Abiding Hysteria

About Abiding Hysteria

All too often, the health concerns of women and gender diverse people are ignored or dismissed. This podcast gives a platform for us to tell our stories, helping each other to feel less alone in our health journeys, with the hope of effecting positive changes in global healthcare systems.

Publisher

Rachael Woodard

Category

health & fitness · health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

29 Apr 2025

Latest episode

3 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   3 Feb 2026

   Invisible Illness with Emily Mendenhall

   In our second episode of the season, I have the pleasure of interviewing Emily Mendenhall, who is anthropologist, Guggenheim Fellow, and Professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She has authored six books, including Syndemic Suffering (https://www.routledge.com/Syndemic-Suffering-Social-Distress-Depression-and-Diabetes-among-Mexican/Mendenhall/p/book/9781611321425) (2012), Global Mental Health (https://www.routledge.com/Global-Mental-Health-Anthropological-Perspectives-1st-Edition/Kohrt-Mendenhall/p/book/9781611329247) ( 2015), Rethinking Diabetes (https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501738432/rethinking-diabetes/) (2019), Unmasked (http://vanderbi.lt/unmasked) (2022), Savoring Care (https://utppublishing.com/doi/book/10.3138/9781487565701) (2025) and Invisible Illness (https://www.ucpress.edu/books/invisible-illness/hardcover) (2026). She serves as Editor-in-Chief of a new publication, Science Politics (http://sciencepolitics.org/), and has written for Scientific American, Vox, and Psychology Today. In this episode we discuss her newest book, invisible illnesses, how power plays into medicine, and more. Please join me in welcoming Emily Mendenhall to the show! website: www.emilymendenhall.com (http://www.emilymendenhall.com/) book: Invisible Illness: A History, from Hysteria to Long Covid (https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Illness-History-Hysteria-COVID/dp/0520421523/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2A1MLAYU9FAVN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7f3qbq11Ipc-kzadkQH76JFdhpv4PI_U7tDNFGbyNes5rlrxflUmQnwL3d537Jw6BYUVjaA_Z2BfUOFAW1PZjbnNCYVpWPisQGuhkyF3nVrX8N-rVRl9F391thuXuVnXxfwxfnnEnStw0dxE1TlbOw.OpNwJVQCV0-BPmcv_3xGgyQAS3o3nrwDR7zCnq3Zrxg&dib_tag=se&keywords=invisible+illness+mendenhall&qid=1768412096&sprefix=invisible+illness+mendenhall%2Caps%2C111&sr=8-1) Find Emily on Substack! (https://substack.com/@emilymendenhall) Book launch on CSPAN! (https://www.c-span.org/program/book-tv/emily-mendenhall-invisible-illness-a-history-from-hysteria-to-long-covid/671918) Join us on Discord! (https://discord.gg/meqbZn6y) Find us on Social Media: @abidinghysteria on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/abidinghysteria), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/abidinghysteria/), TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@abidinghysteria), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@AbidingHysteria), Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/abidinghysteria.bsky.social), and Threads (https://www.threads.com/@abidinghysteria)! Become a Patron today for only $5 a month by clicking here! (https://www.patreon.com/c/AbidingHysteria)

2. 

   11 Jan 2026

   Chiari & Creativity with Author & Artist Rue Sparks

   In our premier episode of Season 2, I wanted to feature someone who is a longtime friend with a creative mind on just another level, Author and Artist Rue Sparks. Together we talk about their health story, Chiari malformation, their career, and more. I cannot recommend enough listening to the audiobook of their most recent novel, The Fable of Wren, as well as their other masterfully written and thoughtful works. According to their bio on https://ruesparks.com (https://ruesparks.com/), "Rue Sparks is a composite of neurosis and nonsense held together by duct tape and sheer stubbornness. They are at the conjunction of queer, disabled, and neurospicy identities with a background in illustration, digital media, and book publishing. There are common themes that tie their work together: found family, grief, queerness, mental health. They live in a rural Michigan town surrounded by forest on all sides so that they can opt out of humanity at will." Rue Sparks' Links from the show: Website: https://www.ruesparks.com/ (https://www.ruesparks.com/) BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/ruesparks.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/ruesparks.bsky.social) Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ruesparks (https://www.etsy.com/shop/ruesparks) Archetype: https://www.patreon.com/cw/archetypeproject (https://www.patreon.com/cw/archetypeproject) Don't forget to join our Discord to find other cool humans and discuss episodes, learn about upcoming guests, and more! Join here: https://discord.gg/PqXhtJjz

3. 

   2 Dec 2025

   Welcome to Womanhood: A Story of Medical Neglect with Guest Alice

   What should have been a celebration became a horror story for this month's guest, Alice. Join host Rachael Woodard in a conversation about womanhood, medical neglect, surgery recovery, and Alice's hopes for the future in this month's episode of the Abiding Hysteria podcast. Strong trigger warnings for the following: Graphic descriptions of wounds & healing; descriptions of the technicalities of gender confirmation surgery; body dysmorphia; discrimination; medical neglect, trauma, and gaslighting; major depression, and isolation.

4. 

