Under the Hood
49 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 134 ratingsUnder the Hood is pulling back the curtain and unpacking the mystery around womanHOOD, sisterHOOD, motherHOOD. Join Patti, Aleks, and Chelsea as they take a deep dive into the topics you wish you knew more about, the topics you want to share with your daughters, and the things you want the men in your life to know.
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Episodes
Parenting Under Quarantine
May 26, 2020 11:00 - 39 minutes - 31.6 MBRainbow Rosenbloom is a Waldorf educator and the founder of Live Education!, where he consults on and creates engaging curriculum for children of all ages. Listen in as he and Midwife Aleks discuss the effects of the pandemic on children and how best to tackle home schooling for those that never considered it an option.
Birth in the Time of Covid-19
May 01, 2020 11:00 - 35 minutes - 28.2 MBWe're back with a special episode to help you navigate pregnancy, labor, and postpartum in the middle of the current pandemic. Midwife Aleks and Executive Producer Chelsea weigh in on changing birth plans and how to care for yourself and your growing family during uncertain times; From food and nutrition tips, to ways to de-stress ahead of labor, we're here to help all of you mamas and soon to be mamas deal with the unknowns and changing situation of the current pandemic.
A Lookback at Under the Hood Season 2
January 10, 2020 14:00 - 49 minutes - 90.2 MBFrom pelvic floor health to the mythology of birth stories to abortion doulas, we covered a whole gamut of topics in season 2. Listen in as the Under the Hood team discusses the highlights and stories behind the episodes and what lays ahead.
The State of Women's Health
December 12, 2019 14:00 - 48 minutes - 88.6 MBThere is no better guest than Aviva Romm, physician, midwife, herbalist, and author as our final interview of season 2. Listen in as Aleks, Patti, and Aviva discuss the current state of women’s health, where we are headed, and how far we’ve come. Aviva shares special insight into her journey from a young apprenticing midwife to Yale Medical School graduate, in a career that has focused on elevating women and the quality of medical care they recieve.
Postpartum Story: The Fourth Trimester Up Close
December 05, 2019 14:00 - 33 minutes - 62 MBExecutive Producer Chelsea and her husband David share an intimate conversation between them about the months following the birth of their daughter. Our last episode with Kimberly Johnson covered practical steps you can take to plan for a fulfilling postpartum period. In this special story episode, Chelsea and David discuss the ups and down of life in the "fourth trimester", how it unfolded and what they would do differently next time around.
The Fourth Trimester
November 28, 2019 14:00 - 44 minutes - 82.4 MBPostpartum health expert Kimberly Johnson has laid out a system of support to help new mothers take care of themselves following birth. Under the Hood's Patti and Aleks spoke to her at a live event at Hatch in Los Angeles a few months back. From healing your body to deciding who to allow into your space following birth, this conversation touches on every aspect of postpartum life. It is essential listening for anyone embarking on the postpartum journey or anyone interested in how they can su...
Everything You Didn't Know About Your Lymphatic System
November 21, 2019 14:00 - 40 minutes - 73.5 MBLymphedema Therapist Lisa Levitt Gainsley describes the body's Lymphatic System as the great recycling system, helping to clean out the waste product that gets accumulated in your body's tissue. Lymphatic massage, whether done by a therapist or by yourself can help you boost your immune system, reduce bloating and swelling in the body, and promote general healing and rejuvenation. Patti and Aleks take a deep dive into the Lymphatic System with Lisa, who talks about what led her down this pat...
Birth as a Rite of Passage
November 14, 2019 14:00 - 45 minutes - 84.1 MBThe process of giving birth, with its challenges and joys, can be compared to a microcosm of life itself. In this episode with Dr. Britta Bushnell, Patti and Aleks discuss the idea of birth as a rite of passage for those on the journey to becoming mothers. Dr. Bushnell dives into the thoughts and inspiration behind her upcoming book Transformed by Birth: Cultivating Openness, Resilience, and Strength for the Life-Changing Journey from Pregnancy to Parenthood.
