Have you ever wondered if genetic testing could change your future?

In this powerful episode of Curveballs and Lemonade, Judy Kogan sits down with close friends Dana Fletcher and Melissa Davis to share their deeply personal journeys after testing positive for hereditary cancer gene mutations.

Dana was diagnosed with the BRCA2 mutation, while Melissa tested positive for CHEK2. Both women faced life changing decisions after learning they had significantly increased risks for breast cancer and other hereditary cancers.

Together they discuss genetic counseling, what the testing process is really like, navigating family history, meeting with specialists, preventative double mastectomies, recovery, surgical reconstruction, surgical menopause, and the emotional weight of making proactive medical decisions before cancer ever develops.

They also share practical advice for anyone considering genetic testing, why gathering information is empowering, how these decisions affected their families, and why they have no regrets about taking control of their health.

Whether you have a family history of cancer, are considering genetic testing, or simply want to better understand hereditary cancer risk, this conversation offers education, encouragement, and hope.

New episodes of Curveballs and Lemonade drop every Thursday.

Risk-Reducing Surgery (Preventive Surgery): https://www.komen.org/breast-cancer/risk-factor/options-for-women-at-high-risk/preventative-surgery/

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Recorded and produced by Command Creative Studios: https://www.commandcreativestudios.com/

Engineered by Robert Altschuler.

#CurveballsAndLemonade #GeneticTesting #BRCA2 #CHEK2 #BreastCancerAwareness #CancerPrevention

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide, addiction, grief, and mental health.

What happens after losing someone you love to suicide?

In this deeply moving episode of Curveballs and Lemonade, Judy Kogan sits down with fitness and wellness professional Anita Pressman to share the heartbreaking story of losing someone she deeply loved, Sean, to suicide.

Anita opens up about the warning signs she recognized, Sean's struggle with addiction and depression, the devastating days following his disappearance, and the unimaginable grief that followed. She also shares how that loss transformed her life, leading her to embrace healing through movement, mindfulness, yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and a renewed commitment to helping others.

Together, Judy and Anita discuss suicide prevention, mental health awareness, addiction recovery, the importance of checking in on loved ones, and why kindness and compassion can change someone's life.

If you or someone you know has experienced suicide loss, struggles with depression, addiction, or grief, this conversation offers hope, healing, and an important reminder that no one has to suffer alone.

Surviving suicide of a loved one and grief: Help is just 3 digits away

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. 9-8-8 is available via call or text, and online chat.

Follow Anita Pressman: @heartnsolfitness

New episodes of Curveballs and Lemonade drop every Thursday.

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Recorded and produced by Command Creative Studios: https://www.commandcreativestudios.com/

Engineered by Robert Altschuler.

#CurveballsAndLemonade #MentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #GriefSupport #AddictionRecovery #HopeAfterLoss

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What do you do when your child is losing weight, sleeping constantly, and no one can tell you why?

In this episode of Curveballs and Lemonade, Judy Kogan sits down with attorney, mom, and longtime friend Jen Gitlin to share her family’s journey navigating her son Trevor’s Crohn’s disease diagnosis.

Trevor was just 10 years old when subtle symptoms during the COVID pandemic turned into something far more serious. What began as fatigue, weight loss, and stomach issues became a long and emotionally exhausting search for answers. After months of uncertainty, specialist appointments, invasive testing, and advocating for care, Trevor was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the digestive tract.

Jen opens up about the emotional toll of parenting a child with an invisible illness, the challenges of navigating treatment, hospital infusions, insurance battles, medication changes, and the constant uncertainty that comes with chronic illness.

She also shares how community, advocacy, and connection with other families helped transform isolation into hope.

This powerful conversation explores what it means to trust your instincts, fight for answers, support a child through chronic illness, and find strength in the unknown.

If you or someone you love is navigating Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune illness, chronic illness, or parenting through medical uncertainty, this episode offers insight, support, and hope.

New episodes drop every Thursday.

