pod bites: Me, Myself and My Vagina with Catherine Elbourn
“The aim is really just to shatter the taboo, break the silence and just basically raise awareness and topics that us as females don't necessarily want to speak about or we find too embarrassed to talk about.”
Our featured podcast host in this episode is Catherine Elbourn, host of Me, Myself and My Vagina.
When Catherine experienced a pelvic organ prolapse she had no idea how common it was, with one in three women experiencing it in their lifetime.
Her podcast aims to shatter the taboo and help women realise it’s nothing to be ashamed of through sharing real life stories and bringing in the experts.
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Catherine’s links
The podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/me-myself-and-my-vagina-podcast/id1614455732
The instagram: https://www.instagram.com/me_myself_and_my_vagina
Catherine’s podcast picks:
The Perception Coach: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-perception-coach-podcast/id1565733976
Prefer to read? Read the transcript below.
Got a show you’d love to hear on my podcast? Tell me about it!
Alison: [00:00:00] Welcome to pod bites where we go behind the scenes with podcasters. My name is Alison Fraser and today's guest is Catherine Elbourn, who is the host of the Me, Myself and My Vagina podcast.
So welcome to the show, Catherine. Thank you for having me. I'm really intrigued by the name of your podcast. So can you tell the listeners what it's about?
Catherine: Yeah, so basically the podcast is about women's health, fitness and well being. So the aim is really just to shatter the taboo, break the silence and just basically raise awareness and topics that us as females don't necessarily want to speak about or we find too embarrassed to talk about.
But we should talk about it because we shouldn't be embarrassed by it. A lot of the things are natural and because you are probably not the only one who's going through it. So I think it's just a really good idea that we share stories. I'm not obviously medically trained, so I can't say you know, this is what you should be doing from a medical point of view, the [00:01:00] whole point is if I can help someone feel that they aren't alone then that's kind of basically the aim of the podcast.
Alison: What was it that got you started with this podcast? I mean, how do you go from just being a woman going about her normal daily life to starting a podcast with the word vagina in a title?
Catherine: So basically I was diagnosed with a prolapse with a pelvic organ after the birth of my child. So she was about two.
And it was something that I would ne was never told about or never knew anything about. I just. was a bit naive and just only I'd heard about prolapses and just thought that old people got them. And I didn't realize that they could be related to birth. And I remember being in the doctors and being diagnosed and my world just like fell apart.
And then one day I just remember like sitting there thinking I can't, I can't be the only person who is experienced what I'm experiencing, and it has got better over the years but when I was diagnosed I [00:02:00] was very little information about it. And I didn't quite know where to turn I felt quite alone, and I just don't didn't want women to feel that way either. So I thought let's create a podcast about it. Yeah. Hence me, myself and my vagina. So even though it's, the aim was predominantly about prolapses it's kind of now grown into like mental health like, cause I'm, my background is fitness and I'm a qualified personal trainer.
So I kind of bring the two elements together as well. So that's kind of how it came about.
Alison: I love it. You do have do you get much listener feedback about your podcast?
Catherine: Yeah I do. A lot of it is so within my podcast, I don't edit. I just literally press record and talk about whatever the topic is.
I've had guests on it as well from like the professional kind of experts in so women's health physios. I've had sex therapists as well.[00:03:00] I've had people like myself who have experienced a prolapse and had had very different journey to mine. So obviously I've had my journey, but not everyone's journey is going to be the same.
So it's quite interesting to hear kind of their journey and their experience as well. So it's this podcast, the feedback is very, very positive. I've never, I haven't had any kind of like negative feedback about it. I think people are just pleased. I suppose that someone is just talking about it from a personal point of view, because I think it's quite hard once you've had a prolapse.
No one really understands what it's like to have a prolapse until you've actually had one. You know, you can speak to someone about it. People can show, say, you know, support in a lot of ways, but there's a lot of things that people just won't understand. So for example, I can't wear a tampon because it will fall out.
