We talked with:

• Helena Andrews-Dyer is an award-winning culture reporter for The Washington Post, covering the intersection of popular culture, race, politics and art. She's the author of "Bitch is the New Black," "Reclaiming Her Time," and this episode's focus: "The Mamas: What I Learned about Kids, Race, and Class from Moms Not Like Me." She lives in D.C. with a husband whose laugh can be heard for miles and two carefree little brown girls.
• Angela Mattke, M.D., is a pediatrician in the Division of Community Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Mattke is the medical editor of the "Mayo Clinic Guide to Raising a Healthy Child" and co-medical editor of the Parenting channel on the Mayo Clinic Press website. In her daily work, Dr. Mattke enjoys seeing her patients smile and helping families who are struggling with health challenges.

We talked about:
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• The need for solidarity. Motherhood is a time when you reach for friends with kids so you can complain, compare and question what's "normal." These friendships can be a big help, but sometimes parenthood is all you have in common. Helena talks about how George Floyd's murder highlighted the differences between the mothers, as she learned who she could trust as a Black mom. 
• The need to talk about race. Our guests say that parents of every race need to talk to their kids about the role of race in society. But talking isn't enough: You have to put your values into action. Your kids notice what you do and who your friends are.
• The need to build resilient kids. It's important to help your kids learn how to express and cope with their emotions. You can't protect your kids from every bad thing — including racism or more general bullying — but you can build their confidence and resiliency.

Can't get enough?

• Purchase the Mayo Clinic Press book "Mayo Clinic Guide to Raising a Healthy Child."
• Purchase Helena's book "The Mamas: What I Learned about Kids, Race, and Class from Moms Not Like Me."
  • From Bookshop.org
  • From Amazon
  • From Barnes & Noble 
• Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
  • Talking to kids about racism
  • The 4 types of parenting styles: What style is right for you?
  • Calming, Engaging, Rewarding: How music can help mental health with children

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. 
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

We talked with:

• Lynn Cullen is a bestselling author of several historical novels including "The Sisters of Summit Avenue," "Twain's End," "Mrs. Poe," "Reign of Madness," and "I Am Rembrandt's Daughter." Lynn's novels have been translated into 17 languages. Her latest book is "The Woman with the Cure."
• Dr. Shikha Jain is a board-certified hematology/oncology physician. She is a tenured associate professor of medicine at the University of Illinois Cancer Center in Chicago. She joins us today as the founder and chair of the Women in Medicine Summit, and founder and president of the nonprofit organization Women in Medicine.

We talked about:
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• Where are the women? When we look through history at incredible accomplishments, they're often credited to men. But where are the women? Usually they were in the background, generating work, ideas and discoveries that provided critical links to success and progress — but their contributions were downplayed, stolen or erased from the history books.
• We've come so far, we've got so far to go. While many more women are employed in the science and medical fields today, there are still plenty of instances of bias and discrimination when it comes to promotion, pay, credit and leadership roles. You've probably heard personal stories to this effect, and there's data and research on these topics as well. As Dr. Jain says, "It's a slow, slow, slow train moving toward progress."
• We've got to work together. As cliche as it sounds, women have to support other women and minority gender identities — and need to find male allies. Highlight other women's accomplishments when they're not in the room and speak highly of their work. And help yourself — ask for awards, promotions and raises — hopefully backed up by your allies.

Can't get enough?

• Purchase "The Woman with the Cure."
  • From Bookshop.org
  • From Amazon
  • From Barnes & Noble
• Purchase the Mayo Clinic Press book "You're the Leader. Now What?"
• Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
  • Leadership check-in: Are you the leader you intend to be?
  • Balancing life as a busy professional and a mom
     

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. 
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

We talked with:

• Amelia Nagoski, D.M.A. (it stands for Doctorate of Musical Arts) is the co-author, with her sister Emily, of the New York Times bestselling "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle" and the "Burnout Workbook."
• Dr. Cynthia Stonnington is a professor of psychiatry and the associate medical director of the Office of Joy and Wellbeing at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. She is the previous chair of Psychiatry & Psychology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, where she remains an active staff member. She's the author of "Burnout in Women Physicians: Prevention, Treatment, and Management."

