Her Health Compass

When October comes, the pink does too. While we love the awareness, there’s a part of the breast cancer conversation that often gets left out: the one that affects about 168,000 women in the U.S. right now.

On this episode of Her Health Compass, we’re welcoming guests Dr. Nicole Beck Clifford, founder of MBCure, and Claire Bailardo, host of PerkyBits podcast. We'll be honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month by talking about Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, when the cancer has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body. While there are some treatments available, there are no cures, and the women and men living with it deserve more than a ribbon. They deserve real information, critical research, and genuine support. This episode is for the women (and men) living with MBC and for those who love and care for them, and for anyone who wants to understand what it truly means to navigate this diagnosis with grace, grit, and as much quality of life as possible.

This 2026 season has been generously sponsored by www.sleepagainpillows.com ~ please visit their website and use code HERHEALTH15 at checkout for 15% off your purchase.

Find Yonni & Heather, along with links to all episodes and resources, at https://www.herhealthcompass.com

In this episode of Her Health Compass, we explore somatic healing, why the nervous system holds a key to lasting transformation, and how breathwork can become one of the most powerful tools you never knew you had. We also talk about grief, life transitions, and what it really means to heal – or at least to begin.

Feather & Fern is an evidence-informed somatic wellness practice founded by Mia Gyesky, dedicated to helping people reconnect with themselves through the wisdom of the body. By blending nervous system education, breathwork, mindfulness, creative expression, and embodied practices, Mia creates experiences that help people move beyond simply understanding their stories to truly transforming how they feel and live.

Drawing on both science and soul, her work supports individuals in regulating their nervous systems, healing from grief, trauma, stress, and life transitions, and rediscovering their authentic voice. Whether working with adults, children, schools, or organizations, Mia’s approach is grounded, compassionate, and deeply experiential—creating the safety needed for lasting change.

At the heart of Feather & Fern is a simple belief: healing isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about remembering who you’ve always been.

Mia Gyesky is dedicated to helping people reconnect with themselves through the wisdom of the body. By blending nervous system education, breathwork, mindfulness, creative expression, and embodied practices, Mia creates experiences that help people move beyond simply understanding their stories to truly transforming how they feel and live.

Drawing on both science and soul, her work supports individuals in regulating their nervous systems, healing from grief, trauma, stress, and life transitions, and rediscovering their authentic voice. Whether working with adults, children, schools, or organizations, Mia’s approach is grounded, compassionate, and deeply experiential—creating the safety needed for lasting change.

At the heart of Feather & Fern is a simple belief: healing isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about remembering who you’ve always been.

This episode, as will all of our 2026 episodes, has been generously sponsored by www.sleepagainpillows.com and for a special discount on their exceptional sleep systems, use code HERHEALTH15 at checkout.

Find Yonni & Heather here https://www.herhealthcompass.com/

In this special episode of Her Health Compass, we reflect on September 11th through a deeply personal story, but with a broader purpose: to explore what grief, trauma, resilience, caregiving, memory and legacy can teach all of us.

HHC’s co-host  Heather, shares her family’s experience of that day and the 25 years that followed, including the loss of her brother-in-law Todd Ouida, the survival of her father-in-law Herb, the devastating losses within the Cantor Fitzgerald community, and the ways those experiences continued to shape family life long after the world moved on.

The conversation reaches beyond September 11 itself to the questions at the heart of Her Health Compass: How do we live alongside grief? How do we support someone through pain we cannot fix? What does survivor’s guilt look like? How do we carry people forward without being defined only by losing them? And how can loss, over time, become connected to purpose, service and legacy?

It is a conversation about remembering, showing up, living fully, and ultimately making the time we are given count.

Related links:

Todd Joseph Ouida Memorial Children's Fund

Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund

The Noble One

Sending a child off to college is one of life’s biggest milestones. Between shopping for dorm essentials and saying goodbye on move-in day, it’s easy to overlook one of the most important parts of the transition: your student’s health.

In this episode, Heather and Yonni welcome Dr. Kris Bissell from UConn Student Health to discuss what every family should know before their student heads to campus. From preventing common illnesses and recognizing signs of anxiety or depression to understanding medical privacy laws once a student turns 18, Dr. Bissell shares practical advice, expert insights, and real-world tips to help families navigate this exciting new chapter with confidence.

Whether you’re preparing for freshman year or sending a returning student back to campus, this episode offers valuable guidance that every parent will appreciate.

Editor’s Note: During our discussion of AI, we reference that some students are turning to AI tools for mental health support. This episode is not intended to suggest that AI should replace licensed mental health professionals. AI may be a helpful source of information or support for some people, but it should be viewed as a complement to, not a substitute for, professional mental health evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Sponsor shout-out: Throughout 2026 we are proud to sponsor with a company who puts care, intention and wellness first. Visit www.sleepagainpillows.com for their premiere sleep systems and be sure to use code HERHEALTH15 for 15% off your purchase.

For resources and more, visit: www.herhealthcompass.com

Before she was coaching women through strength training and hormone shifts, this week's guest was deep in the world of book publishing and public relations. Today, she's a holistic midlife and menopause coach based in Greenwich, CT, and a Studio Leader at Life Time in Harrison, NY. Over the past decade, she's helped women of all ages reclaim their health through fitness, nutrition, and mindset work.

In this episode, we talk about the career pivot that took her from editing manuscripts to coaching bodies and minds, what she wishes more women understood about perimenopause and menopause, and why strength training looks different (and matters more) in midlife. We also get into the mindset piece. How do we separate what's actually happening to our bodies hormonally from the stories we tell ourselves about aging, energy, and capability.

Whether you're in the thick of menopause, anticipating it, or just curious what a truly holistic approach to midlife health looks like, this conversation is full of practical, grounded wisdom.

Hilary Rifkin is a 61-year-old former book editor and public relations executive. She has spent  the last decade empowering women of all ages through fitness, nutrition and mindset coaching. Hilary is now  a holistic midlife and menopause coach based in Greenwich, CT. She is also Studio Leader at Life Time in Harrison, NY. 

Find Yonni & Heather here https://www.herhealthcompass.com/

Sponsor shout-out: Throughout 2026 we are proud to sponsor with someone who puts care, intention and wellness first. Visit sleepagainpillows.com for their premiere sleep systems and be sure to use code HERHEALTH15 for 15% off your purchase.

On this episode of Her Health Compass, Heather and Yonni explore something with the potential to reshape the future of healthcare — genetic screening. Many people assume genetics only matter when there’s a strong family history of disease, but advances in screening show that understanding your genetic risk can guide prevention, early detection, and even life-saving decisions.

Heather and Yonni are joined by Emily Goldberg of JScreen, a national nonprofit providing accessible genetic testing and education. Together, they dive into how genetic screening actually works, who should consider it, and what your DNA can reveal about risks for hereditary conditions like breast cancer. They also unpack the biggest misconceptions about genetic testing — and how knowing your genetics can empower listeners to take real control of their health.

Emily Goldberg serves as the Director of Genetic Counseling Services at jscreen, where she is dedicated to helping individuals understand and manage their genetic health. With dual bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology from Brandeis University and a master’s degree in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College, Ms. Goldberg has been a certified genetic counselor since 2011. Prior to joining jscreen, she worked at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, specializing in prenatal and cancer genetics. In addition to her role at Jscreen, Ms. Goldberg is committed to education, serving as an Instructor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and adjunct faculty at Sarah Lawrence College, where she teaches and mentors future genetic counselors. Her expertise and dedication make her a key member of the Jscreen team.

Sponsor shout-out: Throughout 2026 we are proud to sponsor with someone who puts intention and wellness first. Visit sleepagainpillows.com for their premiere sleep systems and be sure to use code HERHEALTH15 for 15% off your purchase.

What actually impacts cancer risk—and what helps you get through it? This episode blends expert insight and lived experience to reveal how lifestyle medicine supports prevention, treatment, and healing.

In this episode of Her Health Compass, we explore what it truly means to heal through the lenses of resilience, grief, and lifestyle medicine. Yonni and Heather are joined by Dr. Amy Comander, a breast cancer specialist trained in lifestyle medicine, and Britt Aronson, who shares her powerful firsthand experience navigating cancer alongside profound personal loss. Together, they unpack how nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, and mindset can influence not only cancer prevention, but also treatment outcomes and recovery. This conversation bridges science and story—offering both evidence-based insight and lived experience for anyone seeking to better understand their body, their health, and their capacity to heal.

Amy Comander, MD, DipABLM, FACLM, MSCP is a breast oncologist and Medical Director of the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute in Waltham, Director of the Lifestyle Medicine Program at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, and an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Comander studied neurobiology and psychology as part of the multidisciplinary Mind, Brain, and Behavior Initiative at Harvard University and received her Doctor of Medicine from the Yale University School of Medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency training and Hematology-Oncology fellowship training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. She is board-certified in internal medicine, hematology, medical oncology, and Lifestyle Medicine.

As a breast oncologist, Dr. Comander has witnessed the struggles her patients face during and following completion of primary cancer treatment, and is passionate about improving the overall health and well-being of breast cancer survivors through lifestyle interventions.  In collaboration with Dr. Frates, she launched the PAVING the Path to Wellness Program lifestyle medicine program for breast cancer survivors. She trains other colleagues to run PAVING groups, so that this transformational experience can be offered to a larger group of  cancer survivors.   She has co-authored PAVING Your Path Through Breast Cancer and Beyond,  PAVING the Path to Wellness Manual and Workbook, and PAVING a Path Through Menopause and Beyond.

Dr. Comander practices what she preaches, having run 12 consecutive Boston Marathons to date.   Dr. Comander was honored to serve as the first oncologist on the Board of Directors of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and proud to serve as Vice President on the Board of the PAVING the Path to Wellness non-profit organization.  She also serves on the Board of the Ellie Fund, a non-profit that provides services and support to women diagnosed with breast cancer in Massachusetts. She is a medical advisor to the non-profit organizations, SurvivingBreastCancer.org and the Tigerlily Foundation.   She has served as a medical advisor to Oneinforty, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating people of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage about the one-in-forty chance of having inherited a BRCA mutation.

Britt Aaronson is a freelance writer and editor based in Los Angeles, where she has lived since 1993. She finds great joy in being a mother to Rayce and Eisley. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, hiking, traveling, and supporting nonprofits including the National Brain Tumor Society, the Hidden Hills Theater Committee, and the Fondle Project. In February 2020, she was diagnosed with Grade 2–3 DCIS breast cancer. Britt underwent seven surgeries—including a double mastectomy, reconstruction, and capsulectomies—and is grateful to now be cancer-free. Deeply appreciative of the technology that led to her diagnosis, she is dedicated to raising awareness and helping redefine conversations around breast health, survivorship, and healing.

“You’ve Got Mail” on a patient portal notification can send anyone into a spiral of anxiety. From the mysterious BI-RADS score to the dreaded “callback” for more imaging, the world of breast health often feels like a foreign language we never asked to learn.

Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on the imaging suite with Dr. Pamela Weber MD, a board-certified radiologist specializing in breast and body imaging with White Plains Hospital Physician Associates.  We’re breaking down the difference between 2D and 3D, decoding the scary words like “asymmetry” and “calcification,” and explaining why a callback is usually a reason for a deep breath, not a panic attack. Whether you’re prepping for your first scan, concerned about your family history, or navigating news of dense tissue, this episode is your roadmap to breast health with less stress and more clarity.

Her Health Compass is proud to partner with a brand that puts care, intention, and real wellness first. Visit sleepagainpillows.com to learn more, and be sure to use code HERHEALTH15 for 15% off your purchase. Better sleep really does change everything! For more about this podcast, follow @yonnihealthandwellness on Instagram today!

Sleep is one of the most fundamental pillars of health, yet it’s often the hardest to protect. In this episode, Sweet Dreams & the Elusive Nature of Sleep, we explore how quality rest supports physical recovery, sharpens mental health and shapes how we show up each day. Join us and our guests, author/singer/songwriter and radio host Carrie Rowan, and breast cancer survivor and Founder/CEO of Sleep Again Pillows, Rachael Baumel, as we break down why a good night’s sleep is anything but optional.

Sleep Again Pillows (@sleepagainpillows) is our 2026 podcast sponsor, founded by Rachel Baumel and Kate Devlin out of real life healing and a simple but powerful need for better sleep during recovery. What started as a personal solution has become a thoughtfully designed therapeutic pillow system that supports proper alignment, elevation, and comfort, whether you are recovering from surgery, managing pain, or just struggling to get truly restorative rest. These are not ordinary pillows. They are doctor recommended, FSA and HSA eligible, and loved by people who feel a meaningful difference in how they sleep and therefore , how they feel during the day. We are proud to partner with a brand that puts care, intention, and real wellness first. Visit sleepagainpillows.com to learn more, and be sure to use code HERHEALTH15 for 15% off your purchase. Better sleep really does change everything! 

For more about the Her Health Compass Wellness Retreat, contact [email protected] and be sure to follow @yonnihealthandwellness on Instagram for episode drops, nutritional health support and more.