The Pain Gap

Anushay Hossain

Join Anushay Hossain, feminist author, podcast host, and powerful women’s health advocate as she interviews doctors, advocates and medical experts about the most urgent issues in women's health. Based on her Audible bestselling book, “The Pain Gap: How Sexism and Racism in Healthcare Kill Women," The Pain Gap podcast provides a vital platform for critical conversations about medical gaslighting and misogyny. Anushay's point is clear: center women's stories and empower listeners to advocate for their health. She also invites male listeners to stand as allies in women's healthcare. Afterall, women's rights is a human rights issue. Through candid discussions, The Pain Gap podcast provides a much needed examination of the women’s health crisis in America. By fostering dialogue, Anushay aims to drive positive change and close #ThePainGap in women's health.

  1. 9H AGO

    73. Jennifer Dunatov on Birth Trauma, Medical Ethics, and the Fight for Justice in Childbirth

    Jennifer Dunatov is a healthcare ethicist and birth justice advocate dedicated to exposing the ethical failures embedded within America’s maternal healthcare system. In this powerful episode of The Pain Gap, Jennifer joins Anushay Hossain for an unflinching conversation about birth trauma, informed consent, obstetric violence, and why childbirth remains one of the clearest reflections of systemic injustice in healthcare. Together, they unpack how racism, coercion, fear-based medicine, and the dismissal of women’s pain continue to shape birth experiences across the country, even at the most prestigious hospitals. Jennifer also explains the often misunderstood role of healthcare ethicists, revealing how ethics consults can help protect patient autonomy and slow down harmful, high-pressure decision-making in delivery rooms. The conversation explores emergency C-sections, medical paternalism, the emotional aftermath of traumatic births, and why so many women are left carrying invisible wounds long after childbirth. This episode is a raw, validating, and urgently necessary discussion about dignity, autonomy, and the fight to make maternal healthcare more ethical, humane, and just for every woman. Episode Resources: @jenniferdunatov (Instagram) @dr.jenniferdunatov (TikTok) www.jenniferdunatov.com (website) The Pain Gap Follow Anushay on Instagram To learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website or sign up for her substack. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM @anushayhossain or email me at thepaingap@gmail.com

    1 hr

  2. MAY 14

    72. Special Episode: One on One with Anushay - Confronting Hate, Racism & the Rise of Authoritarianism with Deeyah Khan

    Deeyah Khan was raised in Norway by Pakistani and Afghan parents. Deeyah reflects on growing up feeling caught between worlds and how art, activism, and music became both refuge and resistance. She shares how her early experiences shaped her Emmy and BAFTA-winning work documenting white supremacy, violent extremism, gender-based violence, and the dangerous rise of authoritarian movements around the world. Anushay and Deeyah dive into some of the defining issues of our era: Muslim identity in the West, honor-based violence, white supremacy in America, Christian nationalism, media complicity, immigration, and the global backlash against women’s rights and democracy. Deeyah speaks candidly about embedding herself with neo-Nazis and extremists for her documentaries White Right: Meeting the Enemy and Jihad: A Story of the Others, revealing what she learned about fear, hate, belonging, and the possibility of human connection even in the most divided spaces. Together, they examine how silence enables oppression — and why hope itself can become an act of resistance. At its core, this episode is a conversation about courage: the courage to speak honestly, confront injustice, reject fear, and build solidarity across borders and differences. Deeyah offers a powerful reminder that no one is coming to save us — that meaningful change depends on ordinary people choosing compassion, truth, and action. This is one of The Pain Gap’s most timely, provocative, and unforgettable conversations yet. Episode Resources: Deeyah Khan's Website Deeyah Khan's Instagram The Pain Gap Follow Anushay on Instagram To learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website or sign up for her substack. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM @anushayhossain or email me at thepaingap@gmail.com