We talked about:
In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• Stress is a cycle. Amelia breaks down the difference between what's causing your stress (stressors) and the physical effect on your body (the stress). To stop the stress cycle, you might need to start listening to your body.
• Why women (and gender diverse people) are prone to burnout. Our guests discuss the historical and systemic reasons that women tend to burn out, including their role as caregivers and their propensity to pick up the "invisible" household work that needs to get done.
• Accept yourself. By refusing to judge yourself by external standards, you can more easily say "no" when tempted to take on commitments and tasks that won't fit in your life. Our guests also discuss how body acceptance plays a role in battling burnout.

Can't get enough?

• Purchase Amelia's book "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle."
  • From Bookshop.org
  • From Amazon
  • From Barnes & Noble 
• Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
  • 3 key steps to prevent caregiver burnout
  • Breaking down burnout in the workplace
  • Stopping the slow fizzle of burnout

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. 
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

We talked with:

• Amy Bloom is the author of four novels: "White Houses," "Lucky Us," "Away," and "Love Invents Us"; and three collections of short stories: "Where the God Of Love Hangs Out," "Come to Me" (a finalist for the National Book Award), and "A Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You" (a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award). She is the director of the Shapiro Center at Wesleyan University. Her most recent book is the widely acclaimed New York Times bestselling memoir, "In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss."
• Joan McGregor, Ph.D., is a professor of philosophy at Arizona State University where she researches questions in moral and legal philosophy. She researches bioethics and sustainability — and has published more than 50 academic articles and book chapters, several of which focused on end-of-life care.

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• The trickiness of dementia diagnosis. Dementia is often realized in retrospect. At first, it's easy to excuse symptomatic behavior as a personality quirk or fatigue. And the person themselves may not fully recognize that their abilities and capabilities are changing. Dementia also looks different person-to-person — affecting executive function, memory and personality to various degrees.
• The fight for medical autonomy. The rights for medical autonomy have increased. You can refuse care and you can create directions for medical professionals to follow if you become unable to make those decisions for yourself. But those advanced directives aren't always taken seriously, and even states that allow physician-assisted death come with many conditions.
• Facing the end. Our guests emphasize how important it is to have discussions with your loved ones about what you and they want for end-of-life care — regardless of your age or health status.

Can't get enough?

• Purchase "In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss."
  • From Bookshop.org
  • From Amazon
  • From Barnes & Noble
• Purchase the Mayo Clinic Press book "Mayo Clinic on Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias."
• Purchase the Mayo Clinic Press book "Day to Day: Living with Dementia."
• Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
  • Memory lapses: Normal aging or something more?
  • Conversations with the experts: When is forgetfulness a problem? Explaining early-onset dementia
  • Mayo Clinic Q&A: Book focuses on well-being and hope for dementia patients, care partners
  • Cultural shift underway in addressing Alzheimer's disease

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. 
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

We talked with:

• Liza Marshall is a writer and community leader and volunteer. She graduated from Duke University and the University of Virginia School of Law. She helped to found a cancer support organization, Hope Connections for Cancer Support in Bethesda, Maryland. She continues to serve in leadership roles with Hope Connections, her church, and in her community. In 2006 when she was forty-three years old, she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, the most deadly form of breast cancer. In 2021 she and her husband published a book about their experiences with Liza's cancer and how it impacted their lives and their family. 
• John Marshall, M.D., received his training at Duke University, the University of Louisville, and Georgetown University. Dr. Marshall is an internationally recognized expert in new drug development for gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. In 2009, he established the Otto J. Ruesch Center for the Cure of GI Cancers, an organization solely focused on improving the lives of GI cancer patients through innovative research, personalized medicine and focused advocacy. In 2015, Dr. Marshall both established and directed the Precision Oncology Alliance, a national alliance established to study the impact of molecular profiling on cancer research, value and outcomes. He currently is serving as the Oncology CMO for Indivumed, creating a global precision medicine research network. 

