Episodios

  • 115. Frustration, Invisibility, and Endometriosis: How a Lack of Awareness Inspired a Book of Poems
    Feb 13 2026

    📌 Medical context disclaimer: see below.


    In this episode, Carey shares her personal journey with endometriosis, the years of pain, misdiagnosis, and the frustration she felt at how little awareness there is around this chronic condition. What started as a struggle became creative fuel, inspiring Carey to write a book of poems that give language to experiences many people know all too well.


    Find Carey here:

    IG @careylinnae

    Careysalerno.com


    Carey also mentions something a doctor told her: that endometriosis can lead to cancer later in life. While some research has observed associations between certain types of endometriosis and increased ovarian cancer risk, we include this conversation to acknowledge the fear many patients experience and to encourage informed discussions with medical professionals.

    📌 Medical context disclaimer: Some studies suggest that people with endometriosis, particularly more severe subtypes, may have a higher relative risk of certain ovarian cancers compared to those without endometriosis. Research is ongoing, and it has not been established that endometriosis directly turns into cancer.

    The study can be found here: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/endometriosis-types-ovarian-cancer-risk


    Sign up to be on the podcast and book list:

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@melissabou?⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Want to be on the show? Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcastthecycle@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Looking for help on your podcast: ⁠⁠https://www.inpostmedia.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Follow for clips of the show or DM us:

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thecycle.endopodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thecycleendopodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@MelissaBou⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Thank you for listening to and supporting this podcast. We need awareness about this disease. If you want to be on the podcast or have feedback, please reach out via my website, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.melissaboudreau.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Thank you SO much for your support and time.


    📢 Don’t forget to subscribe & leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people and keep advocating for better endometriosis care.


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    56 m
  • 114. Surviving the Long Endometriosis Diagnosis Journey + Becoming a Helpline Supporter
    Dec 17 2025

    In today’s episode, we sit down with Angela from the UK, an endometriosis warrior, author, and dedicated volunteer with Endometriosis UK.

    Angela opens up about her long and winding path to diagnosis, the years of symptoms that were dismissed, and the moment she finally felt seen and believed.

    We talk about what it means to navigate a condition that’s so often misunderstood, why patient support is absolutely vital, and how her own journey inspired her to help others through the Endometriosis UK helpline. Angela also shares the process of writing her book and the healing that came with telling her story.📘

    You can find Angela’s book here:⁠https://angelanewland.ampbk.com/⁠


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    26 m
  • 113. Endo. Cervical Cancer. A heart condition & fertility treatments.
    Nov 14 2025

    ✨ Trigger Warning: This episode includes conversations about fertility struggles, infertility, and pregnancy-related themes.


    In today’s episode, we chat with Amanda, an endometriosis and adenomyosis warrior whose journey has been anything but simple. Amanda opens up about navigating a heart condition, receiving a cervical cancer diagnosis, and walking through the emotional and physical toll of fertility treatments.

    Amanda always dreamed of becoming a mother, but she ultimately faced the heartbreaking truth that pregnancy wouldn’t be possible for her. Her honesty and strength offer a powerful reminder of the unseen layers of this disease and the grief, hope, and resilience so many of us carry.


    Find Amanda:

    Instagram: @amanda.leigh.martinez
    TikTok: @amanda.leigh.martinez



    📚 Check out my book pre-sale: ⁠https://books.manuscripts.com/product/grateful-anyway/⁠


    Sign up to be on the podcast and book list:

    ⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@melissabou?⁠⁠⁠


    Want to be on the show? Email us: ⁠⁠⁠podcastthecycle@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠


    Looking for help on your podcast: ⁠https://www.inpostmedia.com/⁠⁠⁠


    Follow for clips of the show or DM us:

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thecycle.endopodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thecycleendopodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@MelissaBou⁠⁠⁠


    Thank you for listening to and supporting this podcast. We need awareness about this disease. If you want to be on the podcast or have feedback, please reach out via my website, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.melissaboudreau.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Thank you SO much for your support and time.


    📢 Don’t forget to subscribe & leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people and keep advocating for better endometriosis care.


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    46 m
  • 112. Healing in the Fight - Fawn's journey to radical self-care and powerful memoir.
    Oct 17 2025

    In this powerful episode, Fawn Walker-Montgomery opens up about her fight with endometriosis, her advocacy journey, and the radical self-work that transformed her healing. Through pain, resilience, and reclamation, Fawn shares how she learned to reconnect with African spiritual practices like Hoodoo, and embrace radical self-care.

    💛 About Fawn’s Book:
    Healing in the Fight: A Black Woman’s Journey With Endometriosis and Radical Self-Care is a moving memoir that sheds light on the intersections of race, chronic illness, and patriarchy. Fawn’s story is a reminder of the power of reclaiming your body, your roots, and your voice.

