Speak Up For Your Health

By Archelle Georgiou, MD

Advocating for your health is important, but it’s not easy. In Speak Up For Your Health, Dr. Archelle Georgiou talks with patients about how they overcame feeling intimidated by today’s complex medica... more

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FAQs about Speak Up For Your Health:

How many episodes does Speak Up For Your Health have?

The podcast currently has 60 episodes available.

Speak Up For Your Health episodes:

April 07, 2026High-Functioning Alcoholic: A Healthcare Executive’s Journey to Sobriety
Have you ever wondered if you drink too much? Regardless of your answer, just asking yourself that question deserves a pause because nearly 30 million Americans have alcohol use disorder — and many are “high-functioning” – succeeding professionally while quietly struggling.
In this episode, former healthcare executive Noel Rihm shares her 25-year battle with alcoholism and the realization that changed everything: alcohol wasn’t the problem — it was the solution to deeper pain. This conversation will challenge how you think about addiction, sobriety, and your own relationship with alcohol.

Key Takeaways
Being high functioning doesn't mean you're okay.
High performers are especially good at masking serious struggle. If you've ever questioned your relationship with alcohol, that question itself is worth paying attention to.
For some people, alcohol isn't the problem. It's the
treatment. If alcohol is being used to manage anxiety, trauma, or emotional pain, addressing the drinking alone may not be
enough.
There is no one size fits all approach to recovery. If a treatment intervention isn't working, it doesn't mean you've failed. It may mean the treatment isn't right for you. Also, the motivation for real change has to come from within. You can support someone, but you cannot force them to heal
before they're ready.
Addiction doesn't just affect the individual. It affects
everyone around them. Living with or working alongside someone with addiction can create its own form of stress and trauma. Healing often needs to extend beyond just the individual.
To Learn More About Noel and Kaleidoscope:
Read Noel's book, Sober With A Twist

Learn about the services that Kaleidoscope provides: https://kaleidoscope68.org/
You can follow and/or get in touch with Archelle by
Subscribing to the ⁠⁠⁠ArcHealth newsletter⁠⁠⁠
Following Archelle on
⁠Substack⁠

⁠Instagram⁠
⁠Facebook
You can follow and/or get in touch with Archelle by
Subscribing to the ⁠⁠⁠ArcHealth newsletter⁠⁠⁠
Following Archelle on
⁠Substack⁠

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠Facebook⁠
#Alcoholism
#Sobriety
#AddictionRecovery
#MentalHealth
#BehavioralHealth
...more
37min
March 24, 2026He Was a Wellness Expert—Then a Skiing Accident Changed His Definition of Health
He spent his career teaching people how to be healthy—until a skiing accident forced him to live it.
Dr. Seth Serxner, a leading expert in health literacy and workplace wellness, went from running six miles a day to fighting his way back from a devastating crash and life-threatening injuries.
In this episode of Speak Up For Your Health, Seth and I talk about what happens when a wellness expert becomes the patient—why self-advocacy matters, what recovery really takes, and whether it truly takes a crisis to change your health.
Kay Takeaways
You have to advocate for yourself, even if you're receiving
great care. Details matter and care is complicated. And, when you're really sick, you may not be in a position to process information or make
decisions clearly. So have an advocate, someone who can ask questions and think on your behalf.

Speak up about whether you're truly ready to be discharged.
Just because the medical team says you're ready doesn't always mean that you are. Being ready means you have a clear plan regarding who your medical team will be when you get home, what support you'll need from family or caregivers, and knowing what equipment you may need at home to be safe.

Be adherent to your treatment plan. Don't blindly
following medical advice, but if a plan makes sense to you, then you own it. Recovery often depends on what you do after you leave the hospital.

