The Hole Shebang

Episode Overview

Join Kristen Parise as she sits down with Jackie Harding, the brilliant entrepreneur behind Ovry—the Canadian company that's revolutionizing pregnancy testing one tiny strip at a time. From peeing on ketone strips to building a business that challenges Big Pregnancy Test's ridiculous markups, Jackie shares her journey of turning personal frustration into a sustainable, accessible solution that's changing how we think about reproductive health products.

What You'll Learn

• Why that $25 pregnancy test at the pharmacy costs less than 50 cents to make (spoiler: you're being exploited)
• How Jackie discovered that dollar store pregnancy tests are just as accurate as the fancy ones—and why Health Canada approval means what it says
• The game-changing truth about strip format tests: 90% less plastic, multiple tests per box, and no electronic waste
• Why Jackie's blood clotting disorder led to years of anxiety-inducing pharmacy runs (and how that sparked a business idea)
• The surprising science behind male fertility testing and why the burden of infertility shouldn't fall only on women
• Jackie's ambitious vision to transform Ovry into a co-op model—because nobody should be getting rich off tampons (or pregnancy tests)

Episode Highlights From Tree Planting to Test Strips: Jackie's Unconventional Path

Jackie opens up about her "strange, non-traditional" journey from business school to tree planting, construction, and mill work before finding her calling in reproductive health. Her diverse background in project management turned out to be the perfect training ground for launching a medical device company.

The Blood Clotting Plot Twist That Started Everything

Living with factor five leiden meant Jackie couldn't take most hormonal birth control, leading to recurring pregnancy anxiety and those mortifying trips to buy overpriced tests while hoping not to run into her boyfriend's mom. Sound familiar? Jackie turned this universal experience into a business opportunity.

The Ketone Strip Lightbulb Moment

The brilliant "aha!" moment when Jackie realized pregnancy tests should work like ketone strips—small, simple, and accessible. She discovered that hospitals and doctors' offices were already using strip format tests, but nobody was marketing them directly to consumers who desperately needed better options.

Big Pregnancy Test's Dirty Secret

Jackie exposes the exploitation happening in pharmacy aisles everywhere: Clear Blue and First Response charge $25 for a single test that costs them less than 50 cents to manufacture. They're counting on vulnerable women assuming expensive equals accurate—but that's not how Health Canada approval works.

The Male Fertility Revolution

Learn about Ovry's at-home male fertility test that detects the SP10 protein in sperm to identify potential concentration issues. Jackie explains why this preliminary screening tool is crucial for couples who want to identify potential barriers early, without the stigma and barriers of clinical testing.

Motherhood Meets Entrepreneurship

The hilarious story of Jackie and her co-founder Christina both getting pregnant around the same time—including the moment Christina gave Jackie an Ovry pregnancy test to announce her pregnancy, not knowing Jackie was already secretly pregnant too. Plus, Jackie's honest take on how motherhood has made her "wildly more productive" in shorter time windows.

The Co-op Dream: Reimagining Reproductive Health

Jackie's long-term vision goes way beyond pregnancy tests. She's working toward transforming Ovry into a cooperative model where consumers become owners, ensuring basic reproductive health products are sold at transparent, fair prices rather than exploitative markups.

Episode Chapters

00:00-05:30: Introduction and Ovry's Mission – Canadian-made reproductive health products that don't exploit women

05:31-12:45: Jackie's Origin Story – From factor five leiden to frustrated pharmacy runs to business breakthrough

12:46-18:20: The Strip Test Revolution – Why smaller, simpler, and multiple-per-box changes everything

18:21-25:15: Exposing Big Pregnancy Test – The shocking truth about markups and marketing manipulation

25:16-32:40: Male Fertility Matters Too – Breaking down the science and stigma around at-home male fertility testing

32:41-38:55: Building Sustainable Business – Manufacturing in Canada, reducing waste, and giving back

38:56-44:20: Motherhood and Entrepreneurship – Navigating babies, business growth, and retail distribution

44:21-49:30: The Co-op Vision – Reimagining how we think about essential health products

49:31-52:15: Simple Songs and Gratitude – Jackie's theme song choice and what keeps her grounded

Connect with Jackie and Ovry

Website: myovry.ca Instagram: @myovry TikTok: @myovry Email Jackie directly: [email protected]

Where to find Ovry products:

• Online at myovry.ca
• Shoppers Drug Mart (300+ locations and growing)
• Universities and sexual health clinics across Canada

