Another Bloody Podcast

Lisa Pierce Flores Heather O’Neill
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Health & Fitness

Welcome to Another Bloody Podcast, hosted by Heather O’Neill and Lisa Pierce Flores. We’re longtime friends who found ourselves constantly talking about women’s healthcare, thanks to the twists and turns of our own medical adventures. Here, we invite you to eavesdrop on conversations about everything from brain fog to vagina drama—and every taboo subject in between—examined from a different angle: one that draws on our decades of experience as journalists and our personal health journeys. Think of us as the friends who say out loud all the things your doctor should have mentioned—but somehow didn’t. Join us for a public conversation about our private parts.

  1. 1d ago

    Shots Fired: Trump and RFK Jr. Take Aim at the Current Vaccination Schedule

    Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump marked National Immunology Month by cutting the CDC's recommended childhood vaccine list from 18 diseases to 11, sorting remaining shots into risk-based tiers. State mandates and insurance coverage will not immediately be affected, but the policy shift may embolden a growing number of parents to question their doctors and refuse vaccinations for their children, further eroding herd immunity. As he signed the executive order last week, President Trump mentioned a link between vacccines and autism, a theory based on a 1998 study that has been soundly debunked. We decided to take a look back at the discrediterd tudy that got the lethal ball rolling and its author, Andrew Wakefield, who has since been stripped of his medical lisence. If you haven't heard about it before, you won't believe just how bad the study was. Based on just 12 children, using falsified data, and motivated by undisclosed financial conflicts of interest, it would be comical if it had not claimed the lives of so many unvaccinated children since its publication (it was later retracted). We also share personal stories of family members affected by preventable diseases like polio and Lisa talks about her infant bout of rubella, anecdotes that underscore how vaccines have dramatically reduced childhood mortality and disability. We hope you'll honor National Immunology Month by consulting vaccination recommendations from the American Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics, and at least for now, ignoring the CDC. Sources:  American Medical Association, "Vaccine Recommendations" 2026 https://www.ama-assn.org/public-health/prevention-wellness/vaccine-recommendations American Academy of Pediatrics. Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for Ages 18 Years or Younger, 2026 https://downloads.aap.org/AAP/PDF/AAP-Immunization-Schedule.pdf "Immunizations." HealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics, July 2025 www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/default.aspx "Trump Signs Executive Order With Plan to Reduce Number of Recommended Childhood Vaccines," The Guardian, August 10, 2026 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/10/trump-vaccines-executive-order-measles  Calling the Shots: Tracking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Moves on Vaccines." U.S. News & World Report, updated 10 Aug. 2026 https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/calling-the-shots-tracking-robert-f-kennedy-jr-s-moves-on-vaccines Scott, Kristan, et al. "Trends in Vitamin K Administration Among Infants." JAMA, 2026 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2842444 Fattah, M., et al. "Trends in County-Level Childhood Vaccination Exemptions in the US." JAMA, vol. 335, no. 6, 2026, pp. 546–49 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2843870 Shattock, Andrew J., et al. "Contribution of Vaccination to Improved Survival and Health: Modelling 50 Years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization." The Lancet, vol. 403, no. 10441, 25 May 2024, pp. 2307–16 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)00850-X/fulltext "Revolutionary Medicine: The Importance of Child Vaccines." American Lung Association, 4 Apr. 2025 https://www.lung.org/blog/child-vaccine-history "Why Experts Have Concluded That Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism." Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 19 Mar. 2025 https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/vaccines-do-not-cause-autism Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes, hosts. "RFK Jr. and The Rise of the Anti-Vaxx Movement." Maintenance Phase, 18 July 2023 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rfk-jr-and-the-rise-of-the-anti-vaxx-movement/id1535408667?i=1000621494286 Evans, Robert, host. "Part Two: Andrew Wakefield: The Worst Doctor Alive." Behind the Bastards, iHeartPodcasts/Cool Zone Media, 20 Feb. 2019 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/part-two-andrew-wakefield-the-worst-doctor-alive/id1373812661

