Podcast · Health

The Arc Woman Podcast

by Arc Woman · English · Health

The Arc Woman Podcast is an exploration of woman kind. Here we discuss what it is to be a woman in the modern world while utilising ancient and modern modalities in tandem to create a bounty of health for the body, mind and spirit.

Typical length: 1 hr 1 min
Language: English

Latest episode

48 min

Your Vibrator Is Less Regulated Than a Teddy Bear

🧸 A teddy bear for a one-year-old must meet at least five safety standards before it can be sold in Australia. Vibrators, on the other hand, have no such requirements. In this episode, we look at the rules for children's toys compared to those for vibrators and dildos, and explore why sex toy regulation is an overlooked women's health issue. ⚖️ We compare how Australia, the US, EU, and UK handle sex toy regulations. Why Australia has no mandatory chemical limits or lab testing for sex toys, how the "therapeutic claim trapdoor" lets the industry dodge TGA oversight by never mentioning health,…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

1 hr 27 min
Presentations of Autism Women with Adelle Sushames
🎙️ In this episode I'm joined by Adelle Sushames, clinical psychologist, late-diagnosed AuDHDer, and founder of Nurture Clinical Psychology a specialist in diagnosing and supporting autistic women and girls across the lifespan. This one is personal for me, and I think a lot of you are going to hear yourselves in this conversation. 🧠 We cover why the diagnostic criteria were built on young white boys, what the female presentation of autism actually looks like, why girls become expert maskers before anyone even suspects a diagnosis, and how perimenopause can completely flip the way autism and…
1 hr 9 min
Endometriosis: The Science, The Gaslighting & What's Actually Coming with Alice Molloy
🔬 In this episode I'm joined by Alice Molloy endometriosis researcher at the University of Edinburgh, research technician on the landmark Endo1000 project, and someone who started reading peer-reviewed papers at 16 from her post-surgery bed because no one would tell her what was happening in her own body. 🧬 We get into the full science, the three subtypes of endometriosis, why lesions manufacture their own local estrogen supply, progesterone receptor loss, how the immune system is actively recruited to protect lesions instead of clearing them, and why the co-occurrence of autoimmune…
56 min
Everything You Need To Know About Laparoscopies with Dr. Rebecca Mackenzie-Proctor
🎙️ Everything you need to know about laparoscopies, with fertility specialist and surgeon Dr. Rebecca Mackenzie-Proctor. Mostly framed around endometriosis, but still relevant if you're heading into a lap for PMOS or any other reason. ⚕️ A look at exactly what happens inside the theatre, from how a diagnostic lap differs from an excision, the gas-and-gravity technique surgeons use to get a clear view of the pelvis, and the infamous shoulder tip pain. 🩺 You’ll learn all the useful tips for pre-surgery prep like why iron and blood sugar control change your surgical risk and recovery, the…
1 hr
The 10 Things I Repeat in Clinic
🎙️ In this solo episode I'm sharing the 10 things I come back to again and again in clinic the foundational steps I ask every woman to work through before seeking specialised help, because a specialist will most likely get you to do all of these first anyway. Think of it as clearing the muddy waters so you actually know which systems need more support. 🍳Macronutrients properly explained why carbohydrates are not the enemy, how your carb needs track with how much you train, why most women are eating half the fibre they need, why protein requirements are individual and not a flat 120g rule,…
1 hr 3 min
Everything You Need to Know About Colds and Flu
🎙️ On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the various things that take place in your body as soon as you get a cold or flu, why symptoms appear in the order they do, and which cures are actually worth it while others are merely based on tradition. 🦠 We go through the full infection timeline: why viruses target your nose first, the "hook and scissors" mechanism every respiratory virus uses to invade and escape cells, why influenza specifically hijacks your own cell's genetic tagging system, and why Tamiflu only works within a 48-hour window. 🔥 We look in detail at interferon and the…
57 min
Understanding Miscarriage and Finding Your Way Forward
🎙️In this episode of the podcast we discuss miscarriage and take a look at just how common it really is, examine what causes it, and clarify what actually can and what cannot be prevented. As a brief note, this episode only addresses first and second trimester losses (up to 20 weeks). 📊 The figure for real numbers is that 15.3% of known pregnancies result in miscarriage (Lance), but when early, undetected losses are taken into account, the rate rises to nearly 1 in 3. We go through why so many different statistics have been heard, what is considered to constitute 'recurrent loss' according…
1 hr 4 min
Rebalancing Post Termination
