The Pain Gap

73. Jennifer Dunatov on Birth Trauma, Medical Ethics, and the Fight for Justice in Childbirth

Jennifer Dunatov is a healthcare ethicist and birth justice advocate dedicated to exposing the ethical failures embedded within America’s maternal healthcare system. In this powerful episode of The Pain Gap, Jennifer joins Anushay Hossain for an unflinching conversation about birth trauma, informed consent, obstetric violence, and why childbirth remains one of the clearest reflections of systemic injustice in healthcare. Together, they unpack how racism, coercion, fear-based medicine, and the dismissal of women’s pain continue to shape birth experiences across the country, even at the most prestigious hospitals. Jennifer also explains the often misunderstood role of healthcare ethicists, revealing how ethics consults can help protect patient autonomy and slow down harmful, high-pressure decision-making in delivery rooms. The conversation explores emergency C-sections, medical paternalism, the emotional aftermath of traumatic births, and why so many women are left carrying invisible wounds long after childbirth. This episode is a raw, validating, and urgently necessary discussion about dignity, autonomy, and the fight to make maternal healthcare more ethical, humane, and just for every woman. Episode Resources: @jenniferdunatov [https://www.instagram.com/jenniferdunatov/](Instagram) @dr.jenniferdunatov [https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.jenniferdunatov](TikTok) www.jenniferdunatov.com [http://www.jenniferdunatov.com/] (website) The Pain Gap [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982177772?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_WW0H5Q9C6DHNRP1YKCNQ] Follow Anushay on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/anushayhossain/?hl=en] To learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website [https://anushayhossain.com/] or sign up for her substack [https://anushay.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=substack_profile]. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM @anushayhossain or email me at thepaingap@gmail.com

72. Special Episode: One on One with Anushay - Confronting Hate, Racism & the Rise of Authoritarianism with Deeyah Khan

Deeyah Khan was raised in Norway by Pakistani and Afghan parents. Deeyah reflects on growing up feeling caught between worlds and how art, activism, and music became both refuge and resistance. She shares how her early experiences shaped her Emmy and BAFTA-winning work documenting white supremacy, violent extremism, gender-based violence, and the dangerous rise of authoritarian movements around the world. Anushay and Deeyah dive into some of the defining issues of our era: Muslim identity in the West, honor-based violence, white supremacy in America, Christian nationalism, media complicity, immigration, and the global backlash against women’s rights and democracy. Deeyah speaks candidly about embedding herself with neo-Nazis and extremists for her documentaries White Right: Meeting the Enemy and Jihad: A Story of the Others, revealing what she learned about fear, hate, belonging, and the possibility of human connection even in the most divided spaces. Together, they examine how silence enables oppression — and why hope itself can become an act of resistance. At its core, this episode is a conversation about courage: the courage to speak honestly, confront injustice, reject fear, and build solidarity across borders and differences. Deeyah offers a powerful reminder that no one is coming to save us — that meaningful change depends on ordinary people choosing compassion, truth, and action. This is one of The Pain Gap’s most timely, provocative, and unforgettable conversations yet. Episode Resources: Deeyah Khan's Website [https://deeyah.com/] Deeyah Khan's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/deeyahkhan/] The Pain Gap [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982177772?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_WW0H5Q9C6DHNRP1YKCNQ] Follow Anushay on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/anushayhossain/?hl=en] To learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website [https://anushayhossain.com/] or sign up for her substack [https://anushay.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=substack_profile]. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM @anushayhossain or email me at thepaingap@gmail.com

71. From Tradwives to Tech: The Fight for Reproductive Autonomy with Mara Santilli

Mara Santilli is a journalist and researcher asking some of the most urgent and uncomfortable questions about women’s health, power, and who gets to control our bodies. Mara is a leading voice examining the intersection of contraception, culture, and systemic inequality. Her work unpacks everything from the rise of “tradwife” content and anti-birth control rhetoric to the deeply rooted histories of eugenics, coercion, and misinformation that still shape reproductive care today. In this conversation, we get into what’s really driving the resurgence of anti-contraception narratives, how social media is reshaping our understanding of “choice,” and why Mara says we cannot afford to be lied to about birth control. We also talk about data privacy, medical mistrust, and what true reproductive autonomy should actually look like in 2026, because this isn’t just about health. It’s about power, access, and the right to informed choice. If you’ve ever questioned the narratives you’re seeing online or felt like something deeper is going on beneath the surface, this episode will give you language, context, and clarity. Episode Resources: Keep in touch with Mara on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/maracsantilli/], Bluesk [https://bsky.app/profile/maracsantilli.bsky.social]y, LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maracsantilli/], or on maracsantilli.com [http://maracsantilli.com/] The Pain Gap [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982177772?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_WW0H5Q9C6DHNRP1YKCNQ] Follow Anushay on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/anushayhossain/?hl=en] Little Saints [https://littlesaints.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=brand&utm_term=ags&tw_source=google&tw_adid=695845965046&tw_campaign=21058338863&tw_kwdid=kwd-2271907345383&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21058338863&gbraid=0AAAAABokWWboHCC-pAK7cdDMZrAkNDjk_&gclid=CjwKCAjwhLPOBhBiEiwA8_wJHBUUfMXtXunwLsV0xuvattkntHRhbHbZkmIDOKvOCvqJ7kGAG1hKwRoC9-IQAvD_BwE] To learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website [https://anushayhossain.com/] or sign up for her Substack, [https://anushay.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=substack_profile] where she writes about women's health, politics, and power. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM @anushayhossain or email me at thepaingap@gmail.com

