Trial & Error & Error Podcast

🎙️ Get a Hobby, Girl! — Your Late 20s Need a Little More Play 🎨🧶💅
Quick question: What do you do for fun?
And no, scrolling TikTok, online shopping, going to brunch and having a minor existential crisis every Sunday evening don't all count as hobbies. 👀
Remember when we were kids and we'd randomly decide to become dancers, painters, singers or professional friendship bracelet makers? No qualifications. No five-year plans. Just ✨ vibes and questionable talent ✨.
Fast-forward to our late twenties, and suddenly everything needs to be productive, profitable or worthy of a LinkedIn update. WHEN DID HAVING FUN BECOME SO COMPLICATED?! 😭
This week, we're entering our ✨ hobby era ✨ and discussing why having something you love outside of work, relationships and responsibilities might just be the secret to surviving adulthood.
We're talking about the rise of grandma hobbies (crochet is hot, apparently 🧶), the psychology behind why hobbies make us happier, why we're obsessed with turning everything into a side hustle, and how to find a hobby that fits your budget, lifestyle and already overcrowded Google Calendar.
And because we love a little self-reflection, we're using our very own podcast as a case study. What started as two work besties thinking "Should we start a podcast?" somehow turned into microphones, editing, research, questionable jokes and an actual audience. Who gave us permission?! 🎙️😂
✨ Key Takeaways
🧠 Hobbies are good for your brain (and your sanity). Research links leisure activities with greater happiness, life satisfaction and overall wellbeing.
🧶 Grandma was onto something. Crochet, pottery, gardening, book clubs and other cosy hobbies are making a comeback. Apparently, being 28 is the new 78.
👯‍♀️ Hobbies can help you find your people. From run clubs to crafting circles, shared interests can turn strangers into friends.
💸 Not everything needs to be a side hustle. You can bake a cake without opening a bakery. You can enjoy reading without starting BookTok. Revolutionary, we know.
🤡 You're allowed to be bad at things. Your first painting can look like a crime scene. Your first podcast can sound like it was recorded inside a washing machine. That's part of the fun.
📅 Find a hobby that fits your actual life. Consider your budget, time, energy and whether you want social connection or some much-needed peace and quiet.
💕 Try the Three-Date Rule. Give a new hobby three attempts before deciding whether it's for you. Sometimes you don't hate the activity—you just hate being a beginner.
🎙️ Start before you're ready. If we'd waited until we knew exactly what we were doing, this podcast probably wouldn't exist.
💌 Your Homework
Pick ONE thing you've always wanted to try.
Book that pottery class. Join that run club. Dust off your old guitar. Start writing terrible poetry. Convince your bestie to start a podcast.
And most importantly, give yourself permission to be spectacularly mediocre at it.
No monetisation strategy. No personal brand. No pressure to become the next big thing.
Just you, a new hobby and a little ✨ character development ✨.
📚 Resources & Sources
🧠 Scientific Research
Kuykendall, L., Tay, L. & Ng, V. (2015). Leisure Engagement and Subjective Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 141(2), 364–403.
Wheatley, D. & Bickerton, C. (2017). Subjective Well-Being and Engagement in Arts, Culture and Sport. Journal of Cultural Economics, 41, 23–45.
Wheatley, D. & Bickerton, C. (2019). Measuring Changes in Subjective Well-Being from Engagement in the Arts, Culture and Sport. Journal of Cultural Economics, 43, 421–442.
Keyes, H. et al. (2024). Creating Arts and Crafting Positively Predicts Subjective Wellbeing. Frontiers in Public Health.
Putney, H. et al. (2024). Why Does Creativity Foster Well-Being? Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness During Everyday Creative Activities. Journal of Research in Personality.
📊 Trends & Statistics
Strava (2024). Year in Sport: The Trend Report. Exploring the growth of running clubs, group fitness and social connections through exercise.
Eventbrite (2025). Fourth Spaces: Gen Z and Millennials Bridge Their Digital and Physical Worlds. Exploring the popularity of hobby-based communities and in-person activities.
🎧 Further Listening & Watching
The Psychology of Your 20s — “Why Having Hobbies Is So Important”
The Psychology of Your 20s — “You Need More Hobbies... Here's How You Do It”
Quarter-Life Questions — “How to Find a Hobby as an Adult (And Why You Need One in Your 20s)”
Teach Me How To Adult — “We Don't Have Hobbies Anymore... And It's Making Us Depressed & Bored”
Tabitha Dell'Angelo — TEDx Talk: Act Your Age! How and Why to Play Like an Adult
🎧 So grab your headphones, abandon your productivity guilt and come have a little fun with us.
Because your twenties aren't just for building a career, finding love and figuring out your taxes.
They're also for discovering that you really, really enjoy making ugly little ceramic bowls. 🏺💖
And honestly? We love that for you.
💬 Tell us: What's one hobby you've always wanted to try?

