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Finding the right care for a vestibular disorder can be difficult for anyone. Symptoms like dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, and brain fog can be hard to describe, vestibular disorders are often misunderstood, and many patients see multiple healthcare providers before getting an accurate diagnosis. For people whose primary language is Spanish, those challenges can be even greater. Language is one obvious barrier, but it’s not the only one. Cultural differences can influence how people describe their symptoms, when and where they seek care, and how comfortable they feel asking questions or advocating for themselves. Some people may also have reasons to distrust the healthcare system based on their own experiences or those of their family or community. And even when patients are actively looking for answers, finding reliable, easy-to-understand information about vestibular disorders in Spanish can be challenging. Today, we’re going to explore these issues from both sides of the healthcare experience. Joining us is Johan, a Spanish-speaking vestibular patient, who will share his personal experience navigating the healthcare system, and Jesus Gomez, a Spanish-speaking audiologist with vestibular training, who will offer a clinician’s perspective on the barriers Spanish-speaking patients may encounter and what healthcare providers can do to better serve them. Guests Johan, also known as “The Chappiness Guy,” is a vestibular patient, advocate, and VeDA Ambassador. After developing vestibular migraine and PPPD at age 33, he turned his experience into an opportunity to support others. Through his Find Your Chappiness YouTube channel and Vestibular TALKS interview series, Johan raises awareness, shares patient stories, and helps people with vestibular disorders feel less alone. He also moderates a WhatsApp group for Spanish-speaking vestibular patients. Jesus Gomez, AuD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder and Director of the Vestibular Sciences Lab. He earned his Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and his PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders from James Madison University. His research focuses on vestibular science, fall risk, and improving the accessibility of vestibular and fall-risk assessment across different language groups. His overarching goal is to advance equitable approaches to vestibular care. VeDA’s Spanish Resources

For many people living with a vestibular disorder, treatment focuses on medications, vestibular rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes. But in some cases, surgery may be considered when symptoms are severe, persistent, or caused by a structural problem that cannot be addressed in other ways. The decision to undergo surgery is rarely simple. Patients and healthcare providers must carefully weigh the potential benefits against the risks, consider alternative treatments, and prepare for what can sometimes be a challenging recovery process. While surgery can be life-changing for the right candidate, it often comes with its own physical and emotional hurdles. In today's episode, we'll explore how doctors determine when an operation is appropriate, what patients can realistically expect before and after surgery, and how recovery unfolds over time.  Guests Stefanie Adams suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries and had her third concussion in 2017. As soon as she hit her head, she felt off-balance and started to sway. Over the next year, she developed terrible migraines and dizziness. Eventually the migraines left, but the dizziness stayed. A year later she discovered that she had a perilymph fistula (a hole in the membrane separating the middle and inner ears) when she got the flu, blew her nose, and the room started to spin. She’s had surgery to repair the fistula and is now a VeDA Ambassador, Board Member, and vestibular advocate. Habib G. Rizk, M.D. grew up in Beirut, Lebanon. He attended the Faculty of Medicine-Saint Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon, and pursued an Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery residency at Hôtel-Dieu de France Hospital in Beirut, followed by an Otologic Medicine and Surgery Fellowship under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Teixido at Christiana Care in Wilmington, Delaware, and a two-year Neurotology fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Rizk’s interests span all areas of otology and neurotology, with a specific focus on the medical and surgical management of vestibular disorders. He is a professor in the MUSC Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery , and the Director of the Multidisciplinary Vestibular Program. Dr. Rizk is currently on the board of directors and past president of the Vestibular Disorders Association. He is a member of the Bárány Society and a fellow of the American Neurotology Society and the American Otological Society. He is also a member of the American Balance Society and of the Otology and Neurotology Education Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Living with a chronic illness can challenge not only the body but also a person’s sense of identity, purpose, and hope. For many, spirituality becomes an important part of the healing journey—offering meaning in difficult moments, strengthening resilience, and helping people navigate uncertainty. Yet spirituality looks different for everyone, shaped by personal beliefs, values, and life experiences. In this episode of the ICU Podcast, we explore the role spirituality can play in coping with chronic vestibular conditions. We’re joined by Lynn Johnson, a vestibular patient and devout Christian, and Rev. Carol Rexroad Cannon, a vestibular patient and retired United Methodist pastor, as they share how faith and spirituality have supported their journeys and helped them find strength, connection, and hope. Guests Carol Cannon graduated with a BA in chemistry from Carleton College in Minnesota and received a Master's in Divinity (MDiv) in Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral training from Yale Divinity School.  She served with her husband, Robert, as a United Methodist pastor for forty years. Carol was diagnosed with vestibular neuritis in 2016, which developed into PPPD. Vestibular rehab therapy has helped restore her balance. Carol enjoys hiking mountain trails near her home, visiting with family, and volunteering in the church and community to work for justice, peace, and wholeness. Lynn Johnson’s life changed in 2015 when she suddenly developed imbalance and loud tinnitus. After months of worsening symptoms and multiple doctor visits, she was diagnosed with Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED) and Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction. She now lives with profound hearing loss, oscillopsia, and imbalance, which ended her career as a high school biology teacher and limited her mobility and independence. Lynn believes earlier diagnosis might have preserved her hearing. Despite these challenges, she remains determined to live fully. She is a VeDA Ambassador, co-leads a support group for vestibular patients with hearing loss, and facilitates an AIED Facebook support community. Attribution: The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days by Kate Bowler and Jessica Ritchie.  New York: Convergent Books, 2023. Blessing # 67:  “For when you thought you would feel different by now." https://katebowler.com