  2. Aug 13

    Older, Wiser, Unwanted: Why No One Wants to Hire GenX Women

    If you've ever wondered whether you're imagining a shift in how you're treated at work in midlife, we're here to hand you the receipts. In this episode, we dig into why women vanish from the workforce right as they hit their stride. From the "broken rung" that stalls women when they aim for that very first promotion, to the burnout crushing senior women and blocking them from entering the C-suite, the data is eye-opening, and kinda depressing. And to cap it all off, here comes the menopause penalty, draining $150 billion in lost productivity worldwide and ending many women's careers for good — years before we qualify to access our retirement benefits. We're not happy about it, but we do have some data that should change employers minds.   Sources: Workplace & Economic Impact of Menopause Sauer, J. et al., The Economic Impact of Menopause: A Survey of Women 35+ and Employers, AARP Research, January 2024 https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/work-finances-retirement/employers-workforce/menopause-workplace/ "Research reveals women take 'substantial' earnings hit during menopause." Crawford, Krysten, Stanford Report, March 24, 2025 https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2025/03/menopause-earnings-economics-study "Women's Earnings Are Being Hit with 'Menopause Penalty,'" SHRM, April 25, 2025 https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/benefits-compensation/menopause-penalty-affecting-workplace-hitting-womens-earnings- "Viewpoint: Understanding the Impact of Menopause in the Workplace." SHRM, December 21, 2023 https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/inclusion-diversity/viewpoint-understanding-the-impact-of-menopause-in-the-workplace "Menopause, women and the workplace." Climacteric (International Menopause Society journal), April 9, 2025 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2025.2480591 "United States – The Health and Economic Impacts of Menopause," Impacts of Menopause (Bayer/FP Alliance case study), July 31, 2025 https://impactsofmenopause.com/bayer-fpa/case-study-united-states/ Weir, Shirley (Menopause Chicks). "Menopause at Work: A 2025 Rallying Cry." Women's Health Research Cluster, March 25, 2025 https://womenshealthresearchcluster.com/learn/womens-health-blog/menopause-at-work-a-2025-rallying-cry/ WebMD Health Services / PR Newswire, 2025 https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/study-finds-two-in-three-women-expect-workplace-menopause-supportyet-most-say-its-lacking-302574334.html Women in Leadership / Older Workers Women in the Workplace, LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Company, 2025 https://leanin.org/women-in-the-workplace "Women in Leadership Face Ageism at Every Age," Harvard Business Review, 2023 https://hbr.org/2023/06/women-in-leadership-face-ageism-at-every-age "Why More Companies Are Recognizing the Benefits of Keeping Older Employees," Stanford Center for Longevity https://longevity.stanford.edu/why-more-companies-are-recognizing-the-benefits-of-keeping-older-employees/ Culture / Commentary "Ladies, We're Entering Our Crone Era. It's About Time," Tressie McMillan Cottom, New York Times, July 13, 2026 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/13/opinion/menopause-influencers-womens-health.html Julie Delpy on Marc Maron's WTF https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-1267-julie-delpy/id329875043?i=1000537443976 "On the Verge," Julie Delpy's series about mid-life women https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5540990/

  3. Aug 6

    Hot (News) Flash: Meet the Two RI Lawmakers Who Banned Menopause Discrimination

    A little over a year ago, Rhode Island became the first state in the country to legally protect menopausal workers, amending its Fair Employment Practices Act to place menopause and perimenopause alongside pregnancy and childbirth as protected categories. In this episode, Heather and Lisa talk with the two lawmakers behind that shift: State Senator Lori Urso and State Representative Karen Alzate. Urso opens up about the breaking point that inspired the bill — heart palpitations, panic attacks, and brain fog so severe she nearly resigned from a job she loved before finding a doctor who took her seriously. Alzate shares what it took to get an all-male committee to sign on, and the moment a colleague worried the bill would make women look "weak." They walk through what the law actually requires, from flexible scheduling to temperature control, why they built it as an amendment rather than a standalone bill, and why more than a dozen states have since reached out for their playbook. This is a conversation about what happens when one lawmaker who's lived through it, and another who's smart enough to listen, decide silence isn't good enough anymore — and why the rest of the country (and the Bravophere ) is paying attention.

