Vicious Cycle

Join us for our last episode of season four! <3 We know we're going to have a good time when comedian, journalist and political wonk Francesca Fiorentini comes on the pod, so we invited her on to wrap up our season and discuss the recent election results, our newest member of the Supreme Court (for whom we brainstormed some nicknames) and, ya know, how her period has been because that IS the topic of this podcast after all. And then MeyHay hits us with a real DOOZY of a Would You Rather that still has us tense. As we wrap up 2020, we feel hopeful and grateful for our community of bleeders and allies, and look forward to a future that Kate's lil bebe can be excited for. Keep calm and bleed everywhere, friends.

It's no surprise that we had LOTS to talk about with OBGYN Dr. Kate White, so here is part two of our interview. We bring back questions from previous episodes, like how worried should we be about exploding ovaries, and do we stop bleeding in swimming pools? But, Dr. Kate also shares her experience with pregnancy loss and what spurred her to start a miscarriage clinic for those suffering a loss. Live-laugh-love with us in this week's episode - and then go back to cursing your period...it knows what it did.

Next to the pod's impending baby, interviewing gyno extraordinaire Dr. Kate White was our light at the end of the 2020 hellscape-tunnel. (If you're new and wondering who Dr. Kate is, check out our Ask a Gyno episodes in season two!!!) We saved up our most weird and random questions and she delivered the goods. In part one of our chat, we cover topics ranging from cervixes to IUD's and we even get her take on male birth control! Ready to reaffirm your love for Dr. Kate? Throw on a reusable pad and hit play!

With the VAST array of options for uterus-havers, some of us have wondered aloud and loudly "is male birth control ever going to be a thing?" This week, Kate did the bleedsearch to answer that question and many more! We review the history of BC, talk about options in the works for sperm-holders, found more reasons to adore Loretta Lynn, and wrap it all up with a song (of course we did). Come for our hot-take on the failings of cis straight dudes... stay for Kate's pronounciation of 'contraception' and 'ethicist.'

It's the day we've been waiting for in the US (and maybe some of our blisteners on other continents have been watching in horror as well?!). It's the day after the election... but we recorded this episode before the election. It was a simpler time... er, no it was still a really complicated, fucked up time. Anyways, all that to say, this episode barely touches on the election and is just here for you to zone out, laugh, and power up for whatever battles we still have to fight. Love to all bleeders and friends out there. Bleed on.

As we've learned in past episodes, a lot of things have to go right to get pregnant, and getting help is so much more common than we think (that's why it's so important to talk about it!). We learned about Kate's fertility journey last week, and this week, we chat with actor and comedian Millie Brooks about her experience with IVF, her podcast (Me, Myself & Millie), and breaking down infertility stigmas. Learn about hormone suppositories with us and hit that play button!

We've talked about parenthood on this podcast before (you know, with the menstrual cycle playing a pretty big role there and all), but this episode is VERY special because our very own blost Kate is PREGGO! She opens up about her fertility journey, we meet her fertility doctor, Danielle Lane, and talk about intrauterine insemination (IUI). Learn more about infertility, get some hot tips on making babies, and imagine what Kate's kid will think of this episode 15 years from now. <3 Grab a stick to pee on and blisten in. 37:11 - This is the point in the episode where Dr. Lane joins us for the call!

With so much going on in the U.S. (and the world... and the super massive blackhole in the center of the universe, and and and...) we wanted to chime in on the passing of RBG and her potential (sigh, likely) replacement Amy Coney Barrett. Meg Hayes gives her Catholic hot take while Kate and Meg T try to kegel-clench this reality away. Tune in and clench with us!

If you've heard about Goop (Gwyneth Paltrow's wellness brand), you probably also heard the audible eye roll that accompanies a mention. So, we wanted to dig into the good, the bad and the WTF of this controversial company. We cover the vagina candle, yoni egg, and vaginal steaming mentioned on the site, as well as host a few fun segments like How Much Does This Goop Item Cost? and Which of These Goop Products are Fake? We had a lot of fun recording this one and - of course - leave the studio more confused than ever. Throw an egg up that canal and hit play!