On this episode of the ICU Podcast, we explore the emerging—and deeply relatable—connection between blood glucose regulation and vestibular migraine, a topic gaining attention across migraine, neurology, and nutrition research. Joining us are Dr. Kyle Bills, co-author of a recent paper examining glucose dynamics in vestibular migraine, and Rachel Weaver, author of Dizzy: A Memoir, who brings her lived experience perspective to the conversation. Together, we unpack how brain energy metabolism, insulin sensitivity, genetic links to glycemic traits, and everyday factors like diet and lifestyle may influence migraine biology—especially for people whose symptoms include dizziness and balance disruption. This discussion bridges cutting-edge science with real-world insight, offering listeners a clearer understanding of why blood sugar stability may matter in vestibular migraine and how this knowledge could shape more personalized management strategies. Guest Bios Rachel Weaver’s novel Point of Direction was named a Top Ten Book To Pick Up Now by Oprah Magazine and won the Willa Cather Award for Fiction. Rachel’s newest book, Dizzy, an “arresting new memoir” according to Maureen Corrigan on NPR’s Fresh Air, published in February of 2026. Her second novel The Last Run, is forthcoming in June 2026 with Lake Union Publishing. Prior to earning her MFA in Writing and Poetics at Naropa University, Rachel worked for the Forest Service in Alaska studying bears, raptors and songbirds. She teaches at Wilkes University and Lighthouse Writers Workshop and holds a CPA in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University. For twenty years, Rachel has lived with vestibular migraine. For more information visit https://rachelweaver.net/. Dr. Kyle Bills is a neurologist and headache specialist with a clinical and research interest in vestibular migraine and the role of metabolism in migraine disorders. He is a co-author of a recent study examining glucose dynamics in vestibular migraine, contributing to a growing body of research exploring how blood sugar regulation, brain energy metabolism, and lifestyle factors may influence migraine symptoms. Through his work, Dr. Bills seeks to better understand the biological mechanisms underlying vestibular migraine and how this knowledge can improve diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for patients living with dizziness and migraine. You can find Dr. Bill's most recent paper on Glucose dysregulation and glycemic phenotyping in chronic migraine here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1719724/full.

A blow to the head can do more than cause a concussion—it can disrupt the delicate systems that control balance, vision, and spatial awareness. In this episode of the ICU Podcast, we explore vestibular concussion: what it is, why it’s often overlooked, and how it can leave people feeling dizzy, disoriented, and disconnected from their surroundings. Our guests break down how the vestibular system is affected by head injury, why symptoms like vertigo, brain fog, and visual sensitivity can linger, and what recovery can look like with the right care. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or clinician, this conversation sheds light on an often misunderstood consequence of concussion and offers hope for healing through targeted support and rehabilitation. Guests Jess Winter is a school librarian with a background in teaching journalism and a deep passion for finding, organizing, and sharing information. After experiencing a concussion, Jess developed ongoing vestibular challenges, including vestibular migraine and persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD), which have shaped both her personal journey and her commitment to supporting others. She holds a Master’s degree in Library Science and is especially interested in pursuing work as a medical librarian, combining her love of research with a desire to help people navigate complex health information. Jess also supports VeDa through the annual Poetry-4-Balance contest and has led poetry writing for social hour. Dr. Danit Macklin, PT, DPT specializes in concussion and vestibular rehabilitation, holding certificates from the APTA in both pediatric and adult vestibular rehabilitation and certification as an Impact Trained Physical Therapist. She has served as faculty for the annual APTA Pediatric Vestibular Competency Conference and is a course instructor for Education Resources Inc. (ERI), where she teaches Leading-Edge Approaches for Concussion and Mild TBI Management: Applications for Comprehensive Assessment and Treatment. Dr. Macklin is the owner of Balance & Concussion Therapy Center, a private practice exclusively dedicated to concussion and vestibular rehabilitation. She serves on the BIANJ Concussion Committee, is the founder and chair of the APTANJ Vestibular Special Interest Group, and founded Concussion Awareness Day in New Jersey. She recently joined the International Neurologic Physiotherapy Association and is actively engaged with its vestibular special interest group.

