The health and wellness of Latinas is crucial to the health and wellbeing of the U.S. economy. In 100 Latina Birthdays, an original documentary series from Peabody-nominated LWC Studios, reporters in Chicago investigate the health and lifetime outcomes of Latinas in the United States from birth to age 100. In season 1, the stories that unfold center Latinas during their perinatal journeys, childhood, adolescence, and up until age 20. In episode 1, new parents Wendy Miralda and José Paz are navigating the first year of their daughter Jelyani’s life, in Spanish. Language is key to their connection as a family and as Hondurans living in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood in Waukegan, Illinois. The Paz family never questioned teaching their baby Spanish. But many Latinos in the U.S. grapple with the misconception that doing so could delay their child learning English, or affect their development. There’s also the stigma Latinos face when they don’t teach their children Spanish. Reporter Andrea Flores dives into the research on infant brain development that supports bilingualism, and tackles the harmful misconceptions that divide U.S. Latinos along language lines. For more information, all episodes, and transcripts visit us at 100latinabirthdays.com. Follow us on social media @100latinabirthdays.

We speak with Aida Salazar, author of The Moon Within — a middle grade novel about a girl celebrating her first period with a moon ceremony.

When Jane Hartman Adamé started to have trouble with her menstrual cup, she didn’t want to go back to tampons and pads. So she recruited a friend and together, they designed a new cup, which is used by scores of menstruators today.

Sally Ride was the first American woman to go into space. Before launch, NASA scientists asked if she needed 100 tampons for a one-week trip. Since, other menstruators have ventured into the outer reaches of our atmosphere.

Aditi grew up feeling that having a period was shameful. So she and her creative partner, Tuhin, created a comic book to make it easier to talk about it.

Stephanie has been dealing with ovarian cysts since the early years of her period. She opens up about it and about how having a mom who advocates for you and your body changes everything. We also get a doctor’s insight on the common condition.

For a long time, periods were used as excuses to keep menstruators from competing. But top athletes challenged that stigma — and broke world records while menstruating.

When she was 19, Annie lost her period. She tells us what that was like — and we also talk to a doctor about why that sometimes happens. Note: this episode discusses eating disorders, so you might want to listen with an adult.

When Andy and Sophie met at a coding camp, they decided to make a video game together. Their final project? Tampon Run — a video game where you shoot tampons at your enemies.

As a trans man, PJ started taking hormones in college, and his period stopped. But once he met Zoë, the two started experiencing premenstrual syndrome (PMS) together. We hear about their discomfort, acceptance, and love. We also talk to a doctor who unpacks PMS for us.

We talk to people who don’t menstruate but who understand why it matters to them. If you have anyone who menstruates in your life, this episode’s for you.

Not surprisingly, the period emoji is easily our favorite. But how it came to be is complicated. We talked to the women who made it happen.

Do you worry about getting your period all of a sudden and not being prepared? Well, older menstruators have been there. A few of them tell us about being ready for all sorts of period moments.

Daniela remembers her middle school teacher telling her to shout “Period!” to get over the stigma. Years later, Daniela wanted to share that same feeling of fun and freedom — so she created The Period Game.

In this episode, we tackle some of the biggest period-related questions out there — from how to put in a tampon to what vaginal discharge is all about.

Two dads who have never experienced menstruation and their teen daughters, Ceci and Liv, talk about how their family dealt with first periods.

Cass Bliss was so open about being a transgender and non-binary menstruator that they were recognized as a world leader. Along the way, they also created Toni the Tampon to illustrate what it’s like to have a period. Note: this episode talks about cyberbullying, so you might want to listen with an adult.

It’s not always easy for parents to talk about periods. We talk to Phyllis Fagel — a certified professional school counselor and author of Middle School Matters — about how to start that conversation, and what pitfalls to avoid.

Julia, Jocelyn, Piper and Maia decided their school should provide free menstrual products. The four friends’ activism led to them helping to draft a bill to offer free supplies in schools across their state.