🎧 The Ick: Intuition or Self-Sabotage? 🤢💘🧠
He ran for the bus. He missed it. You watched the whole thing happen.
And suddenly… you can never look at him the same way again. 😭
Welcome to THE ICK — that horrifying moment when someone you were perfectly attracted to does one tiny, inexplicable thing and your entire body responds with: absolutely not.
But is the ick actually your intuition screaming “girl, RUN 🚩”… or is your brain desperately searching for an escape route because someone emotionally available had the audacity to like you back? 👀
In this episode, we're putting the ick under the microscope. 🔬 We’re looking at where the term came from, how Love Island and social media turned it into a dating phenomenon, and — plot twist — what actual psychological research has to say about it.
We’re talking disgust, attraction, attachment, perfectionism, dating apps, choice overload, relationship self-sabotage and intuition to figure out whether your ick deserves to be trusted… or interrogated.
Because there's a VERY big difference between:
🚩 “He is rude to waiters.”
and
😭 “I saw him running with a backpack on.”
One might be useful information.
The other might require us to collectively log off TikTok.
✨ Key Takeaways
🤢 The ick is actually being studied. Recent psychological research describes it as a sudden feeling of disgust toward a potential romantic partner, often triggered by seemingly minor behaviours.
📊 You're definitely not alone. One 2025 study found that around 64% of participants had experienced the ick, with women reporting it more frequently than men.
🧠 Disgust has a purpose. Our brains evolved disgust responses partly to help us avoid threats — but that doesn't mean every disgust reaction is an accurate warning about someone's suitability as a partner.
🚩 An ick and a red flag are NOT the same thing. Disrespect, dishonesty, cruelty and incompatible values deserve attention. The way someone runs for the tram… perhaps less so.
🛡️ Sometimes the ick might be self-protection. If you suddenly start finding flaws the moment someone becomes emotionally available, vulnerability — rather than incompatibility — might be the real problem.
📱 Modern dating may be making us pickier. Research on online dating suggests that evaluating large numbers of potential partners can create a “rejection mindset,” where we're increasingly likely to say next.
💭 Your intuition isn't nonsense — but it isn't infallible either. Automatic feelings about our partners can contain meaningful information, but our reactions can also reflect fears, expectations, perfectionism and learned associations.
💘 Everyone is eventually cringe. Long-term intimacy means witnessing another human being run awkwardly, sneeze weirdly, wear questionable pyjamas and occasionally embarrass themselves. Unfortunately, babe… you are also somebody's potential ick.
🧪 Try our ICK CHECK™
Before throwing away a perfectly good situationship because they said “yummy”, ask yourself:
What actually happened?Is this about my values or my aesthetics?Would it bother me if nobody else saw it?Did the ick appear when intimacy increased?Is this a one-off moment or a genuine pattern?
Our final verdict?
Listen to the ick — but don't automatically obey it.
Your feelings are information. They aren't always instructions. 💅🏽
Sometimes your body is saying “danger.” 🚩
Sometimes it's saying “we're incompatible.” 💔
And sometimes it's saying “I just watched that man chase a ping-pong ball and I need 3–5 business days to recover.” 🏓😭
📚 Resources & Sources
Collisson, B., Saunders, E. & Yin, C. (2025). The ick: Disgust sensitivity, narcissism, and perfectionism in mate choice thresholds. Personality and Individual Differences, 238, 113086.— One of the key empirical studies specifically investigating “the ick,” including its relationship with disgust sensitivity and perfectionism.
Peel, R. & Caltabiano, N. (2021). The Relationship Sabotage Scale: An evaluation of factor analyses and constructive validity. BMC Psychology, 9, 146.— Research into relationship self-sabotage, including defensiveness, trust difficulties and relationship skills.
Pronk, T. M. & Denissen, J. J. A. (2020). A Rejection Mind-Set: Choice Overload in Online Dating. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 11(3), 388–396.— Research examining how repeatedly evaluating potential partners online can increase rejection.
Thomas, M. F., Binder, A. & Matthes, J. (2022). The agony of partner choice: The effect of excessive partner availability on fear of being single, self-esteem, and partner choice overload. Computers in Human Behavior, 126, 106977.— Research into what happens psychologically when dating apps make us feel like we have endless options.
Peters et al. (2021). Newlywed Couples' Own and Partner Sexual Disgust Sensitivities Interact to Predict Their Marital Satisfaction Through Their Sexual Satisfaction. Archives of Sexual Behavior.— Research exploring sexual disgust sensitivity within romantic relationships.
Faure, R. (2024). Automatic partner attitudes: Sources, implications, and future directions. Social and Personality Psychology Compass.— A review of research into our automatic positive and negative evaluations of romantic partners and what those reactions may tell us.
Turner, J. A. & McNulty, J. K. (2020). Automatic partner attitudes and daily experiences of mood and relationship satisfaction. Journal of Family Psychology, 34(8), 1036–1045.
Murray, S. L., Holmes, J. G. & Pinkus, R. T. (2010). A smart unconscious? Procedural origins of automatic partner attitudes in marriage. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 46(4), 650–656.
O'Halloran, M. (2026). The Ick Factor: Explaining the Term Through Lenses of Sexual Disgust and Avoidant Attachment Style. CUNY City College.
🎧 Pop culture homework: Love Island, Sex and the City, Seinfeld, Friends, Love Is Blind and Nobody Wants This — because apparently we've been watching people get the ick long before TikTok gave us a word for it.
Disclaimer: We're podcast hosts, not your therapist. This episode discusses psychological research for entertainment and educational purposes and should not be treated as individual mental-health or relationship advice. And no, unfortunately, science cannot tell you whether his skinny jeans are a legitimate reason to end the relationship. 💀

