The Fifth Wave

Movement is one of the most powerful…and overlooked…tools for women’s long term health. In this episode of The Fifth Wave, insights from sport and exercise physician Dr. Tina Atkinson, athletic trainer Kaelin Agar, strength coach Michelle MacDonald and neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Galea help to break down how every day activity can transform women’s physical, mental and cognitive well being. From age related muscle loss to the mental health benefits of exercise, to a stunning fitness transformation that began at age 70, this episode reframes movement as essential medicine. The message is clear, women don’t need perfection or extreme workouts. They need consistent, enjoyable movement that supports strength, energy, longevity and confidence. Key takeaways: Movement is medicine. Especially for women. Women lose bone density and muscle mass earlier and faster than men. Regular strength training and daily activity significantly reduce the risk of osteoporosis, mobility issues and chronic disease. You don’t need intense workouts. You need consistency. Experts emphasize that walking, light strength work and movement you genuinely enjoy are more sustainable and far more impactful than short bursts of extreme effort. It’s never too late to get stronger. Michelle MacDonald’s 70 year old mother transformed her health with simple, consistent training. Proving that women can build strength function and confidence at any age. The thing you really NEED to know: Exercise is more effective than medication in preventing stroke and heart disease, which are the top causes of death for women. Small, consistent habits can literally save lives. ---Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode)Dr. Tina Atkinson, sport and exercise physician, Chief Medical Officer of The Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic; Maritime Sport Medicine; LinkedIn ProfileKaelin Agar, athletic trainer, Agar AthleticsMichelle MacDonald, fitness and strength coach, founder and CEO of The Wonder Women; Train With JoanDr. Liisa Galea: Treliving Family Chair in Women’s Mental Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; https://www.galealab.com/

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 people who menstruate, nearly 190 million worldwide. Yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed women’s health conditions. In this episode of The Fifth Wave, public health Dr. Martina Alberani, women’s health advocate Maggie Archibald and Jocelynn Cook of the SOGC break down what endometriosis is, why severe period pain is not normal, and how stigma, a lack of education and long surgical wait times keep millions suffering, many in silence. This episode exposes the systemic barriers that prevent early diagnosis and effective care. Our guests also outline the critical reforms needed, like better menstrual education, improved physician training, expanded surgical capacity and national policy change. Key takeaways: Endometriosis is common, but chronically dismissed. Symptoms often mimic other conditions, like IBS and bladder issues. With no simple test and ongoing stigma around menstruation, diagnosis can take 5-12 years. Lack of education fuels delayed care. Many adolescents grow up believing debilitating period pain is just a part of life. Clinicians often receive too little training, and imaging frequently misses the disease. System level change is essential. Experts call for better surgical access, updated wait time strategies, stronger medical training, menstrual health education and investment in women’s health research, which still makes up only 7% of Canada’s research funding. The thing thing you really NEED to know: Severe period pain is NOT normal. If your pain disrupts school, work, or daily life, it deserves medical attention, and could be endometriosis. ---Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode) Jocelynn Cook, Chief Scientific Officer for the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada Dr. Martina Alberani, public health resident and chair of the Young Women’s Health Group; LinkedIn Profile Maggie Archibald, women’s health advocate LinkedIn Profile Jennifer Gillivan, president and CEO, IWK Foundation; LinkedIn ProfileResources:The Endometrosis Network Canadayourperiod.ca

In this episode of The Fifth Wave, we expose the deep rooted gender bias baked into women’s healthcare, from being dismissed as “emotional” to receiving later diagnoses and poorer mental health support. Featuring insights from healthcare leaders, psychologists and researchers, we uncover how systemic bias, outdated medical norms and the invisible mental load are shaping women’s physical and mental health. The message is clear: women are carrying a burden that is neither imagined or inevitable and the system must change. Key takeaways: Women’s symptoms are routinely dismissed. Often with real consequences. Experiencing fatigue and pain, women are often told they are “overreacting”, “emotional”, or imagining symptoms. This bias delays diagnoses, worsens outcomes and erodes trust in the healthcare system. The mental load and systemic pressures hit women hard. Caregiving, workplace expectations and societal norms create a perfect storm. This invisible labour intensifies stress, fuels mental health struggles and disproportionately affects mothers, women of colour and those facing economic barriers. Healthcare research still centers on men and women pay the price. With 97% of research historically based on men or sex neutral models, women’s symptoms are misunderstood, mislabeled or minimized. Even postpartum depression studies face pushback for not including male subjects despite biology making that impossible. The thing you really NEED to know:Women are still diagnosed two years later than men across more than 1,300 medical conditions, including depression, anxiety and Alzheimer's disease. Not because their symptoms are rare, but because their symptoms are labeled “atypical”, even when women make up the majority of cases. ---Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode)Dr. Liisa Galea, Treliving Family Chair in Women’s Mental Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; https://www.galealab.com/Dr. Christine Korol, registered psychologist https://drchristinekorol.ca/Dr. Naomi Giberson, licensed psychologist and co founder and COO of Nestwell Health; LinkedIn ProfileJennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation: LinkedIn Profile

In this episode of The Fifth Wave, Avis Favaro shows us the quiet crisis in women’s health. Underfunded research. Outdated medical devices. And training tools that are so inadequate, they border on the unbelievable - like teaching perineal suturing on a sponge. Through conversations with innovators reshaping Femtech and reproductive health, including Christine Goudie of Granville Biomedical, Rashmi Prakash of Aruna Revolution and Rachel Bartholomew of HighIvy Health, we explore why women continue to be left behind in medical research, product design and clinical training. From pacemakers never tested on women, to menstrual products dismissed as “niche” , this episode shines a light on systemic biases and barriers. And it highlights the entrepreneurs who are fighting to build a healthcare system where women are finally prioritized. Key Takeways: Women’s health is dangerously under researched. Diseases affecting men receive double the funding. Many medical devices, from pacemakers to pelvic tools, were developed without accounting for women’s bodies. Outdated and inadequate training harms patient safety. Medical residents have long been trained using sponges, fruit or cow tongues, leaving them unprepared for real procedures on women’s bodies.Femtech leaders are rewriting the system from the ground up. Innovators like Goudrie, Prakash and Bartholomew are creating accurate anatomical models, rethinking menstrual care and driving policy advocacy. The thing you NEED to know: Women make up 50% of the population, yet are still excluded from medical studies, device testing, funding priorities and even basic clinical training. The consequences are harming real women every day. Change starts with education, advocacy and refusing to accept that “This is the way we’ve always done it.”---Guest Info/CTAs/Resources (pertaining to the episode):Christine Goudie, Co founder and CEO, Granville Biomedical: LinkedIn ProfileRashmi Prakash, CEO Aruna Revolution: LinkedIn ProfileRachel Bartholomew, founder and CEO, HighIvy Health, Femtech Canada and Femtech Across Borders: LinkedIn ProfileJennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation: LinkedIn Profile

Artificial Intelligence is not just here, it’s constantly advancing. In this episode, we look at how AI can reshape women’s healthcare. And the risks that come with it. From smartwatches that collect gender specific data, to algorithms that are trained on male dominated data sets, we look at the promise, as well as the pitfalls of AI in a space that has long been underserved by medical research. Our guests weigh in on how bias, data quality, and culture affect the tools shaping our future. And what it will take to close the gender health gap. Key Takeaways: If there is bias going in, we’ll have bias coming out. AI tools often rely on existing healthcare data that skews male, which creates risks for misdiagnosis and inequity for women’s healthcare. Wearables, like smart watches and rings, may be the tool that helps crack the gender data gap by providing a proliferation of gender specific health data. AI is a support, not a substitute for medical advice. While it can empower patients with more precise language and self tracking, we still need expert diagnosis and human oversight.----Giles Crouch, Digital Anthropologist https://www.gilescrouch.com/Dr. Gillian Einstein – University of Toronto Dr. Gillian Einstein U of TDr. Maria Migas, Menopause Specialist, Halifax, NSUjwal Arkalgud, Cultural Anthropologist, Author and EntrepreneurThe Jetsons Pillcam Episode 1962: The Jetsons Pillcam (1962)The Fifth Wave is produced by Story Studio Network.

In this episode of The Fifth Wave, host Avis Favaro sits around the virtual kitchen table with women to share deeply personal stories about gender bias. From life threatening misdiagnosis to breaking down barriers in male dominated fields, the conversation reveals the hidden ways gender shapes women’s lived experiences. And why talking about it matters. Our guests, Rose Fisher and Carliegh Bell tell us about the consequences of being unheard, and the importance of creating inclusive spaces where women can be fully recognized. Key Takeaways:Gender bias is not just systemic, it is also personal. Rose tells us how her heart attack was initially misdiagnosed as anxiety. Carliegh describes the emotional toll it takes on women to be accepted in a male dominated sector. Women’s voices are data. The importance of listening to women’s stories to help bridge the gender data gap, and improve systems that have been designed without women in mind. Representation is vital for equity and survival. As Rose points out, women are not just “small men”, and solutions have to account for gender specific realities.The Fifth Wave is produced by Story Studio Network.

In this eye-opening episode, we step aboard “The Menopause Train” to explore the biological, emotional, and societal impact of menopause. Once whispered about as “The Change,” menopause is now entering mainstream conversation thanks to advocates like journalist Tamsen Fadal and menopause specialist Dr. Maria Migas. We unpack the reality of perimenopause and menopause, the lack of medical training around it, and the pressing need for better education, support, and workplace accommodations. This episode encourages us all—regardless of gender—to recognize, normalize, and support the menopausal journey.Key Takeaways:Menopause is more than just hot flashes. With over 30 potential symptoms, including brain fog, anxiety and bladder infections, menopause can significantly impact daily life and is often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. Medical training and awareness are lagging behind. Most doctors receive minimal education on menopause, leaving many women without adequate support or treatment options during this stage of life. Advocacy is fueling change. Voices like Tamsen Fadal’s are pushing menopause into public conversations. These kinds of public conversations are calling for better research, resources and workplace policies to address the huge economic cost of unmanaged symptoms in Canada alone. ----Tamsen Fadal: https://www.tamsenfadal.com/Dr. Maria Migas, Halifax, NS The Menopause Society of Nova ScotiaJennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation, Halifax, NS https://iwkfoundation.org/Menopause Foundation of CanadaThe Fifth Wave is produced by Story Studio Network.

In this first episode of The Fifth Wave, host Avis Favaro explores the pervasive issue of gender data gaps and how women have been historically excluded from research that shapes our daily lives all over the planet. Drawing from Caroline Criado Perez’s book “Invisible Women”, this episode unpacks the systemic biases in medicine, urban planning and public policy that continue to favour men. Featuring thought provoking insights from Jennifer Gillivan, Dr. Maria Migas and Dr. Jeffrey Mogil, this episode shines a light on the unseen forces that make women “invisible” in data. And what can be done to change it. Key Takeaways:The gender data gap is real. Most research, from drug trials to urban planning, has historically been conducted using male subjects, leaving women’s unique needs unaddressed. Medical bias puts women at risk. Women experience diseases differently, but treatments and diagnoses are often based on male data, leading to misdiagnoses and improper care. Change starts with awareness and action. Advocates like Jennifer Gillivan, Dr. Maria Migas and Dr. Jeffrey Mogil, emphasize the need for better education and inclusive research to ensure policies and systems that work for everyone. Listen in to uncover why gender data disparities matter – and how we can create a more equitable world for all. ------ Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez- Jennifer Gillivan, President and CEO of the IWK Foundation in Halifax, NS https://iwkfoundation.org/- Dr. Maria Migas, family physician and certified menopause practitioner, Halifax, NS- Dr. Jeffrey Mogil, EP Taylor professor of pain studies at McGill University in Montreal, QCThe Fifth Wave is produced by Story Studio Network.