Episódios
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Stephen Kuusisto has been blind since birth, and he didn’t grow up in a time (or household) that accepted or accommodated his disability. Later in life, he partnered up with a guide dog, Corky, which opened up doors for greater adventure and independence. We discuss his memoir “Have Dog, Will Travel,” guide dogs, stereotypes about blindness and more with Mayo Clinic expert Dr. Brittni Scruggs.
This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.
We talked with:
Professor Stephen Kuusisto, who has been blind since birth, is the author of "Eavesdropping: A Memoir of Blindness and Listening" and the acclaimed memoir "Planet of the Blind", a New York Times “Notable Book of the Year”. He has also published "Only Bread, Only Light", a collection of poems from Copper Canyon Press. Recognized by the New York Times as “a powerful writer with a musical ear for language and a gift for emotional candor,” Steve has made numerous appearances on programs including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dateline NBC, National Public Radio and the BBC. His newest memoir is “Have Dog, Will Travel.” Brittni Scruggs, M.D., Ph.D., is a board-certified adult and pediatric vitreoretinal surgeon. Her clinical expertise includes retinal diseases, including retinopathy of prematurity. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Scruggs teaches medical students, graduate students, residents, and fellows, and she participates in several clinical trials for inherited retinal diseases. As one of the Principal Investigators in the Mayo Retinal Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Dr. Scruggs focuses on the optimization of gene therapy and cell-based therapy for improved safety and efficacy in patients with retinal degeneration. She is a member of the Mayo Gene Therapy Working Group.Purchase “Have Dog, Will Travel.”
From Bookshop.org.From Amazon.From Barnes & Noble.Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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Chronic illness can come with seemingly endless doctor’s visits, treatment trials and insurance battles. On top of that, people with chronic conditions often experience some degree of shame or blame for their condition – from their social circles, healthcare providers or themselves. Unfortunately, the resulting emotional distress may aggravate physical symptoms. One of the sisters in Alexandra Tanner’s novel “Worry” experiences this distress due to chronic hives that are hard to hide, hard to treat, and come with flare-ups that are impossible to predict. Alexandra and Mayo Clinic expert Dr. Rohit Divekar help us understand what it’s like to live with this kind of condition, remove the blame and offer hope for relief.
This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.
We talked with:
Alexandra Tanner is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, NY. Her work appears in Granta, The New York Times Book Review, The Baffler, and Jewish Currents, among other outlets. She is a graduate of the MFA program at The New School and a recipient of grants and fellowships from MacDowell, The Center for Fiction, and Spruceton Inn’s Artist Residency. Her first novel is Worry.Rohit Divekar, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., is an allergist-immunologist, internist and chair of Practice in the Division of Allergic Diseases at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He received his medical degree from the University of Mumbai and his doctorate in microbiology and immunology from the University of Missouri – Columbia. His areas of focus include hay fever, inflammation, rhinitis, asthma attack, chronic hives and chronic sinusitis.Purchase “Worry.”
From Bookshop.orgFrom AmazonFrom Barnes & NobleGot feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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In this episode, we dig into two topics that can provoke feelings of shame: sex and food. But in Chana Porter’s speculative, fictional world, their roles are flipped — eating, not sex, is the cultural taboo. Mayo Clinic expert Dr. Lesley Williams joins us as we discuss disordered eating and the dynamics of restraint, pleasure, shame and desire.
We talked with:
Chana Porter is an author, playwright, teacher, MacDowell fellow, and cofounder of The Octavia Project, a STEM and writing program for girls, trans, and nonbinary youth that uses speculative fiction to envision greater possibilities for our world. She lives in Los Angeles, California, and is the author of the highly acclaimed novel “The Seep.” Her second novel, “The Thick and The Lean” is a 2024 finalist for the Lambda Literary award and was named the Best Science Fiction of the year by The Times of London.
Lesley Williams, M.D., is a family medicine physician with an expertise in eating disorders at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she resides with her husband and three children. She serves as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer on the Academy of Eating Disorders Board of Directors. She is an advocate for health equity and inclusion and author of a children's book Free To Be Me celebrating size diversity.
Can't get enough?
Purchase “The Thick and the Lean.”
