From Skirts To Scrubs

Asylums always bring up images of horror. Whether in pop culture or fall haunted attractions, the stories around asylums are never good. Asylums were created as places to care for the mentally ill, but eventually turned into institutions that took advantage of a vulnerable population AND found ways to punish women for being too ambitious or independent. Join us this week to explore the history of asylums, the good and the bad, and how women were impacted by these psychiatric hospitals from their creation to now. Feminist Corner:How does the treatment of psychiatric patients today differ or is similar to this history?How can we protect women but also advocate for them to get the appropriate help they need? Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history! Follow us on socials:● Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs● Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs● TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubs● Twitter: @FSTS_Podcast

Imagine a little kid at school sitting on a rug playing with wooden building blocks to learn math, reading during "circle time" with their friends, sharing with their parents all the things they learned in school that day. That was the vision that Maria Montessori had when she started teaching young children through her education program. But did you know that before she was a teacher, Maria Montessori was a physician? Join us this episode as we follow Maria from the Italian countryside to the asylums of Rome to the cities of Spain, India, and beyond. Her surprisingly star-studded and captivating life story is completely worth the listen!Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! Do we value the clinician-educator in medicine, why or why not? Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:●  Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs●  Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs●  TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubs●  Twitter: @FSTS_Podcast

Cervical cancer is not like other cancers. This cancer is special because it is caused by the virus HPV. Not only that but there are multiple prevention methods in place to help lower women's risk of developing this cancer!! But despite that, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women today. Join us this week to learn about the history of cervical cancer, the discovery of the pap smear, and how we are fighting HPV today!Feminist Corner:How can we change the conversation around sexual activity and screening/prevention of sexually transmitted diseases?   Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:●  Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs●  Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs●  TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubs●  Twitter: @FSTS_Podcast

Is shaving a regular part of your shower routine? Or maybe you wax, pluck, sugar, laser or just let it grow out! Regardless of what your relationship is with body hair, we've all got it and that means you've likely thought about whether or not you want to do something about it. This episode, we delve into the history of body hair removal, covering pre-historic humans using shells to cut their hair to the invention of the women's razor and beyond. Then we explore implications in our world today! Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! What does our societal relationship with body hair reflect about western culture? Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history! Follow us on socials:●  Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs●  Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs●  TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubs●  Twitter: @FSTS_Podcast

TikTok is full of trends, including eating your placenta or having a lotus birth. But is this a trend that has existed throughout human history? The placenta is a highly unique organ that humans have been fascinated with for centuries. From Pharaohs carrying their placentas into battle to hanging placentae in trees, there is a wide range of cultural beliefs and traditions surrounding this organ. Join us in this episode to discover the world of the placenta and talk about the health risks of these placental trends for women today.   Feminist Corner:●  How do you approach conversations with patients about health trends? What is some advice to give to listeners if they are interested in various health trends?●  What does a story like this teach us about cultural competency? Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history! Follow us on socials:●  Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs●  Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs●  TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubs●  Twitter: @FSTS_Podcast

You've probably heard of seizures, maybe even seen or experienced them in real life. But have you heard of PNES? Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES) are seizure-like events that occur due to psychological triggers. They are very distressing, especially for the folks experiencing them, and are sometimes elusive for medical providers to uncover. Join us this episode as we unpack the mystery of these seizure lookalikes and how they impact the lives of women, in particular! Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubsTwitter: @FSTS_Podcast 

A pain that is constant, burning, stabbing, aching, crawling. You name it and it might describe it. The pain is mysterious to both the patient and the provider. Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition characterized by specific tender areas in the body and is WAY more common in women than men. Join us in this episode to learn more about this disorder and what this means for people with this disorder today!Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubsTwitter: @FSTS_Podcast 

Our personalities make us who we are, but in personality disorders like Borderline Personality Disorder, personalities can keep people from living their lives comfortably in our society. In BPD, a disorder commonly diagnosed in young adult and adolescent girls, words like dramatic, emotional and erratic get thrown around. But is this disorder really more common in women? And what implications does BPD have on the lives of people living with it? Listen to find out on this week's episode! Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubsTwitter: @FSTS_Podcast