You are not being dramatic. You may simply be in the friendzone. 😬
This week on Trial & Error & Error, we’re unpacking the awkward, confusing, occasionally delusional world of unrequited feelings. What exactly is the friendzone?  Why do admirers keep hanging around when the romantic memo has clearly been marked “no”? And why can the person doing the rejecting sometimes feel even worse?From back burners and emotional loopholes to “I’m not ready for a relationship” and the timeless classic, “You’re like a sibling to me,” we explore the psychology behind wanting to be loved, wanting to keep someone close, and mistaking intermittent attention for a grand romantic destiny.
We also ask whether the friendzone is really the romantic dead-end pop culture makes it out to be. Spoiler: friendship is actually one of the most common ways romantic relationships begin. So perhaps the real problem isn’t friendship—it’s staying on the emotional waiting list long after the position has been filled. 🤔
Expect research, personal stories, questionable romantic decisions, and at least one reminder that “he’s not that into you” is sometimes the closure you were waiting for.
💡 Key Takeaways
The friendzone is less “no to the person” and more “no to romance.”
Admirers may stay because of hope, fantasy, emotional closeness, and intermittent rewards.
Rejectors can experience guilt, pressure, confusion, and their own kind of emotional discomfort.
“Back burners” are people kept in low-level romantic or emotional contact—just in case.
Friendship is not the enemy of romance: many relationships begin as friendships.
Clear communication and boundaries are kinder than keeping someone permanently on standby.
You cannot convince someone to choose you—and you shouldn’t have to.
📚 Resources & Sources
Stinson, Cameron & Hoplock (2022) — The Friends-to-Lovers Pathway to Romance Baumeister & Wotman — Breaking Hearts: The Two Sides of Unrequited LoveLeFebvre et al. (2022) — Conceptualizing the Friendzone PhenomenonBleske-Rechek et al. (2012) — Benefit or Burden? Attraction in Cross-Sex FriendshipBack-burner relationship research — Dibble, Drouin and colleaguesUAntwerpen research repository iResearchNet: Unrequited LovePsychology Today: “And You Think You’ve Got It Bad”The mental-health benefits of platonic relationships
 
‼️We apologize for the inconsistent audio quality in this episode. We recorded fully online, which caused some technical limitations and differences in sound quality between speakers. Thank you for your patience and understanding—and we hope you still enjoy the conversation! ❤️