In this episode of the ICU podcast, we’re exploring CANVAS—short for cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, and vestibular areflexia syndrome—a rare, progressive neurological condition that disrupts the very systems our bodies rely on to stay balanced and oriented. CANVAS affects the cerebellum, sensory nerves, and inner ear balance system all at once, creating a “triple hit” that can lead to unsteadiness, dizziness, vision changes with head movement, and worsening coordination over time. Although researchers have only recently begun to understand its genetic cause, much remains unknown about how it develops and how best to manage it. Today, we’re joined by Celeste Suart, Patient Engagement Director at the National Ataxia Foundation, and Denise Luken, who is living with CANVAS, to share both the clinical perspective and the lived experience of navigating this complex and often misunderstood condition. Guest bios Celeste Suart, PhD, is the Patient Engagement Director for the National Ataxia Foundation. She earned her PhD in biochemistry at McMaster University, where her research focused on Ataxia, science communication, and adult education. Celeste leads the development of various patient-facing research communications, educational materials, and informational webinars. She also acts as a liaison between NAF, researchers, clinicians, industry professionals, and the ataxia community. Celeste strongly believes in the empowering nature of education. She is committed to supporting the agency of Ataxians and their families through access to research information and opportunities.    Denise lives in North Carolina with her husband of nearly 25 years, Bill, and their two dogs. After an active life that included raising two children, working in IT, and enjoying sports like tennis and skiing, she began experiencing balance issues, falls, and coughing in her early 50s. Following years of testing, she was first diagnosed with idiopathic ataxia, and later with RFC1-related CANVAS. Now in her mid-60s, Denise stays active with regular exercise and physical therapy, using a cane or rollator for support.

In today’s episode of the ICU Podcast, we explore the fascinating connection between gut health and vestibular disorders—and why taking care of your digestive system might be an overlooked piece of your wellness puzzle. What happens in your gut doesn’t always stay in your gut: when the lining of the intestine becomes compromised, it can lead to systemic inflammation, nutrient malabsorption, and an imbalanced microbiome—all of which may influence vestibular symptoms like vertigo, dizziness, and balance issues. The gut is also a major producer of neurotransmitters that affect mood and nervous system balance, and imbalances there could potentially affect how your brain processes vestibular signals. Today, we’ll break down what gut health really means, how it intersects with vestibular function, and practical takeaways you can consider as part of your overall health strategy. Guest Bios Leigha Kingsley is an actress, writer, producer, and director. Her acting credits include films starring Will Ferrell and Woody Harrelson, and TV shows like Criminal Minds. She is a champion for female-driven stories, and her scripts have been finalists for Sundance, HBO Project Greenlight, and the New York Television Festival. Leaha has been experiencing Vestibular Migraines for the past year. She is still new to this journey, but one thing she has noticed is that the foods she consumes have a direct correlation with how well her brain and vestibular system operate.  Carla Alpert, FDN-P, NBC-HWC, FMCHC, is a trauma-informed Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach and Functional Medicine Practitioner. She focuses on gut health and how it affects overall health because, unlike Las Vegas, what happens in the gut doesn’t always stay in the gut. Symptoms become the way your body tells you there’s an imbalance. Many times, problems that seem unrelated to gastrointestinal health, such as brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, and even skin issues, can stem from an imbalance in the microbiome. Carla supports her clients in uncovering the root cause(s) of digestive problems and other chronic symptoms, restoring overall health and well-being. Her mission as a coach is to help her clients explore and discover solutions to live a life with renewed vitality, radiant health, authenticity, and purpose—without the overwhelm. Learn more about Carla here.