Does your bowel function haunt you? Do you use the bathroom way too much or simply not enough? Well, then this episode is probably about you! In this mini-episode, we are talking about irritable bowel syndrome! This is one of the most common gastroenterology disorders primarily affecting women. Not only that, but it has an uncanny tie to psychological stress and anxiety, which makes it hard to diagnose when patients are often thought just to have hysterical bowels. Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubsTwitter: @FSTS_Podcast

If you haven't already, you should absolutely check out the episode before this in which we interview Dr. Dee Fenner, Chair of Michigan Medicine's Department of OB/GYN about her experiences as a women during her early training. That episode was inspired by this one! So we only thought it would be fitting to bring back, especially since we wrote it when we were coming into our first years of medical school and are now entering our last! Happy listening!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Think about the first time you heard about a woman being a doctor? Maybe you were 4 years old and your doctor mom came home with a stethoscope around her neck or maybe you were 12 and heard about your brother's best friend's sister getting into medical school. Regardless, women in your life and around the world have been training to become physicians for centuries. But how has medical education for women evolved over time? In this episode, we dive into the history of women as medical students in the U.S. Along the way, we cover what 19th century medical education even involved (we're talkin curriculum, pre-reqs, cost and more), the rise and fall of all-female medical colleges, and what social conditions finally led women to say enough is enough. Something changed to make women the majority of medical students in our country today...join us as we try to figure out what!

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Dee Fenner, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor. She walks us through her journey to medicine, Ob/Gyn and ultimately, Urogynecology. She shares insight into her past as a trainee during a time at which there were very few female medical students and even fewer female physician mentors to turn to. And we round out the episode with Dr. Fenner offering her advice to any women pursuing leadership positions, giving actionable guidance on how to navigate doing it well but also authentically. Not only is Dr. Fenner a force of nature in pioneer in the field of Ob/Gyn, but she is also an incredible mentor and teacher. We are so excited to share this episode with you and will be thinking about her advice for years to come! Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubsTwitter: @FSTS_Podcast

Is it a rash or a wolf bite? Apparently ancient physicians couldn't tell…or at least they thought that the classic rash across the faces of patients with the commonly known condition Lupus, looked close enough to a wolf's bite to name it after the Latin word for wolf! We'll be discussing Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, or Lupus, on this episode, including some history and common symptoms that feel a little random and are what make Lupus so hard to diagnose. Then we'll talk about its prevalence in women and some interesting theories on why its so common in women over men! Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubsTwitter: @FSTS_Podcast

To clarify, we are talking about postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Not the disease, and certainly not pottery. hehe. POTS is a condition that millions of Americans today face, and 80% of those with POTS are women!! An absolutely crazy number because we aren't even really sure why it affects so many women in comparison to men. Join us this week to learn a little more about POTS and hear us share some personal POTS stories!Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubsTwitter: @FSTS_Podcast

In this miniseries, we will be exploring conditions that many women experience. Something that ties all these conditions together is that they are more common in women, but not necessarily because of anatomy or biology. We will discuss what the condition is, how common it is, and how we treat the condition now. We'll also sprinkle in some history and fun tidbits along the way!

Sperm meets egg makes baby, should be simple right? Well if it were, infertility would not be a common struggle for millions of people around the world. But through incredible technology and research, assisted reproductive techniques have been created like in-vitro fertilization (IVF) have been created to help people get pregnant. And they work! Join us this episode as we explain the basics of the science of IVF, dive into the history (with a sprinkle of funny stories of course) and end with a discussion about modern implications. It's an EGG-cellent episode! Ok I'll see myself out now…Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! What role does the medicalization of reproduction play in the IVF industry? Are women's bodies being treated as vessels in the pursuit of reproductive success, and if so, how can this be mitigated?Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubsTwitter: @FSTS_Podcast

Some people say that women ~ glow ~ when they are pregnant. Or that having a baby is one of the best memories they have. But did you know 80% of women have depressive symptoms in the week following childbirth? Or that ⅛ women develop a condition called postpartum depression? Some women are even at risk for manic or psychotic episodes in the postpartum period. These conditions are so prevalent that there is a whole field of psychiatry dedicated to caring for women's mental health during pregnancy and in the postpartum period! Join us in this episode to learn about how the field of peripartum psychiatry developed from ancient Greece, through medical times, and into the 1800s! Then we will spend some time exploring current theories behind the most common peripartum mental illnesses and discussing how obstetrics takes part in this field today.Feminist Corner: Obstetrics as a field is often viewed as very different from other medical and surgical specialties. In reality, it is very closely linked to other fields of medicine, especially psychiatry in this case. What are some ways that obstetricians can take part in multidisciplinary practices?Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubsTwitter: @FSTS_Podcast

