The Hole Shebang – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Episode Overview

What's the connection between how you eat and how you experience intimacy? In this episode, Kristen sits down with Emily Arthur, a registered dietitian specializing in women's health, to explore the surprising intersections between nutrition, body image, sexual health, and endometriosis.

What You'll Learn

• How disordered eating patterns affect intimacy and sexual expression—not just with partners, but with yourself
• Why people with endometriosis are five times more likely to struggle with disordered eating, and how pain becomes tangled with attempts at control
• What interdisciplinary endometriosis care actually looks like, and why it's so effective (yet so rare in Canada)
• The spectrum of eating behaviors—from intuitive eating to eating disorders, and all the messy stuff in between
• How cultural expectations around gender literally shape what we put on our plates and how we relate to our bodies
• Practical approaches to addressing nutrition in pelvic health without falling into restrictive diet culture

About Emily Arthur, RD

Emily Arthur is a registered dietitian who specializes in nutrition for women's health "from first period to last period and everything in between." She completed a graduate certificate in sexual health education and has specialized training in endometriosis and pelvic health. Emily is part of the Endometriosis 360 interdisciplinary team, which provides comprehensive group programming combining nutrition, physiotherapy, and psychology for people with endometriosis. She also provides one-on-one nutrition counseling through Brandt Nutrition and is actively involved in endometriosis research.

Key Topics Covered

Disordered eating and its impact on intimacy | Endometriosis and nutrition | Body image and sexual health | Gender expectations and food | Intuitive eating | Interdisciplinary pelvic health care | The Endometriosis 360 program

Connect with Emily

Instagram: @emilytheperiodrd
Website: emilytheperiodrd.ca

Resources

Visit blueberrytherapy.ca to learn more about pelvic health physiotherapy and comprehensive care.

Subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Connect with The Hole Shebang on Instagram @blueberrytherapypelvichealth

Episode Overview: What if perimenopause wasn't the end of your sex life—but the beginning of something completely new? In this honest, educational conversation, Kristen sits down with psychotherapist and sex therapist Taylor McConnachie to talk about what's really happening to your body, your desire, and your voice during perimenopause.

What You'll Learn:

• Why perimenopause can be a "sexual debut"—a chance to completely transform how you experience pleasure
• How the non-linear model of sexual response explains why your desire has changed (and why you're not broken)
• What pleasure mapping is and how to rediscover what feels good in your changing body
• Why that "bullshit meter" you're suddenly feeling is actually a gift—and how to use it
• The role of differentiation in maintaining sexual connection while honouring your individual experience
• Practical tools like lube, sex toys, and new ways of communicating about sex

About Taylor McConnachie: Taylor McConnachie is a registered psychotherapist, AASECT-certified sex therapist, and certified sexologist. She's the founder of Embodied Sexual Wellness and Psychotherapy, with a physical practice in Simcoe, Ontario, supporting people across the province with sex therapy, pelvic pain support, and sexual wellness education. Taylor's own experience with endometriosis and sexual pain drives her passion for creating safe, shame-free spaces to talk about sex and sexuality.

Key Topics Covered:

• Sexual pain and pelvic health during perimenopause
• Medical gaslighting and being told "you're too young" for perimenopause
• Body changes, weight gain, and shifting self-image
• Vaginal dryness and arousal changes
• Finding your voice and setting boundaries during midlife
• The connection between caregiving roles and sexual desire

Connect with Taylor: Instagram: @embodiedsexualwellness Website: embodiedsexualwellness.com

Resources Mentioned:

• Climax Conference (Ottawa, November)
• Non-linear model of sexual response

Visit blueberrytherapy.ca to learn more about pelvic health support in Hamilton, Ontario.

Subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Connect with The Hole Shebang on Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth

What if everything you thought you knew about relationships was just... one option? Join Kristen as she sits down with Dr. Rachael Meir, a clinical psychologist who's been helping people navigate the beautiful complexity of ethical non-monogamy for over two decades. From her own journey into a polyamorous triad to the nitty-gritty of managing three people's deodorant preferences, Dr. Meir breaks down the real talk about love beyond the traditional box.

This isn't your typical relationship advice—it's a deep dive into how radical honesty, intentional communication, and knowing your "why" can transform not just your love life, but how you show up in your body and the world.

What You'll Learn

• The difference between ethical non-monogamy and cheating (spoiler: it's all about consent and communication)
• Why traditional monogamous couples could learn a thing or two from polyamorous communication strategies
• How big emotions like jealousy are actually signals worth exploring, not feelings to avoid
• The surprising ways relationship structures can impact your pelvic health and embodiment
• Why "knowing your why" is the most important conversation before opening any relationship
• Real talk about navigating societal judgment, family acceptance, and professional consequences

Episode Highlights

From Fantasy to Reality: Dr. Meir's Personal Journey

Dr. Meir opens up about her 25-year relationship with her husband Aaron and how they transitioned from the swinging lifestyle to forming a closed triad with their partner Casey. She shares the raw truth about moving in together during COVID, dealing with family death, and having "book club" meetings twice a week for two years to navigate their new dynamic.

Communication That Actually Works

Forget "we need to talk" conversations that go nowhere. Dr. Meir breaks down structured relationship check-ins with actual agenda items, action plans, and follow-ups. She explains how this level of intentional communication could revolutionize any relationship—whether you have one partner or five.

The Pelvic Floor Connection You Didn't See Coming

In a fascinating twist, Kristen and Dr. Meir explore how relationship dynamics directly impact pelvic health. From the liberation of consensual choice reducing "duty sex" tension to how unprocessed emotions create physical holding patterns, this conversation bridges the gap between emotional and physical wellbeing.

Navigating the "Zone of Chaos"

Dr. Meir doesn't sugarcoat the challenges. She talks honestly about societal stigma, family rejection, workplace fears, and the reality of living a "double life" for many people in non-monogamous relationships. But she also shares the beauty of finding chosen family and authentic community.

Medical Care in a Monogamous World

From emergency contact forms with only one line to birth certificates and hospital decisions, Dr. Meir reveals the practical legal and medical challenges facing non-monogamous families and the creative solutions they've developed.

Episode Chapters

00:00-10:00: Introduction and Dr. Meir's Background
From clinical psychology to relationship coaching specializing in ethical non-monogamy

10:01-18:30: Defining Ethical Non-Monogamy
The umbrella of options: swinging, open relationships, polyamory, and everything in between

18:31-25:45: Communication Superpowers
How non-monogamous relationships demand next-level communication skills—and why monogamous couples need them too

25:46-32:20: The Practical Stuff Nobody Talks About
Shared calendars, sleeping arrangements, and yes, where the deodorant lives

32:21-38:15: Dr. Meir's Triad Journey
The real story of meeting Casey, moving during COVID, and building a life together

38:16-44:30: Overcoming Barriers and Stigma
Dealing with family reactions, workplace concerns, and societal judgment

44:31-48:45: The Mind-Body Connection
How relationship dynamics impact pelvic health, sexual empowerment, and physical embodiment

48:46-52:00: Know Your Why
The essential first step for anyone considering non-monogamy

52:01-55:30: Resources and Wrapping Up
Books, communities, and next steps for curious listeners

Connect with Dr. Rachael Meir

Website: drrachaelmeir.com
Instagram: @drrachaelmeircoaching
Facebook: @drrachaelmeircoaching
LinkedIn: Dr. Rachael Meir Coaching
YouTube: @drrachaelmeircoaching
Triad Instagram: @triadandtrue

Book: 50 Questions to Ask Before Opening Your Relationship (available for pre-order)

Dr. Meir's Recommended Resources

Essential Reading: Martha Kauppi's Polyamory: A Clinical Toolkit for Therapists and Their Clients—packed with relationship wisdom that applies to any partnership structure

Communities: Search Facebook groups, local meetups, and munches for ethical non-monogamy to connect with like-minded people and learn from diverse experiences

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth
Website: blueberrytherapy.ca

Upcoming Events

The Pleasure Principle Conference
May 8th, 2026
Join us for a groundbreaking event featuring distinguished healthcare professionals exploring the intersection of health, pleasure, and wellbeing.

