Episodi

  • The Tiger of Beijing: Dr. Joy Kong on Resilience, Healing, and Stem Cell Therapy

    The Tiger of Beijing: Dr. Joy Kong on Resilience, Healing, and Stem Cell Therapy
    Jul 21 2026
    In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Joy Kong, a triple board-certified physician, educator, stem cell expert, and author of Tiger of Beijing. Dr. Kong shares her incredible journey growing up on a university campus in Beijing during a time of major economic change in China. Although her family had very little money, she was surrounded by education and developed an early fascination with America and the opportunities she believed it could offer. Dr. Kong opens up about the many obstacles she faced while trying to build a new life in the United States, including having her visa denied despite earning a scholarship. Determined not to give up, she found creative ways to move forward, from cold-calling hotels for work to becoming a tour guide in Tibet before eventually making it to America. She also shares the painful reality of surviving an abusive and controlling relationship, making the courageous decision to leave with nothing, and rebuilding her life from a shelter with the help of compassionate mentors, an attorney, and supportive professors. Her story is a powerful reminder that it's never too late to start over and fight for the life you know you're meant to live. It truly inspired me and reinforced the importance of never giving up on your dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem. We also explore her journey from training in psychiatry to becoming a leader in holistic medicine and stem cell therapy. Dr. Kong explains how regenerative medicine works, the exciting potential stem cells hold for healing, and why it's so important for patients to be informed and cautious in an industry where misinformation and low-quality treatments still exist. It's an inspiring conversation about resilience, reinvention, hope, and the incredible things that can happen when you refuse to let your circumstances define your future. Learn more here: https://joykongmd.com/ Get her book ‘Tiger of Beijing’ here: https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Beijing-Inspirational-Regenerative-Physician/dp/1647139740?_ga=2.57404205.664597299.1784342086-2044211131.1784342086 I’d love to hear from you. If you have questions for me, topics you’d like discussed, or stories you want to share, please reach out through my website at judgingmeghan.com or send me a message on Instagram at @judgingmeghan. Your questions may be featured and answered in an upcoming episode. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, leaving a review really helps support the show and helps more people find these conversations. This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #DrJoyKong #TigerOfBeijing #StemCellTherapy #RegenerativeMedicine #StemCells #HolisticHealth #IntegrativeMedicine #Longevity #HealthyAging #MedicalInnovation #Healthcare #Wellness #FunctionalMedicine #MentalHealthMatters #Psychiatry #Healing #HealthPodcast #AmericanDream #Inspiration #PersonalGrowth #NeverGiveUp #LifeJourney #Survivor #Hope #Courage #Empowerment #Education #WomenInLeadership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 min
  • Why Skin Cancer Prevention Matters with Melanoma Activist Leah Adams

    Why Skin Cancer Prevention Matters with Melanoma Activist Leah Adams
    Jul 14 2026
    In this episode, I’m sharing why melanoma awareness has become so important to me. Between recently losing an old family friend to melanoma, having my own skin cancer scare when a spot on my leg thankfully turned out to be benign, and my mom’s history with melanoma, it was a real wake-up call. Those experiences made me realize how important it is to have this conversation and remind everyone that early detection saves lives. I hope this episode encourages you to protect your skin, schedule regular skin checks, and never ignore changes you notice, because it truly could make all the difference. I’m joined by Leah Adams, a melanoma survivor, long-distance runner, and mental health advocate from Cleveland, who shares her incredible story of being diagnosed with stage 1A malignant melanoma at just 26 years old. Leah opens up about years of tanning bed use, skipping sunscreen, and the surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy that ultimately confirmed her cancer had not spread. Together, we discuss the dangers of tanning culture, the alarming rise in melanoma among younger adults, the trend of "tan maxxing," and the misinformation circulating online about UV exposure and sunscreen. Leah also shares her family's ongoing journey after her father was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma that had spread to his brain and lungs, and how advances in treatment have helped keep his disease stable. We talk about practical sun safety, including choosing broad-spectrum sunscreen, understanding SPF, the differences between mineral and chemical sunscreens, the limitations of SPF in makeup, wearing UPF clothing, and protecting yourself while staying active outdoors. This is an important conversation about prevention, awareness, hope, and why regular skin checks could save your life—or the life of someone you love. Learn more here: https://www.curemelanoma.org/blog/from-melanoma-patient-to-caregiver I’d love to hear from you. If you have questions for me, topics you’d like discussed, or stories you want to share, please reach out through my website at judgingmeghan.com or send me a message on Instagram at @judgingmeghan. Your questions may be featured and answered in an upcoming episode. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, leaving a review really helps support the show and helps more people find these conversations. This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor MelanomaAwareness #SkinCancerAwareness #Melanoma #SkinCancer #SPF #BroadSpectrumSPF #MineralSunscreen #SkinHealth #HealthAwareness #CancerAwareness #LeahAdams #MelanomaSurvivor #CancerSurvivor #Stage4Melanoma #PublicHealth #HealthEducation #RunningCommunity #RunnerLife #OutdoorSafety #BeProactive #EarlyDetection #HealthTips #SelfCare Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 min
  • The Glow Is an Inside Job: Founder Michelle Crosby on Wellness-First Beauty

