Welcome to a special, early release episode comin' in HOT and READY, live from Spotify Studios in Los Angeles, California.

Why early? Why now?

Because we didn't come this far.... to forget where we came from.

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This episode we're covering one of my favorite topics in the science of self-actualization. A silent, unbreakable superpower called: IDENTITY. It's the ultimate freedom.

What better time than now to recapture the importance of the values that define us, the life experiences that we've triumphed over and the characteristics we cherish about ourselves that we'll forever hold onto as sacred and true, no matter what the world around us looks like.

I'm honored to cover this topic today with the ever-inspiring and hilarious writer, comedian, and actress London Hughes ⁠@thelondonhughes⁠, best known for her breakout role in Fleabag and her hit Netflix comedy special, To Catch A D*ck. She's the first British black woman ever nominated for Best Comedy Show at the prestigious Edinburg Comedy Festival and most recently, she's published a page-turning memoire called Living My Best Life, Hun.

London joins us today to share all about her journey from the UK to Los Angeles, as she continues to defy all odds and triumph forward in her mission to transform cultural perception of race, gender and identity through media and comedic storytelling.

She's the embodiment of how leading from your truth can lead to a life and career of your dreams.

SMV, get ready. This is the episode to share and lift your friends up, to add to that playlist when you need a motivational ass-kicking-- one that you'll return back to for months and years to come.

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Like what you hear? Leave 5 stars and follow to be first in line for new episodes covering all topics in women's health, lifestyle and more.

What should we cover next? Connect with me⁠⁠ ⁠@katiefthomps⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ ⁠@thesmvpodcast ⁠⁠⁠to find more details on guests, future episodes and more

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I Shaved My Vag For This is hosted by Spotify.

Written and produced by Katie Thompson.

Video editing by Atelier Nihel.

Podcast theme song and musical parodies composed and produced by Katie Thompson.

Welcome to The Menopause Matriarchy.

Just like any well-run, ruling system, we’re all about nurturing power, intergenerational authority and achieving systemic balance– So, what better way to do this, than by merging two perspectives on a single topic?

After last week’s episode, we’re clear on how genetics, nutrition and environment play a critical role in our menopausal journey and by establishing positive habits in our lifestyle (and incorporating things like hormone replacement therapy), we can approach this phase of life from a place of empowerment and medical understanding.

In this episode, you’ll join us for Part 2 as we head East on our trek toward peri and menopausal mastery.

Brooke Taylor of The Road in Austin, TX guides us on a new and often under represented perspective on menopause. She shares how this stage of life is actually treated as the most honorable and highly respected, as it is a time when women have achieved life mastery, gained wisdom and can turn to self-care as a tool for extending their lifespan.

We’ll cover eastern medicinal protocols like acupuncture, herbal medicine and breathwork and discuss the value of supplementing Western medicine using a natural, whole body approach.

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I Shaved My Vag For This is hosted by Spotify.

Written and produced by Katie Thompson.

Video editing by Atelier Nihel.

Podcast theme song composed and produced by Katie Thompson.

Jump on in, water’s real warm and clammy...

By 2025, 1.1 billion women will be in the stage of menopause and by 2030.

The problem? This field has been largely ignored, hormonal research has solely focused on males, and women suffering for years have felt invisible, isolated and given little to no resources to aide them in the second half of life.

We have come too far to accept things like: insomnia, dry vag, hostile sex drive, extra chin hairs...a couple friendly night sweats... as just a “thing that happens because are women.” Hell no. These are also major signals in our body that ultimately lead to early onset of life-altering diseases like dementia, osteoporosis and increase our risk to cancer.

Dr. Kamilia Smith joins us for Part 1 of our Menopause Miniseries to guide us through the ages and stages of Pre, Peri, Early & Late Menopause, and how integrating these inevitable hormonal shifts through lifestyle, nutrition and a solid physical and mental foundation (along with breakthrough therapies like HRT) will lead us toward a much happy and healthier lifespan.

This is such an important moment in our history.

Watch and listen, so we can play the long game together.

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Like what you hear? Leave 5 stars and follow to be first in line for new episodes covering all topics in women's health, lifestyle and more.

What should we cover next? Connect with me⁠⁠ ⁠@katiefthomps⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ ⁠@thesmvpodcast ⁠⁠⁠to find more details on guests, future episodes and more

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The Founder and Director of Charleston House Gynecology, Dr. Kamilia Smith is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is a certified menopausal practitioner through the ⁠North American Menopause Society⁠ and a clinical assistant professor. Dr. Smith believes in the advocacy for better healthcare for all women. She has served the women of Texas by championing for improvement in policies in Washington DC and Austin.

Connect with Dr. Kamilia Smith ⁠@drkamiliasmith⁠ and visit her team at ⁠Charleston House Gynecology⁠ in Dallas, TX.

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I Shaved My Vag For This is hosted by Spotify.

Written and produced by Katie Thompson.

Video co-production by Atelier Nihel.

Podcast theme song and musical parodies composed and produced by Katie Thompson.