Real behavior change starts with purpose. Finding your purpose is often as simple as answering the question, "why should I even bother?" Surround that purpose with connection and a positive outlook.
Links
Seth's book: The Wellbeing Effect: Bite-Sized Practices for Busy People to Lead Happier, Healthier Lives
Seth's podcast: :Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast

Connect with Archelle
Subscribe to the ⁠ArcHealth newsletter⁠
Follow ⁠Archelle's Substack
Instagram Archelle_GeorgiouMD
...more
33min
March 10, 2026Why Breast Pumping Is So Hard for Moms (And What Helps)
Why do so many moms struggle with breast pumping? In this episode, researcher and mom Ashley Mooneyham shares her breastfeeding journey, explains the science behind milk supply and pumping, and discusses how new innovations — including her company Momease — aim to make breastfeeding and pumping easier for nursing and working moms.
Key Takeaways
Breastfeeding has benefits — but the decision belongs to the mother.
Breast milk provides important nutritional advantages for babies, but each mom should decide if she wants to breastfeed and how long she wants to continue based on what is right for her. No judgement.

Breastfeeding is hard — and pumping can be even harder.
Breast pumps rely almost entirely on suction, while nursing a
baby involves many other cues — warmth, touch, pressure, and emotional connection — that help the body release milk. Technology supporting pumping hasn’t kept pace with what we know about how breastfeeding actually works.
Innovation is finally beginning to address that gap.
Momease is translating that research into a device designed to bring some of those tactile cues into the pumping experience.

There are practical strategies moms who are breast feeding can try right now. Adding warmth with a hot compress, gentle breast massage, and staying well hydrated can help stimulate milk flow
and may improve pumping results.

Breastfeeding can affect mental health — and that deserves attention.
One condition that more women are beginning to recognize is dysphoric milk ejection reflex (or D-MER) — a sudden wave of negative
emotions that can occur when milk is released. It’s a physiologic reflex, not a personal failing. Moms should be aware of how they’re feeling and talk to their doctor if they have this experience.

Taking care of the mother matters too. A mother’s physical comfort, emotional wellbeing, and sense of support are important. Supporting moms ultimately supports babies, too.
To Learn More About Momease:
Check out the website: https://www.momeasesolutions.com/pumping-bra

If you are breastfeeding/pumping and want to be a tester, you can apply by using this linking here
You can follow and/or get in touch with Archelle by
Subscribing to the ⁠⁠ArcHealth newsletter⁠⁠
Following Archelle on
Substack

Instagram

Facebook
#Breastfeeding #WomensHealth #BreastPump #NewMomLife #Postpartum
...more
34min
February 24, 2026Mystery Diagnosis: 20 Years of Not Being Believed
What happens when it takes 20 years to get the right diagnosis — and along the way, doctors (and even your family) don’t always believe you?
In this episode, we explore Eva Minkoff’s delayed diagnosis, the reality of invisible illness, and the emotional toll of not being seen in the healthcare system.
Eva shares her journey to being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that causes chronic joint pain, dislocations, and fatigue. Her symptoms began when she was a young ballet dancer. But for nearly two decades, she lived in diagnostic limbo — receiving partial answers, normal test results, and, at times, skepticism from both clinicians and family members.
The lessons from this episode go beyond one rare condition:
Answers matter — even when they’re not good news.

If you feel dismissed, it’s okay to keep looking.

Being believed can be as powerful as being diagnosed.

Live by your own owner’s manual — and teach your children to do the same.

