The Hidden Trauma in Women's Health: Breaking Free from a Power-Over System with Elise Loehnen

Mar 11, 2026

Elise Loehnen, writer and cultural critic and former goop content chief, explores how cultural rules shape women's behavior and health. She discusses patriarchy as a learned system, suppressed emotions like anger and envy, people-pleasing in female friendships, and rebuilding power-through-care communities. The conversation highlights intuition, emotional hygiene, and practical ways to reclaim voice and mutual aid.

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INSIGHT

Patriarchy As Historical Power Over System

Patriarchy is framed as a cultural power-over system that emerged historically, not an eternal natural order.
Elise Loehnen traces roots to invading warring tribes and Marija Gimbutas' research showing women were often enslaved and treated as property.

ADVICE

Prioritize Emotional Hygiene Daily

Prioritize emotional hygiene by pausing and reprioritizing simple restorative practices.
Elise recommends walks, gentle movement, group healings or energy work and scheduling daily quiet time to process emotions safely.

INSIGHT

Combine Medical Care With Energy Healing

Healing needs both medical and energetic approaches; it's not an either/or choice.
Mindy shares using Western medicine plus energy healers when conventional care stalled, crediting an energy healer with resolving lymphocytic colitis in a day.

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If you've ever felt pressure to be the "good girl," you're not the only one.

Dr. Mindy has heard from thousands of women who feel exhausted by the pressure to be agreeable, accommodating, and selfless. Many women were taught that being good meant putting everyone else first. But over time, that pattern often leads to resentment, burnout, and a deep disconnection from your own voice.

That's why Dr. Mindy invited writer and cultural critic Elise Loehnen to join her for this conversation.

Elise is the former Chief Content Officer of goop and the New York Times bestselling author of On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good. Through her writing and podcast Pulling the Thread, Elise explores the cultural expectations that shape women's lives and how those expectations influence our relationships, emotions, and sense of identity.

In this conversation, Dr. Mindy and Elise unpack the invisible rules women have been taught to live by for generations. They explore why women were conditioned to suppress emotions like anger and envy, how people-pleasing shows up in female friendships, and why learning to trust your intuition is one of the most important skills a woman can develop.

In this episode, you'll learn how to:

-Reconnect with your intuition and inner authority -Understand the cultural conditioning shaping women's behavior -Recognize how suppressed emotions impact your health -Navigate female friendships with more awareness -Step out of people-pleasing patterns -Reclaim your voice and authenticity

For any woman who feels like she has been living by expectations that don't truly belong to her, this conversation offers a new perspective. It helps you understand where those patterns came from and how to begin trusting yourself again.

For more resources related to today's episode, visit the podcast episode page: https://www.drmindypelz.com/ep330

Connect with Dr. Mindy:

Join Reset Academy Watch the episodes on YouTube Follow Dr. Mindy on Instagram Subscribe to Dr. Mindy's newsletter for tools and research on fasting, hormones, and metabolic health

Connect with Elise Loehnen:

Podcast: Pulling the Thread Instagram: @eliseloehnen Book: On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, fasting routine, or lifestyle.