    1h 14m

  3. MAY 7

    71. From Tradwives to Tech: The Fight for Reproductive Autonomy with Mara Santilli

    Mara Santilli is a journalist and researcher asking some of the most urgent and uncomfortable questions about women’s health, power, and who gets to control our bodies. Mara is a leading voice examining the intersection of contraception, culture, and systemic inequality. Her work unpacks everything from the rise of “tradwife” content and anti-birth control rhetoric to the deeply rooted histories of eugenics, coercion, and misinformation that still shape reproductive care today. In this conversation, we get into what’s really driving the resurgence of anti-contraception narratives, how social media is reshaping our understanding of “choice,” and why Mara says we cannot afford to be lied to about birth control. We also talk about data privacy, medical mistrust, and what true reproductive autonomy should actually look like in 2026, because this isn’t just about health. It’s about power, access, and the right to informed choice. If you’ve ever questioned the narratives you’re seeing online or felt like something deeper is going on beneath the surface, this episode will give you language, context, and clarity. Episode Resources: Keep in touch with Mara on Instagram, Bluesky, LinkedIn, or on maracsantilli.com The Pain Gap Follow Anushay on Instagram Little Saints To learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website or sign up for her Substack, where she writes about women's health, politics, and power. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM @anushayhossain or email me at thepaingap@gmail.com

    58 min

  4. APR 30

    70. Kellie Pean & Alyssa Convertini-Lindquist on Motherhood, Money, and Modern Leadership

    We’re joined by Kellie Pean and Alyssa Convertini-Lindquist, co-founders of Brand New: A Collective, a bicoastal, award-winning marketing agency spanning creative, strategy, experiential production, and talent partnerships. But beyond building a powerhouse agency rooted in cultural insight, Kellie and Alyssa are redefining what leadership looks like for women, especially in industries that weren’t built with them in mind. In this conversation, we go far beyond marketing. We get into the realities of being women navigating corporate America, the moment you realize your work is valued differently, and what it takes to advocate for yourself, financially, professionally, and personally. From being talked over in meetings to having their ideas credited to male colleagues, their stories are a powerful reminder of the systemic challenges women still face and of what it takes to walk away and build something better. We also explore the invisible labor women carry, especially in the workplace, where leadership, caregiving, and identity constantly intersect. Kellie and Alyssa open up about motherhood, sacrifice, and the myth of “having it all,” offering an honest look at what it actually takes to lead while navigating the demands of life outside of work. Episode Resources: Connect with Kellie and Alyssa on their Instagram Brand New: A Collective The Pain Gap Follow Anushay on Instagram Little Saints To learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website or sign up for her Substack, where she writes about women's health, politics, and power. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM @anushayhossain or email me at thepaingap@gmail.com

    1h 3m

  5. APR 23

    69. You Are Not Broken: The Truth About Women’s Health with Dr. Kelly Casperson

    We’re joined by urologist, author, and one of the most unfiltered voices in women’s sexual health, Dr. Kelly Casperson. What started as one patient’s pain became a complete career shift, one that led Dr. Casperson to uncover just how deeply women are underserved, dismissed, and undereducated when it comes to their bodies, especially in midlife and beyond. In this conversation, we get into the systemic gaps in women’s healthcare, from the shocking disparities in how men’s and women’s sexual health are treated to the myths that still surround menopause and hormone therapy. Dr. Casperson breaks down why so many women are told to “wait until it gets worse,” why pleasure is still treated like a luxury instead of a health issue, and how misinformation continues to shape care at every level. We also talk about the emotional toll of feeling “broken,” the cultural conditioning that keeps women from advocating for themselves, and what it actually looks like to reclaim ownership over your body, your health, and your voice. Episode Resources: Dr. Kelly Casperson's first book, “You Are Not Broken: Stop Should-ing All Over Your Sex Life,” is available on Amazon and Audible. Order The Menopause Moment: Mindset, Hormones, and Science for Optimal Longevity Find Dr. Kelly Casperson's website at www.kellycaspersonmd.com Dr. Kelly Casperson's Instagram Dr. Kelly Casperson's YouTube Dr. Kelly Casperson's Podcast Dr. Kelly Casperson's Facebook Private Membership Information The Pain Gap Follow Anushay on Instagram Little Saints To learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website or sign up for her Substack, where she writes about women's health, politics, and power. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM @anushayhossain or email me at thepaingap@gmail.com