Amanda Rosenberg (friend of the pod and author of That's Mental) is BACK and she is shedding light on a mental health condition that affects 5-8% of menstruators: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder(PMDD). Here's why we love Amanda so hard: she speaks openly and plainly about mental illness, helping to tear down the stigma that often prevents people getting the help they need. And, she's one of the funniest people we know. This episode gets real, so get comfy, press play and bleed on.

We've got some more bleedsearch coming at ya on this episode! Meg T dug into the what-and-why of ovaries - and after all these seasons, your blosts were still WOEFULLY ignorant about their bodies. When will they learn?! We bring you mind-blowing facts, introduce you to hormones you may not have met yet, and it wouldn't be a research episode without a SONG. Pop some popcorn while you pop out an ovum and tune in!

Fibroids - ever heard of 'em? We host a pod about periods and are barely familiar, yet 1 in 3 bleeders will develop them in their life! We got on the horn with lawyer by day, writer and comedian by night Andrea Coleman to discuss her experience with fibroids, heavy periods, and laughing at our ridiculous bodies (her one-woman comedy show The Fibroid Chronicles ran off broadway, okaaaay). So slip on an adult diaper, lay on down and listen!

Blisteners! It's one of our most frequently asked Q's: do menstruators sync up? And in this week's episode, Kate dives into the science behind it and whether this myth deserves to be busted. And you know if Kate did the bleedsearch there is MOST DEFINITELY a song at the end! Pop on those headphones and roar at the moon with us!

Hope you've got a liner or light day - because we've got another Surprise Spotting coming at ya! Jessica guides us through how astrology can help us understand history and use it as a lens to come to terms with events taking place in the US today. Then, we find a new spin to Read My Labias that we think you're going to like - we certainly do. Hit play and bleed on!

In this very special episode of Vicious Cycle, we chat with esteemed astrologer, psychic, published author and fellow podcaster Jessica Lanyadoo. We dive into what it feels like to be psychic, how deep astrology can go (like medical astrology) and she even does the pod the honor of reading Meg T's birth chart! Pop on a pad and look at the stars with us.

You know when your period has been over for three days so you rock your fave pair of undies and then BOOM - rando mini-period? Yeah, this episode is kind of like that but also not at all. We had some extra goodness we couldn't squeeze into our first ep, and thought you might enjoy a blonus episode about periods at the pool on this warm, long weekend. Soak in the last socially distant days of summer while your tampon soaks up all that chlorine. Enjoy!

The blosts are back from meno-pause and while we were sheltering in place A LOT HAPPENED. We give period updates (or lack-there-of HI POD BABY), cover some news stories, and dive into the most recent reason why MeyHay experienced some rage-rage (spoiler: Ireland isn't super chill about tampons). Slip on your fave pair of period panties and press play. -Here's that "offensive" Irish Tampax commercial: https://youtu.be/9X0LpyXMnjg -And more info on the controversy: https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/tampax-s-tv-ad-has-been-banned-get-a-grip-ireland-1.4317651

Well, we had a...fine...?...menopause but we're ready to get back into our blisteners' ears, hearts and uteruses. Who knows, maybe we'll even start influencing each other’s cycles! (We FINALLY get into that topic this season.) Kate and The Megs bring you Season 4 of Vicious Cycle, filled with lots of songs, laughs and menstrual-themed research, plus interviews with VIBs (Very Important Bleeders). As always, call our hotline to ask a q, share a story or tell us Why You Cried This Week at 910-6-UTERUS. See you September 2nd! Don't be late!

It's our last episode of the season, and we want to send you off into these COVID-19 times with some pointers to keep your vagina healthy and happy. We cover some do's and don'ts, vaginal steaming (if Gwyneth does it, should you?), bidets and tabos! Never heard of a tabo? Well, you'll be singing about them by the end of this episode. May your periods be light and predictable until all this passes, bleeders. Love, your blosts <3

(Originally released July 2019) Your blosts did their research and found that there are multiple ways you can use your own menstrual blood, and they range from sciency, to witchy, to ... a little gross. Come for the pro-tips on how to utilize the flow you've been letting go – and stay for the surprise song. Pop in a cup and catch this episode!

