A Lifetime to Learn

One in four women will deal with a pelvic floor disorder in her lifetime; and most of us have never said that out loud to another woman, let alone a doctor. Dr. Jasmine Tibon is changing that. She's a fellowship-trained urogynecologist and reconstructive pelvic surgeon in Rogers, Arkansas — the only one in Northwest Arkansas — and in this episode she breaks down what conditions like pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, overactive bladder and interstitial cystitis (bladder pain syndrome) are. She also talks about why they get dismissed as "just part of aging" instead of treated. We talk about why Kegels aren't a cure-all. Sometimes a tense pelvic floor needs relaxation, not strengthening, and pelvic floor physical therapy can do more than most people expect. Dr. Tibon also shares her research on the "therapeutic alliance" between patient and provider and how trust and validation shape how in control a woman feels over her own symptoms. We discuss what shared decision-making looks like in her exam room and the mind-body link between stress and pelvic pain. Dr. Tibon also talks about coming home to Northwest Arkansas to build the kind of specialized care this region didn't have before. Her ask of women everywhere: stop sweeping it under the rug, ask questions and be sure to fill your own cup first.

{This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your own physician or healthcare provider regarding any health concerns or before making decisions about your care.}

Coach TJ Barnes has spent over a decade building the athletic program at St. Joseph Catholic School from the ground up — 12 sports, 25 conference championships and thousands of kids along the way. But the lessons he shares in this episode go far beyond wins and losses.

TJ and I talk about patience in a world of instant gratification, how to sit with your child's disappointment instead of rushing to fix it, and what he learned coaching his own kids versus everyone else's. Plus, why he educates kids about drugs before high school, rather than waiting until they're already there. A must-listen for any parent navigating youth sports. 
 

#alifetimetolearn #youthsports #raisingresilientkids #parentingthroughfailure #coachingkids

For more information visit www.lesliezanoff.com

Menopause symptoms and perimenopause symptoms are often dismissed, misdiagnosed, or missed entirely — even when a woman knows something has changed. In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Schroeder, founder of Embrace Family Medicine and 1Self Health in Bentonville, Arkansas, breaks down what's really happening in your body during perimenopause and menopause, and why your labs can look "normal" while you still don't feel like yourself.

Dr. Schroeder — a physician of 25 years who's delivered babies in Panama, investigated outbreaks for the CDC, and built her own specialized practice for women — walks through the more than 60 symptoms tied to hormonal change: brain fog, hot flashes, sudden anxiety, rage, joint pain, and shifts in sleep, mood and metabolism. We talk about why so many women are told they're "too young," why menopause research still lags behind, and what it actually looks like to move from a paternalistic model of medicine to true shared decision-making with your doctor.

This conversation is for every woman who's said "I just don't feel like myself" and wanted someone to actually listen — and take her seriously.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to your personal health needs.

Learn more at lesliezanoff.com

Learn more about Dr. Schroeder at embracedoc.com and 1selfhealth.com

Topics: menopause symptoms, perimenopause, hormone health, women's health, hot flashes, brain fog

Dr. Vanessa Branch spent over a decade reading scans that arrived too late — watching disease get caught after options had already narrowed, including in her own family. So she built Veralux, Arkansas's first whole-body MRI screening center, on a simple idea: give people clarity about their health, and a real shot at early detection, before symptoms force the issue.

In this conversation, Vanessa and Leslie talk about the meaning behind the name Veralux (true light), what it actually feels like to walk through the doors, and why she designed the experience to feel more like a friend's home than a doctor's office. Vanessa breaks down what traditional cancer screenings miss, how a whole-body MRI screening can uncover findings related to brain health, bone density, and organ health, and what she means by "Medicine 3.0," a shift from reactive care to proactive care. She also shares the personal losses that shaped her mission and what she wants every person, especially the ones who put their own health last, to understand about taking care of themselves first.

(This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to your personal health needs.)

Learn more at www.lesliezanoff.com

Topics: whole-body MRI screening, preventive health, early detection, women's health, Arkansas healthcare

#wholebodymri #preventivehealth #womenshealth #earlydetection #northwestarkansas

What does it mean to be financially confident and prepared — not just for retirement, but for the moments that shape your life? Lisa Brown is the President of Greenwood Gearhart Wealth Management in Northwest Arkansas, and she's spent nearly 25 years helping clients navigate some of the most important, and often most emotionally charged, financial decisions of their lives. 

Lisa talks about navigating a historically male-dominated industry and makes a compelling case for why every woman needs financial fluency and a seat at the table in conversations about her own money. This episode is equal parts practical and deeply personal.

We talk about what to do first when life throws you a curveball, how to choose a financial advisor you can trust, and the culture framework Lisa built inside her own firm: Calm Excellence — and why it may be the antidote to the urgent perfectionism that’s quietly burning out high-performing teams.

But this conversation goes far beyond money. Lisa opens up about her own ongoing journey with perfectionism, the Brené Brown books that shifted her perspective, and the lesson she says she'll be learning until the day she dies: I don't have to be anyone other than myself to be valuable.

You'll want to listen to this one twice.

For more information or to connect with Leslie, please visit www.lesliezanoff.com.
 
*Topics covered: women and money, financial planning for women, financial confidence, wealth management, navigating life transitions, perfectionism and burnout, calm excellence, choosing a financial advisor, women in leadership, and lifelong learning.*

{This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult a qualified financial professional for guidance specific to your situation.}

Most of us have never been taught what to do with our thoughts — and for a lot of people, that's exactly why meditation feels impossible.

In this solo episode, Leslie opens up about the diagnosis, the surgery and the simultaneous business sale that forced her to stop — and what she discovered in that stillness she didn't expect. She shares the neuroscience behind why our minds wander, why we default to negativity, and why none of it is a character flaw. And she introduces the practice that changes everything: learning to notice your thoughts before they become your life.

This episode includes a look at the inner critic (meet Pam the Perfectionist), three tools you can use today, and the one idea Leslie comes back to again and again: Your mind isn't the enemy. It's just untrained.

For more information visit www.lesliezanoff.com

{This episode is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not intended as medical or mental health advice. If you're navigating a health concern, please consult a qualified professional.}

If you've ever left a doctor's appointment feeling dismissed, unheard, or told your labs look "normal" while you're anything but — this episode is for you.

Dr. Kristin Markell is a double board-certified OB-GYN, hormonal health expert, and perimenopause specialist with over 20 years of experience. And her approach to women's health is refreshingly different: she treats the whole person, not just the symptom.

In this conversation, we talk about why perimenopause can begin as early as your mid-30s, why your bloodwork doesn't always tell the full story, and why rest isn't laziness — it's rebellion. We also dig into the fear and misinformation around hormone therapy, what it actually means to prioritize yourself, and the one thing Dr. Markell took a lifetime to learn: trust yourself.

This is the conversation every woman deserves to have with her doctor. We're just having it out loud.

lesliezanoff.com
kristinmarkellmd.com

{This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to your personal health needs.}

What does it take to bet on yourself, build something beautiful and keep building even when life gets hard?

Becca Brisiel, owner of the beloved Maude Boutique in Fayetteville, Ark., has been answering that question for 18 years. She took a leap of faith and opened a single storefront with nothing but passion, vision and a whole lot of determination. Today, Maude is a thriving multi-channel retailer with its own private label jewelry line. Becca has built a hometown treasure where she’s walked alongside women through first dates, engagements, funerals and everything in between.

In this episode, Becca gets real about the moments that shaped her — from the "now or never" decision that started it all, to navigating a pandemic while her son battled a severe form of epilepsy, to learning that leading with kindness isn't just good business, it's a way of life. She opens up about mom guilt, the evolution of her personal style, what she's learned from thousands of dressing room conversations and why she believes following your passion is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children.

This one is for every woman sitting with a dream, wondering if she should go for it. Spoiler: she should.

✨ Connect with Becca and Maude Boutique at shopmaude.com or @ShopMaude, and find them at 704 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville, Ark.

✨ Connect with Leslie at lesliezanoff.com or @lesliezanoff or Linked-In

What if the voices you heard growing up are still shaping the way you see yourself today? 

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Dr. VaShonda Eason — licensed clinician, entrepreneur, and founder of Eason Counseling and Associates — to talk about mental health, identity, and what it really means to show up for yourself and others.

Dr. Eason built her practice from the ground up in 2012 as a one-woman operation. Today she employs 45 people, operates two clinics, and serves over 3,000 clients across Northwest Arkansas. But the numbers are just part of the story.

We talk about the gaps in the mental health system that drove her to start Eason Counseling, why access to care is still one of the biggest challenges facing families today, and the danger of replacing real, individualized therapy with social media advice.

We also get into the deeper stuff — how identity shapes our mental health, why asking for help still feels like weakness for so many of us, and what it looks like to lead a team, run a business, and still take care of yourself at the end of the day.

And yes — we talk about the CEO hat coming off at 3pm. Every single day.

If you've ever felt like you're carrying too much, or like you've lost touch with who you actually are underneath all of it — this one is for you.

Find Dr. VaShonda Eason at easoncounseling.com
For more information or to sign up for Leslie's newsletter, please visit lesliezanoff.com

What if everything you were taught about fitness was wrong?

Brooke Robinson, founder of Brooke Robinson Fit, grew up in a home where exercise was forced, controlling, and tied to being loved. It took years — and a lot of unlearning — to discover that moving your body is supposed to feel good.

In this conversation, Brooke opens up about her journey from a difficult childhood relationship with fitness to building a thriving online fitness community for women. We talk about letting go of the "no pain, no gain" mentality, why 20 minutes is enough, and how a hand injury and a forced pause changed everything she thought she knew about her own body.

We also get into the deeper stuff — learning to be your own best friend, asking yourself what you actually want, and why women were never meant to do life alone.

If you've ever felt like you're doing fitness wrong, or like you've lost touch with your own body, this one is for you.

You're not too old. It's never too late. And your body was made to move — on your own terms.

🎧 Find Brooke and her workouts at brookerobinsonfit.com

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