Katya Mosely: Acupuncture and Pregnancy
November 07, 2019 14:00 - 25 minutes - 45.9 MBHow does Chinese medicine and acupuncture view and treat the pregnant body? We are back with part II of our conversation with Spirit Gate Acupuncture and Wellness founder Katya Mosely, who this week sheds light on the energetic imbalances that can arise in pregnancy and what you can do to treat them. She also discusses the effects of energy depletion both during pregnancy and in life and how acupuncture and other methods of self care can restore your health and vibrancy.
Katya Mosely: Loss & Motherhood
October 31, 2019 13:00 - 37 minutes - 68.1 MBFounder of Spirit Gate Acupuncture and Wellness, Katya Mosely has built her career on caring for the body and spirit of mothers during all stages of pregnancy. In this episode, she shares her own personal story about pregnancy loss and how it has enabled her to treat women going through similar circumstances. She also shares tips for how to take care yourself or a loved one who may have experienced a pregnancy loss.
Nutrition During Pregnancy: A Midwife’s Perspective
October 24, 2019 13:00 - 52 minutes - 96.6 MBListen in as our very own host, Midwife Aleksandra Evanguelidi, talks about what you should be eating during pregnancy. From proteins to fats to raw food and alcohol, Aleks breaks down what the standard guidelines say and how your body will ultimately tell you what it needs. To connect with Aleks visit https://www.aleksevanguelidi.com/ or @thevitalwoman on instagram.
The Power of Storytelling
October 17, 2019 13:00 - 32 minutes - 60.1 MBDocumentary filmmaker Clancy McCarty has traveled around the world on behalf of Every Mother Counts, and organization working to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for women everywhere. Listen in to hear about the women she's encountered through her work, what she's learned and how it all led her down her current path as a student midwife.
Abortion Stories: Anonymous, Mother of 1
October 11, 2019 13:00 - 24 minutes - 45.6 MBSo often, abortions are spoken about in the context of “unwanted” pregnancies. In this episode, our storyteller terminated a very much wanted pregnancy after receiving devastating test results. This is our 5th and final episode in our abortion story series as part of our Radical Empathy Campaign.
Abortion Stories: Solange, Age 23, Abortion Access Activist
October 10, 2019 13:00 - 20 minutes - 37.7 MBSolange, who experienced an unwanted pregnancy while studying, was directed to mental health services rather than an appropriate abortion provider. She discusses how stigma results in subpar health care for women, especially when it comes to abortion. This is episode 4 in our abortion story series as part of our Radical Empathy Campaign.
Abortion Stories: Catalina, Age 30
October 09, 2019 13:00 - 21 minutes - 39.3 MBDespite living in NYC and making a comfortable living, Catalina still struggled with the process of finding a compassionate abortion provider. This is episode 3 in our abortion story series as part of our Radical Empathy Campaign.
Abortion Stories: Aleks, Midwife & Mother of 1
October 08, 2019 13:00 - 20 minutes - 36.7 MBUnder The Hood Co-Host Aleks tells the story of an unwanted pregnancy in her early 20’s that challenged her long-held pro-life beliefs. This is episode 2 in our abortion story series as part of our Radical Empathy Campaign.
Abortion Stories: Terri, Age 56
October 07, 2019 13:00 - 21 minutes - 39.1 MBTerri was 15 when she chose to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. Listen in as she shares her story for the very first time in Episode 1 of our abortion story series as part of our Radical Empathy Campaign.
Introducing: Abortion Stories
October 04, 2019 13:00 - 4 minutes - 7.78 MBWe are introducing a special series here on Under The Hood. Next week, we will be publishing 5 episodes, each of a woman telling the story of her abortion. Listen in as EP Chelsea explains the motivation behind this series and UTH's new Radical Empathy Campaign.
Radical Empathy
October 03, 2019 13:00 - 37 minutes - 69.1 MBUTH sits down with Molly Gaebe, an abortion doula and abortion access activist. She talks about her work assisting women through the abortion process and explains how a little empathy can go a long way.
