When I sat down with Dr. Jordan Emont, I thought we would jump right into menopause, hormones, and women's health. Instead, we started somewhere I wasn't expecting at all: insurance. And honestly? It ended up being one of the most fascinating parts of our conversation.

We talked about the complexities of our healthcare system, the hurdles both patients and physicians face, and why getting the care you need isn't always as straightforward as it should be. Dr. Emont offers a unique perspective as a board-certified OB/GYN and menopause specialist who sees firsthand how insurance decisions can impact patient care and access to treatment.

From there, our conversation expanded into menopause, hormone therapy, and the importance of individualized care. We discussed what women need to know to advocate for themselves, ask better questions, and make informed decisions about their health.

We also dove into one of the biggest topics women are talking about right now—the ongoing estrogen patch shortages. Dr. Emont shared alternative options, including estrogen injections and the use of oral estradiol vaginally, a method that may help some women improve absorption while bypassing the liver.

What I loved most about this conversation is that it wasn't just about hormones. It was about understanding the system, understanding your options, and understanding that you deserve answers.

So whether you're struggling to get the treatment you need, wondering if your hormones are optimized, or simply looking to learn more about the ever-evolving world of menopause care, this episode is for you.

THANK YOU to Dr. Jordan Emont! It was such a pleasure to finally meet you. I am incredibly grateful not only for the time you spent with me on this podcast but for the countless hours you spend educating women online. Your willingness to show up, answer questions, and help women navigate menopause and healthcare is making a huge impact. I learned so much from our conversation, and I know our listeners will too!

Follow Dr. Emont @drjordanemont

Check out his Substack: drjordanemont.substack.com

Visit his website: www.drjordanemont.com

Did you know that endometriosis has been found in embryos? That's right. Endometriosis doesn't suddenly begin with a woman's first period—it can be present long before symptoms ever appear. Yet despite affecting millions of women, it still takes an average of 7 to 10 years to receive a diagnosis. For many women, that's years of pain, confusion, dismissal, and being told their symptoms are "normal."

This week on Sharing Out Loud, I'm joined by Greg Miles, PhD, Founder and CEO of Milestone Gyno-mics, an innovative women's health startup working to change that reality.

Greg is a bioinformatics PhD with more than a decade of experience in genomics, artificial intelligence, and diagnostics. His career has been built around one core belief: early detection changes lives. That conviction began after losing both of his grandparents to leukemia. There were warning signs, but technological limitations and limited access to early detection meant their diseases weren't caught in time.

Years later, that mission became deeply personal again when someone close to him spent more than 12 years suffering from chronic pain before finally receiving an endometriosis diagnosis. Like so many women, she was misdiagnosed, dismissed, and gaslit before getting answers.

Today, Greg is applying the same principles of early detection that have transformed cancer care to women's health. Through Milestone Gyno-mics, he and his team are developing a non-invasive blood test designed to diagnose endometriosis in 10 days—not 10 years.

In this conversation, we discuss the diagnostic delays that continue to plague endometriosis care, the impact those delays have on women's lives, and how emerging technologies like AI may finally help close the gap. Most importantly, we talk about why women deserve to be heard, believed, and given answers sooner.

If you've ever struggled to get a diagnosis, know someone living with endometriosis, or are passionate about improving women's healthcare, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Let's start saying the quiet parts out loud.

Want to connect with Greg for more information or to become a research participant? Email him at greg@milestonegx.com, visit the MilestoneGX website: https://www.milestonegx.com/, or connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-miles/

Did you know that endometriosis has been found in embryos? Yes, you read that correctly. Endometriosis doesn’t suddenly begin when a girl gets her first period — research suggests it can start developing long before that. This is not simply a “woman’s disease.” It is a female disease that can impact girls and women across their entire lifespan.

In this episode of Sharing Out Loud, I sit down with Nicole Notar, founder of Endo Excision For All, for a conversation every woman, and quite honestly, every human, needs to hear. Nicole shares her deeply personal journey through the pain, dismissal, and medical gaslighting that so many women with endometriosis experience, often for years before receiving proper care.

In our conversation, we unpack the harsh realities of living with chronic pain, navigating a healthcare system that frequently minimizes female suffering, and the dangerous pattern of women being told their symptoms are “just anxiety,” “stress,” or “all in their head.” Women (and young girls!) with endometriosis do not need to be dismissed, handed antidepressants, or sent for psych evaluations when they are living with very real physical disease and pain. They deserve to be heard, properly evaluated, and given access to evidence-based care.

Through advocacy, awareness, and community support, Endo Excision For All is helping women get the care they desperately need and deserve. Any donations are so appreciated and go directly toward helping women access proper treatment and reclaim their lives.

This episode is raw, emotional, validating, and empowering — a reminder that women deserve to be heard, believed, and properly treated. Whether you live with endometriosis yourself, love someone who does, or simply care about the future of women’s healthcare, this is a conversation that will stay with you long after it ends.

Questions? Need guidance with surgery or finding a doctor that specializes in Endo and Excision Surgery? Visit https://endoexcisionforall.org/ or send a message via their Instagram page @endoexcisionforall. Nicole is there for any woman who needs guidance.

Thank you, Nicole, for sharing your time with me and for all you are doing❤️.

xoxo,

Heather

Today’s conversation takes us into history—but not the kind you learned from a textbook.

I sat down with author Briana Gervat, whose book There Will Come Soft Rains: A Journey Along the Western Front explores the emotional, physical, and human landscapes left behind by war.

This isn’t just a story about the past—it’s about what lingers. The silence, the memory, the weight of places that have seen more than most of us can imagine.

Briana brings a powerful lens to this journey, blending history with reflection and asking the kind of questions that don’t always have easy answers.

This episode is about remembrance, perspective, and what it really means to walk through history—and feel it.

In addition to There Will Come Soft Rains, Briana has written 2 other books: Once I Was A Pilgrim, Mosaic, and a children's book called The Once Brave Boy, all of which can be found on Amazon.

Where can you find Briana? Well, her Instagram account was hacked and removed, and she has been unable to retrieve it (terrible to see so many of her photos and memories shared there). For now, if you would like to connect with her, please email Briana at bgervat@yahoo.com.

Thank you for listening, and please help spread the word about this episode and all episodes!

P.S. If anyone has an "in" with Reese Witherspoon, this is a perfect book for her book club!

xoxo,

Heather

Today, I’m joined by Charlotte—the Dependency Doula—whose work is rooted in something far deeper than professional training.

Her journey began as a pregnant woman in active addiction, navigating recovery while facing judgment, fear, and systems that didn’t always listen.

Through determination and self-advocacy, she rebuilt her life—and now uses that experience to stand beside other women doing the same.

From high-risk maternity cases to family advocacy, Charlotte helps women find their voice in moments where it matters most.

This is a conversation about resilience, truth, and why women deserve better—every single time.

And whether you’re seeking help or looking for advocacy training in this area, reach out to Charlotte—her new vitual training program just launched! It is perfect for Doulas, Midwives, Medical staff, and even loved ones of those struggling with addiction.

You can find Charlotte on Instagram @thedependencydoula

And on her website https://thedependencydoula.com/

Today on Sharing Out Loud, I’m joined by the incredible Dr. Kristine Gravino — Ph.D., psychologist, integrative health expert, and a true force when it comes to helping women break self-sabotage and rebuild trust with their bodies.

But this conversation? It goes way deeper than mindset tips.

We talk about the brainstem stroke she survived in her early 20s — an experience that could have taken her life in a completely different direction. Instead, it became part of the foundation for who she is today.

We get into motherhood — raising her two now-grown sons — body image struggles (because yes, even the experts live this), and her very real, very human initiation into perimenopause.

And we also go there — into something so many women quietly normalize — mommy wine culture.

Dr. Gravino shares her own experience with it, how easy it is to fall into, and how, with the help of community, she was able to pull herself out and come out stronger on the other side. Now? It’s not something she hides — it’s something she owns as part of her life experience.

Because that’s who she is. She doesn’t just teach mindset — she lives it. Every single day.

She’s one of the most genuinely positive people I’ve met — not in a toxic positivity way, but in a grounded, resilient, “I’ve been through it and I choose how I show up” kind of way.

This episode is about doing the work. The real work.

And if you’re ready to dig deep, uncover what’s holding you back, and actually step into your strongest, most aligned self — you’re going to want more of Dr. Gravino.

You can learn more about her 1:1 sessions, group programs, masterclasses, and her personalized approach to nutrition, movement, and mindset at
👉 drkgravinowellness.com

You can also reach her directly at
📩 drkgravinowellness@gmail.com

And find her on Instagram
📱 @drkgravinowellness

I am republishing this episode because it needs to be heard! So please listen and share, share, share!

Angie Knierim is a menopause advocate and the founder of Empower Women in Midlife, a FREE app designed for women like you to connect, share experiences, and advocate for your own health and life.

In midlife — especially during perimenopause and menopause — you don’t have to feel confused, isolated, or overwhelmed. We’re breaking the stigma and having real, open conversations about everything from vaginal health to GLP-1s.

Angie’s passion for this work was born from her own health struggles, which opened her eyes to just how isolating perimenopause is, so instead of staying silent, Angie chose to speak up, sharing real stories and creating spaces where women feel seen, heard, and supported.

Angie’s mission is clear: to remind women they are not alone, that their experiences matter, that they are in charge of their hormone and health journey, and that together, we are stronger.

Be sure to follow Angie on Instagram @angieknierim 💛

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

SPECIAL UPCOMING EVENT!

Sophia Yen, M.D., M.P.H. is the CEO and Co-Founder of PandiaHealth.com, and is joining Angie for Perimenopause & Menopause 101!

If you’ve been struggling with symptoms no one can explain, this is for you.

https://joinewm.com/plans/1961691?bundle_token=f16480a83727c50b3a570786fb5ccda5

5pm PT | $5 |

Dr. Alexis Dunne is back on the podcast! If you don’t already know her, Dr. Dunne — also known as @dunnewithmenopause — is a board-certified internal medicine physician and certified menopause specialist based in Illinois who has become a trusted voice for women navigating midlife health.

Last week, Dr. Dunne graciously joined me for an Instagram Live so we could dive into a few important topics we didn’t get to cover the last time she was on the show — including hormone replacement therapy after a hysterectomy and using HRT when you have endometriosis. These are questions so many women have, and Dr. Dunne breaks them down in a way that is both clear and empowering.

Of course, the conversation didn’t stop there. We also talk about a variety of other menopausal “fun,” myths that continue to circulate, and why women deserve better information about their health during this stage of life.

If you’re not already following Dr. Dunne, now is the time. She’s smart, funny, refreshingly honest, and absolutely not afraid to tell it like it is — which is exactly why so many women are drawn to her!

Let us know if you’d like Dr. Dunne to become a recurring guest on the podcast! 🎙️ We love these conversations, and there is so much more we could cover together.

And most importantly, what topics do you want us to tackle next? Menopause, HRT, hair loss, weight, sleep, mood, libido, bone health, dental health… nothing is off the table.

Drop your questions and topic ideas below! 👇