Special Programs:

• Give a Strip Program: Send unused tests back for redistribution to those who need them
• Educational Discounts: Heavily discounted tests for nonprofits and educational institutions
• Free Program: Up to 200 free tests monthly for qualifying nonprofits

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Website: blueberrytherapy.ca Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth

Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference - May 8th, 2026

Jackie's Theme Song for Her Life and Career

"Simple Song" by The Shins – A song about gratitude, appreciating everyday things, and finding sanctuary in home and loved ones. Just like Ovry's mission to simplify the complex experience of having ovaries, Jackie's chosen song reflects her commitment to making reproductive health more accessible, less wasteful, and fundamentally simpler.

This episode will make you question every overpriced pregnancy test you've ever bought and inspire you to support businesses that actually give a damn about women's experiences. Plus, you'll never look at ketone strips the same way again.

Cycle Tracking: How to Read Your Hormones and Trust Your Body

Most of us were never taught how our hormones actually work. We learn to fear our periods, dread PMS and hand our bodily data over to apps that get ovulation right only 20 percent of the time. Cycle tracking with paper and pen flips the script. In this episode, Kristen sits down with Laura Federico, AASECT certified sex therapist and coauthor of The Cycle Book, to talk about what a typical menstrual cycle actually looks like, how tracking can unlock answers for PMDD, PCOS, perimenopause, fertility and trauma recovery, and why turning your gaze inward is a radical act of trust in yourself. Whether you are trying to conceive, questioning if your symptoms are normal or simply want to understand your body better, this conversation is a permission slip to stop dismissing what you already know.

What You Will Learn

Laura walks through the everyday signals most of us were taught to ignore, from cervical fluid shifts to basal body temperature, and explains how these biomarkers decode the hormonal conversation happening in your body every single cycle. You will hear why pain, disruptive mood swings and feeling like a different person at different points in your cycle are not normal, how to recognize PMDD and PME, and why dissociation from the body is a protective response that gentle tracking can help heal. Kristen connects the dots to pelvic floor health, explaining how the estrogen drop in the luteal phase and perimenopause can worsen incontinence and prolapse symptoms that tracking can finally put into context.

Topics Covered

• What a typical menstrual cycle actually looks like and what is not typical
• PMDD, PME and why daily tracking is the key to diagnosis
• Cervical fluid, basal body temperature and reading hormonal biomarkers
• Cycle tracking as a gentle pathway for trauma recovery and dissociation
• PCOS and tracking without a regular cycle
• Why period tracking apps only predict ovulation correctly about 20 percent of the time
• Data privacy concerns with digital period tracking apps
• The pelvic floor, perimenopause and hormonal fluctuations
• Starting with something positive as your first tracking practice

Resources Mentioned

• The Cycle Book by Laura Federico and Morgan Miller, an interactive guide to tracking hormones and knowing your body
• International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD) for PMDD support, resources and a free symptom tracker
• It's Laura and Morgan for cycle tracking workshops, events and regular free virtual sessions

Related Episodes

• Healing the Gut for Hormone Balance with Stephanie Singh
• It's More Complicated: Understanding Hormones with Dr. Stacey Ritz
• The Fertility Factors Nobody Talks About with Dr. Rachel Corradetti-Sargeant
• Perimenopause as Your Sexual Debut with Taylor McConnachie

Theme Song

Work Bitch by Britney Spears

Connect with Laura Federico

Website: laurafedericotherapy.com Joint site with Morgan: itslauraandmorgan.com Instagram: @thecyclebook

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Visit blueberrytherapy.ca and subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast. Leave a review wherever you listen, and head to blueberrytherapy.ca/podcast to binge the back catalog. Come hang out on Instagram @blueberrytherapypelvichealth.

Laura and Morgan will be at The Pleasure Principle Conference on May 8, 2026 with copies of The Cycle Book. Details at blueberrytherapy.ca.

Hydrate, Lubricate and Vibrate: Midlife Sexual Wellness for Women

Most women hit midlife and realize nobody handed them the memo on sexual wellness. Pleasure, lubrication, vaginal moisture, vibrators and pelvic floor health got left out of the curriculum entirely. In this episode, Kristen sits down with Cassandra Redding and Leah Fischer, cofounders of Canadian sexual wellness boutique Intimate Wellbeing, to talk about what shifts in midlife, why shame keeps women silent and how their hydrate, lubricate, vibrate trifecta can protect pelvic floor function, circulation and desire long after 50. You will hear why every woman deserves lube regardless of natural lubrication, the real difference between vaginal moisturizer and lubricant, how accessibility products open up pleasure for bodies of every kind and why two to three orgasms a week is a reasonable pelvic floor goal. Whether you are navigating perimenopause, rediscovering intimacy after a life shift or never got the memo, this conversation is your permission slip.