🎙️ On this episode of the podcast, we talk about what really happens to your body before, during, and after termination. Covering everything from hormones, blood loss, nutrient depletion, and how to rebuild. ⚕️ A close look at both methods: medical abortion (mifepristone + misoprostol) versus surgical, how each actually works, and the real comparative data on blood loss. 🩸The part that almost always gets overlooked: pregnancy is a major metabolic event. Your body loses minerals like B12, folate, vitamin D, and zinc. Not due to termination, but as a result of pregnancy itself. We'll explain…
1 hr 1 min
The Full Picture On UTIs
🎙️ More than half of women will have a UTI by age 32, and up to 4 in 10 will have another within six months. Yet the entire public conversation around prevention is built on cranberry marketing, wiping myths, and supplement brands. This episode rebuilds the picture from the ground up, using the 2025 AUA/CUA/SUFU guideline reordering. 🧬 We break down the real physiology: your bladder isn't sterile, E. coli doesn't just "splash around" but hooks into the bladder wall, and why women are up to 30x more susceptible than men. Plus the evidence hierarchy and where D-mannose and cranberry juice…
1 hr 1 min
The Fundamentals of PMOS
🎙️ A full deep-dive into PMOS and how over 70% of women remain undiagnosed, with the diagnostic delay averaging two years. This episode rebuilds the foundational knowledge from the ground up using the 2023 evidence-based guidelines. 🧬 We break down the Rotterdam criteria, why the name change from PCOS to PMOS actually matters clinically, and the four distinct subtypes. ⚡ At the root of it all: insulin resistance, present in 95% of cases regardless of body weight. We map the full cascade: chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and how a dysregulated gut environment drives everything from…
1 hr 11 min
Australia Has a Femicide Problem with Sherele Moody
One woman dies of femicide every four days in Australia. This podcast is a conversation on how we got here, why this is happening and what has to happen for it to stop. 🔴 Before you listen, please note that this episode discusses the killing of women, girls, and children, as well as domestic and family violence, sexual violence, and failures in the police, court, and coronial systems. Take care of yourself; feel free to skip this episode or listen with someone you trust if you need support. 🩸 Since 2015, Sherele Moody has recorded the deaths of more than 3,000 Australian women and children,…
1 hr 5 min
Fibroid Awareness: The Deep Dive
🎙️ It's International Fibroid Awareness Month, and this is the deep-dive episode I've been promising for ages. Between 70–80% of women will develop at least one fibroid by 50, yet most women only find out what a fibroid actually is when a doctor tells them they have one. 🧬 We break down what a fibroid actually is, why every fibroid in your uterus is genetically distinct, and the real pathophysiology. Spoiler: it's not estrogen dominance. 📊 The disparity story that doesn't get enough airtime: Black women are diagnosed at higher rates, younger, with larger and more numerous fibroids. We…
1 hr 13 min
Your Gut & Your Hormones with Naturopathic Dr. Kelly Simms
🎙️ In this episode I'm joined by Dr. Kelly Simms, a naturopathic doctor with 15 years of clinical experience in Chicago, to break down one of the most underexplored connections in women's health the relationship between the gut microbiome and your hormones across every stage of life. 🦠 We cover the oestrobolome, beta-glucuronidase, leaky gut, and why the health of your gut microbiome directly shapes how your body produces, recycles, and clears estrogen — and what happens when that system breaks down. ⚡ Dr. Simms walks us through primary versus secondary dysbiosis, the gut-brain connection in…
49 min
The MVP of Adaptogens: Ashwagandha
🎙️ In this solo episode I'm breaking down one of the most popular adaptogens in the wellness space what it actually does in the body, why it's so well suited to modern life, and why the "it's natural so it's safe" framing is genuinely getting people hurt. 🧠 I cover the full mechanism HPA axis modulation, GABAergic activity, cortisol reduction, thyroid hormone interactions, and why withanolides having a steroidal backbone means this herb is hormone pathway active, not just a simple calming supplement. ⚡ We get into the research study by study cortisol, anxiety, sleep, strength, subclinical…
54 min
The Basics Of Berberine
🎙️ In this solo episode I'm breaking down one of the most misunderstood supplements in the wellness space because no, berberine is not "nature's Ozempic", and by the end of this you'll know exactly why that comparison is clinically lazy and what berberine is actually doing in your body. 🔬 I cover the full mechanism, AMPK activation, insulin signalling, GLUT4 upregulation, PCSK9 inhibition, leptin sensitivity, and why berberine's comparisons to metformin are far more scientifically valid than any GLP-1 analogy. 🦠 We get into what I think is the most fascinating part of the research,…
1 hr 17 min