How to follow Eva Minkoff:
Instagram: @Life_Of_Eves

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/evalana

Website: https://boldbeing.co/
Connect with Archelle

Subscribe to the ⁠ArcHealth newsletter⁠

Follow ⁠Archelle's Substack
...more
34min
February 03, 2026Medical Aid in Dying: A Daughter’s Story from Inside the Room
A physician-daughter shares what it was like to be in the room when her father chose Medical Aid in Dying. This episode offers a clear, first-person look at how MAID works and what families experience in those final moments.
In this deeply personal and illuminating episode, physician and gastroenterologist Dr. Mandy Powell shares her family’s experience with Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)—also known as Medical Assistance in Dying—through the lens of being both a daughter and a doctor who was in the room when it happened.
Mandy recounts the story of her father, Dr. Ron Gruber, a prominent plastic surgeon in the San Francisco Bay Area, whose second battle with metastatic bladder cancer led him to carefully choose how—and when—his life would end. After a rapid decline marked by repeated hospitalizations and worsening quality of life, Ron elected to pursue MAID under California’s End of Life Option Act.
Over the course of four extraordinary days, Mandy and her family experienced what she describes as a “living funeral”—a time filled with phone calls to lifelong friends, shared memories, and honest goodbyes. On the final morning, Mandy was present as her father self-administered the prescribed medication, offering a rare, first-person account of what Medical Aid in Dying actually looks like in real life.
This conversation offers a humane, clear-eyed look at an end-of-life option that is legal in California, 11 other states, and the District of Columbia, and one that more families and clinicians are beginning to talk about openly.
Resources about Medical Aid in Dying, including educational materials from Death With Dignity, are linked in the show notes.
Links/Resources
Death with Dignity

Advance Directives - forms by state (free by AARP)
Connect with Archelle
Subscribe to the ArcHealth newsletter

Follow Archelle's Substack
...more
35min
January 20, 2026 "There’s Nothing We Can Do” Isn’t Okay: A Mother’s Fight for Rare Disease Gene Therapy
What happens when a parent refuses to accept “there’s nothing we can do” for a child with a rare disease?
In this episode of Speak Up For Your Health, Archelle Georgiou speaks with Amber Olsen and filmmaker Patrick O’Connor about their new documentary, The Zebra and the Bear—and a mother’s seven-year fight to advance gene therapy for a rare disease.
Amber’s daughter, Willow, was diagnosed at age two with Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency (MSD), an ultra-rare, progressive genetic condition with no known treatment. Instead of stopping there, Amber spent the next seven years learning the science, raising funds, and advocating relentlessly to support research that could one day change the outcome for other children.
Documentary filmmaker Patrick O’Connor followed Amber and her family throughout that journey, capturing what happens when parents are forced to become advocates, fundraisers, and drivers of medical research.
Together, they discuss the emotional moment Amber learned her efforts helped move MSD research to the point where the National Institutes of Health selected it for a pilot gene-therapy program—a milestone filled with both hope and heartbreak.

Key Takeaways
The key takeaways from this episode extend well beyond Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency and may be especially helpful for parents caring for a child with a serious rare or chronic illness:
• Being told “there’s nothing we can do” doesn’t have to be the end of the conversation. Asking questions and seeking options is not denial—it’s loving your child.
• You don’t need to be a clinician or a scientist to advocate for your child.
Asking the right questions opened doors she didn’t know existed.
• Many experts want to help—sometimes you just have to reach out.
Access to scientists and research often starts with a direct email and the willingness to follow up if the first message goes unanswered.
• Not every intervention that is possible is the right one. Recognize when a treatment may be serving the parent, not the child.
• Death is not the enemy. Suffering is. Choosing comfort, dignity, or less intervention can be just as loving and courageous as pursuing treatment.
This is an extraordinary story, but the reality it reflects is one that far too many families live every day. I hope parents listening walk away knowing that their voice matters, their questions matter, and their advocacy matters.

