The V Word podcast, hosted by Drs. Jennifer Conti and Erica Cahill

The V Word

Drs. Conti and Cahill women's health podcast

Obstetrician/Gynecologists by day, podcasters by night, Drs. Jennifer Conti and Erica Cahill are making reproductive health your next water cooler topic. The pair work together as specialists in the Stanford Ob/Gyn Division of Family Planning, and through their connection there, brainstormed the idea for The V Word, a new women’s health podcast that’s tackling all kinds of relevant health issues in an edgy, hilarious way

“It’s like a conversation between friends,” says Dr. Cahill. “But your friends are gynecologists and actually know a thing or two about these issues.”

The V Word is the first podcast of its kind, focusing on women’s health topics but produced and hosted by actual physician experts. And make no mistake about its moniker: V is for vagina, the whispered trailing of which is always featured in the shows intro as an homage to the fact that what follows is both entertaining and educational. 

So far, the show has covered topics like gestational carriers and surrogacy, abortion bans, the post-partum period, fertility preservation,  birth control, and of course, vaginas. There’s lots more on the docket too. In the works is an entire reproductive health policy series that explores recent and expanding attacks on women’s health care. 

“This is our avenue for advocacy and education,” says Dr. Conti. “It’s much easier to engage people in this way, where you can break down really complex issues and still motivate listeners to come back for more.”

According to the Pew Research Center, the vast majority of Americans look to social media formats for health information. Their latest national survey on the topic in 2014 found that seven-in-ten (72 percent) adult internet users searched online for information about a range of health issues, the most popular being specific diseases and treatments. It’s no wonder then that emerging outlets like The V Word podcast are taking off. 

“People want to be partners in their health care,” says Dr. Conti. “And also have fun doing it.”

The V Word is available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play.

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @VWordPod