Silence around menopause helps no one—especially when cancer or surgery fast‑forwards the transition. We sit down with mindset and executive coach Kristin Swanson, a breast cancer survivor who navigated surgical menopause, to explore how data, values, and intuition can coexist when the path ahead is anything but clear. Kristin walks us through the moment she chose a double mastectomy, the journaling prompt that cut through fear, and the relief of hearing a surgeon say her choice aligned with what the pathology later proved.

From there, we open up the realities of surgical menopause: the symptoms no one warned about, the lonely middle ground for survivors who can’t use standard HRT, and the practical ways to build a care team that actually fits your life. Kristin shares how she balanced oncology with functional medicine, therapy, and coaching; why “speaking the words” changes your energy; and how to move forward with one small, safe, doable step—sleep first, then stack other habits. We also talk about reducing overwhelm, reframing the inner critic, and using community in unexpected places to find answers faster.

Throughout, a simple idea threads everything together: trust yourself. Not as a substitute for evidence, but as the compass that helps you weigh tradeoffs, ask better questions, and decide what kind of story you want to live. If you’ve felt dismissed, stuck, or scared to switch doctors, this conversation gives you language, tools, and permission to advocate for what you need. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with the one step you’re taking next—we’d love to hear how you’re turning a whisper into action.

Kristin Swanson helps female founders finish the Soul Led Projects they are afraid to say out loud. As a coach for entrepreneurs and a former executive, she blends practical strategies with mindset work to overcome resistance and follow through - consistently. As a breast cancer survivor, Kristin learned the importance of getting out of her own way and stop the habit of waiting until "someday" to make a unique impact. Realizing deeply that "you only live once," she gained the perspective needed to see through the illusions fear creates. She coaches founders to overcome overwhelm and inner hesitation to finish those soul-led goals.

Website: https://www.kristinswansonconsulting.com/

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

What if the thing you’re chasing isn’t ahead of you, but within you? We sit down with Harper A. Bailey—public health leader and author of the memoir “It Was Her”—to unpack how grief can become a teacher, how creativity can act as medicine, and why midlife refuses to let us ignore our truth. From family health inequities that drew her to public health, to the dream that showed she was running from a younger self, Harper shares the moments that cracked her open and invited her to finally listen.

Harper’s story bridges systems and self. She explains how the “invisible” work of public health—prevention, policy, community voice—mirrors the inner work many of us avoid. A gifted diary at nine began a lifelong journaling practice, carrying her through the loss of her mother, a staycation that birthed her book outline, and the decision to write from the scar rather than the wound. We explore the “treasure chest” where she stored pain, the myth that high achievement equals healing, and the revelation that not doing the work is also hard.

The conversation reaches into family, identity, and forgiveness. Harper describes softening toward her father through the lens of mental health and substance use, finding new ways to connect without erasing the past. She offers a freeing reframe—wholeness is our birthright—and challenges the belief that healing belongs to other people. Art, music, movement, and honest words become practical tools that regulate, connect, and transform. If you’ve ever felt stuck on the next mountain, this is a map back to yourself.

Listen for grounded insights on grief, midlife clarity, advocacy, and courageous asking. Then share it with a friend who needs the reminder that they are worthy of the work—and of the joy on the other side. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what truth are you ready to name?

Harper A. Bailey is the pen name of Tiosha Bailey, a Chicago native, public health leader, and powerful storyteller who challenges the status quo. She was the first Black woman to lead a prominent national women's healthcare nonprofit, where she prioritized health equity and amplified the voices of underserved communities.

Her first book, It Was Her: A Memoir—featuring a foreword by renowned motivational speaker Lisa Nichols—invites readers into a deeply personal story shaped by loss, resilience, and transformation. Through honest and compelling storytelling, Harper explores identity, healing, and the courage it takes to reclaim your narrative.

As a speaker, Harper brings clarity, depth, and humor to conversations about leadership, purpose, and the lived experiences of Black women. She connects with audiences through truth-telling and a passion for creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and empowered.

Website: https://www.harperabailey.com/

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

What if the missing piece in your health story isn’t willpower, it’s evidence and language? We welcome award-winning journalist Meghan Rabbitt, author of The New Rules of Women’s Health, for a candid, practical, and uplifting tour of the health span—from puberty and pelvic pain to perimenopause, hormone therapy, and post-menopause strength. Together, we unpack why “women aren’t small men” is more than a slogan; it’s a research mandate that changes diagnostics, dosing, and daily care.

Meghan shares how a lifetime of “tough it out” messaging trains many of us to rationalize symptoms and aim for an A+ at the doctor’s office, even when we’re suffering. Her own turning point—dismissing heavy bleeding until an ultrasound revealed fibroids—leads to a clear playbook for self-advocacy: track symptoms, ask direct questions, understand options, and choose clinicians who speak fluent menopause and practice shared decision-making. We get specific about hormone therapy and why timing, route, and personal risk matter more than recycled fear, plus how to navigate the social-media swirl without falling for bad advice.

The conversation also moves beyond the clinic to culture and work. We talk openly about clitoral anatomy, vaginal estrogen, dense breasts, and the joy of breaking taboos in public spaces, because daylight accelerates change. Then we take on the workplace, where menopause support still lags in policies and empathy. Simple steps—manager training, cool quiet spaces, flexible scheduling, and benefits that cover evidence-based care—can keep experienced talent thriving.

Meghan’s book functions like a narrative reference you can return to for credible, actionable guidance. Share chapters with partners and teens to build a common language around tests, choices, and emotions. If you’re ready to replace confusion with clarity and judgment with wonder, this conversation offers tools you can use today. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more women find evidence-based support. Your story deserves respect—and great care.

Meghan Rabbitt is an award-winning journalist and author of The New Rules of Women’s Health: Your Guide to Thriving at Every Age. She specializes in writing about women’s health and wellness, and her work has appeared in many national publications, including Women’s Health, Oprah Daily, Prevention, Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper, and more. She’s known for translating complex medical and scientific topics into clear, actionable information—and for telling stories that help readers better understand their bodies, their health, and themselves.

Website: https://newrulesofwomenshealth.com/

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.