In this episode of the ICU Podcast, we explore how humor and gratitude can become powerful tools for coping with chronic vestibular disorders. Living with dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance can often feel isolating and overwhelming—but laughter and thankfulness can help restore balance to both body and mind. Research shows that humor can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, boost immune function, and even trigger endorphins—our body’s natural painkillers. Similarly, practicing gratitude has been linked to better sleep, improved mood, and enhanced overall well-being. Our guests—a vestibular patient who’s found resilience through laughter, and health coach Hilary Russo, creator of the “HIListic” approach to mindful self-compassion—share how humor and gratitude have transformed their healing journeys and offer practical ways to bring more lightness and appreciation into everyday life. Guest Bios Mary Ziegler was once reliable, hard-working, and a dedicated wife and mother. But when Meniere's disease and vestibular migraine hit, she had to leave her job and stop driving. One of the things Mary misses the most is helping other people. She misses parties with friends and family. But she has devised ways to dwell in joy and gratitude. She likes being a VeDA Ambassador because it allows her to help people in Chicago, where she lives, and all over the world. She is grateful for her family and friends, and for the doctors who recognize her as an expert in her condition. Hilary Russo is a certified trauma-informed holistic mental health practitioner and health coach, one of only 50 certified Havening Techniques® Trainers globally, and one of the first 100 Certified Havening Practitioners in the United States. Due to her work in Havening and trauma-informed care, Hilary is a recommended referral partner with the nationally recognized Amen Clinics for brain health. Her extensive background in media and military life gives her a unique perspective on working with secondary trauma, chronic stress, and burnout.  She is the host of the globally top-rated podcast HIListically Speaking® and creator of the HUG it Out® Method, which reminds you to access self-healing through Humor, Understanding, and Gratitude and be a Pioneer Practitioner™of your own life. Connect with Hilary at hilaryrusso.com, on social @hilaryrusso, or on her Substack, The Brain Candy Blueprint.

In this episode of the ICU Podcast, we explore the powerful relationship between the mind and body—and how that connection can be both disrupted and harnessed in life with a vestibular disorder. From the ways stress and anxiety can amplify dizziness to the grounding effects of mindfulness, movement, and self-compassion, we’ll discuss the science and lived experience behind mind-body healing. Through personal stories and expert insights, listeners will discover how cultivating awareness, patience, and inner balance can help restore a sense of control and resilience on the path toward recovery. Guest Bios Sandy Brunner describes herself as an awesome stay-at-home mom and an okay housewife. Pre-kid, she was a speech-language pathologist and blogger for Life Without Land Legs. Sandy started her vestibular journey with Mal de Debarquement Syndrome, or MdDS, on a trip to Europe in 2018, adding vestibular migraine, PPPD, and cervicogenic dizziness to her vestibular bingo card along the way. She was in VeDA’s first season of the Life Rebalanced Chronicles docuseries. When she’s not doing mom stuff or at the gym, she is planning parties, going on random adventures, organizing something, reading, or doing crafts.  Donna McArthur, DC has been a chiropractor for thirty years, sharing a wellness-based practice with her husband in the mountains of British Columbia. She provides patient-centered care aimed at restoring function to the neuro-musculoskeletal system, utilizing evidence-based therapies and drawing on her deep knowledge of biomechanical, neurological, and fascial approaches. Her work is grounded in a heart-centered, integrated philosophy of healing. Donna is passionate about offering people tools and choices that empower their own wellness—something she brings to her clinical practice, writing, and teaching. With a focus on general family practice, she has extensive training and experience supporting both pediatric and geriatric patients.  You can follow Donna on Substack.

Welcome to this episode of the ICU Podcast, where we shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked world of vestibular migraine, a condition that affects more than half of all migraine sufferers at some point yet remains frequently misdiagnosed. Vestibular migraine can cause not only headaches but also vertigo, dizziness, imbalance, and sensory sensitivities—making it a formidable challenge for both patients and clinicians. Today, we’re joined by two remarkable guests: a dedicated volunteer with the World Migraine Summit (taking place March 11 – 18) who brings lived experience and advocacy insight, and Dr. Brian Ward, a neurotologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Together, we’ll explore how lifestyle management, medication, and other targeted therapies can help restore balance and hope to those navigating vestibular migraine. Guest Bios Dr. Bryan Ward is a Neurotologist with Johns Hopkins University who specializes in treating inner ear and skull base disorders that cause dizziness, such as superior canal dehiscence syndrome, Meniere’s disease, and bilateral vestibulopathy. His research interests focus on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and interactions between strong magnetic fields and the inner ear. He also works with Dr. Charles Della Santina on the development of a vestibular implant. Natanya Mandel is a migraine coach, mindfulness facilitator, and passionate patient-advocate whose own journey with frequent migraine attacks and disruptive neurological symptoms inspired her to shift her career and support others living with migraine and chronic pain. Natanya has volunteered with groups like Migraine Canada and the Migraine World Summit, facilitates virtual support groups, and helps people navigate the challenges of chronic migraine with compassion and evidence-informed guidance. Migraine World Summit Natanya’s coaching

