Hormonal artwork

Hormonal

20 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 324 ratings

Hormones affect everyone and everything: from our skin, to stress, to sports. But for most of us, they're still a mystery. Even the way we talk about hormones makes no sense. ("She's hormonal.")

So let's clear some things up. Each week, Rhea Ramjohn is asking scientists, doctors, and experts to break it all down for us. And this season? We're talking about birth control.

Season 2 launches Oct 13 with eight weekly episodes.

Sexuality Health & Fitness Science birthcontrol hormonalhealth hormones menstrualhealth menstruation periodhealth queerhealth womenshealth
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Episodes

Who you gonna call? Mythbusters!

December 01, 2020 05:00 - 35 minutes - 66 MB

This season on Hormonal we’ve learned a lot about birth control. From the origin of the pill, to how side effects can be beneficial, to the history and future of Reproductive Justice. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t more to learn, especially when it comes to those pesky myths that just never seem to completely disappear.  This week on the Hormonal podcast, we are assembling a super squad of science-backed Mythbusters. They’re ready to tackle questions from real users like you.  On...

Risky business: Birth Control during COVID-19

November 24, 2020 05:00 - 34 minutes - 78.5 MB

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended healthcare systems around the world, especially reproductive healthcare. People who relied on face-to-face visits with their doctor or timely appointments are now facing cancellations and rescheduling. And those who had employer-based care in countries that have limited alternatives, like the United States, are now asking themselves, “What now?” We wanted to know more about how COVID-19, as well as the pandemic and recession associated with it, are influen...

Bringing sexy back

November 17, 2020 05:00 - 35 minutes - 81.1 MB

Nothing quite brings your fertility front and center like a pregnancy. Whether a pregnancy ends in a baby or not, it causes big changes to your body. Hormonal changes, like an increase in estrogen and prolactin, can cause or are directly related to physical changes, such as breast and milk duct growth.  What do people who’ve just had a pregnancy, need to know about their birth control options afterwards?  To discuss this, we’re joined by two midwives: Imogen Raye Minton is a home birth m...

Happy Birthday, birth control!

November 10, 2020 05:00 - 41 minutes - 94.7 MB

The birth control pill, which many of us just call "the pill," officially turns 60 years old this year. Instead of just breaking out the cake and candles, we’re telling you the story of the pill. Where did this remarkable invention even come from? And what doors did it open up for our parents and grandparents?  Additionally, when considering the history of remarkable inventions, how do we address the harm that was done along the way? “College jobs, families, sex. So much came from the pi...

Reproductive choice & reproductive justice

November 03, 2020 05:00 - 35 minutes - 80.9 MB

Inequality is all around us and manifests in tricky ways. When it comes to healthcare in particular, for many of us, reproductive care is a large part of how we interact with the healthcare system.  So how do systems of oppression such as racism, ableism, sexism, and so many more, make it harder for some of us to access reproductive care?  To talk about this, we’re going to explore the theory of reproductive justice. And who better to explain it than Dr. Loretta Ross. She’s a professor a...

The many sides of side effects

October 27, 2020 05:00 - 32 minutes - 59.3 MB

Most people take birth control because they want to avoid getting pregnant. As many of us find out after starting the pill, the shot or getting a device inserted, avoiding pregnancy is not all that happens! There are other shifts in the body that take place when you try something new.  How to view these side effects is in the eye of the beholder. Some birth control types stop your periods entirely, which might be a relief for some white-jeans wearers, but for others no period could feel le...

The ABC: Abortion & Birth Control

October 20, 2020 04:00 - 34 minutes - 63.6 MB

You probably know and love someone who’s had an abortion, or maybe you’ve had one yourself. Despite the fact that one in four people capable of getting pregnant will have a termination in their lifetime, finding accurate information about abortions is tricky. While terminating a pregnancy is one of the safest medical procedures out there, the political and social stigma remains.  Today we’ll talk about the facts and most commonly asked questions from Clue users around abortion, and discuss...

Hot or not? Birth control & sex drive

October 13, 2020 04:00 - 25 minutes - 46.2 MB

A big reason why a lot of people start taking hormonal birth control is simple: they’re having sex, and they don't want to risk a pregnancy. But, this isn't true for everyone. Preventing a potential pregnancy is not the only thing that happens when you take a pill, get a device inserted, or get a shot. As your body adjusts to a new method, lots of things can happen, and that can affect how you feel: Sexier or less sexy, more adventurous or less, hotter or maybe less attractive.    That’s...

Coming Soon: Hormonal Season 2

September 15, 2020 04:00 - 2 minutes - 2.29 MB

We’ve been hard at work on the latest season of Hormonal, and this time, we’re looking at Birth Control. We’re excited to share this trailer for our new episodes, where we’ll be looking at the science, the side effects, the societal implications, and much more, around birth control.  Hosted by Rhea Ramjohn, the weekly podcast will feature voices from around the birth control universe. Listeners can look forward to practical tips, deep conversations, and enlightening revelations. New episod...

A Sneak Peek at Season 2

August 26, 2020 11:51 - 5 minutes - 4.39 MB

As we work hard on Season 2 of the Hormonal podcast, we’re dropping into your feed with a special request, and a small behind the scenes interview with your host, Rhea Ramjohn. While you’re waiting, check out past episodes of the podcast at helloclue.com/hormonal. And, to find out how to support our work at Clue, go to Clue.Plus. 