Fact Checking The Australian Anti Choice Movement
🎙️ The anti-choice movement in Australia is getting louder, more organised, and more willing to spread outright misinformation. So in this episode, I brought in two experts to fact-check the claims being made publicly, right now, in this country, one by one. ⚖️ I'm joined by Kayla, a practising midwife with deep knowledge of health policy on the ground, and Georgia, a criminologist working in policy who knows exactly how laws are made, misrepresented, and used against women. Together, we go through the most repeated anti-abortion claims in Australia, fetal rights under international law,…
49 min
Ovarian Cancer & the Leading Research of Leader Cells with Dr. Maree Bilandzic
🩺 In this episode I'm joined by Dr. Maree Bilandzic, molecular cancer biologist, ovarian cancer advocate, and the first scientist in the world to identify and characterise leader cells in ovarian cancer a discovery that is fundamentally changing how scientitsts understand why this disease keeps coming back. 🔬 We get into why ovarian cancer is called the silent killer, why treatment hasn't changed in over 30 years, and what it actually means that this cancer starts in the fallopian tube something we only discovered a decade ago. ⚡ Dr. Bilandzic breaks down her landmark leader cell research…
1 hr
The Politics of the Hungry Woman
🏛️ Journey from ancient Venus figurines to futuristic GLP-1 prescriptions as this episode uncovers the long story of how women have been praised for shrinking themselves, eating less, and calling it virtue. 🔍 We chart the recurring pattern: every time women gain political ground, a new beauty ideal emerges to shrink them back. From suffrage and the flapper craze, to second wave feminism and Twiggy, to third wave and heroin chic, and now the most educated generation of women facing a resurgence of extreme thinness. 📊 The numbers nobody puts next to each other: what the 1,200-calorie diet sits…
56 min
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals & Women's Health
🎙️ In this episode, I unpack what Professor Philippe Grandjean at Harvard describes as a chemical pandemic and reveal how the very system meant to shield us is missing the hidden toll women are bearing in their bodies today. ⚡Continuing from this, we journey through the world of EDCs, pesticides, flame retardants, forever chemicals, phthalates, microplastics, and synthetic textiles, exploring what the latest research reveals about their effects on fertility, endometriosis, PCOS, pregnancy outcomes, and the next generation of daughters. 🧬 Building on these findings, I dive into the molecular…
1 hr 15 min
Magnesium: The Deficiency Nobody Is Diagnosing
🎙️ Magnesium is involved in over 600 enzymatic reactions in the body and yet roughly half of all women aren't getting enough of it. This episode covers where magnesium comes from, why modern diets and farming practices have left us depleted, and why the standard blood test your doctor orders is almost certainly missing the full picture. 🧬 We break down what magnesium actually does inside the body: how it unlocks ATP energy production, regulates the nervous system, activates vitamin D, supports estrogen clearance through the COMT enzyme, and sits at the centre of sleep, blood sugar, thyroid…
1 hr 15 min
Adenomyosis: The Most Common Condition You've Never Heard Of
🎙️ In this solo episode I'm breaking down one of the most underdiagnosed, under-researched conditions in women's health a disease affecting roughly 1 in 5 women globally that takes an average of 11 years to diagnose, has no dedicated pharmaceutical treatment, and until recently could only be confirmed by removing the uterus entirely. 🔬 I get into the full pathophysiology what's actually happening in the muscle wall of your uterus, how localized hyperestrogenism drives the disease from the inside, and why your blood results can look completely normal while you're in excruciating pain. ⚡ We…
56 min
Navigating The Modern Medical System
🎙️ In this solo episode I'm reflecting on the side of medicine most women know too well and why so many of us keep falling through the cracks. 🔬 I break down medical paternalism, how it's baked into the system, and why the profession actively attracts and rewards a god complex that costs women their health, their autonomy, and their money. ⚡ We get into the patriarchy's role in medicine, from the origin of the word "hysteria" to why your physical symptoms keep getting rerouted into anxiety diagnoses and the very real economic toll that takes on women. 📋 I also share ten practical strategies…
1 hr 38 min
The Science of Somatics: How Trauma Lives in the Body with Irene Lyon
Irene Lyon is a master somatic practitioner and nervous system educator who has spent over two decades studying the intersection of trauma, movement, and physiology 🧠✨ She holds a Master's degree in Biomedical and Health Science, is a certified Feldenkrais practitioner, a Somatic Experiencing practitioner, and one of the first people in the world to bring nervous system and trauma healing education online reaching over 27,000 people across 90+ countries since 2012. Irene's approach blends three powerful modalities Somatic Experiencing, the Feldenkrais Method, and developmental trauma work…