    The Glow Is an Inside Job: Founder Michelle Crosby on Wellness-First Beauty
    Jul 7 2026
    In this episode I'm then joined by Michelle Crosby, a registered nurse with more than 25 years of experience in critical care, plastic surgery, and aesthetics. We dive into the connection between internal health and outward appearance, discussing how nutrition, hormones, sleep, and overall wellness can dramatically impact not only how we look but how we feel. Michelle shares how her work with PRP and PRF treatments inspired her to take a more holistic approach to health, focusing on achieving optimal wellness rather than simply falling within "normal" lab ranges. Michelle also introduces her innovative app, IntegratedHER, which helps women track everything from sleep, diet, medications, symptoms, and skincare to identify patterns and provide personalized wellness insights. We also discuss the growing popularity of peptides and GLP-1 medications, why proper testing and medical guidance are so important, Korean skincare, and some of the latest aesthetic treatments, including ONDA Pro and Sofwave. Finally, we talk about how to find qualified injectors, what questions to ask before any cosmetic procedure, and why education is the key to making safe, informed decisions about your health and beauty. Find out more about IntegratedHER here: https://www.integratedher.com/ I’d love to hear from you. If you have questions for me, topics you’d like discussed, or stories you want to share, please reach out through my website at judgingmeghan.com or send me a message on Instagram at @judgingmeghan. Your questions may be featured and answered in an upcoming episode. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, leaving a review really helps support the show and helps more people find these conversations. This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #MichelleCrosby #IntegratedHer #WomensHealth #HormoneHealth #HealthyAging #AgingWell #WellnessJourney #PreventativeHealth #FunctionalMedicine #HolisticHealth #BeautyFromWithin #Skincare #MedicalAesthetics #AestheticMedicine #HealthySkin #SkinHealth #Longevity #GLP1 #Peptides #Biohacking #WellnessTips #HealthyLifestyle #NutritionMatters #SleepHealth #PreventiveCare #MedicalInnovation #BeautyPodcast #WomenSupportingWomen #MentalHealthMatters #MindBodyConnection #Healthcare #PatientAdvocacy #SkinCareTips #AestheticNurse #GlowFromWithin #BeautyAndWellness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 ora e 1 min
  • ADHD coach Sam Led explains adult ADHD, hyperfocus, rejection sensitivity, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, CPTSD overlap, and why your brain isn't broken.

    ADHD coach Sam Led explains adult ADHD, hyperfocus, rejection sensitivity, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, CPTSD overlap, and why your brain isn't broken.
    Jun 30 2026
    In this episode I sit down with ADHD coach, consultant, podcast host and Beyond ADHD author Sam Led for a conversation about what ADHD actually feels like from the inside. Sam shares his own story of being misdiagnosed with anxiety, OCD and other labels before understanding his ADHD brain. He explains why he believes ADHD is not an attention deficit but an attention difference, why many ADHD brains experience the world in “Technicolor,” and why sensitivity, hyperfocus, creativity and intuition can become strengths once people stop seeing themselves as broken. We also talk about ADD vs ADHD, why the “H” was added, rejection sensitive dysphoria, justice sensitivity, emotional reactivity, sensory overwhelm, panic, thought storms, late diagnosis, medication, school struggles, math, foreign language, SATs, creative careers, podcasting, relationships, men’s mental health and why so many neurodivergent people feel like outsiders before they understand how their brain works. This episode is for adults with ADHD, women diagnosed later in life, people who grew up feeling different, parents trying to understand neurodivergent kids, creatives, empaths, overthinkers and anyone who has ever wondered why their mind feels faster, louder, more emotional or more intense than everyone else’s. Find Sam on: His site: https://www.samledconsulting.com/ Instagram: @samledadhdcoach Or listen to his podcast: The Fearless Now which is available on all podcasting platforms. You can purchase his book “Beyond ADHD” Here: https://www.samledconsulting.com/beyondadhd I’d love to hear from you. If you have questions for me, topics you’d like discussed, or stories you want to share, please reach out through my website at judgingmeghan.com or send me a message on Instagram at @judgingmeghan. Your questions may be featured and answered in an upcoming episode. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, leaving a review really helps support the show and helps more people find these conversations. This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #AdultADHD #ADHD #ADD #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #ADHDWomen #ADHDCoach #SamLed #BeyondADHD #Hyperfocus #RejectionSensitivity #OCD #Creative #EmotionalDysregulation #ADHDAnxiety #CPTSD #CreativeBrain #HighlySensitivePeople #MentalHealthAwareness #ADHDSuperpower #The FearlessNow #Coaching #Empath #Anxiety Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 ora e 5 min
  • The Hidden Pain of Adult Bullying and Friendship Loss with Dr. Noelle Santorelli (Revisited)