Follow Jen Gitlin:

Instagram: @easton_jennifer

Facebook: Jennifer Gitlin

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Recorded and produced by Command Creative Studios: https://www.commandcreativestudios.com/

Engineered by Robert Altschuler.

#CurveballsAndLemonade #CrohnsDisease #ChronicIllness #ParentAdvocacy #IBDAwareness #InvisibleIllness

What happens when life’s earliest heartbreak becomes the foundation for your life’s purpose?

In this episode of Curveballs and Lemonade, Judy Kogan sits down with special education and Regional Center attorney Rachel S. Milman to discuss the profound childhood loss that shaped her career and her mission to help families navigate some of life’s most challenging diagnoses.

Rachel shares the heartbreaking story of losing her father at just five years old after a missed medical diagnosis, and how that experience created a lifelong drive for justice. That path ultimately led her to law school and, eventually, to a deeply meaningful career advocating for children with disabilities and their families.

In this powerful conversation, Rachel breaks down what parents need to know about IEPs, Regional Center services, special education law, self-determination programs, and how to advocate effectively when schools or service providers are not meeting a child’s needs.

She also shares practical advice for parents receiving a new diagnosis, including how to build the right support team, when to seek an advocate, and why trusting your instincts matters.

If you are a parent navigating autism, ADHD, developmental delays, special education, or disability services, this episode is packed with valuable insight, guidance, and hope.

New episodes of Curveballs and Lemonade drop every Thursday.

Follow Rachel Milman on:

Instagram: @lawmamamilman. https://www.instagram.com/lawmamamilman/

Visit Milman Law's website:www.milmanlawapc.com

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Recorded and produced by Command Creative Studios: https://www.commandcreativestudios.com/

Engineered by Robert Altschuler.

#CurveballsAndLemonade #SpecialEducation #IEP #ParentAdvocacy #AutismSupport #DisabilityRights

What do you do when every doctor tells you your child is fine, but your gut tells you something is terribly wrong?

In this episode of Curveballs and Lemonade, Judy Kogan sits down with Melinda Hughie Blalock to share her family’s extraordinary journey navigating pediatric epilepsy, medical advocacy, and resilience in the face of unimaginable challenges.

Melinda opens up about her son Beck’s battle with drug-resistant epilepsy, the years of seizures that went undetected on EEGs, and the emotional toll of repeatedly being told nothing was wrong. After visiting four children’s hospitals without answers, Melinda refused to give up. Her relentless advocacy eventually led her family to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, where advanced testing uncovered the truth and changed Beck’s life.

Melinda shares Beck’s journey through epilepsy surgery, VNS, and RNS devices, and the incredible milestone of becoming seizure-free after years of uncertainty. She also discusses her own life-threatening cardiac journey, including open heart surgery for an aortic aneurysm and later a mechanical valve replacement.

This powerful conversation explores what it means to trust your intuition, advocate fiercely for your child, and keep searching for hope when the road feels impossible.

If you or someone you love is navigating epilepsy, chronic illness, rare disease, caregiving, or medical uncertainty, this episode offers powerful insight, hope, and encouragement.

New episodes drop every Thursday.

Follow Melinda at: @timinda

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Recorded and produced by Command Creative Studios: https://www.commandcreativestudios.com/

Engineered by Robert Altschuler.

#CurveballsAndLemonade #EpilepsyAwareness #MedicalAdvocacy #CaregiverSupport #Resilience #PediatricEpilepsy

What would you do if a routine trip to the emergency room revealed a rare brain disease you never knew you had?

In this episode of Curveballs and Lemonade, Judy Kogan sits down with Linda Fuchser to share her incredible journey living with cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM), a rare neurological disease that causes abnormal blood vessels in the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord.

Linda discusses her accidental diagnosis after a brain bleed, undergoing brain surgery, discovering she carries the common Hispanic genetic mutation associated with CCM1, and learning to navigate life with multiple lesions throughout her brain and brainstem. She opens up about recovery, depression, cognitive challenges, family dynamics, and the uncertainty that comes with living with a rare disease.

Most importantly, Linda shares how she transformed her experience into purpose by becoming an advocate for the Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation, helping patients and families find support, education, and hope.

This powerful conversation explores resilience, advocacy, rare disease awareness, brain health, patient empowerment, and finding purpose through adversity.

If you or someone you love has been affected by a rare disease, brain injury, neurological condition, or chronic illness, this episode is filled with valuable insight and inspiration.

New episodes drop every Thursday.

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Instagram: @Curveballsandlemonade

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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@curveballsandlemonade

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Recorded and produced by Command Creative Studios: https://www.commandcreativestudios.com/

Engineered by Robert Altschuler.

#CurveballsAndLemonade #RareDisease #BrainSurgery #CCM #PatientAdvocate #Resilience

What happens when a health crisis becomes the wake-up call that changes everything?

In this episode of Curveballs and Lemonade, Judy Kogan sits down with Candice Kennedy to discuss her remarkable journey from a serious diabetes diagnosis, high blood pressure, and declining health to losing 127 pounds and completely transforming her life.

Candice shares the emotional toll of being a full-time caregiver, the impact of stress on her physical and mental health, and the moment she realized she had to fight for herself. She opens up about learning to manage type 2 diabetes, changing her relationship with food, finding the right doctor and trainer, overcoming self-doubt, and building a healthier future one step at a time.

This inspiring conversation is about resilience, self-worth, healing, personal transformation, and the power of taking that first step toward change.

If you've ever struggled with your health, your weight, your confidence, or finding the motivation to start over, this episode is for you.

New episodes drop every Thursday.

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Instagram: @Curveballsandlemonade Facebook: Curveballs and Lemonade TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@curveballsandlemonade YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CurveballsandLemonade

Recorded and produced by Command Creative Studios: https://www.commandcreativestudios.com/

Engineered by Robert Altschuler.

#CurveballsAndLemonade #WeightLossJourney #Type2Diabetes #HealthTransformation #Resilience #PersonalGrowth

In the very first episode of Curveballs and Lemonade, host Judy Kogan sits down with Jennifer Satel for an emotional and deeply honest conversation about secondary infertility, IVF, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, and the emotional toll of trying to grow a family after having a child.

Jennifer opens up about her years-long fertility journey, including multiple miscarriages, IVF treatments during COVID, financial struggles, grief, therapy, marriage, and the loneliness that often comes with infertility and loss. She also shares how those experiences changed her, what continues to weigh heavily on her heart, and why speaking openly about these struggles matters.

This episode is a powerful conversation about resilience, healing, heartbreak, hope, and learning how to navigate life when things do not go according to plan.

If you or someone you love has experienced infertility, pregnancy loss, IVF, miscarriage, or grief, this conversation is a reminder that you are not alone.

New episodes drop every Thursday.

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @Curveballsandlemonade

Facebook: Curveballs and Lemonade

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@curveballsandlemonade

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CurveballsandLemonade

Recorded and produced by Command Creative Studios: Command Creative Studios

Engineered by Robert Altschuler.

Curveballs and Lemonade is a powerful podcast hosted by Judy Kogan featuring honest conversations with people who have faced life’s toughest moments and found a way to move forward.

Each episode explores real stories of loss, trauma, heartbreak, illness, and unexpected life changes, while focusing on resilience, healing, personal growth, and hope. Judy sits down with guests to discuss how adversity changed them, what they learned through their experiences, and how their stories can help others navigating difficult seasons of life.

These are conversations about rebuilding, rediscovery, and finding strength in the moments that shape us the most.

If you’ve ever wondered how people survive the unimaginable and come out stronger on the other side, Curveballs and Lemonade is for you.

New episodes drop every Thursday.

Follow the show: Instagram: @curveballsandlemonade Facebook: Curveballs and Lemonade

Produced by Command Creative Studios

Engineered by Robert Altschuler