Aleks on The World Needs a Witch
September 26, 2019 15:13 - 33 minutes - 62.2 MBListen in as Under The Hood co-host Aleks makes a guest appearance on The World Needs a Witch, a podcast about mysticism, activism and how wild women can push equality and empowerment by exploring witchcraft in the past and present and across cultures.
Thom Knoles II: Mothers Elevating Consciousness
August 29, 2019 13:00 - 40 minutes - 73.9 MBHow can women have a self-empowering birth experience? Vedic Meditation master Thom Knoles discussed empowerment around the birth and labor and explains the importance of mothers in raising global consciousness.
Thom Knoles Part I: Stress and Pregnancy
August 22, 2019 13:00 - 29 minutes - 53.5 MBVedic meditation master Thom Knoles discusses stress, ways to combat it, and the effect that it can have during pregnancy. Whether you are a mother, pregnant, or neither, you will find something in this conversation that you can relate to.
Motherhood and Identity
August 15, 2019 13:00 - 44 minutes - 81.7 MBHow does becoming a mother change your identity? How can you deal with the guilt that can arise when making space for yourself after childbirth? Listen in as Marriage and Family Therapist Jaimi Brooks, along with Under the Hood’s executive producer Chelsea Levy, tackle these questions and more.
Pelvic Floor Breathing Exercise
August 12, 2019 13:00 - 4 minutes - 9.1 MBListen in as Heather guides you in identifying the muscles surrounding your pelvic floor and how to synchronize your breath.
All About the Pelvic Floor
August 08, 2019 13:00 - 39 minutes - 71.5 MBHave you ever sneezed, laughed too hard, or jumped on a trampoline and had a bit of pee come out? Guess what: It’s all related to your pelvic floor. Thankfully Patti and Aleks sat down this week with Heather Jeffcoat, a Doctor of Physical Therapy specializing in the pelvic floor and all of its possible dysfunctions, both related and unrelated to labor and childbirth. Post childbirth flat butt? We cover that too. Dive in and hear everything you never knew about the very important pelvic floor.
The Indomitable Ricki Lake
August 01, 2019 13:00 - 39 minutes - 72.9 MBPatti and Aleks are sitting down with our favorite advocate for choice, Ricki Lake. You may know Lake from her years as a television host, but her truest passion and calling for the last decade has been as a curious advocate for women’s reproductive health. Lake is unafraid to question, investigate, and most importantly, tell the truth. In this episode, you’ll hear what inspires her, what she hopes her legacy will be, and what she wants every woman to know. This one is not to be missed!
The Smart Tampon
July 25, 2019 13:00 - 33 minutes - 61 MBThis week we are speaking with Ridhi Tariyal, a scientist, innovator, and crusader for women’s health. The company she co founded, Nextgen Jane, created the Smart Tampon, a device that will assist in collecting data in order to earlier diagnose women’s health issues. In addition to tackling period blood and the stigma surrounding it, Ridhi sheds light on the challenges of leading a startup as a woman.
The Case for Birth Workers
July 18, 2019 13:00 - 34 minutes - 64.1 MBThis week, we are speaking to Katy Kozhimannil an expert in public health policy and its impact on pregnancy and childbirth. She has advocated tirelessly on behalf of birth workers to ensure that their services are available to pregnant women everywhere, especially in underserved communities where we see the highest rates of infant and maternal mortality. Listen as Aleks (a midwife) and Patti (a birth doula) discuss with Katy the importance of her work as a voice and advocate for birthing pe...
WMN Gather!
July 11, 2019 13:00 - 38 minutes - 70.3 MBWe’re back! And what better way to launch our second season than with the lovely Paula Mallis, founder of WMN Space - a conscious space for women to gather in service to their own healing. Hosts Patti and Aleks dig into the power created when women gather together and share their life experiences. From the history of women’s circles to the importance of sharing your birth story, even if it includes trauma and loss, the overarching theme of this episode is the essential nature of community.
