Podcasts about vagina obscura an anatomical voyage

Did you know the visible part of the clitoris is less than one-third of its actual size? In this second part of our series with Rachel Gross, Rachel and Tammy banter about this understudied organ, including that (gasp) all sexual organs differentiate from the same embryonic root. Rachel describes how the interconnectedness between the clitoris and its friends--the vagina, vulva, and the entire pelvic floor--leads to pleasure. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to sexual health, Rachel calls attention to the whole-person approach of gender affirming care doctors to the clitoris as part of a person's overall experience of their bodies. She makes connections across issues that can arise with menopause, vulvodynia, and the pelvic floor, and the need for more medical education including training on vulva checks. Links: Check out Rachel Gross's website  Connect with Rachel Gross on LinkedIn,  X, and Instagram  Scientific American Glowing Clitoris Video  Sophia Wallace Artwork  S3 E13: Centering Pleasure, Problems, and Pride in Sexual Healthcare with Jenn Rogers & Bryce Furness  S4 E8: Intimacy Starts with I: Women, Self-Love, and HIV with Michelle Lopez  Taking a Sexual Health History  Sexual Health Educator Training Program  Rachel Gross has been a science reporter for over 10 years, determined to share educational resources and information with the public. Rachel's work has been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, BBC Future, National Geographic, and more. Rachel is also the author of Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage, a novel dedicated to re-mapping the female body based on meticulous research and exploration. Rachel is a committed sexual health educator, having lectured at various organizations and top universities in the nation.  Read the transcript of the episode here.  Have any questions, concerns, or love letters? Send us a message on Instagram @comingtogetherpod or email us at captc@ucsf.edu. 

Meet Rachel E. Gross, science journalist and author of Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage. In this first part of a two–part conversation, Rachel shares how her personal experience with bacterial vaginosis inspired her to write a book that investigates what we know about different parts of female anatomy and how that knowledge (and lack thereof) has been developed. Vagina Obscura is Tammy's favorite read of the year! Rachel highlights the often-overlooked clitoris and vagina, exploring how these body parts are still unfamiliar or awkward for many, including healthcare professionals. We also delve into the systemic marginalization of female and LGBTQ+ voices in science, and how this has influenced society's understanding of the female sexual and reproductive system. Our discussion covers topics like vaginal pH balance and why it varies across different racial groups, and the use of boric acid—a common rat poison—as a treatment for bacterial vaginosis. Rachel also shares the story behind her book's title, Vagina Obscura. Part two of the episode with Rachel is all about the clitoris. Stay tuned! Check out the transcript of the episode.  Guest Bio:  Rachel Gross has been a science reporter for over 10 years, determined to share educational resources and information with the public. Rachel's work has been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, BBC Future, National Geographic, and more. Rachel is also the author of Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage, a novel dedicated to re-mapping the female body based on meticulous research and exploration. Rachel is a committed sexual health educator, having lectured at various organizations and top universities in the nation.   Links: Check out Rachel Gross's website  Connect with Rachel Gross on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram  Rachel's book: Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage  CAPTC related training and resources:  S3 E13: Centering Pleasure, Problems, and Pride in Sexual Healthcare with Jenn Rogers & Bryce Furness  S4 E8: Intimacy Starts with I: Women, Self-Love, and HIV with Michelle Lopez  Taking a Sexual Health History  Sexual Health Educator Training Program    Have any questions, concerns, or love letters? Send us a message on Instagram @comingtogetherpod or email us at captc@ucsf.edu.  Don't forget to leave us a review on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.  

Bli med inn i underlivets mørke der det skjuler seg et organ som overgår alt du kan forestille deg! Møt klitoris – hovedpersonen sjæl.Dagens gjest er forfatter og klitorisoppdager Tyra Teodora Tronstad.Kilder:● Brochmann & Dahl. Den nye Gleden med skjeden. Aschehoug, 2023.● Helen O'Connell et al. “Anatomy of the clitoris.” The Journal of Urology, 2005.● Thomas Laqueur. Making Sex: Body and Gender from the Greeks to Freud. Harvard University Press, 1990.● Mary Roach. Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex. Norton, 2008.● Rachel E. Gross. Vagina Obscura – An Anatomical Voyage. Norton, 2022.● Sigmund Freud. Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality, 1905.● Alfred Kinsey. Sexual Behavior in the Human Female, 1953.● Leslie Margolin. The Etherized Wife. Oxford University Press, 2020.

