Hold on to your uterus, we're going Under the Hood! WomanHOOD. MotherHOOD. SisterHOOD. We're pulling back the curtain and unpacking the mystery. Follow the show @underthehood_podcast and find more info at underthehoodpodcast.com.

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Shrinking ovaries, “withdrawal bleeds” instead of periods, and all the symptoms and side effects your doctor never told you about hormonal birth control.  Patti and Aleks dive in deep with Holly Grigg-Spall, author of "Sweetening The Pill: Or How We Got Hooked on Hormonal Birth Control." In Part 1 of this conversation they talk about the history of hormonal birth control, why as many as 80% of women will take hormonal birth control at some point in their lives, and the stinging anger we all feel as we, once again, shake our fist at the patriarchy.

The Pill, Part One

Dr. Carrie Jones is functional medicine women's health and hormone doctor who talks with us this week about basic vaginal health, the anatomy of the vagina, the relationship between our gut and our vagina, endocrine disruptors and hormone testing. 

For a full transcript and more about Dr. Carrie Jones, visit our website at https://www.underthehoodpodcast.com

VAGINA!

What does it mean to “feed your fertility?” And how exactly does acupuncture and Chinese Medicine relate to getting pregnant? This week we sat down with the ever grounded Laura Erlich, founder and clinic director of Mother Nurture Wellness  to talk about what it means to consciously conceive and all the things we can, and should do, before even trying to make a baby. 
 For more about Laura go to Mother Nurture Wellness

Conscious Conception

Dr. Britta Bushnell holds a doctorate in mythological studies and studies the ways we wrap ourselves in stories and myth to understand who we are. She is a storyteller, a listener, and a communication guide, and she applies these skills in her work as an award winning childbirth educator.  How we navigate the transition to parenthood says A LOT about how we as a whole honor this rite of passage, how we value the female experience, and what stories and myths we have believed about our own bodies.

The Myth of Control

How does becoming a mother change your identity? How can you deal with the guilt that can arise when making space for yourself after childbirth? Listen in as Marriage and Family Therapist Jaimi Brooks, along with Under the Hood’s executive producer Chelsea Levy, tackle these questions and more.

Motherhood and Identity

Vedic meditation master Thom Knoles discusses stress, ways to combat it, and the effect that it can have during pregnancy. Whether you are a mother, pregnant, or neither, you will find something in this conversation that you can relate to.

Thom Knoles Part I: Stress and Pregnancy

How can women have a self-empowering birth experience? Vedic Meditation master Thom Knoles discussed empowerment around the birth and labor and explains the importance of mothers in raising global consciousness.

Thom Knoles II: Mothers Elevating Consciousness

Listen in as our very own host, Midwife Aleksandra Evanguelidi, talks about what you should be eating during pregnancy. From proteins to fats to raw food and alcohol, Aleks breaks down what the standard guidelines say and how your body will ultimately tell you what it needs. To connect with Aleks visit https://www.aleksevanguelidi.com/ or @thevitalwoman on instagram.

S2 // Nutrition During Pregnancy: A Midwife’s Perspective

The process of giving birth, with its challenges and joys, can be compared to a microcosm of life itself. In this episode with Dr. Britta Bushnell, Patti and Aleks discuss the idea of birth as a right of passage for those on the journey to becoming mothers. Dr. Bushnell dives into the thoughts and inspiration behind her upcoming book Transformed by Birth: Cultivating Openness, Resilience, and Strength for the Life-Changing Journey from Pregnancy to Parenthood.

S2 // Birth as a Rite of Passage

Lymphedema Therapist Lisa Levitt Gainsley describes the body's Lymphatic System as the great recycling system, helping to clean out the waste product that gets accumulated in your tissue. Lymphatic massage, whether done by a therapist or by yourself can help you boost your immune system, reduce bloating and swelling in the body, and promote healing and rejuvenation. Patti & Aleks take a deep dive into the Lymphatic System with Lisa, who talks about how most people can benefit from lymphatic body work.

Everything You Didn't Know About Your Lymphatic System

There is no better guest than Aviva Romm, physician, midwife, herbalist, and author as our final interview of season 2. Listen in as Aleks, Patti, and Aviva discuss the current state of women’s health, where we are headed, and how far we’ve come. Aviva shares special insight into her journey from a young apprenticing midwife to Yale Medical School graduate, in a career that has focused on elevating women and the quality of medical care they recieve.

The State of Women's Health

How does Chinese medicine and acupuncture view and treat the pregnant body? We are back with part II of our conversation with Spirit Gate Acupuncture and Wellness founder Katya Mosely, who this week sheds light on the energetic imbalances that can arise in pregnancy and what you can do to treat them. She also discusses the effects of energy depletion both during pregnancy and in life and how acupuncture and other methods of self care can restore your health and vibrancy.

Katya Mosely: Acupuncture and Pregnancy

Heather Jeffcoat recorded a special breathing exercise for our listeners, that will help you drop into your body and gain awareness of your pelvic floor.

Pelvic Floor Breathing Exercise

We are introducing a special series here on Under The Hood. Next week, we will be publishing 5 episodes, each of a woman telling the story of her abortion. Listen in as EP Chelsea explains the motivation behind this series and UTH's new Radical Empathy Campaign.

Introducing: Abortion Stories

Terri was 15 when she chose to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. Listen in as she shares her story for the very first time in Episode 1 of our abortion story series as part of our Radical Empathy Campaign.

Abortion Stories: Terri, Age 56

Under The Hood Co-Host Aleks tells the story of an unwanted pregnancy in her early 20’s that challenged her long-held pro-life beliefs. This is episode 2 in our abortion story series as part of our Radical Empathy Campaign.

Abortion Stories: Aleks, Midwife & Mother of 1

Despite living in NYC and making a comfortable living, Catalina still struggled with the process of finding a compassionate abortion provider. This is episode 3 in our abortion story series as part of our Radical Empathy Campaign.

S2 // Abortion Stories: Catalina, Age 30

Solange, who experienced an unwanted pregnancy while studying, was directed to mental health services rather than an appropriate abortion provider. She discusses how stigma results in subpar health care for women, especially when it comes to abortion. This is episode 4 in our abortion story series as part of our Radical Empathy Campaign.

Abortion Stories: Solange, Age 23, Abortion Access Activist

So often, abortions are spoken about in the context of “unwanted” pregnancies. In this episode, our storyteller terminated a very much wanted pregnancy after receiving devastating test results. This is our 5th and final episode in our abortion story series as part of our Radical Empathy Campaign.

Abortion Stories: Anonymous, Mother of 1

Executive Producer Chelsea and her husband David share an intimate conversation between them about the months following the birth of their daughter. Our last episode with Kimberly Johnson covered practical steps you can take to plan for a fulfilling postpartum period. In this special story episode, Chelsea and David discuss the ups and down of life in the "fourth trimester", how it unfolded and what they would do differently next time around.

Postpartum Story: The Fourth Trimester Up Close

From pelvic floor health to the mythology of birth stories to abortion doulas, we covered a whole gamut of topics in season 2. Listen in as the Under the Hood team discusses the highlights and stories behind the episodes and what lays ahead.

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