44: Rock Star to Pelvic Floor Revolutionary with Dr. Bruce Crawford

Episode Overview

Get ready for one of the most fascinating origin stories you'll ever hear! Join Kristen Parise as she sits down with Dr. Bruce Crawford, the maverick urogynecologist who went from drumming in rock bands to revolutionizing pelvic floor health worldwide. This isn't your typical medical journey—it's the story of a surgeon who discovered that "It's a fitness problem, not a surgical problem" and completely transformed how we approach bladder control, prolapse, and pelvic health.

From playing drums in successful rock bands to becoming the ONLY urogynecologist in the United States to develop a comprehensive pelvic floor fitness program, Dr. Crawford's path proves that sometimes the most unconventional routes lead to the most groundbreaking discoveries.

What You'll Discover

• The Email That Changed Everything: How one random email in 2003 led Dr. Crawford to West Africa and completely transformed his medical philosophy
• The Pfilates Revolution: The fascinating EMG research behind 120 movement studies that identified the 10 most effective pelvic floor exercises
• Why Traditional Medicine Gets It Wrong: The eye-opening revelation that pelvic floor disorders are fitness problems being treated as surgical ones
• The Power of Co-Recruitment: How your glutes, inner thighs, and deep abdominals can save your pelvic floor (without you even thinking about it!)
• Real Results: Why 80% of clients see 50% improvement in bladder function in just 28 days
• Global Impact: Stories from training 7,000+ instructors worldwide, including 1,700 in Japan alone

Episode Highlights

From Janitor to Rock Star to Surgeon: The Most Unlikely Medical Journey Ever

Dr. Crawford opens up about his unconventional path—from being an 18-year-old hospital janitor with no college plans, to touring Europe as a drummer, to acing the MCAT and attending NYU School of Medicine. His greatest childhood fear? Being bored at work. Spoiler alert: that never happened!

"My greatest childhood fear was being bored in my work. Kids are scared of the boogeyman—I was afraid of being bored as an adult."

The Life-Changing Email: When Destiny Calls from West Africa

In 2003, Dr. Crawford opened what seemed like a routine email. Next thing he knew, he was performing life-changing fistula repairs in Niger and Rwanda. This humanitarian work became the catalyst for his revolutionary discovery that would challenge everything he thought he knew about pelvic floor treatment.

"You just never know which email it's gonna be. You never know what interaction is gonna totally change the path of your life."

The Great Medical Revelation: "They're Not Surgical Problems!"

After years of performing successful surgeries and watching the same problems return, Dr. Crawford had a professional existential crisis. His work with women suffering from obstetric fistulas in Africa made him realize that most pelvic floor disorders aren't surgical problems—they're fitness problems that deserve fitness solutions.

The Science Behind the Magic: EMG Research That Changed Everything

Discover how Dr. Crawford and his team used groundbreaking video EMG synchronization technology to study 120 different movements from Pilates, yoga, and personal training routines. The result? Ten specific movements that passively engage the pelvic floor through reflex relationships with other muscle groups.

"75-80% of people are glute dominant. That's their best co-recruiter. But we didn't know that before the research."

Why Your Stride Length Might Predict Your Sex Life

In a fascinating tangent, Dr. Crawford shares a Japanese study showing that men with longer natural stride lengths had less erectile dysfunction. The reason? Hip extension engages glutes, which are the dominant pelvic floor recruiters. Mind = blown!

Breaking the Incontinence Silence: "How's Your Bladder Working?"

Learn Dr. Crawford's direct, no-nonsense approach to breaking down barriers around embarrassing health topics. His secret? Unwavering eye contact, matter-of-fact delivery, and understanding that if you're uncomfortable, your patient will be too.

"You need to coax it gently and with kindness. You can't feel fear and shame and embarrassment."

The Fitness Revolution vs. The Medical Machine

Dr. Crawford doesn't hold back about the medical industry's relationship with Big Pharma and the profit motives that keep surgical solutions at the forefront. His controversial take: we've got it completely backwards, treating exercise and nutrition as "radical therapy" instead of first-line treatment.

"There might be exploitation taking place here. We put everyone on a med. If that doesn't work, we operate. And if that doesn't work, we try radical therapy like exercise and nutrition. This might be completely upside down."

The Lonely Road of Medical Innovation

Discover what it's like to be a pioneer in a field resistant to change, especially when that change threatens income streams. Dr. Crawford's honest reflection on choosing to "effectively put himself out of business" rather than continue the status quo.

Episode Chapters

00:00-07:17: Introduction to Dr. Bruce Crawford – Meet the rock star turned revolutionary surgeon

07:17-15:39: Bruce's Unique Journey to Medicine – From drummer to janitor to medical maverick

15:39-21:32: The Importance of Movement in Pelvic Health – The science behind functional movement and pelvic floor recruitment

21:32-28:28: Breaking the Stigma of Incontinence – How to have those difficult conversations with confidence

28:28-36:29: The Role of Exercise in Health – Why fitness should be first-line treatment for almost everything

36:29-40:16: Reflections on Global Health Work – Life-changing experiences in Niger and Rwanda

40:16-End: The Future of Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation – Where Pfilates is headed and how to get involved

Transformative Quotes That Will Change How You Think

"It's a fitness problem, not a surgical problem."

"You should be working your pelvic floor muscles all your life, just like you work your biceps."

"It's never too late to work on muscles."

"The answer is always to exercise."

"Instead of 28 days, you need to think 90 days for prolapse—but it CAN be done."

"We sell more pads for bladder control problems than for menstruating women. And we don't talk about it."

Ready to Transform Your Approach to Pelvic Health?

Whether you're a healthcare provider looking to offer better solutions to your patients, someone struggling with pelvic floor issues, or just fascinated by medical innovation, this episode will completely shift your perspective on what's possible with the right approach.

Learn More About Pfilates: Visit Pfilates.com to explore programs for women, men, prolapse coaching, and instructor certification.

Dr. Crawford's Challenge to You: Before considering surgery, give fitness a chance. Five minutes in the morning, five minutes in the evening. What do you have to lose?

Connect with The Hole Shebang

Website: Blueberry Therapy Pelvic Health and Pediatrics Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth Upcoming Event: The Pleasure Principle Conference May 8th 2026

Dr. Crawford's Theme Song for His Career

"Don't Back Down" by Tom Petty – perfectly capturing his refusal to compromise on doing what's right for patients, even when it meant going against the medical establishment.

Close second: "Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round" because "it's just been a lot of repetition over and over again."

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Ready to have your mind blown about pelvic health? This episode proves that sometimes the most revolutionary ideas come from the most unexpected places. Dr. Crawford's journey from rock stages to operating rooms to fitness studios is proof that creative expression and medical innovation can change the world—one pelvic floor at a time.