   4 Nov 2025

   Childfree by Choice with Logan Kinch

   Join host Rachael Woodard as she interviews guest Logan Kinch about being childfree by choice, her health story, medical bias, and the intersection of these in her life. Trigger warnings for medical trauma regarding surgeries and pain. From the ages of sixteen to twenty one Logan Kinch underwent seven surgeries. After all of that pain and trauma Logan started her most difficult journey yet, getting a hysterectomy. Although endometriosis was damaging her quality of life and she has no desire to ever have children, bias always got in her way. Doctors prioritized the maternal role they wanted her to play over everything she wanted for her quality of life and future. At twenty five she finally had her eighth surgery, a partial hysterectomy. She hopes her story can normalize the desire to be child free, as well as validate others that do not wish to have children.

5. 

   7 Oct 2025

   A Chronically Cozy Conversation with Randi Pullar

   What does it take to run a business? A lot of time and energy, right? Imagine what it takes for someone with chronic illness or who is neurodivergent. In this episode of Abiding Hysteria, I sat down with Randi Pullar, of Chronically Cozy Life, to discuss what it's like being a neurodivergent chronically ill entrepreneur, helping others find their place in the world of entrepreneurship, the difference between the US and Canadian healthcare systems, and more. For more from Randi Pullar, check out her website at https://www.chronicallycozylife.com (https://www.chronicallycozylife.com) or find her online at @chronicallycozylife

6. 

   2 Sept 2025

   Running for Your Health: An interview with Ashley Bell, candidate for NC’s 10 District

   Join host Rachael Woodard and Ashley Bell, candidate for North Carolina's 10th district, in discussing Bell's career in healthcare, struggles with chronic illness, platform, and more! Ashley Bell is a lifelong public servant, educator, and healthcare professional running for Congress to bring compassion, competence, and common sense back to Washington. A physician associate, former public school teacher, and university professor, Ashley has spent her life putting people first — in the clinic, the classroom, and the community. Raised in rural East Texas by small business owners, Ashley became the first in her family to attend college, graduating from the University of Houston with help from scholarships, Pell Grants, and part-time jobs. She began her career as a band director in Texas public schools, then earned her PA credentials from Wake Forest School of Medicine and a doctorate from the University of Lynchburg. Ashley has treated thousands of patients, taught future healthcare providers, and witnessed how decisions in Washington impact real people. After developing a chronic illness and being denied disability accommodations by her employer, she experienced the devastating consequences of a broken system — and became a passionate advocate for disability rights and economic justice. She’s not a career politician. She’s a teacher, a healer, and a neighbor — running to expand access to healthcare, strengthen public education, protect reproductive freedom, and build an economy that works for everyone. Ashley believes leadership is about showing up, listening, and doing what’s right — even when it’s hard. Abiding Hysteria Podcast | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree (https://linktr.ee/abidinghysteria) Spotify Page - Abiding Hysteria Podcast (https://open.spotify.com/show/3kd946Q7QTzhME1q4Jk50J?si=760d649e5e214b09) YouTube - Abiding Hysteria Podcast (https://www.youtube.com/@AbidingHysteria) Instagram - Abiding Hysteria Podcast (https://www.instagram.com/abidinghysteria/) Facebook Page - Abiding Hysteria Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/abidinghysteria) Patreon (Only $5/month to support the show and get early access to episodes) (https://patreon.com/abidinghysteria)

7. 

   5 Aug 2025

   Dismissed, Misdiagnosed, and Nearly Too Late: An Interview with Amanda Buschelman

   When Amanda went to the ER, her primary care doctor had told her she had appendicitis and that she needed to be seen immediately. She'd previously had a full hysterectomy, so imagine her surprise when the ER physician diagnosed her with ovarian cysts. In a series of events that paints a harrowing picture of the bias in our healthcare system and medical gaslighting, Amanda finally left the ER with an incorrect diagnosis, still in extreme pain. After telling her story on TikTok, Amanda expected to see a few responses from other women agreeing that they had experienced bias in healthcare. When she woke up the next morning, her video had over 4 million views and thousands of comments from women telling their own horror stories. She tells us what that experience was like, where we go from here, and why it is so important that we tell these stories. Join us for this electrifying interview, and, if you are interested in telling your own story on the show, contact host Rachael Woodard at AbidingHysteria@gmail.com (mailto:AbidingHysteria@gmail.com) To support the show, become a Patron for only $5 a month at https://patreon.com/AbidingHysteria (Your support helps us continue to tell these important stories!)

8. 

   1 Jul 2025

   Navigating Gender Affirming Care and Cancer: Liana MacKenzie's Story

   Liana MacKenzie shares her experiences navigating gender affirming care and a cancer diagnosis, revealing challenges and triumphs in healthcare as a trans woman in an interview with Abiding Hysteria.

9. 

   3 Jun 2025

   Dr. Katherine Farris of Planned Parenthood

   Dr. Katherine Farris of Planned Parenthood discusses reproductive health and accessible care, highlighting the importance of sharing health stories, especially for those on the margins of society in this interview.

10. 

    27 May 2025

    Episode Zero - Baring My Scars

    Host Rachael Woodard intimately recounts her experiences navigating chronic pain and illness, revealing her motivation for launching the podcast to amplify marginalized voices and challenge systemic biases in healthcare.

11. 

    29 Apr 2025

    00 Trailer - Abiding Hysteria

    The trailer introduces Abiding Hysteria, a podcast focusing on women's and trans people's healthcare, primarily within the United States, aiming to improve care and lives through global collaboration.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

1,120

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 18 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

9

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

0

Contact Abiding Hysteria

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.