What You Will Learn

Cass and Leah share how a shame filled first vibrator purchase at 47 became the spark for a business built on destigmatizing midlife sexuality. They walk through their trifecta of hydrate, lubricate, vibrate, explain why vaginal moisturizer belongs in your daily routine like face cream and tackle the common misconception that not needing lube is a badge of honor rather than a missed opportunity. Kristen layers in the pelvic health physiotherapy lens, explaining why vibration supports blood flow to erectile tissues, why positioning products open up intimacy for bodies with pain or mobility challenges and why every midlife woman deserves to spend time on a pelvic floor physio's table.

Topics Covered

• What midlife sexual wellness actually looks like and why shame keeps women silent
• The real difference between lubricant and vaginal moisturizer
• The hydrate, lubricate, vibrate trifecta for midlife pelvic health
• Why every woman deserves lube regardless of natural moisture
• How vibration supports pelvic floor blood flow and function
• Accessibility products for intimacy including positioning pillows and depth reducers
• Working with pelvic floor physiotherapists and healthcare providers
• Building a trusted community of midlife sexual wellness experts
• Permission to prioritize pleasure with or without a partner

Resources Mentioned

• Intimate Wellbeing, the Canadian sexual wellness boutique for midlife women, home of Okanagan Joy lube and the SPARK Speaker Series
• West Coast Centre for Sex Therapy, Dr. Carolin Klein's sex therapy practice in Vancouver
• Menopause Chicks, Shirley Weir's community platform for women in perimenopause and menopause
• Becoming Cliterate by Dr. Laurie Mintz
• Better Sex Through Mindfulness by Dr. Lori Brotto

Related Episodes

• Why Good Sex Matters: The Neuroscience of Pleasure with Dr. Nan Wise
• Mindfulness to Improve Sexual Desire with Dr. Lori Brotto
• Perimenopause as Your Sexual Debut with Taylor McConnachie
• Clitoral Vibration as Healthcare Not Just Pleasure with Natalia Banton

Theme Song

Flowers by Miley Cyrus

Connect with Intimate Wellbeing

Website: intimatewellbeing.com Instagram: @intimate.wellbeing Visit the brick and mortar boutique in Vernon, BC, in the Okanagan

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Visit blueberrytherapy.ca and subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast wherever you listen. Leave a review, and head to blueberrytherapy.ca/podcast to explore the back catalog. Come hang out on Instagram @blueberrytherapypelvichealth.

Chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis affect how people live, work, sleep and connect with their bodies. In this episode of The Hole Shebang Podcast, Kristen Parise sits down with Dr. Laura Katz, a health, rehabilitation and clinical psychologist who specializes in helping people change their relationship with pain. Dr. Katz breaks down the science of how pain works, why our nervous systems can get stuck in a danger loop and what we can actually do about it.

Dr. Katz explains how chronic pain differs from acute pain at the nervous system level and why pain that persists beyond 12 weeks often has more to do with sensitization than ongoing tissue damage. She walks through how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people shift from believing pain always equals danger to understanding that pain is uncomfortable but not always a signal that something is wrong. She also gives an inside look at the Endometriosis360 program, an innovative six week virtual program combining psychology, physiotherapy, nutrition and gynecological surgery expertise to address endometriosis from every angle.

What You'll Learn

• Why our pain signals are still wired like we're running from predators and how that creates chronic pain cycles
• The critical difference between acute and chronic pain and what happens at the 12 week mark
• How CBT helps rewire pain related thoughts and beliefs for lasting change
• What the Endometriosis360 interdisciplinary program looks like and why it works
• The identity shift that happens when chronic pain no longer defines your life

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Dr. Katz's Background 11:01 Understanding Pain Science and Evolutionary Biology 24:01 When Acute Pain Becomes Chronic 32:01 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pain 45:01 The Endometriosis360 Program 58:01 Practical Tools and Home Practice 68:01 Success Stories and Transformations

About Dr. Laura Katz

Dr. Laura Katz is a registered health, rehabilitation and clinical psychologist. She completed her PhD at Queen's University and is an Assistant Professor at McMaster University. She works at the Michael G. DeGroote Pain Clinic at McMaster University, where she provides patient care, develops interdisciplinary chronic pain programs and supervises trainees. She is also Director of Health Psychology at MindFit and a founding team member of the Endometriosis360 program alongside physiotherapist Jill Mueller, gynecological surgeon Dr. Mathew Leonardi and registered dietitian Emily Arthur.

