Ella: My Favourite podcast is Goes Without Saying by Sephy and Wing. It can be very scary entering your twenties - it feels like everyone has their lives together and you are falling so far behind. This podcast is so helpful in making you feel less alone and making you realise that you are right where you need to be

Erin: I lean more into the goofy and queer side with podcasts. I love love love ‘I’m Grand Mam’ by Kevin Twomey and PJ Kirby, and ‘Fluid’ by Nic Desborough. ‘I’m Grand Mam’ is just a bundle of queer joy and is probably one of the mosts effortlessly funny things I’ve ever heard. ‘Fluid’ is more downbeat and talks about queer history in a personalised, very accessible way. Essentially, I like listening to a podcast on my walk home, and scaring fellow pedestrians when I laugh out-loud.

Ella: I wanted to go into podcasting because I thought that it’s such an accessible way to learn and to spread information! I love listening to podcasts on the way to lectures or the gym and being involved in one is something I’ve always wanted to do :)

Erin: I have always been madly in love with the radio, music and creative audio forms more generally. So when I saw that Sanitree were recruiting for the role of Podcast Producer I just knew I had to do it! Even though people are fond of saying there are too many podcasts out there, I think of it more as there is something out there for everyone. Podcasting is what you make of it, and I’m so excited to be able to have insightful conversations with other menstruators (and Ella obviously!) that others might also find helpful.

Ella: Sanitree is so important to me. Menstruation is an involuntary experience that shouldn’t have the power to obstruct people’s lives in the way that it does. The work sanitree does to help combat period poverty, provide valuable education and support our beneficiaries all whilst promoting sustainable practices is something that makes it so unique and so important

Erin: I think that everyone who is involved in Sanitree has their own personal story and reason for being part of the team, and how often can you say that you’ve been in a room full of people who menstruate to talk and do work concerning exactly that? There’s something really wonderful in our collaboration and passion for something that we are taught to hide away and be ashamed of. And not only that, but the core goal of alleviating period poverty in a sustainable way is just such an important one, and its seriously under-discussed!

Ella: I want to debunk the idea that a period is one size fits all. Each person who menstruates will have an entirely different experience, but this isn’t a bad thing. Periods can tell you so much about your body and can be very powerful tools to regain your autonomy, so learning more about them can be amazing

Erin: That menstruation isn’t just for women. I wasted a lot of time trying to forget about my period and its connotations of womanhood instead of focusing on my menstrual health.

Ella: The amount of technical work that goes into podcasting really surprised me! Erin is a whiz with the technology so I’m very grateful for them!!

Erin: This is a hard one! It takes a lot of work, and I’ve learned so so much along the way so its hard to pick one thing! I think what surprised me a little is how you kind of develop an ‘on-air’ voice - it’s fun seeing how people change with a mic in front of them.

Ella: Just start! If there are conversations you think are needed and deserve a platform, head to your voice notes app and go crazy!

Erin: Take your time, trust yourself - you ARE interesting and have important things to say. Oh and learn how to use something other than iMovie - that’ll only take you so far.