In this episode of The Beauty In The Mess, Michele talks with Melissa Kramer, founder of Live UTI Free, a global patient-led initiative reshaping how urinary tract infections and pelvic health are understood and treated.

After years of chronic UTIs, misdiagnosis, and dismissal, Melissa transformed her pain into purpose. She built one of the world’s most respected patient advocacy and research platforms, connecting medical professionals, researchers, and patients around the world.

Melissa shares how she went from being unheard to leading a movement for better science, better care, and more compassionate healthcare. This conversation shines a light on the gender gap in medicine, the power of lived experience, and how advocacy can grow from the most personal places.

If you’ve ever been dismissed by the medical system or felt like no one was listening, Melissa’s story will help you find your voice again.

•  [00:02:15] Melissa’s story: from chronic UTI sufferer to advocate
•  [00:07:15] Why women’s symptoms are often minimized or misunderstood
•  [00:12:15] The founding of Live UTI Free and the power of community research
•  [00:17:15] How to advocate for yourself in the doctor’s office
•  [00:22:15] The emotional and physical toll of chronic illness
•  [00:27:15] What real progress looks like in women’s health
•  [00:32:15] Building bridges between patients, science, and policy
•  [00:37:15] Finding hope through purpose and shared experience
•  [00:42:15] Closing thoughts: breaking stigma and driving change

✨Connect with Melissa Kramer:

• Website: https://liveutifree.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liveutifree/#
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-kramer-93714224/

✨ Connect with Michele Simms:

• Website: thebeautyinthemess.com
• Instagram: @the.beauty.in.the.mess
• LinkedIn: Michele Simms
• Facebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast

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In this episode of The Beauty In The Mess, Michele talks with Doris Efford, a writer, speaker, and coach who helps women reclaim identity, self-worth, and emotional wholeness. Doris opens up about growing up disconnected from her true self, performing for approval, and the moment she realized she had to stop living for everyone else and start living honestly. She shares what identity healing actually looks like, why self-worth is at the core of change, and how faith, grace, and emotional resilience brought her back to herself.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt invisible, unworthy, or stuck in survival mode.

00:02:10 Doris’s early story and losing herself to expectations

00:06:10 Identity, survival mode, and faith during hardship

00:10:10 “Motivation isn’t enough” – why habits need a deeper why

00:13:10 Self-worth and why people don’t choose themselves

00:16:10 What healing actually looked like for Doris

00:20:10 People-pleasing, shame, and being honest with yourself

00:25:10 The role of God, grace, and emotional maturity

00:30:10 How to stop performing and start being present in your life

00:35:10 Final thoughts — identity, love, and choosing truth

✨Connect with Doris Efford:

· Email: hello@promptedcollective.com

✨ Connect with Michele Simms:

• Website: thebeautyinthemess.com
• Instagram: @the.beauty.in.the.mess
• LinkedIn: Michele Simms
• Facebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast

💬 Rate & Review

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In this episode of The Beauty in the Mess, Michele talks with Dana Sherwin, a healthcare executive turned patient advocate, who brings over 35 years of experience in healthcare administration, and a deeply personal story of survival. After facing a life-threatening illness and undergoing a stem cell transplant, Dana gained a rare perspective: what it’s like to move from managing care systems to navigating them as a patient.

She shares what it truly means to take ownership of your health, from asking the right questions and building stronger communication with your providers, to organizing your own care and advocating for yourself when it matters most. Dana’s message is clear: you are the CEO of your own health.

This episode is both practical and deeply human. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt lost in the medical system, overwhelmed by a diagnosis, or ready to take a more active role in their wellbeing.

 [00:02:25] Dana’s journey from healthcare executive to patient

 [00:06:25] The day everything changed

 [00:10:25] Facing fear and finding strength through uncertainty

 [00:14:25] How to communicate effectively with your doctor

 [00:18:25] Becoming your own advocate in a complex system

 [00:22:25] Coordinating your care and building a support team

 [00:27:25] What it means to be prepared before a crisis hits

 [00:33:25] Lessons from both sides of the healthcare system

 [00:38:25] Finding gratitude and growth through survival

 [00:43:25] Final reflections on courage, hope, and advocacy

✨Connect with Dana Sherwin:

· Email: dana.sherwin@gmail.com

· Resource: The Journal of Patient Experience (Open Access)

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desherwin/

✨ Connect with Michele Simms:

• Website: thebeautyinthemess.com
• Instagram: @the.beauty.in.the.mess
• LinkedIn: Michele Simms
• Facebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast

💬 Rate & Review

· Loved this episode? Please consider leaving a 5-star review and sharing it with a friend!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.