From Bookshop.org.From Amazon.From Barnes & Noble.Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected] invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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Severe mental health disorders can complicate relationships. That goes double for families, when genetic predispositions and generational trauma can come into play. And it’s even more complicated when a loved one’s mental illness disconnects them from reality. In this episode, we’re talking about delusions with author and pharmacist Ruth Madievsky. Her book ALL-NIGHT PHARMACY explores how the mental health of parents — and their attitudes toward health and healthcare — can shape the experiences and wellbeing of their children. Mayo Clinic expert Dr. Robert Bright draws upon his psychiatry expertise to help tease out these often-complex dynamics.
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Ruth Madievsky, Pharm.D., is the author of national bestselling novel, All-Night Pharmacy. Her fiction, nonfiction, and poetry appear in The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Times, Harper's Bazaar, and elsewhere. She is a founding member of the Cheburashka Collective, a community of women and nonbinary writers whose identity has been shaped by immigration from the Soviet Union to the United States. She has recently completed a second poetry collection and is at work on a second novel. Originally from Moldova, she lives in Los Angeles, where she works as an HIV and primary care clinical pharmacist.
Robert Bright, M.D., is the chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. He is also assistant dean of Student Advising in the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and an assistant professor of psychiatry. He is the 2018 recipient of the Mayo Clinic Arizona Distinguished Educator of the Year award. He attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill for his undergraduate studies and medical school.
Can’t get enough?
Purchase “All-Night Pharmacy.”
From Bookshop.org. From Amazon. From Barnes & Noble.Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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You might not fully understand the menopause experience unless you go through it — but author Catherine Newman’s latest novel “Sandwich,” might get you pretty close. Catherine and Mayo Clinic menopause expert Dr. Taryn Smith join us to discuss the book, which wonderfully captures the complicated feelings and sometimes surprising symptoms of menopause.
This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.
We talked with:
Catherine Newman has written numerous columns, articles, and canned-bean recipes for magazines and newspapers, and her essays have been widely anthologized. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller “Sandwich” and the novel “We All Want Impossible Things,” the memoirs “Waiting for Birdy” and “Catastrophic Happiness,” the middle-grade novel “One Mixed-Up Night,” and the bestselling kids’ life-skills books “How to Be a Person” and “What Can I Say?” She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.Dr. Taryn Smith is a board-certified internal medicine physician, women's health specialist and certified menopause practitioner. She completed her internal medicine training at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida before completing a two-year women's health fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Her clinical areas of interest include menopause, sexual health, complex contraception and gender-based differences in medicine. Dr. Smith has been active in research, education and community service. She is also the author of several scientific publications. Dr. Smith strives to provide individualized care based on the unique needs of her patients.Can't get enough?
Purchase “Sandwich."
From Amazon.com.From Bookshop.org.From Barnes & Noble.Learn more about menopause:
Read the Mayo Clinic Press book, "The New Rules of Menopause."Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected] invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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In this episode, author Susan Lieu discusses her memoir, “The Manicurist’s Daughter,” which explores her mother’s death during an elective surgical procedure. Mayo Clinic physician Dr. Alyssa Janousek provides her anesthesiology expertise to help listeners navigate and make sense of surgical procedures.
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Susan Lieu, a Vietnamese-American author, playwright, and performer, tells stories that refuse to be forgotten. A daughter of nail salon workers, she took her autobiographical solo theater show 140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother on a 10-city national tour with sold out premieres and accolades from L.A. Times, NPR, and American Theatre. Her debut memoir, The Manicurist’s Daughter has been featured on The New York Times, NPR Books, and The Washington Post. Also, Lieu is the co-host of The Model Minority Moms podcast and board member for international NGO Asylum Access. Susan and her sister co-founded Socola Chocolatier, an artisanal chocolate company based in San Francisco. Susan lives with her husband and son in Seattle where they enjoy mushroom hunting, croissants, and big family gatherings.
Alyssa Janousek, M.D., is an anesthesiologist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. She received her Medical Degree from University of Arizona-Phoenix, followed by residency in Anesthesiology at University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston with distinction as Chief Resident. She practiced at UTMB in Galveston until 2020 when she moved home to Phoenix and began a private practice career. She has been at Mayo Clinic since May 2023 and has a special interest in graduate medical education, clinical education research, and quality and safety. She is married to her husband, Derrick, and they have two daughters, Eleanor (5) and Clara (2).
Can't get enough?
Purchase “The Manicurist’s Daughter”
From Bookshop.org.From Amazon.From Barnes & Noble.Information from Mayo Clinic about general anesthesia
Information from Mayo Clinic about cosmetic surgery
What to do — and avoid — before anesthesia
Anesthesia 101 – American Society of Anesthesiologists
Preparing for Surgery – American Society of Anesthesiologists
How to Make Peace with Your Belly Fat talk by Susan Lieu
Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected] invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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It seems like psychedelics have never been more popular, buoyed by clinical trials, popular media and international psychedelic retreats. They’re sometimes marketed as a fast-acting panacea for mental health struggles, but the truth is far more complicated — and mysterious. New York Times national correspondent and author Ernesto Londoño and psychiatrist Dr. Eric Noble join us to talk about the potential risks and benefits of psychedelics.
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Ernesto Londoño is a national correspondent at the New York Times, where he has worked since 2014. He was born and raised in Colombia and has spent the past two decades covering some of the most important stories of his generation. His assignments included covering the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Arab Spring, serving on the editorial board of the New York Times, and running the newspaper’s bureau in Brazil.Dr. Eric Noble is a board-certified psychiatrist who trained at UCLA. He received his Bachelors Degree from Brown University, and his Doctorate of Medicine from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He is a staff physician at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and has participated in medical studies on psychedelic use in mental health.Can't get enough?
Purchase “Trippy: The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics”
From Bookshop.org. From Amazon.From Barnes & Noble.Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected] invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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Author Danielle Valentine joins us to discuss her book “Delicate Condition,” a pregnancy horror book that depicts the darker sides to fertility, pregnancy and healthcare. Mayo Clinic expert Dr. Ali Ainsworth joins to help us understand more about the logistical and emotional challenges of fertility journeys and assisted reproductive technology.
This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.
TW: Miscarriage, pregnancy loss, infertility
We talked with:
Danielle Valentine is the New York Times bestselling author of books for adults and teens, including the Barnes & Noble YA Book Club Pick Two Sides to Every Murder, and Delicate Condition, which was adapted by Ryan Murphy into American Horror Story: Delicate, starring Emma Roberts and Kim Kardashian. Danielle is also the author of The Merciless series under the name Danielle Vega. She lives outside of New York City with her husband, daughter, and two ornery cats.Alessandra (Ali) Ainsworth, M.D., is an assistant professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology, specializing in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She completed medical school at the University of Kansas, and both residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Mayo Clinic. During her fellowship, Dr. Ainsworth obtained a master's degree in biomedical science. Her clinical interests include infertility, fertility preservation, premature ovarian insufficiency, and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Dr. Ainsworth is also active in clinical research and education.Can't get enough?
Purchase “Delicate Condition.”
From Bookshop.org.From Amazon.From Barnes & Noble.Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected] invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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Episode summary: A rom-com that thoughtfully addresses death, grief and breast cancer risk? We’re in! Alison, the protagonist in the romance novel “Four Weekends and a Funeral,” is pretending that she was still dating her ex-boyfriend at the time of his death. (It’s complicated.) On top of that, she’s recently undergone a double mastectomy after finding out she a gene variant that puts her at high risk for breast cancer. Author Ellie Palmer, who has the same variant, and Mayo Clinic expert Dr. Jessica Fraker join us to talk about navigating breast cancer risk and life post-mastectomy.
This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.
We talked with:
Ellie Palmer is the author of “Four Weekends and a Funeral,” a carrier of the BRCA1 mutation, and a prototypical Midwesterner who routinely apologizes to inanimate objects when she bumps into them. When she’s not writing romantic comedies featuring delightfully messy characters, Ellie’s at home in Minnesota, eating breakfast food, watching too much reality television, and triple texting her husband about their son.Jessica Fraker, M.D., is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician with a clinical focus on breast medicine at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Dr. Fraker's clinical practice is focused on the care and evaluation of patients with breast concerns, including but not limited to breast pain, masses, and skin changes, nipple changes, nipple discharge and abnormal imaging. She also sees patients with elevated risk for developing breast cancer and guides decisions regarding screening imaging for early detection, as well as strategies to reduce risk of breast cancer.Can't get enough?
Purchase “Four Weekends and a Funeral.”From Bookshop.org.From Amazon.From Barnes & Noble.Purchase the Mayo Clinic book “Beyond Breast Cancer,” a supportive, practical guide to navigating life after breast cancer diagnosis and initial treatment.Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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Writing your life story be a healing process – even if you have zero intention of ever publishing it. But many people who want to write don’t know how to get started. We talk to expert storytellers Allison Fallon, author of “Write Your Story,” and Sandi Marinella, author of “The Story You Need to Tell,” to give us some expert writing insight and advice.
This episode was made possible by generous support from Ken Stevens.
In this episode, we talked to:
Allison Fallon is an author, speaker, and founder of Find Your Voice, a community that supports anyone who wants to write anything. In addition to her books “Write Your Story: A Simple Framework to Understand Yourself, Your Story, and Your Purpose in the World,”“The Power of Writing It Down: A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life,” “Packing Light” and “Indestructible: Leveraging Your Broken Heart to Become a Force of Love & Change in the World,” she has ghostwritten 11 books and has collaborated on countless others. She has lived all over the country in the past decade but now lives in Nashville, Tenn., with her husband and two kids, Nella and Charlie. You can follow Allison at allisonfallon.com.Sandra Marinella is an award-winning writing teacher and author. She has taught story-sharing and writing to thousands of students, professionals, and cancer patients for over three decades. When she faced breast cancer, Sandra turned to her personal writing as a way of healing. The experience inspired her to teach “writing to heal and transform” to patients, veterans, and those in life-altering situations at many nonprofits and hospitals, including Mayo Integrated Medicine in Phoenix. As she watched expressive writing transform lives, Sandra wrote “The Story You Need to Tell,” acclaimed as the go-to-guide for writing to heal and grow.Purchase “Write Your Story.”
From Bookshop.org.From Amazon.From Barnes & Noble.Purchase “The Story You Need to Tell.”
From Bookshop.org.From Amazon.From Barnes & Noble.We talked about:
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:
Structure can help. Writing and crafting your narrative can be a healing process, but for many people, it’s not as simple as putting pen to paper and just letting your thoughts flow. Many of us need a structure or framework to enable us to translate the feelings in our bodies to the written word.Reclaim your story. If you’re experiencing writer’s block, it might be because the topic is a trauma that you’re not quite ready to write about yet. And that’s OK! But once you are ready, writing it down can help you reframe it and heal from it. This can also help you reclaim your agency and tell your own story — rather than having someone else tell the story about you.You’re the flawed hero of your story. If you’re considering penning a memoir, you may feel strange referring to your flawed self as the “hero.” But the hero is simply the main character who is transformed by the problems they face. Problems are essential, and often, the juiciest part of the story. You may not be “heroic” or make perfect decisions, but you were changed by your experience. When you begin to see your life through the lens of narrative structure, it can help you reach resolution.Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected].
We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.
Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.
This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.
The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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The opioid epidemic is now a well-known phenomenon, drawing justified attention in medicine, politics and pop culture. But how much do you know about benzodiazepine dependence? In this episode, author Melissa Bond tells us how she unintentionally ended up becoming deeply dependent on benzos, a journey chronicled in her memoir “Blood Orange Night.” Mayo Clinic pharmacist Dr. Michael Campbell joins us to provide expert insight on this complex issue.
This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.
In this episode, we talked to:
Melissa Bond is a narrative journalist and poet. In the years of her dependence on benzodiazepines, Melissa blogged and became a regular contributor for Mad in America. ABC World News Tonight interviewed her for a piece in January 2014. Her memoir “Blood Orange Night” was selected by the New York Times as one of the best audiobooks of 2022. Bond has been featured on PBS Story in the Public Square, Radio West, the podcasts Risk!, Endeavors, Psychology Unplugged, The New York Times Podcast, RadioWest and Mom’s Don’t Have Time to Read Books. She lives in Salt Lake City with her husband and five wild teenagers.Dr. Michael Campbell is a board-certified ambulatory care pharmacist. He works under a collaborative practice agreement with Mayo Clinic Providers to improve patient outcomes in a wide variety of disease states. Largely his focus involves resolving medication-related problems for individuals with hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, depression, anxiety and obesity.We talked about:
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:
An onslaught of symptoms. After getting hit with severe, unrelenting insomnia, Melissa was prescribed benzodiazepines — and a lot of them — to help her sleep. She didn’t realize that the side effects of these drugs were responsible for her rapidly deteriorating quality of life.Struggling to find understanding and support. It was hard to find a healthcare professional who could help her get off the drugs while avoiding the dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Even her friends didn’t understand, suggesting she go to rehab and “sweat it out” — a potentially life-threatening method for those with benzodiazepine dependance.Hope for recovery. Today, Melissa is free of benzodiazepines. She offers hope of healing for those on similar journeys.Can't get enough?
Purchase “Blood Orange Night.”
From Bookshop.org.From Amazon.From Barnes & Noble.Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected].
We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.
The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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For many women, midlife take the shape of a perfect storm: High-stress careers, kids transitioning out of the home, and then an onslaught of (sometimes severe) hormonal symptoms. For the protagonist of “Amazing Grace Adams,” it’s all too much. Author Fran Littlewood explains how her protagonist breaks out of the “good-girl narrative” and unleashes her suppressed rage, with expert menopause insight from Dr. Lisa Larkin.
This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.
Fran Littlewood is the author of the New York Times bestseller, and Read With Jenna Today Show pick, Amazing Grace Adams. The novel, her debut, will be translated into thirteen languages, and has been optioned for television. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway, University of London, and before that, worked as a journalist, including a stint at The Times. She lives in London with her husband and their three daughters.
Dr. Lisa Larkin is a board-certified internist and midlife women’s health expert. Considered a national expert in menopause management, sexual medicine, breast cancer risk assessment, prevention and genetics, Dr. Larkin is Founder and CEO of Ms.Medicine, a national health care organization dedicated to advancing women’s health on a broader scale through innovation in care delivery models and consumer and clinician education through a weekly virtual education platform, ProvidHERS. She is also Founder and President of Concierge Medicine of Cincinnati, an independent, multispecialty practice.
We talked about:
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:
Shame around symptoms. Symptoms can be severe and life-altering. Sometimes it feels like bodily aging changes come overnight. But many people don’t talk about these symptoms because they’re ashamed of them. They may not realize these symptoms are due to menopause — or if they do, they may be dismissed by their healthcare providers when they try to get treatment.Feeling the rage. The book starts with Grace getting out of her car, abandoning it, deciding to walk across London, and letting out all her rage. We discuss how menopause can come with all sorts of mood disturbances: rage, anxiety, depression.Seeking relief. Many women feel much better after the waves of perimenopause — but we talk about effective treatments that can help in the meantime.
Can't get enough?
Purchase “Amazing Grace Adams.”
From Bookshop.org.From Amazon.From Barnes & Noble.Learn more about menopause:
The Mayo Clinic Press book, “The New Rules of Menopause.”Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected].
We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.
Connect with others talking about the podcast in the Read. Talk. Grow. group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community moderated by Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Connect is free, trusted, moderated, welcoming, safe and easy-to-use.
This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.
The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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In mystery novels, the detective often has special abilities: an exacting eye for detail, a talent for getting people talking, or a mind for puzzles. In Emily Critchley’s book “One Puzzling Afternoon,” the protagonist trying to solve the murder has dementia. Emily and Mayo Clinic dementia expert Dr. Dixie Woolston join us to explore how Emily’s realistic portrayal of the disease helps illustrate the humanity, capabilities and challenges of those with cognitive decline.
This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.
We talked with:
Emily Critchley is a fiction writer living in the UK. “One Puzzling Afternoon,” her latest novel, was Indie Book of the Month, and named a must-read book of the fall by People Magazine. She has also written a YA/crossover novel, “Notes on My Family,” the novel “The Tiny Gestures of Small Flowers,” and the children’s book “The Bear who sailed the Ocean on an Iceberg.” Emily has a first class BA in Creative Writing from London Metropolitan University and an MA with distinction in Creative Writing from Birkbeck, University of London.Dixie Woolston, Ph.D., is the neuropsychology division chair and the interim health psychology division chair at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Dr. Woolston’s expertise is in all things clinical; she assists with awake brain mapping and fMRI/DTI brain mapping of patients undergoing neurosurgery for brain problems such as epilepsy or a brain tumor, supports the Mayo Clinic Concussion Program, and enjoys working with patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, MS, neuro-viral issues, and mild cognitive concerns.We talked about:
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:
The desire for autonomy and agency. In the book, Edie wants to solve a mystery — partially to prove that she’s still a capable adult. People with dementia often struggle with losing independence, which is why activities such as driving can quickly turn into a contentious point between those with dementia and their loved ones.The ups and downs of dementia. Dementia is progressive, but it doesn’t progress in a straight line. We see Edie have good days and bad days — as do most people with dementia. This can be confusing and, at times, frustrating for their loved ones.The challenges of caregiving. Caregivers are often loving, patient and compassionate. But they’re not immune to frustration. Edie’s beloved granddaughter reaches this point when it’s all too much. It’s important to have compassion for caregivers, Dr. Woolston says. In her book, Emily shows the love and frustration from the people who know Edie best.Can't get enough?
Purchase “One Puzzling Afternoon.”
From Bookshop.org.From Barnes & Noble.From Amazon.Learn more about dementia.
Purchase the Mayo Clinic Press book “Day to Day: Living with Dementia.”Purchase the Mayo Clinic Press book “Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias.”Listen to the Read. Talk. Grow. episode: The weighty decisions around dementia and accompanied death.Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected] invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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We talked with:
Gladys McGarey, M.D., is a pioneer in allopathic and holistic medical movements and continues to practice medicine even now that she is over 100 years old. She is a founding diplomat of the American Board of Holistic Medicine. She is the cofounder and past president of the American Holistic Medical Association. She lives and works in Scottsdale, Arizona. She has cared for thousands of patients and people all around the world and across all life stages from birth to death, where she inspires what she calls living medicine.Larry Bergstrom, M.D., is an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic in Arizona in the Division of Consultative Medicine. He is the past chair of general internal medicine in Mayo Clinic in Rochester and moved to Mayo Clinic Arizona 2006 to start the integrative medicine program. Dr. Bergstrom sees patients for whom conventional medicine has had insufficient answers, including those with chronic fatigue, chronic pain, autoimmune disease. He tells his patients that he is not so much focused on treating their disease but rather trying to find ways of helping them become healthy.We talked about:
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:
The limits of conventional medicine. Conventional medicine can be passive, Dr. Bergstrom says: You go to the doctor and get a prescription. Dr. Bergstrom and Dr. Gladys believe in empowering their patients, engaging with them and giving them tools to improve their wellness. A personal approach. Stress has important negative effects on health, but you can’t simply direct someone to “Be less stressed.” In fact, Dr. Bergstrom says you can’t address stress until you fully understand someone’s story: Who they are, how they got there, what’s happened to them, and how that’s affected their ability to live.Finding your “juice.” Dr. Gladys wants everyone to recognize their “juice” — her term for your reason for living, your source of joy and purpose, and what gets you out of bed in the morning. Physicians often shy away from addressing this aspect of spiritual wellness, Dr. Bergstrom says, because it’s messy. But it’s essential to understand for whole-person wellness.Can't get enough?
Purchase the Mayo Clinic Press book “Live Younger Longer.”Purchase “The Well-Lived Life: A 102-Year-Old Doctor's Six Secrets to Health and Happiness at Every Age.”From Bookshop.org.From Amazon. From Barnes & Noble. Want to read more about health topics? Check out our blog.Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected] invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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We talked with:
Nicole Chung is the author of “A Living Remedy” and “All You Can Ever Know.” “A Living Remedy” was a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and has already been named a Best Book of 2023 by Time, Harper’s Bazaar, Esquire, USA Today, and Booklist, among others. Chung’s 2018 debut, the national bestseller “All You Can Ever Know,” landed on over 20 Best of the Year lists and has been translated into several languages.Brenda Ernst, M.D., is a hematologist and oncologist at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Phoenix, Arizona. She cares for patients with various types of malignant cancers, especially breast and ovarian cancer. After earning her medical degree at St. George's University School of Medicine in Bay Shore, New York, Dr. Ernst completed an internal medicine residency at the Orlando Regional Medical Center and a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she was Chief Fellow.We talked about:
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:
The high cost of illness — and healthcare. When Nicole’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, Nicole was of course most worried about her mother’s life. Only later did she realize the financial fallout: insurmountable medical debt.When care comes too late. Many people struggling with money and healthcare coverage put off receiving earlier treatment or preventive care. Nicole’s father didn’t receive crucial treatment until the last possible moment in his diabetes, and he needed to be on dialysis. What would her parent’s lives have looked like if he had access to treatment years before?The tricky nature of caretaking for your caretakers. It’s a struggle to try to help parents, especially when parents want to protect their children from their hardships. Dr. Ernst says that it can be hard to ask for help if your identity is “the caretaker” or “the parent.” When we come up against a crisis, we want to reassure ourselves that we are who we have always been, but crisis changes us and our roles.Can't get enough?
Purchase “A Living Remedy.”From Bookshop.org.From Amazon.From Barnes & Noble.Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog.Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected] invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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We talked with:
Ann Crile Esselstyn has been called "the Julia Child of plant-based-cooking." Ann's singular focus is on creating recipes to prevent and reverse heart disease, and she collaborates with her husband, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr., in counseling patients.Jane Esselstyn, R.N., is a nurse, researcher, middle school sex ed teacher and mother of three. She created the recipes for the #1 New York Times bestseller "Plant-Strong." She coauthored "The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet" with her brother, Rip Esselstyn and "The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook" with Ann. Ann and Jane host a popular YouTube channel featuring heart-healthy recipes.Dawn Mussallem, D.O., is a consultant in the Department of General Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic and an assistant professor of medicine. She has over 25 years of patient-centered clinical wellness experience and is nationally recognized in the field of breast medicine, lifestyle medicine, integrative oncology and cancer survivorship. Dr. Mussallem has a unique personal experience as a stage IV cancer patient diagnosed three months into medical school and as a heart transplant recipient.We talked about:
You may feel and function better if you start eating a healthier, whole-food, plant-heavy diet. In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:
"Above the belt" plant benefits. Dr. Mussallem outlines all the potential benefits for breast health, particularly as this may affect breast cancer survivors. "Below the belt" plant benefits. The crew talks us through many other potential health benefits of eating plant-based foods, including benefits to cardiovascular, renal and vaginal health.No perfectionists here. Taking on more plants in your diet is a process. You don't have to start a 100 miles per hour, 180 degree shift in your eating. Baby steps and slip-ups are expected.Can't get enough?
Purchase "Be a Plant-Based Woman Warrior: Live Fierce, Stay Bold, Eat Delicious."From Bookshop.orgFrom AmazonFrom Barnes & NobleWant to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:7 steps to better nutrition habits for cancer survivorsI feel like I eat healthy. Do I also need a multivitamin?Diet and nutrition help cancer survivors return to good healthGot feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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We talked with:
Helena Andrews-Dyer is an award-winning culture reporter for The Washington Post, covering the intersection of popular culture, race, politics and art. She's the author of "Bitch is the New Black," "Reclaiming Her Time," and this episode's focus: "The Mamas: What I Learned about Kids, Race, and Class from Moms Not Like Me." She lives in D.C. with a husband whose laugh can be heard for miles and two carefree little brown girls.Angela Mattke, M.D., is a pediatrician in the Division of Community Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Mattke is the medical editor of the "Mayo Clinic Guide to Raising a Healthy Child" and co-medical editor of the Parenting channel on the Mayo Clinic Press website. In her daily work, Dr. Mattke enjoys seeing her patients smile and helping families who are struggling with health challenges.We talked about:
The need for solidarity. Motherhood is a time when you reach for friends with kids so you can complain, compare and question what's "normal." These friendships can be a big help, but sometimes parenthood is all you have in common. Helena talks about how George Floyd's murder highlighted the differences between the mothers, as she learned who she could trust as a Black mom. The need to talk about race. Our guests say that parents of every race need to talk to their kids about the role of race in society. But talking isn't enough: You have to put your values into action. Your kids notice what you do and who your friends are.The need to build resilient kids. It's important to help your kids learn how to express and cope with their emotions. You can't protect your kids from every bad thing — including racism or more general bullying — but you can build their confidence and resiliency.
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:Can't get enough?
Purchase the Mayo Clinic Press book "Mayo Clinic Guide to Raising a Healthy Child."Purchase Helena's book "The Mamas: What I Learned about Kids, Race, and Class from Moms Not Like Me."From Bookshop.orgFrom AmazonFrom Barnes & Noble Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:Talking to kids about racismThe 4 types of parenting styles: What style is right for you?Calming, Engaging, Rewarding: How music can help mental health with childrenGot feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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We talked with:
Lynn Cullen is a bestselling author of several historical novels including "The Sisters of Summit Avenue," "Twain's End," "Mrs. Poe," "Reign of Madness," and "I Am Rembrandt's Daughter." Lynn's novels have been translated into 17 languages. Her latest book is "The Woman with the Cure."Dr. Shikha Jain is a board-certified hematology/oncology physician. She is a tenured associate professor of medicine at the University of Illinois Cancer Center in Chicago. She joins us today as the founder and chair of the Women in Medicine Summit, and founder and president of the nonprofit organization Women in Medicine.We talked about:
Where are the women? When we look through history at incredible accomplishments, they're often credited to men. But where are the women? Usually they were in the background, generating work, ideas and discoveries that provided critical links to success and progress — but their contributions were downplayed, stolen or erased from the history books.We've come so far, we've got so far to go. While many more women are employed in the science and medical fields today, there are still plenty of instances of bias and discrimination when it comes to promotion, pay, credit and leadership roles. You've probably heard personal stories to this effect, and there's data and research on these topics as well. As Dr. Jain says, "It's a slow, slow, slow train moving toward progress."We've got to work together. As cliche as it sounds, women have to support other women and minority gender identities — and need to find male allies. Highlight other women's accomplishments when they're not in the room and speak highly of their work. And help yourself — ask for awards, promotions and raises — hopefully backed up by your allies.
