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. 2d ago

    What Is Period Poverty? We Talk With Period Equity Advocate Rakisha Kearns-White To Find Out

    If you've ever been caught without a pad or tampon and felt that flash of panic, you already understand a small piece of what millions of people navigate every single day: period poverty. In this episode, Heather and Lisa sit down with period equity advocate Rakisha Kearns-White, who has spent the past seven years working to end menstrual stigma and provide accurate sexual health information in public spaces. With 37% of U.S. adults and 25% of students reporting that they've struggled to afford menstrual products, the numbers are striking. And as wages stagnate, social safety nets erode, and the cost of living climbs, it's getting even harder for people to afford the products they need so that they can access employment, education, and get on with their lives. Rakisha breaks down what period poverty and menstrual equity actually mean, how her advocacy grew out of a single moment at her library branch, why period stigma makes everything harder, and how anyone — regardless of gender — can get involved.  To help address period poverty, contact: • Rakisha Kearns-White at theperiodlibrarian@gmail.com • Period, period.org, a national organization with school and college chapters across the US that hosts period packing parties and advocacy events • Her Period Dignity, herperioddignity.co, working to end period poverty and provide dignified access to menstrual products • Aunt Flow, goauntflow.com, Columbus, Ohio-based organization fighting period poverty and stigma by providing free period products in schools and workplaces • Simply the Basics, simplythebasics.org, distributing menstrual products, diapers, and personal care items to people experiencing homelessness and low-income communities across the U.S. To help locally Donate period products to your local food pantry, homeless shelter, or care box drives through scouting groups and religious organizations Set up a free little pantry in your community stocked with menstrual products alongside other essentials Sign petitions advocating for EBT/SNAP coverage of menstrual products Show Notes Period Poverty: Why Millions of Girls and Women Cannot Afford Their Periods, UN Women https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/explainer/period-poverty-why-millions-of-girls-and-women-cannot-afford-their-periods   "Period Poverty Is On the Rise," findings from a study by Dignity Grows and the Period Poverty Institute of America  https://dignitygrows.org/period-poverty-in-the-u-s-is-on-the-rise-worsening-education-and-economic-outcomes/   Women in the Workplace 2025, McKinsey  https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/women-in-the-workplace

    49 min

  2. May 28

    Our Vanishing Vaginas: Vaginal Atrophy and Other Amazing Menopause Symptoms

    Your vagina is changing, and nobody warned you. Heather and Lisa are here to give you the 411 on this 911 situation. In this episode, we're diving into vaginal atrophy — the condition affecting roughly 50% of perimenopausal and menopausal women, where tissues dry out, shrink, and generally stage a quiet revolt. Your clitoris can retract like a turtle. Your labia can disappear. Fun times! Heather and Lisa break down the symptoms you might not realize are connected to your hormones (like recurring UTIs, a vanished sex drive and spontaneous pants-peeing), and walk through treatment options — from estrogen patches to a fancy box of dilators. Listen up. Your vanishing vagina deserves better. Show Notes "Vaginal Atrophy," Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15500-vaginal-atrophy "Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause" by Karen Carlson and Hao Nguyen, NIH https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559297/# "New Analysis of Women's Health Initiative Data Aims to 'Clear the Air' Over Menopausal Hormone Therapy" by Kate Schweitzer, JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2839211 "Hormonal Treatments and Vaginal Moisturizers for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: A Systematic Review" by Elisheva R. Danan et al., Annals of Internal Medicine, 2025 (includes research on Royal Jelly) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12333043/

