On Health
On Health

On Health

Aviva Romm

Overview
Episodes

Details

From the stuff your mother never told you, to the stuff your doctor never learned, On Health features taboo-busting conversations that demystify and de-stigmatize our bodies, all while bridging the gap between conventional medicine and wellness. Join Yale-trained MD & midwife Aviva Romm and her line-up of expert guests as they discuss everything from periods to menopause, sex to reproductive health politics, and motherhood to mental health. Each week, Dr. Romm will be exploring the science and wisdom of how our bodies work, what makes us well, what gets in the way, and how we can live our best lives on our terms, authentically and bravely. You can expect to learn more about topics such as women's brain health, cesareans, microbiome seeding, women’s sexual health, and much more. Plus, you'll get Aviva’s musings, tips, and guidance from 35+ years of helping women take back their health—and their lives. The new medicine for women is here!

Recent Episodes

Moving Beyond Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome to Find Happiness with Emma Seppälä
FEB 25, 2025
Moving Beyond Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome to Find Happiness with Emma Seppälä

Have you ever felt torn between dreaming big and staying realistic? Between trusting your instincts and wondering if fear is holding you back? In today’s conversation, we’re diving deep into what it truly means to reclaim your personal sovereignty—the ability to stand fully in your own power, free from self-doubt, external expectations, and the weight of comparison.

My guest today, Dr. Emma Seppälä, is a psychologist, researcher, and bestselling author dedicated to helping people cultivate happiness, resilience, and self-leadership. As a Yale lecturer and the Science Director at Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research, she’s spent years studying what actually helps us thrive—not just succeed.

Together, we explore:

  • The social science behind self-doubt and imposter syndrome—and how to break free from it.
  • The inner critic: where it comes from, why it keeps us small, and how to find inner quiet.
  • The role of meditation and breathwork in rewiring our nervous systems for resilience.
  • How comparison culture and social media impact our self-worth—and how to navigate them with sovereignty.
  • Why we need to redefine success and self-worth in a world that constantly tells us who we should be.
  • Daily practices to help you stay rooted in self-trust, confidence, and joy.

This conversation is full of powerful takeaways, practical tools, and a deeply personal look into how we all wrestle with self-doubt—even those of us who have spent decades doing this work. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re enough, struggled with self-judgment, or wanted to free yourself from limiting beliefs, this episode is for you.

If this episode resonates with you, share it with a friend who might need a reminder of their own power. And if you love it, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps other women find this show!

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

Mentioned in this episode:

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

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73 MIN
Why You Can’t Spoil Your Baby: The Science of Nurture and The Truth About Sleep Training with Greer Kirshenbaum
FEB 12, 2025
Why You Can’t Spoil Your Baby: The Science of Nurture and The Truth About Sleep Training with Greer Kirshenbaum

“You’re holding your baby too much.” “Just let them cry it out.” “You’ll spoil them if you respond every time they cry.”

If you’ve ever heard these words—or wondered yourself whether nurturing your baby too much could backfire—you’re not alone. But the science is clear: responding to and connecting with our babies doesn’t spoil them; it builds their brains for lifelong emotional resilience and mental health.

In this episode of On Health, I’m joined by neuroscientist, doula, and infant sleep specialist Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum, author of The Nurture Revolution: Grow Your Baby’s Brain and Transform Their Mental Health. We’re diving into:

  • Why babies need co-regulation, not early independence
  • The neuroscience behind sleep training—and why much of it conflicts with infant brain development
  • How small, intentional nurturing acts can buffer against stress and even heal intergenerational trauma

And because so many parents today are raising children without the village we deserve, we’ll also talk about what it means to nurture our babies—and ourselves—sustainably.

If you’ve ever felt torn between instinct and conventional parenting advice, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and science-backed reassurance. Tune in now.

