Fertility Awareness Project

A summer bonus! Take a peek behind the curtain, and life before Fertility Awareness Project. How did a season of burnout as a social worker led Nat to FAM? We're sharing a recording of an interview that a past Cycle Love client, Nicole did with Nat. Nicole had me on her podcast our conversation was so good, we wanted to share it here! Nicole did her research, and came through with some hard hitting questions. This episode covers: Nat's story, how she found FAM, and her connection to social work Social media influencers shaping the narrative around hormonal birth control  The polarized narrative around hormonal birth control and FAM Who can use FAM?  What if I have irregular cycles, or currently am on hormonal birth control? What do I have to do to follow FAM? How do I start? How much does FAM cost? How can I involve my partner?  ⁠Vice article by Anya Zoledziowski: ‘Holistic Healers’ on TikTok Want You to Quit Birth Control ⁠ ⁠Wired article by Sarah Sloat: Birth Control TikTok Is a Symptom of Medicine's Bigger Problem⁠ ⁠Take FAM Fundamentals Free⁠ Listen to Nicole's podcast: ⁠www.multitudespodcast.com⁠ IG: ⁠@multitudes.podcast⁠

What's your pleasure? In this solo episode, Nathalie Daudet reviews the new Netflix docuseries Principles of Pleasure, and talks about how FAM can open the door to better understanding your sexuality.    Other resources mentioned in this episode: Certified holistic sex coach Melissa Vranjes @melissavranjes  Sexuality Doula, sex educator, and sensualist Ev'Yan Whitney @evyan.Whitney  Instagram account dedicated to "unlearning shame that purity culture taught us." @talkpuritytome Save 12% on any Tempdrop package with code NATD. Find Nat's work on Instagram and take FAM Fundamentals.

In this solo episode, Nat talks candidly about her experience with her cycle over the last 9 months. It's a fine balance between control and taking action, challenging the narrative of the perfect 28-day cycle while still seeking support for hormone imbalance. She talks about why it's been hard to open up on social media, how she's planning on addressing her long cycle, and the mindset she's taking as she navigates PCOS. If you have ever had a long cycle, or if you've been frustrated with your FAM chart not 'looking' like you wanted it to, you won't want to miss this episode! Progesterone for PCOS Article If you're a fertility awareness educator, looking to build your critical chart eye, our Chart Review Workshop for FABM educators might be for you! Find out more and purchase tickets for live workshop on April 11, 2022.  Save 12% on any Tempdrop package with code NATD. Find Nat's work on Instagram and take FAM Fundamentals.

Kicking off season four of the podcast with a fascinating conversation on the future of secular fertility awareness education, online FAM communities and how to navigate between the scientific and religious factors within them. Meet Lauren Monk, a Canadian nurse, outdoor enthusiast, houseplant lover, and long term fertility awareness user. Her passions include hiking, canoeing and wilderness camping, cooking, gardening and books of all kinds.  Save 12% on any Tempdrop package with code NATD. Find Nat's work on Instagram and take FAM Fundamentals.

In this solo episode, Nat reviews he Business of Birth Control documentary and offers her ~opinions~ as a FAM educator. She also dives into her experience taking the Billings Ovulation Method teacher training, who Billings is right for and why the method has been SUCH a game-changer.  Thanks for being here for season 3 of the podcast!  Save 12% on any Tempdrop package with code NATD. Find Nat's work on Instagram and take FAM Fundamentals.

Reclaiming our body and pleasure is a beautiful side effect of charting our cycles and living cyclically. Part of this process comes from the awareness and perception of our own bodies and anatomy. Nat has a beautiful conversation with Vida, a fellow Cycle Coach, embodied movement teacher and an anatomy enthusiast.  Vida owns her own studio, called Body Sense, where she works with clients 1:1 to help them heal their bodies and their relationships with their bodies through movement, menstrual cycle awareness and cyclical self care. She lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her wonderful partner, James, and their 2 dogs and 3 cats. Learn more about Vida's work on Instagram and on her website.   Find Nat's work on Instagram and take FAM Fundamentals.

We have a very special guest on the podcast today, you actually know her - but you might not know that you know her! Gretchen is a fertility awareness educator and doula, specializing in birth and parenthood, and the one who makes audio magic through editing this podcast! Nat speaks with her assistant and podcast editor Gretchen about emotionally and spiritually preparing for conception, and her journey with fertility awareness. Gretchen has a background in Modern Dance and Gender Studies and is trained as a Birth Doula and Fertility Awareness Educator. She is a passionate entrepreneur with a love of all-things fertility, birth, and parenthood. Gretchen is committed to shedding light on topics that are rarely completely understood - the menstrual cycle, conception, and birth. Learn more about Gretchen here! Find Nat's work on Instagram and take FAM Fundamentals.