    46 min

  3. May 21

    Underbabied, Underspermed: Unpacking MAHA's Maternal Healthcare Policies

    Last week, President Trump gathered RFK Jr., Dr. Mehmet Oz, and a room full of pronatalists to push his fertility and maternal healthcare agenda — and hosts Heather and Lisa had a lot of feelings about it. Sure, they had a field day with Dr. Oz's declaration that one in three Americans are "underbabied" and RFK Jr.'s, er, passionate interest in teen sperm counts. (Yes, really.) But once the laughing died down, things got a lot more serious. In this episode, Heather and Lisa dig into the policy proposals that came out of that press conference — ones that could have genuinely dangerous consequences for maternal healthcare — and unpack the complicated, often misunderstood research behind declining birth rates in the U.S. and around the world.  Show Notes The following sources were consulted in preparation for this discussion: The Daily Show's segment on President Trump’s press conference on maternal healthcare: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWF4XLGBEAU Full Maternal Healthcare Press Conference https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-hosts-maternal-health-care-event/678967 "Temporal Trends in Sperm Count," Levine et al., Human Reproductive Update, November 2022. https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/29/2/157/6824414 “710,000 Fewer Babies Were Born Last Year in U.S. Compared With Two Decades Ago” by Brian Mann, NPR https://www.npr.org/2026/04/09/nx-s1-5779627/birthrate-united-states-babies-immigration “A Dangerous Shift in Maternal Health Policy” by Stephanie Psaki, Dara Kass and Elizabeth Tobin-Tyler, Time https://time.com/article/2026/04/29/a-dangerous-shift-in-maternal-health-policy/ “No More Babies? Nobel Laureate’s Take On Fertility Decline” by Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/avivahwittenbergcox/2025/06/16/no-more-babies-nobel-laureates-take-on-fertility-decline/ Babies and the Macroeconomy by Claudia Goldin https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w33311/w33311.pdf Why So Few Births? Hoover Institution https://www.hoover.org/research/why-so-few-births “Funding Cut for Landmark Study of Women's Health” by Rob Stein, NPR https://www.npr.org/2025/04/23/nx-s1-5372892/womens-health-initiative-research-funding-gets-cut “What Happens to Health Research When 'Women' and 'Diversity' Are Banned Words?” by Shefali Luthra and Barbara Rodriguez, The 19th/PBS https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/what-happens-to-health-research-when-women-and-diversity-are-banned-words Documentary: “Liberty Lost”  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liberty-lost/id1815337795 Documentary: “Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever” 2025 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf9e1o7rUeo These organizations are working to increase women’s healthcare access: Women’s Healthcare Access Matters https://whamnow.org/ The Guttmacher Institute https://www.guttmacher.org/ Center for Reproductive Rights https://reproductiverights.org/

    49 min

  4. May 14

    Don't Be a Douche: The History of a Dangerous Hygiene Product

    This week we discuss the medically unnecessary product women were taught they couldn’t live without: the douche. About 20% of U.S. women use disposable douche products for vaginal cleansing on a weekly basis. Far more have used them at least once. Yet medical experts say these "hygiene" products are unnecessary and can even be hazardous to your health. So why, despite decades of research linking douching to increased risk of vaginitis, UTI, and even cancer, do women continue to spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year on a product nearly every healthcare expert inists they don't need? We dive into the convoluted history of the modern-day disposable douche and a century's worth of marketing strategies designed to convince women that they ought to be ashamed of their "down there." Show Notes and Sources Consulted: During the recording of this episode Heather asked Lisa if there are warnings about cancer and other serious health risks like vaginitis on the packaging or marketing materials for douching products from companies like Summer’s Eve do contain warnings, but they do not explicitly convey the possible health risks from use or overuse. Instead they caution against douching more than twice a week, during pregnancy, as a form of contraception, or to treat STDs. Douching, Office of Women's Health  https://womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/douching “When Women Used Lysol as Birth Control,” by Nicole Pasulka, Mother Jones, March 2012  https://www.motherjones.com/media/2012/03/when-women-used-lysol-birth-control/ “Why You Should Not Ever Need to Douche,” Cleveland Clinic, 2025 https://health.clevelandclinic.org/douche Devices and Desires: A History of Contraception in America by Andrea Tone, 2001 “Study Links Talc Use to Ovarian Cancer,” by Aria Bendix, NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/health/cancer/talc-baby-powder-linked-ovarian-cancer-jj-lawsuit-rcna152493

