The Road to Know Her

'Tis the season to be wrapped up. So join us for the last episode, AKA the wrap up, of season 1!This started as a podcast about women's health but it has grown into so much more. We have learned SO much about our bodies and our health, but also have learned a deeper appreciation for everything that goes on underneath our skin without us even knowing. We've learned that if we just take a beat, and listen to our bodies a bit more, we have so much knowledge about what we need and how to help ourselves. So join Emi & Alex on the final episode of season 1 to discuss what we've learned over a glass of wine. Thank you to all the experts who came on this season. Because of you, us and our community know how to check our breasts, what's normal 'down there', how to get the right nutrition for our bodies, what effect our hormones have on us and SO much more. Thank you also to the listeners who have joined us on this journey - we appreciate you! Please write into theroadtoknowher@gmail.com with feedback and requests for season 2.See you soon!

Part 2 of 2.This week we speak to Sarah Graham, who literally wrote the book on the Gender Health Gap. Rebel Bodies is an inclusive and empowering manifesto for change in women's healthcare. It explores systemic and deep rooted sexism within medicine, merging research and data points with real stories of gaslighting, misdiagnosis and misunderstanding within the healthcare system. The book covers everything from periods to childbirth, autoimmune diseases to menopause, and mental health to transgender care.We ADORED recording this episode, and it feels like a really important conversation to have. We have all heard of and experienced countless experiences of being fobbed off, not being believed, not taken seriously or gaslighted when having a healthcare issue. So many of us are so overlooked that we begin to question ourselves and our pain. You are not going mad and you are not alone.If you want to buy the book from bloomsbury.com, we have a discount code: The discount code is REBEL20. Valid for the hardback, UK only. Paperback is out in January!https://sarah-graham.co.uk/@sarahgraham7writer

Part 1 of 2.This week we speak to Sarah Graham, who literally wrote the book on the Gender Health Gap. Rebel Bodies is an inclusive and empowering manifesto for change in women's healthcare. It explores systemic and deep rooted sexism within medicine, merging research and data points with real stories of gaslighting, misdiagnosis and misunderstanding within the healthcare system. The book covers everything from periods to childbirth, autoimmune diseases to menopause, and mental health to transgender care. We ADORED recording this episode, and it feels like a really important conversation to have. We have all heard of and experienced countless experiences of being fobbed off, not being believed, not taken seriously or gaslighted when having a healthcare issue. So many of us are so overlooked that we begin to question ourselves and our pain. You are not going mad and you are not alone.If you want to buy the book from bloomsbury.com, we have a discount code: The discount code is REBEL20. Valid for the hardback, UK only. Paperback is out in January!https://sarah-graham.co.uk/@sarahgraham7writer

Today we're diving into a crucial topic that affects the lives of countless women: contraception. We're here to unravel the facts, debunk myths, and empower you with the knowledge that puts you in control of your sexual health journey. To help us along our way, we are joined by Laura Domegan, Head of Nursing at Brook, the sexual health & wellbeing Charity.Founded by Helen Brook in 1964, Brook blazed a trail by empowering unmarried women to take charge of their sexual health at a time when it was deemed controversial. Despite fierce opposition, Helen Brook refused to let stigma stand in the way of what was needed, and continued to provide free contraception and confidential sexual health advice. Today, Brook is proud to continue in her pioneering footsteps by providing high quality, holistic sexual health and wellbeing services that include frontline services as well as education, training and advocacy. They believe excellent sexual health, mental health and wellbeing is a basic right, so they continue to fight for a society that welcomes everyone and trusts people to make decisions about their health, their bodies and their identities.https://www.brook.org.uk/IG: @brook_sexpositive

This episode is all about breasts! Half of the population has them, yet they're still this mystical, sexual, misunderstood part of the female anatomy. They’re too often one of two things: sexualised or used for feeding. We’re never actually taught how to care for them, check them & support them, let alone ENJOY them. So this week we speak to Dr Philippa Kaye, a GP, author, presenter and educator who wrote Breasts: An Owner’s Guide. https://www.drphilippakaye.com/@drphilippakayeBreasts: An Owner's Guide

Fertility is a difficult subject for many. For those who haven't yet tried to get pregnant, the idea of fertility hangs over us like a spectre. It's an elusive concept filled with myths and misconceptions.Furthermore, many of those trying to have a baby often find it isn't as easy to get pregnant as expected, for many reasons. It is at this point people turn to fertility treatments. However, if you are having fertility issues or are in a same-sex couple, the options are often overwhelming and laden with acronyms. IUI/IVF/OI... it's confusing to say the least! So we've got your back. Today we speak to Kate Maclaran who is a Consultant Gynaecologist and accredited subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust. She leads the fertility unit there and is a well of knowledge on fertility, gynaecology and the menopause. She breaks down the different fertility treatments for us & what to expect from each of them, as well as covering some commonly held beliefs about fertility such as age.

We are two self-confessed skincare junkies. Retinol, AHA’s, Vit C’s… you name it, we have it. But the world of skincare can often be overwhelming, and we can very easily slip into thinking we need more all the time. So today we want to find out what we REALLY need.Who better to do that with than Dr Natalia Spierings, who has a reputation for having a non-nonsense approach?! Dr Natalia is a UK trained practicing consultant dermatologist with a masters in Aesthetic Medicine. She is a frequent part of the specialist clinic on Channel 5’s Skin A&E and has just written a book Skintelligent which helps people navigate the confusing world of skincare. We ask Dr Natalia what is fact, what is fiction, and what we need in our cupboards. Be warned - if you're a skincare junkie you might not be pleased (but your bank balance and face will be!)

Growing up we’re often taught to fear our period or hide it away and not talk about it, which eventually leads us to disconnect from our natural cycle. Menstruation is associated with pain, mood swings and wrapped in hygiene language. It's also so commonly seen as a weakness. Claire Baker is trying to reframe everything we know about menstruation and our cycles. If we lean into our cycle and listen closely, we can find so much more about ourselves and discover that we are actually rather predictable (and amazing!)Claire Baker is a sought-after coach, speaker and author of ‘50 Things You Need To Know About Periods’. For nearly a decade Claire has taught thousands of women how to live in harmony with their menstrual cycle, rather than working against it.Claire believes menstrual cycle awareness is the missing key in women’s wellbeing, empowerment and creativity, and her immersive online courses and workshops inspire women to know their flow and become the authority in their own lives. Claire’s online program Adore Your Cycle has students in over 35 countries.We learnt SO much during this episode and found a new found respect for our natural cycles. Bring on Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter!IG: @_clairebaker_https://www.clairebaker.com/