We Are All Hormonal

November 19, 2019 04:00 - 26 minutes - 22 MB

Everyone has hormones. But for some reason only one gender is seen as the “hormonal” one. How can we reclaim this term? And how can we explore the powers of our hormones—not just the burdens?   For more we’re joined now by Martie Haselton, the author of “Hormonal: The Hidden Intelligence of Hormones.” She’s also a professor of psychology at UCLA. Her book makes the argument that the more we know about our hormones, the more we can harness their evolutionary intelligence to aid our modern...

How Food Affects PMS

November 12, 2019 02:00 - 22 minutes - 18 MB

Most of us appreciate the work that food does to nourish our bodies. On a macro level, things like proteins help repair muscles and carbohydrates give us energy. But micronutrients, things like vitamins and minerals, are really important to paving the way for hormones to do their jobs. And research suggests that proper nutrition is especially important for periods of big hormonal shifts — such as PMS.    For more on this research, we're joined by Liz Bertone-Johnson. She's a professor of...

How Pollutants Influence Our Hormones

November 05, 2019 04:00 - 28 minutes - 24.1 MB

Your endocrine system relies on balance. An increase or a drop in one hormone can trigger a drop or rise in another. So changes in your environment, like air or water quality, can affect your hormones, and how you feel during different parts of your cycle.    And the changes to your hormones can be even more consequential during critical growth periods — like when a fetus is developing and during puberty.    To discuss this topic and more, we’re joined today by Dr. Shruthi Mahalingai...

Acne isn’t just for teens

October 29, 2019 03:00 - 23 minutes - 20.3 MB

Many of the effects that hormones have on the body are internal. But there’s definitely one way that fluctuating hormones are visible to us: acne.    If you’re someone who’s had a few periods already, you probably know when you’re most likely to break out. Or, alternatively, when your hormones are most likely to help your skin look it’s healthiest. But when it comes to skin appearance, there are quite a few factors to keep in mind about what’s under our control—and what’s under the influ...

Acne Isn’t Just For Teens

October 29, 2019 03:00 - 23 minutes - 20.3 MB

Many of the effects that hormones have on the body are internal. But there’s definitely one way that fluctuating hormones are visible to us: acne.    If you’re someone who’s had a few periods already, you probably know when you’re most likely to break out. Or, alternatively, when your hormones are most likely to help your skin look it’s healthiest. But when it comes to skin appearance, there are quite a few factors to keep in mind about what’s under our control—and what’s under the influ...

Hothouse Orchids and Dandelions

October 22, 2019 01:00 - 26 minutes - 22 MB

In 1982, Jane Fonda put out her first exercise video. That VHS tape helped spark an exercise craze. But the exercise craze also made a lot of people suddenly lose their periods. Doctors were confused. Was this a temporary reaction due to all the exercise? Was this forever? Were these women still fertile?    Our guest today, Virginia Vitzthum, decided to dig in and research these exact questions. Dr. Vitzthum is the head of scientific research at Clue, and a senior scientist at the Kinsey...

What Makes a Woman in Women’s Sports?

October 15, 2019 01:00 - 30 minutes - 23.5 MB

When women first began competing in elite sports, an important question cropped up: who exactly is a woman? Fears that men would simply plop on a wig and a petticoat in order to compete, to the perceived disadvantage of women, arose, and sporting officials began checking the gender of competitor.    What started as so-called “naked parades” has morphed into a pseudoscience of hormone testing, clitoris measuring, and suspicion-based investigating. Like many aspects of gender, these cases ...

PMS Is Real. PMS Isn’t Real.

October 08, 2019 01:00 - 32 minutes - 25.6 MB

Fact: Right before your period, your hormones and body can change. Myth: you’re automatically going to turn into a weepy, emotional, and irrational B*TCH.  So how do the cultural perceptions around Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) change how you experience that time of the month? Turns out, a lot.  For more on this research we’re joined by Jane Ussher. Jane is a professor of women’s health psychology at Western Sydney University. She’s also the author of “The Madness of Women: Myth and Experi...

Grains of Salt: Hormone History in the Modern Age

September 30, 2019 22:15 - 26 minutes - 48.1 MB

Hormones were only discovered about a hundred years ago. But since then, they’ve taken on a lot of significance, both in science and in western culture. Before we find out how hormones affect just about everything, let’s look at the history of these powerful molecules.  Our guest this week is Randi Epstein. She’s a doctor, a medical writer and the author of: “Aroused: The History of Hormones and How They Control Just About Everything.”   For more information on today’s episode visit hell...

Coming Soon: Hormonal

September 02, 2019 15:44 - 2 minutes - 4.69 MB

About Hormonal Hormones affect everyone and everything: from our skin, to stress, to sports. But for most of us, they're still a mystery. Even the way we talk about hormones makes no sense. ("She's hormonal.") So let's clear some things up. Each week, Rhea Ramjohn is asking scientists, doctors, and experts to break it all down for us. A new podcast from Clue. Season 1 launches this fall. About Clue Clue is a period tracking app and menstrual encyclopedia that use data and science...