Welcome back! It's been a few month hiatus from a new recording as I have been busy with work + starting a new company, The COPE Center, which is short for The Center for Optimal Psychological Education in Injury & Rehabilitation. Give the site a visit + please know I have not forgotten about you all; I just needed some time to get my feet back under me!

Now, for this episode, recorded on the doorstep of my next surgery, which is a hernia repair and endometriosis excision, I open up about one of the most universally frustrating parts of the American healthcare experience: insurance. From endless phone calls and pre-authorization delays to the emotional toll of waiting for approval just to receive the care you need, this episode explores the hidden stressors that accompany our medical journeys.

As I share my own recent experience navigating an insurance and pre-authorization nightmare leading up to my surgery tomorrow (10/27/2025), my goal is to validate what so many of us feel but rarely talk about: that medical trauma doesn’t begin or end with the procedure itself. It’s woven through every frustrating, exhausting interaction we have with a system that too often forgets we are more than just dollar signs.

If you’ve ever felt unseen or overwhelmed by the bureaucracy that stands between you and your healing, I hope this episode helps you feel a little less alone.

Also, to be clear, this episode isn’t about bashing anyone. It’s about acknowledging the shared struggle on all sides and finding empathy for everyone involved in navigating a system that’s just as overwhelming for those working within it as it is for those trying to access care.