Dr. Meir's Theme Song

"Be Who You Are" by Michael Franti—because authenticity isn't just a buzzword, it's a way of life.

Ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about love and relationships? This episode isn't just about non-monogamy—it's about the courage to live authentically, communicate with radical honesty, and create the relationships that actually serve you.

Subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast for more conversations that break taboos and change lives.

Join Kristen Parise as she sits down with Jackie Harding, the brilliant entrepreneur behind Ovry—the Canadian company that's revolutionizing pregnancy testing one tiny strip at a time. From peeing on ketone strips to building a business that challenges Big Pregnancy Test's ridiculous markups, Jackie shares her journey of turning personal frustration into a sustainable, accessible solution that's changing how we think about reproductive health products.

• Why that $25 pregnancy test at the pharmacy costs less than 50 cents to make (spoiler: you're being exploited)
• How Jackie discovered that dollar store pregnancy tests are just as accurate as the fancy ones—and why Health Canada approval means what it says
• The game-changing truth about strip format tests: 90% less plastic, multiple tests per box, and no electronic waste
• Why Jackie's blood clotting disorder led to years of anxiety-inducing pharmacy runs (and how that sparked a business idea)
• The surprising science behind male fertility testing and why the burden of infertility shouldn't fall only on women
• Jackie's ambitious vision to transform Ovry into a co-op model—because nobody should be getting rich off tampons (or pregnancy tests)

Jackie opens up about her "strange, non-traditional" journey from business school to tree planting, construction, and mill work before finding her calling in reproductive health. Her diverse background in project management turned out to be the perfect training ground for launching a medical device company.

Living with factor five leiden meant Jackie couldn't take most hormonal birth control, leading to recurring pregnancy anxiety and those mortifying trips to buy overpriced tests while hoping not to run into her boyfriend's mom. Sound familiar? Jackie turned this universal experience into a business opportunity.

The brilliant "aha!" moment when Jackie realized pregnancy tests should work like ketone strips—small, simple, and accessible. She discovered that hospitals and doctors' offices were already using strip format tests, but nobody was marketing them directly to consumers who desperately needed better options.

Jackie exposes the exploitation happening in pharmacy aisles everywhere: Clear Blue and First Response charge $25 for a single test that costs them less than 50 cents to manufacture. They're counting on vulnerable women assuming expensive equals accurate—but that's not how Health Canada approval works.

Learn about Ovry's at-home male fertility test that detects the SP10 protein in sperm to identify potential concentration issues. Jackie explains why this preliminary screening tool is crucial for couples who want to identify potential barriers early, without the stigma and barriers of clinical testing.

The hilarious story of Jackie and her co-founder Christina both getting pregnant around the same time—including the moment Christina gave Jackie an Ovry pregnancy test to announce her pregnancy, not knowing Jackie was already secretly pregnant too. Plus, Jackie's honest take on how motherhood has made her "wildly more productive" in shorter time windows.

Jackie's long-term vision goes way beyond pregnancy tests. She's working toward transforming Ovry into a cooperative model where consumers become owners, ensuring basic reproductive health products are sold at transparent, fair prices rather than exploitative markups.