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• Screening is important, but not perfect. Liza did all the right things: Annual mammograms, regular health visits and even monthly breast self-exams. But one day, she realized one breast was larger than the other. Diligent screening is important, but it doesn’t protect you from bad outcomes — and it doesn’t always catch cancer. Along with screening, it’s important to trust your intuition when it feels like something is off. 
• The frantic search for a cure. After her diagnosis, Liza and John found themselves acting “irrationally” — asking if she could try a drug that hadn’t been proven for her type of cancer. Fear can make people — even very informed patients like John and Lisa — willing to try almost anything to cure their cancer or improve their chances of survival. It’s an understandable impulse, and something that patients can hopefully openly discuss with their healthcare team in order to sift through the evidence together. 
• Navigating cancer as a couple: The real deal. John and Liza’s book doesn’t hide the frustrations and tensions that can occur in a couple during the stress of cancer treatment. Importantly, it also touches on how cancer affects your sex life. By sharing these personal details, they hope to give readers a better idea of what it’s realistically like to navigate cancer — as both a patient and a caregiver. 

Can't get enough?

• Purchase “Off Our Chests: A Candid Tour Through the World of Cancer.” 
  • From Bookshop.org
  • From Amazon.  
  • From Barnes & Noble.  
• Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
  • Alcohol is not your breast’s friend: Busting myths about drinking and breast cancer
  • Is pregnancy possible after breast cancer treatment?
  • What does it mean if I have dense breasts?

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected].
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

We talked with:

• Laurie Notaro has been fired from seven jobs, laid off from three and voluntarily liberated from one. Despite all that, she has managed to write a number of New York Times bestselling essay collections, including "The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club," "Autobiography of a Fat Bride," and "Housebroken." She lives with her husband in Oregon. Her most recent book, "Excuse Me While I Disappear," is based on what happened when her husband started to receive AARP memberships materials.
• Erum Jadoon, M.D., is a geriatrician, internist and an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Her interests include nutrition, bone health and geriatric medicine with an emphasis on functional status, unintentional weight loss and frailty. She is on faculty with the Academy of Communication in Healthcare and teaches communication to Mayo Clinic with faculty, physicians in training and medical students.

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• The mystery of older age. Many people enter middle age and are blindsided by the changes to their bodies. Others have difficulty even describing themselves as "aging."
• The assumptions of ageism. Ageism is real, and it comes with assumptions — "You don't have anything to contribute," "Your life is behind you," or even "You're a nonsexual being." These may just seem annoying or insensitive, but ageism can actually have negative effects on your health and wellbeing! And those assumptions are not true — many people find greater confidence, enjoyment and freedom as they age.
• The call to respect your elders! It's often not until you reach older ages that you look back and wish you had listened to your parents or grandparents — and asked them more questions! Laurie advocates for having "the talk" with middle-aged women about what they can expect in the next phase of life.

Can't get enough?

• Purchase "Excuse Me While I Disappear: Tales of Midlife Mayhem."
  • From Bookshop.org
  • From Amazon
  • From Barnes & Noble
• Purchase the Mayo Clinic Press book The New Rules of Menopause. 
• Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
  • Menopause: Unexpected symptoms catch women by surprise
  • Menopause: The change that can add challenges to diabetes management
  • Are there reasons I'm feeling more down during perimenopause? 