It doesn't fit properly. I can't wear a coil for that same reason. You know, that feeling where you think your vagina is going to fall out it's quite it's quite surreal. So it's just nice to talk about those things as well. And also things that I like having [00:04:00] sex with the prolapse as well, you know, again, it's not a topic that probably people talk about, but I remember it was like being a virgin for the first, like, again, and just kind of experienced, like, it very much, it's the emotional side of it.
It's not just the physical side of it, like the prolapse, it's the emotional side of it that comes with it as well, the mental health that I open up about. And again, it's topics that we probably feel but we just don't know how to approach them or we don't know how to talk to them and about them to other people and initially I because of my background my sense of humour could be quite warped and I certainly use my humour as my coping mechanism but obviously that's not always the, the right way to do it so I wasn't, Really dealing with the problem as such.
And I had counseling so I open up about that as well. But yeah, feedback has been really positive. I think people are quite shocked when I tell them what it's like , that I've got a podcast and people don't believe me. Sometimes it's like, yeah, I do, it’s on Spotify! have a look.
Alison: For listeners who may not have heard about prolapses[00:05:00] can you just explain in as simple a terms as possible what you mean by a prolapse?
Catherine: Yes, It's just basically what the organs will just fall down and create kind of like a bulge. so it could be the uterus That was my symptom. But again, people have very different symptoms to me.
In regards to mine, I've been really lucky. So people can have incontinence with it. People can have painful sex. You get like a heaviness. feeling around it. And the thing I want to point out is it's not just childbirth, which I thought it was. But it's not, it's menopause can cause prolapses as well.
It's a lot of kind of like different lifestyle effects can cause it. It's not, I think people assume that it's just once you've had a baby, you'll, you probably are more likely to have a prolapse, but it's not just pregnancy itself. There's a lot of different reasons why. And to be fair, considering how common it is one in three women can actually have a prolapse as a result of childbirth.
Why aren't we talking about it? Like, why don't we know more about it? You know, 50% of the population is female, there or [00:06:00] thereabouts, and one in three is going to potentially have one. Again, different severities. So, but why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we know about these things prior to having a baby or, you know, prior to just it's, it's growing up, isn't it?
It's about how important your pelvic floor is. Cause I think a lot of people talk about their pelvic floor exercises and that can help prevent and it can help kind of with a prolapse as well and not necessarily just cure it on its own. People might need other interventions, but I don't think people really know how to do their pelvic floor exercises, they can just go, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I do, but I don't think we really know how to, so I was lucky with my fitness background, I had a bit more of an understanding of it so it's kind of like a, there's an education around my podcast as well, so it's not just me sharing my story, it's kind of things to look out for as well, what to do if you think you have a prolapse, you know, who, who you should turn to, because I think that's where I was a bit lost as well, When you have a baby, you know, your priority, your health is like it [00:07:00] goes down the kind of the priority ladder, I suppose.
And I knew something wasn't quite right, but I just pushed out an eight pound 12 baby. So of course, my vagina is not going to look normal anymore. So it was a bit like this must be my new normal. But. It just didn't sit right, if that makes sense. And then I remember having my first smear test after, and the nurse was like, oh, have you got any gynae problems?
I was like, well, not really, but it just doesn't look quite right. And I think, and she's like, well, book an appointment. And, and it's become, that's basically for me where it started. So it's, yeah, it's an education and a support network as well, really, as well as kind of, yeah, talking about what, how I experienced my prolapse.
Alison: I never knew that prolapses were quite so common. Yeah. That's phenomenal, really, when you say that there is. Pretty much nothing out there to educate us about it.
Catherine: Yeah, I mean, some women will have no symptoms at all. They can kind of live a normal life being absolutely fine. Whereas others, others can have really quite severe and [00:08:00] a pessary, where it looks like a bit of a donut, I suppose, and you insert it and it just supports your pelvic floor. law and supports and pushes up the pelvic organ as well. So yeah, there again, I think it is scary. Like when you, like anything, if you like look on YouTube and you can see some random pictures and you're like, oh my God, like Jesus, is that what it looks like?
You know, and it can be quite daunting, I think as well. So just making sure you are going to the right websites as well, you know, to get making sure that kind of accredited websites like the NHS. Rather than just kind of just googling it and hopefully looking at some things. Again, we google that. I mean, the internet is good.
Don't get me wrong. But you get quite extremes, extreme stories on there. You kind of get the really nice ones, the really extreme. You don't kind of get the bit in the middle. And I personally think that I sit in that middle bit.
Alison: Have you found it easy to get guests onto your podcast? Knowing the topic.
Catherine: Yeah. Do you know what? Yeah, [00:09:00] I have. And then funnily enough, I've a lot of my guests have actually just been people I've met on Instagram. I've either followed them and just pretty much asked them, dmm them going, wanna be on my podcast. obviously explained what it's all about. I have had, like, I've obviously, I asked people that have an interest in that area, so obviously women's health, physios I've had.
Like a couple of people who have Instagram pages that also have prolapses themselves, so they're kind of quite open on there. Because obviously, it's, what you don't want to do is obviously, you get the feel whether someone wants to be your guest or not, because it's quite a personal topic, then I would totally understand if no one wants to be as open about it as what I am.
But in regards to guests, the people that I've asked, they've all kind of said yes, thank goodness.
Alison: Have you had any, like, memorable moments on your podcast? Things that stand out?
Catherine: So For me, because I don't, I, I just let it go with the flow, if that makes sense. [00:10:00] I don't really script it. So it's very authentic. So I've cried on there, on my podcast. I've laughed hard. And it's just So I don't really have a a one of me memorable as such.
I just find it fascinating. So I spoke with, we were speaking to a a sex therapist and we'd done two episodes. So one was about sex after a baby, because obviously you feel very differently about sex once you've had a baby. And how to kind of, I suppose, get back on the sex train if you want for another word 'cause it can be kind of quite off-putting. It can be quite daunting. And I think. For me personally, I definitely saw my body. I didn't see it in a sexual way. It had done its job. If that makes sense, I've created a baby. That's what I'm designed to do. And it was very hard to kind of a mindset to flip it.
So that was really interesting. And I just remember just sitting there in silence quite a lot. I was like, I don't think I've really spoken a lot in this episode because you just cut. Yeah. I was just so in awe of what she was saying. And I've always also spoken about female [00:11:00] masturbation as well, because again, most people probably do it but not everyone's going to go put their hand up and admit it, but it's so beneficial and it's a great way to kind of rediscover your body and what you, because of what you liked in your 20s you might not like now, and particularly after a baby you can kind of work with, like, limitation there might be so much that you want to do at the moment and you can kind of build up and build up and build up so that was again really just really interesting.
But memorable parts now I just, I think I giggle quite a bit.
Alison: It sounds like you've had a lot of memorable moments though on your podcast.
Catherine: I think, yeah, I just, I, yeah, like I fluster, I make mistakes. Yeah. Oh, yo, yes, yes. Sorry. So one of my podcast episodes was about like, what do you call yours?
So, It was about like what to be called our vagina of the vulva. So I think personally we should just call it what it is and anatomy's me. It's in books. We should just call it what it is. Why do we make up kind of words? And it, what got me thinking was when I had a [00:12:00] daughter, so when she was younger, we kind of used to call it like her bits and bobs and I was like, but why are we doing that?
Because. It's cute and it's endearing, but it's not actually what it's called. So now she's a little bit older, she does call it vagina and it does bite me in the bum sometimes because she can be in the middle of the supermarket going “vagina!’
Alison: Oh god
Catherine: Yes. But I was doing a bit of research and I, some of the names were just, some can be quite crass, can be quite crude.
And I'd heard one of them was oh, what was it? Like a penis fly trap or a penis burger and I was like, I've not heard that at all and I just remembered, like, oh my god, this is just insane. So that was quite an interesting episode.
Alison: It sounds like a fun one, you should check that one out. What podcasts are on your playlist at the moment?
