Pelvic Health with Gooch Global: Exploring the Psychology of ‘Nether Regions’ and Men’s Pelvic Health

You Have the Floor

Here's a personal story - as healthcare professionals, we've seen countless times how sensitive health topics get swept under the rug due to discomfort or embarrassment. This is why Dr. Nicole Williams and Dr. Mike Stern, founding members of Gooch Global, caught our attention. This episode lets us unravel their inspiring journey of transforming a family joke into a platform for raising awareness about ‘below the belt’ or ‘nether regions’ health issues and helping the community. The episode primarily focuses on men's pelvic health, a topic that's often bypassed in regular discussions. Nicole and Mike share their clinical experiences dealing with diverse populations, including veterans and cancer patients, and discuss conditions that often afflict men's pelvic health. Chronic pelvic pain, the multifaceted nature of erectile dysfunction, and the role of pelvic floor muscles are some of the issues we address. This insightful conversation also touches on the potential impact of past traumas, on sexual health, and the importance of treating these issues in a therapeutic setting. By exploring the connection between pelvic health, trauma, and chronic pain, we dive into the complexities of the sympathetic nervous system and the role brain chemicals play in triggering our fight or flight responses. We also touch on the physical and emotional impact of keeping secrets, emphasizing the significant role of open communication.

Merch available at https://GoochGlobal.org
Reference material is available at https://PHreedomFound.org/talk
Dr. Nicole Williams is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and one of the originating members of Gooch Global with skills that are questionably useful to the company… as an unqualified seamstress she began sewing patches on shirts and hats to get Gooch Global’s brand out to the masses. She does not have education in sewing or business but rather pursued degrees in Journalism and Psychology from UNC - Chapel Hill and then she obtained her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Florida School of Professional Psychology. She has held clinical, teaching, and supervising roles throughout her 15-year career and is currently working part-time as a psychotherapist in private practice and full time as a mother to three amazing daughters, two dogs, and two cats. Partnership with Phreedom Foundation seems a natural integration with her psychology background and Gooch Global’s mission related to charitable organizations shedding light on the health of our “nether regions.”
Dr. Michael Stern is a licensed psychologist who has spent the past 15 years working within the Veterans Health Administration in various clinical and leadership roles. He maintains a part-time private practice offering therapy to a diverse clientele and provides organizational development consulting services to private sector companies. It is through his work supporting Veterans who were overcoming “grundle” cancers (e.g. prostate and colorectal) that led him to becoming a founding member of Gooch Global. He likes to think of himself as Gooch’s “chief provocateur” due to his ease with initiating conversations about men's pelvic health issues. Michael will tell you his greatest achievement to date has been fathering his three precious daughters and spoiling his four rescue pets.
The information provided in this podcast is for general educational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for medical advice. Any concerns about your health or the health of your family should be discussed with a qualified healthcare provider.
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Chapters

1. Introduction and Disclaimer (00:00:00)

2. Origin Story of Gooch Global (00:01:18)

3. The ‘Nether Regions’, the Importance of Open Conversation (00:05:44)

4. What’s the 'Gooch'!! (00:07:44)

5. Nicole and Mike Discuss their Clinical Background in Psychology (00:11:00)

6. The Term Pelvic Health Starts Conversation and Raises Awareness (00:15:53)

7. The Impact of Childhood Education on Pelvic Health; Private Parts, not Secret Parts (00:20:42)

8. Your Hoo-Ha, Your Junk? The Power of Anatomically Correct Body Terms (00:25:47)

9. Transitioning to Men's Pelvic Health (00:36:04)

10. Understanding Male Urinary Dysfunction (00:36:38)

11. Exploring Erectile Dysfunction and Male Pelvic Pain (00:37:36)

12. The Role of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy (00:38:13)

13. The Psychological Impact of Chronic Pain (00:39:24)

14. The Mind-Body Connection in Pelvic Health (00:45:11)

15. Understanding the Brain's Response to Trauma (00:47:12)

16. The Connection of Fear and Trauma in Constricting the Pelvic Floor (00:51:49)

17. Did You Say Heavy Testicles? (00:53:10)

18. More to the Story …. Lori Explains the Research (01:00:20)

19. Balls, Balls, Balls. Good Boundaries Allow us to Relate and Share; Removing Barriers, Stigmas and Taboos (01:02:12)

20. How Do You Know What’s Normal or Not Normal, If You Can’t Talk About It? (01:05:29)

21. The Role of Gooch Global in Promoting Pelvic Health (01:07:52)