Embodied

Anita learns the science behind the most effective form of birth control and hears from a sociologist about how getting a vasectomy transformed his relationship with his masculinity. Meet the guests: - Dr. Matt Coward, an associate professor of urology at the UNC School of Medicine, talks about the science of the vasectomy. He is also the director of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at UNC Fertility. - Ryan Cragun is a sociology professor at the University of Tampa. He shares his experience getting a vasectomy — and the reflections on masculinity and manhood it inspired. Read the transcript | Review the podcast Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita acknowledges that looking in the mirror and loving everything she sees may be unrealistic. Fat activists teach her about radical reframes, including body positivity and a newer term to her: body neutrality. Meet the Guests: - Virgie Tovar, a fat activist, host of the Rebel Eaters Club podcast and author of “The Self-Love Revolution: Radical Body Positivity for Girls of Color" talks about why body neutrality is a helpful step for some in their body liberation journey - Tigress Osborn, thee chair of the board of directors for the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, shares the history of fat liberation and what's been lost as the movement has shifted away from its black, radical roots - Zoë Bisbing, a psychotherapist and co-founder of the Full Bloom Project, talks about building a research-informed resource for those who want to foster a body-positive next generation Read the transcript | Review the podcast Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita's only had a handful of up-close experiences with dying people, and it's something she'd rather not think about. It's the antithesis to the philosophy of some folks she admires: death doulas. They say: Spend more time looking head-on at the inevitable. Respect death, don't fear it. Turns out, this uncomfortable approach may make things more comfortable in the end. Meet the guests: - Vivette Jeffries-Logan, a citizen of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, a person who holds healing space for those processing death and dying and a founding partner of biwa| Emergent Equity, talks about how she learned to hold ceremonies for folks who are dying. - Angela Zimmer, a death doula based in Charlotte, talks about how her own experiences of grief informed her desire to help others. - Dr. Aditi Sethi-Brown, a hospice physician, end-of-life doula and co-founder of the Center for Conscious Living and Dying, shares how she builds relationships with clients like Sara who are in the end-of-life planning process. - Sara Jenkins, an editor and writer living in Western North Carolina, talks about working with Aditi and preparing for her death amidst a pandemic. Read the transcript | Review the podcast Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita learns about non-sexual, social nudity and why opting to live life mostly in the nude could actually make her think about her body LESS. Meet the guests: - Naomi Prioleau, a reporter and host at WUNC, talks about her personal journey to becoming a practicing naturist. - Jay Shapiro, lead coordinator and president of Triangle Area Naturists LLC, shares how to separate sex from nudity. - Sam and Aleah, creators of Our Natural Blog, share how they're working to bring more young folks into the naturist movement in Florida. - Earl runs the website Clothes Free Life, an online resource about naturism around the globe. - Patricka is one of the founders of the Black Naturists Association, which advocates nudity through naturist environments for those in the Black community. Read the transcript | Review the podcast Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita shares an exciting announcement about the Embodied podcast and what you can expect in your feeds starting next week! Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita loves a good romantic story — especially when lovers prevail against all odds. There are a million reasons to give up on happily ever after when one or more people in a relationship are incarcerated. But for those who stay together despite prison walls, a special kind of connection is created, as we learn in the season two finale. Meet the guests: - Monae and Adriel Alvarado share their one-of-a-kind love story — from meeting inside prison while they were both incarcerated and sending love notes while in solitary confinement to building a life together on the outside. - Sutina and Steven Green reflect on building a relationship and growing a family while Steven was serving a life sentence without parole in California. - Jenesee Green, Steven & Sutina's 17-year-old daughter, talks about growing up with an incarcerated father and what she's learned from her parents' love and relationship. Read the transcript | Review the podcast Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita may not shy away when conversations get uncomfortable, but approaching difficult topics can depend on who you're talking to and which self you're bringing to the discussion. In this special episode, she exchanges notes and kinship with Anna Sale and Allison Behringer, hosts of the podcasts "Death, Sex & Money" and "Bodies" respectively. Meet the guests: - Anna Sale, host of "Death, Sex & Money," shares lessons learned from 7 years of hosting hard conversations on the microphone and personal insights detailed in her new book "Let's Talk About Hard Things." - Allison Behringer, creator and host of "Bodies," a feminist documentary podcast, shares what exploring the mysteries of our health & bodies with has taught her about creating space for hard conversations. Read the transcript | Watch the event | Review the podcast Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita has little trouble knocking out for a good night's sleep. But feeling well rested all the time? That's a little more complicated. Why do our bodies struggle to do what we know is good for us? Meet the guests: - Jade Wu, a psychologist and sleep specialist, gives us some sleep science 101 and shares her top tips on battling insomnia. - Andre Royal Sr. shares how narcolepsy affects his relationships and why he's trying to help folks better understand what narcolepsy looks like through his organization Suddenly Sleepy. - 15-year-old Jordan tells us about being diagnosed with narcolepsy in third grade, and how he's navigated friendships, school and life ever since. - Anita's parents talk about what they've learned from dreamland and making sleeping a priority. - Dayna Johnson, an epidemiologist, tells us about sleep disparities for Black folks and why we should think about sleep as a public health issue. Read the transcript | Review the podcast Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita surprised herself with judgements she made about others with only a photo to go on during her years of online dating. Such bias and misconceptions are something folks with physical disabilities contend with every day on the apps...and IRL. Meet the guests:- Julie-Ann Scott-Pollock, a performer and communication studies scholar, talks about living with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and what non-disabled people can learn about consent and communication from the disabilities community.- D'Arcee Charington, a disabilities advocate and English doctoral student, shares stories about online dating as a wheelchair user and talks about how ableism shows up in romantic relationships.- Ariella Barker, an attorney and communications specialist, talks about how her approach to online dating has evolved and the intersection of gender discrimination and disability discrimination.Read the transcript | Review the podcast Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita has the skin privilege of a white woman and the upbringing of an Indian-American girl. That can make belonging a challenge, something like what transracial adoptees often experience in their own families. Meet the guests: - Shruti Shah talks about growing up as a transracial adoptee in a mixed-race family in Memphis. She also brings on her parents to ask them some lingering questions. - Writer Andrew Lee and his father are both Korean adoptees. Andrew shares how his family's story fits into the bigger, geopolitical history of Korean-American adoption in the U.S. - Rebekah Hutson talks about what it's like to be the "Only Black Girl" in a lot of spaces and how she hopes the adoption industry will do a better job supporting transracial adoptees moving forward. Read the transcript | Review the podcast Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

If Anita weren't boo'd up, she might wonder if there's someone in her life she already knows who is a good romantic match for her. But is it healthy to look to the past for a chance at future happiness? With help from the podcast Dating While Gray, we examine the pros and cons of "boomerang love." Meet the guests: - Jeannie Thompson talks about her own boomerang heartbreak that led her to leading online discussion forums on reconnecting with former loves. - Grace shares what happened when she reconnected with a childhood crush after her long marriage had gone stale. - Mary and Del, who split after the flame of desire went out in their 20-year marriage, answer the question: Can living separate lives reignite a spark? Read the transcript | More Dating While Gray Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita, like many of us, was essentially taught that a herpes diagnosis means the end of a good sex life. Now it's time for a real education about the sexually transmitted infection, which is extremely common and far less terrifying once you open the door to conversation about it. Meet the guests: - Sex and culture critic Ella Dawson talks about her experience navigating a herpes diagnosis and how opening up about it publicly has shaped her life and relationships. - Infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Leone shares the science of herpes and clears up common misconceptions about the virus. - Anita's good friend shares the range of responses she's gotten while disclosing her diagnosis and how she hopes the conversation around herpes will evolve. Read the transcript | Review the podcast Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita is over adulting and would love to lose herself in some serious play time. She's never been a gamer but is intrigued by how video games help us tap into the fun side of our brains while creating spaces designed to help us strengthen our connections with others. Meet the guests: - Hadley