After years of listening to women speak about the challenges of relationships, communication issues with their heterosexual partners and difficulty discussing all things that are emotional with male identified partners, I thought we might dive deep into this by discussing why some grown men lack emotional intelligence by looking back to what they learn as boys.

Gender stories run deep in our culture. The inability for adult men to emote and express empathy harks back to age 4-5 when they begin to learn ways of being that dissociates them from their emotions and their bodies signals around how they are feeling.

Build Up Boys works with pre-K -fifth grade boys in order to rewire these gender stories; equipping boys with the necessary skills to retain their innate emotional intelligence and teaching their caregivers on why it is so important to let their boys feel and express their entire range of emotions.

Questions of comments? Call 845-307-7446 or email comments@radiofreerhinecliff.org

Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Maryl Sackeim, MD wrote a personal perspective on the imperfection of childbirth in 2019. This written piece inspired the conversation with Gynocurious about the false expectations and narratives medicine has shared with women and their families about childbirth. She discusses the individual journeys of childbirth and illness and reviews the importance of speaking openly and honestly about all possible outcomes. Dr. Sackeim shares with us how she uses empathy and open conversations about her own life experiences (with patients) to help create improved relationships and to have patients as partners in their healing journeys.

Links: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2605803 https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/providers/marylsackeim https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/citation/2019/03000/the__im_perfection_of_childbirth.23.aspx

Questions of comments? Call 845-307-7446 or email comments@radiofreerhinecliff.org

Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

In this episode of "Vulva Views," hosts Amy Novatt, MD and Allison Chawla, a psychotherapist and alternative healer, delve deep into the complexities of eating disorders with their guest, Tabitha Limotte, a family therapist specializing in eating disorders. The conversation spans the psychological and physiological facets of eating disorders, the multiple misconceptions surrounding them, and the challenges of treatment and recovery. Tabitha discusses the importance of specialized care and the multifaceted causes behind eating disorders, which often go beyond mere body image issues to address underlying emotional and psychological factors.

The hosts and their guest review how to recognize the signs and symptoms of different eating disorders, understanding their often deep-rooted origins, and the intricate and long-term process of recovery. The episode emphasizes the role of family support, professional intervention, and a compassionate, non-judgmental approach to individuals struggling with these conditions. Vulva Views and Tabitha discuss the need to dispel common myths and foster greater empathy and awareness, highlighting the profound impact that a supportive environment can have on the journey to recovery.

National Eating Disorders Association Helpline 800-931-2237 https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline

National Alliance on Mental Health: Family-to-Family Programs https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/NAMI-Programs/NAMI-Family-to-Family

Questions of comments? Call 845-307-7446 or email comments@radiofreerhinecliff.org

Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

About 1 in 100 women experience recurrent miscarriages (3 or more in a row). Theresa tells us about her multiple miscarriages and challenges getting pregnant. Using many modalities to help heal and despite addressing deep seated emotional barriers she eventually had her son only after a surrogate egg transfer. Moving through infertility as an older woman brings many obstacles and difficult choices. Theresa faced tremendous grief yet stayed grounded and aware and communicative with her partner and eventually rejoiced in the birth of her son.

Questions of comments? Call 845-307-7446 or email comments@radiofreerhinecliff.org

Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Dr. Rachel Masch s a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mount Sinai medical school and is board certified in Complex Family Planning. She is the co Medical Director of the division of family planning at Mt sinai Beth Israel in NYC. She has a masters in public health from Columbia University and serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Basic Health International (BHI), a nonprofit organization that works toward eradicating cervical cancer worldwide. Dr. Masch helps GynoCurious examine the state of family planning and abortion services in the US. The very fluid legislative activity in the US, both federal and state wide , have led to changes in the family planning community and the state of education for OB-GYN residents and certainly for women seeking the whole range of services that family planning organizations provide.

Questions of comments? Call 845-307-7446 or email comments@radiofreerhinecliff.org

Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhinecliff

Amy and Allison discuss the billion dollar industry in feminine products promoting vaginal/vulvar hygiene. They review that clean vaginas are not necessarily healthy ones. They speak about the ways in which the vaginal Ph and the microbiome can be interrupted. With a sense of humor and science they explore the long standing media messages that imply vaginas are dirty and our need to vigilantly clean them.

Questions of comments? Call 845-307-7446 or email comments@radiofreerhinecliff.org

Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhinecliff

Virginia Reath, PA and GynoCurious continue their series on the menopause. Reviewing symptoms and perceptions about this time in women's lives are discussed. The benefits and the challenges, the variation in each individuals experience and the treatments that can be discussed with your clinician are all a part of their conversation.

Questions of comments? Call 845-307-7446 or email comments@radiofreerhinecliff.org

Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Jenna Smith, CM and Katie Guernsey, CNM speak with GynoCurious about their lives as midwives. They describe the arc of their professional choices, the impact and perspectives gained by their own child birth experiences and the challenges of working in todays medical environs. From both sides of the speculum, Jenna and Katie review how professional and personal experiences inform each other. Both women describe their first deliveries; comparing and contrasting how knowledge and experience impacted those birthing events.

https://www.webmd.com/baby/what-is-a-midwife-twins https://findcare.nuvancehealth.org/provider/Jenna+L.+Smith+Stout/1747551 https://findcare.nuvancehealth.org/provider/Kathryn+S.+Guernsey/1746621

Questions of comments? Call 845-307-7446 or email comments@radiofreerhinecliff.org

Produced by Jennifer Hammoud and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff