Sponsored Content by VHC Health:  

Join Kim Stone, the first official CEO of the Washington Spirit, and Dr. Christopher Walsh, a board certified internist at VHC Health Primary Care – Shirlington, as they discuss women’s health, wellness and performance at the highest levels across business and sports.

Plus, Stone, a recent honoree of the WBJ Women Who Mean Business, shares the main reason she chose to help lead the region’s professional women’s soccer team (hint: it started with Owner Michelle Kang). 

Listen to this episode to learn more about:

• Stone’s decades of sports leadership, including her years with the NBA’s Miami Heat, and what she learned from often being the only woman in the room 
• What it’s like to lead one of the most exciting teams as women’s sports gain fandom
• The club’s comprehensive approach to women’s health care, including technology, sports psychology and nutrition 
• Getting fired up to support the team that made last year’s NWSL finals and continues to set attendance records
• The role strength training, mobility and recovery play in preventing injuries whether you’re an athlete or an active professional
• Simple habits for “thinking like an athlete” when it comes to your own health

The Washington Spirit will look to build on the club's back-to-back championship appearances when the team kicks off its 2026 campaign at Audi Field on Friday, March 13. Tickets to one of the greatest home environments in sports are available at WashingtonSpirit.com/tickets.

VHC Health is becoming the region’s preferred community health system. With a teaching hospital and multiple primary and specialty care locations, we offer exceptional patient-centered care close to where our patients live and work. Consistently recognized for excellence, VHC Health is dedicated to meeting the needs of our diverse community.

Disclaimer
This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it are provided for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and does not create a patient-provider relationship. Seek the advice of your personal healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding the information presented and before undertaking a new health care regimen.

Unless specifically stated in the podcast, the views expressed in this podcast are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views of VHC Health. Participation in this podcast should not be implied as an endorsement of VHC Health or any particular organization, product or service.

Sponsored Content by VHC Health:  

About 70% of caregivers between the ages of 18 and 64 balance work and caring for loved ones, according to AARP’s national family and caregiving expert Amy Goyer in this podcast episode of Living Well with Alison Starling. 

For those in the “sandwich generation” — adults caring for aging parents and their young children — the responsibilities might feel insurmountable. 

Join Goyer and VHC Health family medicine physician Dr. Dominique Gagnon as they explore the emotional, physical and financial realities of caregiving. 

“One of the things I learned as a caregiver was, I can do anything, but I can't do everything,” Goyer says.

Listen to this episode to learn more about:

• Goyer’s first-hand caregiving experiences, including financial challenges like bankruptcy 
• Self-care practices to help caregivers protect their well-being
• Medical insights on preventive care, chronic conditions and communicating with health care providers 
• Steps adults can take to stay healthy and independent 

“I think we need to acknowledge that as we get older, a loss of independence in a lot of aspects of our life is very stressful and it puts you in a place of vulnerability,” Gagnon says.

VHC Health is becoming the region’s preferred community health system. With a teaching hospital and multiple primary and specialty care locations, we offer exceptional patient-centered care close to where our patients live and work. Consistently recognized for excellence, VHC Health is dedicated to meeting the needs of our diverse community.

Disclaimer
This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it are provided for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and does not create a patient-provider relationship. Seek the advice of your personal healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding the information presented and before undertaking a new health care regimen.

Unless specifically stated in the podcast, the views expressed in this podcast are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views of VHC Health. Participation in this podcast should not be implied as an endorsement of VHC Health or any particular organization, product or service.

Sponsored Content by VHC Health:  

Join two barrier-breaking women in this episode of Living Well with Alison Starling, brought to you by VHC Health and WBJ.

NBC’s Kristen Welker, the first journalist of color and only the second woman to moderate “Meet the Press” opens up about navigating one of journalism’s most high-pressure roles while staying grounded. She reflects on the weight of making history, the pivotal moment of moderating the 2020 presidential debate and her personal journey with surrogacy.

Also featured is Sharon Brickhouse Martin, vice president of Health Services Integration at VHC Health, who shares her path from engineering to health care leadership. She discusses the challenges of being a woman in male-dominated fields and her commitment to mentoring the next generation.

Tune in for insights from these two inspiring leaders on thriving professionally, balancing motherhood and paving the way for others.   

Learn more about how VHC Health is supporting women’s health at the Charlotte S. Benjamin Center for Women's Health, where personalized care, advanced technology, and community-focused services come together. Celebrating its second year, the Center provides personalized, community-based care in one convenient location and offers the most advanced technology and therapies available, aiming to help women and their families achieve better health outcomes.

VHC Health is becoming the region’s preferred community health system. With a teaching hospital and multiple primary and specialty care locations, we offer exceptional patient-centered care close to where our patients live and work. Consistently recognized for excellence, VHC Health is dedicated to meeting the needs of our diverse community.

Disclaimer
This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it are provided for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and does not create a patient-provider relationship. Seek the advice of your personal healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding the information presented and before undertaking a new health care regimen.

Unless specifically stated in the podcast, the views expressed in this podcast are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views of VHC Health. Participation in this podcast should not be implied as an endorsement of VHC Health or any particular organization, product or service.

Think shingles only affects people 50 and above? Think again.
If you’ve ever had chickenpox, you’re at risk. 

When entrepreneur and former reality television star Ali Fedotowsky-Manno, 36 — best known as “The Bachelorette” in Season Six and as a contestant on Season 14 of "The Bachelor” — developed an itchy and painful rash, she thought it could’ve been from an insect bite or an adverse reaction to Botox.  

In this episode of Living Well with Alison Starling, a podcast brought to you by VHC Health and WBJ, Fedotowsky-Manno describes the intense pain she felt.

“My way of describing (the pain) to people — imagine somehow sticking your brain into an outlet and it's (like an) electrical current straight into your brain,” Fedotowsky-Manno said.

Health challenges can occur at any age. In this interview, Fedotowsky-Manno also shares her husband’s unexpected thyroid cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery process.

VHC Health is becoming the region’s preferred community health system. With a teaching hospital and multiple primary and specialty care locations, we offer exceptional patient-centered care close to where our patients live and work. Consistently recognized for excellence, VHC Health is dedicated to meeting the needs of our diverse community.

Disclaimer
This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it are provided for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and does not create a patient-provider relationship. Seek the advice of your personal healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding the information presented and before undertaking a new health care regimen.

Unless specifically stated in the podcast, the views expressed in this podcast are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views of VHC Health. Participation in this podcast should not be implied as an endorsement of VHC Health or any particular organization, product or service.

Alison Hall, national TV correspondent for “Inside Edition,” is known for capturing celebrity stories, but never expected one would save her own life. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32, when it was in its earliest stages, and has the actress Olivia Munn to thank.

After reporting on Munn’s diagnosis, Hall took the same breast cancer risk assessment test on camera. Her results came back higher than expected, leading Hall down a path she didn’t anticipate at that point in her life. If not for the simple, free test, her cancer may have gone unnoticed for a dangerously long time.

“Within the first few minutes of hanging up with my doctor, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I have been handed a gift,’” Hall said. “That’s why I’m sharing my story — because I hope to do that for someone else.”

Listen to this episode of Living Well with Alison Starling, a podcast brought to you by VHC Health and the WBJ, to hear Hall recount her honest and deeply personal breast cancer survival journey.

Plus, hear from Stephanie Spaulding, a genetic counselor at VHC Health’s Charlotte S. Benjamin Center for Women’s Health, on the many breast health tools available beyond mammograms, the importance of early detection and encouraging local data.

Whether you're seeking the most advanced screening options or navigating through breast disease, VHC Health is your place for comprehensive breast care. We’re here to empower you with the knowledge, resources and services necessary to maintain optimal breast health. Find out how your risk can guide early detection and preventive care with VHC Health’s support. Schedule a visit today.  

VHC Health is becoming the region’s preferred community health system. With a teaching hospital and multiple primary and specialty care locations, we offer exceptional patient-centered care close to where our patients live and work. Consistently recognized for excellence, VHC Health is dedicated to meeting the needs of our diverse community.

Disclaimer
This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it are provided for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and does not create a patient-provider relationship. Seek the advice of your personal healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding the information presented and before undertaking a new health care regimen.

Unless specifically stated in the podcast, the views expressed in this podcast are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views of VHC Health. Participation in this podcast should not be implied as an endorsement of VHC Health or any particular organization, product or service.

Nearly a year after leaving NBC4 Washington following a public battle with alcohol addiction, former co-anchor Leon Harris is sober. 

A veteran of more than 40 years in the news industry and a mainstay in Washington for nearly a decade, Harris stepped away to focus on his health and family. 

Now, he’s finding a new way forward — one grounded in recovery, resilience and reinvention. 

“You can't fall into the trap of thinking that you're the worst thing you ever did,” Harris said. “That's been a hard thing to accept and a hard thing to learn. But that's what this is all about.”

Listen as Harris shares his journey and what’s next in this episode of Living Well with Alison Starling, a podcast brought to you by VHC Health and WBJ. He’s joined by Dr. Allison Greenberg, a family medicine practitioner at VHC Health, who offers insights into supporting whole person health at any age, including preventing, treating and managing chronic diseases, such as addiction. 