    31 min

  5. May 7

    Another Bloody Book Club: Famesick by Lena Dunham

    In our first ever installment of Another Bloody Book Club, Heather and Lisa dig into Famesick, Lena Dunham's raw and surprisingly funny memoir about the collision of ambition, chronic illness, and public life. They explore what the book reveals about the invisible toll of endometriosis, the pressure women face to keep showing up no matter how sick they are, and the particular loneliness of experiencing physical pain that no one can see from the outside. Along the way, they get personal — sharing their own experiences with hysterectomies, pain management, and what it really feels like when your body is altered forever. You can buy Lena Dunham's book Famesick from the following retailers: Green Apple Books Penguin Random House Amazon Barnes & Noble The following sources were referenced during this episode:  "Out for Blood: After Years of Medical Gaslighting, a Hysterectomy Set Me Free" by Heather O'Neill, Jenny https://jennymag.com/2024/02/07/endometriosis-hysterectomy-gaslighting/ What Is EDS? The Ehlers-Danlos Society https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/what-is-eds/  "Linking Stress and Inflammation to Chronic Disease," The Institute for Functional Medicine https://www.ifm.org/podcast/stress-inflammation-chronic-disease "Study Finds Women at Greater Risk of Depression, Anxiety After Hysterectomy," Mayo Clinic https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/study-finds-women-at-greater-risk-of-depression-anxiety-after-hysterectomy/

    50 min

  6. Apr 30

    Sugaring, Sextortion and What We All Need to Know About Sexual Assualt

    In Part 2 of our Sexual Assault Awareness Month conversation, we unpack some of the terminology and ideas mentioned in our interview with advocate Sharon Walker Epps in Episode 10, starting with a roadmap of the terrifying, predatory digital world young people and parents are struggling to navigate. From there, Heather interviews Lisa about her own work as a sexual assault crisis counselor and workshop leader. Finally, we end the episode with a writing prompt from Lisa's Writing Toward Healing workshop that she has developed for sexual assault and intimate partner abuse survivors. Show Notes   The following resources were mentioned or consulted in preparation for this epiisode and Episode 10 of Another Bloody Podcast: RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline, 24/7 confidential support, crisis counseling, and connection to local services across the U.S.: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673); https://www.rainn.org The Rowan Center
Sexual assault resource agency serving lower Fairfield County, Connecticut.
24/7 Hotline: 203-329-2929;
https://www.therowancenter.org National Domestic Violence Hotline, 24/7 confidential support for anyone experiencing intimate partner violence: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233);
Text: START to 88788; https://www.thehotline.org/ National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
CyberTipline to report child exploitation, online enticement, trafficking, or abuse imagery: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678);
https://report.cybertip.org;
https://www.missingkids.org Thorn
Works to combat online child sexual exploitation: https://www.thorn.org KidSafe HQ
Digital safety resource created by the Rowan Center to help parents protect children online and offline: https://www.therowancenter.org National Human Trafficking Hotline, 24/7 confidential support and reporting: 1-888-373-7888;
Text: 233733 (BEFREE); https://humantraffickinghotline.org Connecticut Office of Victim Services
May provide financial assistance to eligible crime victims: 1-800-822-8428;
https://jud.ct.gov/crimevictim/ 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline support for emotional distress or mental health crisis:
Call or text 988
24/7; https://988lifeline.org CDC: The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, statistics on the frequency of sexual violence: https://www.cdc.gov/nisvs/media/pdfs/sexualviolence-brief.pdf National Sexual Violence Resource Center: https://www.nsvrc.org/ The Grateful Garment (Go shopping for supplies to support SA survivors!): https://gratefulgarment.org/ Way of Healing: How Telling Our Stories Transforms Our Lives, by Louise DeSalvo https://www.beacon.org/Writing-as-a-Way-of-Healing-P436.aspx “Mother” by Lola Ridge (public domain) https://poets.org/poem/mother-1 The Center for Empowerment and Education, serving victims of interpersonal violence in Danbury, CT https://thecenterct.org/ Find Local Help Anywhere in the U.S. Remember, local rape crisis centers, domestic violence agencies, and child advocacy organizations exist in most communities. RAINN and the National Domestic Violence Hotline can connect you.