Do you know how the wickedest woman in New York got her name? Ann Trow, or as she was better known, Madame Restell, was a prominent abortion provider in the late 1800s. She had no medical training, and yet started a business from the ground up, making medication abortion pills and doing surgical abortions. Her work was wildly successful, but also led to her making many enemies in New York society and even at the national governmental level. Join us this week as we unpack the life of this incredible woman, and learn more about the evolution of abortion at that time!Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! Do we have a figure in our society now who we could try to compare to Madame Restell? Doesn't have to be in abortion/reproductive spaces!What does Madame Restell's business success say about her impact on the women of her time? What is your biggest takeaway from her story?Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history! Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubsTwitter: @FSTS_Podcast

Fertilization, conception, the miracle of life. The conjoining of egg and sperm. Women have been having babies since the beginning of time, so it makes you wonder. Did people always know where babies come from? Spoiler alert: they had no idea. Join us in this episode to see how famous physicians like Galen and Hippocrates were woefully wrong about reproduction, how pond water led to the discovery of sperm, and how the science community was convinced tiny people lived inside of us. The journey to discovering fertilization is full of wrong turns and dead ends, but eventually, scientists found the way. Feminist Corner: How did the scientist's own preconceptions and beliefs affect the path to this discovery? Were there any common themes? Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs TikTok: @fromskirtstoscrubsTwitter: @FSTS_Podcast 

There's really no body part so politicized or fetishized than a woman's breast. But this was not always the case. For hundreds of years, the breast was a primary symbol of nourishment and nurturance--the sign of a mother's love. The story of the breast and how it has been perceived throughout history is a fascinating one; it takes us through the times that breasts were celebrated, hidden, politicized and commercialized. They have been both hated and loved simultaneously, and have somehow always carried some type of meaning in Western societies. Join us as we discuss the breast and the transformation of its symbolism throughout history!Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! Of all the points in time discussed, which depictions of the breast did you resonate with the most? Which the least?Something that came up a lot in this episode is the division between “good” and “bad” breast. What are some examples in your own life that align with one or both of these ideas about breasts?

“Sticks and stones may break my bones…” but thinking about women's pain is easier said than done, it seems. The gender pain gap is the idea that women in pain are taken and treated less seriously than men in pain. Though this concept has been coming up more in the news, social media and more, it is less acknowledged than other gender gaps. In this episode, we explore the history of the gender pain gap, exploring some familiar and some new concepts, as well as discuss the negative impact that this gap has on women of color, particularly Black women. Join us for this final episode of the season as we unpack women's pain, its longstanding history, and the contradictions women face around it. Feminist Corner: What has been your experience with pain? How would you describe your pain tolerance and what specifically about how we socially construct pain makes you say that?What are 2 tangible things you are going to do from here to better check yourself when addressing women's pain?Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs Twitter: @FSTS_Podcast

Disability is part of our culture, our families, our friends, and our history. Living in a society that is built for able-bodied people doesn't allow for much education and awareness around disability within the United States. But disability can be tracked through history all the way back to ancient times. And throughout the last two thousand years, the treatment and laws surrounding communities with disabilities have always been…well… full of contradictions. Society can't seem to decide if they want to provide accommodations and resources for these communities or treat people with a disability differently. Join us in this episode to learn more about key points in disability history and then learn about the state of disability today! Feminist Corner: What are examples of how society can change in order to better accommodate people with disabilities? As a future healthcare provider, what do you find as an important takeaway from this history?  Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history! Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs Twitter: @FSTS_Podcast 

There's a conversation everyone has at some point, about the birds and the bees. Think back to the first time you had that talk. Maybe it was with a parent, maybe a friend, maybe someone else. Maybe it was sex ed class. That's what this episode dives into. We go back in time to look at some different sexual practices across ancient history, including Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Then we discuss the history of sexual education in a formal setting, as it transitioned from the early 1900s into what it looks like today!Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! Thoughts? What was your experience with sex ed? How does it fit into the narratives we've talked about this episode?What gender inequalities are reinforced by sex ed programs as they exist now and changes are being made/need to be made to improve sexual health?Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs Twitter: @FSTS_Podcast