00:00-05:30: Introduction and Ovry's Mission – Canadian-made reproductive health products that don't exploit women

05:31-12:45: Jackie's Origin Story – From factor five leiden to frustrated pharmacy runs to business breakthrough

12:46-18:20: The Strip Test Revolution – Why smaller, simpler, and multiple-per-box changes everything

18:21-25:15: Exposing Big Pregnancy Test – The shocking truth about markups and marketing manipulation

25:16-32:40: Male Fertility Matters Too – Breaking down the science and stigma around at-home male fertility testing

32:41-38:55: Building Sustainable Business – Manufacturing in Canada, reducing waste, and giving back

38:56-44:20: Motherhood and Entrepreneurship – Navigating babies, business growth, and retail distribution

44:21-49:30: The Co-op Vision – Reimagining how we think about essential health products

49:31-52:15: Simple Songs and Gratitude – Jackie's theme song choice and what keeps her grounded

Website: myovry.ca
Instagram: @myovry
TikTok: @myovry
Email Jackie directly: jackie@myovry.com

Where to find Ovry products:

• Online at myovry.ca
• Shoppers Drug Mart (300+ locations and growing)
• Universities and sexual health clinics across Canada

Special Programs:

• Give a Strip Program: Send unused tests back for redistribution to those who need them
• Educational Discounts: Heavily discounted tests for nonprofits and educational institutions
• Free Program: Up to 200 free tests monthly for qualifying nonprofits

Website: blueberrytherapy.ca
Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth

Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference - May 8th, 2026

"Simple Song" by The Shins – A song about gratitude, appreciating everyday things, and finding sanctuary in home and loved ones. Just like Ovry's mission to simplify the complex experience of having ovaries, Jackie's chosen song reflects her commitment to making reproductive health more accessible, less wasteful, and fundamentally simpler.

This episode will make you question every overpriced pregnancy test you've ever bought and inspire you to support businesses that actually give a damn about women's experiences. Plus, you'll never look at ketone strips the same way again.

Cycle Tracking: How to Read Your Hormones and Trust Your Body

Most of us were never taught how our hormones actually work. We learn to fear our periods, dread PMS and hand our bodily data over to apps that get ovulation right only 20 percent of the time. Cycle tracking with paper and pen flips the script. In this episode, Kristen sits down with Laura Federico, AASECT certified sex therapist and coauthor of The Cycle Book, to talk about what a typical menstrual cycle actually looks like, how tracking can unlock answers for PMDD, PCOS, perimenopause, fertility and trauma recovery, and why turning your gaze inward is a radical act of trust in yourself. Whether you are trying to conceive, questioning if your symptoms are normal or simply want to understand your body better, this conversation is a permission slip to stop dismissing what you already know.

What You Will Learn

Laura walks through the everyday signals most of us were taught to ignore, from cervical fluid shifts to basal body temperature, and explains how these biomarkers decode the hormonal conversation happening in your body every single cycle. You will hear why pain, disruptive mood swings and feeling like a different person at different points in your cycle are not normal, how to recognize PMDD and PME, and why dissociation from the body is a protective response that gentle tracking can help heal. Kristen connects the dots to pelvic floor health, explaining how the estrogen drop in the luteal phase and perimenopause can worsen incontinence and prolapse symptoms that tracking can finally put into context.

Topics Covered

• What a typical menstrual cycle actually looks like and what is not typical
• PMDD, PME and why daily tracking is the key to diagnosis
• Cervical fluid, basal body temperature and reading hormonal biomarkers
• Cycle tracking as a gentle pathway for trauma recovery and dissociation
• PCOS and tracking without a regular cycle
• Why period tracking apps only predict ovulation correctly about 20 percent of the time
• Data privacy concerns with digital period tracking apps
• The pelvic floor, perimenopause and hormonal fluctuations
• Starting with something positive as your first tracking practice

Resources Mentioned

• The Cycle Book by Laura Federico and Morgan Miller, an interactive guide to tracking hormones and knowing your body
• International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD) for PMDD support, resources and a free symptom tracker
• It's Laura and Morgan for cycle tracking workshops, events and regular free virtual sessions