    50 min

  7. Apr 23

    From Crisis to Healing: A Conversation with Sexual Assault Awareness Advocate Sharon Walker Epps

    In this episode of Another Bloody Podcast, we talk with Sharon Walker Epps, CEO of the Rowan Center, about the long-lasting impact of sexual violence, why so many survivors wait decades to disclose abuse, and what healing can look like when support comes early. Sharon shares her own path from Wall Street to advocacy, shaped in part by her daughter’s experience as a survivor, and explains how sexual assault resource centers help people in the immediate aftermath of trauma and years later. We talk about delayed disclosure, the overlap between midlife and first-time disclosure, the hidden financial and emotional costs of getting help, and the services survivors may not realize are available, from crisis counseling and hospital advocacy to long-term therapy, prevention education, and help navigating the legal system. We also discuss male survivors, victim-blaming, the realities of underreporting, the rise in online exploitation, and why prevention and education matter more than ever. This is a hard but important conversation about trauma, recovery, and the community resources that can help survivors find a way forward. Resources mentioned in this episode: RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline, 24/7 confidential support, crisis counseling, and connection to local services across the U.S.: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673); https://www.rainn.org The Rowan Center
Sexual assault resource agency serving lower Fairfield County, Connecticut.
24/7 Hotline: 203-329-2929;
https://www.therowancenter.org National Domestic Violence Hotline, 24/7 confidential support for anyone experiencing intimate partner violence: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233);
Text: START to 88788; https://www.thehotline.org/ National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
CyberTipline to report child exploitation, online enticement, trafficking, or abuse imagery: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678);
https://report.cybertip.org;
https://www.missingkids.org Thorn
Works to combat online child sexual exploitation: https://www.thorn.org KidSafe HQ
Digital safety resource created by the Rowan Center to help parents protect children online and offline: https://www.therowancenter.org National Human Trafficking Hotline, 24/7 confidential support and reporting: 1-888-373-7888;
Text: 233733 (BEFREE); https://humantraffickinghotline.org Connecticut Office of Victim Services
May provide financial assistance to eligible crime victims: 1-800-822-8428;
https://jud.ct.gov/crimevictim/ 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline support for emotional distress or mental health crisis:
Call or text 988
24/7; https://988lifeline.org CDC: The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, statistics on the frequency of sexual violence: https://www.cdc.gov/nisvs/media/pdfs/sexualviolence-brief.pdf National Sexual Violence Resource Center: https://www.nsvrc.org/ The Grateful Garment (Go shopping for supplies to support SA survivors!): https://gratefulgarment.org/ Find Local Help Anywhere in the U.S. Remember, local rape crisis centers, domestic violence agencies, and child advocacy organizations exist in most communities. RAINN and the National Domestic Violence Hotline can connect you.

    38 min

  8. Apr 16

    From Dumb Diets to Dumbbells: Thoughts on Fitness Over 50

    This week, inspired by Casey Johnston's 2025 book A Physical Education, Heather and Lisa talk about the diets they've tried and despised, body image, and what fitness means for them. Is there a workable way for women over 50 to conserve bone mass, build muscle tone, and feel fit and healthy? Heather thinks she may have found the answer and Lisa is ready to give it a try. Here are links to some of the sources we used to frame this conversation: A Physical Education by Casey Johnston https://www.caseyjohnston.website/my-work/a-physical-education Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe https://aasgaardco.com/store/books-posters-dvd/books/starting-strength-basic-barbell-training/ National Eating Disorders Association https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/body-image-and-eating-disorders/ https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/weight-stigma/ Researchers from Penn State weigh in on weight-bearing exercise and bone health https://pennstatehealthnews.org/2025/04/the-medical-minute-keep-your-bones-strong-during-menopause-and-beyond/ Researchers from UC Davis on the role weight-bearing exercise plays in preventing GLP1-related muscle loss https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/health-wellness/glp-1-and-health-beyond-weight-loss-in-the-ozempic-era/2025/11 A study on why it can be difficult for autistic people to navigate hellos and goodbyes https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1026088531558

    49 min
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out of 5
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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
    2K
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Another Bloody Podcast

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