In this episode of the ICU Podcast, we explore how yoga can be a powerful, complementary tool for improving balance in people with vestibular disorders. Vestibular conditions disrupt the delicate interplay between the inner ear, vision, and somatosensory systems, often leading to dizziness, instability, and compensatory stiffness. Yoga offers a gentle, embodied pathway to re-train balance by engaging controlled movement, focused breathing, and meditative awareness — all of which can help patients recalibrate their vestibular reflexes, reduce dizziness episodes, and restore coordination and confidence in movement. Speaker Bios Emma Rodgers is a certified yoga teacher, originally from the UK and now based in Melbourne, Australia. Emma's journey began after finding yoga and meditation incredibly beneficial for managing her own symptoms of Vestibular Migraine and PPPD, which led her to train as a teacher. She uses her personal experience to inform her teaching style, making it more accessible through safe, gentle practices. Denise Schneider is a physical therapist who has been practicing in outpatient orthopedics clinics for 23 years. During this time, she has furthered her education to receive a doctorate in physical therapy, a fellowship degree in differential diagnosis and manual therapy, a certificate in vestibular rehabilitation, and a certification in dry needling. She received her 200-hour yoga training certification in 2023. Since then, she has taught various classes and also utilizes this knowledge in her physical therapy practice. Denise is dedicated to providing the utmost patient experience by incorporating evidence-based practice and individualized care to include all aspects of one’s health and well-being. She is a proud ambassador of and contributor to VeDA. Resources Yoga for Balance article on the VeDA website.

In this episode of the ICU Podcast, we’re diving into the concept of pacing—a vital self-management strategy for people living with vestibular disorders. When dizziness, vertigo, brain fog, and fatigue are part of your daily reality, even routine activities can become overwhelming. We’ll explore how pacing helps individuals with vestibular dysfunction conserve energy, manage sensory overload, and create a more predictable rhythm in an often unpredictable life. Pacing isn’t about giving up—it’s about planning ahead, listening to your body, and protecting your vestibular system from being overstimulated. We’re joined by a patient who has learned to pace their days to avoid symptom flare-ups, and a healthcare professional who supports patients in integrating pacing into their treatment and rehabilitation plans. Guests: Tracey Franklin had just started a new job while recovering from a viral flu when she began experiencing fatigue, dizziness, and brain fog. A few months later, she went on sick leave, followed by disability. In 2018, she retired medically from her 30-year career as a publishing professional. Over the next six months, Tracey saw multiple doctors and underwent various tests and was diagnosed with Vestibular Migraine and Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD). Along with ongoing VeDA support groups, vestibular rehab, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medical treatments, she manages these invisible disorders by getting adequate rest and pacing her commitments and activities. She hopes to build a bridge between the vestibular and medical communities, so others are diagnosed sooner. Tracey loves ice cream, writing, the beach, and snow. She lives with her husband of 21 years and their cat. She believes it’s her faith in God that continues to bless her with managing her conditions and having fewer symptomatic days. Steph Fowler is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCPC, CADC). She is also a chronically ill, disabled, and neurodivergent therapist, writer, consultant, and coach who has lived with Long COVID since early 2020. After her health, work, and life were dramatically changed by this condition, she shifted her business and rebranded as Misfit Mental Health. She now focuses on supporting people in the chronic illness, disability, and COVID Conscious communities - as well as their loved ones and care providers. Earlier this year, Steph was featured in TIME Magazine, sharing her personal and professional insights on navigating healthcare and medical gaslighting. When she's not depathologizing non-conformity, she enjoys taking care of her houseplants, building LEGOs, spending time with her partner and their cat Ziggy, and all things macabre. Check out Steph's pacing workshop and other resources here: https://linktr.ee/misfit.mental.health.

