty, a common question is "why don't you just give out menstrual cups?" Jana Girdauskas, the founder of The Period Purse, joins me to talk about why menstrual equity isn't that simple.

This episode of Heavy Flow is supported by Let's Get Checked, makers of personal, at-home health tests. Visit letsgetchecked.com and use Amanda15 for 15% off any order.

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Music credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios

Graphic design: Rachel Laird

CW: miscarriage, pregnancy loss, birth trauma

This week I'm talking to Allison McDonald Ace, a writer and co-founder of The 16 Percent. In this episode, Allison shares the story of losing her baby at 19 weeks, her journey to healing and how she copes with her period after trauma.

This episode of Heavy Flow is supported by bebo mia inc, a training and mentorship organization for women in the maternal health field. Register for their new Fertility Specialist Certification and support the 1 in 10 that struggles with fertility.

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Heavy Flow is produced by: TK Matunda

Music credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios

Graphic design: Rachel Laird

This week on Question Period I'm sharing a bit about recent struggles with my own cycle and how I talked to my doctor about my period concerns, including tips for how you can bring them up to your healthcare provider.

This episode of Heavy Flow is supported by bebo mia inc, a training and mentorship organization for women in the maternal health field. Register for their new Fertility Specialist Certification and support the 1 in 10 that struggles with fertility.

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Music credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios

Graphic design: Rachel Laird

This week I'm talking to Nicola Salmon of Fertility Freedom. Nicola supports women to reclaim their health and fertility, regardless of age, size, sexuality or ability. In this episode, Nicola and I discuss her PCOS diagnosis at age 16, how diet culture ruins lives, fat-phobia in medicine and fertility, body literacy beyond fertility awareness and using food to support your health without dieting. 

What we discussed: 

• Nicola’s fertility journey, which started at 16 when she was diagnosed with PCOS
• The event that changed the course of Nicola’s life forever
• PCOS 101
• What is diet culture and how does it show up in our lives?
• How a fat-phobic medical establishment affects healthcare, particularly around fertility
• Body literacy beyond fertility awareness
• How to use food as a tool to health your body while avoiding diets
• How to advocate for yourself when you’re a fat person

This episode of Heavy Flow is supported by bebo mia inc, a training and mentorship organization for women in the maternal health field. Register for their new Fertility Specialist Certification and support the 1 in 10 that struggles with fertility. 

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Heavy Flow is produced by: TK Matunda

Music credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios

Graphic design: Rachel Laird

This week I'm talking to Amy Medling, aka PCOS Diva, the best-selling author of Healing PCOS and a certified health coach. 

What we discussed: 

• How Amy became the PCOS Diva
• What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?
• Is PCOS overdiagnosed? Underdiagnosed?
• Why polycystic ovaries alone can't diagnose PCOS
• The root causes of PCOS: insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance and inflammation 
• Hormonal birth control and how it affects PCOS
• Post-Pill PCOS
• How food and lifestyle can help manage PCOS symptoms
• PCOS after menopause
• Reframing the “battle” with PCOS

This episode is supported by LunaPads, makers of smart, sustainable alternatives to disposable menstrual products. Visit Lunapads.com to find out why we love them and use code HEAVYFLOW for 15% off any order.

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Heavy Flow is produced by: TK Matunda

Music credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios

Graphic design: Rachel Laird

This week on Question Period a listener asks what are fibroids?

What we discussed: 

• What are uterine fibroids?
• How are they diagnosed?
• Symptoms of fibroids
• Treatment options, including diet and lifestyle changes

This episode is supported by LunaPads, makers of smart, sustainable alternatives to disposable menstrual products. Visit Lunapads.com to find out why we love them and use code HEAVYFLOW for 15% off any order.

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Music credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios

Graphic design: Rachel Laird

This week I'm talking to Kelly Swartz. Kelly is a holistic erotic expert and founder of Awoken Beauty. We discuss the importance of self-intimacy and discovering the erotic self, sex after motherhood, feminist porn and expanding the definition of sex beyond intercourse.

What we discussed: 

• How an early interest in sex lead to Kelly becoming an erotic expert
• Why self-intimacy isn't just about masturbating and why it's important
• Discovering the “erotic self”
• Sex and sexuality after motherhood
• How to cultivate self-intimacy
• Feminist porn - what is it, why it’s important and how to find it
• Expanding your definition of sex beyond intercourse

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Heavy Flow is produced by: TK Matunda Music credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios Graphic design: Rachel Laird

This week on Question Period a listener asks why does menstrual blood smell? 

What we discussed: 

• Is menstrual blood the same as the blood in the rest of your body? 
• How big brands profit off our fear of body odours 
• When you should worry about vaginal odour

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Music credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios Graphic design: Rachel Laird

Today I'm talking to Meghan Cleary. Meghan is a writer, speaker, advocate and founder of Bad Periods. We discuss Meghan's three-decade journey to a diagnosis, endometriosis variations and treatments and how clinical gender-bias affects the treatment of female bodies.

What we discussed: 

• Meghan’s story, beginning with her mother’s use of DES during pregnancy
• The different types of endometriosis
• Fulguration and excision for endometriosis treatment
• The importance of finding a surgical specialist
• The Gyno Ghetto
• How clinical gender bias affects the treatment of female bodies
• The psychological impacts of being told there’s nothing wrong with you
• Endometriosis as a chronic illness

This episode is supported by LunaPads, makers of smart, sustainable alternatives to disposable menstrual products. Visit Lunapads.com to find out why we love them and use code HEAVYFLOW for 15% off any order.

Full Shownotes 

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Follow @amandalaird on Instagram

Heavy Flow is produced by: TK Matunda Music credit: Julia and Bradley of Home Studios Graphic design: Rachel Laird

We're replaying the Best of Heavy Flow while we're on hiatus over the summer! Hit subscribe to get new episodes in the fall.

This week I’m talking to Brittany-Lyne Carriere, a full-spectrum doula. We discuss supporting all pregnancy outcomes including abortion and miscarriage, Brittany-Lyne’s personal experience terminating a pregnancy, the far-reaching lack of support within the medical system for women and femme-presenting people, and how holistic practices seem to be filling in some of the gaps. We also talk about chocolate covered potato chips.

CW: abortion and pregnancy loss

Connect with Brittany-Lyne: 

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Resources:

Holistic Healing After Abortion Holistic Healing After Miscarriage

Production Assistance: Vocal Fry Studios