Permission to talk some Sh*T…______That three-letter diagnosis almost never tells you what's actually wrong. If you've lived the bloating, the bathroom sprints, and the "just manage your stress" send-off, this episode finally digs into what's really going on.______Katie Thompson sits down with Izabella Wentz ‪@ThyroidPharmacist‬ for an unfiltered conversation about what "IBS" really means, the root causes hiding beneath it, and the surprising role your nervous system plays in every single trip to the bathroom.We grew up being told IBS was just a sensitive stomach — something you're born with, something you manage, something you learn to live with. But as much as 98% of the time, that label is a placeholder for a real, findable, treatable cause: bacterial overgrowth, enzyme deficiencies, hidden infections, food sensitivities, toxic exposures. And with fewer than 1 in 4 patients improving on the conventional approach — and two-thirds of IBS patients being women — "just live with it" was never the only option on the table.Katie and Dr. Wentz unpack what's actually normal, how to find the root cause your labs keep missing, what can happen when IBS goes ignored and untreated for years, and the specific tools — targeted supplements, tests, gut-healing protocols — that can actually help you heal.______Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD, FASCP is a clinical pharmacist, functional medicine expert, and #1 New York Times bestselling author known to millions as The Thyroid Pharmacist. After being diagnosed with Hashimoto's herself, she built a career out of chasing root causes instead of just managing symptoms — consulting on thousands of complex cases along the way.She's the author of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Hashimoto's Protocol, and Hashimoto's Food Pharmacology, work that's reached hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Her latest book, IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, brings that same detective's mindset to the gut.Follow her across all platforms at @izabellawentz.______Like what you hear? Comment, rate, and subscribe to be first in line for new episodes covering women's health, relationships, lifestyle, and the conversations nobody else is having.What should I cover next? Connect with Katie at @iamkatiethompson and @ishavedmyvagforthis for guest updates, future episodes, and more.______I Shaved My Vag For This is written, directed, and produced by Katie Thompson. Production and editing by Sophia Puccetti. Podcast theme song and musical parodies written and produced by Katie Thompson.______In SMV We Trust.

Welcome to the extreme health sport of the century. It's called:Everyone’s Hooking Up… And No One Is Wearing Condoms.

You thought you'd seen this one before, but nothing compares to today's hookup, treat it if I see it mentality when it comes to sexual health. It's all fun and games until someone ends up with a wart or worse, a silent & life-threatening disease. Katie Thompson sits down with Dr. Fran of @PagingDrFran for an unfiltered conversation about the rise of STIs across America, what's driving the sharp decline in condom use, and why so many people still don’t have the information they need to protect themselves.We grew up believing STIs happened to “other people.” But rates of gonorrhea, syphillis, herpes, HPV, and even antibiotic-resistant infections are rapidly climbing — while conversations about safe sex are disappearing altogether.

From dating apps and hookup culture to the myths we still believe about symptoms, testing, and protection.Katie and Dr. Fran unpack the stigma surrounding testing, the dangerous misinformation spreading online, and the real conversations we should be having about sexual health, relationships, and protection — without shame, fear, or outdated sex-ed messaging.This episode is about taking control of your sexual health, knowing the facts, and learning how to protect yourself and your partners in today’s dating world.

Dr. Fran is a board-certified OB/GYN, educator, and nationally recognized advocate for reproductive and sexual health. Known online as Paging Dr. Fran, she uses her platform to make women’s health information accessible, honest, and stigma-free.She educates millions on topics ranging from STIs and contraception to fertility, pregnancy, and reproductive rights, and has become a trusted voice in women’s healthcare across social media and major media outlets.Follow her across all platforms at @pagingdrfran.

Like what you hear? Comment, rate, and subscribe to be first in line for new episodes covering women’s health, relationships, lifestyle, and the conversations nobody else is having.What should I cover next? Connect with Katie at @iamkatiethompson and @thesmvpodcast for guest updates, future episodes, and more.

I Shaved My Vag For This is written, directed, and produced by Katie Thompson.Production and editing by Sophia Puccetti. Podcast theme song and musical parodies written and produced by Katie Thompson.

In SMV We Trust.

Slam Dunk Level Intimacy. Every. Single. Time.

Katie Thompson sits down with Dr. Emily Jamea for an unfiltered conversation about today's decline in s*x, the biases that keep us from talking about our desires, and the 5 secrets to unlocking full-blown flow state in the bedroom.

