I am getting a lot of requests for appointments during election week from people who feel they will need extra support during that time. In this episode I give some tips on dealing with election stress to try to decrease the emotional burden that you may feel during this time.

In the follow up interview to last episode, we are having a discussion with Dr. Terri Major-Kincade, a neonatologist and advocate for Black women. We discuss the disparities that Black women face, the strong Black woman narrative, the effects of negative, the strong Black woman narrative, the effects of negative mental health on the womb, and how creating safe spaces can have positive effects on maternal health.

According to the CDC, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. This startling statistic has led to a lot of mental distress during pregnancy for Black women all over this country. One of the things I hear frequently from my patients is that their anxiety during pregnancy is largely due to not knowing what they don't know, and not knowing what to advocate for. To help with that, I called in one of my favorite obstetricians, Dr. Anila Ricks-Cord. During this episode, we talk about what Black women are facing during pregnancy and how to advocate for yourself with your own obstetrician.

I often find myself working with women who have struggled with fitting into typical corporate environments. Oftentimes this leaves them feeling defeated or like a failure in some way. The reality is that many of these environments weren't made for us to thrive and some of us are just not cut out to be successful in that environment without losing pieces of ourselves in the process. Some women spend their entire careers trying to make it work, while others take a leap and become entrepreneurs. Dr. Stephanie Freeman is a badass female physician who found herself in this position of being unemployable on more than one occasion, until she eventually took a gamble on herself and won! Dr. Stephanie is a powerhouse speaker who can empower a room to move. In this episode we discuss her journey through employment, her feelings on being unemployable, and the freedom she has found in taking the leap to entrepreneurship.

This past week has been a heavy one with America having a front row seat to another unarmed Black man being shot by law enforcement. Every time this happens we are faced with our own fears, frustrations, and sadness about what it means to Black in this country. Let's talk about the wide range of emotions we are experiencing and how we deal with it all during this difficult time.

2020 has taken a toll on the mental health of many. Recently, Mrs. Michelle Obama shared her struggles with what she referred to as a low-grade depression, which has left many wondering if they were suffering with the same. Take a listen as we dive into how many are experiencing negative mood symptoms and what can be done about it.

In this episode, Dr. Nicole sits down with Dr. Janelle Peifer to have a conversation on othering and it its effect on the Black professional. The term othering refers to the classification of a group or individual as "not one of us". We see othering within groups and between groups, with a variety of effects on our mental health and functioning. In this episode, Drs. Washington and Peifer talk about this concept and its effect today but they do not stop there. They go on to discuss the variety of ways that we process and outwardly express the effects of trauma, presumed incompetence, the double-edged sword that is resiliency among Black women, and tips on when to consider engaging in therapy.

There are very few things that disrupt our mental wellness like financial difficulty. With so many economic uncertainties leaving us frazzled, Dr. Nicole decided to bring in America's Money Maven, Patrice Washington. Spoiler alert – she does not disappoint! Dr. Nicole and Patrice take a deep dive into the discomfort that professionals feel during times of financial uncertainty, reluctance to seek out available assistance, taking giant leaps in your finances and business, and jumping into mental health treatment among a few other topics during this candid conversation.

On this episode, The C-Suite Confidant, Dr. Nicole Washington, interviews Dr. Lauren Powell, The Culinary Doc. Dr. Lauren is a family medicine physician who is on a mission to make healthy eating accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Dr. Nicole and Dr. Lauren discuss a variety of diet tips and strategies to help you stay on track whether you have returned to work or whether you are still working from home. We also dive into how to help others in your house stay on track.

On this episode of The C-Suite Confidant, Dr. Nicole Washington interviews Dr. Yvette McQueen, The Travel Queen. Dr. McQueen is an Emergency Medicine Physician who travels around the country providing emergency services. She also works as a Travel Doctor and helps professionals stay healthy and safe while traveling internationally. During this episode we discuss considerations in determining whether to travel or not this summer and how to stay safe if you do plan to travel this summer.