Causey talks about founding Spectrum, a queer exclusive server on Discord (a social network for gaming communities) that helped them create a safe space they didn't have in real life. - Tess Tanenbaum, an assistant professor in the department of informatics at University of California, Irvine, talks about the link between game design and relationships that can form within games. - Adriana de Souza e Silva, a professor in the department of communication at NC State, talks about how location-based games like Pokémon GO can connect adults and kids and help everyone integrate more play into their lives. - Nikilesh, Anita's little brother, talks about his relationship with gaming, and how it was a lifeline for him when his family moved to the South while he was in high school. Read the transcript | Review the podcast Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita appreciates how movies and TV are now more representative in portraying narratives about pregnancy termination. But those stories can't compete with talking to real people about their experience having an abortion. Meet the guests: - Gretchen Sisson, a sociologist, talks about how television and real life diverge when it comes to abortion — and how fictional portrayals influence our understanding of the procedure and the people who get it. - Ruth and Margaret share their experiences terminating wanted pregnancies for medical reasons. Both women use pseudonyms in the conversation to protect their privacy. - Anita's parents on their own abortion story. Read the transcript | Review the podcast Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita combs through her own tangled relationship with body hair and asks why so many of us invest time and money on removal methods. Meet the guests: - Scholar Rebecca Herzig explains when and why we started caring so much about body hair and how hair removal practices have evolved over the centuries. - Sharan Dhaliwal, founder and editor-in-chief of Burnt Roti, talks about about coming to terms with being a hairy Indian woman. - Photographer Kristie DeGaris shares how she's raising her daughters to think about their own body hair and trying to normalize NOT removing it. - Anita's parents on how their upbringings and aging have shaped their views on body hair. Read the transcript | Review the podcast Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Embodied is back for a second season!

Anita says all the time "what's personal is political." So, she's interested to see how a new presidential administration will affect the ability of transgender Americans to serve in the U.S. military, which has long suffered from barriers to equity for troops and veterans from marginalized communities. Meet the guests: - Lt. Col. Bree Fram, the highest-ranking, out transgender officer in the Department of Defense, shares what it meant to come out after Obama lifted the ban on trans service members and the challenges with Trump's reversal of the policy. - Marine Sgt. Samson Gibbs talks about how he's experienced more support than transphobia as an active duty military. Read the transcript | Review the podcast Watch "Uneven Battlefield," a live event sponsored by WUNC's American Homefront project to meet more people working toward fair treatment and equity for all U.S. military troops and veterans. Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita is all kinds of in love with her newborn niece, a relationship that has her thinking more about motherhood. Her thoughts on the matter are at least somewhat informed by listening to "The Double Shift" podcast, which challenges the status quo for moms. This episode explores the roles of gender and community in raising kids through the story of a transgender man named Ted. Plus, Anita extends an invitation for a virtual hangout. Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita is admittedly anxious about aging and what she'll have to re-negotiate about her body and her relationships as she gets older. Wisdom wanted.Meet the guests:- Omisade Burney-Scott, creator and host of "The Black Girls' Guide To Surviving Menopause" talks about how aging has affected her mind, body and spirit- Pepper Schwartz, a sociologist, sexologist and relationships expert, talks about how the cultural myths around aging shape how people approach sex and relationships- Ellen Ashley, talks about getting divorced at 60 and her varied experiences of dating online- Laura Stassi, host and creator of the podcast "Dating While Gray," shares her personal story that inspired the project- Anita’s parents talk about the changes they’ve noticed in their aging bodies and how it’s affected their relationshipRead the transcript | Review the podcast | Explore the podcast discussion guideFollow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita knows how frustrating it can be to find the right doctor and get good healthcare. Transgender people have to navigate all those challenges and take extra measures to advocate for their wellbeing with medical providers who are too often untrained to treat them. Meet the guests: - Max Brown, a transgender teenager living in North Carolina, talks about being misgendered in the healthcare system and how finding a supportive healthcare provider has changed his physical and mental health. - Frances Brown, Max's mom, talks about advocating for