Eating for your cycle is a hot topic in the fertility awareness space! So many of us struggle with cycle challenges, and eating for your cycle is one way to nourish your body and hormones. In this episode, Nat speaks to Lucia Mazzella, a functional health cycle coach who teaches traditional kitchen wisdom to women and people with periods who want to take their health into their own hands and live in sync with their cycles. Her approach is simple, down to earth and practical, focusing on reducing period pain and PMS while balancing hormones naturally using food as medicine. Find Lucia's work on Instagram @ambrosias.table. Find Nat's work on Instagram and take FAM Fundamentals.

What is it like to be a FAM educator and navigate your own personal charting challenges? Joy and Nat have a vulnerable conversation about the ways in which life has impacted our cycles, and how we stay hopeful when these challenges arise. We also talk about Joy's experience going through Justisse and the ways in which her culture flows through the fertility awareness education she provides for her community. Joy of Full Moon Fertility is a Fertility Awareness Educator and Holistic Health Reproductive Health Practitioner. She grew up inAlderville First Nation in Southern Ontario, Canada. Joy is Anishinaabe and her culture is a huge part of her identity. She teaches menstruators about their menstrual cycles as a health tool and to achieve or avoid pregnancy, strivinge to make fertility, cervical mucus, vagina's and uterus' fun and talked about more openly. To use our fertility to our advantage instead of fearing it, is her ultimate goal. Find Joy's work on Instagram and on her website. Find Nat's work on Instagram and take FAM Fundamentals.

How do we as facilitators create intentional, sacred online spaces that foster connection? How do we embrace all of the facets of ovulation, both the sparkly ones and the shadowy ones? What are some of the differences between menstrual cycle awareness and fertility awareness? In this conversation, Nat interviews Claire Baker, a a sought-after period coach, author and speaker. For nearly a decade Claire has taught thousands of women how to live in harmony with their menstrual cycle, rather than working against it. Claire believes menstrual cycle awareness is the missing key in women’s wellbeing, empowerment and creativity, and her immersive online courses and workshops inspire women to know their flow and become the authority in their own lives. Claire’s online program Adore Your Cycle has students in over 35 countries. Find Claire's work at clairebaker.com. Take her free class, Start to Chart. Check out Cycle Coach School. Find Nat's work on Instagram and take FAM Fundamentals.

Have you ever wondered why efficacy rates for withdrawal and fertility awareness based methods can vary so wildly? There is no better person to answer this question than Leslie Rewis.   Leslie Rewis is a college librarian and a certified fertility awareness educator through the Natural Family Planning Teachers Association - UK and Billings Ovulation Method Association - USA. She has been charting since 2016, and has tried a variety of femtech and natural family planning methods which she blogs and talks about on @chartyourfertility on social media and chartyourfertility.com. In this episode we talk about how to look at efficacy studies with a critical eye, factors that impact efficacy rates, why withdrawal efficacy is such a nuanced topic, how Leslie has navigated purity culture through FAM charting and more! Find Nat's work on Instagram and take FAM Fundamentals.

Nat + Megan talk with fellow FABM educator, doula, button-maker, and zine-creator (and much more) Ashley Hartman Annis about their work, self-care as an educator, the importance of gender inclusivity within fertility awareness, bodily autonomy + more! Links: German Artist - Vielma - Facebook Sexplanations - Youtube Scarlateen - Website Learn about + connect with Ashley: https://www.ashleyhartmanannis.com/ Loving the podcast? subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app show a friend your favorite episode + how to subscribe rate + review the pod on Apple Podcasts Connect with us! Megan McNamara: Instagram @FAMtasticfertility http://www.instagram.com/famtasticfertility/ Youtube: FAMtastic Fertility http://www.youtube.com/famtasticfertility Nathalie Daudet: Instagram @fertilityawarenessproject http://www.instagram.com/fertilityawarenessproject/ Website: http://www.fertilityawarenessproject.ca/ Become a direct supporter of Body Literacy Babes: Your support of this podcast via a small monthly donation helps sustain future episodes.  Head over to the support page to get started. (http://anchor.fm.bodyliteracybabes/support)  We’re deeply grateful for your support and it allows us to continue this work - thank you! We want to hear from you! Email your stories to bodyliteracybabes@gmail.com and please include “listener story” + your topic in the subject line so we can search for them more easily.  Boundary: we cannot offer specific charting advice to those who are not our clients.  Thank you! body literacy, for everyone, forever!

