Modern Hysteria

Hi. It’s Micah from Modern Hysteria, your podcast and newsletter revealing the taboos of women’s brains and bodies (listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts).This week, we’re talking about the real reasons the US birth rate is in decline.THE TABOOWhy people aren’t having kids… Not because they don’t want them, but because society makes parenthood feel economically, emotionally, and structurally impossible.LINKS + RESOURCES * Municipal grocery stores* Beyonce article* Good Housekeeping push presents* Mommit push presents* The Chloe Balloon Patchwork Leather and Suede Tote Bag 👜* The Gucci Diana bag 👜THE GUEST EXPERTCyntia Onuoha Brown is a doctor of pharmacy and clinical pharmacologist now working in the women’s health sector.📧 [email protected] TAKEAWAYSThe declining birth rate isn’t a referendum on women’s choices or values.It’s a mirror reflecting the systems we live inside—systems that make parenthood financially precarious, emotionally taxing, and logistically unsupported.People still want families.What they need are the conditions to build them: affordable housing, job stability, paid leave, accessible reproductive healthcare, and a culture that doesn’t treat caregiving as a women-only burden.TIME STAMPS* 02:15 | Fertility rate x birth rate* 5:01 | How we treat pregnant people and mothers* 9:59 | Invisible labor* 11:25 | Deadbeat moms* 13:40 | Cost of living x job insecurity* 14:41 | Male fertility* 20:08 | Aside: Béyoncé* 22:08 | Selfish women* 23:48 | Aside: Push presents* 29:40 | Aside: Baby bonuses* 32:03 | Barriers to becoming parents* 33:07 | Aside: Mamdani groceries* 35:13 | What do we want from policymakers?* 40:52 | What are you crazy about right now?What do you think?Should the government give people push presents?Is the decline in birth rate a crisis?Should women be more selfish?Tell me in the comments (I read every single one!) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Hi. It’s Micah from Modern Hysteria, your podcast and newsletter revealing the taboos of women’s brains and bodies (listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts).This week, we’re talking about menopause, mythology, and midlife crises.THE TABOOWomen’s midlife and menopause are not a decline, a disappearance, or a dried-up ending—but a powerful rebirth.LINKS + RESOURCES* Sharon Blackie’s Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life* Women Who Run With The Wolves* Goddess quiz* The tale of BluebeardTHE GUEST EXPERTAndrea M. Slominski, PhD — AKA Dr. A. — is a therapeutic women’s midlife and menopause coach, speaker, and author. During her dissertation research and study, she discovered a new life stage has emerged in the past 100 years, for women.Naming this new stage, from ages 45-70, “Regency”, Dr. A. has spoken at conferences, published articles, and coached women to make the most of their emerging power years. Dr. A. guides women 45+ through the often tumultuous transformations that occur during perimenopause, midlife, and menopause using creativity, story, mythology, imagination, ceremony, and ritual.She has created a methodology that helps women navigate these powerful years. Her work is rooted in depth psychology, showing Regent women how to reclaim their passions, develop their purpose, and rediscover their “True North.”TIME STAMPS* 4:54 | Aside: the archetypal feminine* 8:48 | What are the markers of regency?* 12:04 | The triple transformation* 13:51 | Aside: Maiden-mother-crone* 16:34 | How to find a menopause-supportive provider* 17:41 | Caring for your body in midlife* 21:40 | Aside: Demeter and Persephone* 26:27 | Characters from mythology, fairy tales, folktales* 26:45 | Aside: Ariadne* 30:33 | Aside: Bluebeard* 36:11 | Listener questions* 38:12 | Seven realms of change* 39:26 | Metaphor for midlife* 41:33 | Why am I so angry?* 44:49 | Aside: Christiane Northrup* 45:40 | Mythology as inspiration* 47:18 | Questions to ask yourself* 48:40 | The heroine’s journey* 53:29 | What’s in your bag?Does this resonate? Tell me in the comments (I read every single one)Still to come in Season 2:* embodied boundaries and sex* ADHD x nutrition* myths of motherhood… and more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Hi. It’s Micah from Modern Hysteria, your podcast and newsletter revealing the taboos of women’s brains and bodies (listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts).This week, we’re talking with Sadie Chanlett-Avery about the world of wellness and Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) and how it intersects with the alt-right, conspiracy thinking, pseudoscience, and more.The TabooThe main taboo explored in this episode is:Wellness is not inherently good or moral.Links + Resources🗞️ Opinion | How MAHA Is Helping Poison Americans While Claiming to Save Them📱 yogisadie | Sadie Chanlett-Avery on Instagram👩🏼‍💻 Sassafras RevivalThe Guest ExpertSadie Chanlett-Avery is the founder of Sassafras Revival, an Asheville, North Carolina, USA-based company offering movement medicine classes, mouth-watering international retreats, and Tarot for the Soulful and Skeptical: a workout for the intuition. She is a Movement Medicine innovator, a Wellness Retreat creator, and a writer wrestling with the question: how do we sustain ourselves right now? With over 22 years of experience in holistic health, her work blends exercise, mysticism, and practical tools for modern resilience.Key Takeaways1. Wellness culture isn’t inherently healing—it can be a gateway to control, elitism, and even extremism.The episode breaks open the assumption that “natural” or “alternative” equals safe or progressive. Sadie explains how wellness spaces—especially those dominated by white women—have become vulnerable to conspiracy thinking, moral purity narratives, and the wellness-to-alt-right pipeline. Wellness can easily slip into fear-based dogma disguised as empowerment.2. Health is not a personal achievement; it’s a collective responsibility.Sadie underscores that illness is not a moral failure and that no one can “future-proof” themselves through perfection, purity, or biohacking. Real health requires public health systems, community infrastructure, environmental protections, and collective care—not individual optimization or self-blame.3. Movement and community offer grounded, accessible counterpoints to wellness culture’s excesses.Instead of treating movement as punishment, aesthetics, or moral performance, Sadie frames it as “movement medicine”—a way to regulate emotions, process anxiety, and reconnect with ourselves and others. Communal movement spaces, belonging, and ritual are the antidotes to the isolating, hyper-individualized wellness grind.✅ Action Items* Avoid getting hangry* Connect with community* Move your body in a way that is not exhausting* Get the best rest and sleep possible* When someone asks you how you’re doing, answer them honestly* Practice relaxation techniques* Exercising agency; movement is freeTime Stamps* 4:02 | Where MAHA went off course* 6:42 | Growing up in a commune* 8:55 | Wellness conspiracy theories* 11:53 | Biohacking and the health meritocracy* 16:45 | Spiritual practice that sustains us* 17:12 | Aside: SNAP benefits* 19:47 | Movement x wellness x moralism* 20:57 | Aside: RED-S* 25:22 | Finding identity in rigid wellness routines* 27:56 | Aside: Abigail Spanberger* 35:01 | Wellness x the alt-right* 39:59 | What’s in your bag? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Hi. It’s Micah from Modern Hysteria, your podcast and newsletter revealing the taboos of women’s brains and bodies (listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts).This week, we’re talking about “mom rage,” or the intense or blinding rage that feels like it comes on really quickly, and is often related to a feeling of helplessness or powerlessness or stuck-ness.The TabooThe main taboo explored in this episode is:Mothers aren’t allowed to be angry.Links + ResourcesMom Rage: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood by Minna DubinSelf compassion by Dr. Kristin NeffAllison’s websiteTherapist biz coaching with Allison StaigerKey Takeaways* Mom rage is not a personal failing! It’s a symptom of a system of unsupport.* The pressure to gentle parent perfectly can intensify rage.* Maternal rage is an invitation to rest and repair.The Guest ExpertAllison Staiger is a licensed clinical social worker certified in perinatal mental health, with expertise in perinatal mood and anxiety concerns, pregnancy and infant loss, infertility, birth trauma, postpartum rage, and matrescence. She owns Highwire Therapy, a solo private practice in Chicago, specializing in folks with personal and professional caregiving identities (parents, therapists, teachers, etc) through a feminist lens. Allison is also a business and leadership coach to therapists and other helping and healing professionals who want to use their private practices and bodies of work as vehicles for justice, innovation, and care leadership.Action Items* Track what’s going on for you; set an alarm on your phone for every 30 minutes — for a couple days — and when it goes off note your experience; how irritable you are. When was the last time you took care of your own needs? Peed? Ate? (We are often disconnected from our bodies and needs.)* When you crash out, do a review: What happened? What was going on? What led up to this? Then you can notice patterns. What does a 5/10 anger feel like versus a 10/10? This will give you time and space to pause and respond rather than react when you feel rage* So what if you’re angry? Acceptance; anger is okay; women have been conditioned to not do this — especially moms —because it is seen as incompatible with femininity. We can be angry without causing damage to our families.* What does the anger mean? What do you NEED?* Get help not just so you can be a better parent but so you can be a happy person. 😊* Worried about attachment? It is not fixed and can be repaired.* What’s the trigger? Are you burdened by all your tasks? Where else are you feeling resentful and overburdened in your life?Become a paying subscriber for just $8/month USD to support the show and get access to all bonus content:Leave a comment and let me know if this resonates with you (I read every single one!). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Hi. It’s Micah from Modern Hysteria, your podcast and newsletter revealing the taboos of women’s brains and bodies (listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts).This week, we’re talking about the phenomenon of “nesting” while pregnant, and the pressure to ‘bounce back’ after childbirth.The TabooThe main taboo of this episode is the myth of the “independent, bounce‑back mom.”Links + Resources* The First Forty Days book* 12 Tips for Visiting Brand New Parents: How to be a Considerate Guest* Amy’s website: eatwhatfeelsgood.comThe Guest ExpertAmy is a mom of three and has certifications in pre- and postnatal coaching as well as holistic nutrition. By day she’s a speech-language pathologist and lives with her kids and husband in Southeastern Pennsylvania, USA.Key TakeawaysBounce-back culture is a lie.The pressure to “look like you never had a baby” just weeks after birth is deeply rooted in patriarchy, perfectionism, and a culture that sees women’s bodies as projects to manage. Healing is not a race — it’s a season that deserves time, care, and support.Nourishment > restriction.Postpartum nutrition shouldn’t be about shrinking — it should be about rebuilding. Nutrient-dense, warming, easy-to-digest foods like soups, stews, and bone broth can help replenish tissue, regulate hormones, and support emotional health. The goal isn’t to get smaller — it’s to feel stronger and more supported.Q+A ML: So I’m wondering, Amy, what have you learned about our culture of motherhood and postpartum care working with postpartum moms. And from your own experience, about the terminology that is important to use or what concepts are most important?AS: I think instead of when we think of, ‘Oh, I just had this baby, I had this,’ I quote, ‘I have this weight to lose, I gained weight. Now it’s time to get this weight off.’ We think of weight loss in terms of things that we need to take away from our diet, things we need to eliminate, calories we need to restrict.And in postpartum healing, I really focus on nourishing our bodies. We actually need to feed ourselves. What we need and we need to feed ourselves in general, in order for our bodies to heal from the inside out. And I often say that like weight loss postpartum can happen as a side effect of properly nourishing ourselves.So if we get the food in, the fluid in our body and we’re not trying to restrict whatsoever, I do not believe in that. Then our bodies will start to naturally heal. Our organs will go back to the places where they’re supposed to go, and actually the weight will start to come off. And if we’ve nourished ourselves appropriately and gotten enough fat and protein in our diets, then the tissues are going to restore themselves and the elasticity will go, come back into our inner organs in our skin, and it in theory will get smaller again.So I think focusing on nourishing and not restricting.ML: Yeah, and getting smaller does seem to be the goal for most people, or is that what you’re seeing in your practice?AS: Yeah, because it, it’s playing into people’s mental health too. They’re just thinking that that’s what they should be doing. And then also jumping back into exercise is how oftentimes women think that they need to jump back into exercise in order to get back smaller in order to get their fitness back or whatever. And it’s not like exercise is a bad thing, but as I’ve learned more about postpartum healing, I know that too much too soon is very much a thing. And if we do too much too soon, we can actually jeopardize our healing. We can make healing take longer. We can make the whole process harder for ourselves all the way up until menopause because our hormones are healing, our bodies are healing.And if we don’t, let say our pelvic floor heal appropriately after giving birth by resting it for enough time we can cause ourselves pelvic floor issues that will last forever.Time Stamps* 3:38 | “Healing” your cycle?* 5:34 | Health as an individual pursuit? * 9:27 | Getting your body back? * 14: 27 | Aside: What is ‘bounce-back culture?’* 16:17 | What’s going on in our bodies postpartum?* 22:05 | Nesting and why it’s important* 25:16 | Best meals for prepping and meal trains* 36:58 | Top nesting pantry items* 41:22 | What’s in your bag?What’s in her bag?That’s all for this week, friend. Thank you for listening! Did this resonate with you? Have thoughts? Leave a comment; I read every single one! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

This week, we’re talking about reclaiming sexual pleasure after experiencing sexual violence or trauma.The TabooThe main taboo of this episode is the idea that survivors of sexual violence can—and deserve to—experience sexual pleasure again, even while still healing from trauma.Links + Resources* Dr. Holly’s YouTube channel* The Holly Wood Sexologist* The Blog* Dr. Holly on Instagram* Free resourcesThe Guest ExpertDr. Holly Wood is a highly respected expert in the field of sex therapy. With a PhD in Human Sexuality, certification as an AASECT-certified sex therapist, and board certification as a clinical sexologist through the American Board of Sexology, Dr. Holly blends her deep expertise with a warm, inclusive approach. She’s spent years helping individuals and couples navigate the complexities of sexual health, intimacy, trauma recovery, and relationships, offering evidence-based insights in a way that’s both engaging and easy to understand. Dr. Holly is passionate about creating safe, judgment-free spaces for exploring sexuality and empowering people to embrace their authentic selves.📍 Orange County, California, USA“ Whatever you want to share about your story is your choice. If you feel comfortable to share some of that with your partner at whatever level feels okay for you …Even just like, ‘I’ve had really bad sexual experiences,’ very like surface level helps to signal to your partner that there are things that might come up— that triggers might come up —that have absolutely nothing to do with your partner, but there’s a reason why I might react a certain way.”Key TakeawaysSexual trauma isn’t always violent—and it’s still valid.Many survivors struggle to name or validate their experiences because they don’t fit the stereotypical mold of “real” assault. Coercion, pressure in relationships, lack of enthusiastic consent, and internalized people-pleasing all fall under the spectrum of sexual violence. If it wasn’t a full yes, it matters—and it counts.Pleasure after trauma is possible, but healing isn’t linear.Reconnecting with pleasure can start far from the bedroom—with everyday sensory experiences like taste, texture, and touch. It’s not about jumping into sex, but about gently rebuilding safety, autonomy, and connection with your own body—at your pace, on your terms.Healing in relationship can be part of the recovery.You don’t have to be “healed” to deserve love or intimacy. If you’re in a safe partnership, healing with someone can be profoundly supportive. Communication, consent, and co-regulation become the foundation for trust—and for rewriting what intimacy can feel like.Time Stamps* 2:25 | Defining sexual trauma* 11:08 | Dr. Holly’s story* 14:28 | How do you know if you have had a sexually traumatic experience?* 17:14 | How cis women are socialized as people pleasers* 20:45 | Sexual pleasure after sexual violence* 26:45 | Exercises and practices for pleasure* 33:21 | Conversation starters This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

