The Hole Shebang is the pelvic health podcast that goes where others won't. Hosted by Kristen Parise, a Registered Physiotherapist and owner of Blueberry Therapy Pelvic Health & Pediatrics, each weekly episode tackles the real truths about your pelvic floor, bladder, bowel, and sexual health, with zero shame and full clinical authority.
From painful sex and postpartum recovery to endometriosis, prolapse, incontinence, and menopause, Kristen brings on leading experts and breaks down the evidence so you can advocate for your own body. Whether you're a new mom, navigating perimenopause, or simply wondering why nobody told you this stuff sooner, this is your permission to ask the questions you've been holding in.
New episodes every week. Based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Serving pelvic health truth-seekers everywhere.
🎧 Ep 1: Why Good Sex Matters: The Brain Science of Pleasure with Dr. Nan Wise — The neuroscientist who proved pleasure is medicine. This is where it all started.
🎧 Ep 5: Heavy Periods: When Your Period Isn't Normal with Dr. Meghan O'Leary — If you've ever been told your painful periods are "just how it is," this episode will change everything.
🎧 Ep 16: Exercise and Mental Health: How Movement Heals Your Brain with Dr. Jennifer Heisz — The science of how exercise rewires your brain for better mental health.
🎧 Ep 14: Protein in Perimenopause: How Much You Really Need with Dr. Stuart Phillips — One of the world's top protein researchers explains why muscle is your secret weapon after 40.
🎧 Ep 66: Postpartum Exercise: Why the 6-Week Rule Is Outdated with Dr. Margie Davenport — The outdated 6-week rule is officially dead. Here's what the research actually says.
🎧 Ep 74: Why Your Relationship Needs Just 60 Seconds a Day with Dr. Jessica O'Reilly — Sexologist Dr. Jess reveals why micro-moments matter more than grand gestures.
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61: From Your Plate to Your Pleasure: Food, Body Image, and Intimacy with Emily Arthur, RD
mercredi 12 novembre 2025 • Durée 49:26
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
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
60: Perimenopause as Your Sexual Debut: Rewriting the Narrative with Taylor McConnachie
mercredi 5 novembre 2025 • Durée 42:42
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: Website:
51: Love, Actually: Exploring Ethical Non-Monogamy with Dr. Rachael Meir
mercredi 3 septembre 2025 • Durée 44:54
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.
50: Strips, Shame and Simplifying Ovaries with Jackie Harding
jeudi 28 août 2025 • Durée 29:27
Episode Overview
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.
What You'll Learn
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)
Episode Highlights From Tree Planting to Test Strips: Jackie's Unconventional Path
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.
The Blood Clotting Plot Twist That Started Everything
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 Ketone Strip Lightbulb Moment
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.
Big Pregnancy Test's Dirty Secret The Male Fertility Revolution Motherhood Meets Entrepreneurship The Co-op Dream: Reimagining Reproductive Health Episode Chapters Connect with Jackie and Ovry Connect with The Hole Shebang Jackie's Theme Song for Her Life and Career
49: Unlocking the Secrets of Your Hormonal Cycle with Laura Federico
mardi 19 août 2025 • Durée 43:47
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
48: Hydrate, Lubricate, and Vibrate: Empowering Midlife Women's Sexual Health with Cassandra Redding and Leah Fischer from Intimate Wellbeing
vendredi 15 août 2025 • Durée 35:24
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
47: Rewiring Pain: From Velociraptors to Victory with Dr. Laura Katz
jeudi 7 août 2025 • Durée 45:37
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 and a founding team member of the alongside physiotherapist Jill Mueller, gynecological surgeon Dr. Mathew Leonardi and registered dietitian Emily Arthur.
46: PAUZ Before You Perimenopause: The Reset Your Body Is Begging For with Natalie Perkins
vendredi 1 août 2025 • Durée 54:59
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
45: Exhausted to Energized: Real Nutrition Talk for Real Moms with Laura Lima
mercredi 23 juillet 2025 • Durée 36:49
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
44: Rock Star to Pelvic Floor Revolutionary with Dr. Bruce Crawford
mercredi 16 juillet 2025 • Durée 45:29
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
Resources Mentioned
The Cycle Book by Laura Federico and Morgan Miller, an interactive guide to tracking hormones and knowing your body
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Want more conversations about pelvic health, bladder control and the stuff nobody else is talking about? Subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast and leave a review.
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