In this powerful episode of Optimize WE, host Lindsay O’Neill sits down with nurse practitioner-turned-wellness pioneer Cynthia Thurlow. With over 20 years in cardiology and emergency medicine, Cynthia’s journey took a radical turn after her son’s life-threatening allergy diagnosis. Fueled by a mother’s intuition and a passion for deeper healing, she walked away from traditional medicine to embrace “lifestyle as medicine.”

Cynthia opens up about her evolution from ER nurse to TEDx speaker and podcast host, the pivotal moment that reshaped her medical philosophy, and how she’s now empowering women through perimenopause and menopause with advocacy and transparency.

Plus, hear the harrowing story of her son’s anaphylactic reaction on his first night of college—and why that moment reinforced everything she now teaches. From parenting teens in a digital world to challenging outdated health paradigms, this conversation is as raw as it is inspiring.