1 hr 19 min
Your Symptoms Are Not Anxiety: Women, Heart Disease & the Future of Digital Health with Dr. Ami Bhatt
🫀 In this episode I'm joined by Dr. Ami Bhatt , a board-certified cardiologist, Chief Innovation Officer at the American College of Cardiology, and Chair of the FDA's National Digital Health Strategy a woman quite literally reshaping how modern medicine works. 📊 We explore why heart disease is the number one killer of women, why so many cases are missed, and how women's symptoms have been historically dismissed, misread, or attributed to anxiety rather than taken seriously. 💊 Dr. Bhatt unpacks how hormonal shifts across perimenopause change cardiovascular risk, what stress and chronic…
1 hr 10 min
Midwifery, Birth & Maternal Care with Dr Melanie Jackson
🤰 In this episode I’m joined by Dr Melanie Jackson , a midwife and researcher who transitioned from naturopathy into midwifery to better support women through pregnancy and birth. 🧬 We explore the physiology of labour and birth, including the role of oxytocin, the Ferguson reflex, and how the body is biologically designed to bring babies into the world when supported rather than over-managed. 🏡 We also discuss the differences between hospital birth, home birth with a registered midwife, and free birth, alongside the research gaps and controversies surrounding these approaches. 💧 Dr Jackson…
40 min
GLP-1s & PCOS: What The Research Actually Shows
🧬 In this solo episode I unpack the growing hype around GLP-1 medications and PCOS, and why research headlines don’t always translate to real women’s bodies. 📊 I explain what the evidence actually shows, including reliable improvements in insulin sensitivity and androgen markers, alongside mixed and inconsistent findings for cycle regularity, ovulation, fertility outcomes, and ovarian structure. ⚖️ We look at the limitations of current research, most studies are short term and conducted in women who are overweight or obese, and why weight loss and metabolic improvements appear to drive many…
1 hr 9 min
IVF & Modern Fertility With Dr Rebecca Mackenzie-Proctor
👩‍⚕️ Today I’m joined by Dr Rebecca Mackenzie-Proctor , Fertility Specialist and Gynaecologist at Stellar Fertility in Melbourne and newly appointed lecturer at University of New South Wales. With over a decade of experience and subspecialist training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, she brings scientific rigour together with a deeply patient centred approach to care. 🧬 We explore IVF and modern fertility treatment, including navigating complex diagnoses, understanding treatment pathways, and what patients can expect when pursuing assisted reproductive technologies. 🌿 We also…
49 min
Why Are Young Women Getting Breast Cancer?
🎗️ In this episode lets examine the rising incidence of breast cancer in women under 40, a topic that resonates personally due to my family history, including my mother’s diagnosis and multiple relatives affected. 📊 We cover incidence and mortality trends, then systematically unpack core risk factors including genetics (BRCA1/BRCA2 and other high penetrance genes), family history, reproductive and hormonal influences, oral contraceptive use, and established lifestyle contributors. 🧬 We discuss the benefits, limitations, and considerations of screening modalities, including mammography,…
1 hr 1 min
Intimacy Post Partum With Juliet Allen
🤍 In this episode we talk honestly about postpartum intimacy, what happens to your body, your hormones, and your libido after birth, and why so many women feel disconnected from sex but rarely hear that this is completely normal. 🧠 I’m joined by Juliet Allen, a global leading sexologist who works with women and couples to rebuild trust, pleasure, and communication after major life transitions like pregnancy and motherhood. 🌿 Together we explore the physical and emotional shifts that shape intimacy after birth, including healing timelines, body image, identity changes, relationship dynamics,…
40 min
Why I Stopped Being Vegan
In this episode I share the real story of why I stopped being vegan after years of believing it was the healthiest and most ethical way to eat. I talk about what shifted when my health started to fall apart, including fatigue, brain fog, low B12, iron deficiency, and cycle changes, even though I was eating well and doing everything “right.” We unpack why some women struggle on long term vegan diets, the limits of supplementation, and why listening to your body sometimes means letting go of an identity. I also reflect on how working in agriculture and revisiting nutrition science changed my…

About The Arc Woman Podcast

The Arc Woman Podcast is a English health podcast from Arc Woman. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Arc Woman
Language: English
Category: Health
Typical length: 1 hr 1 min
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1802086910
Rights: Arc Woman

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