Rosé Roundtable - On The Fence
June 25, 2019 23:56 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBOur roundtable is back for a chat about what it means to be 'on the fence' in choosing whether or not to have a child. Many of us are waiting longer and longer before starting our families, which in some ways makes the decision even more loaded. In this episode our roundtable unpacks the fear, hesitation, and transition into motherhood.
Rosé Roundtable - The Sex Ed Edition
May 12, 2019 17:07 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBBONUS! This is our first installment of a new series on Under the Hood that we're calling the Rosé Roundtable. We're taking the topics we've covered on UTH and bringing them to real women to hear about their personal experiences in womanHood. In this episode we're highlighting what we did, and more likely didn't learn in sex ed during our formative years, and how it shaped our understanding of sex and sexuality for many years after.
A Look Back At Under The Hood Season 1
January 08, 2019 21:15 - 1 hour - 61.6 MBWe did it! Season One of Under the Hood is complete. We're taking a quick break to celebrate and of course tape new episodes for Season Two. But we wanted to share this look back at Season One that we taped after an year-end dinner. And wine was definitely involved.
Like A Mother: Angela Garbes
December 19, 2018 08:00 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MBThis week Patti and Aleks are getting reverently irreverent in a special LIVE recording with Angela Garbes, author of the must read book "Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy." This conversation touches on everything from pregnancy and placentas to loss and body image, as well as the systems that have been working hard to keep us in the dark.
The Myth of Control
December 12, 2018 08:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBDr. Britta Bushnell holds a doctorate in mythological studies and studies the ways we wrap ourselves in stories and myth to understand who we are. She is a storyteller, a listener, and a communication guide, and she applies these skills in her work as an award winning childbirth educator. How we navigate the transition to parenthood says A LOT about how we as a whole honor this rite of passage, how we value the female experience, and what stories and myths we have believed about our own bod...
Don't Bleep Birth!
December 05, 2018 08:00 - 41 minutes - 37.6 MBG-strings. Guts and gore. A patient cut open on an operating table. All were acceptable in the eyes of Instagram, Facebook, and their millions of users, but images of birth? Not allowed. Too "unpleasant." Katie Vigos was brave enough to ask, WHY? When she recognized this double standard on Instagram, she set out to change the rules. Katie successfully petitioned the powers that be at Instagram and Facebook to STOP censoring photos and videos of birth and allow them to be shown for exactly wh...
Closing The Pleasure Gap
November 28, 2018 08:00 - 58 minutes - 54 MBPatti and Aleks sit down with CEO and Co-Founder of Dame Products, Alex Fine, to talk about the relationship between meditation and masturbation, packaged sexuality, and what presence in our own experience of pleasure can do for us. It's more than you think.
Ask the Midwife: Conception Control
November 21, 2018 08:00 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBPatti and Chelsea sit down with Aleks to get a midwife's perspective on some of the topics we've been taking Under the Hood. We're talking "conception control" options, what kinds of contraception we've all tried, and the power of knowing how your body works.
Man-Doula
November 14, 2018 08:00 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBWe're sitting down with the Dude-la himself, Dr. Elliot Berlin and talking about more than just cracking backs. Dr. Berlin has made a name for himself here in LA as the go-to chiropractor for pregnant women. He's been known to help flip a baby or two and his unconventional methods will have you wondering why this is not a standard of care for every woman, pregnant or not.
Something biological happened... Mary Beth's story
November 09, 2018 09:12 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBIn the second of our Story Episodes, we sat down with Mary Beth LaRue to talk about the unplanned, but beautiful outcome, of her struggle with infertility. She reminds us all that there are many paths to motherhood and that even if we don’t birth our babies, they birth us in exactly the ways we need to grow.
Conscious Conception
October 31, 2018 07:30 - 49 minutes - 45.6 MBWhat does it mean to “feed your fertility?” And how exactly does acupuncture and Chinese Medicine relate to getting pregnant? This week we sat down with the ever grounded Laura Erlich, founder and clinic director of Mother Nurture Wellness to talk about what it means to consciously conceive and all the things we can, and should do, before even trying to make a baby. For more about Laura go to Mother Nurture Wellness
Puberty Party
October 24, 2018 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBWhat would the world look like if we taught girls about how their bodies work from a young age? Celebrated their transition from girlhood into womanhood? And gave them an actual sex education? Could we fix the fear, shame, and misunderstanding before it was broken? In this week's episode we sat down with Nat Kringoudis to talk about what's happening in puberty and how we can support and educate our girls as they step into their womanhood, embracing their bodies and empowering them with knowl...