Theme Song: "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift

Resources Mentioned

• BounceBack: Ontario's free CBT based skill building program through CMHA
• Mind Over Mood by Christine A. Padesky and Dennis Greenberger
• Endometriosis360 Program: six week interdisciplinary virtual program

Connect with Dr. Laura Katz

Instagram: @drlaurakatz MindFit: mindfit.ca Endometriosis360: endometriosis360.ca

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Website: blueberrytherapy.ca Podcast: Listen and Subscribe Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference May 8, 2026

Want more bold, honest conversations about pelvic health, pain science and the stuff nobody else is talking about? Subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast and leave a review.

Special Listener Offer Follow @pauzhealth on Instagram and DM "hole shebang" to receive three months free in the PAUZ Health community plus entry to win $50 off at the PAUZ Health marketplace.

Perimenopause and menopause care in Canada is fragmented, hard to access and often dismissed by the very system that should be supporting it. In this episode of The Hole Shebang Podcast, Kristen Parise reconnects with her former McMaster University classmate Natalie Perkins, PhD, who left a VP role at a major telemedicine company to launch PAUZ Health, a virtual platform built to give women the education, clinical access and community they deserve during this transition.

Natalie gets raw about the personal catalysts that led her here: ending a 20 year marriage, surviving a cardiac episode during an Ironman race and realizing she had spent so long performing that she didn't even know what brought her joy anymore. She shares how perimenopause became her wake up call to pause, reassess and rebuild, and why she believes every woman deserves to view this stage of life as a course correction rather than something to endure. The conversation covers Natalie's evidence based recommendations for perimenopausal health including strength training with heavy weights, prioritizing protein, increasing fiber, educating yourself on hormone therapy options (both systemic and vaginal estrogen) and making sleep non negotiable.

What You'll Learn

• How to recognize when perimenopause is calling you to pause and reassess your life
• The three pillars of PAUZ Health: education with world experts, clinical access and curated products
• Why vaginal estrogen should be considered as routine as preventive skincare
• How to advocate for yourself when your healthcare provider lacks menopause training
• Why it's not selfish to prioritize your own happiness and health

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Natalie's Journey 05:58 The Birth of PAUZ Health 09:07 Leaving Established Careers and Choosing Happiness 11:53 Embracing Perimenopause as a Gift 14:52 Mental and Physical Health During Life Transitions 18:05 Navigating the Gray Areas of Big Decisions 23:54 The PAUZ Health Philosophy and Mission 34:52 The Critical Importance of Education 36:15 Access to Care and Self Advocacy 45:14 Top Health Recommendations for Perimenopause 52:29 PFAS Free Products and Estrogen Disruptors 53:53 Special Listener Offer and How to Connect

About Natalie Perkins, PhD

Natalie Perkins holds a PhD in Public Health and is a health behavior change expert, former healthcare executive and competitive athlete. After spending years in digital health leadership, she founded PAUZ Health to address the massive gap in accessible, comprehensive menopause care in Canada. PAUZ connects women with menopause certified clinicians, dietitians, pelvic floor physiotherapists, therapists and health coaches. Natalie also hosts the PAUZ Grab Life by the Ovaries podcast.

Theme Song: "Everything is Everything" by Lauryn Hill

Connect with Natalie and PAUZ Health

Website: pauz.health Instagram: @pauzhealth Podcast: PAUZ Grab Life by the Ovaries

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Website: blueberrytherapy.ca Podcast: Listen and Subscribe Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference May 8, 2026

Want more bold conversations about perimenopause, menopause and the stuff nobody else is talking about? Subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast and leave a review.

Postpartum nutrition and energy are two of the biggest struggles new parents face, and most of the advice out there is either too complicated or completely unrealistic for someone running on three hours of sleep. In this episode of The Hole Shebang Podcast, Kristen Parise chats with Laura Lima, a holistic nutritionist, founder of New Mama Nation and mom of four, about what actually works when you're trying to feed yourself well in the thick of early parenthood.

