Women's Health Interrupted with Dr. Liisa Galea

Women's Health Interrupted with Dr. Liisa Galea

Women’s Health Interrupted explores women’s health through scientific inquiry and storytelling. Spanning across four overarching and multidisciplinary themes: general health and wellness, brain health, socio-cultural determinants of health, as well as politics, policy and advocacy, this podcast brings you content about women's health from every angle. Women's Health Interrupted is produced by the Women's Health Research Cluster.

Episodes

S4E1: How Does Exercise Change Your Brain?

September 16, 2026 • 45 mins
Dr. Cindy Barha and Dr. Liisa Galea go way back! Dr. Cindy started her training in Liisa's lab, way back when, and has since built a leading research career uncovering how exercise shapes brain health. Together, they dig into what women actually need to know about movement and the mind. They break down how exercise changes the brain — from the role of BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) to neuroplasticity — and why...
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S3E12: Making Women's Health Political with Former Minister of Science Dr. Kirsty Duncan

December 17, 2025 • 48 mins
The Honourable Dr. Kirsty Duncan, former Minister of Science, geographer, and author of The Exclusion Effect: Why Women Are Underrepresented in Science, and How to Fix It, joins us on this episode to discuss the systemic barriers facing women in science and why equity in research matters for everyone. She explains how policy decisions shape scientific progress, why women’s health and women’s leadership remain chronicall...
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S3E11: How Sex and Gender Bias Skews Medical Research with Dr. Kate Womersley

December 15, 2025 • 41 mins
Dr. Kate Womersley, psychiatrist, Research Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health, and leader of the MESSAGE project (Medical Science Sex and Gender Equity), joins us on this episode to discuss sex and gender equity in medical research. She explains why research funders are such powerful levers for change, how pregnancy can act as a “stress test” revealing medical misogyny, and why sex- and gender-informed sci...
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S3E10: How Training Non-Specialists Can Fill the Perinatal Mental Health Gap with Dr. Daisy Singla

December 10, 2025 • 39 mins
Dr. Daisy Singla, clinical psychologist, researcher, and global leader in perinatal mental health, joins us on this episode to discuss perinatal mental health. She explains why the perinatal period is such a vulnerable time and how task-sharing and telemedicine can expand access to mental health care for parents. Dr. Singla also talks about the urgent need to bring evidence-based psychotherapy into real-world practice and the polic...
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S3E9: How Studying Women Led to an Effective Vaccine for Cancers with Dr. Gina Ogilvie

December 3, 2025 • 41 mins
Dr. Gina Ogilvie, clinician-scientist, global women’s health leader, and Professor at the University of British Columbia, joins us on this episode to discuss HPV vaccination and the future of cervical cancer screening. She explains how HPV causes cancer, why vaccination is such an effective prevention tool, and how self-collected HPV testing is expanding access and equity in Canada and around the world. Dr. Ogilvie also talks...
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S3E8: Why Women's Health Needs a Strategy with Jennifer Gillivan

November 26, 2025 • 43 mins
Jennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation, joins us on this episode to discuss why Canada needs a national women’s health strategy and how systemic bias in science, medicine, and policy leaves women behind. She explains how decades of underfunding and male-default research have shaped today’s “illness-care” system, what she’s hearing from thousands of women across Atlantic Canada, and ...
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S3E7: How Your Gut Impacts Your Hormones and Mood with Prof Siobhain O'Mahony

November 19, 2025 • 40 mins
Professor Siobhain O’Mahony, neurobiological scientist and microbiome researcher, joins us to discuss how your microbes talk to your hormones and your brain. She explains the gut microbiome, why most serotonin is made in the gut, and how the estrobolome can influence estrogen levels, touching endometriosis, perimenopause, and menopause. Professor O’Mahony also talks about “leaky gut,” stress, and practical w...
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S3E6: Why Your Period is a Vital Sign with Dr. Sofia Ahmed

November 12, 2025 • 43 mins
Dr. Sofia Ahmed, nephrologist, clinician scientist, and Academic Lead of Women’s Health Research at the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI), joins us on this episode to discuss why the menstrual cycle is a vital sign and how women’s health extends far beyond reproductive health. She explains why kidney and heart health are closely linked, and areas of study where research falls behind. Dr. Ahme...
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S3E5: How Birth Control Impacts Our Mood with Dr. Inger Sundström Poromaa

November 5, 2025 • 36 mins
Dr. Inger Sundström Poromaa, gynecologist and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Uppsala University, joins us on this episode to unpack how hormones affect mental health across the lifespan. She explains why some people are more sensitive to hormonal changes, how birth control and menopause can affect mood, and why blood tests don’t tell the full story. Dr. Sundström Poromaa also shares empowering tips for women strugg...
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S3E4 Why Women Have More Severe Strokes Than Men with Dr. Farida Sohrabji

October 29, 2025 • 42 mins
Dr. Farida Sohrabji, Professor and Director of Women’s Health in Neuroscience at Texas Agricultural & Mechanical University, joins us on this episode to discuss the science of stroke, and the role of sex differences in brain health. She explains why women often experience more severe strokes later in life compared to men, the complex role of estrogen in stroke, and how gut health influences stroke outcomes. Farida also re...
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S3 E3 Menopause Myths That Keep Women Suffering with Shirley Weir