Quizzes, Mad Libs, a boyband-themed trip down memory lane and so much more. We've got a third Everything Is Fine episode for ya, and it's inadvertently Slumber Party-themed! The hosts needed this and maybe you do, too. Tune the news out for an hour and tune into this delightful episode - and try not to laugh at the third installment of "Which Vicious Cycle Host Are You?" Nsync Making The Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crsfYDohMjA Here's where you can catch some of the coming-together videos we talk about: --Compilation of singing in Italy and Spain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up53FltNpsY --Toilet paper violinists: https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/video/violinists-perform-ode-empty-shelves-toilet-paper-69673818 --Les Mis Parody: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcS0Nbo7Ng --BSB Song: https://www.fox.com/watch/a9647679a60276e91d830ab21b26b179/ --Hamilton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oilZ1hNZPRM&feature=emb_title --Swan Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE1enPDh3nM&feature=youtu.be --NYC Applauding for health care workers: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/10/nyregion/nyc-7pm-cheer-thank-you-coronavirus.html

This week Kate brings us bleedsearch on pubic hair - or as other's like to refer to it, "crotch shrubbery" (seriously, come for the pubes, stay for the euphemisms). We talk pubes-of-yore, medical benefits of pubic hair, and how your blosts like to maintain their "foilage" (<-- real euphemism). And you KNOW we've got a song for this one. Whether you've got hair to share or keep it bare, press that play button.

We decided to give ourselves a little treat this week and share our favorite periods on TV (and one movie) with each other and you! Take a break from the news and laugh with Amy Schumer, the cast of Blackish, Monica & Phoebe and so many more hilarious bleeders. Oh, and friend of the pod Lauren Bacall helps us with our countdown, so put on your red carpet best (after staining your carpet red) and tune in! *Friends: https://youtu.be/C7ZMDO9wZTo *Key and Peele: https://youtu.be/ihRHIGpyspA *SNL: https://youtu.be/aBlR7qVQ0X8 *Community: https://youtu.be/IGMe_NrcAfI *Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: https://youtu.be/Uab2BlDpPxQ

That is right. The podcast about periods finally read the period book to end all period books: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. And we had the pleasure to discuss it with the preeminent experts in the field, Alison and Jody from The Blume Saloon podcast. We get into the brilliance of Judy Blume, which character each host identifies as, and we dive into a fave topic: masturbation. And that's just PART ONE! Catch part two over on The Blume Saloon feed!

Welp. We're in the midst of a global crisis, so we thought what the world needs now is love sweet love AND another episode of Everything is Fine. Because, like everything is NOT fine, but for the next hour it can be sort of ok. We've got more quizzes, songs, comforting poems, and even a little dance party for you to join in. We're sending you all love - especially to those of you on day two of your period. <3 6:40 - Meg H. reads an original poem to keep us calm 10:08 - Meg T. sings an original song about a butterfly 14:24 - Kate presents a CosmoGirl quiz from the year 2000 26:59 - Meg H. takes us through another Lauren Bacall-themed improv game 34:18 - Meg T. offers up another rendition of "Which Vicious Cycle Host Are You" 41:32 - KARAOKE TRIVIA! 54:10 - Dance party

In between sold out shows and TV appearances, Kate Willett sat down with the blosts to talk period jokes, period sex, period cliches, and ... just, like, periods. We also get into the differences between NY and SF, bad ex-boyfriends and how Medicare For All IS a feminist issue. Go steal a pad (because they should be free anyways) and settle in for a fun episode!

This week, the hosts sit down with stand up comedian Irene Tu, who has...mixed?... feelings about her period. We talk period products, hot and cold foods (we explain... kinda), and hear about her mom's sage advice. We also chat about comedy and how to tell the hosts apart - it does get tricky sometimes. Oh, and stick around for a special new segment at the end of this episode. Pop in a tamp', some buds and blisten up!

Y'all. We barely get through this episode, we laugh so much. Who knew digging into cravings was such a rich territory? We get into the science of cravings, what our blisteners snack on when they bleed, and play the game that's sweeping the nation: WHO'S EATING THIS TRASH. Oh, and we got a surprise song! Grab a bag of Whole Foods brand cheese puffs and chocolate because this bleedsearch will make you hungry.

If you're looking for a 90's era feminist take on owning your period, look no further than Cunt by Inga Muscio. We have the one-and-only Molly Sanchez back in the studio to help us breakdown this "declaration of independence." We cover menstruating with the moon, freebleeding, abortion, and Inga's distinct writing voice (which isn't for everyone) - oh, and we say "cunt" a lot. Fair warning. Pop in a sea sponge and press play!