Your 20s are basically: iced coffee ☕️, questionable texts 📱, and the bold confidence to say “I’ll start budgeting next week” 💸. So… naturally, we made an episode about it 🎙️✨
In this week’s chaos-coded chat, we’re breaking down the 10 biggest mistakes people make in their twenties — from thinking you need to have life “figured out” by 25 🫠, to building your entire personality around your job 💼, to staying in situationships that ended 3 business months ago 💔. It’s funny, it’s a little brutal 😅, it’s wildly relatable, and it might save you from at least one emotional support spiral 🌀
Expect laughs 😂, research-backed reality checks 🧠, and plenty of “wait… I do that” moments 😭
Key takeaways (aka your gentle wake-up call) ✅
You’re not behind — you’re just early ⏳💛 Your 20s are literally designed for experimenting, failing, pivoting, and trying again.
Your job is something you do, not who you are 💼≠🧍 Having multiple “identities” (friend, hobbyist, gym-goer, menace) makes you more resilient.
Money avoidance is expensive 💸📉 Compound interest doesn’t care that you were “too young to think about investing.”
Love shouldn’t feel like a full-time emergency 🚨❤️ Chaos isn’t chemistry.
Confidence is a reward, not a prerequisite 🏃‍♀️➡️😌 Action first, confidence later.
Almost nothing is permanent 🔁🌍 Careers change, people reinvent themselves, and you’re allowed to pivot without a dramatic rebrand.
Resources & sources mentioned 📚🔍
Books 📖
Meg Jay — The Defining Decade
Morgan Housel — The Psychology of Money
Ramit Sethi — I Will Teach You to Be Rich
Bill Perkins — Die With Zero
Brené Brown — The Gifts of Imperfection
James Clear — Atomic Habits
Oliver Burkeman — Four Thousand Weeks
Research / concepts 🧠
Arnett, J. J. (2000) — Emerging Adulthood: A Theory of Development From the Late Teens Through the Twenties (American Psychologist)
Arnett, J. J. (2014) — Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens Through the Twenties
Jay, M. (2012) — clinical work & research on the developmental importance of your twenties
Harvard Study of Adult Development (ongoing) — long-term findings on relationships, wellbeing, life satisfaction
Kahneman, D. & Tversky, A. — decision-making research (incl. Sunk Cost Fallacy)
World Health Organization (WHO) — young adult health & prevention guidance
OECD — financial literacy and youth economic wellbeing reports
Podcast / video inspiration 🎧📺
The Diary of a CEO (Steven Bartlett)
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
The Mel Robbins Podcast
The Psychology of Your 20s
The School of Life (YouTube)
TED Talks: Meg Jay (“Why 30 Is Not the New 20”), Brené Brown (“The Power of Vulnerability”)

☀️ Summer Mode: Activated 🎙️🍹
Plot twist: your girls are taking a little summer breather. 💅🏽☀️
After a year of weekly episodes, questionable advice, unnecessary oversharing, deep conversations, chaotic stories and somehow turning our lives into podcast content… we’ve decided it’s time to slow things down just a tiny bit for summer.
But don’t panic — we’re not going anywhere! 💖
For the rest of the summer, the Trial and Error and Error Podcast will be switching from weekly episodes to one episode every two weeks. Our next full episode will be dropping next week, and then we’ll be back in your headphones every other week. 🎧✨
Consider this our ✨summer opening hours✨.
Most importantly, THANK YOU for understanding and for continuing to show up for us. Whether you’ve been here since episode one or discovered us somewhere along the way, every listen, share, message and recommendation means more to us than you know. 🥹🩷
So this isn’t goodbye. It’s simply:
☀️ Summer schedule: every two weeks🎙️ Next episode: next week💅🏽 Level of chaos: absolutely unchanged
Enjoy your summer, stay hydrated, wear your SPF, make good decisions (or at least decisions that make good podcast stories), and we’ll see you next week. 💋
Love,Ale and LJ 🩷🎙️