This week, we’re talking about trends in diet culture, rebranded as wellness.The Taboo(s)We’re unpacking why bloating isn’t a problem to fix, how colonics and cleanses became “wellness” scams, and why carbs, not restriction, are what your gut actually needs.Links + Resources* 5 Ways to Avoid IBS Flares* Samina’s website* Work with Samina* Follow Samina on Instagram @ inclusive.ibs.dieticianThe Guest ExpertSamina Qureshi is a Registered Dietitian of 10+ years and the founder of her weight-inclusive GI nutrition and communications practice, Wholesome Start, LLC. She specializes in helping people find balance with food and gain relief from gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) without rigid diets, guilt, or shame.Samina encourages her clients and community to embrace their cultural foods and traditions, recognizing the importance of food as a source of nourishment, connection, and joy. Through her work, she also partners with companies that align with her core values, has created educational presentations for health-focused conferences, and has been featured in local television shows, social media, podcasts, online articles, and print publications.Key Takeaways* Bloating isn’t a flaw — it’s physiology. Your stomach expanding throughout the day is a normal part of digestion, not a sign that your gut is “broken.” Instead of trying to “fix” it with cleanses or colonics, wear clothes that fit your body, not the other way around.* Restriction isn’t wellness — nourishment is. Cutting carbs, doing juice cleanses, or following extreme diets might feel virtuous, but they often under-fuel your brain and gut. Carbs and fiber are essential for energy, mood, and healthy digestion. You can’t heal a starved gut with more restriction.Time Stamps* 4:31 | What is diet culture?* 7:35 | GLP-1s* 11:18 | The fear of carbs* 13:39 | Bloating* 19:03 | Cleanses and detoxes* 20:42 | Juicing and juice cleanses* 24:48 | Colonics* 28:35| Pre- and probiotics* 32:30 | The carnivore diet This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

This week, we’re talking about how having our pain believed no matter our sex or race isn’t just a reproductive justice issue, it’s our civil right.The TabooPain dismissal in women’s healthcare is so common, it’s considered normal. But what if it’s not just medical neglect—it’s a civil rights violation?Links + Resources* Human Rites by Juno Dawson 📘* National Health Law Program (NHeLP) ⚖️Sign up for the NHeLP newsletterNHeLP on FacebookNHeLP on BlueSky* Sexual and Reproductive Health Equity Resource Hub 💻* 📝 related blog post* Follow Madeline on Instagram @reprolawyer 📱* 2025 Landmines in Healthcare Policy 💣“ Reproductive justice means trusting people with the truth of what’s happening in our bodies. So that we can have all the information and can decide what’s right for us.”— Madeline MorcelleThe Guest ExpertMadeline T. Morcelle, J.D., M.P.H., is a Senior Attorney at the National Health Law Program (NHeLP), where she leads work advancing civil rights and equitable access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, particularly for people with disabilities, immigrants, and low-income communities. A movement lawyer and coalition-builder, she focuses on Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and federal health policy reform. Previously, she directed public benefits law at the Mississippi Center for Justice and held legal and policy roles at CMS and public health institutions. A Harvard-trained public health leader, Madeline has received numerous national honors and serves on advisory boards supporting reproductive health access and early abortion training.Key Takeaways🩺 1. Pain dismissal in women’s healthcare is systemic, and it’s a civil rights violation.What many people write off as “bad bedside manner” is actually a pattern of discrimination. When providers ignore or downplay women’s pain, like in reproductive care, it’s not just harmful, it’s a violation of federal civil rights law under the Affordable Care Act (Section 1557).🧬 2. Dismissed pain delays diagnoses and derails reproductive autonomy.Conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, endometriosis, and others often go undiagnosed for years due to providers ignoring women’s reports of pain. This leads to missed or delayed information about pregnancy risks, fertility issues, and hereditary conditions, which robs patients of informed decision-making and violates the core tenets of reproductive justice.🔥 3. You have rights!If a healthcare provider refuses to treat or acknowledge your pain, you may have legal recourse. While the current administration is rolling back protections, the law still stands. You can take action: know your rights, report civil rights violations, and advocate for stronger state-level protections.Time Stamps5:29 | How does pain dismissal show up in the reproductive health space? 10:23 | Pain dismissal and chronic conditions 18:37 | Fannie Lou Hamer19:58 | Aside: ‘Mississippi Appendectomies’23:34 | Affordable Care Act (ACA) and patient protections28:31 | What can we do to protect ourselves in a medical context?33:41 | What systemic changes are most urgent right now? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

This week, we’re talking about the intersection of fertility, nutrition, and diet culture. We cover:* Why under-eating is more common than you think* What your menstrual cycle is trying to tell you* Why the most fertile body is often not the “ideal” bodyThe TabooThe body that is healthiest, most nourished, and most fertile is often at odds with the body ideal promoted by diet culture, wellness trends, and societal expectations.“The most fertile body is often not the body we're told we should have as women.”Links + Resources🍳 Amara’s cookbook: Eat Your Way To Fertility🧴 TikTok face spray: Hypochlorous acid🆓 Your Fertility Action Plan: 5 Evidence-Based Steps to Boost Your Chances This Cycle — That You Probably Haven’t Tried YetThe Guest ExpertAmara is a fertility dietitian and who started her business, Foodbaby, after her own struggles to start a family. She is passionate about helping people tweak their diet and lifestyle without restrictions, a billion supplements or BS diets. Her debut cookbook, Eat Your Way To Fertility, translates fertility nutrition science into practical tips and delicious, generous recipes.Follow Amara on Instagram — @foodbabyfertilityKey TakeawaysThe most fertile body may not be the thinnest, or the one that matches our beauty ideals.Many women come to fertility work still steeped in diet culture, wellness trends, and restrictive eating patterns. Amara calls out the dangerous disconnect: the thinner, more “controlled” body idealized by culture is often undernourished, and less hormonally resilient.“Clean eating” — even when TTC — is often just restriction in disguise.Amara explains that many of her clients think they’re eating “healthy” but are actually unintentionally under-eating—especially fats, calories, and key micronutrients. Diets branded as “clean,” “anti-inflammatory,” or “gut-healing” often reduce fertility by cutting out essential food groups.Your menstrual cycle may be trying to tell you something.Your cycle offers real-time data about your hormonal health—but most women don’t know how to read it. Amara encourages people to start by tracking their full cycle (not just the bleed) to identify “pink flags”—subtle signs like short luteal phases, irregular spotting, or mid-cycle pain that might indicate nutritional or hormonal imbalances.Time Stamps* 9:19 | Breaking down the menstrual cycle* 15:40 | Why we’re so impacted by diet culture* 24:24 | Fats, fish, fruit* 28:59 | Blood sugar balance* 30:22 | Trans fats* 41:26 | The message from your menstrual cycle* 44:34 | “Pink Flags”* 46:33 | Alcohol, caffeine, sugar* 54:25 | Supplements* 59:00 | What’s in her bag?What’s In Her Bag?Upcoming* Carbs, juice cleanses, and diet culture with Samina Qureshi* Intimacy after sexual assault with Dr. Holly Wood* Nesting x nutrition with Amy SpoffordModern Hysteria is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

This week, friend of the pod and therapist Grace Bithell returns to talk about disorganized attachment, the least understood and most taboo of the attachment styles.We talk about:* What disorganized attachment looks like and where it comes from* The overlaps between disorganized attachment, C-PTSD, relational OCD, and borderline personality disorder* Living room and bedroom kids* How to handle disorganized attachment as it plays out in your relationships* What we get wrong about attachment parentingThe TabooDisorganized attachment comes from a dynamic where your adults are “scared” and “scary.” It often stems from childhood experiences where the caregiver—the person who was supposed to keep you safe—was also the source of fear, neglect, abuse, or emotional unpredictability.Links + Resources* 📱 Follow Grace on Instagram* 🎧 Grace’s Podcast: The Guilt Girl* 🆓 Schedule a free 15-min phone consult with Grace* ✍🏻 Grace’s blogKey Takeaways1. Disorganized Attachment Is a Survival Strategy, Not a Character FlawThis attachment style forms in childhood when caregivers are both a source of safety and a source of fear. That contradiction wires the nervous system to crave intimacy while fearing it, leading to push-pull dynamics in adult relationships.You’re not broken… you adapted to an unsafe environment.2. It’s the Most Misunderstood Attachment Style Because It’s MessyDisorganized attachment doesn’t fit neatly into categories. It involves both anxious and avoidant behaviors, and often gets confused with (or misdiagnosed as) borderline personality disorder, C-PTSD, or relational OCD.3. Healing Is Possible, but It Happens in Relationships, Not IsolationAttachment wounds happen in relationships, and they also heal in relationships. You don’t need to be perfectly “secure” to deserve love—but you do need to practice rupture and repair, learn to pause, and take small, uncomfortable steps toward safety.Coming up on Season 2:* Intimacy after sexual assault with Dr. Holly Wood* Fertility and food* Money x power x peace of mind* Nesting and nutrition… and a lot more.Become a paying subscriber for just $8/month USD to support the show and get access to all bonus content. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

In this episode of Pinkpilled, we cover The Gibson Girl, a fictitious 19th-century beauty icon who permanently informed our beauty standards.The Gibson Girl was created and recreated by illustrator Charles Dana Gibson in the 1890s - 1910s. She may have been fictional, but she became a beauty icon in America and beyond.Her tiny waist and s-curve posture were achieved with the help of a highly restrictive Edwardian corset that altered the anatomy of real women:The Gibson Girl walked so the Flapper Girl could run.And though the Gibson Girl eventually fell out of favor, we see her effect today: She was the first aspirational icon who connected consumerism to the achievement of a particular type of beauty.The Gibson Girl was the blueprint for our beauty standards.We still look at beauty icons as aspirational, and products as a means to an end. Think: The now-infamous Sydney Sweeney “good genes” ad for American Eagle denim.That’s it for this mini-sode.What do you think? Tell me in the comments; I read every single one.Up next on Modern Hysteria, we bring back friend of the pod and therapist Grace Bithell to discuss attachment theory and disorganized attachment, the least-understood of the attachment styles.Subscribe $8/month This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

This week we’re exploring postpartum rage, or the experience of intense, dysregulated anger with no place to go.We talk about:* how rage is a reasonable response to an unreasonable setup* why anger is natural and protective* what to do if you’re feeling rageThe TabooWe have a cultural belief that experiencing rage or anger after childbirth is a sign of a bad mother or a character flaw. Instead, it’s a natural response to unmet needs that has long been stigmatized and repressed by women and moms.Links + Resources* 📝 Mini Guide: 10 Ways to Navigate Rage in Motherhood Workbook* Yoto Player* Follow Aubrey on Instagram* 🗓️ Book a 15 min consult with Aubrey* 🎵 What Do You Do With the Mad That You Feel? by Mister RogersKey Takeaways🧰 What to do with your rage* Say it out loud: “I feel rage.” Naming it reduces shame.* Move your body: Stomping, shaking, scribbling, punching a pillow—get it out of your body.* Practice aftercare: Cold compresses, grounding exercises, or the physiological sigh (double inhale through the nose, long exhale through the mouth) to reset your nervous system.* Creative expression: Use art to externalize what feels monstrous, invisible, or overwhelming—“even destruction can be creative.”* Curiosity > Criticism: Ask yourself, “What is this anger trying to tell me?” instead of “What’s wrong with me?”Book RecommendationMom Rage by Minna DubinThe Guest ExpertAubrey Bodt, LCPAT, LCPC, ATR-BC, is a licensed and board-certified art therapist, counselor, and coach specializing in perinatal mental health. As the founder of TendWell Therapy LLC, she empowers mothers to reclaim and rewrite their narratives, reconnect with their intuition, and navigate the raw, unfiltered challenges of motherhood—postpartum anxiety, rage, body image struggles, and identity shifts. With over a decade of experience supporting children and families in psychiatric and pediatric hospitals, along with advanced training from Postpartum Support International, Aubrey brings a feminist, solution-focused, and narrative approach to her work.Through a unique blend of art therapy and counseling, she facilitates self-discovery, clarity, and resilience, helping mothers embrace their multifaceted identities and thrive on their own terms. She’s also a mother herself, which means she gets it—really. Aubrey is passionate about shifting societal conversations around motherhood to honor its complexity, celebrate women’s strength, and challenge the systems that make mothers feel like they’re failing. She is also the author of Channeling the Fire: Understanding and Moving Through Postpartum Rage, a workbook that invites mothers to lean into their rage with compassion, listen to its messages, and use it as a tool for empowerment as they move through their postpartum journey.🗓️ Book a 15 min consult with AubreyThat’s it for this week’s episode of Modern Hysteria. Coming up on Season 2:* The Gibson Girl and the birth of American beauty standards* Disorganized attachment with therapist Grace Bithell* Intimacy after sexual assault with Dr. Holly Wood… and a lot more.Become a paying subscriber for just $8/month USD to support the show and get access to all bonus content. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Being pink-pilled is when you start to see the very real effects of sexism and patriarchy all around you. It’s like the red-pill-blue-pill concept from the movie The Matrix, where the blue pill keeps you ignorantly blissful, and the red pill wakes you up to the hard truth of society.These mini-sodes expose how patriarchy and medical misogyny affect our culture and wellbeing. 💄 “Nothing invites more unsolicited comments than red lipstick.”— Maria CassanoRed lipstick: A quick history* 3500 BC | Queen Puabi wears a mixture of red rocks and lead on her lips in ancient Mesopotamia.* Ancient Egypt | Both men and women wore crimson lips to signify high social status.* Ancient Greece | Prostitutes painted their lips read to signify their low social status.* Medieval Europe | The Church declared makeup “sinful.”* Elizabethan England | Red lipstick was back in style for women. Some believed it could ward off evil spirits.* 18th-Century England | Women could be tried as “witches” for luring men into marriage with makeup.* 1912 | Elizabeth Arden handed out red lipstick to suffragists in New York City as they fought for women’s right to vote, and red lips became a sign of solidarity and independence.* 1920s | Flappers embrace red lipstick.* 1930s | Cartoon character Betty Boop rocks a red lip.* 1940s | Red lipstick is stocked in factories during WWII and becomes a sign of patriotism with colors like “Fighting Red!”* 1950s | Hollywood icons like Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe make red lipstick glamorous.* 1990s | Pop culture sexpots like Jessica Rabbit, Morticia Addams, and Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman wear a red lip.* Now | Celebrities like Rihanna, Janelle Monae, and Taylor Swift make red lipstick their signature look.That’s it for this mini-sode, friend. Thanks for listening!To support this podcast, become a paying subscriber for just $8 USD/month and get access to upcoming BONUS episodes. 🤫Coming up on Modern Hysteria:* Disorganized attachment* Food x fertility* Postpartum rage… and so much more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