This week, we’re dipping our toes in the true crime podcast game! Friend-of-the-pod Allison Page is back and giving us all the dirt on menstrual crimes. We dig into modern, sordid affairs, go back to the days of Lizzie Borden, and so much more. We also learn that courts will do ANYTHING to avoid talking about periods - GOOD TO KNOW. Save some menstrual blood for an alibi and tune in! Here's a taste of Caso Cerrado: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX487sN8A4k

We're well into season three and we STILL can't really tell you much about what our reproductive system looks like ... until now. Kate brings the bleedsearch for today's episode all about the cervix (truly an unsung hero). She tells us where and what it is, shows us what it LOOKS like, and puts up with The Meg's many metaphors for what the the cervix actually does. Tune in and meet the powerful little button that protects your uterus and all that it may hold. https://www.beautifulcervix.com/

A ton of blisteners have requested this topic, and we are finally diving in! Meg T brings some bleedsearch and personal anecdotes to cover the great, the less great, and the totally-not-great sides of IUD's. We also take some calls and read stories from listeners about their own IUD experiences. Have questions? We've probably got some answers... and even more questions! Relax your cervix and join us.

This week, we sit down with Jane Adame, Senior Brand Strategist at The FLEX company and designer of the Keela menstrual cup - designed specifically for bleeders with disabilities. We cover her menstrual journey, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, developing a menstrual cup with a non-bleeder, and what success really looks like. Oh, and we've got a new addition to our menstrual lingo that will give you some FEELINGS. Hit play! // Here's that change.org petition regarding TSA and period products: http://chng.it/c5mKHNhG24 // Here's a link to the Uterati: www.facebook.com/groups/theuterati // And a link to FLEX Cup: https://flexfits.com/products/flexcup-discovery-kit

Our first live episode! We had a blast talking with JoAnn Schinderle at PianoFight as a part of SF Sketchfest. We talked candidly (in front of A LOT of people) about having a designated period towel, bleeding in a bucket, and other aspects of her freebleeding journey (and we talked about her period comedy album Dark Jeans). Find a dark chair to bleed on and listen!

Pap smears. Dental cleanings. Any type of -oscopy. Bad days in general. Sometimes things suck ... a lot. When you're in one of those moments where everything is NOT fine, pop in your earbuds and check out this episode dedicated to helping you relax, laugh, and remember that everything will be fine again. TIMECODES: 4:11 - Meg T sings a song on the ukulele 7:48 - Lizzo Quizzo 17:04 - Top 10 Times People Came Together for Music 34:58 - ASMR with menstrual products 44:19 - 30 Rock trivia 58:50 - Meg H reads excerpts from Chicken Soup For The Soul 1:18:02 - Seventeen Magazine Quiz 1:26:30 - Improv commercials 1:33:56 - Staged reading of a Homeward Bound scene Some choice links for you: The Lizzo DNA Test: https://dna.photomusicbooth.com/ Italian musicians sing Foo Fighters: https://youtu.be/JozAmXo2bDE Virtual Choir: https://youtu.be/V3rRaL-Czxw Liza Minelli sings "New York, New York" in 2001: https://youtu.be/AvMmAJfO-pk Dogs watch a musical: https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/20/us/service-dogs-theater-canada-trnd/index.html

We're still on vacation so here's part two of our tampon series. And, we DID record some new thoughts at the beginning and end, so give it a listen! Do you know what’s in your tampon? Or how and why people get Toxic Shock? Have you been looking for reasons to quit tampons? LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE. Meg H lays out all the problematic issues with our favorite cotton wads - but don’t worry, there’s plenty of singing to lighten the mood.

We're re-releasing one of our fave episodes from Season 1, but we hope you still listen because we recorded some new stuff at the top and at the end of the episode. Enjoy! In Part 1 of our Tampon Series, the hosts of Vicious Cycle lay all their cards on the table and share their thoughts, experiences, and embarrassing truths about tampons. They also shed a little light on the history of tampons and the surprising ways they were marketed to women. Grab those strings and bear down, friends - it’s going to be a descriptive episode!

In this week’s episode, Meg Hayes brings us some bleedsearch on the history of pads, some fine advertisements for sanitary napkins, and even a glimpse at mother/daughter relationships in the mid-centch. Come for the learning, stay for the song at the end - IT’S A BLOODY BANGER.