Related Episodes

• Healing the Gut for Hormone Balance with Stephanie Singh
• It's More Complicated: Understanding Hormones with Dr. Stacey Ritz
• The Fertility Factors Nobody Talks About with Dr. Rachel Corradetti-Sargeant
• Perimenopause as Your Sexual Debut with Taylor McConnachie

Theme Song

Work Bitch by Britney Spears

Connect with Laura Federico

Website: laurafedericotherapy.com
Joint site with Morgan: itslauraandmorgan.com
Instagram: @thecyclebook

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Visit blueberrytherapy.ca and subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast. Leave a review wherever you listen, and head to blueberrytherapy.ca/podcast to binge the back catalog. Come hang out on Instagram @blueberrytherapypelvichealth.

Laura and Morgan will be at The Pleasure Principle Conference on May 8, 2026 with copies of The Cycle Book. Details at blueberrytherapy.ca.

Hydrate, Lubricate and Vibrate: Midlife Sexual Wellness for Women

Most women hit midlife and realize nobody handed them the memo on sexual wellness. Pleasure, lubrication, vaginal moisture, vibrators and pelvic floor health got left out of the curriculum entirely. In this episode, Kristen sits down with Cassandra Redding and Leah Fischer, cofounders of Canadian sexual wellness boutique Intimate Wellbeing, to talk about what shifts in midlife, why shame keeps women silent and how their hydrate, lubricate, vibrate trifecta can protect pelvic floor function, circulation and desire long after 50. You will hear why every woman deserves lube regardless of natural lubrication, the real difference between vaginal moisturizer and lubricant, how accessibility products open up pleasure for bodies of every kind and why two to three orgasms a week is a reasonable pelvic floor goal. Whether you are navigating perimenopause, rediscovering intimacy after a life shift or never got the memo, this conversation is your permission slip.

What You Will Learn

Cass and Leah share how a shame filled first vibrator purchase at 47 became the spark for a business built on destigmatizing midlife sexuality. They walk through their trifecta of hydrate, lubricate, vibrate, explain why vaginal moisturizer belongs in your daily routine like face cream and tackle the common misconception that not needing lube is a badge of honor rather than a missed opportunity. Kristen layers in the pelvic health physiotherapy lens, explaining why vibration supports blood flow to erectile tissues, why positioning products open up intimacy for bodies with pain or mobility challenges and why every midlife woman deserves to spend time on a pelvic floor physio's table.

Topics Covered

• What midlife sexual wellness actually looks like and why shame keeps women silent
• The real difference between lubricant and vaginal moisturizer
• The hydrate, lubricate, vibrate trifecta for midlife pelvic health
• Why every woman deserves lube regardless of natural moisture
• How vibration supports pelvic floor blood flow and function
• Accessibility products for intimacy including positioning pillows and depth reducers
• Working with pelvic floor physiotherapists and healthcare providers
• Building a trusted community of midlife sexual wellness experts
• Permission to prioritize pleasure with or without a partner

Resources Mentioned

• Intimate Wellbeing, the Canadian sexual wellness boutique for midlife women, home of Okanagan Joy lube and the SPARK Speaker Series
• West Coast Centre for Sex Therapy, Dr. Carolin Klein's sex therapy practice in Vancouver
• Menopause Chicks, Shirley Weir's community platform for women in perimenopause and menopause
• Becoming Cliterate by Dr. Laurie Mintz
• Better Sex Through Mindfulness by Dr. Lori Brotto

Related Episodes

• Why Good Sex Matters: The Neuroscience of Pleasure with Dr. Nan Wise
• Mindfulness to Improve Sexual Desire with Dr. Lori Brotto
• Perimenopause as Your Sexual Debut with Taylor McConnachie
• Clitoral Vibration as Healthcare Not Just Pleasure with Natalia Banton

Theme Song

Flowers by Miley Cyrus

Connect with Intimate Wellbeing

Website: intimatewellbeing.com
Instagram: @intimate.wellbeing
Visit the brick and mortar boutique in Vernon, BC, in the Okanagan

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Visit blueberrytherapy.ca and subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast wherever you listen. Leave a review, and head to blueberrytherapy.ca/podcast to explore the back catalog. Come hang out on Instagram @blueberrytherapypelvichealth.

Chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis affect how people live, work, sleep and connect with their bodies. In this episode of The Hole Shebang Podcast, Kristen Parise sits down with Dr. Laura Katz, a health, rehabilitation and clinical psychologist who specializes in helping people change their relationship with pain. Dr. Katz breaks down the science of how pain works, why our nervous systems can get stuck in a danger loop and what we can actually do about it.

Dr. Katz explains how chronic pain differs from acute pain at the nervous system level and why pain that persists beyond 12 weeks often has more to do with sensitization than ongoing tissue damage. She walks through how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people shift from believing pain always equals danger to understanding that pain is uncomfortable but not always a signal that something is wrong. She also gives an inside look at the Endometriosis360 program, an innovative six week virtual program combining psychology, physiotherapy, nutrition and gynecological surgery expertise to address endometriosis from every angle.

What You'll Learn

• Why our pain signals are still wired like we're running from predators and how that creates chronic pain cycles
• The critical difference between acute and chronic pain and what happens at the 12 week mark
• How CBT helps rewire pain related thoughts and beliefs for lasting change
• What the Endometriosis360 interdisciplinary program looks like and why it works
• The identity shift that happens when chronic pain no longer defines your life

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Dr. Katz's Background
11:01 Understanding Pain Science and Evolutionary Biology
24:01 When Acute Pain Becomes Chronic
32:01 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pain
45:01 The Endometriosis360 Program
58:01 Practical Tools and Home Practice
68:01 Success Stories and Transformations

About Dr. Laura Katz

Dr. Laura Katz is a registered health, rehabilitation and clinical psychologist. She completed her PhD at Queen's University and is an Assistant Professor at McMaster University. She works at the Michael G. DeGroote Pain Clinic at McMaster University, where she provides patient care, develops interdisciplinary chronic pain programs and supervises trainees. She is also Director of Health Psychology at MindFit and a founding team member of the Endometriosis360 program alongside physiotherapist Jill Mueller, gynecological surgeon Dr. Mathew Leonardi and registered dietitian Emily Arthur.

Theme Song: "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift

Resources Mentioned

• BounceBack: Ontario's free CBT based skill building program through CMHA
• Mind Over Mood by Christine A. Padesky and Dennis Greenberger
• Endometriosis360 Program: six week interdisciplinary virtual program

Connect with Dr. Laura Katz

Instagram: @drlaurakatz
MindFit: mindfit.ca
Endometriosis360: endometriosis360.ca

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Website: blueberrytherapy.ca
Podcast: Listen and Subscribe
Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth
Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference May 8, 2026

Want more bold, honest conversations about pelvic health, pain science and the stuff nobody else is talking about? Subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast and leave a review.

Special Listener Offer
Follow @pauzhealth on Instagram and DM "hole shebang" to receive three months free in the PAUZ Health community plus entry to win $50 off at the PAUZ Health marketplace.

Perimenopause and menopause care in Canada is fragmented, hard to access and often dismissed by the very system that should be supporting it. In this episode of The Hole Shebang Podcast, Kristen Parise reconnects with her former McMaster University classmate Natalie Perkins, PhD, who left a VP role at a major telemedicine company to launch PAUZ Health, a virtual platform built to give women the education, clinical access and community they deserve during this transition.