Between 1980 and 2020, the number of incarcerated women increased by 475%. Yes, you read that correctly. The increase in this population can be attributed to the War on Drugs, resulting in an extremely high number of women who are enprisoned for non-violent crimes. Join us in this episode to talk about the history of incarcerated women and the status of their health today. From STI treatment to laboring in shackles, the reproductive health provided for this population is almost non-existent. In this episode, we provide you with the facts about what women face and talk about some potential solutions! Feminist Corner: In this podcast, we talk about the perceptions of women often, how are these ideas of women amplified for incarcerated women? And how does this affect their health?How can the healthcare system better assist incarcerated women in the areas we spoke about today? Just throw out ideas! Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history! Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs Twitter: @FSTS_Podcast 

Ever since we released this episode, it feels like every topic we cover comes right back to it! So this week we are bringing back the Rest Cure: Prescribed Torture?When you go to the doctor with a psychiatric concern, you would expect them to hear you out and find the treatment regimen that is right for you. But in 1800s Victorian America, this wasn't exactly the case. Neurologist Dr. Mitchell created the “Rest Cure” for his patients that required women to lay completely still for almost two straight months. A patient undergoing this treatment wasn't allowed to move a single muscle, feed themselves, or stand up to use the bathroom. After a while, this treatment slowly starts to look a little like torture even. Join us in this episode to learn the ins and outs of the rest cure, what a patient went through during this treatment, and how it was a reflection of medical thought at the time. After discussing this cure, we speak at length about the idea of a ‘rest cure' in modern times, and how resting can be either beneficial or dismissive in medicine today.  Check out our Feminist Corner questions below!Time and time again we see patients' entire health attributed to their uterus and reproductive health, which is interesting because today, so many women use their OB/GYN as their primary care provider. Do you think this idea of reproductive health encompassing all (or part of) women's health is still relevant today?Patients who face chronic illness and chronic fatigue today are often told ‘just rest, and go home as a treatment for their condition as if their symptoms are not real or they are just overworked. How does this concept today relate to the rest cure? Should we be rethinking how we tell patients to rest?Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs Twitter: @FSTS_Podcast

Knock-knock. Who's there? Do. Do-who? DOULA (ok ok see, this is why we're podcast hosts and not comedians). This week we're discussing the origins of doula care. Best known for their growing role in providing laboring mothers during childbirth, doulas have been around for decades in an official capacity and even longer in an unofficial one. Closely intertwined with midwifery, doula work has evolved alongside the changing world of labor and childbirth. We dive into that history as well as doulas' roles on birthing teams in hospitals, homes and birthing centers today. We then discuss the medicalization of childbirth, share some of our own experiences as medical students on labor and delivery floors of hospitals and unpack how doulas, support and caregiving play into those spaces. Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! Thoughts? How can we reconcile the medicalization of birth with the role of doulas and the health of the mother?How do you think doula work could be made more accessible to pregnant people?Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs Twitter: @FSTS_Podcast

Throughout history, times of war bring change to medicine. It's a hard truth, but it is the truth. And in American history, no war was more brutal than the Civil War. Of the thousands of people who died during this four-year war, ⅔ died from the disease. The conditions of the war gave an opportunity for medicine to grow, and for women to step into the field. Join us in this episode to talk about the fearless female nurses and physicians of the American Civil War, because their names deserve to go down in history too.Feminist Corner: What about large historical events (whether a war, pandemic, or whatever) give women and people often left behind new opportunities?Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs Twitter: @FSTS_Podcast 

When we think of abortions today, we often think about surgical abortions when in fact, medication abortions have been commonplace for millenia. With the decision made in Dobbs v. Jackson, medication abortions in the United States are now at risk as legislators come for this next line of defense against unwanted pregnancies. In this episode, we explore how medical abortions work, their history and the state of access to them now. Then we look into where we're heading with laws in various states regarding medication abortion and what folx on the ground are doing to maintain their right to choose. Join us for this can't miss episode! Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! What, if any, experience do you have with abortion pills? Have you had any conversations about abortion and how did they go? What is one question you have about abortion access that you want to know the answer to? Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs Twitter: @FSTS_Podcast 