Laura shares her own journey from working in aesthetics to finding holistic nutrition after a career pivot she didn't see coming. She gets real about the newborn phase, including keeping a jar of almond butter on the nightstand and why perfectionism has no place in postpartum eating. The conversation covers practical strategies like why hydration is the foundation everything else depends on, how protein and fat combinations keep energy stable, why blood sugar spikes from convenient snack bars are making fatigue worse and how three solid meals a day can break the constant grazing cycle that leaves parents feeling depleted.

Laura also dives into the emotional side of eating, explaining how cravings are often about seeking comfort rather than actual hunger and why recognizing that pattern is the first step toward changing it. Her "future self" technique of asking "How do I want to feel when my head hits the pillow tonight?" is a simple reframe that shifts daily food choices without requiring willpower.

What You'll Learn

• Why carrying water everywhere is the single most impactful nutrition habit for new parents
• How protein and fat combinations prevent the blood sugar crashes that drive fatigue and mood swings
• The slow cooker strategy and other meal prep approaches that work in real life with small kids
• How to recognize emotional eating patterns and respond to cravings differently
• Laura's morning ritual and "future self" technique for staying consistent when everything feels chaotic

Episode Chapters

00:00 Laura's Origin Story 02:22 The Energy Crisis for New Parents 04:05 Hydration as the Foundation 08:04 Smart Snacking with Protein and Fat 11:35 Blood Sugar and Three Solid Meals 16:55 Meal Prep for Real Life 21:29 Breaking the Constant Grazing Cycle 24:42 Physical vs Emotional Hunger 28:17 Morning Rituals and Future Self Thinking 30:54 The New Mama Nutrition Manual 35:28 Theme Song

About Laura Lima

Laura Lima is a certified holistic nutritionist (Institute of Holistic Nutrition) and founder of New Mama Nation. She specializes in helping parents increase energy, reduce emotional eating and feel like themselves again through practical, real life nutrition strategies. Laura works with clients virtually and offers the New Mama Nutrition Manual, a comprehensive online program with all of her strategies in one place.

Theme Song: "Happy Together" by The Turtles

Connect with Laura Lima

Website: newmamanation.com Instagram: @lauraannlima Course: New Mama Nutrition Manual

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Website: blueberrytherapy.ca Podcast: Listen and Subscribe Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference May 8, 2026

Want more honest conversations about postpartum health, pelvic wellness and the stuff nobody else is talking about? Subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast and leave a review.

Pelvic floor disorders affect over 200 million people worldwide, and the conventional approach has been to treat them as surgical problems. In this episode of The Hole Shebang Podcast, Kristen Parise sits down with Dr. Bruce Crawford, a board certified urogynecologist and creator of the Pfilates method, who spent decades in the operating room before arriving at a conclusion that changed everything: most pelvic floor disorders are fitness problems that deserve fitness solutions.

Dr. Crawford's path to medicine was anything but traditional. He went from working as an 18 year old hospital janitor with no college plans to touring Europe as a drummer in rock bands to eventually acing the MCAT and attending NYU School of Medicine. A single email in 2003 led him to West Africa, where he spent years performing fistula repairs in Niger and Rwanda. That humanitarian work became the catalyst for his biggest professional realization: after watching successful surgeries fail long term, he understood that the real solution for most people was neuromuscular conditioning, not more surgery.

His team used EMG synchronization technology to study 120 different movements from Pilates, yoga and personal training. The result was 10 specific movements that passively engage the pelvic floor through reflex relationships with the glutes, inner thighs and deep abdominals. In a pilot study, 80% of participants reported a 50% improvement in bladder and bowel symptoms in just 28 days. Dr. Crawford has now trained over 7,000 instructors worldwide, including 1,700 in Japan alone.

What You'll Learn

• Why most pelvic floor disorders are fitness problems being treated as surgical ones
• How co-recruitment of glutes, inner thighs and deep abdominals strengthens the pelvic floor without isolated kegels
• The EMG research behind Pfilates and why these 10 movements outperform traditional exercises
• Dr. Crawford's approach to breaking the stigma around incontinence in clinical conversations
• Why the medical system has it backwards, treating exercise as "radical therapy" instead of first line treatment

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Bruce Crawford 07:17 From Drummer to Janitor to Medical School 15:39 Movement Science and Pelvic Floor Recruitment 21:32 Breaking the Stigma of Incontinence 28:28 Why Fitness Should Be First Line Treatment 36:29 Humanitarian Work in Niger and Rwanda 40:16 The Future of Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation

About Dr. Bruce Crawford, MD

Dr. Bruce Crawford is a board certified urogynecologist with over 30 years of clinical experience and a graduate of NYU School of Medicine. He is the creator of the Pfilates method, the only pelvic floor fitness program developed by a urogynecologist in the United States. His research on pelvic floor neuromuscular conditioning has been published in the medical literature and his instructor certification program has trained over 7,000 health and fitness professionals worldwide. He also spent nearly a decade performing obstetric fistula repairs in West Africa.

