Medicine Stories

Midlife is a powerful threshold, one that is often misunderstood or endured in shame and solitude. In this episode, we explore the in-between terrain where old identities dissolve and new ways of being have not yet fully emerged. Jessie and I reflect on how today's societal pressures collide with the emotional and biological realities of midlife and motherhood, creating an unprecedented landscape that calls for more compassion, more community, and more honest conversations. By naming and honoring these transitions, especially those unique to women, we open the door to self-discovery, validation, and personal and collective growth. Links: Medicine Stories Patreon (extended convo w/ Jessie on The Freebirth Fallout) The Costa Rica Healing Waters Nature Immersion Retreat w/ Amber, November 2026 Jessie's website Jessie on Instagram Find Your Wise Woman Archetype The Mythic Medicine herb shop Mythic Medicine on Instagram Medicine Stories Facebook group Music by Mariee Siou (from her beautiful song Wild Eyes)

Felt cute, will definitely delete later. New Mythic Medicine website!- use coupon code MMBF20 for 20% off everything until 12/3 Healing Waters: Nature Immersion Costa Rica Retreat Nov 3-8th 2026 (seven of twenty spots remaining), use coupon code TTSAVE50 for $50 off on 12/2 and 12/3 only The Guardian article THANK YOU for 13 years of supporting our medicine making and 8 years of supporting this podcast! We've only just begun!

Menarche- a girl's first period- shapes how we experience womanhood for the rest of our lives, and the lack of initiation most of us experience is itself an initiation. In this culture that has fractured from the rites and wisdom of our grandmothers, where so many of us met our first period with confusion or shame, how do we begin to heal this tender threshold- for our daughters, and for the younger version of ourselves? In a conversation brimming with practical suggestions, my herb teacher Kami McBride- who has led countless women's circles, developed and taught a class for cycling women, and even written a book on menstruation- shares her decades of experience and insight. Together, we explore how to remember what was once celebrated, and how to bring reverence and empowerment back to this profound beginning. Medicine Stories Patreon (thank you!)- enter the giveaway & get a list of my favorite books on menstruation Kami's free classes: DIY Body Butter for Gifting & Top 3 Stress-Melting Herbal Oils Kami's course: Handcrafted Healing Herbal Oils Join me at the Medicine Stories Healing Waters Nature Immersion Retreat in Costa Rica November 2026! Mythic Medicine herbal remedies- take our quiz to be notified when our Moment Markers Bundles become available Kami on Instagram Amber on Instagram Music by Mariee Siou (from her beautiful song Wild Eyes)

Did you notice metabolic changes around age 35 and/or 42? Does perimenopause even exist? Is there an ideal childbearing window? Why are humans one of the only species to experience menopause? Suuzi Hazen, doctor of Chinese Medicine and my closest companion in healing from midlife burnout, gives us the Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective on the 7 year framework for girls' and womens' life transitions. Suuzi's post that inspired this conversation Join me & Suuzi at the Medicine Stories Healing Waters Nature Immersion Retreat in Costa Rica November 2026! Medicine Stories Podcast Related previous episodes with Suuzi- Nourishment Lost, Women's Bodies are Metabolically Expensive, Midlife Burnout for Women Mother's Best Liver Pills by Suuzi Women's Bodies podcast by Suuzi Mythic Medicine herbal remedies- take our quiz to be notified when our Moment Markers Bundles become available Suuzi on Instagram Me on Instagram Leonard Shlain Music by Mariee Siou (from her beautiful song Wild Eyes)

Birth opens the door, but what comes after walks you through it. Many new parents find themselves moving through the first year feeling lonely, confused, and wondering why it's so hard. In this episode, I'm joined again by Rachelle Seliga of Innate Traditions, who has spent over 20 years teaching and gathering communities to explore postpartum, motherhood, and revillaging. Together, we open the conversation wider — into the realm of fatherhood — with Rachelle's signature depth, wisdom, and grounded practicality. Whether you're preparing for birth or reflecting on your own postpartum journey, this conversation offers insight, validation, and a new lens on what it means to be reshaped by parenthood. Planning for the Fourth Trimester for Mothers & Fathers workshop with Rachelle and Dan Two Medicine Stories Patreon bonuses: 1) extended interview w/ Rachelle giving me her hot takes on controversial wellness/spirituality topics and 2) audio recording of me giving a podcast/medicine/life/health status update Rachelle's previous Medicine Stories appearance Revillaging: Maternal, Cultural, and Planetary Wellness Are One Take our fun quiz Which Healing Herb Matches Your Energy? Innate Traditions Website Innate Traditions Instagram Mythic Medicine Website Mythic Medicine Instagram Music by Mariee Siou (from her beautiful song Wild Eyes)