her son and advice for parents of other trans teens. - Katherine Croft, nurse and program manager for the UNC Transgender Health Program, shares the importance of delivering gender-affirming care. - Rebby Kern, director of education policy at Equality NC**,** talks about the role in-classroom educators play in creating positive experiences for trans kids. - Morgan Givens, storyteller and audio producer, talks about his long road to finding a supportive healthcare provider and the difference that doctor has made in his life. Read the transcript | Review the podcast | Explore the podcast discussion guide Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita is thinking more and more about entering the club of motherhood. But first, she'd appreciate a reality check on things we don't often talk about — like child care and health concerns around pregnancy and labor. Meet the guests: - Angela Garbes, writer and author, talks about the cultural baggage surrounding American motherhood and how she separates the signal from the noise - Dani McClain, journalist and author, outlines how racial bias shapes the personal and professional experiences of Black mothers - Katherine Goldstein, journalist and creator of "The Double Shift," talks about rethinking the nuclear family - Anita’s parents talk about the changes they’ve noticed in their aging bodies and how it’s affected their relationship. Read the transcript | Review the podcast | Explore the podcast discussion guide Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita loves podcasts, especially ones that make space for intimate, unexpected conversations. "The Only One In The Room," hosted by Laura Cathcart Robbins, is one of those shows. This episode explores the excitement and emotions of being in an open marriage. Read the transcript Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita has a gut feeling none of us know as much as we should about the connection between our intestinal health and how our minds work. Meet the guests: - Ian Carroll, assistant profession of nutrition at UNC-Chapel Hill teaches us what we need to know about our gut microbiome. - Lin Chang, a gastroenterologist and co-director of the G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, explains the science behind the "gut feeling." - Lydia Greene, a postdoctoral fellow at the Duke Lemur Center, explains what lemur poop teaches us about humans. - Anita's parents talk about why it was okay to talk about poop at their family dining table. Read the transcript | Review the podcast | Explore the podcast discussion guide Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita is a workaholic. Being overworked stresses Anita out. Too much stress leads to poor health. Don't be like Anita. Meet the guests: - Amelia Nagoski, conductor and co-author of "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle" talks about the physical and psychological signals our body sends when its in distress. - Emilio Vicente, activist and communications manager for Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement, shares the unique burnout challenges for activists and how changing his relationship with success has helped him experience less burnout. - Anita's parents talk about where Anita's tendency to overwork comes from (her dad) and how he's learned the health consequences of burnout the hard way. Read the transcript | Review the podcast | Explore the podcast discussion guide Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Anita questions whether her inner feminist will ever let her come around to enjoying porn without shame.Meet the guests:- Monèt Noelle Marshall, an artist and activist, talks about creating an artistic project exploring sexual shame.- Shine Louise Houston, founding director and producer of Pink and White Productions, takes us behind-the-scenes of creating ethical porn.- Mia Little, an adult film actor and content creator, talks about challenging the sexual stereotypes about Asian people while they are hard at work.- Gina Gutierrez, co-founder and CEO of Dipsea, talks about why audio erotica can help folks access their sexuality.- Anita's parents talk about their relationship with porn...and Anita's dad surprises them both on mic.Read the transcript | Review the podcast | Explore the podcast discussion guideFollow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram CORRECTION: Mia Little uses they/them pronouns and identifies as Filipino-American. An earlier edit of this episode used incorrect pronouns to identify them. This has since been corrected. But we're still bummed about it.

Anita realizes she never got 'the sex talk' growing up. And even if she had, it probably wouldn't have gone like this.Meet the guests:- Emily Nagoski, author and sex educator, introduces a new framework for thinking about sex and pleasure.- Carin Bondar, biologist and science communicator, talks about what humans can learn from understanding how sex works in the animal kingdom.- Anita's parents reflect on why they never gave her the sex talk and what they hope to do differently with their grandkids.Read the transcript | Review the podcast | Explore the podcast discussion guideFollow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram

Impolite conversations. Intimate connections. Important self-discoveries. Follow Embodied on Twitter and Instagram