Natalie gets raw about the personal catalysts that led her here: ending a 20 year marriage, surviving a cardiac episode during an Ironman race and realizing she had spent so long performing that she didn't even know what brought her joy anymore. She shares how perimenopause became her wake up call to pause, reassess and rebuild, and why she believes every woman deserves to view this stage of life as a course correction rather than something to endure. The conversation covers Natalie's evidence based recommendations for perimenopausal health including strength training with heavy weights, prioritizing protein, increasing fiber, educating yourself on hormone therapy options (both systemic and vaginal estrogen) and making sleep non negotiable.

What You'll Learn

• How to recognize when perimenopause is calling you to pause and reassess your life
• The three pillars of PAUZ Health: education with world experts, clinical access and curated products
• Why vaginal estrogen should be considered as routine as preventive skincare
• How to advocate for yourself when your healthcare provider lacks menopause training
• Why it's not selfish to prioritize your own happiness and health

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Natalie's Journey
05:58 The Birth of PAUZ Health
09:07 Leaving Established Careers and Choosing Happiness
11:53 Embracing Perimenopause as a Gift
14:52 Mental and Physical Health During Life Transitions
18:05 Navigating the Gray Areas of Big Decisions
23:54 The PAUZ Health Philosophy and Mission
34:52 The Critical Importance of Education
36:15 Access to Care and Self Advocacy
45:14 Top Health Recommendations for Perimenopause
52:29 PFAS Free Products and Estrogen Disruptors
53:53 Special Listener Offer and How to Connect

About Natalie Perkins, PhD

Natalie Perkins holds a PhD in Public Health and is a health behavior change expert, former healthcare executive and competitive athlete. After spending years in digital health leadership, she founded PAUZ Health to address the massive gap in accessible, comprehensive menopause care in Canada. PAUZ connects women with menopause certified clinicians, dietitians, pelvic floor physiotherapists, therapists and health coaches. Natalie also hosts the PAUZ Grab Life by the Ovaries podcast.

Theme Song: "Everything is Everything" by Lauryn Hill

Connect with Natalie and PAUZ Health

Website: pauz.health
Instagram: @pauzhealth
Podcast: PAUZ Grab Life by the Ovaries

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Website: blueberrytherapy.ca
Podcast: Listen and Subscribe
Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth
Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference May 8, 2026

Want more bold conversations about perimenopause, menopause and the stuff nobody else is talking about? Subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast and leave a review.

Postpartum nutrition and energy are two of the biggest struggles new parents face, and most of the advice out there is either too complicated or completely unrealistic for someone running on three hours of sleep. In this episode of The Hole Shebang Podcast, Kristen Parise chats with Laura Lima, a holistic nutritionist, founder of New Mama Nation and mom of four, about what actually works when you're trying to feed yourself well in the thick of early parenthood.

Laura shares her own journey from working in aesthetics to finding holistic nutrition after a career pivot she didn't see coming. She gets real about the newborn phase, including keeping a jar of almond butter on the nightstand and why perfectionism has no place in postpartum eating. The conversation covers practical strategies like why hydration is the foundation everything else depends on, how protein and fat combinations keep energy stable, why blood sugar spikes from convenient snack bars are making fatigue worse and how three solid meals a day can break the constant grazing cycle that leaves parents feeling depleted.

Laura also dives into the emotional side of eating, explaining how cravings are often about seeking comfort rather than actual hunger and why recognizing that pattern is the first step toward changing it. Her "future self" technique of asking "How do I want to feel when my head hits the pillow tonight?" is a simple reframe that shifts daily food choices without requiring willpower.