In this episode we debunk myths about ADHD — attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — and how it presents in women, girls, and moms.The TabooADHD is still widely seen as a “little boy’s disorder,” so when women and mothers struggle, their symptoms are often minimized, misdiagnosed, or blamed on personality flaws (lazy, disorganized, bad mom, too emotional!).Also: How hormones (period, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause) exacerbate ADHD symptoms is rarely discussed in mainstream conversations.Links + Resources* Avery’s website* Contact AveryTime Stamps* 5:00 – 12:00 | What is ADHD, really?* 12:00 – 18:00 | Late Diagnosis in Women & Mothers* 18:00 – 26:00 | Masking and Perfectionism* 26:00 – 34:00 | Hormones and ADHD* 34:00 – 42:00 | ADHD x Motherhood* 42:00 – 50:00 | Strengths and Coping StrategiesKey TakeawaysMany women don’t get an ADHD diagnosis ‘til their 30s or later, often after becoming mothers. This is partly because ADHD symptoms in women are misattributed to anxiety and depression, but diagnosis is often a huge turning point in reframing struggles as a neurological difference and not a personal failing.ADHD presents uniquely in women. It often looks like mental hyperactivity and not the physical hyperactivity seen in many boys. This is because of social conditioning and expectations for masking (“good girl” socialization, perfectionism, blending in). Masking can lead to exhaustion, shame, and eventual breakdown.Hormonal changes, like in puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and the menstrual cycle, can exacerbate ADHD symptoms because of the relationship between estrogen and dopamine. The mental load, overstimulation, and pressures of motherhood can add to ADHD challenges and make everyday routines and tasks overwhelming.Guest ExpertAvery Wasmanski — licensed, trauma-informed therapist — works with women and moms who feel like they are chronically overwhelmed and feel like they aren't good enough in their parenting or relationships.Avery incorporates mindfulness and other holistic and somatic techniques in her therapy, while always focusing on the relationship between client and therapist as the primary tool for healing and change. Avery's lived experience of being a mom of two young girls, as well as being a therapist with ADHD, gives her a unique understanding of what being a mom with ADHD is like.Visit her website at averywasmanskilpctherapy.com or follow Avery on Instagram, Threads, or Facebook.📍 Pennsylvania, USA This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

The TabooDespite our cultural belief that birthgivers should return to their pre-pregnancy selves, postpartum bodies are not meant to "bounce back"—they are meant to heal, and forcing weight loss or rapid fitness recovery can cause harm.Links + ResourcesCourtney’s band, Bait Bag (check out “Girl Push-ups”!)Book RecommendationsYour Postpartum Body by Courtney Naliboff and Ruth MacyTami Lynn Kent’s Wild Mothering: Finding Power, Spirit, and Joy in Birth and a Creative Motherhood (Reclaim Your Wild Book 3)Time Stamps* 07:15 — What bounce-back culture looks like today.* 12:00 — Patriarchy, perfectionism, and why postpartum bodies are policed.* 17:45 — The science: what actually happens to the body after pregnancy and why “six weeks” is a myth.* 23:10 — Pelvic floor, core strength, and “quick fixes.”* 28:20 — Mental health and identity shifts* 33:00 — How to advocate for yourself in postpartum.Key TakeawaysNot all things return to baseline in six weeks after birth; it can take to three years (but we haven’t studied it enough; only 2% of NIH funding is dedicated to women’s health, and it’s mostly on how to get pregnant).And this pressure to “get your body back” after birth isn’t about health. It’s rooted in misogyny, beauty standards, and unrealistic expectations that erase the realities of postpartum recovery and childbirth.True recovery means prioritizing function, energy, mental health, and connection. It might look like setting boundaries with family, friends, and even healthcare providers.The Guest ExpertsCourtney Naliboff is the co-author of Your Postpartum Body: The Complete Guide to Healing After Pregnancy, published in 2024 and is a columnist and reporter for Working Waterfront. Her co-author, Ruth E. Macy, has her doctorate in physical therapy, and specializes in pelvic health. She has been in the industry for 20 years.Did this resonate with you? Tell me in the comments (I read every single one):Consider becoming a paying subscriber and support the podcast here:Up next, we cover the hidden history of red lipstick, ADHD in motherhood, food and fertility, and more.xo —Micah This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Hi. It’s Micah from Modern Hysteria, your newsletter and podcast about the taboo topics of women’s health (available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify)If you grew up in the United States between the 1960s and 2010s you very well may remember some variation on the sit-and-reach, or its companions:* the shuttle run* the flexed arm hang (or pull-up test, depending on your gender)* the mile run* the sit-up testThese are elements of the Presidential Physical Fitness Test, a midcentury invention spurred by anxiety about and foisted upon “soft” American children. If you did the Presidential Physical Fitness Test, your memories of it may depend on whether you passed (85% and above) and earned the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, or, like me, entirely failed.This Cold War-era eval is problematic, and not just because it was embarrassing (skin-fold body composition and weigh-in components were added in by the time I took the Test), but because it was essentially meaningless. It did not measure actual meaningful metrics of fitness, nor were the data used to benefit the legions of US children forced to dangle from a pull-up bar in front of their peers.Yet, on Thursday, July 31, 2025, the Trump administration signed an executive order to back the Presidential Physical Fitness Test under the supervision of the brand-new President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition (staffed by Trump-appointed professional athletes). Because, as everyone knows, professional athletes are well-equipped to run government programs and standardized tests. 😒The Presidential Fitness Test did nothing to further girls’ and women’s health. In fact, I argue it may have been fodder for some long-term issues, like body shame, perfectionism, and eating disorders.Coming up on Season 2 of Modern Hysteria:* The Myth of Bouncing Back After Baby with Courtney Naliboff and Ruth Macy* ADHD x Motherhood x Masking x Burnout* Food x Fertility* Intimacy After Sexual Trauma…. and a lot more. Can’t wait to share!Subscribe to get new episodes sent straight to your inboxMore:* Maintenance Phase: The Presidents Physical Fitness Test* The Hill: Trump’s Presidential Fitness Test* BBC: How many pull-ups can you do? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Hi! It’s Micah from Modern Hysteria, your podcast and newsletter revealing the taboos of women’s brains and bodies (listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts).You may have had these body parts for all or most of your life, but do you really know what should go on *down there?*This Season 1 finale demystifies the vulva, vagina, and labia with evidence-based insight from OB-Gyn Dr. Carla Carpenter, challenging cultural myths, porn-influenced beauty standards, and medical misinformation to help you understand how to advocate for your sexual and vaginal health at every stage of life.This episode’s for you. We don’t hold back. 🩵THE TABOOWe are taught to be ashamed of our genitals—how they look, how they smell, how they age, and how they function—in lieu of accurate, empowering, or evidence-based information.LINKS + RESOURCES ⚕️ International Society of the Study of Vulvovaginal Disorders📘 Book recommendations* Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski→ The science of female desire, and why context matters more than we think* The Pleasure Gap by Katherine Rowland→ A journalistic look at why women are having less satisfying sex* The Care & Keeping Of You by Valorie Schaefer→ Straightforward advice on boobs and pubic hair, etc., for 8-10-year-olds from the American Girl Library SeriesTIME STAMPS* 7:00: Anatomy 101: Vulva vs. Vagina* 11:00: Discharge: Normal or not?* 15:00: What causes vaginal dryness?* 18:00: Finding a good OB-Gyn* 21:00: Common issues like dryness and itching* 24:30: Painful sex is not normal* 27:30: Responsive versus spontaneous desire* 31:00: Am I normal? Your labia and porn myths* 34:00: Your labia in menopauseKEY TAKEAWAYS + LISTENER QUESTIONSWhat’s the difference between my vulva and my vagina?* Your vulva is the outside part—the visible external genitalia. That includes your labia (inner and outer lips), clitoris, urethral opening (where you pee), and the vaginal opening.* Your vagina is the internal canal. It’s a stretchy, muscular tube that connects your vulva to your cervix and uterus. It’s what doctors look at during an internal exam, and what expands during sex or childbirth.Is vaginal dryness normal?Common? Yes. Normal? Not exactly.What is vaginal discharge, and what’s normal versus worrisome?Vaginal discharge is a mix of fluid and cells that your vagina and cervix naturally produce to keep things clean and healthy. It’s supposed to be there—it’s not gross, it’s a sign your body is doing its job.How can I find a good healthcare provider?Finding a good healthcare provider—especially for vulvovaginal or hormonal health—can feel like searching for a unicorn.🔍 Search here:  International Society of the Study of Vulvovaginal DisordersWhat’s the most common vulvovaginal conditions folks just live with, not knowing it’s abnormal and treatable?🚩 Painful sex because of vaginal drynessCarla gives permission to not have sex unless it’s comfortable.→ More on “libido” and sexual desireHow often do long-term partners have sex?Two-to-four times a monthEmily Nagoski — spontaneous versus responsive desireTHE GUEST EXPERTDr. Carla Carpenter received her undergraduate degree in Neurobiology from Northwestern University and her medical degree from Des Moines University. She is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), and is in private practice, focusing on full-scope obstetrics and gynecology, including high-risk obstetrics.Her special interests include complex vulvar and vaginal dermatologic disorders. Getting to know her patients on a personal level throughout the 20+ years of her practice has been Carla’s most unexpected and greatest joy of practicing medicine.More on Dr. CarpenterComing up in Season 2:Bouncing Back After Baby x Self Acceptance 💥Disorganized Attachment StylePostpartum RageFood x FertilityIntimacy after Sexual TraumaADHD x Motherhood This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

This week we welcome back friend of the pod, holistic therapist Megan Sherer to talk about the least-known trauma response: Fawning.THE TABOOFawning is a trauma response just like fight and flight. Women who fawn are taught to be agreeable, low-maintenance, and accommodating. But what if that ‘cool girl’ persona is actually your nervous system trying to stay safe?Fawning can also show up in intimacy: When women say yes to sex they don’t want, it’s often not consent. And giving yourself up like that can have serious consequences.LINKS + RESOURCES 📘 Book Recommendations* Sex Object: A Memoir by Jessica Valenti* Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker* Choose Your Self by Megan Sherer 🔥TIME STAMPS* 01:41 Understanding trauma responses* 03:19 Introducing Megan Sherer* 11:22 Fawn response in relationships* 16:43 Self-abandonment and consent* 21:55 Internalized misogyny and the ‘Pick Me’ Girl* 36:57 Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy* 41:14 Fawning vs. people pleasing* 47:38 Building boundaries and self-trust* 59:32 Grey's Anatomy and the 'Pick Me' Girl* 01:06:14 Megan's book and final thoughtsTHE GUEST EXPERTMegan Sherer is a holistic therapist and relationship coach, a speaker, and facilitator with 11+ years of experience leading women back to their most authentic self. She is the creator of the Love Alignment method and The Self Care Space, and has helped thousands of women create transformation in their lives and relationships.Megan is an expert in healing with training and certifications in somatic healing, hypnotherapy, life coaching, energy healing, yoga, meditation, and mindfulness-based therapy.* 📘 Megan’s 🆕 book: Choose Your Self* 💻 Megan’s website* 🇮🇪 Reclaimed Self Healing Retreat in IrelandKEY TAKEAWAYSThe fawn response is a trauma response.Saying yes when you mean no, keeping the peace, or being the “cool girl” isn’t just people-pleasing; it’s your nervous system trying to stay safe, especially after experiences of emotional or sexual trauma.→ People-pleasing is a more general personality trait, with some overlap with codependency and anxious attachment, but fawning happens in moments of perceived threat and boundary violation.Ignoring your own needs is self abandonment, and it is destructive.When you ignore your own needs to avoid rejection, conflict, or abandonment, you may feel connected in the moment—but over time, it leads to resentment, disconnection, and loss of self.You can learn to trust your body.Healing from fawning means reconnecting with your body’s cues, learning to tolerate discomfort, and practicing consent that includes you. You don’t have to perform to be loved—you just have to be present.ACTION ITEMSSome actionable things to try, based on Megan’s expert advice:* Notice one moment this week when you want to say “no,” but feel pressure to say “yes.”Don’t change anything yet; just notice the impulse. Awareness is the first step!* Do a body check-in before making a decision.Ask yourself: “What does my body feel right now …tight, tired, tense, open?”If something feels off, practice pausing before answering. Even just saying, “Let me get back to you” can be a big win!* Say no to something small, and do it without apologizing.Cancel a plan. Skip the email. Turn off your phone. Practice disappointing someone in service of not abandoning yourself (I’m working on this, too!).SOURCESInternal Family Systems Institute This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

This week, I am joined by the “Lube Fairy” herself, Cindy Scharkey, RN, BSN, to talk about a much-misunderstood, underrated, and “hard to find” body part: The clitoris.What is it? Why doesn’t it get enough credit? And what are we missing about our own pleasure?THE TABOOIn this episode we dive into sexual pleasure — specifically, the widespread ignorance, silence, and shame surrounding the clitoris, arousal, and women’s right to enjoy sex on their own terms, plus:* The cultural erasure of the clitoris and female anatomy from sex education* The myth that sex is (or should be) centered around penetration and male pleasure* The shame many women feel about needing time, lube, or different types of stimulation* The silence around pleasure in midlife and menopause* The discomfort around self-pleasure, communication, and asking for what you wantLINKS + RESOURCES* The OhNut Depth-Limiting Rings by The Pelvic People* Überlube📘 Book Recommendations* Better Sex Through Mindfulness by Lori Brotto, PhD* Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski, PhD* The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self Love by Sonya Renee Taylor* The Wisdom of Your Body: Finding Healing, Wholeness, and Connection through Embodied Living by Hillary L McBride, PhDTIME STAMPS* 3:40 – Cindy’s journey from labor and delivery nurse to sex educator* 9:30 – “What is a clitoris?” The cultural joke around “the clit”* 18:00 – Beginner’s guide to arousal and pleasure* 19:40 – “The Arousal Ladder” – Slow buildup vs. media myths* 21:10 – “Your brain is your biggest sex organ” – Dual Control Model (accelerator & brake)* 25:20 – Mental load, chores, and “chore-play” as arousal* 32:00 – Desire vs. arousal explained + “Is the sex you’re having worth wanting?”* 39:15 – “Mindfulness starts outside the bedroom” – citing Dr. Lori Brotto’s research* 51:20 – Listener Q: How to keep libido up midlife? → Find menopause-literate providers, use lube, arouse all erectile tissue* 57:45 – Communication: “It’s a learnable skill – don’t bring the whole bucket”* 59:00 – Mutual masturbation as a teaching tool and self-pleasure as a way to relearn your body after birth or menopause* 1:03:40 – “Why are women obsessed with romantasy?”* 1:12:00 – What’s in Cindy’s bag?THE GUEST EXPERTCindy Scharkey, RN, BSN, has been consistently exposed to the taboo and silence surrounding women’s sexuality over nearly four decades in healthcare as a Certified Childbirth Educator, OB/GYN nurse, and speaker.She is passionate about providing women with the education and self-confidence they need to find freedom on their own sexual wellness journey.* Cindy’s website: Sexual Health with Cindy Scharkey* 📘 Permission for Pleasure: Tending Your Sexual Garden* 🎧 Permission for Pleasure PodcastACTION ITEMS* 🧠 Learn your anatomyLook up a diagram of the vulva and clitoris. Know what parts you actually have, and what they do.* 🕰 Give yourself transition timeBefore sex, take a shower, light a candle, change your clothes, dance to a song …. anything to shift gears from caregiving or work mode.* 🐢 Slow down arousalAim for at least 20 minutes. More time = more blood flow = more sensation = better orgasm.* 💧 Use lube (no shame!)Friction is not your friend. Lubricant can change everything, especially during perimenopause and menopause.* 🪜 Remember the arousal ladderDon’t expect to jump from zero to orgasm. You climb, step by step.* 🧠 Explore your brakes and acceleratorsAsk: What turns me off? What helps me feel turned on? Mental load, stress, or pain might be pressing your brake.* 📚 Read or listen to eroticaTry books or audio like Dipsea to build arousal without pressure—just for you.* 🧴 Try morning sex or post-exercise sexYour hormones are usually more cooperative, and your blood flow is already going.* 💬 Talk to your partner (outside the bedroom!)Use a podcast or book as a convo starter. Start with one idea at a time.* 🪞Practice self-pleasureGet to know what your body likes, especially after a baby or in midlife when things might feel different.* 🧘‍♀️ Use your sensesPractice being sensual (not necessarily sexual) — notice smells, textures, sounds. Pleasure starts with presence.* 🩺 If sex is painful, get helpPain is not normal. Talk to a menopause-trained provider or pelvic floor therapist.SOURCESThe components of optimal sexuality: A portrait of "great sex."Virtual Reality Erotica: Exploring General Presence, Sexual Presence, Sexual Arousal, and Sexual Desire in Women This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

