In this powerful episode of The Healing Catalyst, Dr. Avanti Kumar Singh welcomes Andréa (Dre) Bendewald, to explain the profound impact of women's circles on healing and connection, drawn from her two decades of facilitating these communal story-sharing experiences. Dre shares how this ancient practice is making a modern-day comeback, and why it's more essential than ever.

The conversation explores the science behind communal experiences, such as the role of mirror neurons and the release of oxytocin, often called the “bonding hormone,” which is released during emotionally safe, connected interactions. They describe how simply being in a circle can reduce stress and support emotional regulation, just through listening. Dre describes participating in her first women's circle as a "chemical shift," that ultimately inspired her to share the practice with others.

Dre also explains how Circling differs from therapy, the guidelines and structure that make a circle feel safe and sacred, and how this kind of presence can function as a powerful form of re-parenting, offering the emotional attunement and validation many of us missed growing up.

If you're curious about joining a circle, this episode is a powerful reminder that healing happens in community, and that listening itself can be medicine.

• (11:54) The difference between Circling and traditional therapy
• (12:20) How guidelines and structure create emotional safety in a circle
• (17:43) The neuroscience of mirror neurons, oxytocin, and the stress-reducing power of shared empathy
• (20:41) How Circling can serve as a form of re-parenting, helping us rewrite old emotional patterns
• (21:55) The importance of allowing women to receive support, not just give it
• (25:24) Why simply listening—without fixing—can be healing
• (30:20) The medicine of storytelling as a path to connection, validation, and transformation

This episode is your guide to understanding why presence, community, and shared storytelling are powerful tools for emotional healing—and how Circling offers a space to feel less alone and more connected to your true self.

About Andréa Bendewald:

Andréa Bendewald is the founder of The Art Of Circling, and host of the Circle This podcast. She spent the first half of her career as a professional actress appearing in numerous hit television shows and films such as Ellen, Seinfeld, Friends, Suddenly Susan, Two and a Half Men, Entourage, CSI Miami, Without a Trace, Good Luck Charlie, Employee of the Month, Last Man Standing, Brand New Cherry Flavor and The Morning Show.

Today, Dre facilitates The Art of Circling: A group mindfulness practice that uses ancient ritual in a modern setting to empower individuals, strengthen communities, and enhance group productivity. Through sharing stories, deep listening and interconnected meditation, The Art of Circling empowers, heals and has transformed the lives of countless women from all over the world via in-person circles, retreats, private sessions, workshops and virtual offerings.

Resources Mentioned:

• Circle of Stones: Woman's Journey to Herself by Judith Duerk
• Christopher Sexton (poet)
•  Sacred Sisters Collective
• Sacred...

In this essential episode of The Healing Catalyst, Dr. Avanti Kumar Singh is joined by OB-GYN and menopause expert Dr. Jila Senemar to break down the myths, science, and emotional realities of perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.

Together, they discuss why so many women feel unprepared—and often misdiagnosed—during this time of life, and why hormonal changes are frequently mistaken for mental health issues or stress. Dr. Jila provides clear, clinical definitions of perimenopause and menopause, walks us through what’s happening with hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, and shares why symptoms such as anxiety, memory lapses, weight gain, and even autoimmune flare-ups are part of a much bigger picture.

The conversation dives into the myths around hot flashes, the surprising symptoms no one talks about, and why menopause is a health milestone that affects your heart, bones, brain, and long-term vitality. Dr. Jila also shares actionable tips around movement, nutrition, mindset, and hormone therapy, making this a compassionate and science-informed guide to thriving in midlife.

Whether you're just starting to notice changes, feeling overwhelmed by symptoms, or want to better support someone you love, this episode is the clear, grounded starting point we all need.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• (06:15) Why hormone therapy (HRT) was misunderstood for years—and what we now know
• (10:54) Clear definitions of perimenopause, menopause, and the timeline in between
• (27:20) How subtle symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and brain fog are hormonal—and often missed
• (29:30) Understanding the hormonal shifts of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone
• (32:32) The surprising link between postpartum depression and menopause
• (33:11) How menopause affects mental health—and what you can do about it
• (35:17) Ayurvedic insights into the hormonal transition of menopause
• (37:20) Why weight gain in midlife is tied to insulin resistance and hormonal fluctuation
• (42:56) The role of HRT and GLP-1s in managing metabolic changes during menopause
• (45:57) Longevity and menopause: how this transition impacts heart, brain, bone, and metabolic health
• (48:46) How menopause can trigger or worsen autoimmune symptoms
• (50:41) Sleep disruption: what causes it and how to improve it during perimenopause

This episode is your guide to understanding the stages of menopause, recognizing overlooked symptoms, and making informed choices about hormones, mood, weight, and long-term health.

