The Happy Vagina

BE YOURSELF, EVERYONE ELSE IS TAKEN. For the first time ever we have a repeat guest back on THV. When Anna Lahey founder to Vida Glow asked me to do a deep dive into women’s health there was only one human that came to mind - the extremely thoughtful, inspirational, and unstoppable Laura Whitmore. We chat about her new documentary series’s which looks at rough s@x, incels and stalkers, how to stay true to you in times of overwhelm and our shared passion for better women’s health. Link in bio to listen 🔝 Did you know that It is estimated only 1% of healthcare research and innovation is invested in female specific conditions, globally. Imgestible brand @vida_glow are changing that with a new range of supplements designed specially with women in mind, and we are obsessed. Link in bio 🔝 to hear more.Guest @thewhitmore Host @missmikasimmonsProduced by @pineappleaudioproduction Cover design @wtfcreative Video content @madebytwwThis episode is brought to you in collaboration with Vida Glow – the global number one marine collagen brand and leaders in the ingestible space. Recognising female heath is under-researched and underserved, Vida Glow has applied its female-first, concern-solution approach to the health category with the launch of their Women’s Health range. A science backed range of health supplements meticulously formulated specifically for women based on their unique physiological requirements. Vida Glow are donating 1GBP for every Women’s Health product to my charity @ladygardenfoundation and you can use the code HAPPYVAGINA20 for 20% off the range, which includes Gut Pro, De-Stress, Prental+, Multi 360.If you haven’t already, go check out the range online at vidaglow.com

As Ovarian cancer awareness month draws to a close it’s important to remind ourselves to be mindful of our bodies. Mika isn joined by dr Stephanie Kuku and Dr Frauke Neuser to talk about pubic grooming. Whether you choose to keep your hair, prune or remove it - getting to know your pubic gives you that opportunity to become more familiar, more comfortable with your anatomy so you’re able to notice anything that may be wrong and gives you the time to think about any changes that may have occurred. This KNOW YOUR PUBIC conversation and the campaign by Venus is all about breaking down the pubic taboos which are stopping women from feeling comfortable with and in their own bodies, leading to trepidation about seeking medical advice and support.Venus is proud of its partnership with Lady Garden Foundation, now in its second year, through which they are raising awareness and essential funds for gynaecological health via a limited-edition starter pack in Superdrug. Each pack sold = one donation and these partnerships are so important which is why I am delighted to continue to work with them and champion their #KnowYourPubic campaign. Shaving your pubic hair with the wrong tools can cause irritation, itch during regrowth and ingrown hairs. That’s why the Venus for Pubic Hair & Skin collection is specially designed for the pubic area, whether the hair is there, growing or gone - the full collection is pH balanced and free of parabens, dyes, fragrance, and silicone, and is also dermatologist and gynaecologist-approved. You can try the full range for yourself at all major retailers nationwide, or shop the limited-edition Lady Garden Foundation donation starter pack - only at Superdrug.

This week Mika is joined by Sexuality Educator and TedX Speaker, Amber Mallery (MPH, AASECT, CSE) who shares her top tips on how to spice up partnered sex. From how to initiate the conversation, to the top fantasies for women, the multiple uses of a blindfold and how to practice safe choking - Amber shares deep insights that will help you navigate these new terrains.Amber recommends setting up safe words: "Safe words are a great way to communicate full thoughts in a quick, short expression. People should have a conversation about their safe words, and I suggest more than one. That way there is some warning, instead of saying, this needs to stop NOW. The easiest to start with are colors, red, green, yellow. This is a seamless way to start using safewords and explore pleasure and kink safely."This episode has been brought to you by Bijoux Indiscrets - the disruptive online store for all the best erotic accessories, pleasure toys, and intimate cosmetics. Bijoux Indescrets primary purpose is to create a new vision of female sexuality and pleasure. Everything they produce is about enjoying more, in a guilt and shame-free way, breaking taboos. Because at Bijoux Indiscrets the team believe that gender equality extends into the domain of pleasure and that the way to empower women is to create products which break the established rules and offer each and every woman tools with which to get to know and take charge of her own pleasure. There is nothing more empowering than knowledge, why not discover more on their website, bijouxindiscrets.com 

Filmmaker and writer Emma Forrest joins Mika to talk about finally becoming her own woman, free from the traumas of her past. We explore Emma’s experience from heart break to sexting to celibacy and back again - all leading her to finding a deeper freedom. This episode will encourage you to follow your intuition and find your personal wild. Her phenomenal memoir about her exploration with celibacy BUSY BEING FREE is out now wherever you buy your books online or in store!“I think for all women, who are sexually active, a set amount of time to yourself is a really good idea. And again, the idea if you're going through divorce, if you're older, of freeing yourself from the things you you perceive yourself as having to do (in order) to ‘keep being chosen for the team’, and just saying, I don't want to play. Not for now. It's very liberating, just actively saying: “This is not a game I choose to play”.(Especially when…) nobody gave me the option to sign up for the game in the first place.” - Emma ForrestPlease do like follow and subscribe to our podcast - it helps others to find us! @thehappyvaginaSpecial thanks to our guest this week Emma Forrest @addieprayThe Happy Vagina podcast is hosted by Mika Simmons @mismikasimmonsProduced by Pineapple Audio Productions @pineappleaudioprodcutions

This International Womens Day we are putting the emphasis on men. Mika is joined by Gabrielle Blair, author of the book, Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way To Think About Abortion. We have a candid conversation about the miscalculated pressure on women to be the primary user of birth control, why the world needs better research into vasectomies and how to process abortion trauma. This episode will revolutionise your understaffing of birth control “Every time I'm taking (birth control…), I'm really managing my partner's fertility.They’re ever present fertility. I’m not really managing my fertility. I'm ingesting a drug daily, or a hormone daily because of their constant fertility. So I want to be really clear, most of the time, when you or I have sex, or any woman has sex, they cannot get pregnant. Like it's just, it's just physically impossible. (But…) Every time a man has sex every time he can potentially impregnate someone.” - Gabrielle BlairGabrielle Blair is the founder or award winning blog platform Design Mom. She is considered a top expert in creating accessible conversations about hard topics, parenting engaged and independent kids, and creating a home where both parents and kids can thrive. 

This week we are joined by Adina Porter, Emmy Nominated, award wining actress, Mum and voting rights campaigner. Adina shares her most initiate feelings about the importance of sex work, recovering from bereavement and why adoption was her first choice. This episode is a deep dive into knowing your true worth and the joys of mid life pleasure.“My mom was adopted. So adoption has always been the only option for me. And when I met my then second husband, on our second date, because I thought it was pretty special - on our second date, I asked him, I said "What do you think about adopting an African American child?” And his response was “Or two!”. And I thought, “that's hot!” - Adina PorterAdina Porter is an Emmy Nominated, award wining actress, Mum, CARE ambassador and activist campaigning for voting, voting rights and clean water access.