This episode is about some **big** topics, but — I swear — I’ve never laughed so much or so hard as during this interview with Sonia Voldseth of Menopause & Misogyny.Sonia and I are menopausal women with a history of eating disorders, navigating what it means to be a woman with a “belly shelf” in a culture in which misogyny dictates that women should stay young and thin forever … or just disappear.THE TABOOHow menopause impacts body image—especially for women with a history of disordered eating—and naming the shame, fear, and internalized misogyny that fuel it.⚠️ Content warning: Descriptions of disordered eating and body size.TIME STAMPS* [00:12:30] The phrase "you just have to have balls to get through [menopause]" (and how it reveals internalized misogyny)* [00:20:00] Honest conversation about cystic acne, panic attacks, and the emotional toll of perimenopause* [00:30:00] Body image spirals when trying on jeans post-menopause* [00:34:00] We unpack how old disordered eating behaviors creep back in during body changes in menopause* [00:38:00] Reframing eating disorders through a trauma-informed lens: “It’s not what’s wrong with you, it’s what happened to you”* [00:45:00] Pamela Anderson and internalized misogyny: What it means when women stop performing beauty* [00:48:00] Te Ruahinetanga; the Māori word for menopause as a sacred transition.* [00:55:00] Body neutrality vs. body love, and why neutrality is often the more realistic, empowering goalTHE GUEST EXPERTSonia Voldseth lives in Aotearoa (New Zealand) where she mothers and writes and works as a registered mental health counselor dealing with sexual trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression and body image. She has two clever and kind teenaged daughters and is married to a Kiwi.She was born and raised in Montana on a cattle ranch, then worked in national politics and briefly as a lawyer, before she realized “how much it sucked.”She is excited to be fifty-one years old and finally talking about menopause and misogyny.LINKS + RESOURCESStuff we mention in this episode:* Dr. Mary Claire Haver of ‘The ‘Pause Life”* Dr. Jen Gunter of “The Vagenda”* Older women inspo on Instagram: The Silver Lining 1970* The Last Showgirl (2024), featuring Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis* Dr. Gabor Mate and a trauma-informed lens* On Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo: “Yes, We Need to Talk About Wicked Bodies” by Virginia Sole-Smith* Martha Stewart on Sports IllustratedBOOK RECOMMENDATIONS* Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life by Sharon Blackie* Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay* This Changes Everything by (New Zealander) Niki BezzantKEY TAKEAWAYS* “It’s not what’s wrong with you; it’s what happened to you.”Reframing body image struggles and disordered eating in menopause through a trauma-informed lens helps you understand that your reactions aren’t personal failures. They’re responses to decades of cultural conditioning and systemic misogyny (“the water we swim in”).* Body neutrality is more sustainable than body love.Instead of forcing ourselves to love our changing bodies, especially after years of internalized shame, it can be more empowering to aim for neutrality, or acknowledging, respecting, and caring for our bodies without attaching our worth to how they look.* Te Ruahinetanga offers a radically different framework for menopause.Learning from Māori culture, menopause is not a medical problem to "fix," but a sacred life transition into wisdom and elderhood.Still to come on Season 1 of Modern Hysteria:* Season 1 Ep. 23: The Clitoris x Orgasm x Pleasure with Cindy Scharkey, RN* Season 1 Ep. 24: The Fawn Response withMegan Sherer* Season 1 Ep 25: Normal versus Abnormal Vaginas x Vulvas x Pelvic Red Flags with Carla Carpenter, OBGynSubscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. ☺️ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

I didn’t know sex isn’t supposed to hurt.Did you know that? Penetrative sex is supposed to be free of any unwanted pain. ANY UNWANTED pain.That’s what I learned from Rachel Gelman, physical therapist and sexuality counselor, in this week’s episode.I also learned that 75% of women will have painful penetrative sex in their lifetime. 👀Painful sex can be a result of invisible, chronic illness, pelvic floor dysfunction, or a lifetime of dogmatic messaging about sex.THE TABOOThe taboo we reveal in this episode is that many people — particularly people with vulvas — have had and continue to have painful penetrative sex.Women in our patriarchal culture are often conditioned to anticipate or accept pain as a part of intimacy, and spend years (decades!) not knowing their experience is not normal (but dreadfully common), and treatable.LINKS + RESOURCESThe Pelvic People - on a mission to end painful sex* 🛒 The Ohnut depth-limiting ringsThe International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH)* 🏥 Find a providerPelvic Wellness + Physical Therapy* 🗓️ Schedule a virtual visit with Rachel Gelman, DPT, CSCTIME STAMPS* 02:30 – Why patients come to pelvic floor therapy (often self-referred through Reddit)* 04:45 – Your pelvic floor muscles and how they affect sex and pain.* 13:50 – How media and culture condition women to expect sex to be painful.* 16:30 – Why people push through pain: duty, stigma, survival.* 18:45 – Texas sex toy laws and why female pleasure is still taboo.* 23:20 – Vaginal dryness: causes, hormones, and why lube helps but isn’t always enough.* 28:10 – Endo, adeno, PCOS, and fibroids: A quick overview and relevance.* 32:30 – What to expect in a pelvic floor therapy session* 41:45 – How to talk to your partner about painful sex.THE GUEST EXPERTDr. Rachel Gelman’s mission is to make women/people with vulvas aware that certain life events (pregnancy and menopause) can impact their sex life but that there are options to address their sexual health concerns and common issues, like pain with sex or low desire do not need to be accepted as normal.* 📍 San Francisco, California* 🛜 Pelvic Wellness + Physical Therapy: Promoting wellness for anyone with a pelvis* ✍🏻 Rachel’s blog: The Pelvic Post* 📱 Follow Rachel on Instagram: @pelvichealthsfKEY TAKEAWAYS* Sex should be pain free to the extent you want it to be* Painful penetrative sex can be the result of conditions like endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, or PCOS, pelvic floor dysfunction like vaginismus (which can be a side effect of trauma and/or fear of sex).* Sex toys, lube, sexuality counseling, and pelvic floor physical therapy are ways to treat painful sexHow to talk to your partner about painful sex“Hey, I was listening to this podcast and they were talking about pain with sex.“It's interesting because I've actually had pain with sex and I always thought it was normal, but this lady said, it's actually not normal and it's actually really common, but there's things that can be done about it. I didn't know that, and I didn't realize there were things I could do about it, but I would like to try _.“I wanted to tell you that I have been having pain.”P.S. I made you this silly quiz to find out which feminist banned book you are:🔮 Which Banned Feminist Book Are You?Other episodes you might like: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Full informed consent — before you agree to a medical treatment, test, or medication, you’ve been given all the information you need in a way you can understand, and you’re able to make the decision freely, without pressure.This episode uncovers how women — especially Black women — are often prescribed fertility and mental health medications without full informed consent.… and how systemic racism, medical misogyny, and lack of personalized care create dangerous, traumatic, and entirely avoidable outcomes in reproductive and mental health care.(Because our sex hormones and our stress hormones are inextricably linked, reproductive and mental healthcare go hand-in-hand, but they’re not always treated as such).Dr. Cyntia Brown, a clinical pharmacist and fertility expert, shares how her own medical trauma shaped her mission to empower others to ask the right questions, advocate for themselves, and demand better care.THE TABOOEven the smartest, most educated women, doctors and pharmacists included, are not safe from being gaslit, coerced, or harmed in our healthcare system.And when it comes to reproductive and mental health care (which are often intimately intertwined), the stakes are HIGH.It’s even more taboo to say that racism and misogyny, not race or risk factors, are why Black women are dying at higher rates in pregnancy and childbirth. It’s not race; it’s racism.THE GUEST EXPERTCyntia Brown is a doctor of pharmacy and clinical pharmacologist working in the women’s health sector helping women feel empowered and capable of healing at her concierge practice, Kopela Health.Links and resources:* 📱 Her Instagram: dr.cyntia.obrown* 🗂️ Her business: Kopela Health* 🗓️ Book a consult with Dr. Brown* 🛒 Shop her favorite products* 💊 Her favorite prenatal vitamin* ⏲️ Her recommended ovulation tracker: Inito Fertility MonitorKEY TAKEAWAYS* You deserve to know the real risks, benefits, alternatives, and long-term effects of the medications you’re prescribed—including hormonal birth control, antidepressants, and fertility drugs. If your provider isn’t giving you the full picture, that’s not informed consent.* Misogyny and racism are baked into the institution of healthcare in the US, by which Black women are disproportionately harmed. And better care isn’t necessarily about better providers; it’s about naming and dismantling the systemic issues that lead to increased rates of maternal mortality.TIME STAMPS* 1:20: How your partner’s race or privilege can affect your care* 3:40: Mental health, fertility care, rX drugs* 6:58: Withdrawing from psych drugs* 8:06: Effects of long-term oral birth control on fertility* 11:00: Believe women!* 16:21: ‘Big Pharma’* 19:42: What does “holistic” really mean?LISTENER ACTION ITEMS* ✅ When you're prescribed a medication, remember you can ask:* When was this drug approved?* Is it new?* What are the actual risks and percentages of side effects?* Would you take this drug yourself?* ✅ Request pharmacogenomic testing, especially if you've experienced side effects or been on multiple medications. It can help determine how your body uniquely metabolizes drugs and whether a medication is likely to be effective or harmful for you.* ✅ Get a second opinion. If you feel unsure about your medication or treatment plan, consult with a clinical pharmacist or specialist like Dr. Cyntia Brown who can explain your options and help you advocate for you.WHAT'S IN HER BAG?💋 Danessa Myricks Blurring BalmDoes this episode resonate?Tell me in the comments; I read every single one!Upcoming episodes of Modern Hysteria:* S1E21 Painful Sex with Rachel Gelman, DPT* S1E22 Menopause x Body Image with Menopause & Misogyny* S1E23 Pleasure x Orgasm x The Clitoris with Cindy Scharkey, RN* S1E24 Disorganized Attachment x Relationships with Grace Bithell* S1E25 Vulvas x Vaginas x What’s Normal? with Carla Carpenter, MD* S1E26 ADHD x Motherhood with Avery WasmanskiYou can subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ☺️ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Hi— It’s Micah from Modern Hysteria, podcast and newsletter revealing the taboos of women’s brains and bodies. This episode is about how medical gaslighting — especially in fertility and pregnancy care — silences women, and why Black women face the highest in a system never built to protect them. Subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyRaise your hand if you have been personally victimized by oral birth control 👋… or had side effects from a medication that were worse than the condition it was supposed to treat. 👋… or if you felt like you were talked down to or dismissed by a healthcare provider when you complained about medication or its side effects 👋… or if you just stopped asking questions in a medical appointment because you felt annoying or bothersome, even though you had concerns 👋… or if you have taken a medication — appropriately prescribed or not — that has altered the course of your life 👋If your hand is raised, this episode is for you.The TabooEven smart, educated women — even medical professionals — can be ignored by their own doctors, especially during fertility and pregnancy care.Because our stress and sex hormones are deeply connected, reproductive care often overlaps with mental health care. But when women — especially Black women — speak up, we’re often seen as dramatic instead of being believed.It’s taboo to talk about how common this is and how dangerous it can be. But during Black Maternal Health Week, we need to say it clearly:Misogyny and racism are alive in healthcare.And they put women’s lives at risk — especially Black women’s.According to the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs: This crisis is driven by unconscious bias in the medical system and its actors. In a 2016 survey of white medical students, nearly half held false beliefs about biological differences in Black patients, including thicker skin and less sensitive nerve endings. Another 2020 study found that Black babies are more likely to live if they are cared for by a Black physician. Recently, the CDC declared racism a public health threat. The maternal mortality crisis in the United States emphasizes the truth behind this declaration: It is racism, not race, that is killing America’s Black mothers and babies.This week’s guest, Dr. Cyntia Brown, talks about why she helps women understand the meds they’re given, especially when they’re trying to get pregnant. But here’s the thing: This type of advocacy shouldn’t be a privilege. It should be part of humane health care.Because being treated like a “silly little girl” for speaking out about pain and discomfort — or side effects of medications — isn’t just insulting.It can be deadly.The Guest ExpertCyntia Onuoha-Brown is a doctor of pharmacy and clinical pharmacologist working in the women’s health sector helping women feel empowered and capable of healing at her concierge practice, Kopela Health.Links and resources:* 📱 Her Instagram: dr.cyntia.obrown* 🗂️ Her business: Kopela Health* 🗓️ Book a consult with Dr. Brown* 🛒 Shop her favorite products* 💊 Her favorite prenatal vitamin* ⏲️ Her recommended ovulation tracker: Inito Fertility MonitorKey Takeaways* Medical credentials don’t protect patients from dismissal.Even with a doctorate in pharmacy, Cyntia was ignored and minimized, especially in her pregnancy care (and, as we will learn in Part 2 (S1E20), in her mental health care, too).* Systemic racism and misogyny are baked into medicine.Black women face barriers to quality care not because of race, but because of racism.* Advocacy is often the only safeguard.The system isn’t built to protect women’s voices. We need providers like Cyntia to help us interpret and question our care.Time Stamps* 04:52 – Integrative fertility * 05:42 – Aside on estrogen, body fat, and fibroids* 07:04 – Expensive birth control* 14:01 – Medical gaslighting, dismissal, and self doubt * 21:54 – Progesterone mini-pill and mood instability* 28:34 – Racial disparities in PCOS and endometriosis diagnoses* 30:39 – How Cyntia helps women interpret labs and advocate for themselves* 32:04 – Restoring the human touch in healthcareListener Action Items* ✅ Ask hard questions. If something feels off, ask questions or for a second opinion (did you know you can ask for your provider’s clinical notes?) even if it feels uncomfortable.* ✅ Get a second opinion. Especially when you’re being prescribed medications you don’t understand and you’re having side effects. It’s okay to switch providers, too.* ✅ Know what you're taking. Learn what medications are meant to do, and what they might also be doing as side effects.* ✅ Talk about it. Share this episode to raise awareness and reduce the shame around medical gaslighting.That’s it for Part 1 of this conversation with Dr. Cyntia Brown. Next week, look out for Part 2 (S1E20), where we dive deeper into* how fertility meds, hormonal contraceptives, and mental health intersect — especially for women with PMDD, endo, or a history of trauma* break down how drugs like progesterone can both help and harm* the ethics of pharmaceutical care,* why informed consent in women’s health is often missingIf you've ever wondered “Why didn’t anyone tell me this?” — next week’s episode is for you.Does this resonate? Tell me in the comments; I read every single one!Part 2:Upcoming episodes of Modern Hysteria: * S1E21 Painful Sex with Rachel Gelman, DPT* S1E22 Menopause x Body Image with Menopause & Misogyny * S1E23 Pleasure x Orgasm x The Clitoris with Cindy Scharkey, RN* S1E24 Disorganized Attachment x Relationships with Grace Bithell* S1E25 Vulvas x Vaginas x What’s Normal? with Carla Carpenter, MD* S1E26 ADHD x Motherhood with Avery WasmanskiYou can subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ☺️K, that’s it for this episode. Talk soon, MicahP.S. I made you this silly quiz to find out which feminist banned book you are 🙃 …. wanna find out? Which Banned Feminist Book Are You?Other episodes you might like: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Have you ever been six months pregnant, doing your very best to hold your pee, crying hysterically, and been told to “CALM DOWN!!!?”That advice — to “just relax” — is not helpful, especially when you’re pregnant, your body’s going through changes, and you’re worried the stress will impact your baby. And maybe even less so when you’re pregnant after a pregnancy loss or complication.In this episode, Parijat Deshpande explains how the “body keeps the score” in pregnancy and what we can do about it.Links + Resources* 🆓 Stress Solutions Quiz* 🌈 Follow Parijat @theruvelle on Instagram* 💻 Ruvelle — revolutionizing your high-risk pregnancy* ✍🏻 The Body Language Journal* 📘 The Pregnancy Brain bookThe Guest ExpertParijat Deshpande is the founder of Ruvelle, the only truly trauma-informed company specifically dedicated to improving high-risk pregnancy outcomes, reducing preterm birth, and supporting parents to pass on generational health.On a mission to end the high-risk pregnancy crisis, she has served and supported thousands of clients through her live events, virtual courses, one-on-one consulting, her bestselling book, Pregnancy Brain: A Mind-Body Approach to Stress Management During a High-Risk Pregnancy, and the Body Language Journal.Learn more here.Key Takeaways1. Stress isn’t just in your head—it’s in your whole body.Pregnancy stress affects your brain, nervous system, hormones, and immune system. It’s not something you can just “think away.” That’s why advice like “just relax” doesn’t work, and can even make you feel worse.2. Your past pregnancy experiences may linger within body, and healing is possible.If you’ve had a loss, traumatic birth, etc., your body might still be holding onto that stress. You’re not broken, and you didn’t do anything wrong. Somatic healing (body-based work) can help you process it and support your body before, during, or after pregnancy.Time Stamps* 7:58: The gaps in care for pregnant people dealing with trauma and chronic stress.* 17:07: Why 'just relax' doesn’t work for pregnant people under stress* 23:36: How chronic stress affects pregnancy via the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems* 29:18: Somatic memories* 34:20: Completing ‘stress cycles’* 49:17: How the body and brain change during pregnancy and postpartumP.S. It’s National Library Week this week — I made you this silly quiz to find out which feminist banned book you are 🙃Which Banned Feminist Book Are You? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

If you’ve ever felt like your body was “wrong,” worried way too much about how you look, or spent time poking or prodding your body in front of the mirror, this episode is for you.We’re talking about body dysmorphia — what it is, how it shows up, and how we can work through it.I ask physical therapist Dr. Laura Glazebrook how shame, social media, and toxic positivity affect the way we see ourselves, and how things like therapy, movement, gratitude — and neuroplasticity — can help us reconnect with our bodies and feel more at peace.The TabooLots of people struggle with body image or body dysmorphia, but it’s still hard to talk about. We’re often told to “just be confident” or “be grateful,” which can make us feel ashamed for having real, painful thoughts about how we look. This episode breaks the silence around struggling with your body, and how it doesn’t make you vain, broken, or alone; it makes you human.Time Stamps* 13:06 – What is body dysmorphia, and where does it come from?* 19:52 – Dr. Laura shares grounding practices through sensory experience* 26:39 – Neuroplasticity and brain patterns in BDD* 31:30 – Gratitude vs. toxic positivity* 46:52 – Adolescence, incels, and cultural influences* 56:25 – How to support loved ones with BDD or become more resilience re: body imageLinks + Resources* 🆓 Pelvic Floor Self-Assessment Guide* Follow Laura on Instagram at @laura.g.dpt* Laura’s website* Adolescence trailer* Bodies Are Cool children’s bookThe Guest ExpertDr. Laura Glazebrook earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of North Georgia, then spent ten years specializing in neurological injuries. She specialized training to evaluate and treat a variety of pelvic health concerns for all genders and ages, as well as complex spinal conditions including scoliosis and kyphosis.Laura is also an adult living with severe scoliosis and spinal fusion, and after her two pregnancies and childbirth experiences she became passionate about providing more resources for women during life-altering transformational seasons like pregnancy, postpartum.* 📍 Atlanta, GA, USA* 🏥 Treats adolescents and adults with scoliosis, kyphosis and pelvic health concerns, and also coaches women around the world virtually through her website“I’ve lived a lifetime of feeling traumatized and unable to live within my body. I’ve worked my way through crippling body dysmorphia and feeling othered because of the way my body looks (and how others perceive it).“As I get closer to middle age I realize that our inner knowing and resilience is extraordinary and I’m on board for any endeavor that can reassure another human that they are unbelievable and worthy of all the good things they can imagine.”— Laura Glazebrook, DPTKey Takeaways* Body dysmorphia can make us see ourselves in ways that aren’t real.It can cause us to fixate on flaws, avoid mirrors or social situations, and even obsess over how we look, sometimes so much that it affects daily life. But it’s more common than we think and not something to be ashamed of.* Our brains can change, which means healing is possible. ✨ We can build new thought patterns over time (thanks, neuroplasticity!) with therapy, mindfulness, and gratitude, so we can feel more at home in our bodies.* Social media and toxic beauty standards fuel body image issues.Curating what we consume — like following body-diverse creators and limiting filters — can protect our mental health. And using gentle, neutral language about our bodies can be powerful!That’s it for this week’s episode!Did this resonate with you? Tell me in the comments; I read every single one!Coming up on Modern Hysteria:* Pregnancy brain* Menopause x misogyny x body image* Pleasure x orgasm* Vulvovaginal disease (what’s normal?!)* Painful sex* Disorganized attachmentSubscribe here on Substack to get new episodes right to your inbox, or listen on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyP.S. Are we connected on Instagram yet? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

WELCOME TO PINKPILLED. These mini-sodes expose how patriarchy and medical misogyny affect our brains and bodies.In honor of Endometriosis Awareness Month, we’re starting off with endometriosis, a little-understood and shockingly-common chronic illness. 🩸What is endometriosis?Endometriosis — or “endo” — is chronic illness that can affect women and people assigned female at birth from their first period to the end of their lives. It happens when tissue that’s similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, like on:* ovaries and fallopian tubes* bladder and bowel* stomach lining* lungs and other organsEndometriosis affects 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth (more than diabetes or asthma!), yet SO FEW OF THEM have even heard of it.Why is endometriosis so bad?When your body goes through a menstrual cycle wherein hormones tell the lining of your uterus to grow. If you don’t get pregnant, your body sheds that lining. That’s your period.But with endometriosis, the tissue outside your uterus also reacts to those hormones, gets thick, breaks down, and bleeds. But that blood outside the uterus has no way to leave your body. It stays trapped inside, causing:* swelling* lesions* scar tissue* adhesions (when your tissues stick together)The symptoms can get so severe they are estimated to cost the US economy somewhere between $22 and $80 billion annually in direct medical costs and lost wages.What does endometriosis feel like?Endometriosis symptoms can vary, but many people feel:* bad cramps that don’t go away with painkillers* pain during or after sex* pain when peeing or pooping* fatigue* bloating (sometimes called “endo belly”)* infertilityAccording to the World Economic Forum, endometriosis may be responsible for up to 50% of unexplained infertility.How is endometriosis diagnosed?Right now, the only way to if you have endometriosis is to have a surgery called an exploratory laparoscopy (or “ex lap”), where a doctor looks inside your belly with a camera.That means a lot of people live for years without getting the right diagnosis — especially teens and women of color, who are more likely to be told their pain is “normal.”The difficulties with diagnosis are one of the most insidious effects of endo. It’s common, but individuals often see an average of eight doctors over 10 years before getting the correct diagnosis. It takes an average of somewhere between 5 and 12 years of symptoms before patients get the help they need.And in that time, you can be told you’re overreacting, “just stressed,” or that it’s all in your head. This is medical misogyny in action.What’s the treatment for endometriosis?There is no cure for endometriosis.Some patients are put on birth control pills. Others have ablation surgery, in which the affected areas are burned and cauterized. Still others have excision surgery where the endometriomas and lesions are cut away. Both of these procedures have a tendency to leave behind affected tissue, so symptoms often recur.Hormonal treatments and pain meds are Band-Aids for this whole-body disease.Why haven’t you heard more about endometriosis?Answer: Medical misogyny in action.Our medical system — and medical education, even for OBgyns — doesn’t always take women’s pain seriously. Women’s reproductive pain tends to be pathologized and attributed to psych issues.Meanwhile, according to the WHO, approximately 10% of reproductive-age women and girls (and people AFAB) worldwide are affected by endometriosis. This equates to around 190 million people.Still, endometriosis research is severely underfunded. In 2022, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) allocated $27 million to endometriosis research. This averages out to about $2 per patient. In contrast, diabetes, which is comparably prevalent, received $50/patient in funding.Medical misogyny — the systemic dismissal, devaluation, and underfunding of women’s health concerns — is baked into nearly every part of how endometriosis is researched, treated, and diagnosed.Please comment, rate, and review this podcast, or share it to help make sure it reaches the people who need it most!Source MaterialWHO endometriosisRescripted: Endometriosis This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Most of us hold a deeply-entrenched belief that women’s value rests on our appearances. Specifically, how well we adhere to a very narrow and problematic standard of beauty: thin, white, feminine, and ageless.It’s an impossible standard, and one that we carry with us both consciously and subconsciously. It motivates us to spend, globally, 73 billion USD every year on “anti-aging” (projected to hit 140.9 billion by 2034), of which North America alone spends $29.2 billion.This episode is about how this pressure to stay young forever shapes our beliefs and habits around exercise, and what we can do if:* you’re feeling the shift in your body as you age to more fatigue, stiffness, and slower recovery* you’ve been sold the anti-aging lie and are exhausted by the pressure to stay small, toned, and ageless* you want better; a relationship with exercise that focuses on joy, strength, and ability ✨The TabooWomen are taught to treat aging like a failure. That if our bodies get softer, slower, or need more rest, we’re doing something wrong. That we should fight aging tool-and-nail with workouts, diets, Botox, or willpower.This episode challenges all of that.We’re saying:* Aging isn’t a flaw.* Rest isn’t laziness.* Movement isn’t just about looking young; it's about feeling strong and free, now and later.We’re not here to anti-age. We’re here to train for the life we actually want in our 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond.Links + Resources* Bamboo Bodies ™️* 🆓 Neuro Warm-Up Video* Angi’s blogThe Guest ExpertYou met Angi McClure in S1E1, when she shared why she’s not anti-aging but pro-aging.Angi is a neuro-based movement therapist specializing in age science. She uses functional Chinese medicine through movement (Qigong), nutrition and seasonal lifestyle habits through her movement program called Bamboo Bodies™, a movement system based on the seasons and applied neurology.Key Takeaways* Train for what you want to do later, not just how you look now. Movement should help you play, explore, and stay strong as you age, not punish your body into shrinking.* Recovery isn’t optional, it’s training. Rest, stillness, and nervous system care are just as important as strength and cardio. Especially in perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopausal women.* You’re not broken, and aging is not a failure. Your body is shifting, not falling apart. And there’s power in working with those changes, not against them.Timestamps* 04:05 — Why we need to stop exercising for looks and start training for function* 08:07 — Aging as “seasons”* 10:36 — Resiliency redefined: bouncing back without wasting resources* 14:08 — What movement women need in their 30s, 40s, 50s (and why it changes)* 23:14 — Angi’s movement checklist: nervous system, vision, balance, strength* 34:12 — Build a movement plan based on what your brain is thirsty for* 37:21 — Why women must train for the “internal winter” with intention* 44:35 — Stillness is a skill; rest isn’t weakness, it’s training* 50:08 — Pro-aging is a radical act in a culture obsessed with staying young* 58:38 — Final takeaways + 4 simple action steps to age well, with powerHere’s what’s coming up on Modern Hysteria:* Menopause x body image with Menopause & Misogyny* Body dysmorphia x resilience with Dr. Laura Glazebrook* Pregnancy brain with Parijat Deshpande* A new series of mini-sodes I’m calling “Pink-Pilled”… I can’t wait to share more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Fertility is about more than just an egg count or a sperm sample. It’s a whole-body process. And we often overlook one basic question when trying to conceive (TTC): Are you giving your body the things it needs to thrive outside of your fertility?In this episode, fertility nutritionist Neema Savvides breaks down how nutrition and other commonly-overlooked health factors impact fertility, why diet culture complicates fertility advice, and what you can do to take control of your reproductive health (instead of feeling at the mercy of your lab results). We discuss:* What “unexplained infertility” really means* Why IVF is not a fail-safe or magic fix* How diet culture has infiltrated our understanding of fertility nutrition* How underlying conditions like nutrient deficiency, restrictive dieting, and thyroid issues can impact fertility (and can be managed)The TabooFertility struggles and TTC are deeply personal, and using interventions like IVF (in vitro fertilization) and IUI (intrauterine insemination) require us to put a lot of trust in clinicians and the fertility industry. But what if you’re diagnosed with “unexplained infertility,” and the imperfect system that’s supposed to help you get pregnant is also somewhat to blame?This episode challenges the unspoken truth that fertility clinics are businesses and sometimes prioritize efficiency — and, potentially, profit — over comprehensive testing or whole-body health, while there are things you can do before or during intervention to support your body and improve chances of success.The Guest ExpertNeema Savvides is a fertility nutritionist with over twelve years of clinical experience. She specializes in treating clients with PCOS, endometriosis, and using IVF.* 📍 London, UK* 📱 neemasavvides_fertility* 🍓 5-Day Habit Challenge: Reset and RebootLinks + ResourcesKey Takeaways* What we call “unexplained infertility” is often un-investigated infertility. Many fertility clinics skip addressing thyroid health, inflammation, and nutrient levels, which could explain why conception isn’t happening.* Fertility nutrition is really about nutrient adequacy, not restriction. Diet culture often pushes “clean eating,” but eating enough and focusing on key nutrients (rather than eliminating foods) is recommended.* IVF is not a guarantee of pregnancy, and prepping your body matters, because interventions like IVF and IUI don’t fix poor egg or sperm quality. Optimizing your nutrition, reducing inflammation, and getting the right tests before starting treatment can improve success rates.Time Stamps:* 04:31 | The reality of “unexplained infertility” (and why it’s often more un-investigated than unexplained)* 07:16 | What fertility clinics may not test for, but should* 14:51 | How diet culture warps our ideas about fertility nutrition* 18:31 | Key tests for understanding your fertility* 22:01 | The truth about IVF success rates and what most people don’t know before starting treatment* 25:41 | How nutrition really affects fertility; what to focus on (without food fear)* 30:01 | “Toxins” and fertility* 34:16 | Managing the emotional side of fertility struggles* 38:31 | Action items ✅ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