Theme Song: "Don't Back Down" by Tom Petty

Connect with Dr. Bruce Crawford

Website: pfilates.com Programs: Women's, Men's, Prolapse Coaching and Instructor Certification

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Website: blueberrytherapy.ca Podcast: Listen and Subscribe Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference May 8, 2026

Want more conversations about pelvic health, bladder control and the stuff nobody else is talking about? Subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast and leave a review.

Connect with Amber Romaniuk

Website: amberapproved.ca Podcast: The No Sugarcoating Podcast (available on all podcast platforms) Social Media: @AmberRomaniuk (Instagram) Free Resources: Emotional eating quiz and workshop replay available on her website Consultations: Free consultation bookings available through her website

Join the Body Brilliance Workshop

Date: Tuesday, July 29th Time: 2:00-3:30 pm EST Location: Online via Zoom Investment: $47 CAD Register: Body Brilliance Workshop

Can't attend live? No problem! All participants receive access to the recording.

What You'll Discover in Body Brilliance:

Emotional Eating & Hormonal Health (with Amber):

• How hormonal fluctuations disrupt hunger cues and trigger emotional eating
• Strategies for managing perimenopause mood swings and emotional challenges
• Why conventional diet methods fail during hormonal transitions
• Tools for addressing body image struggles and building self-worth

Pelvic Health & Physical Wellness (with Kristen):

• Solutions for bladder issues including leaks and urgency
• Relief strategies for pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain
• Techniques to enhance sexual comfort and return to exercise with confidence
• How to properly support your pelvic floor during life's changes

Episode Overview

Join Kristen Parise as she reunites with emotional eating expert Amber Romaniuk for an inspiring conversation about their groundbreaking collaboration: the Body Brilliance Workshop. This dynamic duo explores the powerful connections between emotional eating, hormonal health, and pelvic floor dysfunction—areas that profoundly impact women's lives yet are often overlooked or dismissed. From the shame surrounding both food struggles and pelvic health issues to the interconnected roots of these challenges, this episode reveals why addressing both physical and emotional health together is the key to true healing.

What You'll Learn

• How emotional eating and pelvic health issues share surprising common roots in shame and unworthiness
• Why hormonal changes during perimenopause require completely new approaches to health and healing
• The connection between people-pleasing, boundary-setting, and both food and pelvic health struggles
• How physical pain can drive emotional eating patterns and vice versa
• Why creating safe spaces for women to discuss these "taboo" topics is essential for healing
• What the Body Brilliance Workshop offers for women struggling with these interconnected issues

Episode Highlights Breaking the Shame Cycle Around Women's Health

Amber and Kristen explore how shame surrounding both emotional eating and pelvic health issues keeps women isolated and prevents them from seeking help. They emphasize that these struggles are far more common than women realize and that breaking the silence is the first step toward healing.

The Mind-Body Connection: When Physical and Emotional Health Collide

The hosts reveal fascinating connections between mental and physical health. When women experience pelvic pain, they often reduce activity and seek comfort in food. Similarly, hormonal fluctuations can trigger both emotional eating and pelvic floor dysfunction, showing why comprehensive approaches work better than treating symptoms in isolation.

Why Perimenopause Changes Everything

Amber explains how perimenopause represents a fundamental shift requiring completely new strategies. The restrictive diets and exercise routines that worked before suddenly become ineffective, demanding a more holistic approach that addresses hormonal changes, emotional patterns, and physical symptoms together.

Introducing Body Brilliance: Where Pelvic Health Meets Emotional Wellness

Kristen and Amber unveil their collaborative workshop that fills gaps in traditional healthcare. Body Brilliance connects the dots between cravings, hormones, emotional health, and pelvic function, providing women with comprehensive support in a safe, judgment-free environment.