Throughout history, there have been incredible findings about female sexual anatomy that you wouldn't believe. Reproductive sexual health reporter, science journalist, and author of Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage, Rachel E. Gross, reveals these findings, uncovers hidden truths, and celebrates exciting shifts in women's health today.In this episode, Rachel E. Gross sheds light on the challenges faced by women and people with vulvas throughout the centuries. She discusses the evolution of gender affirmation surgery for trans women, misconceptions about female reproductive biology, ineffective treatments for various vaginal conditions, and dismissive attitudes toward women in the medical field. Rachel's book, inspired by her own mysterious medical experience, addresses the lack of knowledge and care surrounding women's health issues. Vagina Obscura challenges the societal norms and biases that have shaped our understanding of the female body. Listen as Rachel shares her research, opening our eyes to the complexities and nuances that make all bodies worth advocating for.Discussed in this episode:How Rachel's experience with vaginal problems shaped her perspective on women's healthSigmund Freud's influence on the field of gynecology and medicineExamples of medical conditions that are often dismissed or misdiagnosed in womenChallenges in the current market for vaginal products and the need for FDA-approved vaginal probioticsHow gender affirmation surgery for trans women has evolved to prioritize individual experiences and desires, emphasizing body similarities rather than differencesStigmas around bacterial vaginosis and the current treatments available “The beliefs we share as a society about sex and gender harm all bodies. Culture and medicine shape bodies.” - Rachel GrossRelated to this episode:Get the Book: Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage by Rachel E. GrossRachel's Website: www.rachelegross.com Rachel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachelegross Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gross_out Related Episode: Exploring Science of the Vaginal Microbiome More Episodes on Breaking Taboos Related Books: https://bookshop.org/lists/understanding-your-body-anatomy-menstrual-cycle-hormones If you want to support this women's health podcast, leave a review for Fempower Health on iTunes or Spotify.Spread the awareness and share this episode with someone you know!Support and connect with our women's health community:Subscribe to the Fempower Health Podcast for new episodes

On this week's episode of The Waves, Host Kat Chow welcomes back author and science journalist Rachel E. Gross to talk about the misogynist origins of many names and diagnoses in the female reproductive system. Gross is the author of Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage and the New York Times column Body Language. In Slate Plus: Rachel E. Gross's thoughts on the documentary Every Body about intersex people If you liked this episode, check out: The Vagina et Al., an interview with Rachel E. Gross and Slate's Shannon Palus about Gross's book Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage Podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry and Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/thewavesplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of The Waves, Host Kat Chow welcomes back author and science journalist Rachel E. Gross to talk about the misogynist origins of many names and diagnoses in the female reproductive system. Gross is the author of Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage and the New York Times column Body Language. In Slate Plus: Rachel E. Gross's thoughts on the documentary Every Body about intersex people If you liked this episode, check out: The Vagina et Al., an interview with Rachel E. Gross and Slate's Shannon Palus about Gross's book Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage Podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry and Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/thewavesplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of The Waves, Host Kat Chow welcomes back author and science journalist Rachel E. Gross to talk about the misogynist origins of many names and diagnoses in the female reproductive system. Gross is the author of Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage and the New York Times column Body Language. In Slate Plus: Rachel E. Gross's thoughts on the documentary Every Body about intersex people If you liked this episode, check out: The Vagina et Al., an interview with Rachel E. Gross and Slate's Shannon Palus about Gross's book Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage Podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry and Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/thewavesplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of The Waves, Host Kat Chow welcomes back author and science journalist Rachel E. Gross to talk about the misogynist origins of many names and diagnoses in the female reproductive system. Gross is the author of Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage and the New York Times column Body Language. In Slate Plus: Rachel E. Gross's thoughts on the documentary Every Body about intersex people If you liked this episode, check out: The Vagina et Al., an interview with Rachel E. Gross and Slate's Shannon Palus about Gross's book Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage Podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry and Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/thewavesplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of The Waves, Host Kat Chow welcomes back author and science journalist Rachel E. Gross to talk about the misogynist origins of many names and diagnoses in the female reproductive system. Gross is the author of Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage and the New York Times column Body Language. In Slate Plus: Rachel E. Gross's thoughts on the documentary Every Body about intersex people If you liked this episode, check out: The Vagina et Al., an interview with Rachel E. Gross and Slate's Shannon Palus about Gross's book Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage Podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry and Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/thewavesplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of The Waves, Host Kat Chow welcomes back author and science journalist Rachel E. Gross to talk about the misogynist origins of many names and diagnoses in the female reproductive system. Gross is the author of Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage and the New York Times column Body Language. In Slate Plus: Rachel E. Gross's thoughts on the documentary Every Body about intersex people If you liked this episode, check out: The Vagina et Al., an interview with Rachel E. Gross and Slate's Shannon Palus about Gross's book Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage Podcast production by Vic Whitley-Berry and Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Daisy Rosario and Alicia Montgomery. Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/thewavesplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Female anatomy is shrouded in misconceptions and limited knowledge. Yet within us lies potential for transformation, healing, and pleasure.  On today's episode, I'm thrilled to be joined by distinguished journalist and author of the acclaimed book "Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage." Rachel E. Gross.    Rachel's groundbreaking book sheds light on untold stories and silenced narratives, shaping our understanding of female anatomy. Through her detailed research and heartfelt storytelling, we explore the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and social aspects of women's health, fostering empowerment and self-discovery.  Rachel and I discuss:  How bacterial vaginosis inspired Rachel to write this book The history of lack of female orgasm in a marriage being grounds for divorce in the US  How shame has historically been baked into the language of female anatomy  What the 'career women's disease is and how attitudes about women impact our ability to get the care we need  The truth about female orgasms and the G spot  Radical women who have paved the way for better scientific understanding of the ovaries, uterus, fertility, and more!  Join us on a journey as we unravel the mysteries of female anatomy, challenge societal norms, and celebrate our resilience and beauty. We dismantle the barriers of shame and misinformation, embracing and celebrating the magic and intricacies of the female body.    Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. Follow Rachel Gross on Instagram @gross_out, check out her noteworthy New York Times article here, and grab a copy of her book here!  