⚠️ Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of abuse and intimate partner violenceThis week, we’re talking about the protective effect of our gal pals on our health, our wellness, and our ability to survive and escape toxic relationships with crisis counselor, coach, author, and podcaster Stephanie McPhail.We ask and answer: Why do we stay in the cycle of unhealthy romantic relationships, and how can our friendships help us break away?In this episode:* The role of social support in our longevity and happiness* What to do if you’re losing a loved one to a toxic relationship* How our *girlfriends* can be an escape route from these bad relationships* How to take steps to make solid friendshipsThe TabooIt’s extremely uncomfortable to tell a friend that their partner is potentially bad for them. We’re taught to mind our own business when it comes to other peoples’ relationships, even when we see clear red flags.The GuestStephanie McPhail authored the book Being Love Shouldn’t Hurt and hosts the podcast Toxic Love. ✍🏻 Stephanie’s blog🆓 6 Steps to Recognize + Overcome Toxic RelationshipsTime Stamps03:45 – Guest Introduction: Stephanie McPhail05:35 – Why women ghost their friends in toxic relationships09:11 – The Harvard research on relationships and longevity12:46 – Isolation in toxic relationships13:41 – Aside: Gaslighting 17:31 – Aside: Trauma Bonding 19:26 – Red flags of a toxic relationship22:16 – How to support a friend in a toxic relationship26:26 – Toxic vs. abusive relationships (and the gray area)40:40 – How to reconnect after ghosting friends51:55 – What’s in your bag?Action ItemsIf you feel you are in a toxic relationship:Listen to the whisper in your head (your gut knows)Start reconnecting with one friend today, even if it’s just sending one simple text (“Sorry I’ve been distant; I’d love to reconnect”)Seek external support (like a therapist or women’s group)If your friend is in a toxic relationship:Keep the door open ("You are always welcome, but your partner is not”)Check in regularly (even when they pull away)Offer a safe exit plan ("If you ever need a place to stay, my door is open.") This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

This week we’re talking about one embarrassing and annoying — and common but NOT NORMAL — side effect of childbirth: Peeing in your pants.In this episode, sports scientist and semi-pro athlete Patricia Siegel walks us through:* ⚠️ pelvic floor dysfunction* 🏆 her battle with urinary incontinence as a mom and runnerThe TabooPEEING YOUR PANTS IS EMBARRASSING. Or, at least, that’s the stigma we carry with us, which is wild because urinary incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction are so common.Pelvic floor dysfunction is when the muscles in your pelvic floor — which support your bladder, uterus, and rectum and help control peeing, pooping, and even sex — aren’t working the way they should.There are two common — and opposing — forms of pelvic floor dysfunction that can cause urinary incontinence, and both are treatable:* Weak pelvic floor muscles. Your muscles don’t contract like they should.* Too-tight (hypertonic) pelvic floor muscles. Your muscles are constantly rigid and don’t have enough “give” to control your bladder correctly.Links + Resources* Patricia in Strong Fitness Magazine* Trader Joe’s Jojoba Lemongrass Almond OilThe Guest* Follow Patricia — @thefitpelvicfloor — on Instagram here* Patricia’s website* Patricia in printKey Takeaways✅ Peeing yourself is common but NOT normal.Bladder leaks after childbirth, menopause, or high-impact exercise are not something you just have to live with.Incontinence is a sign of pelvic floor dysfunction and can be treated at any age.✅ Kegels are not always the answer.Some women have muscles that are too tight, and kegels can make symptoms worse.If you have pain during sex, trouble emptying your bladder, or pelvic tension, you may need relaxation, not just strengthening.→ Look out for an upcoming podcast episode on painful sex with pelvic therapist Rachel Gelman!✅ You don’t have to stop exercising.Running, walking, and strength training can support pelvic floor recovery. You don’t have to stop doing the things you love and that make you feel like you!The key is knowing your symptoms, using the right kind of rehab, and making small adjustments to train your pelvic floor the right way.Time Stamps* 03:04 - What is the pelvic floor?* 12:36 - Why normalizing pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) can be harmful* 16:03 - Sexual trauma and PFD* 19:13 - C-sections versus vaginal birth and PFD* 25:10 - Why kegels aren’t a fix-all* 31:46 - Too weak or too tight? Your PFD checklistUpcoming* 💝 S1E13 Female Friendships x Escaping Toxic Relationships with Stephanie McPhail* 🤬 S1E14 Mom Rage with Allison Staiger* 💉 S1E15 IVF x Nutrition with Neema SavvidesSourcesEffect of the length of the second stage of labor on pelvic floor dysfunctionPrevalence and Normalization of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Female Strength AthletesSexual Abuse History and Pelvic Floor Disorders in WomenPelvic Floor Muscle Problems Mediate Sexual Problems in Young Adult Rape VictimsPelvic Healing After Sexual AssaultPelvic Floor Muscle Training for Treatment of Urinary Incontinence in Women This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

This week we’re talking about narcissistic abuse in the workplace.In this episode, Sarene Leeds takes us back to her tenure at Rolling Stone and experiences with:* ❤️‍🩹 narcissistic abuse, where a person — usually someone with narcissistic traits — manipulates, controls, and harms others* 🕹️ coercive control, a pattern of behavior used to dominate and manipulate someone* 😶‍🌫️ gaslighting, when someone makes you doubt your own memory, perception, or sanityThe TabooNarcissistic abuse can be subtle and hard to recognize, and it doesn’t leave. physical, visible scars, so, often, survivors feel confused, anxious, or like they have to “walk on eggshells."There wasn’t much of a public discussion about emotional abuse or coercive control in the workplace when Sarene was at Rolling Stone, especially because it was before the rise of the #MeToo movement in 2017, which exposed workplace sexual assault and harassment. #MeToo led to more awareness of toxic work environments and made it easier for survivors to see each other.Narcissistic abuse at work is still very much an issue shaded with doubt, skepticism, and bureaucracy.Links + Resources* 🎧 “Emotional Abuse Is Real” podcast* 📰 Exclusive: Women staffers of Jann Wenner’s Rolling Stone get their turn to speak* 🎧 Breaking Down the Nuances of Narcissistic Abuse with Sarah Jacobs, Esq., and Jamie Berger, Esq. (from Emotional Abuse Is Real)The GuestSarene Leeds is a professional writer and podcaster with a master’s degree in professional writing from NYU. Back in 2014, she resigned from her dream job at Rolling Stone because she was being emotionally abused daily by her narcissistic boss. Nearly a decade later, she launched “Emotional Abuse Is Real,” a podcast dedicated to sharing the stories of her fellow emotional and narcissistic abuse survivors.Sarene is now a contributing writer to women’s health and fertility website Rescripted.* 📍 Location: New Jersey, USA* 📱 @sareneleedswrites on Instagram* 🆓 Discover Your Brand Voice* ✍🏻 The Critical CommunicatorTime Stamps* 03:47: Defining narcissistic abuse* 06:25: Gaslighting & coercive control in the workplace* 14:05: Why narcissistic abuse is hard to prove* 21:37: Aside: What are fireable offenses?* 31:59: Why telling your story is powerful* 46:50: Advice for survivorsKey Takeaways* Narcissistic abuse thrives in the “gray area” of plausible deniability, which makes it hard to recognize and prove.* Coercive control and gaslighting are ways narcissistic abusers erode someone’s confidence and reality (in the workplace or in other relationships).* Being believed is often THE biggest hurdle for survivors, followed by the lack of institutional support.* Journaling and storytelling can be healing ways to process your experiences with narcissistic abuse and put it in a narrative.P.S. Are we connected on Instagram, yet? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Trauma therapist Grace Bithell explains:* 🧠 complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), an oft-overlooked mental health condition that affects your self-image and relationships* 🖤 reparenting yourself to heal from CPTSD (and “break the cycle”)The sneaky thing about CPTSD is that the people who have it are often the last to believe it. Most people haven’t even heard of it.I, too, brushed off my first PTSD diagnosis, thinking it was ludicrous: Veterans get PTSD, for fuck’s sake! I haven’t been in combat. 🙄* PTSD typically develops after a single traumatic event or a series of traumatic events that are clearly identifiable.* CPTSD (Complex PTSD) is caused by chronic, repeated trauma — often in childhood or long-term abuse.Complex post-traumatic stress disorder is what Grace calls “the survivor’s illness.” I’ve also heard it called “the shame disorder.” It’s a set of learned survival mechanisms that helped you cope as a child but, in your adult life, can lead to:* anxiety* hyper-vigilance* difficulty regulating emotions* deep shame and poor self image* trust issuesLinks + Resources* Grace and I both learned about CPTSD in this book by Stephanie Foo: Why My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma* THE CPTSD book: Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by psychotherapist Pete Walker* Grace’s blog about trauma, OCD, and CPTSDThe GuestGrace Bithell is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in helping people who had “difficult parents.” She grew up in a fostering family which was her first exposure to complex childhood trauma and inspired her to become a trauma therapist (and she’s been published seven times in Fostering Families Today!)* 📍 Location: Utah, USA* 📱 @theguiltgirl on ThreadsGet in touch with Grace here.Key Takeaways1️⃣ CPTSD affects your emotions, relationships, and view of yourself. It is caused by long-term trauma in which a person feels unsafe, unseen, or trapped.2️⃣ Shame feels like a personal flaw, but it’s a survival response. CPTSD usually comes with deep wells of shame because you learned to blame yourself rather than recognize your needs were not being met.3️⃣ Reparenting yourself is a way to start healing from CPTSD. That means: validating your own emotions; setting boundaries; and responding kindly to yourself.Time Stamps* 4:57: What is CPTSD?* 10:24: The difference between CPTSD and PTSD* 17:47: Emotional flashbacks* 30:19: Parenting with CPTSD* 46:51: CPTSD red flagsThat’s all for this episode. If this hit home, please leave a comment and let me know (I read every single one!) or share with someone who may need to hear it.Upcoming* S1E11 Narcissistic Abuse x Telling Your Story with Sarene Leeds* S1E12 Pelvic Floor Dysfunction x Incontinence with Patricia Siegel* S1E13 Female Friendships x Escaping Toxic Relationships with Stephanie McPhail This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

This episode confronts the deeply-ingrained taboo that women’s sexual desire should be effortless, constant, and primarily for the benefit of others.We'll talk about the sex you might have:* out of obligation* to “check it off your to-do list”* to “talk yourself into”The Taboo* We’re told that a “good” woman is sexually available—but not “too much.”* We’re taught that if we don’t want sex, something must be wrong with us.* We’re conditioned to see our sexuality as a duty, not a source of personal pleasure.The GuestLucy Rowett is a certified sexologist and sex coach who helps women and people with vulvas let go of sexual shame.📍 Location: Vienna, Austria🆓 Workbook: How To Rock Your Bedroom and Ask For What You REALLY (really, really), Want In Bed🎧 Podcast: The Naked and Unashamed LifeTime Stamps* 4:35: Purity culture and sexual conditioning* 8:06: People-pleasing and burnout* 13:18: The science of stress x sex* 16:23: Why some women struggle with desire* 20:37: The fawn responseResources + Links🔗 Sex When You Don’t Feel Like It by Cindy Darnell🔗 Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski🔗 Esther Perel, psychotherapist🔗 Women Who Work Too Much by Tamu Thomas🔗 Masters of Sex (2013-2016) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

⚠️ Content warning: This episode on postpartum care and maternal mental health includes mentions of postpartum psychosis and infanticideIn Part 2 of my conversation with birth researcher and postpartum doula Kelsey Marr, we talk PMDs — perinatal mood disorders — like postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Kelsey gives practical strategies for preventing PMD and the importance of planning, setting boundaries, and creating community so we can thrive, not just *survive*, early motherhood.🎧 Hear Part 1: S1E7 Postpartum Care x Maternal Mental HealthTime stamps* 02:42: Kelsey’s recommendations for planning for postpartum* 07:22: Using your postpartum plan as a “scapegoat”* 08:23: My personal experience of postpartum anxiety* 10:04: Defining perinatal mood disorders (PMDs)* 12:33: “Baby blues” versus postpartum depression (PPD)* 15:39: Postpartum anxiety (PPA) and intrusive thoughts* 19:59: Our culture of postpartum care and partner involvement* 23:01: Practical tips for preventing PMDs* 27:57: How to support postpartum parents5 key takeaways from this episode:Postpartum planning is essentialStart planning for postpartum early in pregnancy, like by writing down a list of boundaries and expectations and roles. This can help prevent misunderstandings and resentment.✅ Make a “no” list during pregnancy to eliminate unnecessary stressors and set boundaries / limits.Set boundaries and ask for helpMany new parents struggle with setting boundaries during a huge life transition (especially if they have people-pleasing tendencies!). Having a written plan to communicate needs to family and friends can help us avoid conflict and be the “scapegoat” for setting boundaries.✅ Connect with professionals like doulas, lactation consultants, or mental health professionals before birth.Perinatal mood disorders (PMDs) are common but complexPMDs like postpartum depression and anxiety occur for lots of new parents, particularly if they were prone to anxiety and depression before pregnancy and childbirth. They might manifest as extreme irritability, paranoia, or negative feelings toward the baby.PMDs don’t necessarily resolve in the first few weeks after childbirth and often require professional support, like from a mental health professional.The role of culture and community in postpartum careOur society — the US and Canada in particular — puts an overwhelming burden on new moms, often without adequate support systems. We need core community, as well as involvement from partners to mitigate the risk of PMDs (more so even than paid leave).Showing up for new parentsFriends and loved ones can offer tangible help for postpartum parents like cooking meals, babysitting older kids, and doing chores (while respecting boundaries!).✅ Sustained help beyond the initial weeks of postpartum is crucial; continue to check in on postpartum moms after the first three weeks - three months.The guest expertDr. Kelsey Marr (PhD) quit her job as a birth researcher in 2023 to become a full-time doula. She helps expecting and new parents navigate pregnancy, birth, and postpartum by helping them find evidence-based information, and build their research skills and confidence to make their own best birth/postpartum choices.* 📍 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada* 🆓 eBook: “Is This Normal?” Evidence-Based Guide to Your First Trimester of Pregnancy* 👩🏼‍💻 Blog: Expecting Evidence* 📱 Social: @collectivecarehfxQ+AHow can we create a plan to support people postpartum to help avoid perinatal mood disorders like postpartum anxiety and depression?KM: One of the things I love to do with my clients is to start their postpartum planning really early in pregnancy. I’m doing this myself, even though I’m only 10 weeks along. For someone with a history of anxiety or depression, we know that they’re more likely to experience a perinatal mood disorder. That’s why it’s so important to find a therapist who can support you during pregnancy and postpartum, or to talk to your current therapist about what’s coming up for you.What do boundaries have to do with planning for postpartum?KM: A big trigger for many people is boundaries—many of us don’t know what our boundaries are until they’re crossed.I encourage my clients to think about things like, “Do I want visitors? What kind of help do I want with my baby?” I even have them write it down, journal about it, and share that plan with their support people—partners, family, and friends—before the baby is born. That way, those expectations are clear, and you’re not having those conversations when you’re in the fog of postpartum.What is a perinatal mood disorder (PMD)?KM: A a perinatal mood disorder is any sort of mood or anxiety disorder that happens during pregnancy or clinically it's defined as the first year postpartum, but we know that these things can last a lot longer.Just that first year can feel like things like feeling intense anger or irritability, having trouble falling asleep, trouble concentrating, trouble making decisions, withdrawing, having negative feelings about the baby, lacking energy.It's really the same sorts of symptoms that we see with depression or anxiety or psychosis, but they're specifically relating to this transition in pregnancy and postpartum.Checklist: How to prepare for postpartum (and mitigate risk of perinatal mood disorders)Kelsey recommends the following:* Make sure you’re on the same page with your partner about what life will look like after baby arrives* Build healthy habits while pregnant (sleep, movement, diet)* Lowering lifestyle stress* Make a “no” list of things you do not want to do when you’re a new mom* Find your professionals before you need them badly: Physical therapist, mental health professional, postpartum doula, etc.Thank you for checking out this episode. Leave me a comment and tell me what you think!Upcoming episodes include:* S1E9 People Pleasing x Libido with Lucy Rowett* S1E10 CPTSD x Shame x Reparenting with Grace BithellStay tuned!Micah This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

