The Vagina Museum Podcast

190 million people in the world have endometriosis. So why do we know so little about it? In this endometriosis mini-series, we’ll explore the condition—from ancient treatments to cutting-edge research. In this episode, we look at 2,000 years of history to explore how people with endometriosis symptoms were treated (and often dismissed). Then we talk to Dr. Camran Nezhat, a pioneer and leading practitioner in the field of minimally invasive surgery, who shares his 40-year journey advocating for endometriosis patients and advancing endometriosis research and awareness. This series is funded by the Wellcome Center for Human Genetics. Show notes & transcript: tinyurl.com/vmendo1 "Endometriosis: Into the Unknown" will be open at the Vagina Museum in London from 4 Nov 2023 - 3 Mar 2024. You can find out more about Vagina Museum, get awesome merch from our online shop, and become a member of the Cliterati on our website: vaginamuseum.co.uk

The Vagina Museum is re-opening in London on Nov 4 with a brand new exhibition, "Endometriosis: Into the Unknown." And that means the podcast is coming back too with four new episodes about endometriosis: its history, current diagnoses and treatment options, support options for those living with the disease, and the cutting-edge research helping to demystify this under-studied condition. Stay tuned for the first new episode, coming Nov 8. ​This exhibition and accompanying programming are produced in collaboration with Oxford EndoCare, part of the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, and the Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics based at The University of Oxford.

First off, yes, space gynaecology is a real specialty. Second, yes, we interviewed a space gynaecologist on this episode. And third, there’s a whole lot we earth-bound menstruators can gain from research done on periods in space. In this episode, Varsha Jain MD, PhD talks about her research into menstruating astronauts and how that led her to study heavy bleeding on earth. She explains the causes and impacts of heavy bleeding and what she’s doing to develop new treatments for her patients suffering from this condition. Show Notes & Transcript: tinyurl.com/vm0203

The pain is real. Pelvic pain and period pain, that is. If you’ve ever wondered why people with uteruses get pain, what’s “normal,” and when to see a doctor, this is the episode for you. And if you’ve ever had your pain diminished, dismissed, or been told it’s all in your head, this episode is definitely for you. We go in-depth with Dr. Sonia Bahlani a.k.a the Pelvic Pain Doc to get nuanced, compassionate advice on dealing with all types of pelvic pain. Show notes & transcript: https://tinyurl.com/vm0202

Welcome to a whole podcast season on periods and the menstrual cycle. Whether you love ‘em, hate ‘em, or are totally ambivilent, you’ll learn something new and get empowered to bust stigma and shame. In this episode, we talk to Tara Costello, period educator and author of “Red Moon Gang: An inclusive guide to periods.” Tara helps us understand the basic science behind cycles, busts some myths (28 days means nothing), and gets us thinking about what period positivity does and doesn’t mean. Notes & transcript: https://tinyurl.com/vm0201

“Queer people and trans people have always existed and we will always exist.” In this episode, we’re exploring trans and gender-nonconforming saints, gods, and everyday people from the ancient and medieval past (and why their stories are so relevant to the present). Our guides on this journey are Dr Jonah Coman, a historian of medieval queer history and trans theology, and Eirnin Jefford Franks, a historian of Viking age religion and queerness. Notes & transcript: tinyurl.com/vmpod6

As you may know, some people advocate for eating one’s placenta after the birth of a child. The placenta can–according to proponents of the practice–be steamed, stir-fried, blended in a smoothie, or dried and encapsulated in pills. A whole host of benefits have been claimed, as has an ancient and global precedent. In this episode, we look for historical evidence of human “placentophagy” and ask scientific and medical experts to weigh in on the trend. Sources/Transcript: tinyurl.com/vm-placenta

 People with clitorises have been solo paddling the pink canoe since perhaps even before actual canoes were invented. Early on they invented tools to ease their burden. The greatest of these, the vibrator, has a wild origin story concerning Victorian doctors...which unfortunately isn’t true. In this episode, we explore the true history of the vibrator with historian Dr Fern Riddell...and its future with the owners of the Glasgow sex shop Luke + Jack. Sources & transcript: tinyurl.com/vagina6

Coming to you from lockdown in London, this is Part III of a special mini-series on vagina myths! Myths busted in this episode: Periods are dirty; if you use a tampon you’re no longer a virgin; pubic hair is dirty and unhygienic; discharge means there is something wrong; vaginas are dirty and smelly–they need to be washed. (ALL FALSE.) COVID-19 has put the museum in danger of permanent closure, so please visit our website or social media sites to learn how you can help us survive and continue our mission.  Transcript: tinyurl.com/muffbusters3 Credits: Hosted by Alyssa Chafee, written by Sarah Creed, narrated and edited by Hannah Hethmon for Better Lemon Creative Audio.

Coming to you from lockdown in London, this is Part II of a special mini-series on vagina myths! False pregnancy and contraception myths busted in this episode: You can't get pregnant if...the woman doesn’t orgasm;  if you shower, urinate or douche right after sex; your partner pulls out before they ejaculate; it’s your first time having sexual intercourse; you have PIV sex in a hot tub; you are breastfeeding; you have sex standing up; douche with Coca-Cola after sex. (ALL FALSE) COVID-19 has put the museum in danger of permanent closure, so please visit our website or social media sites to learn how you can help us survive and continue our mission.  Transcript: tinyurl.com/muffbusters2 Credits: Hosted by Alyssa Chafee, written by Sarah Creed, narrated by Florence Schechter, and edited by Hannah Hethmon of Better Lemon Creative Audio.

Coming to you from lockdown in London, this is Part I of a special mini-series on vagina myths! Myths busted in this episode: 1. It's called a "vagina." 2. If you have a vagina then you are a woman. 3. The clitoris is impossible to find. 4. If you have lots of penetrative sex your vagina will get loose and your labia will get longer. (ALL FALSE) COVID-19 has put the museum in danger of permanent closure, so please visit our website or social media sites to learn how you can help us survive and continue our mission.  Transcript: tinyurl.com/muffbusters1 Credits: Hosted by Alyssa Chafee, written and narrated by Sarah Creed, edited by Hannah Hethmon of Better Lemon Creative Audio.

People have really strong feelings about “hair down there.” You could say it’s a “prickly” subject. But the way we talk about our pubic hair speaks volumes. In this episode, we part the bush of history to explore pubic hair preferences past and present. Dr. Kate Lister (Whores of Yore) gives us a history lesson on 18th century pubic hair wigs, the founders of FUR talk body-hair-agnostic beauty, and illustrator Hilde Atalanta shares insights from The Vulva Gallery. ***Show Notes & Transcript: tinyurl.com/vmnotes0103*** TRANSCRIPT Show Notes “Consider the Merkin: A Brief History of Pubic Wigs in Hollywood” (Article) A Curious History of Sex by Kate Lister (Book) “A Curious History of Sex by Kate Lister review – from blindfolds to bikes” (Review) Whores of Yore (Twitter Account) “Nae Hair On’t” by Robert Burns (Poem, read in this episode by Ian Diamond of Luke + Jack) FUR (Company Website) The Vulva Gallery (Website) The Vulva Gallery (Instagram Account) Vagina Museum Links Vagina Museum Website Vagina Museum Events Vagina Museum Twitter Vagina Museum Instagram Vagina Museum Facebook

Gwyneth Paltrow is in the news again promoting scientifically dubious treatments for your vag. One practice that Goop has popularized is vaginal steaming. In this episode, we find out the history of V-steam and whether or not it’s actually good for you (Spoiler alert: It’s not! Don’t steam your vag!). OB/GYN Dr. Jen Gunter joins us to explain why your vulva doesn’t need a steam cleaning, and Lizzie Marx educates us on steaming’s weird Medieval ancestor, womb fumigation. ***Transcript and Show Notes: tinyurl.com/vm0102***  TRANSCRIPT Support the Vagina Museum! We need you more than ever as we fight to stay funded and active online through the virus closures. Donate to our crowdfunding campaign to earn some fanny-tastic rewards or JOIN THE CLITERATI !!!   Sources and Further Reading:  Smelly Remedy Online Exhibition (Website) “Smelly Remedy: Womb Fumigation Illustrated in Seventeenth Century Print” (Blog Post)  Magical and Medical Approaches to the Wandering Womb in the Ancient Greek World (Academic Article) Medieval Bodies by Jack Hartnell (Book) Dr. Jen Gunter’s Website The Vagina Bible by Dr. Jen Gunter (Book) “Gwyneth Paltrow says steam your vagina, an OB/GYN says don’t” (Blog Post)   Vagina Museum Links Vagina Museum Website Vagina Museum Events Vagina Museum Twitter Vagina Museum Instagram Vagina Museum Facebook  

Fanny, minge, vajayjay, pussy, down there, yoni...There are hundreds, if not thousands, of terms in the English language for vaginas. Many of them are sexist and most are rather unhelpful. But none is as taboo, as frowned upon in high and low society, as much of an assault on the average upstanding citizen’s ears as “c*nt.” What’s up with that? What did c*nt ever do to you? In this episode, we answer those burning questions with the help of Fiona Sterling, bona fide Scottish person, and Professor Emma L.E. Rees, AKA Prof Vag.  *********Show notes & transcript: tinyurl.com/vmnotes0101********* TRANSCRIPT Support the Vagina Museum! We depend on donors to keep the doors open and the podcast online.  Want to be part of our fanny pack? JOIN THE CLITERATI !!!   Sources & Further Reading The Vagina: A Literary and Cultural History by Emma Rees (Book) Kilpeck Church Sheela na gig (Image)  “‘A Nasty Name for a Nasty Thing’: A History of Cunt” (Article, Whores of Yore) “Vulvanomics: how we talk about vaginas” by Emma Rees (Article, Times Higher Education) “Low wenches and slatternly queans: On derogation of WOMEN TERMS” by Bożena Kochman-Haładyj (Academic Article) “The semantic derogation of woman” by Muriel R. Schulz (1998, Chapter in The Feminist Critique of Language: A Reader)  “OE and ME cunte in place-names” by Keith Briggs (Academic Article) Teeth by Michael Lichtenstein (2007, Film) Basic Instinct by Paul Verhoeven (1992, Film) f/32: The Second Coming by Eurydice (Book)   Vagina Museum Links Vagina Museum Website Vagina Museum Events Vagina Museum Twitter Vagina Museum Instagram Vagina Museum Facebook  

Vulvas of the world, rejoice! The Vagina Museum Podcast is on its way! Episode 1 drops on March 11. But first, a trailer, featuring some tantalizing snippets of our conversations with Dr. Kate Lister, Dr. Jen Gunter, Professor Emma L.E. Rees, Hilde Atalanta, Lizzie Marx, and Fiona Sterling.  [Please note: all episodes going forward will have transcripts, but there is no transcript for this trailer.] Visit VaginaMuseum.co.uk to learn more about the Vagina Museum, get involved as a member, support the museum with a donation, and find out about events and exhibits in London. And don’t forget to follow the Vagina Museum on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for some excellent vagina content.

In the final installment of our endometriosis mini-series, we speak to two people with endometriosis about their journeys through and beyond a diagnosis of endometriosis and how they have harnessed these experiences to help others. Justyna Green is a UK-based illustrator and podcaster. She shares her personal journey as a cis woman using art to process her endo experiences and raise awareness for the public. Cori Smith is an American activist who shares his experiences as a trans man navigating severe endometriosis and the US healthcare system. This series is funded by the Wellcome Center for Human Genetics. Show notes & transcript: http://tinyurl.com/vmendo4 "Endometriosis: Into the Unknown" will be open at the Vagina Museum in London from 4 Nov 2023 - 3 Mar 2024. An online version is also available at our website. You can find out more about Vagina Museum, get awesome merch from our online shop, and become a member of the Cliterati on our website: vaginamuseum.co.uk

In this episode of our endometriosis mini-series, we’re looking at the latest research being done into endometriosis diagnoses and treatment. We spoke to over a dozen researchers at the Endometriosis CaRe Centre at the University of Oxford about their ongoing work and how it could change the care endometriosis patients receive. This series is funded by the Wellcome Center for Human Genetics. Show notes & transcript: tinyurl.com/vmendo3 "Endometriosis: Into the Unknown" will be open at the Vagina Museum in London from 4 Nov 2023 - 3 Mar 2024. An online version is also available at our website. You can find out more about Vagina Museum, get awesome merch from our online shop, and become a member of the Cliterati on our website: vaginamuseum.co.uk

190 million people in the world have endometriosis. But despite how widespread the condition is, many people find themselves waiting years for a diagnosis and struggling to find support. In this episode, we’re chatting with the folks at Endometriosis UK about the diagnostic journey, support services, and how to advocate for yourself if you think you may have endometriosis. This series is funded by the Wellcome Center for Human Genetics. Show Notes & Transcript: tinyurl.com/vmendo2 "Endometriosis: Into the Unknown" will be open at the Vagina Museum in London from 4 Nov 2023 - 3 Mar 2024. An online version is also available at our website. You can find out more about Vagina Museum, get awesome merch from our online shop, and become a member of the Cliterati on our website: vaginamuseum.co.uk  

Good news, World. The Vagina Museum is making a podcast. Treat your ears to this teaser from Vagina Museum founder Florence Schechter, and subscribe to this channel so you don't miss out on amazing vagina content when our first episode drops later this winter.  Vagina Museum Website Twitter Facebook Instagram Donate EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: Hey there. My name is Florence Schechter, and I’m the founder of the Vagina Museum. Yes, you heard right, there’s a Vagina Museum. And I’m standing in front of it I’m busy Camden Market. The Vagina Museum is the world’s first bricks and mortar museum dedicated to vaginas, vulvas, and  gynaecological anatomy.  When I heard that there was a penis museum in Iceland, but no vagina museum anywhere, I was pretty miffed...or muffed, you might say.  So in 2017 I started a project to create one.  And now, the Vagina Museum team is making history by opening our first premises in London’s Camden Market this November.  If you’re in the neighborhood, make sure to grab tickets for our opening party or one of our pre-launch workshops or lectures. What’s the Vagina Museum all about? We have a vision of a world where no one is ashamed of their bodies, everyone has bodily autonomy, and all of humanity works together to build a society that is free and equal.  We want to spread knowledge and give people the confidence to talk about issues surrounding their gynecological anatomy and health; erase stigma; and act as a forum for feminism, women’s rights, the LGBT+ community and intersex people.  Also on the agenda is challenging heteronormative and cisnormative behavior and promoting intersectional, feminist, and trans-inclusive values. If that all sounds good to you, then hit subscribe because the first season of our podcast is going to feature six episodes that will take you deep into the past and present of the vagina.  Ever hear of yoni steaming? We investigated its history. Like saying the word cunt? We’ve got a whole episode about it. Ever wondered if there were any transgender saints from the medieval ages? We’ve got the story. Merkins? Check. Placenta? Check. Desperate to know the real story of the vibrator’s invention? We’ve got you.  So subscribe to this channel, tell all your friends the good news, and stay tuned for The Vagina Museum Podcast, coming this winter.  If you can’t wait that long for incredible vagina content, follow us on social media and visit the museum website, vaginamuseum.co.uk to learn more, get involved as a member, and support our work.