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:Can't get enough?
Purchase "The Woman with the Cure."From Bookshop.orgFrom AmazonFrom Barnes & NoblePurchase the Mayo Clinic Press book "You're the Leader. Now What?"Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:Leadership check-in: Are you the leader you intend to be?Balancing life as a busy professional and a mom
Got feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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We talked with:
Amelia Nagoski, D.M.A. (it stands for Doctorate of Musical Arts) is the co-author, with her sister Emily, of the New York Times bestselling "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle" and the "Burnout Workbook."Dr. Cynthia Stonnington is a professor of psychiatry and the associate medical director of the Office of Joy and Wellbeing at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. She is the previous chair of Psychiatry & Psychology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, where she remains an active staff member. She's the author of "Burnout in Women Physicians: Prevention, Treatment, and Management."We talked about:
Stress is a cycle. Amelia breaks down the difference between what's causing your stress (stressors) and the physical effect on your body (the stress). To stop the stress cycle, you might need to start listening to your body.Why women (and gender diverse people) are prone to burnout. Our guests discuss the historical and systemic reasons that women tend to burn out, including their role as caregivers and their propensity to pick up the "invisible" household work that needs to get done.Accept yourself. By refusing to judge yourself by external standards, you can more easily say "no" when tempted to take on commitments and tasks that won't fit in your life. Our guests also discuss how body acceptance plays a role in battling burnout.
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:Can't get enough?
Purchase Amelia's book "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle."From Bookshop.orgFrom AmazonFrom Barnes & Noble Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:3 key steps to prevent caregiver burnoutBreaking down burnout in the workplaceStopping the slow fizzle of burnoutGot feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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We talked with:
Amy Bloom is the author of four novels: "White Houses," "Lucky Us," "Away," and "Love Invents Us"; and three collections of short stories: "Where the God Of Love Hangs Out," "Come to Me" (a finalist for the National Book Award), and "A Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You" (a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award). She is the director of the Shapiro Center at Wesleyan University. Her most recent book is the widely acclaimed New York Times bestselling memoir, "In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss."Joan McGregor, Ph.D., is a professor of philosophy at Arizona State University where she researches questions in moral and legal philosophy. She researches bioethics and sustainability — and has published more than 50 academic articles and book chapters, several of which focused on end-of-life care.We talked about:
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:
The trickiness of dementia diagnosis. Dementia is often realized in retrospect. At first, it's easy to excuse symptomatic behavior as a personality quirk or fatigue. And the person themselves may not fully recognize that their abilities and capabilities are changing. Dementia also looks different person-to-person — affecting executive function, memory and personality to various degrees.The fight for medical autonomy. The rights for medical autonomy have increased. You can refuse care and you can create directions for medical professionals to follow if you become unable to make those decisions for yourself. But those advanced directives aren't always taken seriously, and even states that allow physician-assisted death come with many conditions.Facing the end. Our guests emphasize how important it is to have discussions with your loved ones about what you and they want for end-of-life care — regardless of your age or health status.Can't get enough?
Purchase "In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss."From Bookshop.orgFrom AmazonFrom Barnes & NoblePurchase the Mayo Clinic Press book "Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias."Purchase the Mayo Clinic Press book "Day to Day: Living with Dementia."Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:Memory lapses: Normal aging or something more?Conversations with the experts: When is forgetfulness a problem? Explaining early-onset dementiaMayo Clinic Q&A: Book focuses on well-being and hope for dementia patients, care partnersCultural shift underway in addressing Alzheimer's diseaseGot feedback?
If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.
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