Women’s health is Fizimed’s DNA. So it’s no surprise that we were seduced by the podcast Wise Women, which gives voice to health professionals on themes as diverse as chronic pelvic pain, gynecological osteopathy and even violence against women. Today, it’s the turn of its inspiring creator Géraldine Grenet to take part in the question game.
Hello Géraldine, can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am 40 years old and I am from Strasbourg. Having an initial training in political science, I have worked for several international bodies, notably the Council of Europe and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, on questions of violence against women. I am currently self-employed as a consultant on questions of women's rights and health and invested with Harmonie Mutuelle Alsace and Mutualité Française Grand Est, where I deal more specifically with women's health issues.
It's what " Wise Women » ?
It’s a podcast that gives voice to health professionals, and other disciplines, on issues of global management of women's health.
The birth of Wise Women
How did you come up with the idea for the project?
In May 2019, I coordinated an event called “Gynecology in all its forms”, organized by Harmonie Mutuelle and MGEN among others which welcomed health professionals (gynecologists, midwife and osteopath) to discuss these questions of overall care. The event was a great success and I said to myself that it was a shame that this message was not relayed more widely. This is where the idea for the podcast was born.
I then contacted Emeline Hahn, CEO of Fizimed, who I knew to talk to him about the project. Very committed herself to the theme of women's health, she was immediately won over and agreed to support the project. Subsequently, Harmonie Mutuelle and Mutualité Française Grand Est joined the adventure.
How did the launch go?
THE podcast launch was very smooth even though I had no experience in radio. But I managed to surround myself well. Matthieu Zisswiller, sound engineer, does a superb job with the arrangements and the podcast owes a lot to him. I also had the chance to meet Noufissa Kabbou whose wonderful voice punctuates the podcast credits. And of course the professionals who trusted me from the start.
What message did you want to convey through this podcast?
On a personal level, I have had health problems serious and less serious which deeply questioned my posture as a patient and the notion of care more generally. Based on this experience, it seemed important to me to highlight professional practices that are part of the kindness and the desire to go beyond the symptom, to put meaning back into the support.
The healthcare professionals I interviewed questioned their practices, had doubts, and some were able to share their own vulnerability at certain moments in their careers. For me, this is the richness of this podcast. Hearing their stories already has therapeutic value. It can also potentially reconcile some women with a difficult personal or medical history.
Another aspect that emerges from these exchanges is that ofempowerment of one's own health. For example, the fact that the therapist supports but does not hold all the keys. It’s a pas de deux, where some are experts in medicine and others are experts in their body, where empathetic listening must be prioritized and the patient’s feelings placed at the center of follow-up. These are points that often come up in the different testimonials professionals I interview.
What are the profiles of these Wise Women?
Most are health professionals (gynecologists, midwives, osteopaths, naturopaths, etc.) but not only that. The podcast also welcomes jurists, historians, socio-anthropologists who shed light on other aspects of the subject and allow us to include the women's health in a context, a story.
How does a recording of your podcasts take place?
In Strasbourg, recordings take place at the Supernova studio. For recordings outside the walls, I go in reporter mode with a recorder and two microphones, loaned by Les Défricheurs, an associative radio station which supports the project. I meet people in the place they have chosen. We always take time to get to know each other, to discuss questions and create a space of trust before starting the interview itself.
Some of the women interviewed I know, others I am discovering. It’s always a great meeting and a real pleasure. to listen to them unfold their experiences and their life journeys. I sincerely thank them for their trust.
What follow-up do you see for this podcast?
I have lots of ideas for interviews, inspiring women who I would like to meet. For this, I regularly seek partnerships. Furthermore, I would very much like to publish a work that would result from these interviews. All I have to do now is find an editor ready to embark on the adventure.
You can subscribe to his page Facebook or his account Instagram so as not to miss any release of its podcasts. You can also simply go to the page: https://podcast.ausha.co/les-femmes-sages