  4. Jul 30

    The Great Estrogen Debate: Debunking HRT Myths with Jennifer Nathanson, MSN, NP

    Hormone replacement therapy is having a moment in the press and on social media. Often all we hear about are the success stories of women whose hot flashes and night sweats have been cured by HRT. But what about those women who have been told that they aren't candidates for hormone replacement? This week, Heather and Lisa sit down with Jennifer Nathanson, nurse practitioner at Flourish Marin, to talk about hormone replacement therapy: what it actually is, who's a good candidate, and the lesser-known symptoms of perimenopause that rarely make it into the doctor's office conversation. Lisa, a two-time cancer survivor, asks the question so many women in her position are told they can't ask: is there any safe path to hormone support after a breast or endometrial cancer diagnosis? Jennifer walks through the current (and shifting) research, why bone health becomes the priority when HRT isn't an option, and why vaginal estrogen is considered safe for nearly everyone regardless of cancer history. They also dig into the long shadow of the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study, the difference between bioidentical and synthetic hormones, and why finding a provider who actually listens might be the most important part of the whole equation. Guest: Jennifer Nathanson, MSN, NP, Flourish Marin — www.flourishmarin.com Sources referenced in this episode: Reappraising 21 years of the WHI study: Putting the findings in context for clinical practice ScienceDirect https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512223003584 Risks and Benefits of Estrogen Plus Progestin in Healthy Postmenopausal Women: Principal Results From the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Trial JAMA https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/195120 A Controlled Trial of Intravaginal Estriol in Postmenopausal Women with Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections New England Journal of Medicine https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199309093291102 Hormone Replacement Therapy Does Not Increase Breast Cancer Recurrence, Mortality in Survivors Contemporary OB/GYN https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/hormone-replacement-therapy-does-not-increase-breast-cancer-recurrence-mortality-in-survivors Hormone Replacement Therapy: An Increased Risk of Recurrence and Mortality for Breast Cancer Patients? Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4677805/ Hormone Replacement Therapy in Endometrial Cancer Survivors: A Meta-Analysis Journal of Clinical Medicine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8303659/ Frozen Shoulder and Menopause: What Is the Estrogen-Collagen Link? Alloy https://www.myalloy.com/blog/frozen-shoulder-and-menopause-what-is-the-estrogen-collagen-link Estrogen Inhibits Frozen Shoulder Fibrosis via GPER Through the PI3K-Akt Pathway ScienceDirect https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960076025000299

  5. Jul 23

    Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: How Aging Affects Our Hair

    Show Description Turns out gray hair is just the opening act. Heather and Lisa dig into why hair thins, dries out, changes texture, and slows its growth cycle with age — and where menopause, HRT, GLP-1s, and even undiagnosed illness fit into the picture, plus what hair products dermotologists say are worth spending your money on. They discuss when hair loss is just aging, and when it's time to call the doctor, their bad perm experiences, and that time Heather was convinced she was balding. Show Notes Topics covered: Why hair changes accelerate around menopause, and what's happening to the follicle The difference between normal age-related thinning and female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) Medical causes of sudden or severe hair loss worth getting checked out by a medical provider: PCOS, thyroid disorders, alopecia areata, lupus How HRT and GLP-1 medications can affect hair, for better and worse Scalp cooling caps for chemo-related hair loss and other causes, and the real cost range Why sudden hair shedding or brittleness can be a lagging indicator of illness, sometimes showing up months after onset Dermatologist-recommended daily care tips: scalp-only shampooing, brushing habits, ponytail tension, heat styling, and wash frequency The products Heather and Lisa actually use, including a stovetop coconut oil treatment passed down from her longtime hairdresser Products and ingredients mentioned: Nutrafol (supplement) Minoxidil Ouai leave-in conditioner and shampoo/conditioner line Aesop shampoo Aveda Nutriplenish treatment and Smooth Infusion Aveda dry shampoo (powder) Coconut oil (stovetop deep-conditioning treatment) Ingredients to look for: biotin, keratin, jojoba oil, argan oil, avocado oil, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, citric acid Sources: Tips for Healthy Hair, American Academy of Dermatology https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/hair/healthy-hair-tips 10 Hair Care Habits That Damage Hair, American Academy of Dermatology https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/hair/habits-that-damage-hair Menopause Can Wreak Havoc on Your Hair, NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/menopause-hair-rcna198644 The Chemistry of Hair and Hair Care, University of Virginia, Department of Chemistry https://chemistry.as.virginia.edu/chemistry-wellness-hair-and-hair-care Your Guide to Aging and Hair, UCLA https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/your-guide-aging-and-hair Best Products for Menopausal Hair Loss, National Council on Aging https://www.ncoa.org/product-resources/hair-loss/menopausal-hair-loss-treatments/ The content in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. If you're noticing sudden or severe hair loss, please talk to your doctor or a dermatologist.

