Our bodies are a byproduct of millions of years of evolution. MOTHER-nature, as the most iterative technologist, has orchestrated the female form - from the menstrual cycles to orgasms, from pregnancies to menopause. But, how? Why did our biology evolve to be exactly the way it is today?

Deena Emera, PhD is an evolutionary geneticist, author, educator and senior scientist at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. In her latest hit book "A Brief History of the Female Body" she draws on her vast expertise as a biologist, her experience as a mother of four children, and her love of teaching to look far into our evolutionary past, illuminating how and, more importantly, why the female form has transformed over millions of years and its effects on women's health.

(0:00) Intro

(01:10) Unexpected benefits of knowing our evolutionary biology

(04:40) Mother-child conflict during and after pregnancy

(15:43) Evolutionary purpose of the menstrual cycle

(18:32) The endometrium as an embryo sensor

(23:42) How studying the endometrium can help cure cancer

(25:22) Female orgasm from the evolutionary perspective

(33:02) Menopause as a rare evolutionary trait

(38:12) Delaying menopause: current state of the art and goals

(42:06) Reproductive choice

(44:16) The dynamic between biological and technological evolution

(47:34) Current tensions between females and males

Links:

Deena's book "A Brief History of the Female Body" - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brief-History-Female-Body-Evolutionary-ebook/dp/B0BB8SCVDQ

Deena's Boston Globe article "Reproductive choice is at the core of being a female mammal" - https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/20/opinion/reproductive-choice-is-core-being-female-mammal/

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Could psychedelics start a new era in women's holistic health?

Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley is a Neuroscientist with 10 years of experience researching cannabis, cannabinoids, and psychedelics. She is the founder of Hystelica - the first research organisation in the world focused on understanding women's biology for safe and effective psychedelic use. Grace currently serves as the Chief Scientific Officer at NWPharma Tech and is also the Research Director at Heroic Hearts Project, a charity connecting military veterans with mental trauma to psychedelic therapy options: ayahuasca, psilocybin, and ketamine.

In this episode, you'll hear about the incredible potential of psychedelics in women's health.

(0:00) Intro

(01:16) What is a psychedelic?

(02:33) Why is it important to study psychedelics for women separately?

(11:24) Safety of psychedelic use for women

(13:50) Hystelica's research into psychedelics for women

(15:42) Microdosing and menopause

(19:32) Anti-inflammatory properties of psychedelics

(21:31) Evidence that women process trauma differently

(23:59) The exact mechanism between trauma and disease

(28:44) Neuroscientist's definition of trauma

(31:11) Women in combat and PTSD

(33:52) How indigenous women use of psychedelics

(36:39) Big goal in psychedelics for women's health: Big Data

(38:56) How can anyone participate in Hystelica's research?

Links:

Grace's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-blest-hopley-msc-akc

Hystelica - https://www.hystelica.com/

Hystelica's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearehystelica/

Heroic Hearts - https://www.heroicheartsuk.com/

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How does the female body respond to space?

Dr. Shawna Pandya is a scientist-astronaut candidate with Project PoSSUM, physician, aquanaut, speaker, martial artist, advanced diver, skydiver, pilot-in-training, VP Immersive Medicine with Luxsonic Technologies and Fellow of the Explorers’ Club. She is also the Director of the PosSUM Space Medicine Group and Chief Instructor of the PoSSUM Operational Space Medicine Group. Shawna holds degrees in neuroscience (BSc Hons. Neuroscience, University of Alberta), space (MSc Space Studies, International Space University), entrepreneurship (Graduate Studies Program, Singularity University) and medicine (MD, University of Alberta), and is currently completing a fellowship in Wilderness Medicine (Academy of Wilderness Medicine).

Today, women constitute approximately 12% of all astronauts. How has being in space affected their menstrual cycles, reproductive health, ovarian longevity, bone density, and hormones?

This is important to think about now, because as Shawna put it: "We are going to space for humanity so we need to do it with all of humanity."

A shared and visionary goal within the space industry is for humans to live and thrive across multiple planets. Human ingenuity is incredible so if someone is dreaming about it, it will eventually happen. And when it does - will we be able to reproduce in space? What will just thinking about it teach us about life and pregnancy? Scientists and entrepreneurs are already looking for answers while you are reading this sentence! From figuring out how to have intercourse in space to exploring whether it is possible to conceive a baby out there.

This spaceship is launching. Join me and Shawna in this episode to get on it ;)

(00:00) Intro

(01:25) What does it feel like to be in space?

(04:15) Why are humans travelling into space? What is the goal?

(07:58) The golden age of commercial space travel is now!

(10:26) How do female astronauts experience space travel?

(12:17) Is it too early to care about female health in space?

(15:58) What happens to the human body in space?

(25:48) Can humans reproduce in space?

(35:41) What's your take on artificial wombs?

(38:10) What's the effect of space travel on ovarian reserve?

(42:27) What's the effect on menopause and perimenopause?

(44:39) Could there be health benefits of going into space?

(46:24) Doing innovative science experiments in space

(49:06) 3D printing in space

(50:28) Women's health research in the space environment

(53:13) Key ethical health considerations about the future of space exploration

(54:27) Shawna's plans for 2024 and closing thoughts

Links:

Shawna's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnapandya

Shawna's Twitter - https://twitter.com/shawnapandya

Shawna" Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shawnapandya

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