In this episode of the ICU Podcast, we’ll discuss how the brain interacts with the body and the specialized type of healthcare provider who studies this interaction. Chiropractic neurology, also known as functional neurology, is a specialty that branches from the traditional chiropractic methods. You might think of a conventional chiropractor as someone who performs manual adjustments on the neck and spine. Chiropractic neurologists aim to optimize neurological functions by leveraging the concept of neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to change and adapt. Chiropractic neurology offers a holistic approach for assessment and therapeutic interventions that may benefit patients with vestibular symptoms. By examining how brain function interacts with other bodily systems, chiropractic neurology can begin to unravel complex health conditions.

In today’s ICU episode, we’re exploring an important and often overlooked topic: how menopause can impact people living with a vestibular disorder. Hormonal changes during menopause can affect the inner ear and brain function, often intensifying symptoms like dizziness, imbalance, brain fog, and migraines. For those already managing a vestibular condition, this transition can bring new challenges — but also new opportunities for understanding and support. In this episode, we’ll dive into the connections between hormonal shifts and vestibular health and offer insights on how to navigate this complex time with greater resilience and hope. Speakers: Lara Bishop: Lara is a mother of twins who was diagnosed with vestibular migraines in 2012, vestibular neuritis in 2013, and PPPD in 2018 — all of which have been profoundly life-changing. Coping with invisible illnesses has been a challenging journey, often difficult for her family and friends to understand fully. In addition to her vestibular disorders, Lara also lives with Anxiety, panic Disorder, depression, as well as some other chronic conditions. Over the years, she has made significant lifestyle changes to help manage her conditions, including participating in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT), adopting a regular routine of daily exercise such as biking and weight training, and making critical dietary adjustments. Lara is passionate about raising awareness of debilitating vestibular conditions, supporting fellow sufferers, and educating both the general public and medical professionals. Despite the many challenges she faces, she maintains a positive outlook on life and is determined to share her optimism and motivation with others. See Lara’s presentation to the British Association of Audiovestibular Physicians on Vestibular Migraine in women - The Hormone Connection here: https://youtu.be/cVsVhtISFB8?si=VSUm2AB4NnIrOATg. Heather Bartos: Dr. Heather Bartos is an OB/GYN, menopause specialist, author, and speaker, recognized as one of the nation’s top five experts in menopause by Oprah Winfrey and Maria Shriver. Her mission is to dismantle the taboos surrounding menopause and sexuality, empowering women through transformative midlife transitions.  Her latest book, Quickies: 100 Little Lessons to Living Sexily Ever After in Midlife, is out to rave reviews. Her diverse background, spanning PR, medicine, and Reiki practitioner, as well as her service in the Navy, underscores her holistic and personalized approach to healthcare. Featured in Shape, Glamour, Refinery29, ABC News, and more, her insights are pivotal in changing the narrative around midlife and menopause. Cosmo magazine celebrates her as a ‘supremely badass gyno,’ highlighting her significant impact on women’s health advocacy. Learn more about Heather Bartos at https://heatherbartosmd.com.

Welcome to the ICU podcast, where we illuminate invisible chronic illnesses and the people who live with them. In this episode, we’re spotlighting Balance Awareness Week, an annual event hosted by the Vestibular Disorders Association each September. This global campaign raises awareness about the impact of vestibular disorders—conditions that affect balance, dizziness, and spatial orientation—and connects patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals through education and advocacy. In this episode, we talk with Paul Morris, VeDA’s Development Director, about how people can get involved in Balance Awareness Week, as well as Christian Chabbert, a French neurophysiologist who engages healthcare professionals across Europe in this event, and is spearheading a global walk for balance. Speaker Bios Paul Morris has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, helping a wide spectrum of organizations raise millions of dollars to support their missions. He has led successful development efforts in direct health services at the state and national levels. He’s also helped raise funds for organizations that work in regional theater, architectural preservation, offering chess to low-income students, and more. For Paul, fund development isn’t just about raising money, but building relationships with people in your community so that they feel heard, valued, and are excited about supporting their shared mission.  Christian Chabbert is a French neurophysiologist and Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research. He is developing research on balance disorders at the Research Center in Psychology and Neurosciences at Aix-Marseille University. Since 2015, Dr. Chabbert has directed GDR Vertige, a national research consortium uniting clinicians, scientists, and industry partners to advance the understanding and treatment of vestibular disorders. His expertise in sensory neuroscience and molecular electrophysiology has contributed to over 90 scientific publications and the founding of two biotech companies—Sensorion Pharmaceuticals and Vertidiag—focused on developing therapies for balance-related conditions. Dr. Chabbert also plays a key role in the European PROVIDE network, promoting translational research and innovation in neuro-otology across Europe.