Nerdette Book Club is back to discuss ‘How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures' by Sabrina Imbler! This sparkling essay collection explores themes of community, queerness, and survival by weaving marine biology with stories from the author's life. Kat Chow, former NPR reporter and the author of the memoir ‘Seeing Ghosts,' and Rachel E. Gross, science journalist and author of ‘Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage,' join us for the discussion. We gush about Sabrina's writing, the power of empathy, and the beauty of creatures so unlike ourselves.

The fact of the matter is, even today, we know an awful lot more about male reproductive organs than female ones. Science journalist Rachel E. Gross joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the pioneering researchers and biologists from around the world working to better understand the uterus, ovaries, and vagina, in ways that fall outside the realm of just baby-making faculties. Her book is called “Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage.”

We talk about the historical and scientific knowledge gap of women's bodies and people with vaginas, including trans men, intersex people, and nonbinary people, with Rachel E. Gross, a science journalist and author of the book “Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage.”  

We talk about the historical and scientific knowledge gap of women's bodies and people with vaginas, including trans men, intersex people, and nonbinary people, with Rachel E. Gross, a science journalist and author of the book “Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage.”  

With Uterinekind's rights surrounding our bodies and healthcare being constantly attacked, it can seem so easy to give up, but that is the last thing we will do here at Hello Uterus. We're transforming our frustration and anger into something meaningful and productive. Organize and educate each other Uterinekind! We will continue to fight for our rights. There is a perfect storm brewing. When the current state of our rights interfere with uterine healthcare to the point where doctors are calling lawyers, people are going to start questioning their career paths. Combine that with a shortage of doctors and other problems, well buckle in Uterinekind! Don't stress though, we're telling you what you can do to ensure you'll have the healthcare you need even in times like these. Looking for a new book? We're discussing Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage, a non-fiction book written by science journalist Rachel E. Gross. Listen in to Rachel's telling of Linda Griffin's battle with breast cancer, endo, and doctors' shocking inability to understand and treat the mystical organ that is the vagina. Need a pad? Lastly, we end on a high note that might have you searching for your nearest Apple store for Aunt Flow!Thanks for listening, learning, and being you. And join us back here every Tuesday for all things uterus, in service to you, uterinekind.

