{"podcast":{"title":"The Fifth Wave","slug":"the-fifth-wave-7354161","podcast_index_feed_id":7354161,"rss_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/show/6639450/episodes/feed","website_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-fifth-wave--6639450","image_url":"https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/ca4842fd8f5681ceb597dcadf8c535db.jpg","author":"Story Studio Network, IWK Foundation","episode_count":16,"summary":"In The Fifth Wave: Curing the Healthcare Bias against Women , healthcare champions, the IWK Foundation, bring to light the profound and often dangerous consequences the gap in women’s health and research has had on women. The study of human biology has defaulted to the male body, which has hindered understanding of sex-based biological differences and results in fewer available and less effective treatments for women. We have been living in a world built for men, not only in heath care, but transportation, technology and beyond. This series will spark both curiosity and outrage leaving you wanting large scale change – a movement even. With insights from medical experts and researchers, The Fifth Wave challenges the default male standard and asks: What happens when half the population is left out of the equation? We hope to empower every woman and girl with the awareness and information to take charge of her health. Hosted by Avis Favaro.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-24T20:17:29.858628+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-fifth-wave-7354161"},"episode":{"title":"Menopause At Work","slug":"menopause-at-work","published_at":"2026-04-22T09:00:18+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-fifth-wave-7354161/menopause-at-work","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-fifth-wave-7354161","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/menopause-at-work--69339722","audio_url":"https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69339722/menopause_at_work.mp3","summary":"This episode of The Fifth Wave dives into one of the least discussed but most consequential workplace issues today: menopause and its massive impact on women, employers and the economy. With nearly 2 million working women in Canada aged 45-55, unmanaged symptoms like insomnia, heavy bleeding, hot flashes and brain fog are driving burnout, reducing productivity and even pushing women out of the workforce. Featuring insights from Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur, Dr. Stephanie Faubion of the Menopause Society and Rhode Island legislators Senator Lori Urso and Representative Karen Alzate, this episode uncovers the stigma, the silent suffering and the transformative policy movement emerging across North America. From invisible symptoms to groundbreaking legislation, this conversation reveals why supporting menopausal women at work isn’t just compassionate, it’s economically essential. Key takeaways: Menopause symptoms are often invisible, and women are silently powering through. Night sweats, insomnia, heavy bleeding, anxiety and cognitive shifts aren’t always visible. Many women “push through” to avoid stigma or being seen as unreliable. Stigma keeps women quiet. And careers are paying the price. Fear of being labeled “hormonal” or “unstable” leads many women to hide symptoms. This silence can cost them promotions, earning potential and long term retirement security. Policy change is finally happening. It’s reshaping the workplace. Rhode Island is the first US jurisdiction to mandate menopause accommodations. Other states are already moving to follow. Experts emphasize that menopausal women are not a liability. They are often an organization’s most experienced, strategic and valuable contributors. The thing you really NEED to know: Unmanaged menopause symptoms cost the Canadian eco…","meta_description":"This episode of The Fifth Wave dives into one of the least discussed but most consequential workplace issues today: menopause and its massive impact on wo…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1624,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-fifth-wave-7354161/episodes/menopause-at-work/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-fifth-wave-7354161/menopause-at-work.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}