Episode Chapters

00:00-01:03: Welcome Back Amber - Reintroduction and collaboration excitement 01:03-03:55: Amber's Expertise - Emotional eating, hormones, and the No Sugarcoating Podcast 03:55-07:59: Creating Safe Spaces - Why shame keeps women from seeking help 07:59-09:22: The Roots of Emotional Eating - Addressing unworthiness and self-sabotage 09:22-12:57: Perimenopause Game-Changer - Why old strategies stop working 12:57-16:29: Mind-Body Connection - How physical and emotional health intertwine 16:29-20:39: Body Brilliance Workshop - Connecting cravings, hormones, and pelvic health 20:39-23:19: Pelvic Health and Emotional Well-being - The pain-comfort food cycle 23:19-26:25: Resources and Theme Songs - Where to find Amber and her perfect life soundtrack

Key Takeaways

Your triggers are teachers - Instead of fighting against emotional eating triggers, learn to see them as valuable information about what your body and mind need.

"None of your old tricks are going to work" - Perimenopause requires a complete shift in approach, moving away from restrictive methods toward supportive, holistic strategies.

"It's so easy to get in your head" - The stress-eating cycle perpetuates itself, but understanding this pattern is the first step to breaking free.

Safe spaces save lives - Creating environments where women can openly discuss their struggles without shame is essential for healing and empowerment.

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Website: Blueberry Therapy Pelvic Health and Pediatrics Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference

Amber's Theme Song for Her Career

"Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane – "I'm gonna ride it (during the day, not the night, because I'm sleeping!)" – perfectly capturing her journey of helping women navigate their health challenges while prioritizing rest and self-care.

This episode is brought to you by the shared mission of breaking taboos and changing lives through open, honest conversations about women's health. Knowledge is power, and talking openly about women's bodies is revolutionary.

Vulvar dryness affects far more people than most realize, and it's not just a menopause issue. In this episode of The Hole Shebang Podcast, Kristen Parise sits down with fellow pelvic health physiotherapist Angelique Montano-Bresolin to talk about vaginal moisturizers, why they're different from lubricants and how a gap in available products led Angelique to create FemmeSense Balm.

Angelique breaks down the science behind vulvar tissue changes, including one powerful visual: pre-menopause vaginal tissue has approximately 20 layers of skin cells, while post-menopause tissue may have as few as two. She explains the difference between lubricants (what she calls "lubes for love," designed for short-term friction relief during sexual activity) and moisturizers (ongoing skin support, like face cream for your vulva). The conversation covers who needs to know about vaginal moisturizers beyond menopause, including postpartum and breastfeeding individuals, post-cancer treatment patients, anyone managing urinary incontinence and those living with vulvar dermatological conditions like lichen sclerosus.

Angelique also walks through what to look for in a quality vaginal moisturizer: proper pH balance (3.5 to 5.0 range), emollient properties to soften and lubricate, occlusive properties to prevent moisture loss and humectant properties to draw and retain water in the skin.

What You'll Learn

• The difference between vaginal lubricants and vulvar moisturizers and when to use each
• Why vulvar tissue changes so dramatically during menopause and what you can do about it
• The pH range your vulvar area needs to stay healthy and how many products get this wrong
• Who beyond menopausal patients should be using vaginal moisturizers
• How Angelique went from clinician to entrepreneur after struggling to find effective products for her clients

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Angelique's Journey into Pelvic Health 02:58 The Creation of FemmeSense Balm 05:51 Vaginal Moisturizers vs Lubricants 09:03 Choosing a Quality Vaginal Moisturizer 11:52 Moisturizers and Midlife Changes 14:49 Vulvar Dryness Across Different Life Stages 18:06 Lichen Sclerosus and Its Impact 20:47 FemmeSense Balm for Sensitive Skin 24:05 Where to Find FemmeSense Balm

About Angelique Montano-Bresolin

Angelique Montano-Bresolin, PT, BSc PT, HBA Kin, is a registered physiotherapist, Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto and Clinic Director at Proactive Pelvic Health Centre in Toronto, the city's first private integrative pelvic health rehabilitation clinic. She has been treating all genders and ages for pelvic health concerns since 2009. Angelique is also the founder of Pelvic Health Hub and creator of FemmeSense Balm, a natural, non-hormonal vulvar moisturizer developed after years of struggling to find effective products for her clients.