    The Hidden Pain of Adult Bullying and Friendship Loss with Dr. Noelle Santorelli (Revisited)
    Jun 23 2026
    In this revisited episode, I sit down again with clinical psychologist Dr. Noelle Santerelli for a conversation that feels especially important. We talk about adult bullying, relational aggression, and the deep grief that can come from losing friendships and a sense of belonging, particularly within mom groups and close communities. This episode is rooted in mental health and grief, because these losses change how safe the world feels and how we see ourselves. I share openly about why I started this podcast. A devastating friend breakup in 2020 collided with unresolved childhood trauma and brought me to one of the lowest points of my life. What began as subtle exclusion slowly became isolation and public humiliation, leaving me without a community I believed was safe. The shame, loneliness, and grief that followed were overwhelming, especially during COVID, and that loss carried a weight I did not expect. Dr. Santerelli explains why these group dynamics are so harmful and why it is never as simple as just leaving. When kids are involved, fear, guilt, and judgment keep women stuck far longer than they should be. We talk about betrayal trauma, victim blaming, and the cycle many toxic groups follow, and why reacting after months of pressure does not make someone the problem. It makes them human. This episode is about trusting your experience, listening to your body, and choosing self preservation over fixing the narrative. Sometimes healing looks like quiet distance and protecting your energy. If you have ever felt pushed out, shamed, or silenced by people you hoped would support you, this conversation is for you. You can followDr. Noelle Santerelli here: https://www.instagram.com/drnoellesantorelli/ This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #grief #mentalhealth #friendshiploss #adultbullying #relationaltrauma #betrayaltrauma #toxicfriendships #toxicmomgroups #womensmentalhealth #emotionalabuse #socialexclusion #shameandhealing #traumarecovery #boundaries #selfpreservation #healingafterloss #belonging #identityandloss #nervoussystem #emotionalsafety #friendbreakups #communitytrauma #motherhoodandmentalhealth #choosingyourself #psychologicalsafety Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 ora e 4 min
  • The Weight of Walking Away- Losing my Brother to Addiction with Hayley Spitaleri

    The Weight of Walking Away- Losing my Brother to Addiction with Hayley Spitaleri
    Jun 16 2026
    Hayley Spitaleri, host of A Splash More, opens up about her brother Nick’s 20-year struggle with opioid addiction, his fatal fentanyl overdose, the boundary she set six months before his death, and the federal investigation that followed. This conversation connects the fentanyl crisis to prescription painkillers, athlete injuries, OxyContin, heroin, counterfeit drugs, overdose prevention, Hayley’s story is for siblings, parents, spouses, and children who have loved someone with substance use disorder—and for anyone trying to protect their family without abandoning the person they love. Hayley Spitaleri is the host of A Splash More, a podcast featuring honest conversations about ambition, identity, motherhood, health, reinvention, and personal growth. This one is for anyone who has lost someone to addiction. Hayley not only inspired me with her strength but gave me hope for those fighting battles many will never understand. Connect with Hayley and listen to A Splash More:@ASplashMore Connect with Meghan:@judgingmeghanJudgingMeghan.com #FentanylCrisis #OpioidAddiction #FentanylAwareness #OverdoseGrief #SiblingLoss #FamilyBoundaries #AddictionRecovery #OpioidEpidemic #Narcan #MensMentalHealth #GriefSupport #SubstanceUseDisorder #IVFJourney #ASplashMore #JudgingMeghan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 ora e 8 min
  • From Loss to Loud: Advocating for Men's Mental Health with Reshma Kearney