For The Love Of Volcanoes A new documentary, “Fire of Love,” tells the story of French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft. The married couple spent two decades chasing volcanic eruptions across the world. Katia was a geochemist and Maurice a geologist. Together, they studied the science of volcanoes and produced films showcasing their power. That is, until their deaths in 1991, when they were killed by the very thing they loved so much. Guest host Sophie Bushwick talks with Sara Dosa, director of the documentary “Fire of Love,” which is in theaters nationwide, and will be available on Disney+ later this year.   A Blind Researcher Making A More Accessible World Joshua Miele has spent his career trying to make the world more accessible for blind and visually impaired people. As a blind person, his lived experiences have shaped the way he thinks about technology and how it can be used to better serve disabled people. He's invented products like YouDescribe—a tool that adds audio description to YouTube videos—and Tactile Maps Automated Production, a software that creates tactile maps for people to feel. Although adaptive technologies try to help disabled people access information, it isn't always driven by the input and needs of disabled people. There needs to be more disabled designers, engineers, and researchers spearheading this work, Miele says. Now, he works as a principal accessibility researcher at Amazon's Lab126, where he helps make products like the Echo and Fire tablets more accessible. Guest host Sophie Bushwick speaks with Miele about how his own experiences shape his work, and the importance of disability inclusion in designing new technologies.   What You Might Not Have Known About The Vagina When it comes to researching human genitals and the organs called, in simple terms, “reproductive,” the penis has long been the star of the show. “It doesn't help to only look at one or the other. Only by zooming out can we see them in their full range of variation and possibility,” writes science journalist Rachel E. Gross in her book, Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage, which tells the long history of neglected research into the vagina and its companion organs—the uterus, clitoris, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries. The book takes readers through myths, mysteries, and the legacy of shame around sexuality. It also introduces researchers who are finally making breakthroughs in our understanding of fertility, pleasure, and even immune health that's been linked to these organs. The book interviews doctors who are using that knowledge to make life better for everyone—including cancer patients and older people going through menopause, transgender women who want their own vaginas, people with endometriosis, and those, including intersex people, looking to regain pleasure and agency after childhood genital cutting. Producer Christie Taylor interviews Gross about our growing understanding of clitoral anatomy, the long-misunderstood egg cell, the uterus' ability to heal, and more. Plus, why these organs are important for whole-body health, and why everyone needs to understand them better. To read an excerpt from Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage by Rachel E. Gross, visit sciencefriday.com.   Transcripts for each segment will be available a week after the show airs at sciencefriday.com.  

We have ignored vaginas for so long. Hear me out. On the one hand, history and popular culture, from god-kings to love songs to movies to fan fiction, are littered with supposedly straight men with a single pursuit: intercourse with a vagina.  But along the way these same men have pigeonholed women and their vaginas into simple vehicles for heterosexual sex or reproduction. They've ignored almost everything else in the area, and shamed women for even considering pleasuring themselves, or pleasure at all, for getting sick, for failing to carry a child, and more. This ignorance touches everything – from the law to culture to racism to medicine to psychotherapy. Sex-ed is under attack. Birth control is under attack. Reproductive rights are under attack. Trans rights are under attack. There has simply never been a better or more consequential time to understand how and why the vagina and friends work, every day, not just on "sex day", or during menstruation or menopause, to understand what lies beneath and how incredible the whole thing can be – and how different one person's setup can be from another. My guest today is Rachel E. Gross. Rachel is an award-winning science journalist based in Brooklyn whose writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, National Geographic, WIRED, New Scientist, Slate, Undark, and NPR, among others. Rachel covers the debates and personalities that shape scientific knowledge, most recently as Digital Science Editor for Smithsonian Magazine. She has won the Award for Excellence in Religion Reporting, a Wilbur Award for Best Online Story, and she was a finalist for an Online Journalism Award in digital storytelling. And in 2019 Rachel received a MacDowell Fellowship to complete research and reporting for her new book, Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage. …and that is why we're here today, to talk about vaginas. To be more inclusive, we're here to talk about vaginas and friends. Because there's so much more to the vagina and her friends than you could possibly know. From the microbiome to the clitoris, we're learning new things every day about a hugely meaningful and ignored part of 50% of our species. ----------- Have feedback or questions? http://www.twitter.com/importantnotimp (Tweet us), or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.com New here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at http://podcast.importantnotimportant.com/ (podcast.importantnotimportant.com). ----------- INI Book Club: https://bookshop.org/a/8952/9781324006312 (Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage) by Rachel E. Gross https://bookshop.org/a/8952/9780593133231 (An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us) by Ed Yong https://bookshop.org/a/8952/9780822343189 (Fixing Sex) by Katrina Karkazis Find all of our guest recommendations at the INI Book Club: https://bookshop.org/lists/important-not-important-book-club (https://bookshop.org/lists/important-not-important-book-club) Links: Follow Rachel on https://twitter.com/rachelegross?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Twitter) Follow Rachel on https://www.instagram.com/gross_out/?hl=en (Instagram) Learn more about Rachel's work on her https://www.rachelegross.com/ (website) Read Rachel's article on "pudendum" and shame Learn more about the https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/27/health/endometriosis-griffith-uterus.html (scientific superpowers of the uterus) Read Rachel's https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/may/09/the-big-idea-why-we-need-to-rewrite-the-history-of-female-bodies (opinion piece) about thinking about female bodies beyond reproduction Listen to Tight Lipped Learn more about and donate to https://interactadvocates.org/ (InterACT) Improve your Cliteracy with https://www.sophiawallace.art/works (Sophia Wallace) Follow us: Subscribe to our newsletter at http://newsletter.importantnotimportant.com/ (newsletter.importantnotimportant.com) Follow us on Twitter:...