Here we are, at the root of it all. The piece of history that has defined women's health for millennia. The wandering womb is a theory that can be traced back to the ancient Mediterranean, where it was believed and practiced. And while this story is fun and laughable at times, our history truly does define some of the grimmest parts of our future. Join us this week as we look at the wandering womb and talk about what it is, who is affected, how it was treated, and what diseases women have today that can be drawn back to this ancient idea. Feminist Corner: How do you feel the social pressure to be married/in a relationship is relevant for women today? How do you feel after this story and the recent events regarding abortion rights?Join the From Skirts To Scrubs community and meet us at the intersection of feminism, medicine, and history!Follow us on socials:Instagram: @fromskirtstoscrubs Facebook: @fromskirtstoscrubs Twitter: @FSTS_Podcast 

Due to current events in the United States with the overturn of Roe, we are re-releasing the episode Underground Abortion Networks: Filling in the Gaps. Even though this episode is based on history, it is extremely relevant today.----When a medical system can't provide needed care for patients who are continuously left out or ignored, what happens? What does a community do when they are aching for help? Well in the case of access to safe abortions, underground abortion networks are created. In this episode, we will be talking about the emergence of illegal but safe abortion networks within the United States over the last 60 years and what gaps they are trying to fill in the healthcare system. Through looking at abortion legislature, specific organizations, and the impact of unsafe abortions on maternal mortality, we hope to spark a conversation on why medicine is failing women and what we can do about it. No matter your abortion views, this episode will give you a new perspective on a complex women's health issue to take with you into future conversations. 

If you listen carefully on a quiet night, you may hear cries of a weeping woman calling for her lost children. Maybe you tell the children in your life that if they misbehave, she'll come for you. That's right! In this episode, we tell the story of La Llorona, a woman from Mexican folklore who was wronged by her husband and transformed into the darkest version of herself. Some may say she was a monster. Join us as we recount La Llorona's origin story and discuss its implications from a feminist/Chicanx perspective. What better way to end our first mini series!

What constitutes a monster? Is it your looks, your action, your very being? What if you are forced into a situation that makes you a monster, what then? Japanese folklore is full of stories of women as monsters, but this week we are focusing on one woman who isn't a monster at all. Join us as we tell the tale of Yama Uba and discuss what she represents in the continuum of life as a woman, and as an elder in society.

Have you ever heard of the great Hindu Epic, The Ramayana? Maybe you have, maybe you haven't. But chances are, you probably don't know of the seductress Surpanakha, sister of the King of Demons? Join us this episode as we forge into the forests of Ayodhya as we follow the story of Surpanakha, a demon woman whose actions ultimately lead to a kidnapping and major war between two kingdoms. Then listen in on our discussion as we re-envision the story from multiple perspectives, examining the roles of multiple characters and untangling the feelings and motives of a lonely woman.**FACT CHECK: Raavan has 10 heads not 7, thanks for correcting our mistake there!**

What do you get when you put together a powerful woman, an ancient empire, and scared men? The Sphinx! And this isn't a riddle, I promise (ha, get it? Wait, no? Better listen to the episode!). Join us this week to talk about the origins of the Sphinx and talk about this mythical creature across time, as well as her interaction with the famed Oedipus Rex. Afterward, we talk about the demonization of intelligent & successful women and the knowledge that women hold.

Maybe you've heard of the story of Adam and Eve, but the real question is: what do you know about Lilith? If Eve was created from Adam's rib, Lilith was created as Adam's equal, from the soil of the earth. From the moment of her conception, she forged her own path and yet, has been branded as none other than a monster for it. Tune in to this episode to hear the lesser known story of the Mother of Demons, who suffered for her actions but whose story continues to survive eons.

In the beginning… life was apparently perfect. Until men made the Gods upset and they sent down their greatest fear. Women. Well, one woman in particular. Join us in this episode to learn the ancient Greek story of Pandora, the first woman, and bringer of all gifts. But what does this story mean when you view it from a feminist perspective? And how does our frame of reference shape our understanding of stories such as Pandora's? Listen to this mini-episode to learn more!

Check out our new trailer introducing our FIRST Mini Series: Women as Monsters. Over a course of six short episodes, we will be telling stories of women from mythology across the world who have been viewed as evil, wrong, and monsters. Then we will discuss why these stories are important today and any thoughts we have on them! Episodes will be posted every other Tuesday as usual and will be 20-30 minutes in length. We are so excited for this new podcast adventure and we hope you love it as well!