Links & Resources
🎬 The Zebra and the Bear documentary
https://www.thezebraandthebear.com/
🧬 United MSD Foundation (founded by Amber Olsen)
https://www.unitedmsd.org/

...more
30min
January 07, 2026Even a Medical Device Executive’s Mom Was Brushed Off: Why You Should Ask for the Right Heart Tests
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women—yet women’s symptoms are still too often dismissed, minimized, or misunderstood.
In this episode, Archelle talks to Nina Goodheart, a medical device executive who leads work in heart valve disease. Despite her own expertise, Nina’s own mother had her symptoms brushed off by a physician—simply because they didn’t look “typical.” That experience became a turning point.
In their conversation, Archelle and Nina unpack why heart disease looks different in women, how decades of research and device design have prioritized men, and why knowing your symptoms isn’t enough—you also need to know which heart tests to ask about. They also discuss how to push back when you’re told “you’re fine,” and why bringing someone with you to appointments can change outcomes.
The conversation explores the Letter to My Mother initiative—a powerful reminder that conversations within families can save lives—and why advocating for yourself or a loved one may be the most important health skill of all.
If you’ve ever felt dismissed in a doctor’s office, or wondered whether you should ask more questions, this episode is for you.
Key Takeaways
Women and men are not biologically the same. For decades, medications and devices have been largely designed for men, tested in men, and then apply to women as an afterthought. That is beginning to change.

Conversations save lives. The Letter to My Mother campaign may have started at Medtronic, but it doesn't have to stop there. It's a simple, way to start a conversation that many families and many women avoid. I'd
encourage you to sit down with a pen and paper and write a letter to your mother or to a woman in your life that you love.

Being informed about heart disease isn't enough. You have to speak up.
It is important to know your symptoms and "know your
numbers", but you also need to know the tests and then ask about them. Ask about an EKG, an echocardiogram. Ask whether more intensive or longer-term monitoring makes sense for you. Push back, ask why, and then ask again. And if you need to, take someone with you.
Links
Learn more about heart valve disease: https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/l/patients/conditions/heart-valve-disease.html
Medtronic Survey on Women & Heart Disease: https://news.medtronic.com/2025-05-07-New-survey-1-in-3-women-have-not-talked-to-their-doctor-about-heart-health,-the-1-killer-of-women

Connect with Archelle:
ArcHealth Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.archellemd.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/speakupforyourhealth⁠⁠⁠⁠
Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/speakupforyourhealth⁠⁠
#HeartHealth #WomenEmpowerment #CardiovascularHealth #HeartDisease #HealthAwareness #WomenInHealth #SelfCare #Medtronic #AdvocateForYourself
...more
34min
December 09, 2025Affordable Egg Freezing & Egg Donation: Empowering Women and Future Parents
Egg freezing has traditionally been an option reserved for women with significant financial means. At the same time, the high cost and transactional nature of traditional egg donation create major barriers for many individuals and couples who want to become parents.
Lauren Makler, founder and CEO of Cofertility, set out to change both sides of that equation.
In this episode, Lauren shares her own fertility journey and how it led her to found Cofertility – a company that makes egg freezing more accessible and egg donation more ethical and human. She talks about the process of egg freezing, the emotional aspects of egg donation, and the importance of women and men being proactive, not reactive about their reproductive health. Whether you’re a woman considering egg freezing as a way to protect your future options—or you’re exploring egg donation as a path to parenthood—this conversation will help you understand your choices.
Key Takeaways
Egg freezing gives women more control over their relationships, their careers, and their futures.

Success varies. Freezing your eggs provides options, not guarantees.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the chances of getting pregnant from frozen eggs range from 30% to 60%. Egg freezing should be viewed as empowerment—not insurance.

Egg donation is a lifelong decision. It requires thoughtful consideration of the physical, emotional, financial, and legal aspects. Cofertility’s approach includes psychological evaluation, legal counseling, and opportunities for donors to make informed, intentional choices.

