Not Designed for the Grind

Period Reality

Women’s bodies are cyclical, but the world we live in isn’t. In Not Designed for the Grind, gynaecologist Dr. Katerina Bambang and Period Reality founder Marlou Cornelissen talk about women’s health, hormones and cycle awareness. They break down what’s really happening in our bodies, share insights from medicine and real life, and explore how understanding the menstrual cycle can change the way we live, work and lead.

  1. 9 Oct ·  Bonus

    Bonus Episode - LIVE from IdeasFest: What If We Designed Work for Humans?

    What would you redesign about the way we work? For the Season 1 finale of Not Designed for the Grind, we took two tiny microphones to Ideas Fest to ask founders, athletes, creatives and leaders what happens when we stop designing work around an imaginary ideal worker and start designing it around actual humans. Join us for conversations with former England footballer and Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott MBE, Olympic gold medallist and leadership coach Tim Foster MBE, creative Kelly, Dippi founder Miia Paavola, circus school founder and performer Jess Antelope Hill, coach and entrepreneur Sabrina Johnson of The Selfish Coach, and Maxine Laceby, founder of Absolute Collagen. From elite sport and human-centred leadership to creativity, founder life, menstrual cycles and the realities of working when your body changes, these conversations challenge the idea that high performance means constantly pushing through. We also explore a bigger question: what happens when women stop putting everyone else first and start making space for themselves? Because people have changing energy, bodies, families, health, creativity and lives. Designing work around those realities isn't lowering the bar. Perhaps it's finally designing work for humans. This is Not Designed for the Grind: LIVE FROM IDEAS FEST — our Season 1 finale. And don't worry, we're not done. Season 2 is coming.We want Season 2 to include your voice. Share your story or tell us about changes you'd like to see in your workplace at ⁠podcast@periodreality.org⁠.

    Bonus Episode - LIVE from IdeasFest: What If We Designed Work for Humans?

  2. 30 Aug

    Episode 8 (Part 2)- Designing for Everyone

    In part two of our season one finale, Marlou and Kat welcome Tegan Blakey, an  Architectural Assistant at LOM Architecture and Design, to explore how the spaces around us can better support the people who use them. From office temperatures and lighting to toilet design, privacy, caregiving, and the invisible mental load, we look at why designing for the “average” person often leaves people out.Tegan shares why better data, greater awareness, and designing for equity rather than equality can help create workplaces that are more comfortable, inclusive, and supportive for everyone. We want Season 2 to include your voice. Share your story or your own workplace changes with us at podcast@periodreality.org.Show notes: https://lom-studio.com/latest-news/beyond-the-standard-rethinking-inclusive-workplace-design/

  3. 23 Aug

    Episode 8 (Part 1) - Detoxing Your Environment

    The season one finale is finally here, and it is so big we split it into two parts! In part one, Marlou and Kat welcome their very first guest, Charlie Lemmer, known as "The Healthy Home Therapist." Charlie shares her powerful story of how a toxic workplace environment left her severely ill, sparking her deep dive into how our spaces affect our health. We explore how invisible factors like household fragrances, plastics, and even noise pollution trigger our nervous systems and disrupt our hormones. Plus, a look at how Charlie is working to make healthy home education accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy. We want Season 2 to include your voice. Share your story or your own healthy home changes with us at podcast@periodreality.org. Show notes: Barceló MA, Varga D, Tobias A, Diaz J, Linares C, Saez M. Long term effects of traffic noise on mortality in the city of Barcelona, 2004-2007. Environ Res. 2016 May;147:193-206. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.02.010. Epub 2016 Feb 16. PMID: 26894815. Mitrofanis J, Jeffery G. Does photobiomodulation influence ageing? Aging (Albany NY). 2018 Sep 15;10(9):2224-2225. doi: 10.18632/aging.101556. PMID: 30219804; PMCID: PMC6188498. Barrett EM, Jeffery G. LED lighting (350-650nm) undermines human visual performance unless supplemented by wider spectra (400-1500nm+) like daylight. Sci Rep. 2026 Jan 23;16(1):3061. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-35389-6. PMID: 41577976; PMCID: PMC12830801. Latouche, C., Jowett, J., Carey, A., Bertovic, D., Owen, N., Dunstan, D., & Kingwell, B. (2013). Effects of breaking up prolonged sitting on skeletal muscle gene expression.. Journal of applied physiology, 114 4, 453-60 . https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00978.2012 Latouche, C., Dunstan, D., Carey, A., Healy, G., Bertovic, D., Owen, N., & Kingwell, B. (2012). 985 EFFECTS OF BREAKING UP PROLONGED SITTING ON SKELETAL MUSCLE GENE EXPRESSION. Journal of Hypertension, 30, e285–e286. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.hjh.0000420939.58192.b2 Narici, M., Vito, G., Franchi, M., Paoli, A., Moro, T., Marcolin, G., Grassi, B., Baldassarre, G., Zuccarelli, L., Biolo, G., Di Girolamo, F. G., Fiotti, N., Dela, F., Greenhaff, P., & Maganaris, C. (2020). Impact of sedentarism due to the COVID-19 home confinement on neuromuscular, cardiovascular and metabolic health: Physiological and pathophysiological implications and recommendations for physical and nutritional countermeasures. European Journal of Sport Science, 21, 614 - 635. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2020.1761076 https://charlielemmer.com/