CONTENT WARNING: discussion of consent, sexual assault, rape, sensitive topics. Listeners' discretion is advised. Please prioritize your mental health by reaching out to a mental healthcare provider or another qualified provider for support if you need to. Links: Consent and Consequences podcast Fertility Intentions Scale Partner Involvement Scale by Chontelle Vargas  Loving the podcast? subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app show a friend your favorite episode + how to subscribe rate + review the pod on Apple Podcasts Connect with us! Megan McNamara: Instagram @FAMtasticfertility http://www.instagram.com/famtasticfertility/ Youtube: FAMtastic Fertility http://www.youtube.com/famtasticfertility Nathalie Daudet: Instagram @fertilityawarenessproject http://www.instagram.com/fertilityawarenessproject/ Website: http://www.fertilityawarenessproject.ca/ Become a direct supporter of Body Literacy Babes: Your support of this podcast via a small monthly donation helps sustain future episodes.  Head over to the support page to get started. (http://anchor.fm.bodyliteracybabes/support)  We’re deeply grateful for your support and it allows us to continue this work - thank you! We want to hear from you! Email your stories to bodyliteracybabes@gmail.com and please include “listener story” + your topic in the subject line so we can search for them more easily.  Boundary: we cannot offer specific charting advice to those who are not our clients.  Thank you! body literacy, for everyone, forever!

Here's another entertaining and informative Q+A episode with Megan and Nat: Barrier methods and alternative sex during fertile window as well as details on correct use withdrawal Health and wellness advice for hormonal imbalance Discussing FAM with skeptics Advice for sex life when you’re never in the mood Resources mentioned in this episode "Well, That's Irresponsible" | Taboos, FAM, + How Not to Give a Shit Come As You Are by Dr. Emily Nagoski   Loving the podcast? rate + review the pod on Apple Podcasts subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app show a friend how to subscribe Connect with us! Megan McNamara: Instagram @FAMtasticfertility Youtube: FAMtastic Fertility Youtube Channel Nathalie Daudet: Instagram @fertilityawarenessproject Website: http://www.fertilityawarenessproject.ca/ Become a direct supporter of Body Literacy Babes: Your support of this podcast via a small monthly donation helps sustain future episodes.  Head over to the support page to get started. (http://anchor.fm.bodyliteracybabes/support)  We’re deeply grateful for your support and it allows us to continue this work - thank you! We want to hear from you! Email your stories to bodyliteracybabes@gmail.com and please include “listener story” + your topic in the subject line so we can search for them more easily.  Boundary: we cannot offer specific charting advice to those who are not our clients.  Thank you! body literacy, for everyone, forever!

You're new to FAM and trying to decide the best way to learn it, or maybe you're an educator and you're seeking perspective about what clients need to learn FAM effectively. In this episode of Body Literacy Babes Megan and Nat chat about:  When self-teaching makes sense The many unexpected benefits of learning FAM with an educator The challenges of marketing yourself as a FAM educator How to make the most of a FAM course Resources mentioned in this episode: Megan + Nat talk FAM + sex Fertility Awareness Method of Birth Control Facebook Group   Database of fertility awareness educators Megan's FAM Course: Second Nature Cycles Nat's FAM course: Cycle Love Loving the podcast? rate + review the pod on Apple Podcasts subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app show a friend how to subscribe Connect with us! Megan McNamara: Instagram @FAMtasticfertility http://www.instagram.com/famtasticfertility/ Youtube: FAMtastic Fertility Youtube Channel http://www.youtube.com/famtasticfertility Nathalie Daudet: Instagram @fertilityawarenessproject http://www.instagram.com/fertilityawarenessproject/ Website: http://www.fertilityawarenessproject.ca/ Become a direct supporter of Body Literacy Babes: Your support of this podcast via a small monthly donation helps sustain future episodes.  Head over to the support page to get started. (http://anchor.fm.bodyliteracybabes/support)  We’re deeply grateful for your support and it allows us to continue this work - thank you! We want to hear from you! Email your stories to bodyliteracybabes@gmail.com and please include “listener story” + your topic in the subject line so we can search for them more easily.  Boundary: we cannot offer specific charting advice to those who are not our clients.  Thank you! body literacy, for everyone, forever!