The Fifth Vital Sign
September 19, 2018 07:00 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBWhat you should know about your hormonal cycle, why it should be considered a fifth vital sign, and the implications of teaching women and girls not to trust their bodies. This week we’re talking with Kelsey Knight and Emily Varnam, founders of The Fifth Vital Sign, an organization they created to help educate anyone with a uterus on their bodies, and the importance of cultivating an awareness of their hormonal health. For a full transcript and more information about this episode check out...
VAGINA!
September 12, 2018 07:00 - 47 minutes - 44 MBDr. Carrie Jones is functional medicine women's health and hormone doctor who talks with us this week about basic vaginal health, the anatomy of the vagina, the relationship between our gut and our vagina, endocrine disruptors and hormone testing. For a full transcript and more about Dr. Carrie Jones, visit our website at https://www.underthehoodpodcast.com
"Why are we doing this? She could have pushed." Desiree's Story
September 05, 2018 07:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBThis is the story of Desiree. She is 34 weeks pregnant and every day she doesn't give birth is a risk. Desiree has placenta percreta, a life-threatening condition where her placenta has grown through her uterus, threatening other organs. Join us for a journey filled with laughter, tears and extraordinary willpower. For more information on this condition as well as a full transcript of the episode, please visit our website: https://www.underthehoodpodcast.com/
#ListentoBlackWomen
August 29, 2018 07:00 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBBlack mothers in the U.S. die at three to four times the rate of white mothers. Kim Durdin is fighting to change that. She is the co-founder of the non-profit Birthing People Foundation which trains doulas and midwives of color. And this week, she was willing to take the time to tell Patti and Aleks about the historical context behind the current crisis in maternal and infant health among people of color, as well as other marginalized groups. This is a must listen for all of us. For full t...
The Pill, Part Two
August 22, 2018 07:00 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBWe continue our conversation with Holly Grigg-Spall, author of Sweetening The Pill: Or How We Got Hooked on Hormonal Birth Control. In this episode we’re diving in a bit deeper to talk about the “Pro Period Movement”, moon cycle circles, and conforming to the male mold in, well, everything. We talked with Holly for quite a while, but were giving you the ‘best from the rest’ in Part 2 of The Pill. Check out more show notes at https://www.underthehoodpodcast.com/
The Pill, Part One
August 15, 2018 07:00 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBShrinking ovaries, “withdrawal bleeds” instead of periods, and all the symptoms and side effects your doctor never told you about hormonal birth control. Patti and Aleks dive in deep with Holly Grigg-Spall, author of Sweetening The Pill: Or How We Got Hooked on Hormonal Birth Control. In Part 1 of this conversation they talk about the history of hormonal birth control, why as many as 80% of women will take hormonal birth control at some point in their lives, and the stinging anger we all fe...
The Big O
August 08, 2018 13:13 - 43 minutes - 40.3 MBOrgasms, your clitoris and the other things that you didn't hear about in sex ed class. Patti and Aleks have a no-holds barred conversation with Emma Koenig, author of Moan: Anonymous Essays on Female Orgasm and Jessie Barr, director of the upcoming movie Sophie Jones. They discuss the perils and pleasures of female sexuality, when sex-ed should begin and why the feeling of shame about sex is so hard to shake. For show notes and a transcript of this episode go to https://www.underthehoo...
Let's Go
July 14, 2018 16:52 - 2 minutes - 3.44 MBUnder the Hood is pulling back the curtain and unpacking the mystery around womanHOOD, sisterHOOD, motherHOOD. Join Patti and Aleks as they take a deep dive into the topics you wish you knew more about, the topics you want to share with your daughters, and the things you want the men in your life to know.