Theme Song: "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey

Where to Find FemmeSense Balm

Pelvic Health Hub (direct), Amazon, Well.ca and select pelvic health clinics including Blueberry Therapy

Connect with Angelique

Clinic: proactiveph.com Pelvic Health Hub: pelvichealthhub.com Instagram: @proactivepelvichealth and @pelvichealthhub

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Website: blueberrytherapy.ca Podcast: Listen and Subscribe Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference May 8, 2026

Want more honest conversations about vulvar health, pelvic wellness and the stuff nobody else is talking about? Subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast and leave a review.

Episode Overview

Join Kristen Parise as she sits down with Dr. Ada Tang, a physiotherapist, professor, and researcher at McMaster University who's transforming how we think about exercise for stroke survivors and older adults. From her unexpected journey from clinical practice to groundbreaking research, Ada shares evidence-based insights on how the right exercise can be life-changing medicine for recovery, independence, and healthy aging.

What You'll Learn

• Why aerobic exercise should be a standard part of stroke rehabilitation (just like cardiac rehab)
• The surprising benefits of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for stroke survivors
• How power training differs from traditional strength training and why it matters
• The truth about what strength training should look like for older adults (hint: it's not bean bag weights)
• How to recognize pre-frailty and why early intervention with exercise can prevent decline
• The mental health, cognitive, and social benefits of exercise programs
• Why women are underrepresented in stroke research and what's being done about it

Episode Highlights Ada's Journey: From Bedside to Bench Science

Ada shares her unexpected path from planning a career in private practice to becoming a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation. Her clinical experience working with stroke survivors and older adults directly informs her research mission: proving that exercise truly is medicine for recovery and healthy aging.

Exercise After Stroke: Breaking Down Barriers

Learn why stroke rehabilitation should mirror cardiac rehabilitation when it comes to exercise prescription. Ada explains how her research bridges the gap between stroke care and cardiac care, showing that people with stroke face similar cardiovascular risks but don't receive the same exercise-focused interventions.

HIIT for Stroke Survivors: Challenging Assumptions

Discover the groundbreaking findings from Ada's multi-site study showing that stroke survivors can safely perform high-intensity interval training using recumbent steppers. With just 19 minutes of training (10 one-minute high-intensity intervals), participants achieved greater fitness gains than those doing 30 minutes of moderate exercise.

Power Training: The Next Frontier

Ada introduces the concept of power training for stroke recovery—combining strength with speed to better mimic the demands of daily activities. From standing up quickly to crossing the street when the light changes, power movements are essential for functional independence.

Preventing Frailty: Moving Beyond Bean Bag Weights

Learn how Ada's research challenges traditional assumptions about exercise for older adults. Instead of seated exercises with light weights, her studies show that older adults can safely perform complex, weight-bearing movements that challenge multiple systems simultaneously—and the results are transformative.

The Social Prescription: Exercise as Community Medicine

Explore the profound mental health, cognitive, and social benefits Ada has observed in her exercise programs, from improved memory and executive function to caregiver respite and community connection.

Episode Chapters

00:05-05:00: Introduction and Ada's Winding Journey – From physiotherapy student to stroke rehabilitation researcher

05:01-13:00: Exercise and Stroke Recovery – Why stroke rehab should look more like cardiac rehab

13:01-16:30: Power Training for Stroke Survivors – Combining strength with speed for functional recovery

16:31-20:00: HIIT Research Breakthrough – Revolutionary findings on high-intensity exercise after stroke

20:01-25:00: Understanding Frailty and Pre-Frailty – Early intervention strategies for healthy aging

25:01-31:00: Strength Training Reimagined – Moving beyond bean bags to functional movements

31:01-35:00: The Prescription for Exercise – Frequency, progression, and getting professional guidance

35:01-39:00: Mental Health and Social Benefits – The non-physical benefits of physical activity

39:01-43:00: Research on Research – Improving women's representation in stroke studies

43:01-End: Future Directions and Final Thoughts – Ada's theme song and research vision

Connect with Dr. Ada Tang

• Lab: MacStroke Canada at McMaster University
• Social Media: Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook
• LinkedIn: Ada Tang
• Research Focus: Exercise, stroke recovery, frailty prevention, and inclusive research practices

Connect with The Hole Shebang

• Website: Blueberry Therapy Pelvic Health and Pediatrics
• Instagram: @theholeshebang
• Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference

Ada's Theme Song for Her Career

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Motown – perfectly capturing her belief that there's always somewhere to go and that we can tackle mountains together!