“It's easy to make big changes for a week,” Greenberg said. “But if you're looking to make sustainable changes and get healthy over a lifetime, the smaller changes can really make a huge difference.” 

Explore VHC Health’s impactful community programs that support your health and wellness. Take part in fitness and healthy lifestyle classes, diabetes and nutrition education, pre-operative joint replacement sessions, and virtual talks like our expert-led discussion on inflammation and nutrition. Most offerings are free and designed to meet you where you are on your wellness journey. Learn more.

VHC Health is becoming the region’s preferred community health system. With a teaching hospital and multiple primary and specialty care locations, we offer exceptional patient-centered care close to where our patients live and work. Consistently recognized for excellence, VHC Health is dedicated to meeting the needs of our diverse community.

Disclaimer
This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it are provided for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and does not create a patient-provider relationship. Seek the advice of your personal healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding the information presented and before undertaking a new health care regimen.

Unless specifically stated in the podcast, the views expressed in this podcast are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views of VHC Health. Participation in this podcast should not be implied as an endorsement of VHC Health or any particular organization, product or service.

What’s the key to keeping your competitive edge? Start by staying in the moment. 
“It’s a practice, like learning the piano,” says Dorothy (“Doro”) Bush Koch, New York Times bestselling author of “My Father, My President” and co-founder of BB&R Wellness Consulting, in the latest episode of Living Well with Alison Starling. 

“And for those who feel like they’re going to lose their edge [if they slow down], there may be some long-term problems that come from that. Constant stress definitely opens you up for disease.”  

In this conversation, Bush Koch joins her fellow founding partner, Tricia Reilly Koch, to share the value wellness practices have added to their lives, and Dr. Linda Lang, medical director of Behavioral Health Services at VHC Health, discusses how people can use mindfulness to manage the demands of work and life over time. 

“When you’re going out into the business world and managing yourself against all sorts of stress, you need a way to ground yourself again,” Lang said. 

Listen to this episode to learn more about:

The origins of BB&R Wellness Consulting 

• Why staying in the present matters (particularly when political campaigns are in full swing)
• How to benefit from meditation even if you can’t sit quietly 
• What it means to “anchor” and how to do it  
• How to combat loneliness, one of the biggest drivers of illness  

Explore VHC Health’s impactful community programs that support your health and wellness. Take part in fitness and healthy lifestyle classes, diabetes and nutrition education, pre-operative joint replacement sessions and virtual talks like our expert-led discussion on inflammation and nutrition. Most offerings are free and designed to meet you where you are on your wellness journey. Learn more.

VHC Health is becoming the region’s preferred community health system. With a teaching hospital and multiple primary and specialty care locations, we offer exceptional patient-centered care close to where our patients live and work. Consistently recognized for excellence, VHC Health is dedicated to meeting the needs of our diverse community.

Disclaimer
This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it are provided for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and does not create a patient-provider relationship. Seek the advice of your personal healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding the information presented and before undertaking a new health care regimen.

Unless specifically stated in the podcast, the views expressed in this podcast are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views of VHC Health. Participation in this podcast should not be implied as an endorsement of VHC Health or any particular organization, product or service.

Washington Commanders’ Quarterback Jayden Daniels has maintained the same pregame ritual for as long as he can remember: waffles for breakfast, warm up with one of his coaches and a phone call to his father so they can pray before he plays. 

“It’s something I’ve been doing my whole life,” Daniels said. “And then I’ll put the towel over my head and just get in that mode. When I take the towel off, it’s time to go out there and do whatever it takes to win the game.” 

An NFL superstar after his breakout rookie season and that now-legendary Hail Mary touchdown, Daniels joins Dr. Christopher Walsh, a board-certified internist at VHC Health Primary Care – Shirlington, for an episode of Living Well with Alison Starling, a podcast from VHC Health and WBJ. They discuss Daniels’ ability to stay steady under pressure, preparing for a championship, the future of the franchise and the importance of men’s health and preventative care. 

• Why mental health matters for Daniels and his team 
• Focusing on what you can do today to be healthier tomorrow
• Walsh’s thoughts on medical misinformation
• The value of vulnerability, in sports and in life 

This conversation is also available on YouTube. 

VHC Health is here to provide the services you need to prioritize men’s health. It's easy to put off checkups, but taking care of your well-being is essential. VHC Health offers a range of services to help men stay on top of their health, bringing community-centered, high-quality care closer to where you live and work. Whether you need a routine checkup or specialized care, VHC Health is ready to assist you.

VHC Health is becoming the region’s preferred community health system. With a teaching hospital and multiple primary and specialty care locations, we offer exceptional patient-centered care close to where our patients live and work. Consistently recognized for excellence, VHC Health is dedicated to meeting the needs of our diverse community.