We are taking a break from our usual schedule to bring you all another bonus episode! In this episode, we were interviewed by Cultivating Connection, a podcast series that discovers what it means to be human and the many different types of ways we connect. During the interview, we discuss how From Skirts To Scrubs was created, finding and pursuing your passions, handling burnout, the pillars of feminism, and more! We had so much fun during this conversation and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

"You're so sexy when you're not spreading STIs." That's right, this week we are exploring the highly prevalent, ever-stigmatized sexually transmitted infections. In this episode, we get into the difference between STIs and STDs, describe some of the most common STIs and of course, talk about their various histories. Specifically, we dig into the relationship between STIs and women, focusing on the ways in which women have been portrayed as vessels that spread infection. To finish up, we discuss the current STI screening guidelines in the US, and deconstruct them from a feminist lens (as always). Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! What are you thoughts on disease as a social phenomenon and how does that impact the way STIs have been stigmatized over time?Should we widen our STI screening guidelines to include men? How do the current guidelines contribute to historically negative connotations of STIs?

During the pandemic, we both got super into paint-by-numbers. They were just so soothing and an easy way to create while taking our minds off the crazy world around us. It was a way to be calm and focused. And a lot of people use art in this way, to figure out your emotions or as an outlet. But what about using art in medicine? Patients often create art that depicts their disease and experience living with an illness. You can also use art in therapy, to build confidence, decrease depression, and manage diseases from cancer to bipolar disorder to ADHD. Healthcare providers can even use art to learn to be better providers through creative critical thinking skills and observation. Art in medicine is a growing field as professionals begin to recognize the immense benefits it has on people of all shapes and forms. So join us this week to learn more about the field and how art may benefit you!Feminist Corner: What does art mean to you?

The thought of shocking someone into having a seizure all for...what? Cure their depression? That sounds crazy! But it's real! And like so many topics on this podcast, the story of how this concept came to be is just as interesting and seemingly insane as the actual practice. This week we discuss a procedure called Electroconvulsive Therapy, or ECT. A treatment used in the world of psychiatry to treat patients with a range of concerns. Listen in to hear about the serendipitous origins of ECT and how it got its reputation over the years. Then we'll discuss the intersection of ECT and women's wellbeing, and how something meant to help folx may have caused unintentional harm. We promise you'll be ~shocked~ by what you hear!Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! Thinking about ECT as a treatment for really severe mood disorders like depression, what factors may have led to women being ECT candidates? And also, think about this in the context of the time period during which ECT was particularly gnarly, without anesthesia or anything like that? What's one takeaway you'd like to give our listeners about ECT, maybe a way in which your mind has changed about it!

There is nothing quite like a delicious breakfast to start your day, a snack to hold you over, or dinner to put you to bed. Right? But as you eat your tasty food, do you ever think about what exactly is in it? Or what it does to your health? Join us in this episode to talk about how the food you eat can play into the leading causes of death in women: heart disease, cancer, and stroke. To explore the health effects of food, we touch on what diets are maybe not the best and what diets are recommended by nutrition experts and physicians! We also get into the history of some of the best diets and how they have changed throughout the years. So whether you are a tree-eater or a meat-eater, or someone in between, tune in this week to see how changing your diet could benefit you in the long run. **Disclaimer: Consult professional nutritionists for advice on dieting, we are not nutrition professionals and are just providing general information and history**Feminist Corner: I often hear from the general public that ‘the doctor just tells me to lose weight or change my diet, what's the point of even going if they aren't going to give more solid advice or help'. And this is a hard conversation because as future doctors, we learn that lifestyle changes are immensely important in disease prevention and treatment, and should often be tried before or with initial treatments. So how can we do a better job of approaching these conversations with patients and recommending diet changes?

Internist? Intern? Fellow…doctor? Oh no just, fellow? Can SOMEONE please explain what these words MEAN? Yes, yes we can. We're back this week to chat about the field of Internal Medicine, the branch of medicine that covers a lot of the parts that you are probably familiar with, specialties like cardiology, gastroenterology, infectious disease, etc. This episode though, we'll be clarifying what exactly Internal Medicine is, what is included in it, what's not, the history of it and more! We'll talk about women and some of their roles and representation in the field as well, of course. Then at the end, Alesha will spill some tea about her recent internal medicine rotation, it won't be one to miss!Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! Of the “expert” specialties, which one would you most like to do?How would you reckon with going into a specialty within internal medicine that doesn't have many women knowing that you going into it could help change the culture of that specialty?

When you think of witches, what comes to mind? If I had to guess I'd say you thought of Halloween, potions, broomsticks, and big pointy hats. But the witches in this episode didn't wear pointy hats, at least I don't think so. They are your mom, your elderly neighbor, your best friend. Join us in this episode to learn who was considered a witch across time and cultures. Then we will discuss the persecution of witches and why these women were targeted for centuries. In our exploration of witches, we explore the connection between women, magic, and healing within history. From modern witchcraft to our favorite childhood books, magic is very much alive. But what does that mean for medicine today? Feminist Corner: The term 'witch' was very obviously misogynistic, taking root around 500 years ago and stretching to today, but can you think of equivalent terms or perceptions of women today?Do you believe in magic or magic in healing? 

Hyper-promiscuity, mood swings, nausea, anxiety, drowsiness, loss of appetite, aging, back pain. Those are some symptoms of hysteria to name a few. Hysteria is a word that is thrown around a lot from “Oh that was a hysterical joke” to  “that woman is hysterical don't listen to her” and even “the new album is causing mass hysteria.” But what even is hysteria? Well, in history it has meant a lot of things to many different people. Throughout time as the definition changed and each time it meant something new, hysteria's power over women grew too. Now as we contemplate what hysteria even is, it feels like it has everything to do with women's health and nothing at all. Join us in this episode to discuss the many different sides of hysteria throughout history as we try to answer the one simple questions: what is hysteria? Feminist Corner Questions: The definition of a single word changed the course of women's health throughout history, what does this say about the language we use today to describe patients, people, diseases, etc. What was your favorite part/thing you learned in/of season 2!?

Tying tubes, hysterectomies, withholding medical care without proof of contraception use...these are just a few ways that forced sterilization has occurred in the United States. The history of forced sterilization is sewn into the fabric of US history, and has played an insidious role in this country. This episode, we learn about the eugenics movement, its impact on communities of color and how these issues continue to manifest today. Then join us in our Feminist Corner as we discuss forced sterilization in the context of abortion bans and how healthcare providers play a key role in protecting patients from experiencing this blatant violation of human and reproductive rights. Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! What roles do healthcare providers have when it comes to contraception options and the ethics around them? The decision in Texas around their recent refusal by the Supreme Court to block the state's ban on most abortions is devastating for reproductive rights, how can this abortion ban and forced sterilization even exist together and what factors contribute to them (similarities and difference)? What have we failed to take away from history to allow them to be practiced?

It's the 1800s and the realm of medicine hasn't quite adjusted to modern thought quite yet. Physicians still believe that dirty air is what is causing that rash on your arm and that when you menstruate, your brain is too exhausted and confused to hold a job. That is at least until Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi comes along. Dr. Putnam Jacobi would work most of her life advocating for biochemically based medicine and evidence-driven theories about women. Not only that, but she also worked to ensure women receive the same medical education as men and children have their own place within a hospital. Join us this week to talk about the amazing life of Dr. Putnam Jacobi and learn about how her bravery to stand up and fight for the things she cared about continues to have a positive impact on us all today. Feminist Corner Questions: Mary argued that women could work while menstruating and that the pain/discomfort of periods should not stop a woman from working. But what about the women who do experience a high level of pain and discomfort? How should women in modern society face work, sick leave, etc when menstruation gets in the way of their day?

A little poke of a needle and a moment of pain in the name of what? Beauty? Wealth? Tradition? Maybe all of the above? The history of body piercings is a long one, dating back millennia and spanning many civilizations. In this week's episode, we dive into why Egyptian pharaohs would execute anyone with a belly button ring and how in Ancient Mesoamerica, shamans would pierce their tongues as blood sacrifice. Beyond the ancient histories of piercings, this form of body modification is now also a part of modern life--in some ways as a very accepted practice and in others, not so much. Join us as we talk about all things piercings and the ways that gender plays a role in our understanding of this age-old practice! Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! When you think about body piercings, what do you associate them with? What comes to mind? Why do people get piercings? What piercings are “acceptable” and why?

