From Skirts To Scrubs

Aspasia was known as the most influential woman in ancient Athens. She lived during the city's Golden Age, and was a foreign-born intellectual who moved in political and philosophical circles, even within a society that largely excluded women from public life. In this episode, we explore Aspasia's relationship with Greek statesman, her reputation as a teacher and rhetorician, and why historians still debate her influence more...

From goat bladders and tortoise shells to Trojan ads and modern latex, this week Alesha and Charlotte discuss the history of another form of birth control, condoms! In Episode 80, they explore how condoms evolved through syphilis outbreaks, world wars, changing attitudes toward sex, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic to become one of the most important tools in public health in history and why they remain such an important part of sex...

In this episode, we’re diving into the history of redlining and how a policy from nearly a century ago still shapes women’s health today. You’ve probably heard the term, but this goes way beyond biased banks. It was a government-backed system that literally mapped out which neighborhoods would thrive and which would be cut off from wealth and opportunity. We walk through how redlining started, how it fueled ...

In this episode, we dive into the life and legacy of Dr. Nancy Caroline, a trailblazer in the development of modern paramedic and EMS systems. From her early days as a determined medical student in the 1960s to her leadership in Pittsburgh’s groundbreaking Freedom House Ambulance Service, Dr. Caroline helped transform pre-hospital care while challenging racial and systemic inequities in medicine. This episode highlights...

In this episode, we're diving back into our feminist theory era and analyzing the "cool girl." You know her (some of you love her, some hate her). She's effortlessly hot, low-maintenance, "one of the guys", and seems to never ask for anything. The term blew up after the movie Gone Girl was released in the 2000s, but the trope is still everywhere. Check out this episode to find out more about the origin of the trope, examples today,...

In this next episode of our series, “Road to Repro Rights”, we examine Buck v. Bell, one of the most consequential and troubling rulings in the history of reproductive rights in the United States. The episode explores how the early 20th-century Eugenics Movement influenced public policy and medicine, leading to laws that allowed the forced sterilization of people labeled “unfit.” Through the story of C...

In this episode, we dive into the surprisingly dramatic and centuries-long history of pelvic organ prolapse,  a condition where the pelvic organs descend into the pelvis due to pelvic floor weakness. From Hippocrates’ theory of the “wandering womb” and some truly questionable ancient treatments, to the rise of anesthesia, early vaginal hysterectomies, and the foundational surgical principles, we trace h...

In this season finale, we explore the concept of The Male Gaze, which was originally a feminist theory that examined how media and culture depicted women through a heterosexual male lens. We discuss The Male Gaze's origins in film theory, its expansion into everyday life, and how it influences everything from fashion and advertising to behavior in public, professional, and intimate spaces. We also touch on internalized male g...

In this episode, Alesha and Charlotte launch a new mini-series on advocacy by exploring the historic Supreme Court case Griswold v. Connecticut (1965). They trace the roots of the restrictive Comstock laws, which criminalized birth control, and advocates of reproductive rights opening a birth control clinic in open defiance of state law, leading to a groundbreaking decision. The hosts also reflect on how this dec...

In part two of our preeclampsia series, we explore how this condition shows up in the public eye—from Tori Bowie’s heartbreaking story to the complicated pregnancies of Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé. We also look at how shows like Black-ish and Downton Abbey portray it—and what those storylines get right (and wrong). Plus, we bust some of the most common myths still floating around about preeclampsia. Be sure t...

This week, we journey through history to explore pre-eclampsia, a common yet mysterious pregnancy complication. We dive into the root of this history from ancient Egypt, where early medical texts hinted at seizures during pregnancy, to ancient Greece, where the term "eclampsia" was coined. Then we discuss the misconceptions and treatments of pre-eclampsia throughout the centuries, including the use of bloodletting and the ris...

Ina May Gaskin, the "mother of modern midwifery," revolutionized childbirth with her advocacy for natural birth and low-intervention techniques. From a traumatic hospital birth to founding a midwifery center, her journey reshaped the home birth movement. We explore her impact, the Gaskin maneuver, and the complexities of her commune known as, "The Farm." Plus, we discuss the home birth movement today and how it fits into modern obs...

In this episode, we discuss the serious issue of birth trauma, aka  PTSD related to pregnancy and childbirth. Birth trauma affects ⅓ birthing patients, which is way too high for our liking. Join us as we discuss common birth complications, medical mistreatment, and the unique challenges faced by women of color that contribute to birth trauma.  Additionally, we review trauma-informed care on labor and delivery a...

Ever wonder why blood type matters in pregnancy? Turns out, it’s a wild story of medical breakthroughs, unexpected discoveries, and even a connection to a maximum-security prison. In this episode, we break down Rh disease—why it happens, how doctors figured out a way to prevent it, and why millions of people around the world still don’t have access to this simple life-saving treatment. It’s a mix of science,...

Would you consider yourself a fiery person? Grounded? Dynamic? Maybe a combination of the three? If you looked at your health from the perspective of Ayurvedic medicine, it would probably be some combination of the three with one aspect being dominant. And this combination would be unique to you! But it would also have an impact on the way you receive medical care. Join us this week as we discuss the practice of Ayurveda, a form of...

In this episode, we explore the life and legacy of Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood and a key figure in the fight for birth control access. While Sanger’s work empowered women to take control of their reproductive health, her legacy is complicated by her involvement with the eugenics movement. We dive into her early life, her advocacy for family planning, and the ethical questions surrounding her efforts. ...

Are you in medicine or know someone who is? Because if so, they probably went through residency and more likely than not it was… intense. In this episode, we dig into the surprising and complex history of medical residency. From William Osler’s pioneering days to Halsted’s unforgiving pyramidal model, we trace how medical training evolved through wartime shifts, the creation of the Match, and critical reforms spa...

In this episode, we dive into the science and history behind labor, the intense process that leads up to childbirth. We break down how labor works—explaining painful contractions, cervical dilation, and the role of the uterus and cervix in bringing a baby into the world. We also dive into the history, exploring how laboring practices have evolved, from ancient birthing stools to the controversial “twilight sleep&r...

Let’s talk about sex, baby! In this episode, we dive into the fascinating and often complex world of human sexuality by exploring the evolution of the sexual response cycle. From Freud’s early psychoanalytic theories to Masters and Johnson’s groundbreaking physiological studies and beyond to modern models, we trace the history of how sex has been studied, categorized, and understood. We also examine the balance be...