G-Chats With Giana Jarrah

Epizodai

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  You Asked, I’m Answering: Q & A With Giana! 13.09.2026 39min

  You know me as a biomedical engineer, reproductive-health educator, and the founder of With Meraki Co., but there is so much more behind the work you see online.In this solo Q&A episode of G-Chats, I’m answering your questions about my personal reproductive-health journey, the experiences that led me to this work, the reality of building a company from the ground up, and the parts of entrepreneurship that rarely make it onto social media.We’re talking reproductive-health myths, recurrent UTIs, leaving engineering to pursue With Meraki Co. full-time, being underestimated as a young woman online, and how I balance educating my community with running a brand.This episode is a little science, a little business, and a lot more personal. Let’s chat!
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  Beyond BV: Turning an Isolating Diagnosis Into a Community With Brandi Twitchell 06.09.2026 1val 5min

  What happens when one of the most isolating experiences of your life becomes the reason thousands of other women no longer have to feel alone? On this episode of G-Chats, I sat down with Brandi Twitchell, founder of the Beyond BV Facebook group and a staunch advocate for vaginal health.Beyond BV was born from Brandi’s own experience battling recurrent bacterial vaginosis during an incredibly difficult chapter of her life. She remembers feeling alone, hopeless, and desperate for answers, and ultimately decided that no other woman navigating BV should have to feel that way. So she created the community she wished she had. What started as a Facebook group has grown into a community of thousands of women talking openly about recurrent BV, vaginal health, the vaginal microbiome, and how to better advocate for themselves in a healthcare system where so many women still struggle to feel heard.In this episode, Brandi and I talk about her own BV journey, what she has learned from years of supporting women through theirs, the power of community, and why conversations like these matter so much.If you loved hearing from Brandi, you can find Beyond BV on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, explore her Beyond BV Wellness & Support community, and check out her book, "Me, A Tree, and BV," the very personal (and sometimes completely ridiculous 😂) story of how her experience with BV eventually turned into all of this.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bp4pBmg92/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_bvTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondbvBook: https://a.co/d/01fc3l7y
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  I Asked My Boyfriend What He REALLY Knows About Women’s Reproductive Health 30.08.2026 33min

  Reproductive health shouldn’t only be something women are expected to understand. So this week, I sat down with my boyfriend to talk all things periods, pregnancy, birth control, hormones, and the female reproductive system, and see just how much he actually knows.Whether you have a uterus or just love someone who does, this is an episode everyone can learn something from!
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  TikTok’s Viral Hygiene Routines: What’s Helpful vs. Completely Unnecessary 23.08.2026 39min

  TikTok has turned hygiene routines into an entire genre... but does doing more actually mean you’re cleaner?This week on G-Chats, I’m reacting to popular viral hygiene routines and breaking down what I think is actually helpful, what might be unnecessary, and where our obsession with being “clean” can start doing more harm than good.From intimate hygiene and shower routines to skincare, fragrance, hair care and everything in between, we’re talking about what hygiene actually means — and why you probably don’t need a 20-step routine to take good care of your body.Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify.
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  Political Agenda Affecting Your Vagina... 16.08.2026 32min

  After hearing Todd Blanche's recent comments about working toward "permanent solutions" after Dobbs, I felt like this conversation needed to happen.Politics doesn't stop at the ballot box. It shapes reproductive healthcare, from abortion access and miscarriage care to IVF, contraception, medical research, and the care your OB-GYN is able to provide.In this episode, I break down what was said, what it could mean for women's healthcare, and why understanding the science behind these conversations has never been more important.
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  Endometriosis 101: What It Is, Why Diagnosis Takes So Long, and What's Changing 09.08.2026 28min

  Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women, yet it still takes many years on average for many patients to receive a diagnosis.In this week's episode, we're breaking down what endometriosis actually is, why it has historically been so difficult to diagnose, and the exciting medical advancements that are changing the future of care.We discuss:🩸 What endometriosis really is🔬 Why diagnosis has traditionally required surgery🧬 New research on noninvasive biomarkers🩻 Advances in ultrasound and MRI🧠 The roles of inflammation, hormones, nerves, and the immune system💛 Why there has never been more hope for earlier diagnosis and better treatmentsIf you've ever wondered whether your pain is "normal," this episode is for you.#endometriosis #endometriosisawareness #womenshealth #reproductivehealth #pelvicpain #gynecology #medicalresearch #biomedicalengineering #healtheducation #femalehealth
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  The Real Reason I Dedicated My Life to Women's Health: My Story Becoming a Biomedical Engineer 02.08.2026 43min