Fertility is a shared responsibility. Men can improve the quality of their sperm in about 60 days with healthier lifestyle choices.
Links
Learn more about Cofertility: https://www.cofertility.com/

Connect with Archelle:
ArcHealth Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.archellemd.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/speakupforyourhealth⁠⁠⁠⁠
Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/speakupforyourhealth⁠⁠
#EggFreezing #EggDonation #FertilityOptions #WomensHealth #FertilityJourney #ReproductiveHealth #IVFSupport
...more
27min
December 05, 2025Cash, Coupons, or Insurance? Choose the Cheapest Option
Would you rather pay $1000 for your prescription - or $5? In this conversation, Miriam Paramore, CEO of RxUtility, talks about her personal experiences with healthcare costs and the challenges of medication affordability. She explains how to figure out whether using insurance, combining insurance with a manufacturer copay coupon, or simply paying cash will give you the lowest price for your prescription.
Key Takeaways:
Start with generics always. Generics are typically the most affordable medication option. Ask your doctor for the generic version of the medication they're recommending. If there isn't one, ask them to prescribe a therapeutic equivalent. This is a drug that's
chemically different, but in the same class and works in a similar way.

Do your homework BEFORE you go to the pharmacy.
Regardless of whether your prescription is for a generic or brand name drug, take 10 minutes before you get to the pharmacy counter to figure out whether paying cash or using insurance will be cheaper. Steps to take:
Check the app you use for all your health information and navigate to the "Pharmacy", "Prescriptions", or "Medication" section to see if there is the option of comparing prices.

Look up the cash price on a site like GoodRx or WellRx. These sites show you the discounted cash price at local pharmacies and sometimes that price is lower than using insurance.

If you decide to use your insurance for a brand name drug, check for a manufacturer copay coupon by typing into Google: [drug name} + "manufacturer copay coupon". Use link that goes directly to the
manufacturer and look for a tab labeled "Savings", "Support", or "Patient Assistance."

If you don't find anything online, call the manufacturer at their 1-800-NUMBER and ask whether they offer a copay program for your specific medication.
With healthcare costs skyrocketing for everyone as we go
into 2026, I hope these tips help you save a little money on the medications you're taking.
Links:
Miriam Paramore on LinkedIn:
RxUtility: https://rxutility.com/
GoodRx: GoodRx⁠
WellRx: WellRx⁠

Connect with Archelle:
ArcHealth Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.archellemd.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/speakupforyourhealth⁠⁠⁠⁠
Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/speakupforyourhealth⁠⁠

#SaveOnMeds #CheaperPrescriptions #DrugSavingsTips #MedicationCosts #PrescriptionSavings #HealthTips #SpeakUpForYourHealth #HealthcareFounders #Innovation
...more
29min
November 11, 2025Rowing Through PTSD: A Veteran’s Journey to Healing
After serving as a counter-intelligence agent in Bosnia, veteran Bryan Fuller returned home with invisible wounds—PTSD that upended his life. Then, he discovered rowing. In this episode, Bryan shares how the rhythm of rowing—and rowing across the Atlantic—helped him heal, find purpose, and give back to fellow veterans.
Key Takeaways
PTSD doesn't only affect people on the battlefield. Trauma
can come from many places including the slow buildup of chronic stress.

Recognize when you're not okay. It can be hard to see your
own pain, especially when you've been living with it for a long time. Often, the bravest (and hardest) step toward healing is acknowledging that something isn't right and that you need help.

Find purpose and celebrate progress. Purpose gives meaning
to pain and acknowledging small victories along the way builds confidence, hope, and resilience.

Build community. Healing often happens when you're
surrounded by people who understand what you've been through.

Find and cherish your mentors. People who believe in you can
reignite your self-belief.

Forgive yourself. It's one of
the hardest and most healing things you can do.
London Calling Row: This is where you can donate to Bryan's 2026 trans-Atlantic crossing and/or support veterans: https://londoncallingrow.com/captain-bryan/

Connect with Archelle:
ArcHealth Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.archellemd.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/speakupforyourhealth⁠⁠⁠⁠
Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/speakupforyourhealth⁠⁠
#PTSD #VeteranStories #HealingJourney #Resilience #SpeakUpForYourHealth
...more
28min

FAQs about Speak Up For Your Health:

How many episodes does Speak Up For Your Health have?

The podcast currently has 60 episodes available.