70. Kellie Pean & Alyssa Convertini-Lindquist on Motherhood, Money, and Modern Leadership

We’re joined by Kellie Pean and Alyssa Convertini-Lindquist, co-founders of Brand New: A Collective, a bicoastal, award-winning marketing agency spanning creative, strategy, experiential production, and talent partnerships. But beyond building a powerhouse agency rooted in cultural insight, Kellie and Alyssa are redefining what leadership looks like for women, especially in industries that weren’t built with them in mind. In this conversation, we go far beyond marketing. We get into the realities of being women navigating corporate America, the moment you realize your work is valued differently, and what it takes to advocate for yourself, financially, professionally, and personally. From being talked over in meetings to having their ideas credited to male colleagues, their stories are a powerful reminder of the systemic challenges women still face and of what it takes to walk away and build something better. We also explore the invisible labor women carry, especially in the workplace, where leadership, caregiving, and identity constantly intersect. Kellie and Alyssa open up about motherhood, sacrifice, and the myth of “having it all,” offering an honest look at what it actually takes to lead while navigating the demands of life outside of work. Episode Resources: Connect with Kellie and Alyssa on their Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/brandnewacollective/] Brand New: A Collective [https://www.brandnewacollective.com/about] The Pain Gap [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982177772?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_WW0H5Q9C6DHNRP1YKCNQ] Follow Anushay on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/anushayhossain/?hl=en] Little Saints [https://littlesaints.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=brand&utm_term=ags&tw_source=google&tw_adid=695845965046&tw_campaign=21058338863&tw_kwdid=kwd-2271907345383&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21058338863&gbraid=0AAAAABokWWboHCC-pAK7cdDMZrAkNDjk_&gclid=CjwKCAjwhLPOBhBiEiwA8_wJHBUUfMXtXunwLsV0xuvattkntHRhbHbZkmIDOKvOCvqJ7kGAG1hKwRoC9-IQAvD_BwE] To learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website [https://anushayhossain.com/] or sign up for her Substack, [https://anushay.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=substack_profile] where she writes about women's health, politics, and power. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM @anushayhossain or email me at thepaingap@gmail.com

69. You Are Not Broken: The Truth About Women’s Health with Dr. Kelly Casperson

We’re joined by urologist, author, and one of the most unfiltered voices in women’s sexual health, Dr. Kelly Casperson. What started as one patient’s pain became a complete career shift, one that led Dr. Casperson to uncover just how deeply women are underserved, dismissed, and undereducated when it comes to their bodies, especially in midlife and beyond. In this conversation, we get into the systemic gaps in women’s healthcare, from the shocking disparities in how men’s and women’s sexual health are treated to the myths that still surround menopause and hormone therapy. Dr. Casperson breaks down why so many women are told to “wait until it gets worse,” why pleasure is still treated like a luxury instead of a health issue, and how misinformation continues to shape care at every level. We also talk about the emotional toll of feeling “broken,” the cultural conditioning that keeps women from advocating for themselves, and what it actually looks like to reclaim ownership over your body, your health, and your voice. Episode Resources: Dr. Kelly Casperson's first book, “You Are Not Broken: Stop Should-ing All Over Your Sex Life,” [https://amzn.to/3vH3Jbh] is available on Amazon and Audible. Order The Menopause Moment [https://amzn.to/42Y2DrG]: Mindset, Hormones, and Science for Optimal Longevity Find Dr. Kelly Casperson's website at www.kellycaspersonmd.com [http://www.kellycaspersonmd.com/] Dr. Kelly Casperson's Instagram [https://instagram.com/kellycaspersonmd] Dr. Kelly Casperson's YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@kellycaspersonmd] Dr. Kelly Casperson's Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-are-not-broken/id1495710329] Dr. Kelly Casperson's Facebook [https://facebook.com/youarentbroken] Private Membership [https://www.kellycaspersonmd.com/membership] Information The Pain Gap [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982177772?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_WW0H5Q9C6DHNRP1YKCNQ] Follow Anushay on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/anushayhossain/?hl=en] Little Saints [https://littlesaints.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=brand&utm_term=ags&tw_source=google&tw_adid=695845965046&tw_campaign=21058338863&tw_kwdid=kwd-2271907345383&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21058338863&gbraid=0AAAAABokWWboHCC-pAK7cdDMZrAkNDjk_&gclid=CjwKCAjwhLPOBhBiEiwA8_wJHBUUfMXtXunwLsV0xuvattkntHRhbHbZkmIDOKvOCvqJ7kGAG1hKwRoC9-IQAvD_BwE] To learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website [https://anushayhossain.com/] or sign up for her Substack, [https://anushay.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=substack_profile] where she writes about women's health, politics, and power. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM @anushayhossain or email me at thepaingap@gmail.com