  4. 15 May ·  Bonus

    Minisode - PCOS Becomes PMOS. A New Era!

    A landmark moment in women's health calls for a quick celebration. Marlou and Dr Kat break down the news that PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) has been renamed PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome). They explore why the old name was so misleading, why this change is about so much more than semantics, and how the new name finally reflects the full picture of hormones, metabolism, and long-term health. This minisode also touches on the importance of ethnic variation in diagnosis and what this shift means for earlier intervention, better research, and real patient empowerment. A Call for Stories: Do you have experience with PCOS — now PMOS? Share your story with us at podcast@periodreality.org Medical Note: The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your own healthcare provider for personal medical guidance. Music: Monique Hasbun / Algo Así (Instrumental Version) / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

  5. 20 Apr ·  Bonus

    Bonus Episode - A Pause Before the Finale

    Season one is nearly complete, but we're holding the final episode for something special. In this short bonus update, Marlou shares why Episode 8 is worth the wait, including an exciting guest and a look ahead to Season 2. She also reflects on the power of lived experience and why your stories matter more than any textbook. Plus, a glimpse into the Skoll World Forum in Oxford and what it means to be in a room full of people daring to build a better world.We want Season 2 to include your voice. Share your story with us at podcast@periodreality.org.

  6. 12 Apr

    Episode 7 - Pain, Patterns & Disconnection

    The ovulatory phase is often framed as a time of peak energy and magnetism, but for many, it is a reminder of a cycle that is not functioning as it should. Marlou and Kat explore the realities of ovulation and painful periods, from the exhaustion of navigating chronic conditions such as endometriosis to the years-long wait for a diagnosis. They reflect on why the menstrual cycle should be treated as a vital sign, how to recognise when pain is a signal rather than an inconvenience, and why “powering through” is often a symptom of a system that lacks answers. This episode is a call to listen to your body’s baseline and an acknowledgement that, for too many, the luteal phase is spent bracing for impact rather than feeling connected.Medical Note: The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your own healthcare provider for personal medical guidance.Music: Monique Hasbun / Algo Así (Instrumental Version) / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

  7. 5 Apr

    Episode 6 - Global Storytelling

    The follicular phase brings a natural lift in energy and curiosity, but understanding your cycle isn't always straightforward. Marlou and Kat explore what it really means to become body literate, from the awkwardness of learning something new about your own body to realising no one ever taught you. They reflect on how culture, privilege and access shape the stories we carry, and why true awareness means listening beyond our own experience. This episode is a reminder that understanding your cycle isn't about having a superpower, it's a basic human right. Medical Note: The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your own healthcare provider for personal medical guidance. Music: Monique Hasbun / Algo Así (Instrumental Version) / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

  8. 29 Mar

    Episode 5 - Beyond the Average Cycle

    Menstruation is where the cycle begins, but it’s also where many experiences go unspoken. Marlou and Kat explore what periods really look like beyond the “average”, from heavy bleeding and exhaustion to the uncertainty of knowing what’s normal. They reflect on how these experiences can impact daily life, confidence and work, and why so many women feel the need to power through instead of seeking support. This episode brings together real stories, practical insights and a reminder that awareness starts with paying attention to your own body. Content Warning: This episode includes a brief mention of miscarriage. Please take care while listening.Medical Note: The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your own healthcare provider for personal medical guidance. Music: Monique Hasbun / Algo Así (Instrumental Version) / courtesy of ⁠www.epidemicsound.com

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Women’s bodies are cyclical, but the world we live in isn’t. In Not Designed for the Grind, gynaecologist Dr. Katerina Bambang and Period Reality founder Marlou Cornelissen talk about women’s health, hormones and cycle awareness. They break down what’s really happening in our bodies, share insights from medicine and real life, and explore how understanding the menstrual cycle can change the way we live, work and lead.

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