    From Loss to Loud: Advocating for Men's Mental Health with Reshma Kearney
    Jun 9 2026
    This episode I’m joined by Reshma Kearney, a trauma informed yoga instructor, mental health advocate, and someone I first connected with through Instagram. We begin by talking about my own journey with mental health advocacy, the importance of suicide prevention awareness, a recent personal loss, and the incredible milestone of celebrating six years of the podcast. I also reflect on what it means to see Judging Meghan reach the Top 10 on Apple’s Mental Health charts and why these conversations continue to matter so much to me. Reshma shares her deeply personal story, including her move to California in 2023 to be closer to family after experiencing unimaginable loss. She opens up about her whirlwind love story with her late husband, Sean, an Army orthopedic surgeon who served three deployments and ultimately died by suicide. With honesty and vulnerability, Reshma talks about Sean’s long struggle with depression and anxiety, how his sense of humor, professional success, and constant activity often masked the pain he was carrying, and the heartbreaking challenges they faced together, including the loss of a child through stillbirth. Together, we discuss the realities of grief after suicide, the guilt and overwhelming responsibilities that can follow, and what it looks like to help children navigate loss while grieving yourself. Reshma shares how each of her three children has processed their father's death differently, the support they received from their school and community, and why she believes Sean continues to send signs that he is still with them. We also talk about the healing power of vulnerability, the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, and why sharing our stories can help others feel less alone. This is a heartfelt and powerful conversation about love, loss, resilience, hope, and the reminder that asking for help is one of the bravest things we can do. Learn more on Reshma’s site: https://www.reshmakearney.com/ I’d love to hear from you. If you have questions for me, topics you’d like discussed, or stories you want to share, please reach out through my website at judgingmeghan.com or send me a message on Instagram at @judgingmeghan. Your questions may be featured and answered in an upcoming episode. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, leaving a review really helps support the show and helps more people find these conversations. This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #ReshmaKearney #MentalHealthAwareness #SuicidePrevention #SuicideAwareness #SuicideLoss #SurvivorOfSuicideLoss #MentalHealthMatters #EndTheStigma #YouAreNotAlone #HopeAfterLoss #GriefJourney #HealingJourney #TraumaHealing #Resilience #MentalWellness #EmotionalHealing #GriefSupport #LossAndHealing #WidowLife #ParentingThroughGrief #ChildLoss #StillbirthAwareness #MilitaryFamilies #MilitaryMentalHealth #VeteranMentalHealth #ArmyFamily #MentalHealthAdvocate #TraumaInformedYoga Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 ora e 2 min
  • Escape to Jekyll Island & Beyond with Bestselling Author Sandy Malone

    Escape to Jekyll Island & Beyond with Bestselling Author Sandy Malone
    Jun 2 2026
    In this episode I sit down with bestselling author Sandy Malone for a fun and inspiring conversation about her writing career, the stories that have captured readers’ hearts, and what exciting projects she has coming next. Sandy shares the journey behind her popular Gem of the Golden Isle series, which begins with Escape to Jekyll Island, and discusses why the charm, beauty, and close knit communities of Georgia’s Golden Isles continue to inspire her work. Sandy also gives us a preview of her upcoming novel, Thicker Than Blood, which is set to be released this fall. While details are still being finalized, she shares her excitement about bringing another story into the world and what the publishing process looks like behind the scenes. We discuss the realities of being an author, balancing creativity with deadlines, and the anticipation that comes with preparing a new release. In addition, Sandy introduces her brand new series, Under the Oaks, a crossover from her Jekyll Island books that expands into neighboring St. Simons Island. Centered around a wedding planning company, the new series promises fresh characters, familiar connections, romance, community, and all the coastal charm readers have come to love from her novels. Whether you're already a fan of Sandy's books or discovering her work for the first time, this episode offers a wonderful look into her creative world and all the exciting stories readers can look forward to in the coming months. Want to check out the series? You can find her books through this link here or at your local book store: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01BM5JV3I?ccs_id=4f40f626-d994-4a7c-8b2a-88fa1d53e415 I’d love to hear from you. If you have questions for me, topics you’d like discussed, or stories you want to share, please reach out through my website at judgingmeghan.com or send me a message on Instagram at @judgingmeghan. Your questions may be featured and answered in an upcoming episode. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, leaving a review really helps support the show and helps more people find these conversations. This podcast is a place for trauma survivors as well as their friends and family. This is a safe environment to be vulnerable but it's also a place for celebration and moving forward. Let's all start to embrace who we are becoming by #mentalhealth #selfcare #self #judgingothers #judgingmeghan #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #survivor #SandyMalone #AuthorInterview #BestsellingAuthor #WomenWhoWrite #BookPodcast #BookLovers #ReadersOfInstagram #Bookstagram #CoastalFiction #BeachReads #RomanceBooks #ContemporaryRomance #WomensFiction #JekyllIsland #StSimonsIsland #GoldenIsles #GeorgiaCoast #EscapeToJekyllIsland #GemOfTheGoldenIsle #ThickerThanBlood #UnderTheOaks #NewBookRelease #BookCommunity #AuthorLife #WritingCommunity #FictionBooks #MustReadBooks #BookRecommendations #IndependentAuthor #Storytelling #BookDiscussion #PodcastEpisode #PodcastGuest #CreativeLife #WomenAuthors #SouthernFiction #CoastalRomance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    58 min