You know that friend who swears they’re happy for you… but somehow their “compliments” sting like a wax strip? Yeah. This episode is for that. 😬💅🔥
In “Toxic Friendships”, we dive into the glamorous, confusing, low-key unhinged world of the frenemy: the “bestie” who’s weirdly competitive, suspiciously jealous, and about as trustworthy as a man who says “I’m just going to the bathroom” at a party. We break down what actually makes a frenemy (spoiler: it’s not just “being a bit shady”), how frenemies are different from messy-but-real ambivalent relationships, and why some of us keep these people in our lives anyway (hello, shared friend groups and workplace politics).
Expect philosophy, psychology, petty anecdotes, and a loving reminder that boundaries are hotter than revenge. 📚🧠🍿🚧
✨ Key takeaways
Frenemies aren’t just “bad friends”: the pattern is usually competition + jealousy + lack of trust.
Ambivalent relationships (high highs + low lows) can still mess with your health—sometimes more than you’d expect.
Frenemies often happen when:
you used to be real friends,
you’re stuck in the same social circle/work/class,
the relationship survives on proximity, not peace.
You don’t always need to “cut them off dramatically in a restaurant.” Sometimes the move is awareness + boundaries + distance.
🔎 Resources & sources (mentioned in the episode)
Delaney & Malakhova (2018) — Philosophy Now article discussing frenemies as a friendship “façade” with underlying resentment.
Williams & Packer-Williams (2019) — Work discussing frenemies and relational aggression (and how definitions can get gendered).
Research on ambivalent relationships and health outcomes (e.g., links to cardiovascular stress, blood pressure, depression, and interpersonal conflict).
Aristotle’s classic friend categories (pleasure, utility, virtue) — and our unofficial addition: the frenemy, obviously.

Ever rehearsed asking for a raise... only to convince yourself you're being "too greedy" five minutes later? Yeah, us too. 😅
In this episode, we're diving into one of the most nerve-wracking conversations of your career: asking for more money. We unpack whether it's actually okay to ask for a raise in your first few years, why Millennials and Gen Z are changing jobs more than ever, how to figure out what you're really worth, and the exact questions you should ask your manager when it's time to talk salary.
No awkward corporate jargon, no "girl boss" clichés—just practical advice, research-backed insights, and the confidence boost you need to start advocating for yourself. Because doing great work deserves to be recognised. 💸✨
Key Takeaways 📝
Know your value before you negotiate: Research market salaries, understand your unique skills, and gather evidence of your achievements before asking for a raise.
It's about impact, not time served: You don't have to wait five years—if your responsibilities and contributions have grown, it's reasonable to start the conversation.
Preparation beats confidence: A well-prepared case with measurable results is far more persuasive than simply saying you've worked hard.
A "no" isn't the end: If a raise isn't possible now, ask what specific goals you need to achieve and agree on a timeline to revisit the discussion.
Salary isn't the only thing you can negotiate: Bonuses, flexible working, extra leave, professional development, and promotion pathways can all be valuable parts of your compensation.
Resources & Sources 🔗📚
European Commission — Labour Market and Wage Developments in Europe 2025
OECD — Employment Outlook 2025
International Labour Organization (ILO) — Global Wage Report
Linda Babcock & Sara Laschever — Women Don't Ask
Leigh Thompson — The Mind and Heart of the Negotiator
Daniel H. Pink — To Sell Is Human
Ramit Sethi — I Will Teach You To Be Rich
Adam Grant — Research on workplace performance, negotiation, and career development
Harvard Business Review — Articles on salary negotiation and career progression
Glassdoor — Salary Insights and Market Data
LinkedIn Salary Insights
Payscale — Compensation and Salary Research
Robert Half & Hays — European Salary Guides
Bank of America Institute — Research on wage growth among job switchers versus employees who stay with the same employer
(Friendly reminder: every company has different compensation policies and budget cycles. This episode is intended for educational purposes and offers general career advice—always consider your own workplace policies and circumstances when negotiating your salary.)

Can you believe it's been a whole year?
What started as two work besties chatting about life has grown into something we never imagined—a podcast, a community, and a friendship that's been shaped by every conversation we've had along the way.
In this special anniversary episode, we're turning the microphones on ourselves as we reflect on our first year of podcasting. We're asking each other the questions we've never asked before: our favourite episodes, biggest surprises, funniest behind-the-scenes moments, the lessons we've learned, and how creating this podcast has changed us both.
We'll also share what we've loved most about building this community, what your support has meant to us, and where we hope the podcast goes in Year Two.
Whether you've been listening since our very first episode or you've only just found us, thank you for being part of this journey. Every stream, follow, message, recommendation, and laugh has helped make this first year one we'll never forget.
So grab your favourite drink, settle in, and celebrate with us as we look back on an unforgettable first year—and dream about everything that's still to come.
💛 Thank you for listening.
🥂 Here's to Year One.
🎙️ Here's to many more.
Don't forget to follow the podcast, leave us a rating, and share this episode with someone who has been on the journey with us.

