128. Anne Marie Nest-Pinero & Kristin Marrs: Performance Art that Educates About Infertility & Miscarriage

We talk to 2 amazing performance artists who recently created an original dance/theatre piece called “Chalk” that portrays much of what they both went through in their individual journeys of infertility and miscarriage.  Women experiencing challenges with child bearing often feel a range of feelings, including shame, which too often makes this topic unspoken.  Today we speak about it. In today’s episode we: Hear about how Anne Marie & Kristin met during their challenges with infertility and multiple miscarriages, and how this eventually led to creative collaboration and birthing of a new piece of art. The process of creating this piece, and the magic of how it all came together when they set the intention of “this can be easy”. Ancestral patterning, and stories of women that came before Anne Marie and Kristin that had challenges with child bearing. The infertility journey that both women experienced,  including all the ups and downs, the limits of the medical system, and the deep, hidden grief and shame. Why the topic of infertility and miscarriage has been so  “silenced” in our culture. Why we need these stories more than ever in our current political arena when so many women are having challenges receiving the health care they need. Bios: Iowa native Kristin Marrs is a dancer, choreographer, and movement teacher. She is an Associate Professor of Instruction and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Iowa Department of Dance, where she teaches a wide variety of courses across the dance and somatic curriculum. She is also a certified Alexander Technique teacher, and has a private studio in Iowa City where she works with students of all ages and abilities in improving alignment, breathing, postural tone, and ease of movement. She is a proud mama of two kids.  www.kristinmarrs.com Anne Marie Nest-Pinero met Kristin at the University of Iowa while she was professor of voice and speech in the Theater Department. Prior to her career in academia, Anne Marie was a professional actor, working primarily in regional theaters and Shakespeare Festivals.  Anne Marie now works as an executive coach and communications consultant for the Fortune 500 and AM Law 200.  She is an Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework, trained mediator through Columbia University, and certified CTI coach. www.annemarienest.com Past Episodes You Might Like About Women’s Health, Medical Systems & Well-Being   Episode 122:  Nina Lohman: The Body Alone: A Lyrical Articulation of Pain Episode 105: Kate O’Donnell: Ayurveda for Women’s Health Episode 99: Cate Stillman: The Witch’s Cancer Journal  Episode 88: Sam Ferm-LeClere: Healing with Chronic Illness Episode 37: Can We Trust Other Women and Their Bodily Autonomy Today’s Episode sponsored by: Kate Moreland Coaching Dr Yoga Momma Heartland Yoga Want to Meet Betsy & Kate in Person on Retreat? Join us on a feminine reclamation journey to Paros, Greece in the Fall of 2025.  There are just a few spots left. All the details here! Source