Menstrual cycle awareness and fertility awareness are powerful tools for tuning into your cycle, they are similar but have different outcomes. If you're using FAM, you're already halfway to menstrual cycle awareness! In this episode we chat about: The difference between FAM and menstrual cycle awareness Our own experiences tuning into the phases of our cycles Tools for practicing Menstrual Cycle Awareness Self-care approaches and ways to manage emotions throughout the cycle Links from this episode: Wild Power - Alexandra Pope and Sjane Hugo Wurlitzer Period Power - Maisie Hill 50 Things to Know about Periods - Claire Baker Period Queen Podcast Cycles Journal We are giving away 6 LIFETIME subscriptions to Read Your Body (yes, even if you already use the app!). All you need to do is leave a review for the podcast wherever you are listening to the podcast, follow @read.your.body, @famtasticfertility and @fertilityawarenessproject and enter here. Loving the podcast? rate + review the pod on Apple Podcasts subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app show a friend how to subscribe Connect with us! Megan McNamara: Instagram @FAMtasticfertility http://www.instagram.com/famtasticfertility/ Youtube: FAMtastic Fertility Youtube Channel http://www.youtube.com/famtasticfertility Nathalie Daudet: Instagram @fertilityawarenessproject http://www.instagram.com/fertilityawarenessproject/ Website: http://www.fertilityawarenessproject.ca/ Become a direct supporter of Body Literacy Babes: Your support of this podcast via a small monthly donation helps sustain future episodes.  Head over to the support page to get started. (http://anchor.fm.bodyliteracybabes/support)  We’re deeply grateful for your support and it allows us to continue this work - thank you! We want to hear from you! Email your stories to bodyliteracybabes@gmail.com and please include “listener story” + your topic in the subject line so we can search for them more easily.  Boundary: we cannot offer specific charting advice to those who are not our clients.  Thank you! body literacy, for everyone, forever!

Laura Robson is the facilitator of The Body Literacy Collective, a UK non-profit that equips people with the information and tools they need to understand their menstrual cycles. She is a certified fertility awareness educator and long-time cycle charter, and coordinates the ongoing development of the Read Your Body app as a tool that connects and serves the fertility awareness community. Read Your Body is a highly customizable and inclusive menstrual cycle charting app with total data privacy. It's 100% user-funded and constantly growing with everybody's input. www.readyourbody.info www.instagram.com/read.your.body www.facebook.com/read.your.body Thanks for being a listener of Body Literacy Babes! We are giving away 6 LIFETIME subscriptions to Read Your Body (yes, even if you already use the app!). All you need to do is: 1. Leave a review for the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Podcast Addict or Spotify. 2. Be sure you are following @read.your.body, @famtasticfertility and @fertilityawarenessproject.  BONUS ENTRY: For a bonus entry, share an Instagram story - screenshot, share one of the podcast episodes or take a photo of yourself listening and tag @read.yourbody @famtasticfertility, @fertilityawarenessproject! (One bonus entry per day).  Once you've done that, submit your entry here! Connect with us! Megan McNamara: Instagram @FAMtasticfertility Youtube: FAMtastic Fertility Youtube Channel Nathalie Daudet: Instagram @fertilityawarenessproject Website: http://www.fertilityawarenessproject.ca/ Become a direct supporter of Body Literacy Babes: Your support of this podcast via a small monthly donation helps sustain future episodes.  Head over to the support page to get started. (http://anchor.fm.bodyliteracybabes/support)  We’re deeply grateful for your support and it allows us to continue this work - thank you! We want to hear from you! Email your stories to bodyliteracybabes@gmail.com and please include “listener story” + your topic in the subject line so we can search for them more easily.  Boundary: we cannot offer specific charting advice to those who are not our clients.  Thank you! body literacy, for everyone, forever!

Welcome to Season 2 of Body Literacy Babes! We are so excited for ~fresh new~ conversations on the topics you love. In this episode, we chat about how to start and continue the conversation with your partner about FAM. Whether it's a brand new relationship or you've been together for a while, do you even need to tell your partner about FAM? We answer this question and more.  Megan and Nat chat about:  How to advocate for yourself when transitioning off HBC How to explain how FAM works to your partner Incorporating FAM into your relationship and how our partners have an active role Chatting about intentions with pregnancy and when to check in What to do if your partner is afraid or anxious Gottman Institute Loving the podcast? rate + review the pod on Apple Podcasts subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app show a friend how to subscribe Connect with us! Megan McNamara: Instagram @FAMtasticfertility Youtube: FAMtastic Fertility Youtube Channel Nathalie Daudet: Instagram @fertilityawarenessproject Website: http://www.fertilityawarenessproject.ca/ Become a direct supporter of Body Literacy Babes: Your support of this podcast via a small monthly donation helps sustain future episodes.  Head over to the support page to get started. (http://anchor.fm.bodyliteracybabes/support)  We’re deeply grateful for your support and it allows us to continue this work - thank you! We want to hear from you! Email your stories to bodyliteracybabes@gmail.com and please include “listener story” + your topic in the subject line so we can search for them more easily.  Boundary: we cannot offer specific charting advice to those who are not our clients.  Thank you! body literacy, for everyone, forever!