  6. Jul 16

    Saving Face: Yes, Skincare Is Also Healthcare

    If you've ever wondered if you're actually doing skincare right or just throwing money at pretty jars, this episode is for you. Starting with a viral TikTok trend that encourages women to use their own period blood as a facial mask (spoiler: dermatologically, it's a hard no!), Lisa and Heather delve into their own skincare routines and talk about what dermatologists say actually works. We tell you the three products skin doctors say you truly need and explain why the "clean" and "organic" labels on expensive products often mean less than you'd think. We also get real about lasers, Botox, fillers, and hereditary features that no amount of skincare will change, before taking a deep dive into how skipping moisturizer might raise your risk for dementia and vascular disease. Packed with myth-busters, this is the skincare conversation you'll want to send to every woman in your group chat. Show Notes: “Would you put period blood on your face? What science says about ‘menstrual masking,’” The Conversation, 2025 https://theconversation.com/would-you-put-period-blood-on-your-face-what-science-says-about-menstrual-masking-266648 “Which Skin Care Products Do We Really Need?” University of California San Francisco, 2023 https://magazine.ucsf.edu/which-skin-care-products-do-we-really-need “Skin Care Trends: Fact or Fiction?” Northwestern Medicine https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/skin-care-trends-fact-or-fiction Products Mentioned: Heather's Picks: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Organic argan oil Goop GOOPGENES All-in-One Nourishing Eye Cream Goop GOOPGLOW Vitamin C Serum Liz Earle Hydrating Night Cream  Lisa's Picks: Bliss Bright Idea Vitamin C Eye Cream It's Skin Hyaluronic Acid Moisture Emulsion Origins GinZing Brightening Eye Cream with Vitamin C & Niacinamide Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleansing Towelettes with Cotton Extract ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+

  7. Jul 9

    Lethal Cocktail? Alcohol & Women’s Health

    Now that the "one glass of red wine is good for you" advice has been officially retired, is any amount of alcohol safe or is it essentially just poison on the rocks? We dig into the current research, from the surprising links between alcohol and cancer, heart disease, and inflammation, to why women process liquor so differently than men do, to the medical community's new drinking guidelines (spoiler: "moderate" now means way less than we used to think). Weighing the research against our own margarita nights and sober Octobers, this episode has left us side-eyeing our wine glasses with a touch of trepidation, but not quite ready to pour them down the sink yet. Show Notes Alcohol use: Weighing risks and benefits, Mayo Clinic, 2024 https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551 Quitting alcohol for your health, Mayo Clinic, 2026 https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/women-health/quitting-alcohol-for-your-health/ The IARC Perspective on Alcohol Reduction or Cessation and Cancer Risk, New England Journal of Medicine, 2023 https:pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38157507/ Is Any Alcohol Good for You? New Health Risks, US News & World Report, 2026 https://health.usnews.com/wellness/food/articles/is-any-alcohol-good-for-you Soft Bar: https://soft-bar.com/ Sober Bar Finder: https://soberbarsnearme.com/