This week we’re saying the quiet parts OUT LOUD about why the postpartum chapter of our lives often feels overwhelming and isolating (how did we get here??) and how systemic factors — like lack of support or maternity leave — exacerbate postpartum anxiety and depression.Time stamps* [05:55] Becoming a postpartum doula* [07:12] What is IVF?* [11:26] Comparing postpartum care: Scandinavia vs. North America* [15:46] Prenatal genetic testing* [12:59] What evidence-based postpartum care really means* [18:48] What does a postpartum doula do?* [23:18] Is postpartum care a luxury?* [26:12] The cult of good motherhood* [28:42] Systemic gaps in postpartum care* [32:06] What new moms really needTop 3 takeaways→ The mainstream culture of early motherhood in the US and Canada fails new moms.Unlike places like Sweden, where moms get paid time off, free nurse visits, and affordable childcare, many moms here feel alone and overwhelmed after giving birth (which can contribute to perinatal mood disorders).→ The “cult” of good motherhood can make postpartum mental health struggles worse.Society puts a lot of pressure on moms to do everything perfectly (especially since the advent of social media). This stress can lead to or exacerbate postpartum anxiety and depression.→ Having a support system to ready to go before birth can really help.Whether it’s hiring a postpartum doula, getting help from family and friends, or talking to your healthcare professionals, having a plan for support can make postpartum life - and information overload — easier (we break down Kelsey’s list of action items in Part 2!)Do you wish you had a postpartum doula? Got FOMO? Tell me:The guest expertDr. Kelsey Marr (PhD) quit her job as a birth researcher in 2023 to become a full-time doula. She helps expecting and new parents navigate pregnancy, birth, and postpartum by helping them find evidence-based information, and build their research skills and confidence to make their own best birth/postpartum choices.* 📍 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada* 🆓 eBook: “Is This Normal?” Evidence-Based Guide to Your First Trimester of Pregnancy* 👩🏼‍💻 Blog: Expecting Evidence* 📱 Social: @collectivecarehfxResources and links 🔗Mentioned in this episode:* Touched Out: Motherhood, Misogyny, Consent, and Control by Amanda Montei* The Danish Way of Parenting by Jessica Joelle Alexander and Iben Sandahl* Some of my fav Scandinavian baby brands: Liewood; Småfolk; Bibs; StokkeQ&A from the EpisodeWhat does a postpartum doula do?KM: A postpartum doula is a trained expert in postpartum care. So they are a non-clinical professional. I don't work in a hospital as a postpartum doula. I'm not a nurse or a doctor. I can't diagnose anything.What I do is offer care to birthing people and new families from an educational level through a practical support level, emotional level, and a community level.Are postpartum doulas a luxury?KM: For a lot of people, it is a luxury because I am somebody who you end up paying for my time and my expertise. I know in Canada and the United States, there are insurance companies that will cover postpartum doula services. So that's an option for some people.But the reality is that even though there are doulas who do this work on a volunteer basis, not everybody has access to it.What do you wish all new moms had after childbirth?KM: I wish every new parent had community—really like very hands-on, practical, open-hearted community. And that doesn't mean I wish everybody had close familial connections or close friends.Community can look like a lot of different things. Whether that's finding your support team of professionals before you go into postpartum... a therapist, a doula, a pelvic physio —all of these professionals can take things off your plate in those early months.🤫 ML: Stay tuned for an upcoming episode on pelvic floor dysfunction and incontinence!TL;DRNew moms in the U.S. and Canada often struggle with little support after having a baby, which can lead to feelings of isolation and mental health challenges like postpartum anxiety and depression. This episode explores how gaps in postpartum care, unrealistic societal expectations, and the pressure to be a "perfect mom" make it even harder for moms to get the help they need.I hope you like this episode, friend.Kelsey will be back next week with Part 2 of our convo on postpartum mental health and practical advice for showing up for the new parents in our lives.Up next:* People-Pleasing x Libido with Lucy Rowett* Shame x CPTSD with Grace Bithell* Narcissistic Abuse x Telling Your Story with Sarene LeedsTalk soon —Micah This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

One of the defining moments in my health was the birth of my son in 2019. Like many moms who experienced traumatic childbirth, I grieved (and still grieve) the loss of the birth and pregnancy I so desired. Instead, I felt:* guilt, grief, and anger that my body “let me down”* invalidated by comments like, “at least your baby is okay”* pressure to “bounce back” after birth despite the trauma I experienced.Can you relate?In this episode I ask OBGyn Dr. Caledonia “Cali” Buckheit:* what constitutes birth trauma?* how to show up for loved ones who experience traumatic childbirth* how to think about “birth plans,” and when they go awry* what permission we might need to heal from birth traumaThis episode will resonate if you:* Have experienced childbirth that didn’t go as planned and had to navigate the emotional aftermath.* Want to support a friend or loved one who has gone through a traumatic birth experience.* Are an expectant parent seeking advice on how to approach birth plans.* Struggle with feelings of guilt, disappointment, or grief related to your birth experience.⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode contains descriptions of medical injury and illness.I did my first load of newborn laundry with joy and anticipation in January 2019.I was 29 weeks pregnant with my son, who did tumbling summersaults like the clothes in the dryer while I folded his tiny garments on my round belly.Like a lot of (first time) moms, I had a plan for how my son would come into the world. It involved mindful birthing, lavender essential oil, and a meticulously-curated playlist.He’d wear the softest grey onesie to come home from the hospital, which I folded and packed in the hospital “go bag” I’d grab on the way out the door in late March when I went into labor and my contractions were five minutes apart.You know what they say about the best-laid plans of mice and men (and moms), right?They go awry.I finished folding the laundry, put on the winter parka that no longer zipped over my pregnant self, and went out to shovel the driveway, where I slipped on ice and fell hard on the handle of the snow shovel.In triage at the hospital I was told my baby was okay, but, dear God, my blood pressure was high.Before I knew it I was hospitalized with preeclampsia for a month, then induced to have my son before my organs started failing. He was born six weeks early and spent his first weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU.After a month confined to the labor-and-delivery unit, I clung to the remnants of my birth plan — the mindfulness, the lavender, and the playlist, and the no epidural — until my body started to fail, labor stalled, and we lost my son’s heartbeat.Duke- and Dartmouth-trained obstetrician-gynecologist Caledonia “Cali” Buckheit, MD doesn’t put a lot of stock in birth plans anymore. And not just because she’s seen her fair share of patients who, like me, crumbled under the disappointment and loss of control, but because her own birth plans failed, twice. And she barely survived the second.“I was gonna deliver, like, two weeks before I graduated from residency and then go off into the sunset on my maternity leave, and have some time off before starting my attending job.”“That's where listeria came in. I ended up delivering three months early.”Listen to the episode to hear Cali’s story.Now, Cali is in private practice where her special interests include minimally invasive surgery, menopause, and contraception. She regularly counsels patients and their partners through the biggest transitions and traumas of their lives.Modern Hysteria is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Q+A with Cali Buckheit, MDWhat is birth trauma, and what are common types you see in your practice?CB: “One piece of my birth trauma came from losing the outcome I expected for my pregnancy… It really felt like I had to grieve the loss of all of what I thought I was going to have in my pregnancy, in my birth, in my postpartum experience.”→ Trauma often arises when unexpected complications—like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or emergencies—cause fear and overwhelm.How can we think realistically about “birth plans?”CB: “More important than the specifics are: Who’s in your corner? Who are my providers? Who are the people I trust? What do I want? I want to feel safe. I want to feel like I understand what’s going on.”→ Focus on trust and safety rather than fixating on specifics like epidurals or delivery type.How do you recommend showing up for someone who has experienced birth trauma?CB: “You’re not going to make it okay… Instead, focus on being supportive, being kind, and providing meaningful support. Like my colleagues and friends showing up and taking care of my other child so my husband and I could go to the NICU together—huge.”“Ask more interesting questions instead of just saying, ‘Congratulations.’ Instead, ask, ‘What was good and what was bad about your delivery?’ Because it’s not usually one emotion. There are these beautiful moments, but also terrifying ones.”→ Practical actions, not empty reassurances, make the difference.What permissions do women need to start healing from birth trauma?CB: “A lot of self-love. Like, what I am and where I am is enough, even if none of this feels okay or feels good… I think as women, we feel like we should be able to do it all. But that’s not true. That’s something we’ve told ourselves, and it’s not true.”What role does social media or community play in healing from birth trauma?CB: “There’s a group called Preemiehood that talks about things you would only understand if you’d been in the NICU. It makes you feel not alone. It makes you feel seen.”What misconceptions about birth trauma should we challenge?“We have this desire to make everything okay. But it’s not okay. None of it is okay, but it’s happening. We’re going through it one step at a time. Let go of the idea that labor, delivery, and childbirth are supposed to be these beautiful, happy times.”Key moments in this episode* 8:18: The unexpected nature of traumatic childbirth* 10:48: Letting go of your birth plan* 26:43: The world of the NICU mom* 45:42: How to show up for someone who had a traumatic childbirth* 46:09: Why traumatic childbirth is so emotionally complex* 50:01: Why your friends and community are so healingConnect with Cali📲 Follow her on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok🏥 Are you in the Raleigh, NC area? Make an appointment with Dr. Cali Buckheit here.Thanks for reading and listening, friend.In the next episode of Modern Hysteria we’ll do a deep-dive on PMADs, or perinatal mood disorders like:* postpartum anxiety* postpartum depressionI’ll interview birth researcher and doula Kelsey Marr about why we develop postpartum mood disorders and how we can plan practically to heal and avoid them. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Hi, friend. This is Micah Larsen, host of the Modern Hysteria podcast and newsletter exposing the taboo topics of women’s health so you feel seen, heard, and can live without shame.I spent one morning this week in the doctor’s office, watching a dizzying number of vials of my blood drawn for a battery of tests. For the past few months I’ve been overtaken by joint pain, fatigue, and depression. Could it be explained by surgical menopause? Neuroinflammation? Rheumatoid arthritis? So far, the results have yielded nothing except a failing attempt at hormone replacement therapy. One reason this episode is close to my heart — and maybe yours, too — is because I’ve often felt isolated in my journey to find the source of my pain and illness. It was life-changing to realize core psychological wounds may explain mysterious pain and discomfort you may think are “all in your head.” This episode explores how unresolved trauma — particularly attachment wounds from childhood — impacts women’s mental, emotional, and physical health. Megan Sherer, a holistic therapist and relationship coach in Seattle, WA, unpacks the connection between isolation, chronic illness, and the body’s stress response.This episode will resonate if you: * Feel like your experiences don’t “qualify” as “trauma” (but still leave you feeling uneasy or hurt)* Struggle with chronic pain or unexplained physical symptoms* Have an autoimmune condition* Have ever felt dismissed or “crazy” when explaining your health concerns* Struggle to feel like you “deserve” to be lovedDoes this sound familiar? As Megan mentions in this episode, around 80% of people diagnosed with autoimmune conditions are women.Modern Hysteria is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Unsubscribe at any time.→ follow Megan on Instagram hereAttachment TheoryAttachment theory, introduced by John Bowlby explains how early relationships with caregivers shape our ability to form and maintain emotional bonds. Our early attachments—secure or insecure—affects how we connect with others, regulate emotions, and navigate relationships as adults. Note: Your attachment style can change over time.If you have a secure attachment:* you’re probably comfortable with intimacy and independence, trusting in relationships, and can communicate effectively.* your caregivers were consistently responsive, supportive, and nurturing.If you have an anxious (preoccupied) attachment:* you may have a fear of abandonment, need constant reassurance, get preoccupied with relationships, and are sensitivity to rejection.* your caregivers were inconsistent—sometimes responsive, sometimes unavailable—leading to uncertain warmth, love, and support.If you have an avoidant (dismissive) attachment:* you may avoid closeness, value independence over intimacy, struggle to trust others, and downplay emotional needs.* your caregivers were emotionally distant, neglectful, or dismissive of your needs.If you have a disorganized (fearful avoidant) attachment:* you have a mix of anxious and avoidant behaviors; you want closeness but you fear intimacy, and this often resulting in chaotic or conflicted relationships.* your caregivers were a source of both comfort and fear, often due to abuse, neglect, or trauma.Another note: There are multiple criticisms of attachment theory, including that it overemphasizes early childhood development and underemphasizes the role of genetics.Major moments from this episode: Q+A with a holistic therapistWhat is trauma?MS: I think when people hear that word, it can be, sometimes, a little bit polarizing. People’s minds often go to the idea of what we call “big-T trauma;” those overtly, extreme, traumatic experiences that everyone would consider to be devastating or challenging, like accidents and death and war, and these extreme examples of trauma that can impact us as individuals as well as the collective.And if you haven’t had those experiences, then there can be this tendency to say, like, “I haven’t experienced trauma. Like, my life hasn’t been that bad; who am I to complain?” Kind of thing.But the reality is that a lot of the work that I do, and that is really impactful and interesting, especially when we get into conversations about attachment work, are what we might call “little-T traumas.” So: More subtle experiences that impact us greatly, but that we might not have felt we’ve had the permission in the past to explore, because, again, maybe, we think: “It’s not that bad,” or that other people have had it worse.What causes us to feel traumatized?MS: The most important thing to identify in the realm of trauma is that it’s not actually the experience itself that’s the trauma; it’s the aftermath.It’s essentially how our psyche perceives that experience. And one really central component of something being traumatic is the component of isolation. So, if we feel like we’re alone in the experience, we don’t have any sort of support or social system to lean on when we’re navigating that challenge, it can then present as trauma to our psyche, as something that we feel overwhelmed by, that we don’t have the capacity to manage.That’s a really important distinction, especially when we’re talking about childhood traumas and childhood wounds, because, when you’re a kid who’s not getting your needs met fully, that is an inherently isolating experience. You don’t have anyone to go to talk to. You’re not talking to your other seven-year-old friends, going, like, “Are your parents like this?” And: “Do you feel this way?” We don’t have the tools or capacity at that point. So we feel like it’s just us. And isolation can really overwhelm the nervous system.What is “attachment?”MS: It’s how we learn to form bonds and connections with other human beings. And the first people we learn that from is our parents. The first person we learn that from is our mother. Our nervous system is really imprinted by her nervous system, and informed by the state of her nervous system when we’re still developing in the womb.How do we form an attachment?MS: In those early years of our lives, we learn a lot about our place in the world, and what love is or isn’t available to us, and what we have to do in order to maybe perform or earn that love, or feel worthy of it. And that’s what I’m talking about when we talk about “attachment trauma.” It’s those wounds, those misunderstandings that have caused us to feel separate from the love and connection that is inherently our birthright.What does attachment have to do with chronic illness?MS: We’re seeing more and more these days, women who are experiencing chronic symptoms, chronic pain, chronic illness, that are often, sort of … mystery symptoms, like they don't have clear diagnoses, or definitions in the realm of Western, allopathic medicine. And women are often left feeling, like, “I’m crazy.” And I love the name of your podcast, because this is going back many, many years – women have often been called “hysterical” for simply pointing out, calling out, what isn’t okay in their relationships, in our culture, in our society. And women’s nervous systems are attuned to those imbalances. When there’s ruptures in relationships, we feel that deeply, and it impacts our entire system, our immunity, our physical, mental, emotional health. And, you know, that’s why we’re seeing 80% of people who live with autoimmune conditions are women.How do attachment wounds manifest in the body?MS: You can imagine that, if you were a little kid who felt fear; maybe one of your parents is upset, and they’re getting angry, and we’re scared that they’re angry, and scared about what that might mean for us, when our bodies feel that fear and go into that stress response, you kind of contract, right? Like, your muscles get tense and tight, and your body’s in kind of this holding pattern: Bracing to either fight, flee or freeze. When those cycles of stress response are not completed, like, when we don’t actually get to resolve it and realize, like, okay, the threat is no longer a threat, or, “I’m safe, all is well,” and get the support and co-regulation from another nervous system that we need, when that doesn’t happen, we have this really intricate system of tissue in our body called fascia. It lies beneath the surface of your skin. It’s, like, this connective tissue, and you can almost think of it like cotton candy, like that really thin sort of fibrous type of tissue, that connects all of our muscles and nerves, and joints, and bones, and internal organs. And, when we have those patterns of contraction, over and over again, that fascia starts to tighten and we’re not getting as healthy of blood flow. If there’s an area of tightness, of stagnation, the blood isn’t flowing there efficiently, and when that happens, inflammation is created. If fresh blood flow and fresh oxygen aren’t getting to all of our cells to deliver the nutrients they need, our body’s just not working as efficiently as it could be.[Inflammation] leads to symptoms, which can be in the form of pain, can be in the form of illness, or disease.How does trauma relate to chronic illness?MS: I love this analogy: Imagine that we all have this inherent capacity to process these stressors. Imagine, if you will, a container, like a cup or bucket. And we all start with an empty cup, and things like emotional stressors, physical and environmental stressors, things our body just, like, has to work to process; those things start to take up space in our cup. Trauma takes up more space in that container. It takes a lot of energy for the body to hold unresolved trauma because we’re essentially staying in that state of fight-or-flight. We’re staying in that chronic, sympathetic activation of the nervous system when we’re not meant to be there 100% of the time. [--] It gets to the point where it’s at capacity, every new thing that's added starts to overflow.The overflow is the chronic symptoms that we experience.→ See Megan Sherer’s Substack: With Love by Megan Sherer → Megan loved First Aid Beauty’s Oat and Hemp salve (discontinued!) Time Stamps* 1:57: What causes us to become traumatized? * 3:51: What does chronic illness have to do with attachment and trauma?* 5:03: The impact of trauma on parenting* 10:32: What happens in your brain and body when you experience trauma* 12:22: “My body is betraying me”* 24:13: Was what happened to me “trauma?”* 28:44: Identifying emotional wounds * 30:15: Attachment styles and examplesConnect with MeganMegan’s book, Choose Yourself, out in May 2025 from Sounds True Publishing, is out on preorder in February 2025. Get on her email list here to stay in the loop. → Get her Love Blueprint workbook (free) here→ Access Megan’s meditations hereThank you for listening and reading, friend. Our next episode (S1E6) is about a different type of trauma. It’s an interview with OB/Gyn Cali Buckheit, MD about her experience developing a life-threatening case of listeria while 27 weeks pregnant with her second child, and how it forever impacted the way she communicates with her patients who experience birth trauma. 🎙️ Modern Hysteria is now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! Talk soon— MicahP.S. Want a book you can’t put down for the cozy holiday season? Take the Feminist Book Finder quiz here to get a personalized recommendation (some of my favorites are on this list!). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Hi, friend.It’s Micah of Modern Hysteria, your podcast (and newsletter) about the taboo topics of women’s health. And, in this episode, we talk about how to rewrite the narrative of shame we have around our sexuality and sex lives — not just for ourselves but for our kids — and what society teaches us (and doesn’t teach us) about women’s pleasure.Time stamps: * 5:34: The importance of consent and communication * 11:00: Teaching kids to have a healthy sexual ethic * 17:15: Deconstructing your faith and finding new ways forward* 24:55: Empowerment of discovering your own pleasure* 27:46: What’s in your bag?In S1E2, writer and content creator Tiffany Torres Williams brought us back to the heyday of purity culture in the 90s-00s in her home state of Texas, where she was raised to believe she should be:* ashamed of her sexuality * responsible for the purity of the men in her life and her future husband’s sexual satisfaction(⚠️ Content warning: Mention of sexual intimacy and high-control religion)Catch up on Part 1 here.Modern Hysteria is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.What’s in Tiffany’s bag?* Umbrella to protect her fabulous hair from humidity* Pens and highlighters, because … writer, obv.* Various shades of red lipstick for extra va-va-voom 💄Her favorite shades for a red lip: 💄 Midnight Red by Mary Kay (her “absolute favorite”)💄 Fireoff by Revlon💄 Bad Blood by Urban DecayMentioned in this episode: * Anne Helen Petersen’s Substack, Culture Study* Joshua Harris’s documentary, I Survived I Kissed Dating GoodbyeConnect with Tiffany* 🌈 Follow on Instagram* 🗞️ Subscribe to her Substack, Project 2025 TakedownThanks for listening!— MicahUpcoming episodes* Birth trauma with Dr. Cali Buckheit* Postpartum rage with Allison Staiger* CPTSD and shame with Grace Bithell* Emotional trauma and illness with Megan Sherer* Money and mental health with Erin Steele * Postpartum support with Kelsey Marr * Pleasure, libido, and people-pleasing with Lucy Rowett * Emotional and narcissistic abuse with Sarene Leeds * Body dysmorphia with Dr. Laura Glazebrook … and lots more. I can’t wait to share the expertise of these badass women with you. Subscribe to the pod here to get new episodes sent straight to your inbox: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Hi, friend. Did you get on the sourdough bandwagon during COVID? Sourdough baking trended in 2020 while we all sat in our individual homes, looking for ways to feel productive, and, according to Google search trends, it’s still having a renaissance moment. Like a lot of aspiring sourdough-ers, I failed repeatedly at sourdough starter and nearly gave up entirely.That is, until my guest this week, Laura Lemon of Hippiebilly Homestead — a plant-based urban homesteader in Columbus, Ohio with a background in nutrition science and public health — got me on the right track and, via Instagram, fielded my questions about feeding a starter. And, now … Later, Laura and I connected more deeply over our shared history of preeclampsia, a life-threatening pregnancy complication that affects blood pressure and can lead to strokes, seizures, organ failure, and premature birth, even death. Another similarity Laura and I share is that we turned to nature to heal our reproductive trauma. Specifically, we both threw ourselves into gardening. The practice of growing food, nurturing plants, and tending the soil does something for the aching heart and mind.Laura’s core belief is that anyone can participate in homesteading practices by starting small, whether it be with a single potted plant or finding your local municipal composting site.Last year, she started to offer classes on her homestead for preschoolers to learn to grow food. She also built a **sick** mud kitchen for her kiddos and students, and found homesteading to be an enormous source of postpartum healing after experiencing birth trauma with both of her children.And she had a goat named Crybaby.Laura’s a homesteader. I consider myself a hobby farmer. And, here, we tread dangerously close to other hot-button labels, like: * Tradwife — “traditional wife;” a woman who believes in traditional gender roles and marriage; this term became mainstream in the 2020s as tradwife influencers grew followings on social media; they’re often criticized for romanticizing the oppression of women* Doomsday prepper — someone who hoards resources for protection against a catastrophic event; sometimes called a “survivalist” Here’s my shot at a Venn diagram: Sourdough in particular lives at the center of at least two of these circles. And I’ve even found myself identifying with other women saying: I know I’m making sourdough, but please do not mistake me as a tradwife.Because “homesteading” and its associated labels often have political connotations, the central question I posed to Laura in this episode was: "Can homesteading support women's health, healing, and mental wellbeing while challenging traditional gender roles?"I was thinking here specifically about Hannah Neeleman of Ballerina Farm, the (in)famous influencer who, in my opinion, particularly since she graced the cover of Evie magazine last week, belongs in the homesteader-tradwife subcategory. She’s been accused of “poverty cosplay” and promoting submission to men, among other things. → (Read more from Sara Petersen at In Pursuit of Clean Countertops)In this episode, Laura and I talked about: * the overlapping spheres of homesteading, hobby farming, influencers, and tradwives * postpartum healing and community after birth trauma * teaching appreciation for food and gender equality in the kitchenTime stamps* 7:26: Raising kids on a homestead* 10:31: Is #slowliving realistic?* 14:02: Critique of the tradwife movement* 20:16: The journey to homesteading* 26:40: Community support for postpartum moms* 29:00: Being a homestead influencerWhat’s in Laura’s bag?* Moleskine journal* Robin Wall Kimmerer’s new book, The Serviceberry * Fruit pouches * Diapers Thanks for listening and reading! Tiffany Torres Williams returns on our next episode to talk more about how purity culture affects our brains and bodies.Catch Part 1 with Tiffany here: S1E2 Virgin to Vixen on Your Wedding NightAnywayyy, I hope you had a good Thanksgiving if you celebrated it. Let’s talk soon!— MicahP.S. Wanna continue this convo? Join me for our free online Women’s Sharing Circles. Our next one is Dec. 10, and the topic is “Feminine Rage.” 🗓️ Dec. 10, 1-2p ET / 10a-11a PT This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Hi! It’s Micah of Modern Hysteria. In our second full episode, multitalented writer and photographer Tiffany Torres Williams tells us about her experiences growing up in evangelical Christianity during the heyday of purity culture, and how it affects all of us in the bedroom (and our brains).⚠️ Content warning: Mention of sexual assault and high-control religionPurity culture — religious ideology in which sexual abstinence, particularly for women, is a measure of morality and worth; rooted in evangelical Christianity and conservative culture, which idealizes “purity” and rigid gender roles.If you were exposed to purity culture, you may also:* ongoing anxiety about not living up to “moral” standards* might view yourself as “damaged goods” if you don’t meet those standards* have overwhelming fear or dread of sexual intimacy (even in long-term relationships)* feel uncomfortable with nudity* have difficulty asserting boundaries or saying “no”* experience pelvic pain or vaginisumus, involuntary tightening of the muscles around the vaginal wall, which makes penetration painful or impossible* have difficulty with libido and arousal* don’t like to talk about sex at all, even with your medical provider or partner Tiffany explains that women who grow up in this subculture are taught they are responsible for upholding their purity and for mens’ moral failings. Not only does this set women up for failure and a lifetime of vigilance, but it teaches men and boys that they are not responsible for their own behaviors.This episode was inspired by a question I put out on social media: Can you go from virgin to vixen on your wedding night as women are expected to do in high-control religion? And, this related question:How does purity culture affect women’s mental health as it relates to sex?Unfortunately, our recording sesh got cut short for S1E2, so look out for a Part 2, and, in the meantime, comment below with questions for Tiffany or anything you’d like to add ↓Connect with Tiffany* 🌈 Follow on Instagram* 🗞️ Subscribe to her Substack, Project 2025 TakedownUp next, I chat with Laura Lemon of Hippiebilly Homestead about homesteading, motherhood, mental health, and postpartum (plus tradwife influencers like Ballerina Farm). Thanks for listening!— MicahP.S. Our next (free, online) Women’s Sharing Circle is on Dec. 10, and we’re talking about feminine rage. Click here for more information This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Hi, there — It’s Micah of Modern Hysteria, and this is our FIRST-EVER full episode of the Modern Hysteria podcast, the “women’s bathroom of the internet,” where I ask experts the questions about women’s health you may not have known to ask (because when we know better we can do better).In the past year I’ve been through a rapid-fire process of aging. And, selfishly, I find our guests’s take on aging as a woman incredibly soothing, so I HAD to bring her on to share it with you …Aging ain’t for the faint of heart, said someone, and also the poster in the YMCA weight room in my hometown. Now I understand.Aging — especially as a woman — feels like you’re supposed to go softly into that good night or fade to some sort of pleasantly demented insignificance.That, or get on the endless treadmill of “anti-aging” and battle inevitable wrinkles and sagging with pills and potions that promise youth! collagen! anti-gravity! If you don’t want to fight that uphill battle against time or buy into the anti-aging industry — which was valued at $47 billion in 2023 and is projected to surpass $80 billion by 2030 — what DO you do? How do you do that thing everyone keeps talking about: Age “gracefully?” I wanted to learn from Angi — aging and movement expert who is devoutly pro-aging — How do we age ON PURPOSE? With intention? We talked about: * How Chinese medicine views aging* The “seasons” of aging (spring, summer, autumn, winter)* How to have a “second spring” I learned: When you’re pro-aging, you age like a PRO. Angi’s Foot Regimen 🆓“Foot massage for reducing pain & inflammation and all the while this foot treatment will help improve posture, sleep & foot function!”👟 Download Angi’s free guide hereConnect with Angi👩🏼‍💻 On Facebook 📱 On InstagramIf any of this — beauty, anti-aging v pro-aging, “aging gracefully” — resonates with you, make sure you connect with Angi. She’s a brilliant professional, and I’m proud to call her a friend. Question for you: Do you like the “What’s In Your Bag?” segment? I think I want to make it an ongoing thing. Tell me in the comments. I’ve got interviews coming up for Episodes 2 and 3 very soon: * Laura Lemon of the Hippiebilly Homestead * Tiffany Torres Williams of Project 2025 Takedown And, since I shared the teaser trailer for Modern Hysteria pod, I had an OUTPOURING of subject matter experts request to be on the show. We’ve got so many good topics coming up: * pelvic floor dysfunction* libido, pleasure, and permission * the mother wound* menopause and hormones * fertility and nutritionI cannot wait to share more … make sure you’re subscribed to Modern Hysteria so you can get new posts sent straight to your inbox, and thanks for reading 🙃— MicahP.S. Our next Women’s Sharing Circle (free, live on Zoom) is on Dec 10, and we’re talking about feminine rage. Join us for real talk about women’s wellness and womanhood.🗓️ Click here to see details This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com

Hi! This is Micah from Modern Hysteria — and, now, the Modern Hysteria PODCAST! This pod has been a long time coming … ten years, in fact. My anonymous egg donation in 2014 was the catalyst for an unraveling of my body and brain through anxiety, depression, pregnancy loss, preeclampsia, hysterectomy, PMDD, and surgical menopause. The earlier years, the ones during which I felt most alone, were the hardest. Because we were not meant to go through any of this by ourselves. That’s why I’m recording this podcast. It’s the one I wish I had ten years ago, so I would have known I wasn’t crazy, I wasn’t alone, and that there was hope for healing. I’ve got a killer lineup of experts for you, and the first full episode of the podcast drops next week! In Episode 01, I interview aging science and movement expert Angi McClure of Bamboo Bodies about why women fall into the “anti-aging” trap and what we can actually do to age “gracefully” into powerful, functional, badass women (instead of fighting an endless and expensive uphill battle against wrinkles and gray hair).‘Til then, make sure we’re connected on Instagram here!Which topics on women’s health (mental health, too!) would you most like to hear on the pod? Tell me in the comments ↓Can’t wait to share more!— Micah P.S. Our Women’s Sharing Circle on “Letting Yourself Go” is today, Nov. 13, at 3p ET / 12p PT. Get on the list last-minute here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit micahlarsen.substack.com