Therapy, MLM's, bidet's & FAM-inspired gifts are all things we cover in our Christmas episode (?). Enjoy this chat by the Christmas tree as we wrap up 2020 in a very Body Literacy Babes fashion. Grateful for all your support in this past year of starting the podcast, by listening you are a part of the wider fertility awareness community. We could not be more thankful for you! The list of FAM-inspired gifts (or just get them for yourself): tempdrop ohnutco rings sex talk card game gottman card decks app  RYB app year subscription femometer vinca ii bbt any fam or sexuality books period aisle dame pillow maude nixit menstrual discs Manta sleep mask Cycles journal Loving the podcast? rate + review the pod on Apple Podcasts subscribe to the show on your fave podcast app show a friend how to subscribe Connect with us! Megan McNamara: Instagram @FAMtasticfertility https://www.instagram.com/famtasticfertility/ Youtube: FAMtastic Fertility Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/famtasticfertility Nathalie Daudet: Instagram @fertilityawarenessproject https://www.instagram.com/fertilityawarenessproject/ Website: https://fertilityawarenessproject.ca/ Become a direct supporter of Body Literacy Babes: Your support of this podcast via a small monthly donation helps sustain future episodes. Head over to our support page to get started. ( https://anchor.fm/bodyliteracybabes/support ) We're deeply grateful for your support and it allows us to continue this work - thank you! We want to hear from you! Email your stories to bodyliteracybabes@gmail.com and please include "listener story" + your topic in the subject line so we can search for them more easily. Boundary: we cannot offer specific charting advice to those who are not our clients. Thank you! body literacy, for everyone, forever

Nat + Megan chat candidly about topics surrounding fertility awareness and sex like sensuality, natural libido + orgasm shifts throughout the ovulation / menstruation cycle and when transitioning off of hormonal birth control, taking n00d photos, uncovering cultural messaging / family messaging / peer messaging around sex, the importance of accurately charting the type of sex you have + being open with your certified FABM educator, masturbation and cultivating the sexual connection within yourself, the true anatomy of the clitoris, responsive vs. spontaneous sexual arousal, accelerators and brakes of libido, sex toys + body-safe lube, embracing non-PIV sex and they also share resources and recommendations to help listeners continue their journey with sex + FAM! RESOURCES ---> BOOKS Come as you are by Emily Nagoski She Comes First by Ian Kerner Women’s anatomy of arousal by Sheri Winston Pleasure Activism by Adrienne Maree Brown ---> INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS: @evyan.whitney @sexpositive_families @the_yoni_empire @tantric.alchemy @the_vspot @godisgrey @ericasmith.sex.ed @talkpuritytome @thesexdoctor @thes3xtalk @givingthetalk ---> PODCASTS: Sexually Liberated Podcast Why Won't You Date Me? with Nicole Byer ---> SEX TOY RESOURCES Canadian Ethical Sex Toy Shop - Come as you Are Maude Dame Vixen Creations -- Loving the podcast? please rate + review the pod on Apple Podcasts! subscribe to the show on your fave podcast app show a friend how to subscribe Connect with us! Megan McNamara: Instagram @FAMtasticfertility https://www.instagram.com/famtasticfertility/ Youtube: FAMtastic Fertility Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/famtasticfertility Nathalie Daudet: Instagram @fertilityawarenessproject https://www.instagram.com/fertilityawarenessproject/ Website: https://fertilityawarenessproject.ca/ Become a direct supporter of Body Literacy Babes: Your support of this podcast via a small monthly donation helps sustain future episodes. Head over to our support page to get started. ( https://anchor.fm/bodyliteracybabes/support ) We're deeply grateful for your support and it allows us to continue this work - thank you! We want to hear from you! Email your stories to bodyliteracybabes@gmail.com and please include "listener story" + your topic in the subject line so we can search for them more easily. Boundary: we cannot offer specific charting advice to those who are not our clients. Thank you! body literacy, for everyone, forever