Links and Resources


Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

The Mama Pathway is not your average childbirth education program. It's a powerful virtual membership community and online education experience where traditional midwifery wisdom and modern medicine meet to support you on your most empowered path through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Go to avivaromm.com/mama-pathway to learn more

Mentioned in this episode:

The Mama Pathway is not your average childbirth education program. It's a powerful virtual membership community and online education experience where traditional midwifery wisdom and modern medicine meet to support you on your most empowered path through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Go to https://avivaromm.com/mama-pathway to learn more

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

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77 MIN
Ancestral Wisdom: Food, Herbs, and Healing Across Women’s Lifecycles with Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz
JAN 29, 2025
Ancestral Wisdom: Food, Herbs, and Healing Across Women’s Lifecycles with Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz

In this episode Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz, known as the Kitchen Curandera, and I explore the profound role of ancestral wisdom in women’s health. Felicia shares her journey of carrying forward her great-grandmother’s curanderismo practices and how food, plants, and rituals can transform the way we heal and care for ourselves across life’s stages.

From pregnancy to postpartum to the wisdom years of menopause, this episode is filled with insights on using food and herbs as medicine, as well as creating nourishing rituals that reconnect us to our roots.

Whether you're on a hormone healing journey, a new mama, or navigating perimenopausal or menopausal changes, or simply curious about ancestral healing, this episode offers practical wisdom to guide you.

What You'll Learn

  • How ancestral wisdom shapes the way we approach women’s health
  • Food as medicine: how nourishing traditions support healing in postpartum and beyond
  • Herbs every woman should know for pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause
  • Creating rituals and honoring transitions in women’s life cycles
  • Why connecting to your roots matters for holistic healing

Links and Resources


Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

Mentioned in this episode:

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

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73 MIN
Pelvic Floor Secrets Every Woman Should Know From Pregnancy to Menopause with Sara Reardon, The Vagina Whisperer
JAN 15, 2025
Pelvic Floor Secrets Every Woman Should Know From Pregnancy to Menopause with Sara Reardon, The Vagina Whisperer

Imagine living with the constant fear of leaking when you sneeze, jump, or can’t find a bathroom in time. Now add in the struggles of constipation, painful sex, or uterine, bladder, or rectal prolapse. These aren’t just occasional annoyances—they’re signs of pelvic floor dysfunction, which affects millions of women every year.

This episode of On Health is for every woman—whether you’re preparing for pregnancy, recovering postpartum, navigating menopause, or striving to age safely and independently. Pelvic health isn’t just about avoiding discomfort; it’s about living with freedom, dignity, and resilience.

I’m joined by Sara Reardon, aka The Vagina Whisperer, a trailblazing pelvic floor physical therapist who’s breaking the silence around this essential but often ignored topic.

We dish on:

  • Why Pelvic Health Matters for Every Woman: Pelvic health impacts so much more than you might realize—intimacy, bladder and bowel control, core strength, and even your ability to stay active and independent as you age.
  • Practical Tools for Prevention and Healing: Sara shares expert tips on preparing your pelvic floor for birth, postpartum recovery, and building strength at every stage of life.
  • Breaking the Silence and Shame: We dive into the stigma surrounding pelvic floor issues and why compassionate care is the first step to healing.
  •  The Surprising Link Between Pelvic Health and Aging: Did you know that urinary and stool incontinence are among the leading reasons older adults end up in nursing homes? Learn how strengthening your pelvic floor now can safeguard your independence later.

As Sara says, "You could live 30 to 50 years postmenopausal, and what you do now can make all the difference in how you live those years—whether you’re traveling, hiking, and socializing, or staying home because of discomfort or embarrassment."

Small, proactive steps like pelvic floor exercises, proper bathroom habits, and therapy can transform your health—not just today, but for decades to come.

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

The Mama Pathway is not your average childbirth education program. It's a powerful virtual membership community and online education experience where traditional midwifery wisdom and modern medicine meet to support you on your most empowered path through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Go to avivaromm.com/mama-pathway to learn more

Mentioned in this episode:

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

The Mama Pathway is not your average childbirth education program. It's a powerful virtual membership community and online education experience where traditional midwifery wisdom and modern medicine meet to support you on your most empowered path through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. Go to https://avivaromm.com/mama-pathway to learn more

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74 MIN