New York Times and 1619 Project journalist Linda Villarosa joins Dr. Sharon to talk in-depth about the viral article discussing the study on hair relaxers and their link to a higher risk of cancer. How real is the risk? Dr. Sharon digs into the study and Linda speaks on her journalistic findings. Do you have health questions? Submit them here!

Linda Villarosa is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, where she covers race, inequality and public health. Her award-winning work has examined HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality, environmental justice, COVID-19 racial health disparities and life expectancy. A former executive editor of Essence Magazine, she is the author of the book Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation. The New York Times named it one of the top five nonfiction books of 2022 and it was a finalist for the 2023 Pulitzer Prize.  

Resources:

Linda’s website

Read Linda's article here

American Cancer Society - Cervical Cancer Prevention and Detection Guidelines

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Board certified psychiatrist Dr. Judith Joseph talks with Dr. Sharon about her research on the large number of people experiencing high functioning depression. Dr. Judith, at the forefront of this first of its kind research, lays out the inspiration and details behind this study. Plus Dr. Sharon and Dr. Joseph go through the steps it takes to reclaim your joy while going through the thick of it! Do you have health questions? Submit them here.

Dr. Judith Joseph MD MBA is a board-certified psychiatrist, researcher and award-winning content creator who specializes in mental health and trauma. She is chair of the women in medicine initiative at Columbia University, clinical assistant professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at NYU Principal Investigator at Manhattan Behavioral Medicine, New York City’s Premier Clinical Research Site. Her National Bestselling book, “High Functioning” is based on the first-of-its-kind study on high functioning depression which she conducted in her all-women research lab in New York City. This study is the first peer-reviewed published study in the world on High Functioning Depression. Dr. Judith uses her platform of over 1 million followers to educate her community about mental health topics and she trains doctors at NYU about how to use various forms of media to educate the public about mental health issues.

Resources:

High Functioning Book

Dr. Judith Joseph Site

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thanksgiving is the time for learning about your family's health history!

Dr. Trisha Pasricha is on the show talking all things gut related! Your microbiome, antibiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, IBS, GI issues, and...fecal transplants? The two doctors discuss how your gut develops and changes from birth all the way up to midlife. Plus, Dr. Trisha shares her take on the latest gut fads. Do you have health questions? Submit them here.

Dr. Trisha Pasricha, MD, MPH is a gastroenterologist and scientist at Harvard Medical School. You may know her as the “Ask A Doctor” columnist for The Washington Post where she translates complex medical topics into must-read insights—with a touch of humor—for millions each week. A graduate of Harvard College, Dr. Pasricha earned her medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and a Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her training includes an internal medicine residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and gastroenterology and motility fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital. Currently, Dr. Pasricha serves as director of the Institute for Gut-Brain Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, leading an NIH-funded research laboratory at the forefront of gut-brain science. Her work has been published in The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA Network Open, and Nature Reviews.

References:

Institute for Gut Brain Research

https://www.trishapasricha.com/

Tig Notaro Episode

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This heartfelt episode kicks off with Dr. Lisa Newman and Dr. Sharon, both having lost a sister to breast cancer. Dr. Newman shares details about her life saving research on genetics and aggressive breast cancers. She explains the disparities in breast cancer rates, especially for Black women and how certain breast cancers can be tied to ancestry. Plus, Dr. Newman shares some of today’s state of the art options for high risk breast cancer treatments, screening recommendations, and underlines the importance of continuing research in the field. Do you have health questions? Submit them here!

Dr. Lisa Newman is one of the leading voices in breast cancer, the chief of the section of breast surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine. She has been awarded for her work in oncology and was the surgical oncologist who performed Katie Couric’s lumpectomy.

Resources:

https://www.bcrf.org/

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer.html

https://tnbcfoundation.org/

https://www.komen.org/

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Obesity is on the rise worldwide, and over 100 million Americans live with obesity. Dr. Fatima explains how obesity is more than just calories in and calories out issue and how it can lead to a large number of other health risks. Dr. Fatima and Dr. Sharon discuss what causes obesity outside of food and who is most at risk. Plus, Dr. Fatima shares what taking GLP-1’s for weight loss should really look like. Do you have health questions? Submit them here!

Dr. Fatima Stanford, is an Obesity Medicine Physician, Internist, Pediatrician, and Scientist. She is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Obesity Medicine Physician Scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital Weight Center. She is one of the most highly cited obesity medicine physician-scientists with over 170 peer-reviewed publications, meaning that her peers cite her research work more than any other in her field. She’s been featured in 60 Minutes, Oprah, ABC News, and more. 

Resources:

Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford

Mass General Hospital

New Definitions and Criteria for Obesity

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Award winning stand-up comedian Tig Notaro takes a look back at the events surrounding her invasive breast cancer diagnosis and how she took it on stage for a night of raw vulnerability. Tig and Dr. Sharon discuss the ever changing responsibilities of being a cancer survivor, the desire to destigmatize end of life conversations and a new documentary Tig executive produced. Come See Me in the Good Light explores poet laureate Andrea Gibson's incurable ovarian cancer diagnosis and how she experiences it with humor, grace, and gut punching poetry. Come See Me in the Good Light premieres on Apple TV November 14th.

Have health questions? Submit them here.