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. 
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

We talked with:

• Anthony Chin-Quee, M.D., is a board-certified otolaryngologist with degrees from Harvard University and Emory University School of Medicine. An award-winning storyteller with The Moth, he has been on the writing staff of Fox's "The Resident" and a medical adviser for ABC's "Grey's Anatomy." He is the author of the memoir "I Can't Save You."
• Alyx B. Porter, M.D., is a neurologist who subspecializes in neuro-oncology. Her clinical focuses include tumors of the brain and spinal cord; neurological complications of cancer and cancer treatment including brain metastases. Dr. Porter is the most senior Black female adult neuro-oncologist in the country. She is passionate about physician workforce diversity. She is a noted philanthropist, having endowed a scholarship at her alma mater, Spellman College, and created ElevateMeD, a nonprofit to support the next generation of diverse physician leaders.

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• Numbing yourself is not the answer. Dr. Chin-Quee's book talks about how drugs, alcohol or sex are used to numb the stress and strain of medical training and work. Another coping strategy is to emotionally disassociate from your patients. But Dr. Porter argues she's a better doctor when she cares — and patients can tell when you don't. The challenge is to care without letting these feelings consume you. 
• Dealing with medical fatigue. Sometimes you don’t know you’re about to burn out until it happens. Dr. Porter starts look for any shift in pattern among learners — are they starting to come in later? Are they getting a little more irritable with patients or colleagues? It’s important to really ask, “How are you doing?” and if necessary, ask them multiple times. 
• Create spaces for underrepresented groups in medicine. Despite all the progress (and lip service) paid to diversity, equity and inclusion in medicine, it's still essentially a "club for white guys," Dr. Chin-Quee says. It's important to admit the medical world wasn't made for you, Dr. Chin-Quee says, so you can carve out your own place in it. Dr. Porter talks about systemic changes needed to better support women and people of color in medicine — including scholarships, mentorships and leadership development — which is why she founded ElevateMeD. 

Can't get enough?

• Purchase "I Can't Save You."
  • From Bookshop.org.
  • From Amazon.  
  • From Barnes & Noble.  
• Want to read more about health topics? Check out our blog.

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected].
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

We talked with:

• Laura Tremaine is an author, podcaster and influencer. She launched the "10 Things To Tell You" podcast, a show born from her realization that sharing herself online and in person pulled her out of a long season of loneliness. From the "10 Things To Tell You" podcast came her first book "Share Your Stuff. I'll Go First: 10 Questions to Take Your Friendships to the Next Level." Her second book released in 2023 and is titled "The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs."
• Judith Engelman, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist who has practiced in Phoenix and Scottsdale for 40 years. Based on her vast experience in running therapy and support groups, Dr. Engelman was asked to collaborate in developing and facilitating the "Authentic Connections" groups in a research study with Mayo Scottsdale Department of Psychiatry and Arizona State University Department of Psychology. Blending her interests in individual, group and family therapy, psychopharmacology, yoga and spirituality, Dr. Engelman has always advocated for an integrative approach to healing.

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• Friendship is an action. Friendship means showing up and supporting the ones you love. So if communication doesn't come naturally to you, you may want to add friendship tasks (checking in, phone calls, texts) to your to-do list. To some, that may seem like you're making friendship a chore, but it's an actionable way to make your friends a priority.
• Friendships have a spectrum of intimacy. Not every friendship has to be the soul-baring kind. Laura wants to highlight the value of relationships with co-workers, fellow soccer moms or online friends obsessed with the same TV show as you. One person can't fulfill every friendship need: Maybe you need one fun friend, a friend who brings you soup when you're sick and another friend with kids the same age.
• How do we make new friends? Though we often think of making new friends as an exhausting burden, Laura encourages us to see it for the exciting prospect it is: Finding someone who likes the most current version of you. And she encourages us to chill out a bit — aim for one good conversation with each outing. That's enough!

Can't get enough?

• Purchase "The Life Council."
  • From Bookshop.org
  • From Amazon
  • From Barnes & Noble
• Want to read more about health topics? Check out our blog.

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. 
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

We talked with:

• Clare Pooley graduated from Newnham College, Cambridge, before spending nearly 20 years in the heady world of advertising. Clare worked hard, played hard and drank even harder. By the time she was 46 years old she knew she had to go sober. She started a blog called Mummy was a Secret Drinker by way of therapy. That blog went viral and became a memoir: "The Sober Diaries." Clare then started writing fiction. Her debut novel — "The Authenticity Project" — is a New York Times bestseller and is published in 30 languages. Her second novel — "Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting" — is out now.
• Karen Anderson, M.D., Ph.D., is an associate professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. She's a medical oncologist and researcher. She focuses on breast cancer, particularly immunotherapy, treatments to reduce risk of breast cancer recurrence and using genomics to guide treatment decisions. She received her M.D. and Ph.D. from Duke University School of Medicine and was trained at the Brigham and Women's Hospital as well as Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• Am I an alcoholic? Clare spent a lot of time Googling this question until she realized the better question was "Is alcohol proving detrimental to my life?" The word "alcoholic" has so much stigma it prevents people from getting the help they need for fear of such a serious label. Clare kept trying to moderate her drinking, but when she found herself drinking out of a "World's Best Mum" mug before noon, she realized it was time to quit.
• Breast cancer and alcohol. Alcohol is a carcinogen, and elevates risk of breast cancer as well as other types of cancer. But Clare — as well as many other educated people — have no idea about the link. And it's unclear if alcohol use among survivors increases risk of recurrence.
• The opposite of addiction is connection. Through her blog, Clare found an online community of people like her who helped support her in her drinking recovery. When she was tempted to start drinking again, she thought, "I can't let these people down." If you're thinking of giving up drinking, you don't have to do it alone! There are many people going through a similar journey.

Can't get enough?

• Purchase "The Sober Diaries: How one woman stopped drinking and started living."
  • From Bookshop.org
  • From Amazon
  • From Barnes & Noble
• Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
  • Alcohol is not your breast's friend: Busting myths about drinking and breast cancer
  • Drinking — It's different for women
  • How much is too much alcohol? Go by the numbers, not by feel

Got feedback?

• If you've got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected]. 
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary. 

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.

We talked with:

• Laurie Frankel is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of four novels. Her writing has also appeared in The New York Times and other publications. She is the recipient of the Washington State Book Award and the Endeavor Award. Her novels have been translated into more than twenty-five languages and been optioned for film and TV. A former college professor, she now writes full-time in Seattle, Washington where she lives with her family and makes good soup.
• Andrea Huebner, Ph.D., is a Mayo Clinic pediatric neuropsychologist and autism expert. Dr. Huebner has performed diagnostic evaluations for thousands of children with autism and is still fascinated by the uniqueness of each child’s autism experience. She is involved in advocacy aimed at prompting communities to recognize the enormous potential contributions of individuals with autism.

We talked about:

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discuss:

• The many faces of autism. Using Dr. Huebner’s expertise and Laurie’s characters, we reflect on the range of features that can show up in someone with autism spectrum disorder. Autism can look very different in different people, but there are common themes that can help us better understand this kind of neurodivergence. 
• Seeing the strengths. Rather than pathologizing Monday's autistic characteristics, Laurie sees them as simple differences — and in some cases, as strengths. Getting to know someone with autism spectrum disorder (whether in fiction or real life) can help us better understand these differences.
• Imagining a better world. Laurie’s book is set in an inclusive community that has been set up with a universal design to accommodate people of different abilities. We consider how we could make the real world more accommodating for people of all abilities.

Can't get enough?

• Purchase the Mayo Clinic Press children’s book “My Life Beyond Autism.”
• Purchase “One Two Three.”
  • From Bookshop.org
  • From Amazon.
  • From Barnes & Noble.
• Want to read more on the topic? Check out our blog:
  • Early signs of autism
  • Autism: Diagnosis before kindergarten has therapy benefits

Got feedback?

• If you’ve got ideas or book suggestions, email us at [email protected].
• We invite you to complete the following survey as part of a research study at Mayo Clinic. Your responses are anonymous. Your participation in this survey as well as its completion are voluntary.

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional for medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.