What You'll Learn

• Why carrying water everywhere is the single most impactful nutrition habit for new parents
• How protein and fat combinations prevent the blood sugar crashes that drive fatigue and mood swings
• The slow cooker strategy and other meal prep approaches that work in real life with small kids
• How to recognize emotional eating patterns and respond to cravings differently
• Laura's morning ritual and "future self" technique for staying consistent when everything feels chaotic

Episode Chapters

00:00 Laura's Origin Story
02:22 The Energy Crisis for New Parents
04:05 Hydration as the Foundation
08:04 Smart Snacking with Protein and Fat
11:35 Blood Sugar and Three Solid Meals
16:55 Meal Prep for Real Life
21:29 Breaking the Constant Grazing Cycle
24:42 Physical vs Emotional Hunger
28:17 Morning Rituals and Future Self Thinking
30:54 The New Mama Nutrition Manual
35:28 Theme Song

About Laura Lima

Laura Lima is a certified holistic nutritionist (Institute of Holistic Nutrition) and founder of New Mama Nation. She specializes in helping parents increase energy, reduce emotional eating and feel like themselves again through practical, real life nutrition strategies. Laura works with clients virtually and offers the New Mama Nutrition Manual, a comprehensive online program with all of her strategies in one place.

Theme Song: "Happy Together" by The Turtles

Connect with Laura Lima

Website: newmamanation.com
Instagram: @lauraannlima
Course: New Mama Nutrition Manual

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Website: blueberrytherapy.ca
Podcast: Listen and Subscribe
Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth
Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference May 8, 2026

Want more honest conversations about postpartum health, pelvic wellness and the stuff nobody else is talking about? Subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast and leave a review.

Pelvic floor disorders affect over 200 million people worldwide, and the conventional approach has been to treat them as surgical problems. In this episode of The Hole Shebang Podcast, Kristen Parise sits down with Dr. Bruce Crawford, a board certified urogynecologist and creator of the Pfilates method, who spent decades in the operating room before arriving at a conclusion that changed everything: most pelvic floor disorders are fitness problems that deserve fitness solutions.

Dr. Crawford's path to medicine was anything but traditional. He went from working as an 18 year old hospital janitor with no college plans to touring Europe as a drummer in rock bands to eventually acing the MCAT and attending NYU School of Medicine. A single email in 2003 led him to West Africa, where he spent years performing fistula repairs in Niger and Rwanda. That humanitarian work became the catalyst for his biggest professional realization: after watching successful surgeries fail long term, he understood that the real solution for most people was neuromuscular conditioning, not more surgery.

His team used EMG synchronization technology to study 120 different movements from Pilates, yoga and personal training. The result was 10 specific movements that passively engage the pelvic floor through reflex relationships with the glutes, inner thighs and deep abdominals. In a pilot study, 80% of participants reported a 50% improvement in bladder and bowel symptoms in just 28 days. Dr. Crawford has now trained over 7,000 instructors worldwide, including 1,700 in Japan alone.

What You'll Learn

• Why most pelvic floor disorders are fitness problems being treated as surgical ones
• How co-recruitment of glutes, inner thighs and deep abdominals strengthens the pelvic floor without isolated kegels
• The EMG research behind Pfilates and why these 10 movements outperform traditional exercises
• Dr. Crawford's approach to breaking the stigma around incontinence in clinical conversations
• Why the medical system has it backwards, treating exercise as "radical therapy" instead of first line treatment

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Bruce Crawford
07:17 From Drummer to Janitor to Medical School
15:39 Movement Science and Pelvic Floor Recruitment
21:32 Breaking the Stigma of Incontinence
28:28 Why Fitness Should Be First Line Treatment
36:29 Humanitarian Work in Niger and Rwanda
40:16 The Future of Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation

About Dr. Bruce Crawford, MD

Dr. Bruce Crawford is a board certified urogynecologist with over 30 years of clinical experience and a graduate of NYU School of Medicine. He is the creator of the Pfilates method, the only pelvic floor fitness program developed by a urogynecologist in the United States. His research on pelvic floor neuromuscular conditioning has been published in the medical literature and his instructor certification program has trained over 7,000 health and fitness professionals worldwide. He also spent nearly a decade performing obstetric fistula repairs in West Africa.

Theme Song: "Don't Back Down" by Tom Petty

Connect with Dr. Bruce Crawford

Website: pfilates.com
Programs: Women's, Men's, Prolapse Coaching and Instructor Certification

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