  Before there was With Meraki Co., before the podcast, and before social media… there was a teenage girl watching someone she loved navigate a frightening health scare.In this episode, I'm sharing the story that shaped everything: from why I chose biomedical engineering to how that decision eventually led me to leave my career and dedicate my life to women's health education.This isn't just the story of my degree. It's the story of my purpose.#biomedicalengineering #womeninstem #founderstory #womenshealth #stem #entrepreneur #healtheducation #womeninbusiness #sciencecommunication #podcast
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  How to Explain Periods to Kids (Without Making It Awkward) 26.07.2026 19min

  We teach our daughters about periods… but are we teaching our sons? In this episode, we talk about why reproductive health education shouldn't be gendered, how to explain periods, pregnancy, and anatomy to young children in age-appropriate ways, and why raising informed boys helps create more empathetic men.
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  Fibroids: The Silent Epidemic Affecting Millions of Women 19.07.2026 26min

  Fibroids affect millions of women, yet so many of us don't know what they are until we're diagnosed. In this episode, we're breaking down the science behind uterine fibroids, why location often matters more than size, the symptoms you should never ignore, why Black women are disproportionately affected, and why this conversation deserves so much more attention. My hope is that you leave this episode feeling informed, empowered, and reminded that heavy bleeding and debilitating pelvic pain should never be dismissed as "just part of being a woman." 💛 #fibroidawareness #womenshealth #reproductivehealth #biomedicalengineer #healtheducation
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  Everything You Didn't Know About Your Pelvic Floor 13.07.2026 35min

  Most people think the pelvic floor is only something you worry about after having a baby. The reality? Your pelvic floor is involved in bladder function, bowel movements, sexual health, posture, breathing, core stability, and even how your nervous system responds to stress.In this episode, we're connecting the dots between pelvic floor dysfunction, vaginal health, recurrent UTIs, painful sex, constipation, posture, trauma, and the nervous system. Plus, we are discussing why these systems should never be viewed in isolation.If you've ever been told "everything looks normal" while you still felt like something was wrong, this episode is for you! Tune in to learn why the pelvis is where biomechanics, microbiology, and the nervous system all intersect.
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  The Hidden World of Biofilms: Why Some Infections Keep Coming Back 05.07.2026 24min

  Have you ever wondered why a UTI, bacterial vaginosis, or yeast infection seems to come back, even after taking the "right" medication? One possible piece of the puzzle is something called a biofilm.In this episode, we're diving into the fascinating world of biofilms: what they are, why bacteria and yeast build them, how microbes communicate through quorum sensing, and why these protective communities have become such an important area of research in recurrent UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and even gut health.We'll also separate fact from fiction, discuss what the science actually says about disrupting biofilms, and explain why this emerging research is changing how we think about chronic and recurrent infections.If you've ever asked yourself, "Why does this keep happening?"... this episode is for you.
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  Yay or Nay? The Truth About Popular Vaginal & UTI Remedies 28.06.2026 34min

  There are hundreds of products and home remedies marketed for vaginal and urinary health, but which ones actually deserve a spot in your routine?Today, we're playing "Yay, Nay, or It Depends?" and breaking down the science behind some of the most talked-about trends. My goal isn't to tell you what to buy, it's to help you understand the evidence so you can make informed decisions for your body.
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  Questions I Have About Love Island That Have Nothing To Do With Love 21.06.2026 24min

  This episode has absolutely nothing to do with who should couple up. Instead, we're discussing the questions I have about Love Island that nobody seems to be asking: How are they having their periods? Where are they pooping? Who is keeping everyone hair-free all summer? And how are they surviving those kissing challenges? Let's talk about it!
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  The Dark, RACIST History of Gynecology No One Talks About 14.06.2026 25min

  This Juneteenth, we're talking about a difficult but necessary topic: the legacy of racism in gynecology and women's healthcare.If all women experience medical misogyny, why do some women consistently experience worse outcomes than others?From the stories of Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey to modern maternal mortality disparities and Serena Williams' experience after childbirth, this episode explores how history can continue to shape healthcare long after it has passed. Because history doesn't have to be alive to leave fingerprints. #womenshealth #femalehealth
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  Chat About Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) With Your Biomedical Engineering Big Sister 07.06.2026 41min

  Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common vaginal conditions, yet it's still surrounded by confusion, stigma, and misinformation.In this episode, we're diving into the claim that BV is an STI, why that label isn't supported by what we currently know about the vaginal microbiome, and how sex absolutely can influence vaginal health without making BV a sexually transmitted infection.We also unpack why BV comes back so often, the limitations of how it's currently diagnosed and evaluated, and why so many people feel stuck in a cycle of treatment and recurrence. If you've ever wondered why BV can be so frustrating to manage, or why the conversation around it often feels oversimplified, this episode is for you.Because understanding the microbiology behind BV is far more helpful than attaching shame to it. 💞
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  When Hygiene Becomes a Competition: Reacting to Viral Routines 31.05.2026 49min

  In this episode, I'm reacting to viral TikTok feminine hygiene routines and discussing something I see far too often: fear of bacteria.Somewhere along the way, we've been taught that every smell, every discharge, every skin texture, and every microbe is a problem that needs to be scrubbed, disinfected, or eliminated. The result? Many people are using increasingly harsh products in pursuit of being "clean." But your skin and your microbiome aren't enemies.More often than not, loving your skin through gentle, nourishing care will reward you with less irritation, less odor, fewer breakouts, a healthier skin barrier, and a microbiome that can actually do its job. So let's talk about what these routines get right, where social media gets carried away, and why hygiene should support your body, not punish it.
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  Meet Barrier Bar! MY NEW PRODUCT 24.05.2026 39min

  This episode is probably one of the most personal episodes I’ve ever recorded. We’re talking about the REAL reason I created Barrier Bar, the science behind why the feminine hygiene industry has failed women for decades, the difference between vulvar and vaginal care, and why I believe women deserve something more nuanced than “harsh cleansing” versus “just use water.”I also talk about the emotional side of this launch, including weaving my Syrian heritage into Barrier Bar and collaborating with Syrian artist Farah Alimi to create a piece that represents womanhood, care, softness, and the story behind this product.This isn’t just about a cleanser. It’s about reframing the way women are taught to think about their bodies.Now streaming everywhere ♥️
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  Reacting to The Guardian... Do Probiotics Work? 17.05.2026 37min

  In this episode, I break down The Guardian’s recent article on vaginal probiotics paragraph by paragraph as a biomedical engineer who studies female reproductive health and someone who actively critiques shame-based wellness marketing while ALSO recognizing that vaginal dysbiosis, recurrent BV, recurrent UTIs, and asymptomatic imbalance are very real.We discuss:• why wellness culture deserves criticism• why fear-based feminine hygiene marketing is harmful• why “self-cleaning” gets oversimplified• asymptomatic vaginal imbalance• Lactobacillus dominance and vaginal health• the lack of progress in BV/UTI treatment• emerging microbiome science• probiotics, strain specificity, and survivability• why “emerging science” ≠ “pseudoscience”• and the middle ground women actually deserveThe future of women’s health cannot continue existing in extremes.The article: https://www.theguardian.com/global/2026/apr/29/vaginal-microbiome-probiotics-marketing
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  The History of The Feminine Hygiene Aisle (and why I hate it) 10.05.2026 31min

  The feminine hygiene aisle didn’t just appear overnight and it definitely wasn’t built around what the female body actually needs. In this episode, I’m breaking down the real history behind it, from early marketing rooted in “female weakness” and odor control to the normalization of douching and the creation of an entire category designed to make women feel like their bodies were a problem to fix. We’re talking about how fear, desirability, and even marriage were used as marketing tools, how science eventually pushed back, and why that messaging never fully went away, it just evolved.Then we connect it to today, because if you’ve ever heard phrases like “freshen up before sex,” “get rid of odor instantly,” or “make your vagina taste better,” you are seeing the modern version of the exact same shame-based marketing. It may look cleaner, more aesthetic, and more wellness-focused, but the underlying message has not changed.This episode is about understanding the difference between true hygiene and manufactured insecurity, and learning how to separate what your body actually needs from what you’ve been told it should be.Free Stock Footage by Vecteezy.comDesigned by freepik.com
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  How to Read Your Vaginal Microbiome Test (Like a Biomedical Engineer) 03.05.2026 24min

  I genuinely think vaginal microbiome testing is one of the most misunderstood areas of women’s health right now. People are opening these reports, seeing percentages and bacteria names they can’t pronounce, and immediately spiraling.So as your biomedical engineering big sister who studies female reproductive health, I made an entire episode teaching you how to actually read your microbiome test results WITHOUT fear mongering, misinformation, or oversimplifying the science.Because your microbiome is not about “good” bacteria vs “bad” bacteria. It’s about balance, dominance, patterns, and context.Free Stock Footage by Vecteezy.comDesigned by freepik.com