  8. Jul 2

    From Hair to Bare: A Brief History of Pubes

    From razor ads that invented a "problem" in 1915 to the J Sisters' salon that made the Brazilian a household word, Heather and Lisa trace the strange, sometimes prickly history of female hair removal — and why, a century later, the bush is having a comeback moment. We dig into how advertising, the bikini, Playboy, and enthusiastic celebrities shaped what women do (and don't do) below the belt, what OB-GYNs actually recommend, and why Gen Z is putting down the wax strips. Plus: the triumphant high-fashion return of the merkin.   Sources & Further Reading On early hair-removal history and its advertising-driven origins History of removal of leg and underarm hair in the United States Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_removal_of_leg_and_underarm_hair_in_the_United_States Hair or Bare?: The History of American Women and Hair Removal, 1914–1934 Barnard College (Hansen, thesis PDF) https://history.barnard.edu/sites/default/files/inline-files/Hansen_HairOrBare_2007.pdf On the bikini, Playboy, and the feminist backlash The History of Female Hair Removal Women's Museum of California https://womensmuseum.wordpress.com/2017/11/22/the-history-of-female-hair-removal/ On the Brazilian wax and the J Sisters origin story How Gwyneth Paltrow's "Life-Changing" Brazilian Bikini Wax Helped Dominate U.S. Beauty Trends WWD https://wwd.com/pop-culture/culture-news/brazilian-wax-j-sisters-trend-gwyneth-paltrow-celebrities-1235594910/ The Women Behind Brazilian Wax New Rain Eyebrow Threading (BBC-sourced account of the J Sisters) https://newraineyebrowthreading.com/the-women-behind-brazilian-wax/ The Brazilian Wax: A History & Culture The Yoni Temple https://www.theyonitemple.com/post/the-brazilian-wax-a-history-culture The History of the Brazilian Wax Sweet Pea Waxing https://sweetpeawaxing.com/history-of-the-brazilian-wax/ On current prevalence, methods, and reasons (research and clinical) Pubic Hair Removal among Women in the United States: Prevalence, Methods, and Characteristics (Herbenick et al.) ScienceDirect https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1743609515327326 Pubic Hair Removal among Women in the United States (PubMed listing of the Herbenick et al. study) PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20646183/ Historical and Social Contextualization of Female Pubic Hair Removal ResearchGate https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287329005_Historical_and_social_contextualization_of_female_pubic_hair_removal To Shave or Not to Shave: An OB-GYN's Guide to Pubic Hair Care American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/the-latest/to-shave-or-not-to-shave-an-ob-gyns-guide-to-pubic-hair-care On the return of the bush (and the merkin) The Bush Is Back in 2025 — Just Ask Skims Vogue, 2025 https://www.vogue.com/article/full-bush-in-a-bikini-trend Pubic Hair Removal Practices among Women, 2024 Women's Health (PMC) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11558735/#section24-17455057241296982 Pubic Hair Grooming Trends: 2016 vs. 2024 Prevalence Data PMC / National Library of Medicine https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10926629/ Another Bloody Podcast is hosted by Heather O'Neill and Lisa Pierce Flores. Follow us on Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Facebook, X, and YouTube.

See All (27)

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Welcome to Another Bloody Podcast, hosted by Heather O’Neill and Lisa Pierce Flores. We’re longtime friends who found ourselves constantly talking about women’s healthcare, thanks to the twists and turns of our own medical adventures. Here, we invite you to eavesdrop on conversations about everything from brain fog to vagina drama—and every taboo subject in between—examined from a different angle: one that draws on our decades of experience as journalists and our personal health journeys. Think of us as the friends who say out loud all the things your doctor should have mentioned—but somehow didn’t. Join us for a public conversation about our private parts.

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa Pierce Flores Heather O’Neill
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Another Bloody Podcast

You Might Also Like