Ever wish STIs came with an unsubscribe button? Same. In this episode, we’re getting comfy with the uncomfy and talking all things STIs/STDs—what they are, how they spread (spoiler: it’s not just one kind of sex), why symptoms are not a trustworthy narrator, and how to protect yourself.
No shame, no scare tactics—just facts, laughs, and the kind of info that makes your future self say: “Omg thank you.” 💅🏽✨
Key Takeaways 📝
STI vs STD: An infection can exist without symptoms (STI), while an STD is when it progresses into a disease state.
You can’t “tell” by looking: Most STIs can be totally symptom-free—testing is the only real tea.
Transmission is broader than you think: Oral, anal, vaginal, skin-to-skin contact, and even shared toys can all be routes.
Prevention isn’t just condoms: Vaccines (HPV, Hep B), regular testing, honest convos, and PrEP/PEP for HIV all matter.
Stigma helps nobody: Having an STI isn’t a moral failing—it’s a medical situation. Period.
Resources & Sources 🔗📚
World Health Organization (WHO) — Sexually Transmitted Infections Fact Sheet (2025)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — About Sexually Transmitted Infections (2024)
CDC — Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance Report (2024)
CDC — STI Treatment Guidelines
Hufstetler K, et al. — Clinical Updates in Sexually Transmitted Infections (2024)
Wu Z, et al. — Global, Regional, and National Burden of HIV and Other STIs (2025)
Deng M, et al. — Global Burden of Disease 2021 Study Results (2025)
Wang W, Sawleshwarkar S, Piraveenan M. — Computational Approaches of Modelling HPV Transmission…: A Systematic Review (2024)
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine — Sexually Transmitted Infections: Adopting a Sexual Health Paradigm
American Sexual Health Association — An Overview of Common STIs, Testing, and Treatment (2026)
National Health Service (NHS) — Sexually Transmitted Infections (2024)
Cribier B. — Sexually Transmitted Diseases: An Unprecedented Overview (2025)
(Friendly reminder: this episode is educational and not a substitute for medical advice—talk to a healthcare professional for personal guidance.)

Ever wondered why your body can feel like a high-performing athlete one week and a mildly haunted potato the next? 🏋️‍♀️🥔👻 This week on Trial & Error & Error, we’re talking periods, hormones, and the internet’s favorite wellness buzzword: cycle syncing. 🩸🧠✨
We break down the menstrual cycle (without the high school trauma), how hormonal contraception actually works, and what science really says about training “by your phase.” Spoiler: your uterus didn’t get the memo about being perfectly predictable—and neither did the research.
If you’ve ever thought, “Am I genuinely weaker today, or is my luteal phase just being dramatic?”… welcome home. 😮‍💨📉💅
Key takeaways
🗓️ There’s no “normal” cycle that fits everyone: 28 days is an average, not a rule—typical cycles vary widely (often ~21–35 days).
📈📉 Hormones fluctuate, but performance effects aren’t consistent: research shows some people feel worse in late luteal/early follicular, but objective performance changes are mixed and highly individual.
🧩 Cycle syncing isn’t a one-size-fits-all training plan: there isn’t strong evidence for a universal “best workout per phase,” so personalization beats trends.
😵‍💫 Perceived effort can change even if strength doesn’t: mood, sleep, stress, cramps, and symptoms can make the same workout feel harder—adjusting is not “quitting,” it’s smart.
🩺 If symptoms are intense or disruptive, get checked: conditions like PCOS/endometriosis can change everything—don’t normalize suffering.
🔗 Resources (links)
🌸 Start here (easy, practical reads)
Menstrual Cycle 101 (Clue) — a clear overview of phases, hormones, and what’s actually happening each month: Read
Birth Control 101 (Clue) — a plain-English guide to the different methods + how they work: Read
🧪 For the science-y listeners (research papers)
Menstrual cycle & performance review (Open access, PMC): PMC7916245
Hormones/menstrual cycle research (Open access, PMC): PMC6710244
Menstrual cycle / exercise-related research (Open access, PMC): PMC8508274
Cycle-related symptoms/physiology paper (Open access, PMC): PMC5820163
Cycle, hormones, and related health outcomes (Open access, PMC): PMC5708589
Peer-reviewed journal article (Springer) — may be behind a paywall depending on your access: 10.1007/s00737-020-01094-0