• You’ve seen an athlete “in the zone.”
• You’ve watched a musician lose themselves mid-song.
• But have you ever thought about what flow state looks like during intimacy?

Turns out the same neurochemistry that fuels peak performance on the court can fuel peak connection under the sheets.

Hear how intimacy takes shape in short and long term relationships, why getting to know your own body and sexual desires is the prerequisite before finding flow and intimacy, and learn exactly how to communicate what you want and when you want it, no matter how big the swing.

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Katie and Dr. Emily Jamea break down exactly how to tap into the intimacy secrets you've always wanted. Welcome to mutually rewarding, home-run kind of intimacy, every single time.

This episode is about discovering your own body, owning your desires, and learning how to ask for what you want, when you want it.

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Dr. Emily Jamea is an award-winning intimacy and relationship therapist and the USA Today best-selling author of Anatomy of Desire: Five Secrets to Create Connection and Cultivate Passion. She’s a sought-after keynote speaker who presents nationally and internationally to educators, health and mental health professionals, corporate leaders, and the general public.

Her expertise has been featured in Oprah Magazine, CNN, USA Today, NBC, and more.

Dr. Jamea is an award-winning columnist for Healthy Women and was named a 2025 Outstanding Woman in Medicine by The Arts of Healing Foundation.

She writes for Psychology Today, and offers online workshops to make her expertise accessible to everyone.

Follow her across all platforms @dremilyjamea.

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Like what you hear?

Comment, like, and subscribe 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 ⁠@iamkatiethompson ⁠and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@thesmvpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠to find details on guests, future episodes and more

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I Shaved My Vag For This is written and directed by Katie Thompson.

Co-production and editing by Sophia Puccetti.

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

_________

In SMV We Trust.

Maybe she's born with it? Maybe it's just her eggs. ;) Welcome to the reproductive trust fund you never knew you were born into.

Katie Thompson and Dr. Natalie Crawford come together for a conversation unique to women, but since the entire planet depends on us (and our eggs)– it matters to all.

Eggs are the new generational wealth. They operate as the most mitochondria-dense cells in the human body, capable of giving life, warding off disease and infection, and carry genetic coding embedded from multiple generations of your maternal line. And even better? These superhuman supercells are given to us (women) at birth.

Join Katie Thompson and the leading voice in fertility, women's reproductive health and longevity, Dr. Natalie Crawford as we talk all things: Eggs.

We'll cover the makeup of this superwoman cell, how to maximize fertility and cell function and we'll dive into the world of epigenetics-- what is birth-given, passed down from multiple generations vs what is within your control and how to make necessary choices in your daily life to ensure a long and healthier lifespan.

Eggs matter. It’s not just about whether or not you will have children and it’s not all about your age. This episode is about discovering the value of your own genetic makeup, identifying cellular predispositions and learning what you can do to maximize DNA function to promote a longer and healthier life, for generations to come.

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Natalie Crawford, MD is board certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and is co-founder of Fora Fertility, a boutique fertility practice in Austin, Texas. Dr. Crawford is CEO and co-founder of Pinnacle, a professional network for women in medicine focused on leadership and education.

Dr. Crawford completed her undergraduate education at Auburn University obtaining a degree in Nutrition Science, Medical School at University of Texas Medical Branch, Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Texas Southwestern, and Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of North Carolina, concurrently obtaining a Master of Science in Clinical Research.

She is an Affiliate Clinical Professor of Women’s Health at the University of Texas Dell Medical School.

Dr. Crawford is a digital health educator on fertility and reproductive health on Instagram/TikTok @nataliecrawfordmd, twitter @ncrawfordmd, and You Tube “Natalie Crawford, MD,” and she is the host of the popular podcast “As a Woman” with over 6 million downloads.

Her debut book, “The Fertility Formula”, released by Penguin Random House, available now for pre-order and will be officially released April 14, 2026.

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Like what you hear?

Comment, like, and subscribe 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 ⁠@iamkatiethompson ⁠and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@thesmvpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠to find details on guests, future episodes and more

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I Shaved My Vag For This created, written, and produced by Katie Thompson.

Video production and editing assisted by Sophia Puccetti.

Musical parody filmed in partnership with Nihel Ayari & Kylie McLaughlin.

Podcast theme song and musical parodies written and produced by Katie Thompson._________In SMV We Trust.

Roughly 60% of women will experience a UTI at least once in their lifetime. 40% will experience a recurrence within the next 6 months. For some of us, it's our most loyal and consistent relationship we never asked for.

But why are women so prone to UTI's? Why can't we enjoy a fun night without worrying about peeing papercuts? What happens when we pee, shower and cranberry our way to peace of mind, but the infection still finds us?

Is this final destination? Genetics? ...... the consequences of last night's vodka & lukewarm pizza?

Join Katie Thompson and women's health educator and physician, Dr. Amy Papermaster, as we dive into the science of Urinary Tract Infections aka UTI's and what lies beneath the bacterial infection that greets us at dawn and get clear on the stigma surrounding hygiene, lifestyle and our supposed anatomical shortcomings.

We'll cover the basics of why these infections take place, what makes women especially susceptible and key indicators that may signal your body is prone to recurrent visits within the first 6-9 months of an initial infection. We'll also discuss why UTI's have nothing to do with your hygiene or "doing it wrong," instead, we'll talk about methods for adequately treating a UTI, why getting in front of "the burn" is not as simple as downing water and cranberry juice, and the importance that age plays in both the likelihood of recurrence and in the severity of infection.

If left ignored and untreated, UTI's can quickly lead to much broader systemic issues, neurological disorders and at worst, kidney failure.

This is a serious topic, but here at SMV, we didn’t come to this life to spend it scared of our own urethras.

Knowledge is power. And when the vag screams, that means it’s the call. It’s time to ask questions and get clear on how to resolve these infections once and for all.

Welcome back to a brand new dose of women's health & educational chaos-- said out loud-- with Katie Thompson and leading women's health series, I Shaved My Vag For This.

Class is officially back in session.

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Like what you hear? Comment, like, and subscribe 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 ⁠@iamKatieThompson ⁠and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@thesmvpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠to find details on guests, future episodes and more.

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About Our Guest

Dr. Amy Papermaster holds a joint Clinical Assistant Professor appointment in the School of Nursing and Dell Medical School Department of Women’s Health. A native Texan, Dr. Papermaster earned a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees at The University of Texas at Austin. She received a Master of Science degree in the Family Nurse Practitioner program from Vanderbilt University.

As an educator, she is driven to promote student nurses to become the patient’s advocate and voice through skilled, evidence-based competent and comprehensive care. Research interests include knowledge-sharing and collaboration and advancing the field of women’s health in areas such as vulvar, pelvic-floor, and pelvic pain disorders. Clinically, she is proud to have worked alongside her colleagues in the emergency department as a nurse, and in women’s health practices as a nurse practitioner.

Her clinical focus is on promotion of health and prevention of disease for women across the lifespan and is passionate about helping women with complex gynecologic conditions achieve their treatment goals. Currently, she practices at UT Health Austin Women’s Health Department.

Connect with Amy @amypapermaster and hear more from Dr. Papermaster on her podcast, Off The Charts, exploring women’s health topics that may not always fit “in the chart.”

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I Shaved My Vag For This is founded, written and produced by Katie Thompson.

Video production and editing by Sophia Puccetti.

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

_________

In SMV We Trust.

Ah. Mean Girls. The invisible thread that trauma bonds us together.

But, have you ever wondered why girls pit themselves against one another? Why is psychological warfare our weapon of choice? And what do the parents have to do with it? Turns out, they might be 50% of the equation.

Join us for a jam-packed conversation with leading expert on tween/teen girl development and teen parent life coach, Barb Steinberg, as she guides us through all of the inner workings of mean girls, human evolution, and the generational responsibility we carry to teach our kids how to understand anger and ways to point personal

pain toward growth and compassion.

Lastly, we’ll discover whether or not today's bully and victim are of the same kind, and why the landscape is dramatically different with the proliferation of phones and social media.

Buckle up SMV, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

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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 ⁠@IamKatieThompson and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@thesmvpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠to find more details on guests, future episodes and more

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Find Barb Steinberg @barb.steinberg.parenting.girls and learn more about her teen/tween girl and parent coaching practice at barbsteinberg.com.

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I Shaved My Vag For This is hosted by Spotify.

Written and produced by Katie Thompson.

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

Comin' in HOT and READY, live from Spotify Studios in Los Angeles, California.

We're covering a favorite topic 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 hermissionto transform cultural perception of race, gender and identity through media andcomedic 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 ⁠@IamKatieThompson 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.