Like, can you just pick one or two that you like to listen to?
Catherine: Yeah, so my main one at the moment [00:13:00] is the perception coach. So it's all about mindset. Because when I started my podcast, it was so out of my comfort zone comfort zone. And I, I doubted myself quite a lot because I think it's like, who is anyone going to listen?
Does anyone really want to know my story? And there is that kind of like that moment because I think as well that it was a way for me to do my podcast. I was like rediscovering myself as well. So I think you do lose yourself as a mom a little bit because your focus is on your children, but when they get to a certain age, you start to think like, what do I want to, you kind of a bit of a revisit your life, I suppose.
And it kind of gives you a new outlook on life and like, do you want to carry on with what you're doing? Do you want to make changes or not? So I thought, let's just kind of do something completely random. So. I listened to him, the perception coach, because it's very much about mindset and about like the imposter syndrome he talks about and just kind of gives you a bit more self confidence and belief in what you're doing and that you are good enough.
And, you know, it's, [00:14:00] if you love, you know, that's your ultimate goal, like why you're doing it, your goals, what do you want to kind of get out of it and it's yeah it's really interesting to listen.
Alison: Cool, I'll put a link to that in the show notes. So thanks for sharing. And what tip would you give to someone who is perhaps thinking about starting a podcast or has just started?
Catherine: Just, just do it. I think that was my biggest, not mistake, but I was a bit like, I was really nervous. So you can record your podcast however many times you want. You know, I think I recorded my first one about five times. I was like, Oh no, delete that one. I don't like it. Oh no. Oh God, I sound really weird.
And It's just, I think it's just taking the leap and actually doing it. I've learned so much along the way. So my podcast now is two years old. And again, I'm still, I'm still learning. So I haven't got a posh studio. I literally have a laptop, a microphone, and I'm in my dining room on the kitchen table.
You know, that is my studio. So you don't have to have expensive equipment. Obviously, if you are, wanting to then you can [00:15:00] obviously, but you can do it on a budget if you want to maybe look for some kind of, there are some excuse me Facebook support groups or networking for podcasts, which is really good.
You get quite a lot of good advice on there as well. I do have a book, so I carry a notebook around with me. And if I just get an idea for like an episode, I'll just write that down. So it's one of those, and they can come at random points. It's like, oh yeah, that'd be really good. I'll just write it down, maybe just a few notes.
And it might not be in a logical order to how you want it to do it, but I've just got like a, yeah, a little notebook that I carry around. And I think I've got like 50 different ideas and it's not necessarily the ideas that I might not go to again but it's just having that kind of if you have that idea and at least you can kind of write it down.
And guests are always good to come on to as well I'd say, and, but obviously they've kind of got to be in your niche as well and they've got to feel if someone says no don't kind of be. It just wasn't for them. Do you know what I mean? It's just, I think it's quite a personal thing and [00:16:00] particularly for my podcast itself, when we're talking about prolapses, women's health is quite a personal topic.
So I'm not expecting everyone to go, even though they have so far, touch wood, have said yes. There may be people that won't want to. And I think to be fair, I kind of get a feel if you know that they want to be a guest or not, if that makes sense. But if you're thinking about starting, I just say, just start, just do it.
If you've started, just enjoy the process. You're going to make mistakes. You're going to kind of fluff it up. Some are going to sound better than others. And you'll find that some actually episodes are more popular than others. And it's just depending on what people are interested in. But just keep going with it.
Alison: Well, thank you so much. They're all really good tips and some really good advice. I love the bit about having a notebook because, yeah, you never know when those ideas will come.
Catherine: And yeah, they've come at the most random times and it's just like, oh yeah, I'll just write that one down.
Alison: It's been awesome to hear about the Me, Myself and My Vagina podcast and what you're doing to help promote women's [00:17:00] health and, and educate us.
When, you know, we might not have those resources so close to hand. So thanks so much for what you're doing, Catherine. And yeah, keep going.
Catherine: Oh, thank you.
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