    54 min

  6. APR 16

    68. What We Get Wrong About ADHD and Why Women Pay the Price with Reed Beeley

    Reed Beeley is a clinician working at the intersection of mental health, addiction, and ADHD, and what he's seeing points to something much bigger than individual diagnosis. It's a systemic gap in how ADHD is understood, identified, and treated in women. In this conversation, we unpack why ADHD is so often missed, starting with diagnostic criteria built around how symptoms present in boys, not girls. Reed explains how cultural expectations and gender stereotypes delay diagnosis or prevent it altogether, leaving many women mislabeled as anxious, emotional, or burned out. We also get into how ADHD is frequently misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder, and why those misdiagnoses don't just miss the mark; they can lead to the wrong treatments and deeper cycles of shame. At its core, ADHD isn't just about focus; it's about dopamine regulation, emotional processing, and how the brain responds to reward and stress. We explore the connection between ADHD, addiction, trauma, and hormones, including how estrogen fluctuations can directly impact symptoms and cravings. And at the center of it all is disempowerment: women being taught to question themselves, minimize their symptoms, or push through. As Reed makes clear, that disconnect isn't just emotional; it can become a real barrier to getting the care that could actually change everything. Episode Resources: Connect with Reed on Instagram or email him at rbeeley@gmail.com The Pain Gap Follow Anushay on Instagram Little Saints To learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website or sign up for her Substack, where she writes about women's health, politics, and power. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM @anushayhossain or email me at thepaingap@gmail.com

    47 min

  7. APR 9

    67. The Path of Least Regret: Making Impossible Decisions When Everything Is Uncertain with Parul Somani

    Parul Somani was 31 years old, newly postpartum, and had just brought her baby home from the NICU… when she was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. What followed wasn't just a fight for her life; it was a complete unraveling of everything she thought she knew about control, success, and certainty. Because like so many women, Parul had done everything "right", the degrees, the career, the plan. And still, her body told a different story. In this conversation, we talk about what happens when the healthcare system dismisses your instincts, why self-advocacy can be the difference between life and death, and how women are conditioned to question themselves, even when something feels deeply wrong. We also explore the emotional toll of a diagnosis, the power of reclaiming agency in moments of uncertainty, and how Parul transformed one of the hardest chapters of her life into a framework for decision-making, resilience, and meaning. Because this isn't just a story about cancer, it's a story about listening to your body and what it costs when no one else does. Episode Resources: parulsomani.com The Path of Least Regret (Forbes Books, March 2026) is available on Amazon and other major booksellers Follow Parul Somani on LinkedIn and Instagram The Pain Gap Follow Anushay on Instagram Little Saints To learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website or sign up for her Substack, where she writes about women's health, politics, and power. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM @anushayhossain or email me at thepaingap@gmail.com

    46 min

  8. APR 2

    66. When Hormones Get Labeled as Mental Illness with Mandi Dixon

    For millions of women, what we’ve been told is anxiety, depression, or just “getting older”… is actually something else entirely. Today, we’re talking about menopause, not just as a biological transition, but as a mental health crisis hiding in plain sight. Mandi Dixon is a therapist who began noticing a pattern: women walking into her office saying, “I don’t feel like myself,” after being dismissed by doctors and handed diagnoses that didn’t quite fit. And what she discovered changed everything, not just for her clients, but for herself. In this conversation, we unpack how hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause impact mood, anxiety, identity, and why so many women are misdiagnosed, dismissed, or left to suffer in silence. We talk about the dangerous gap in medical education, the real mental health consequences of that gap, and what it means to finally feel seen, validated, and understood in your own body. Because this isn’t just about hormones. It’s about the cost of not believing women and what happens when we finally start to listen. Episode Resources: Mandi Dixon's Website Mandi Dixon's Instagram Mandi Dixon's TikTok The Pain Gap Follow Anushay on Instagram Little Saints To learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website or sign up for her Substack, where she writes about women's health, politics, and power. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM @anushayhossain or email me at thepaingap@gmail.com

    48 min
See All (74)

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Join Anushay Hossain, feminist author, podcast host, and powerful women’s health advocate as she interviews doctors, advocates and medical experts about the most urgent issues in women's health. Based on her Audible bestselling book, “The Pain Gap: How Sexism and Racism in Healthcare Kill Women," The Pain Gap podcast provides a vital platform for critical conversations about medical gaslighting and misogyny. Anushay's point is clear: center women's stories and empower listeners to advocate for their health. She also invites male listeners to stand as allies in women's healthcare. Afterall, women's rights is a human rights issue. Through candid discussions, The Pain Gap podcast provides a much needed examination of the women’s health crisis in America. By fostering dialogue, Anushay aims to drive positive change and close #ThePainGap in women's health.

Information

  • Creator
    Anushay Hossain
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Anushay Hossain
  • Show Website
    The Pain Gap

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