Shailene Woodley on Health, Healing, and Empowering Young Women

Award-winning actress Shailene Woodley, known for her roles in Big Little Lies and Three Women, pulls back the curtain on her personal health struggles and shares the transformative journey that led her to wellness. Dr. Aliabadi shares her own experiences with trauma and the impact of cortisol on the body, sparking a candid conversation about fear, stress, and healing. They explore essential topics such as endometriosis, pelvic pain, self-esteem, and understanding one's body. Shailene also highlights the significance of family, kindness, and her nonprofit, All It Takes, which empowers children through empathy and leadership skills. The episode concludes with advice for young women navigating sexual discovery and tips for staying healthy.

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IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:14] Meet award-winning actress her role in the TV show “Three Women”
• [4:49] Shailene discusses her health issues in her twenties
• [9:25] How cortisol affects the body and Shailene shares how fear affected her life
• [14:14] The path to wellness and what it was like to play Gia in “Three Women”
• [08:31] Discussion of the hookup culture, endometriosis, pelvic pain, self-esteem after childbirth
• [31:24] Shailene explains the All It Takes nonprofit, which teaches kids empathy, mediation, leadership skills and how to advocate for themselves
• [35:48] Discussion of the importance of family, kindness and love
• [43:29] Shailene advises how young girls can try to find themselves sexually.
• [45:57] What she does to keep herself healthy and happy: Staying active, intuitive eating, and getting sleep.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM SHAILENE WOODLEY WELLNESS JOURNEY:

1. Take action on painful periods, If you're experiencing painful periods, don’t ignore it. Pain is not normal—schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to get the proper diagnosis and treatment.
2. Manage stress and hormones by being mindful of your cortisol levels, as they can affect your hormone balance and health.
3. Redefine intimacy, embrace the beauty of true sexual intimacy. Remember that pornography does not represent genuine intimacy or love—explore ways to connect meaningfully with your partner.
4. Watch “Three Women”, Shailene feels that the book and the film gave her a sense that someone heard and understood her, and she hopes that other women will feel that same freedom.
5. Visit the All It Takes website, the nonprofit was created to equip youth and educators with emotional skills to help kids navigate their lives and support their communities. All It Takes uses experiential social-emotional learning (SEL) to create safer schools and communities.

RESOURCES:

Shailene Woodley - Instagram

All It Takes NonProfit - Website

CONNECT WITH SHE MD:

Mary Alice Haney - Instagram

Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi - Instagram

SheMD Podcast - Instagram

SHEMD - YouTube

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QUOTES:

“I think there's a lot of conversation happening now for women, by women, with women, which is incredible. Yet, I feel the opportunity to explore female psychology deeply isn't always prevalent in Hollywood, and so Three Women felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dive in and explore themes that are not abnormal, things that most of us go through as women.” Shailene Woodley

“I have prayed to every hippie star in the sky, and traveled to India to meet a monk in the Himalayas, and I've also been in a lot of doctor's offices, and with a lot of IVs in my arm, and a lot of scary phone calls, and a lot of confusing phone calls. For me, my wellness really did all start once I focused on my mental and spiritual health.” Shailene Woodley

SHAILENE WOODLEY:

Shailene Woodley is one of the most multi-faceted and talented actors of her generation. She currently stars in the STARZ television series “Three Women,” based on author Lisa Taddeo’s international best-selling novel. Woodley was solidified as a household name from the “Divergent” film series in addition to her acclaimed roles in “The Fault in Our Stars,” “The Spectacular Now” and “The Descendants,” for which she earned individual nominations for two Critics Choice Awards and a Golden Globe. Up next, Woodley will star alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Richard Madden in the Amazon Studios film “Killer Heat.” The film will be released on September 26, 2024. Woodley most recently co-starred in Michael Mann’s film “Ferrari” and just wrapped production on the film “Motor City.” Other film credits include “Dumb Money,” “The Last Letter from Your Lover,” “Adrift,” and “Snowden.” On the small screen, Woodley notably starred as Jane in the critically acclaimed television series “Big Little Lies,” for which she earned an individual Emmy and Golden Globe nomination. Woodley is a committed advocate for social justice, a staunch environmentalist and focused on discovering ways to better the world. She currently sits on the board of Conservation International.

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