Welcome to the main event! After all our bleedsearch on athletes who bleed, we got to talk with one! Amy Rodriguez joined us on the pod to talk about her career as a professional soccer player and her experience having a child and then rejoining the US women's team and going on to win at the 2015 World Cup! We also try to get all the dirt on the players we know and love. Tune in for all the bloody details! Links to bleedsearch: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/06/soccer-moms-womens-world-cup/396893/ https://www.fifa.com/womens-football/news/amy-rodriguez-talks-football-pregnancy-and-motherhood https://www.nbcsports.com/video/womens-world-cup-amy-rodriguez-balances-motherhood-and-pro-soccer

We're back with more bleedsearch and stories about athletes with periods! We dive deep into how hormones and pregnancy affects players bodies, cover bad ass bleeders in action (like freebleeding all over the London Marathon BOOM!), and get a pro-tip from a roller derby competitor that blows both Megs' minds. Tune in and join the Bleed Team!

In this episode, Kate brings a boat-load of research about athletes who bleed. (So much we had to break it up into multiple episodes.) We cover team sports, solo competitors, olympic performances, and the outrageous reasons why menstruators have been stopped from competing. Plus, we hear from sporty blisteners! Put on some white jersey shorts and free bleed on the field with us! If you're blinterested in learning more about menstruation and athletics, here is where we got some of our bleedsearch: https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/30908551 https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/08/17/how-periods-might-affect-womens-athletic-performance/ https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5011904 https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/kbdbwm/for-elite-athletes-periods-are-still-a-question-mark https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/19/emily-seebohm-i-won-olympic-golds-with-endometriosis-anything-is-possible

In this episode, we talk to Amanda about her new book, That's Mental (out now - go get it already), getting her period at an English boarding school and blaming PMS meltdowns on mental illness (we've all been there). We also learn that Meg T would do anything for approval in middle school (surprised?). Slap a pad in your swimming costume and hit that play button!

A lot can happen in a few months, and your hosts can prove it. We share Where We Bled, exciting NEW ways to bleed, and we do a love spell... with menstrual blood. Hold onto your cups and spin them widdershins — season three is hitting the ground bloody!

Mark your cycle-tracking calendars: Vicious Cycle is back with season 3 on November 13th! Are you following us on Instagram? You should be - we're full of surprises over there: @viciouscyclepodcast. See you on 11/13! Music: Beach Party by David Szetsay (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Szesztay

It's our last episode of season two, and we're sending you off into the menoPAUSE with song! We brought back the cast of Vicious Cycle the Musical to lay down some tracks, play some live performances, and share some never-before-heard B Sides. If you didn't get a chance to see the show in person, you can feel like you were there. Timecodes for each song are below, so you can enjoy this pod like an album. 7:45 - Welcome to Menstruation 11:19 - Don't Tell No One You're Bleeding 15:33 - In Your Vagina 19:31 - Carmen Miranda 23:46 - Need A Can 29:06 - Thank U Cups 33:26 - You Are Gonna Bleed All Right 38:40 - Menstrual Squad 42:28 - So I Leak 45:05 - Menstrual Bleeding 47:38 - Cryin' On My Own Happy bleeding and we'll see you for season three!

We managed to sit down with Luna in between her trips around the country doing stand-up to talk about her menstrual journey - and what a journey it has been. She tells us about growing up in Louisiana (and the unusual myth about periods there), her experience with PCOS, and introduces us to the term "down to clown." Make sure to clench those kegels during this ep, you might lose your tampon from laughing...

The hosts of "Sssh Periods" and grand prize winners of NPR's student podcast competition sat down (remotely) with your hosts to remind us what it was like to be in middle school. All the awkward memories flooded back in (like hiding your big ol' pad in your Lisa Frank trapper keeper on the way to the bathroom), but they also gave us a lot of hope. Go yell "period" from a rooftop and break down some taboos with us and these incredible bleeders.

Your blosts did their research and found that there are multiple ways you can use your own menstrual blood, and they range from sciency, to witchy, to... a little gross. Come for the pro-tips on how to utilize the flow you've been letting go – and stay for the surprise song. Pop in a cup and catch this episode!

You may have noticed our Instagram account is filled with sometimes beautiful, but more often than not hilarious, art inspired by periods (and if you don't follow us on IG, like, what are you waiting for?). Two of our favorite artists – Annie Wong and Crystal Ro – sat down with us to talk about their process, their periods, and we even get an exclusive excerpt from a teenage diary. Splash some menstrual blood on a canvas and listen in!

We're back with Dr. Kate White, and we jump right in talking about menopause, how stress affects your period, strange things pulled out of vaginas, and what the deal is when your period comes out in one long sheet (yeah, that's a real thing and Dr. Kate even sent us a pic...). Most importantly, we discuss how to find the right gyno for you, and it's so simple and SO IMPORTANT. Burn all the speculums and press play!

Two Megs. Two Kates. One pod. This week we bring you part one of our interview with the kind, patient, and wonderful Dr. Katharine White (Dr. Kate to us). And blisteners, you are going to learn so much and occasionally have your mind blown. In this episode, we cover early periods, unpleasant doctor visits, ecto-prego, and WHY IT'S BROWN. So throw your feet in some stirrups, scoot your butt down, and listen now.

Maybe you didn't know that eating disorders can affect menstruation... or maybe you know it all too well. This week, we learn about amenorrhea (the abnormal absence of a period) with health writer, podcaster, and bad ass human Michelle Konstantinovsky. She tells us about her experience with losing her period, disordered eating, and how to be an expert of your own damn body. Grab a snack (no judgment) and hit play.

World getting you down? Then this episode will pick you back up. We interview trailblazer Nadya Okamoto about her organization PERIOD and her recently published book Period Power - she's a leader in the menstrual movement and gave your hosts hope for the future. And we listen to blistener phone calls (one of which sparks a heated "would you rather" debate). Pop in some tamps and some buds and tune in!

We're wrapping up our hysterical interview with comedian Carla Lee in this week's episode, and we've got plenty of ground to cover. We talk about changing tampons while your children watch (and some interact!), we hear from more moms who called in, and we try to keep our sh*t together as Carla tells us her favorite lactation story. So, sidle up with a sippy cup and press play.

Blisteners! We had such a blast making this episode, we had to split it up (we blame all the laughter). In part one, we chat with Carla Lee: hilarious writer, actor and creator of Nice Tan comedy - oh, and mom to Julia. We ask Carla, and moms calling in, some questions about pregnancy, child birth, and periods all along the way. There's a first-period-post-pregnancy story that has got us SHOOK. Come bleed out with us!

Dying to hear the thrilling conclusion to Kathleen's interview? Are you ready to meet Rita? It's all happening in this week's episode. We cover staining your shorts (and the beauty of fast-drying fabric), expelling giant clots in your 50's (we nearly fainted), and learn that no two people menopause the same way. Pop in those earbuds and ride out your hot flash with us!

We are so honored to bring our moms (Deb, Kathleen and Rita) into your earholes. We asked about their first periods, menstruating in the 1960s... and menopause. Yeah, not only did we go there, they REALLY go there. In part one, you'll hear from Deb (Meg T's mom), and the first half of Kathleen's interview (Kate's mom). Grab your sanitary garter belt and your mom's hand and join us on this menstrual journey.

Maybe you've already heard (because we've been shouting it from the rooftops), but we wrote a musical about menstruation! We sat down with our cast - Gabby Momah, Alissa Sanchez and our very own Meg Hayes - to talk about their menstrual journeys...which includes cadavers somehow? And, of course, we give you a taste of a few songs.

Did ya hear a movie about periods WON AN OSCAR?! Yeah, we were pretty excited, too. So excited, we got Sophie Ascheim, a producer of the award winning film "Period. End of Sentence." to chat with us! We talked about making the film, as well as the Pad Project, bleeding at karate, and period lockers (aka, why Meg Hayes cried this week).

This week Meg T opens up about her recent ectopic pregnancy. Spoiler alert: she wouldn't recommend one. She takes you on the entire journey - from finding out, to treatment, and the inevitable miscarriage. Is this episode a little sad? Yes it is. But are there also lots of laughs and an enormous amount of love sent directly into your ear holes? BIG TIME. Find an overnight pad to hug for support and play on.

Since we started this podcast, we've been gathering questions about animals and menses, like: do female dogs wear diapers because of menstruation?; are chicken eggs periods?; and what does a spiny mouse say when she's bleeding? Good news - we've got answers to these important questions... and a song, of course. Snuggle up with a furry friend and hit play!

Standup comedian and journalist Francesca Fiorentini, from web series Newsbroke and podcast Bitchuation Room, joins your hosts in the studio (aka, Kate's living room) to cover all aspects of menstruation, including: DivaCups, periods in comedy, and the wonders of bloody pad art... which leads to your hosts showing off their own "masterpieces."

Whether you care about the planet, what you put in your body, or you're sick of throwing money away on disposable menstrual products, this week's episode is for you. We tried period underwear, reusable pads, and organic tampons, and we even rated them (by a blood drop rating, naturally). Pop out those tampons and pop in your earbuds. It's time for Vicious Cycle.

We had a Very Important Bleeder (VIB) in the studio with us! Liz Plank appears frequently on MSNBC, is Executive Producer and host of the Vox show Consider It, and created the Big Uterus Energy movement. We cover all things menstruation with Liz, like, for example, the unwritten law that if you are traveling, you WILL get your period. Oh, and stick around for a classic (read: V dumb) song at the end.

Vicious Cycle welcomes back Molly Sanchez - delightful and hilarious comedian and fellow podcast host. Molly’s back to kick off our book club, Bleeding Rainbow, and to dig into our first book: The Red Tent. There’s a lot to unpack - mainly, which mother from the book are you (Meg Hayes is SUCH a Zilpah). Pull up your pile of hay and free bleed with us! Oh, and give our friends at FMKLit a listen, too. We give you a taste of their pod in this episode.

We’re back, bleeders! And we’re jumping right into it with a menstrual cup disaster and a colposcopy! We also bring back the segment “Where Ya Bled” and FINALLY solve the mystery of Meg H’s “inverted pubic bone.” So grab some popcorn and your fave gyno and press play.

We're baaaaaaack! (almost back) We're so excited to announce that season two is dropping March 6th! And we wanted to give you a taste of the amazing bleeders we've been interviewing, including OUR MOMS. (scream emoji) Stock up on menstrual supplies because we're coming in hot! Music: Night Surfing by David Szetsay (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Szesztay/20170730112627067/

In the last episode of season one, we have multiple guests in the studio! First up, we have a chat with Natalie Kringoudis, doctor of Chinese Medicine and fellow podcast host, about hormones, misconceptions, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Then we have friend-of-the-pod Molly Sanchez with a little reading assignment to get us through the meno-PAUSE. Make sure to keep some tampons on ya, because WE'LL BE BACK.

Did you know that only 2-3% of US bleeders use reusable menstrual products? And that an average menstruator will dispose of 9,600 pads and tampons in their lifetime? Your hosts did all the research on menstrual cups, blisteners. You just pop in those earbuds, your preferred brand of cup, and press play.

The blisteners have commanded it, and Vicious Cycle delivered. The next two episodes are dedicated to menstrual cups. This week, we have callers who swear by them (a few even said it “changed their life”), and callers who were humbled by them (two of your hosts, actually…). Whether you’ve been thinking about trying menstrual cups, or you've been using one for years, you’ll want to listen to these episodes. So bear down, don’t clench, and tune in. (And call our hotline: 910-6-UTERUS!)

You’ve all (probably) had it, but you (probably) haven’t talked about it. WHAT IS IT? Period Sex. And your hosts break it down for you. We’ve got phone calls, pro-tips, and even our very own personal stories all around getting freaky when you’re bleeding. We also feature a new, fun game to play when society is bringing you down, and a SURPRISE SONG. So, lay out an old towel and get down with us.

Though your hosts have explained many “foolish and ill considered actions” as PMS, they wanted to know what premenstrual syndrome really is, and whether or not it’s real. And they found that men have pleeeeenty to say on the matter. Put on some sweats, eat some chocolate, and blow up at someone for no reason - you know what to blame it on.

If you’ve ever had your period and had to catch a flight, you know it’s a very special kind of hell. Now, imagine you’re muslim, in an era of threatened travel bans and celebrated racism… and you’re on the rag. Zainab Merchant’s story will have you yelling WTF to the skies… and your local lawmakers. Tuck those tampons in your carry-on and buckle up - it’s going to be an infuriating flight.

The period hotline has been ringing off the hook! This week, we listen to your messages, which touch on everything from weird boob pain to "period pants" to a very creative use of a sock. Plus, find out why your hosts have been non-stop sobbing all week. So, grab some tissues (or a maxi-pad because who ever has tissues?) and dab away your tears with us.

And now! The thrilling conclusion to last week’s interview with Nic Sommerfeld! It will shock. It will awe. It will make you say “whaaaaaaaaaaa?” Learn the term “uteri” along with your hosts and enjoy our newest segment: Throwback Why I Cried This Week. Slap on a liner and join us!

When the hosts of Vicious Cycle started the pod, they knew they wanted it to be a podcast for all bleeders - and not all bleeders are cis-women. In this week’s episode, we speak with two members of the Trans community - Nic Sommerfeld & Lucas Waldron - who open up to us about their periods... and for the first time ever, we've got a cliffhanger!

You know… THAT smell? The one we think everyone can smell but we also never talk about? Well, your hosts TALK ABOUT IT - and everything else that falls under “down-there-odor.” You can even hear them blushing through the microphones. So, spread your legs, take a whiff, and join Vicious Cycle’s boldest episode yet!

In the third and final installment in the Tampon Series, we talk about Tampon Taboos. The hosts discuss their thoughts on tampons growing up, and take phone calls from blistener’s with stories of where their tampon taboos came from. We touch on the Catholic church (as always), and other cultures’ feelings around tampons, and finally ask the tough questions, like: where IS the pee hole?

Do you know what’s in your tampon? Or how and why people get Toxic Shock? Have you been looking for reasons to quit tampons? LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE. Meg H lays out all the problematic issues with our favorite cotton wads - but don’t worry, there’s plenty of singing to lighten the mood.

In the first episode of The Tampon Series, the hosts of Vicious Cycle lay all their cards on the table and share their thoughts, experiences, and embarrassing truths about tampons. They also shed a little light on the history of tampons and the surprising ways they were marketed to women. Grab those strings and bear down, friends - it’s going to be a descriptive episode!

Remember the shame of sneaking away to the bathroom in high school on your period? The fear that everyone could see the pad sticking out of your back pocket, or the tampon discreetly up your sleeve? Meg H dives into a story about a network of charter schools in Chicago that make it even harder for young bleeders. Spoiler alert: this story really pisses off the hosts of Vicious Cycle… and they weren’t even blecording.

Your hosts have been tracking their periods to get a better understanding of their cycles - Kate and her period are BFFs, Meg H can’t stop talking about BM’s, and Meg T has more questions than ever. Also, Vicious Cycle asks the hard hitting questions, like: WHERE YA BLED? So, use that overnight pad as a neck pillow and tune in.

Your hosts sit down with a real-life bleeder who suffers from Endometriosis - and she gets REAL. Allison Page has dealt with Endometriosis since she was a teenager - in fact, she describes it as “tiny trolls with hatchets live in my dusty uterus.” She tells Vicious Cycle about how she deals with excruciating cramps, the numerous doctors who didn’t believe her, and navigating romantic relationships with the world’s worst period. Fill those menstrual cups with your fave liquor and press play.

Ever wondered why your insides revolt when you’re on your period? Or are you one of the lucky ones who “don’t really get cramps?” (By the way, how dare you.) This week’s episode goes into the science behind cramps, and the conditions that make it worse . So pop some midol and put on that heating pad. We got you.

Vicious Cycle loves that you’re calling the period hotline! Today, your hosts play some of your phone calls detailing the first time you got your period. So, sync up with us - don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of tampons.

There are a million great reasons to take birth control, but this week, Kate tackles the topic of what happens to your period when you’re on the pill (and the like) - hold onto your pads, it’s a doozy.

Get ready for a Super-Plus episode. The hosts of Vicious Cycle dive deep into nicknames for periods all around the world, the biology of why we bleed, and menstruation education from 2000 years ago to the 1950’s. Plus, we’ve got a little surprise for you at the end of the episode, so put on your period panties and get comfortable.

For their very first episode, Meg H., Kate & Meg T. discuss their very first periods. They dive into advice they got from their moms, what the Bible says about menstruation, and discover a theme that NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT!

Welcome to Vicious Cycle, the podcast about periods and the people who get them. We're here to demystify, bitch about and laugh at our monthly bleeds. Let's get into it!