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by award-winning science journalist Rachel E. Gross to talk about her new book, "Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage." They discuss the incredible anatomy and physiology of women (and trans men, nonbinary, and intersex folx!), with an emphasis on biomedical science's minimizations and misunderstandings. Cara also opens up about her upcoming hysterectomy.

The human body is fascinating and sometimes kinda gross. In this week's episode both our storytellers are sharing tales of their blood, flesh, and bones. Part 1: When Rachel Gross winds up with a chronic vaginal infection she refuses to believe her new favorite IUD is the culprit. Part 2: Bryan Berlin discovers a mysterious bump on his butt but is too self-conscious to get it checked out. Rachel E. Gross is a science and health reporter who writes for The New York Times, Scientific American, and the BBC. She is the author of the 2022 book Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage, a New York Times' editors choice that Kirkus Reviews called "an eye-opening biological journey." Before that, she was a 2018-19 Knight Science Journalism fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the digital science editor of Smithsonian Magazine, where she launched a column about unsung women in the history of science. When not expounding on the mindblowing science of vaginas and vulvas, you can find her vegan baking, roller skating, or punning onstage. Follow her at @rachelegross. Bryan Berlin is a comedian and storyteller living in Brooklyn. He's a Moth StorySLAM winner and the creator and host of Love Hurts, a podcast where guests share stories of the tough relationships in their lives. When he's not telling stories, he's teaching video and photography to high school students. Follow him everywhere @berlination and find more info at bryanberlin.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The fact of the matter is, even today, we know an awful lot more about male reproductive organs than female ones. Science journalist Rachel E. Gross joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the pioneering researchers and biologists from around the world working to better understand the uterus, ovaries, and vagina, in ways that fall outside the realm of just baby-making faculties. Her book is called “Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage.”

People who are less open about their sexuality may be less likely to experience pleasure because they may regard pleasure to be psychologically improper. This is heavily influenced by how our society labels and looks at sexuality as a taboo which goes back to history.    In this episode, Rachel Gross busts the myth surrounding the female reproductive organs and shares how we can attain pleasure by understanding our anatomy and its function and how this is something not to be ashamed of.Rachel is an award-winning science journalist focusing on reproductive and sexual health, based in Brooklyn, NY. A recipient of a MacDowell Fellowship, Knight Science Journalism Fellowship, and former digital science editor of Smithsonian magazine, Gross writes for the BBC Future, the New York Times, and Scientific American. Rachel is also an experienced public speaker and panelist and has moderated Congressional Briefings on basic science, performed for the national storytelling show Story Collider, and hosted educational videos for Scientific American. She is also the author of the new book Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage. In this episode, we discuss: Shame and society's conception of genitals Clitoral Complex: female pleasure, anatomy, and function  The female reproductive organ is interconnected and complex. It's more than just what we see.  Female reproductive system's role in pleasure and arousal We could make the birthing experience pleasurable when we have a full understanding of the female reproductive organ's anatomy and its role.  Bad history of ‘vaginal orgasm' and ‘clitoris orgasm' impacts negatively the way we look at our own sexuality Rewriting our thoughts about the female body, and the active role of the female reproductive organ in fertilization Rachel talks about the importance of understanding your own sexuality and the benefits of integrating this into sexual education Key Takeaways: Familiarizing yourself with your sexual anatomy is not something to be ashamed of It is possible to have a comfortable and enjoyable vaginal childbirth because of the female reproductive organ's natural process Integrating with sex ed is a good way to make kids be engaged in their own changing bodies, understand their natural needs, and address warning signs Many people feel like it is taboo or inappropriate to discuss pleasure but when approached with an open mind, this could actually open up doors to self-discovery and appreciation   Tweetable Quotes:   “I think that the lens really changes when you view this as a system that's working together, both in reproduction but also in sexuality and arousal. So again, like it's not the vagina, or the clitoris or the vagina and the clitoris, it's they're both intertwined.” - Rachel Gross“I think on the female side, first of all, we need to be way more like pleasure positive and talk about your body as like something beautiful to explore and have curiosity about rather than starting with a place of fear.” - Rachel Gross   Connect with Rachel Gross:  Twitter: twitter.com/rachelegross Website: https://www.rachelegross.com     Connect with Debra!   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debra.pascalibonaro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orgasmicbirth/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-pascali-bonaro-1093471/ Visit https://www.orgasmicbirth.com/ for more information on how to have fulfilling and enjoyable births. Check out the film Orgasmic Birth: The Best-Kept Secret, the film creating buzz around the world!