    📲 Connect with Fawn:
    IG: @fawn_montgomery
    Facebook & Substack: Fawn Walker-Montgomery


    📚 Check out my book pre-sale: https://books.manuscripts.com/product/grateful-anyway/


    Sign up to be on the podcast and book list:

    ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@melissabou?⁠⁠


    Want to be on the show? Email us: ⁠⁠podcastthecycle@gmail.com⁠⁠


    Looking for help on your podcast: https://www.inpostmedia.com/⁠⁠


    Follow for clips of the show or DM us:

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thecycle.endopodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thecycleendopodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@MelissaBou⁠⁠


    Thank you for listening to and supporting this podcast. We need awareness about this disease. If you want to be on the podcast or have feedback, please reach out via my website, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.melissaboudreau.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Thank you SO much for your support and time.


    📢 Don’t forget to subscribe & leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people and keep advocating for better endometriosis care.



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    46 m
  • 111. A note of Gratitude and an exciting announcement!
    Sep 18 2025

    Hi! This show is all about how grateful I am for you and an exciting announcement!


    Sign up to be on the podcast and book list:

    https://forms.gle/eLP6MPdKPn3SVvWX6


    Want to be on the show? Email us: podcastthecycle@gmail.com


    Looking for help on your podcast: https://www.inpostmedia.com/https://www.inpostmedia.com/


    Follow for clips of the show or DM us:

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thecycle.endopodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thecycleendopodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MelissaBou


    Thank you for listening to and supporting this podcast. We need awareness about this disease. If you want to be on the podcast or have feedback, please reach out via my website, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.melissaboudreau.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Thank you SO much for your support and time.


    📢 Don’t forget to subscribe & leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people and keep advocating for better endometriosis care.



    Más Menos
    18 m
  • 110. From Patient to Advocate: Nicole’s Mission to Make Endo Surgery Accessible
    Aug 15 2025

    Nicole joins us from New Jersey to share her powerful, decade-long journey with endometriosis—a story marked by misdiagnoses, medical gaslighting, and unrelenting pain. Labeled with everything from IBS to anxiety, Nicole saw countless doctors across multiple specialties, yet none could give her the answers she desperately needed. It wasn’t until she underwent excision surgery with a true endometriosis specialist that the truth was revealed: 73 lesions removed from her bladder, uterus, colon, rectum, appendix, and two endometriomas—one larger than her uterus.

    Nicole founded Endo Excision For All: a nonprofit fighting for access to gold-standard care, especially for those failed by the system. In a world where excision surgery still isn’t properly covered by insurance, Nicole is leading the charge for change so others won’t have to suffer the way she did.


    Follow Nicole’s work and advocacy:
    🌐 Website: endoexcisionforall.org
    📲 Instagram: @endoexcisionforall


    Follow for clips of the show or DM us: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thecycle.endopodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thecycleendopodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Thank you for listening to and supporting this podcast. We need awareness about this disease. If you want to be on the podcast or have feedback, please reach out via my website, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.melissaboudreau.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Thank you SO much for your support and time.


    📢 Don’t forget to subscribe & leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people and keep advocating for better endometriosis care.



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    52 m
  • 109.Daily Pain from Endometriosis: Ren’s Fight to Be Heard
    Jul 11 2025

    In this episode, Ren joins us from Chicago to share her journey with chronic pain that began in early childhood. From daily stomach issues and struggles with eating to feeling misunderstood by friends, Ren opens up about what it’s like to live with an invisible illness. Her pain was dismissed until a ruptured ovarian cyst landed her in the ER and even then, answers didn’t come easily. Ren also experienced fainting episodes that added to the fear and confusion of not knowing what was happening in her body. Her story is raw, relatable, and a powerful reminder that being young doesn’t mean being healthy.


    Follow for clips of the show or DM us: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thecycle.endopodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thecycleendopodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Thank you for listening to and supporting this podcast. We need awareness about this disease. If you want to be on the podcast or have feedback, please reach out via my website, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.melissaboudreau.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Thank you SO much for your support and time.


    📢 Don’t forget to subscribe & leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people and keep advocating for better endometriosis care.



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    1 h y 3 m
  • Bonus Episode: Roon a trustworthy, free tool for people living with endometriosis, and many other health conditions.
    Jun 27 2025

    A new platform that can help us as endometriosis patients, and I wanted to share it with you all today to learn more about Roon. This is not a paid advertisement. I attended a webinar and fell in love with this app!


    Roon is a trustworthy, free tool for people living with endometriosis, PCOS, infertility, and many other health conditions. You can use it today by going to: roon.com/TheCycle

    You can also follow Roon on Instagram and TikTok: @roonwomenshealth

    My guest is here to tell us all about it:


    Alexa Tovsen, PA-C, MPH

    Alexa Tovsen is the Medical Content Lead at Roon, where she is committed to delivering accurate, accessible, and stigma-free health information. She is deeply passionate about advancing health equity and expanding access to reproductive and sexual healthcare, which she actively supports through her work as a Physician Assistant at Planned Parenthood in Boston. She received her Master’s in Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

    Follow for clips of the show or DM us: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thecycle.endopodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thecycleendopodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Thank you for listening to and supporting this podcast. We need awareness about this disease. If you want to be on the podcast or have feedback, please reach out via my website, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.melissaboudreau.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Thank you SO much for your support and time.


    📢 Don’t forget to subscribe & leave a review! Your support helps us reach more people and keep advocating for better endometriosis care.





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    39 m