October 22, 2025 • 34 mins
Shirley Weir, founder of Menopause Chicks, joins us on this episode to discuss why menopause is still so misunderstood, and how we can replace confusion with confidence. She shares menopause myths, the symptoms that catch people off guard, and her perspective on the term “bothersome symptoms”. Shirley also talks about how to encourage more collaborative conversations between patients and healthcare providers. Host: Dr....
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S3E2 How to Turn Women's Health Research Into Reality with Rachel Bartholomew

October 15, 2025 • 35 mins
Rachel Bartholomew, founder and CEO of Hyivy Health and founder of Femtech Canada, joins us on this episode to discuss how femtech innovation is redefining women’s health. She explains the value of innovation in the women’s health landscape, shares tips for dealing with rejection, and discusses how governments can accelerate moving from research to the real world. Rachel also explores how researchers and tech entreprene...
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S3E1 How Medical Research Ignores Half the Population with Dr. Cat Bohannon

October 15, 2025 • 50 mins

Dr. Cat Bohannon, researcher and author, joins us on this episode to unpack how default assumptions in science have sidelined female bodies and what’s at stake when women’s biology and gendered experiences remain under-researched. She explains how men’s health benefits from women’s health research, the importance of a bio-psycho-social approach, and discusses the history of breastfeeding. Cat also talks abou...

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S2 E11: Breaking the Stigma Around Pelvic Floor Dysfunction - Kiran Mann

July 10, 2024 • 17 mins
Kiran Mann joins us on this episode to discuss pelvic floor dysfunction and breaking stigmas. She explains what pelvic floor dysfunction is, how common it is and useful tips if you do have it. Kiran will also talk about the Be Pelvic Health Aware campaign – aimed to help those with this dysfunction feel comfortable talking to their healthcare providers and support systems. Guest: Kiran Mann Host(s): Chhavi Mehra & Sarah ...
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S2 E10: Domperidone for Low Milk Supply: Is it Safe? - Dr. Janet Currie & Dr. Suzanne Hetzel Campbell

June 12, 2024 • 35 mins
Domperidone is a dopamine blocker that is being increasingly prescribed off-label in British Columbia and other provinces to treat low milk supply. In this episode of Women’s Health Interrupted, we are joined by Dr. Janet Currie and Dr. Suzanne Hetzel Campbell to address the effects of Domperidone on breast feeding mothers. They will also be discussing criticisms, research and areas of development around it. Guest: Dr. Janet...
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S2 E9: This is How You Can Improve Your Quality of Life - Dr. Debra Anderson

May 8, 2024 • 22 mins
In this episode of Women’s Health Interrupted, we are joined by Dr. Debra Anderson to discuss how you can improve your quality of life. Dr. Anderson delves into health behaviours like diet sleep, stress, exercise, and other lifestyle choices that can impact your quality of life, especially for women. She will specifically address how this can improve your life if you are dealing with a chronic disease like cancer, heart disea...
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S2 E8: How Does Menopause Affect the Brain? - Dr. Claudia Barth

April 10, 2024 • 15 mins
Dr. Claudia Barth is joining us to discuss the possible link between your brain health and menopause. She addresses how changes to your estrogen levels during menopause may be causing cognitive declines. Dr. Barth will also address other issues and things you can do to keep your brain healthy when going through menopause – and how to help other women during this period in their lives. Guest: Dr. Claudia Barth Host(s): Chhavi...
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S2 E7: Mommy Brain: It’s Not Just in Your Head - Dr. Ann-Marie de Lange

March 13, 2024 • 18 mins
In this week’s episode of Women’s Health Interrupted, we are joined by Dr. Ann-Marie De Lange, to discuss pregnancy and brain health, also referred to as “mommy brain.” Dr. De Lange will delve into how pregnancy may have long-lasting impacts on the brain and what processes go on in the brain when you give birth. She will also address what women can do to improve their brain health and address many of these i...
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S2 E6: Exclusion of Women from Health Research: Then and Now - Amanda Namchuk & Tallinn Splinter

February 14, 2024 • 20 mins
Amanda Namchuk and Tallinn Splinter will join us in this episode to discuss the exclusion of women from health research and how that has impacted us in the past, present and foreseeable future. They discuss how a lack of research on women and their bodies has led to a gap in research on sex and gender. Amanda and Tallinn will also go over how to better address this gap both on an individual and systemic level. Guest: Amanda Namchu...
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S2 E5: Housing and Health Barriers Faced by 2SLGBTQ+ Youth - Dr. Alex Abramovich

January 30, 2024 • 20 mins
In this episode, Dr. Alex Abramovich will be highlighting the barriers that 2SLGBTQ+ youth face when accessing housing and health services. He will discuss how the issue of safety comes into place and how important it is for 2SLGBTQ+ youth to feel like they can be their full authentic selves when choosing different programs. Guest: Dr. Alex Abramovich Host(s): Chhavi Mehra & Sarah Williscraft Editor: Negin Nia & Chhavi M...
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