On this week's episode of The Waves, Slate senior editor Shannon Palus is joined by science journalist, Rachel E. Gross to talk all about female anatomy. They discuss Rachel's new book, Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage and how much science has to learn when it comes to diagnosing female maladies. Then they get into ovaries and all the misconceptions about these “egg baskets.” In Slate Plus, is the term “pussy” feminist?  Articles discussed in this episode:  The Word for Anatomy That Shouldn't Be “Vulgar”  by Zoe Mendelson  Seventeen Years of Bad Sex by Allyson Rudolph  Ovaries Are Prone to ‘Exhaustion' and ‘Fatigue.' Or Are They? By Rachel Gross Recommendations: Shannon: Wearing wide-legged jeans.  Rachel: Showing yourself some, ah-hem, love.    Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery.  Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of The Waves, Slate senior editor Shannon Palus is joined by science journalist, Rachel E. Gross to talk all about female anatomy. They discuss Rachel's new book, Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage and how much science has to learn when it comes to diagnosing female maladies. Then they get into ovaries and all the misconceptions about these “egg baskets.” In Slate Plus, is the term “pussy” feminist?  Articles discussed in this episode:  The Word for Anatomy That Shouldn't Be “Vulgar”  by Zoe Mendelson  Seventeen Years of Bad Sex by Allyson Rudolph  Ovaries Are Prone to ‘Exhaustion' and ‘Fatigue.' Or Are They? By Rachel Gross Recommendations: Shannon: Wearing wide-legged jeans.  Rachel: Showing yourself some, ah-hem, love.    Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery.  Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of The Waves, Slate senior editor Shannon Palus is joined by science journalist, Rachel E. Gross to talk all about female anatomy. They discuss Rachel's new book, Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage and how much science has to learn when it comes to diagnosing female maladies. Then they get into ovaries and all the misconceptions about these “egg baskets.” In Slate Plus, is the term “pussy” feminist?  Articles discussed in this episode:  The Word for Anatomy That Shouldn't Be “Vulgar”  by Zoe Mendelson  Seventeen Years of Bad Sex by Allyson Rudolph  Ovaries Are Prone to ‘Exhaustion' and ‘Fatigue.' Or Are They? By Rachel Gross Recommendations: Shannon: Wearing wide-legged jeans.  Rachel: Showing yourself some, ah-hem, love.    Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery.  Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of The Waves, Slate senior editor Shannon Palus is joined by science journalist, Rachel E. Gross to talk all about female anatomy. They discuss Rachel's new book, Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage and how much science has to learn when it comes to diagnosing female maladies. Then they get into ovaries and all the misconceptions about these “egg baskets.” In Slate Plus, is the term “pussy” feminist?  Articles discussed in this episode:  The Word for Anatomy That Shouldn't Be “Vulgar”  by Zoe Mendelson  Seventeen Years of Bad Sex by Allyson Rudolph  Ovaries Are Prone to ‘Exhaustion' and ‘Fatigue.' Or Are They? By Rachel Gross Recommendations: Shannon: Wearing wide-legged jeans.  Rachel: Showing yourself some, ah-hem, love.    Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Shannon Palus and Alicia Montgomery.  Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices