In this powerful episode, Dr. Ariella Heffernan-Marks sits down with writer and actor Hannah Vanderheide, who opens up about her life with invisible chronic illnesses — and how being dismissed by doctors nearly cost her life. Twice.

At just 26, Hannah was told her terrifying symptoms were “just anxiety.” In reality, she was in a thyroid storm from undiagnosed Graves’ disease — a condition that could have killed her. Years later, during pregnancy, she found herself critically ill again. Doctors brushed it off as “just pregnancy symptoms” until a rare diagnosis — Addison’s disease — revealed the truth. Once again, her life, and her baby’s, were on the line.

Together, Ariella and Hannah unpack:✨ How medical dismissal and gaslighting endanger women’s lives✨ What it’s like to live with invisible illness and still show up in the world✨ The emotional toll of self-advocacy while exhausted and unwell✨ The myth of quick-fix “wellness cures” — and why they’re often dangerous✨ Finding radical acceptance: how to “do it sick” and still live fully

Hannah’s story is raw, emotional, and deeply human. It’s about survival, but also about finding power in vulnerability, listening to your intuition, and refusing to be silenced.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, invisible, or told to “just relax” when you knew something was wrong, this episode is for you.

In our very first episode of I’m Listening with Dr Ariella, the tables turn: Ovum founder Dr. Ariella Heffernan-Marks becomes the guest, opening up about the personal and professional journey that led her to create Ovum.

Joined by Stefanie DiGianvincenzo, Ovum’s Chief Marketing Officer and stand-in host for this episode, Ariella shares what it was like to move from the clinic into advocacy, the frustrations she faced in a system that so often overlooks women, and the moment she knew something had to change.

Together, they dive into:

• The gap between women’s lived experiences and how medicine responds

• What Ariella’s medical training got right—and what it missed

• The early days of building Ovum, and what the app offers today

• The bigger mission: creating tools that listen, believe, and respect lived experience

This is more than an origin story—it’s a rallying cry for better healthcare, a glimpse behind the curtain of Ovum’s mission, and an invitation to anyone who’s ever felt dismissed in their health journey.

If you’ve ever had to fight to be believed, you’re not alone. Ovum was built with you, and for you. Download the app on Apple or Android to take the first step toward being seen, heard, and supported.

Welcome to I’m Listening — the podcast that listens, because healthcare hasn’t.

Hosted by Dr. Ariella Heffernan-Marks and brought to you by Ovum, this show creates a sanctuary of listening: to real health stories from women, to researchers unpacking bias in medicine, and to the innovation closing the gender health gap.

Coming soon, wherever you get your podcasts.