Tig Notaro is an Emmy and Grammy nominated stand-up comedian, actor, writer, podcaster, and radio contributor. Rolling Stone named her one of the "50 best stand-up comics of all time." Notaro hosts the critically acclaimed advice podcast, HANDSOME with friends Fortune Feimster and Mae Martin. She is also the author of the New York Times best-selling memoir, I’M JUST A PERSON. Additionally, Tig produced the documentary COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT, which won the Festival Favorite award at Sundance in 2025 and is set to premiere November 14th on Apple TV.

This episode is lovingly dedicated to Suzy Hartmann Laval.

Resources:

Come See Me in the Good Light Documentary

Tig Nation

Andrea Gibson

Cancer.org

End of Life Planning

Handsome podcast

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A doctor and a news anchor walk into a bar...and discuss the benefits of life after menopause?

Menopause can feel like the final stage of your life between brain fog, hot flashes and feeling like society is ready to write you off. But for many women, it's the beginning of the next act! Emmy Award-winning journalist Tamsen Fadal joins Dr. Sharon to talk about how they both navigated their midlife career changes after entering menopause. Tamsen and Dr. Sharon talk about how willpower alone can't stop menopausal symptoms, how to discuss menopause with the men in your life, and how HRT helped Tamsen move forward in this new phase of her life. Do you have health questions? Submit them here.

Tamsen Fadal is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, producer of the globally recognized menopause documentary The (M) Factor, and the New York Times bestselling author of How To Menopause. As the host of The Tamsen Show podcast and founder of Tamsen Fadal Media, she leads national conversations around midlife, menopause, and reinvention, reaching over 4 million across platforms. As a trusted media voice and keynote speaker, she advises global companies on women’s health equity and workplace wellness. She is also an investor in wellness brands and serves on the Board of Advisors for Let’s Talk Menopause.

Resources:

For more about Tamsen's work, visit her website.

Watch M Factor documentary here.

The Men's Guide to Understanding Menopause.

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Within a week of the TV series Community being cancelled, a show she co-starred in, actress Yvette Nicole Brown immediately dived into caring for her father who had Alzheimer’s. In this episode, Yvette shares personal details of caregiving for her dad for almost a decade. Yvette peels back the layers of emotional challenges that come with caregiving and touches on the current caregiving crisis in America. Dr. Sharon notes the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia plus gives insights on Alzheimer symptoms. 7 million people in America live with Alzheimer's. 12 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

The number of caregivers in America has increased by 45 percent (nearly 20 million more) within the last decade.

Yvette Nicole Brown is an American actress, activist, and caregiver from Cleveland, Ohio. She's known for her roles as Shirley Bennett on Community, Dani in the CBS reboot of The Odd Couple, and Dina Rose on The Mayor. Her podcast Squeezed returns for another season to spotlight caregivers across the country, sharing their real-life experiences, challenges, and joys of caregiving.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Have questions? Submit them here.

Resources:

https://www.care.com/

https://caringacross.org/

https://www.aplaceformom.com/

https://www.alz.org/

https://lemonadamedia.com/show/squeezed/

https://mptf.com/

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone.

Produced by Stella Hartmann.

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd.

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen.

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Did you know there are over 30 symptoms attributed to menopause? CNN anchor and analyst Laura Coates shares personal experiences: almost dying giving birth, her early menopause, and how she handled hot flashes on air. Dr. Sharon shares symptoms, warning signs and recommendations on how to get help. Plus the two discuss Laura’s health improvements due to HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Have questions? Submit them here.

Laura Coates is CNN’s chief legal analyst and anchor of Laura Coates Live. Coates’ significant experience as a prosecutor helps news viewers to truly understand what’s going on. Emmy nominated, as well as having a prominent role in major news moments, including the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the January 6th hearings and the two impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump, Coates also routinely covers high-profile criminal prosecutions. She’s authored two books, You Have the Right: A Constitutional Guide to Policing the Police and New York Times bestseller Just Pursuit: A Black Prosecutor’s Fight For Fairness.

Resources:

CNN's Laura Coates

https://www.lauracoates.com/

FDA Expert 2025 Panel: Menopause and HRT

Society for Women's Health Research: Menopause

A Citizen's Guide to Menopause Advocacy

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone

Produced by Stella Hartmann

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon! Did you know the word hysteria comes from the Greek word hystera, meaning uterus? On this episode, Dr. Karen Tang and Dr. Sharon chat about the history and evolution of Obstetrics Gynecology, unpack the subspecialties, and discuss the myth of the "wandering womb". Plus, Dr. Tang shares experiences patients may have on the operating table, surgical options for reproductive health, and why you may want a minimally invasive surgery for gynecologic conditions. 

Board Certified OBGYN and Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon, Dr. Karen Tang, reaches millions of people every month through her educational videos on TikTok and IG. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Tang specializes in endometriosis, fibroids, chronic pelvic pain, menopause, and gender-affirming care. She is the founder of Thrive Gynecology in Philadelphia, where she provides expert care to patients nationwide. Have more questions? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Submit them to us here.

Resources:

https://aagl.org/

https://karentangmd.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195790756-it-s-not-hysteria

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/discoveries/unearthing-inequalities-in-minimally-invasive-obgyn-surgery.html

The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon is a production of Higher Ground.

Hosted by Dr. Sharon Malone

Produced by Stella Hartmann

Production Assistance by Camila Thur de Koos and CJ Archerd

Sound Design and Engineering by Ryan Kozlowski and Andrew Eapen

Head over to Alloy Health, where Dr. Sharon Malone serves as Chief Medical Advisor, and discover why 95% of women who tried Alloy experienced menopause relief within just two weeks. Plus, as a special offer, use code TSO25 at checkout to receive $25 off your first order today.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.