Cress Talk

"I never miss a shift in medicine so I don't know why I don't invest in my physical and emotional wellbeing," says emergency medicine physician Dr. Niki Williams, DO. Williams shares about her untraditional journey into medicine: from being a professional basketball player to a physician, it's evident that she has experience with two different, yet similar playing fields. Williams talks about how her skills and mindset as an athlete has translated over to her life in medicine - from keeping her "game day" routines to implementing skills as a team leader, she reveals how the ER is no different than playing on the court - everyone works together as a team. She addresses the surge of burnout and healthcare worker trauma amongst our healers, and discusses the need and urgency of not only acknowledging this issue, but actually implementing a solution. “We are having a discussion about mental health, being resilient, and real issues that need to be addressed,” says Williams. Join the conversation to learn more about Williams and her insights based on her life experiences, both on and off the court.  

As you sit inside your homes quarantined, do you feel like the world is spiraling beyond your control? Introducing a new segment called Cress Chat, where your hosts Chloe, Jamie, and Jamie have casual conversations, share about their lives, and have honest advice-giving sessions. In this first episode of Cress Chat, your hosts explore how quarantine impacts wellbeing and how to guide yourself through it. They open up about their unique situations during this pandemic and what they do to understand their emotions and anxiety to take control of it. This episode explores the psychological effects of quarantine and how you can practice physical distancing while remaining social. Join the conversation as they help you identify signs and symptoms of emotional distress, as well as provide some good news to remind you that everything is going to be okay.

“Belonging is conditional,” says John Cho, an Asian American actor in light of the recent increase in racist attacks against Asians during the COVID-19 outbreak. In the second episode of our series on COVID-19, Chloe, Jamie, and Jamie dive deep into the atrocities that are happening against Asians all around the world as people reach for a scapegoat to blame for the outbreak of the virus. They analyze what is fueling these racist beliefs and discuss how we can work together to stop the hate and stigma around Asians during these unprecedented times. Your hosts open up about their personal experiences with racism and unpack their thoughts as well as lessons learned from such encounters. 

"Some of my colleagues say that once this is over, that's it. They're done with medicine, and they're going to do something else." In the first episode of our series on the coronavirus, we sit down with Dr. Laura Falkowski, whose experiences in OB/GYN provide a unique perspective of healthcare in the era of COVID-19. Dr. Falkowski explains current changes that had to be implemented due to the overflow of patients in hospitals: mothers now must spend a lot of their time in labor alone, and after delivery, are transferred to off-site locations in order to provide beds for COVID-19 patients. Changes that are not ideal, but necessary to reduce risk for mothers, infants, and medical staff. "I discussed with my family my wishes if something were to happen to me. Morbid, but it's not if I'm going to be exposed to it - I am exposed to it." In addition to changes in tactics enforced by hospitals, Dr. Falkowski also provides insight on how healthcare workers on the front lines are coping with these tumultuous times. "You wake up and think 'Oh my gosh, the sun's out! - oh wait, the pandemic."

Ever feel like you're the only exception, and no one else will understand? You might want to try finding a community of like-minded people. Join Chloe, Jamie, and Jamie as they discuss the benefits of surrounding yourself with people who are going through similar lifestyles and struggles as you are. They talk about how community can serve to alleviate any feelings of mental stress and isolation to nurture your overall wellbeing. 

For the first episode of our COVID-19 series, we got to sit down and talk with Dr. Laura Falkowski about what she has witnessed and experienced as an active physician during the pandemic. If you haven't listened to our conversation yet, we highly encourage you to do so before listening to this one - spoiler alert! Join Chloe, Jamie, and Jamie in this second episode of the COVID-19 series where they share their thoughts on points that Dr. Falkowski discussed, everything from shocking, to morbid, to funny. They also update you on recent news to keep you in the loop about the constantly changing times during this pandemic.  

Have you ever accomplished something great, like land a dream job or promotion? How did it feel? Great and exciting? Or did that high last a few seconds until the fear of having your cover blown takes over and you convince yourself it was just luck? If this resonates with you, and you didn't already know it, you are experiencing imposter syndrome. Join Chloe, Jamie, and Jamie as they analyze this syndrome that is characterized by constant feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, despite evident success. They also dive into what causes this mentality, how to identify if you have it, and how to counter it. Through sharing personal anecdotes and life experiences, your hosts also have some fun in discovering what types of imposters they are, because yes - there are types, which was one of many fascinating discoveries made during this conversation. 

“I didn’t have anyone to resonate with. There was no one I could go to for that support that thinking back, is so crucial, and I know this experience isn’t unique to myself,” says Michael Lai. As co-founder and CEO of Cress Health, Lai believes that the power of personalized peer-to-peer communities is understated in its ability to curate personal wellness for those who feel isolated, believing the lies that say their struggles are unique only to them. We discuss how introducing you to a community of like-minded individuals provides safety in sharing and healing - because they can understand you in ways others can’t. Lai shares components of the Cress application that would restructure the way people gain support, internally and externally.

For Cress Talk's inaugural podcast, get to know the hosts as they introduce themselves and give a glimpse of the exciting content that's in store.