About Dr. Jila Senemar:

Dr. Jila Senemar, M.D., FACOG is the founder of JilaMD, a concierge women’s health practice focusing on perimenopause, menopause, hormone therapy, metabolic optimization, and longevity science. She is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with over 20 years of clinical experience dedicated to advancing women's health. She earned her M.D. at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed her residency and chief residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

Dr. Jila has held academic roles at the University of Miami and Florida International University, and served as Associate Medical Director of OB-GYN Triage at Jackson Memorial Hospital. She is also the founder of The Miami Menopause Collective and EmpowHer Miami, two initiatives focused on education and empowerment during midlife.

An active member of the North American Menopause Society, the Florida Obstetrics and Gynecology Society, and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Jila blends clinical excellence with a deeply compassionate, patient-centered approach. Her work is grounded in the latest research, personalized care, and a mission to help women embrace vitality through all phases of...

In this powerful episode of The Healing Catalyst, Dr. Avanti Kumar Singh is joined by world-renowned circadian medicine researcher Dr. Satchin Panda to explore how our daily routines—when we eat, sleep, move, and get light—can deeply impact our health. Drawing from his latest book, The Circadian Diabetes Code, Dr. Panda shares the science behind time-restricted eating and how aligning our habits with our internal clocks can help prevent and reverse chronic conditions like diabetes, support mental health, and improve sleep quality.

They break down what “biological fasting” really means (hint: it’s not just the hours you're not eating) and why maintaining stable blood glucose levels overnight is essential for metabolic repair. Dr. Panda explains why 14 hours of overnight fasting can be a game changer, how sugar overload stresses the pancreas, and why our ability to handle glucose changes throughout the day.

You’ll also hear about the fascinating link between circadian rhythms and GLP-1 medications, how light acts as a natural antidepressant, and why consistent sleep and meal timing can improve everything from anxiety to weight loss. Whether you're struggling with pre-diabetes, insomnia, or just want to feel more energized, this conversation offers simple, actionable steps rooted in cutting-edge science and ancient wisdom.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• (04:53) How time restricted eating can help reverse diabetes
• (06:44) The concept of biological fasting and how it supports blood sugar balance
• (12:23) Why your pancreas works best in the morning—and worse at night
• (17:34) How time-restricted eating can improve sleep and mental health
• (18:26) Dr. Panda’s assertion that your day actually starts the night before
• (19:15) Why it is so important to stop eating three hours before bed
• (22:19) The importance of a consistent sleep schedule for overall health
• (23:21) The ideal daily schedule to support your circadian rhythm
• (24:12) How getting daily sunlight can be the best antidepressant
• (26:39) Why exercising in late afternoon can be better for athletic performance and health
• (30:58) How time-restricted eating can protect your health even if you are a shift worker
• (34:28) How traditional Ayurvedic practices align with circadian biology
• (43:17) How to assess your coffee habit and if it’s really necessary
• (50:05) Dr. Panda’s take on GLP-1 medications
• (59:43) How time restricted eating or fasting can be your greatest cure

This episode is your guide to improving your sleep hygiene, understanding the impact of food and sugar intake on your circadian rhythms, and simple ways you can change habits to improve your wellbeing.

About Dr. Satchin Panda:

Dr. Satchin Panda is a professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and one of the world’s leading experts on circadian biology. His discoveries—including the blue light sensor in our eyes that sets our internal clock—have changed the way we understand sleep, metabolism, and overall health. He pioneered the concept of time-restricted eating (TRE), and his lab continues to explore how daily rhythms impact everything from diabetes to depression. His research has earned him accolades such as the Julie Martin Mid-Career Award in Aging Research and a Pew Scholar in Biomedical Sciences. He is the author of The Circadian Code and The Circadian Diabetes Code.

Connect with Dr. Satchin Panda:

• Instagram: @satchin.panda
• Website
• YouTube: