The holidays are supposed to feel joyful — but for many of us with endometriosis, they can bring a mix of stress, exhaustion, and anxiety about flare-ups. Between family gatherings, rich food, disrupted routines, and travel, it’s easy to feel like your body is working against you.

In this final episode of the year, we’re talking about how to enjoy the holidays with endometriosis — on your terms. You’ll learn practical ways to manage energy, reduce pain, and still feel connected to the season without pushing yourself into burnout.

• How to plan ahead for social events without overcommitting
• The importance of rest, boundaries, and realistic expectations
• Simple rituals to make the season restorative, not exhausting

You don’t have to do the holidays like everyone else — you just have to do them in a way that supports you.

Give yourself permission to slow down, honor your body, and make space for peace instead of pressure. This season isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence.

At EmpowerEndo, we’ve spent this year learning, healing, and growing together — from understanding endo to advocating for ourselves and finding balance through it all.

As we wrap up the year, I want to thank you for being part of this community. Your strength, vulnerability, and hope are what make EmpowerEndo more than a podcast — it’s a movement.

Take care of yourself this season, and I’ll see you in the new year with fresh energy and new episodes to support your journey.

Tune in now to EmpowerEndo on your favorite podcast app.

📱 Follow along on Instagram @samanthadc.dc for daily endo-friendly inspiration.

If you’ve ever walked out of a doctor’s office feeling dismissed, confused, or questioning your own pain — you are not alone. Advocacy can feel intimidating, especially when you’re already exhausted by your symptoms.

In this episode, we’re talking about what self-advocacy really means for women with endometriosis — how to speak up, ask the right questions, and build a care team that actually listens. You’ll learn practical strategies to make every appointment more productive and empowering, even when the system feels stacked against you.

• Why self-advocacy isn’t “being difficult” — it’s an essential skill for chronic illness
• How to prepare before every appointment so you feel organized, not overwhelmed
• How to communicate your goals clearly — even when you’re emotional or in pain
• Tips for documenting symptoms and tracking patterns so you can show your doctor real data

Here are a few quick wins you can start using right away:

1. Bring notes — write down your top 3 concerns before the appointment.
2. Lead with data, not desperation — describe symptoms with specifics: frequency, duration, and triggers.
3. Ask clarifying questions:

• “Can you explain what that means for me long term?”
• “What’s the next step if this treatment doesn’t work?”
• “Are there specialists you can refer me to?”

Don’t accept ‘it’s normal’ as an answer — trust your body and keep pushing for clarity.

You are not too emotional. You are not overreacting.

You are someone living with a complex disease that deserves proper care.

Self-advocacy is not about confrontation — it’s about clarity, confidence, and boundaries. When you walk into appointments informed and prepared, you shift the power dynamic and finally take your health into your own hands.

🎧 Tune in now to EmpowerEndo wherever you get your podcasts.

📱 Follow @Samanthadc.dc on Instagram for more tools, education, and support and check out the website for resources

If you’ve ever left an appointment feeling more confused than when you went in, this episode is for you. Most doctors mean well—but when it comes to endometriosis, many simply haven’t been given the full picture.

In this episode, we’ll uncover what most doctors don’t know about endo (and why it’s not your fault if you’ve felt dismissed or misunderstood). You’ll also learn the key questions to ask at your next appointment so you can walk in informed, confident, and ready to advocate for yourself.

• Why so many doctors still misunderstand what endometriosis actually is
• The difference between “managing symptoms” and treating the disease
• How outdated medical training contributes to misdiagnosis and dismissal
• What excision surgery is—and why it’s different from ablation
• The emotional toll of feeling unheard (and how to rebuild trust with your care team)
• How to prepare for your next appointment like an empowered patient

Your doctor works for you—you’re not being “difficult” for asking questions.

You deserve care that looks at the whole picture—your hormones, immune system, emotional health, and daily life.

When you understand what’s missing from the medical model, you can finally fill in the gaps yourself—with knowledge, support, and a plan that makes sense for your body.

Tune in now to EmpowerEndo wherever you get your podcasts.

📱 Follow along on Instagram @samanthadc.dc for weekly education and support and check out the website for resources

Endometriosis doesn’t just affect your body — it impacts your emotions, your relationships, your identity, and even how you see your future. In this episode, we dive deep into the emotional side of endo that’s often ignored in medical conversations.

You’ll learn how chronic pain, hormonal changes, and feeling dismissed by the healthcare system can contribute to emotional burnout… and most importantly, what you can do to start healing emotionally, not just physically.

• The emotional rollercoaster of living with a chronic illness
• How trauma, medical gaslighting, and isolation show up in endo warriors
• The link between the nervous system, pain, and emotions
• Why addressing your emotional health is essential for healing your physical body
• Practical tools and habits to support emotional regulation and resilience

You are not broken for feeling emotional about your diagnosis. Endometriosis affects every layer of your life — so healing must include your mind and heart, too.

Tune in now to EmpowerEndo wherever you get your podcasts.

And if you’re craving deeper emotional support, keep an eye out for The Endo Roadmap, my signature framework to help you create a clear plan for your body and your emotions. Follow me over on instagram @samanthadc.dc for daily content, tips and education around living with endometriosis

Today we dive into the actual things you can do in the areas of nutrition, movement and stress management that helps support your immune system.

Why are we supporting the immune system when we have endometriosis? Because! It's a whole body inflammatory disease!

Listen to the whole episode to learn little tips, tricks and bite sized habits you can start adding to your daily rotation to help manage your endo!

Check out my recommended endo support products on Amazon here

Cover over to instagram @samanthadc.dc for more daily tips and my life living with endometriosis, and I'm on TikTok too @sjdecastro16

Did you know endometriosis isn’t just a reproductive condition? Research shows it’s also deeply tied to the immune system. But what does that actually mean—and why does it matter for you?

In this episode of EmpowerEndo, we’re breaking down:

• The basics of how the immune system works (in plain English, no science degree required!)
• Why immune dysfunction plays a huge role in endometriosis
• How chronic inflammation and faulty immune responses make symptoms worse
• Why this helps explain why endo feels like “more than just bad periods”

This is the foundation you’ll need to understand why fatigue, brain fog, pain, and even frequent illness are all linked to endo—and sets the stage for the rest of our September series on immunity.

✨ Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been living with endo for years, this episode will help you see your symptoms in a whole new light.

📖 Studies & articles mentioned:

• Sikora et al., American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 2012
• Harada et al., Fertility & Sterility, 2004
• Capobianco & Rovere-Querini, Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 2013
• Nielsen et al., Human Reproduction Update, 2018

🛒 Check out my Endometriosis Essentials—products that have supported me through flares, surgery, and daily management here

Follow my over on instagram @samanthadc.dc

If this episode helped you, please consider tipping the podcast (you’ll see the option right in your player!)—it helps me keep creating free content for our community.

And don’t forget to hit subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode in this immune system series!

Life after endometriosis surgery isn’t a straight line—it’s a journey. In this episode, I’m opening up about what my life looks like after excision surgery: the wins, the ongoing challenges, and the habits and tools that help me show up for myself every day.

You’ll hear:

✨ What’s improved since my surgery

✨ The symptoms I still navigate (because surgery isn’t a cure)

✨ The routines and supports that make a difference in my healing

✨ Why community is essential in this journey

Whether you’re preparing for surgery, in recovery, or years past, this episode is here to remind you that you’re not alone—and that healing is possible in many forms.

🔗 Mentioned in this episode:

Mindpump Mobility Workouts (Prime and PrimePro)

Live Well - Online GLP-1 in Canada

Clear Whey Protein * affiliate

Creatine *affiliate

Full Well Supplements

Odd Bunch - fruit/veggie boxes

💛 If this episode resonates with you, share it with another endo warrior who needs to hear it.

Check out more over on instagram @samanthadc.dc

If you’ve ever felt lost, frustrated, or just plain exhausted trying to get the care you need for endometriosis in Canada, you’re not alone.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how our healthcare system really works when you’re living with a chronic condition like endo.

We’ll talk about:

• How to understand and anticipate wait times for referrals, imaging, and surgery
• How to request a second opinion without burning bridges with your providers
• Navigating insurance and coverage — including what’s available publicly and what you may need private benefits for
• Advocacy tips to help you get the right care sooner, without feeling like you’re “being difficult”

As both a patient who’s walked this path and a healthcare professional, I’ll share practical strategies that you can start using right away to move forward in your own care journey.

Resources & Links:

🛒 My curated list of Endometriosis Essentials

📱 Follow me on Instagram for daily tips & support → www.instagram.com/samanthadc.dc