Disclaimer
This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it are provided for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and does not create a patient-provider relationship. Seek the advice of your personal healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding the information presented and before undertaking a new health care regimen.

Unless specifically stated in the podcast, the views expressed in this podcast are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views of VHC Health. Participation in this podcast should not be implied as an endorsement of VHC Health or any particular organization, product or service.

When CNN’s Pamela Brown lost her mom during the height of the pandemic, she felt “unmoored, like I had lost my anchor in life and I was adrift in the ocean.” Not long after giving birth to her second child, she was hit with severe postpartum anxiety — fueled by grief, fluctuating hormones and sleep deprivation.  

“The fear inside of me was palpable. I literally felt like I didn't have control of myself,” Brown says.

In this new episode of Living Well with Alison Starling, a podcast brought to you by VHC Health and WBJ, Brown is joined by Dr. Kelly Orzechowski, a maternal and fetal medicine and obstetrics and gynecology specialist at VHC Health, who shares her seven-year journey to get pregnant and medical and personal advice for new moms. 

“I think we need to stop treating mental health as separate from physical health,” Orzechowski says. 

Listen to this episode to learn about:

• How Brown balances parenting with her high-profile TV career — and what it’s like to work with the legendary Wolf Blitzer 
• The surprising diagnosis that revealed Brown was dealing with more than postpartum — and how she overcame it
• Why Orzechowski believes women shouldn’t feel pressure to “bounce back” after giving birth
• How VHC Health supports women through pregnancy, childbirth and the transition into motherhood, whether they’re returning to work after maternity leave or not  

To learn more about the comprehensive support available during postpartum recovery, from bonding in a private mom-and-baby suite to expert breastfeeding assistance and pediatric visits, VHC Health is here to help. VHC Health provides essential resources to ensure both mother and baby receive the care they need, with daily updates from our care team and personalized attention for a smooth recovery and transition. 

VHC Health is becoming the region’s preferred community health system. With a teaching hospital and multiple primary and specialty care locations, we offer exceptional patient-centered care close to where our patients live and work. Consistently recognized for excellence, VHC Health is dedicated to meeting the needs of our diverse community.

Disclaimer
This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it are provided for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and does not create a patient-provider relationship. Seek the advice of your personal healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding the information presented and before undertaking a new health care regimen.

Unless specifically stated in the podcast, the views expressed in this podcast are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views of VHC Health. Participation in this podcast should not be implied as an endorsement of VHC Health or any particular organization, product or service.

Less than 1% of the world's population is believed to be living with Usher syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that combines hearing and vision loss. Among them is Rebecca Alexander — a disability rights advocate, psychotherapist, award-winning author, sought-after speaker, fitness coach and extreme athlete who has completed the Alcatraz swim and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.  

Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age 12, Alexander struggled to see the blackboard at school. By college, her hearing had also worsened, and it was determined she had Usher syndrome.  

In this episode of Living Well with Alison Starling, a podcast brought to you by VHC Health and WBJ, Alexander and Dr. Linda Lang, VHC Health’s medical director for the behavioral health service line, discuss navigating life-altering health conditions. 

“Living well means being able to develop comfort with discomfort. The more we try to avoid it, the more we feel it,” Alexander says. “That’s such a part of what it means to live with Usher syndrome. But that’s the human condition where opposing truths can coexist.” 

Listen to this episode to learn about:

• Alexander’s journey through progressive blindness and deafness from her teens into her 40s (4:43) 
• Processing a confluence of grief, profound loss and tremendous joy (10:47) 
• How Alexander balances being present, mindfulness and living life boldly (15:44) 
• Supporting loved ones who are dealing with major health disorders (23:37) 
• The importance of prioritizing mental health and acknowledging difficult emotions (27:18)    

VHC Health provides free support groups and sessions for individuals facing challenges such as Alzheimer’s care, cancer, postpartum and more. Join a community of support, gain valuable resources and connect with others. Discover upcoming sessions.

VHC Health is becoming the region’s preferred community health system. With a teaching hospital and multiple primary and specialty care locations, we offer exceptional patient-centered care close to where our patients live and work. Consistently recognized for excellence, VHC Health is dedicated to meeting the needs of our diverse community.

Disclaimer
This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it are provided for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and does not create a patient-provider relationship. Seek the advice of your personal healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding the information presented and before undertaking a new health care regimen.

Unless specifically stated in the podcast, the views expressed in this podcast are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views of VHC Health. Participation in this podcast should not be implied as an endorsement of VHC Health or any particular organization, product or service.