In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, killing 1 in 5. But how did we get here? Cardiology and heart disease is an extremely well-studied field, yet it still feels like women are being left behind as they die at alarming rates. Join us in this episode to talk about the history of heart disease, why there is a gaping hole in women's heart research, and the state of women's heart health today. We will also discuss how to take steps in your own health in working towards preventing cardiovascular disease, as well as how to advocate for yourself at the doctor. The statistics on women's heart health are shocking, and even a little scary, so we are here to provide some more information and the who, what, why, and how behind these numbers!Check out our feminist corner questions!Challenge question: What are some goals we all can set in our lives to start down a path for good CVD health?

Would you consider yourself a fiery person? Grounded? Dynamic? Maybe a combination of the three? If you looked at your health from the perspective of Ayurvedic medicine, it would probably be some combination of the three with one aspect being dominant. And this combination would be unique to you! But it would also have an impact on the way you receive medical care. Join us this week as we discuss the practice of Ayurveda, a form of medicine that originates in the Indian subcontinent and is still practiced today. Learn about its history, principles and of course, the way it impacts women. It'll be a journey you won't want to miss! Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! Which dosha do you think you would be dominant in?How does ayurveda differ from other homeopathic practices and how is it similar? How does ayurvedic medicine and the ways it was used to understand women differ from how maybe American or Western medicine understands the biologically female body?

In a time when most anatomy theories were based on animals, not humans, it's not surprising that ancient physicians may have gotten a fact or two wrong. But it is truly impressive how a single theory can incorrectly span the entire female anatomy. Gotta respect the hustle I guess. In this episode we are talking about ancient theories of female anatomy from general anatomy, to the breasts, to the uterus, to a mystery vein, and more! We will discuss a number of theories involving female anatomy and ancient medicine, as well as debunk said theories. Then we will talk about how these theories have created an inherent bias in the anatomy curriculum today that can affect future provider practices and patient care. Join us in this episode to have some fun and laughs while learning these ancient theories, then stay along to discuss how to positively approach female anatomy today!Feminist Corner Questions!-- Thoughts/if you had to pick one theory, which one would be your favorite?-- What was your experience learning female anatomy in medical school? Can you describe it for us and how it applies to the story we just heard?-- Do you see in medicine today any theories that perpetuate ideas that women are inherently ‘lesser' than men?

The issue of trans women in sports is absolutely not a new one, but has recently been in the headlines of many news stories over the last couple of years. This week, we dive into the history of trans girls in sports, looking at the background of gender divisions in sports, how gender binaries have played into the dynamics that we see today and big changes that have occurred over the years that have led us to this point. We then get into the present, talking about salient news stories and events that have brought the topic of trans girls in sports back to the forefront of discussion. Join us this week to get a historical perspective on the topic and gain information to hopefully have a discussion with someone else about it! ALSO, for Pride month we have a CALL TO ACTION. Support the Equality Act to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in all 50 states. Here are some ways you can!! Add your name to the Human Rights Campaign's petition against anti-trans legislation: https://act.hrc.org/page/75829/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=sm_adv_asm_transFeb21&_ga=2.90768924.788472483.1624303255-1616242685.1623797449 Send an email to your senator supporting the equality act: https://act.hrc.org/page/76832/action/1?chain&ea.tracking.id=ot_adv_AC_EA2021 Sign these petitions: https://www.change.org/p/support-the-equality-act,  https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-the-petition-demand-congress-pass-the-equality-act, https://donate.glaad.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=147&autologin=true&s_subsrc=2106VPSMXXXX&utm_source=2106VPSMXXXX&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=fy21summerofequality Be a community co-sponsor: https://act.hrc.org/page/76326/data/1?chain&ea.tracking.id=or_gnr_hrc_EqActCtr Donate: https://give.thetrevorproject.org/give/330001/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=pride2021&c_src2=headerDonate, https://www.transjusticefundingproject.org/donate-now/Check out our Feminist Corner discussion questions after listening and send us your thoughts! Women's sports are already viewed in a certain light. How do you think that has impacted the way that trans girls are viewed in sports? There is a hyper focus on trans women in sports and there's almost no talk about trans men. Why do you think that is?