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In this episode of FEM MD, host Dr. Lauren Umstattd engages in a candid conversation with Dylan Cade Bates, a seasoned law enforcement professional and mental health advocate. They explore the unique challenges faced by women in law enforcement and the importance of mental health for first responders. The discussion highlights the need for support systems and the significance of addressing mental health issues in high-stress professions. Dylan Cade Bates is a seasoned law enforcement professional, mental health advocate, and founder of Blonde in Blue—a nationwide peer support network dedicated to first responders and their families. With nearly a decade of experience in patrol, investigations, crisis negotiation, critical incident response, and peer support, Dylan brings both professional expertise and lived experience to supporting those serving on the front lines. Certified in Hostage and Crisis Intervention, Trauma-Informed Care, and Peer Support Facilitation, Dylan is also a counselor-in-training. Together with her husband, Po‘okela “Kela” Bates, they lead a movement to break the stigma around mental health in public safety. Blonde in Blue connects first responders and loved ones for real conversations, community support, and resilience tools. Recognizing the challenges these careers pose at home and on duty, Dylan champions honest dialogue and nationwide connection so no responder or family ever feels alone. Dylan’s dedication to peer support has extended into weekly confidential support groups and content creation across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Patreon, making resources and advocacy accessible across platforms. Known for authenticity and compassion, Dylan’s story shows that your scars are proof you survived, and healing happens best when we stand together. Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md Guest: Dylan Cade Bates Connect with Dylan & Blonde In Blue: ● Website: patreon.com/BlondeinBlue ● Instagram: @blondeinbluenetwork ● TikTok: @blondeinblue72 ● Facebook: Blonde in Blue ● Podcast: badgesandbreakthroughs.com ● All podcast episodes can be found on Youtube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts Presented by: @HippocraticCollective

In this episode of Fem MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd speaks with Dr. Stephanie Pearson, an OB-GYN whose surgical career ended after a work-related shoulder injury sustained while delivering a baby. What should have been a routine delivery resulted in permanent damage, ultimately preventing her from returning to operative or obstetric practice. Dr. Pearson shares the difficult aftermath of her injury, including being dismissed by early providers, navigating frozen shoulder and nerve damage, and losing her job when she could no longer meet the “100% of job duties” requirement in her contract. Despite FMLA protections, she was terminated when her leave ended—highlighting the legal and contractual vulnerabilities physicians often overlook. The conversation explores the hidden gaps in disability insurance, the challenges of workers’ compensation, and the emotional toll of losing one’s identity as a physician. Dr. Pearson also reflects on rebuilding her sense of self and purpose after medicine, and how her experience led her to found PearsonRavitz to educate physicians on disability and career protection. Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md Guest: Stephanie Pearson, MD Connect with Stephanie: @drstephaniepearson https://pearsonravitz.com/ Presented by: @HippocraticCollective

In this episode of Fem MD, host Dr. Lauren Umstattd sits down with Brooke Martin—Emmy Award–winning news anchor turned author—to discuss her powerful memoir, Controlled Burn. Brooke opens up about her journey of faith, resilience, and love in the face of unimaginable loss after her daughter, Emma, was diagnosed with a fatal condition. Together, they explore the inspiration behind the book, the emotional challenges of writing through grief, and the lasting impact loss can have on relationships. Brooke also reflects on the power of storytelling and how sharing her story has become a source of hope, connection, and healing for others walking similar paths. Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md Guest: Brooke Martin Connect with Brooke: @brookemartin.tv https://morewithbrookemartin.com/ Controlled Burn: https://store.dexteritybooks.com/products/controlled-burn-rising-from-the-ashes-to-forge-an-unshakable-faith Presented by: @HippocraticCollective

In this episode of Fem MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd interviews author Audrey Bellezza, who shares how, at age 50—healthy, active, and a mom of two boys—she was blindsided by a diagnosis of stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer. Audrey recounts the shock, the agonizing period of unknowns, and how biomarker testing revealed a mutation-driven cancer. She explains her targeted therapy treatment, its difficult side effects, and how seeking specialists at Johns Hopkins introduced her to the possibility of a groundbreaking vaccine now in early clinical trials. Alongside her advocacy, Audrey has authored a Jane Austen trilogy and most recently released Anne of Avenue A, blending her love of literature with her mission to inspire hope. Audrey also founded Love4Lungs, a nonprofit dedicated to funding research, supporting patients, and raising awareness that lung cancer can affect anyone, regardless of age or lifestyle. She leaves listeners with a quote from her latest novel that now guides her life: “Don’t delay what brings you joy.” Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md Guest: Audrey Bellezza Connect with Audrey: @audreybellezzawrites Love4Lungs: https://www.love4lungs.org/ Anne of Avenue A: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Anne-of-Avenue-A/Audrey-Bellezza/For-the-Love-of-Austen/9781668097656 Presented by:  @HippocraticCollective 

In this episode of Fem MD, Lauren sits down with Emmy-nominated producer Chelsea White — known for her work on Watch What Happens Live and The Drew Barrymore Show — for an honest, layered conversation about identity, neurodiversity, and the freedom that comes from embracing every part of who you are. Chelsea was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at just three years old, a moment that shaped how she understood herself long before she had language for it. Growing up with Tourette’s and OCD meant navigating stigma, misunderstanding, and the pressure to hide the parts of herself that didn’t fit neatly into others’ expectations. Together, Lauren and Chelsea talk about: • What early diagnosis actually felt like from the inside • The misconceptions about Tourette’s and OCD that still persist • How Chelsea found her voice in the entertainment industry • Why mentorship matters — especially for young women • The moment she stopped trying to “pass as normal” • How embracing your quirks can become your superpower, not your liability This is a conversation about resilience, authenticity, and choosing to show up as your full self even in rooms that weren’t built with you in mind. Chelsea’s story is a reminder that your differences are not something to hide — they’re the very things that set you free. Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md Guest: Chelsea White Connect with Chelsea: @thechelseawhite https://thechelseawhite.com/ Presented by:  @HippocraticCollective 

In this raw and unfiltered episode of Fem, MD, facial plastic surgeon Dr. Melyssa Hancock opens up about her 12-round, 3-year IVF journey—one that spanned multiple clinics, a cross-country move of frozen embryos, a complicated surrogacy process, canceled transfers, and more than $250,000 in out-of-pocket costs. We talk about: Fertility preservation as a surgical traineeWhy she switched IVF clinics after two failed transfersWhat it’s actually like to do daily injections, hormone surges, and constant ultrasounds while running a busy private practiceHow IVF reshaped her marriage, her sense of identity, and her mental healthThe moment she saw the faintest line on a pregnancy test after years of negativesHow hyperbaric oxygen therapy and NAD ended up part of her “Hail Mary” cycleNearly pursuing surrogacy — and why she ultimately carried her daughterThe emotional, physical, and financial toll on female physicians navigating fertilityWhy we need to talk about infertility in medicine loudly and without shame Dr. Hancock also shares the birth story of her daughter, Olivia, and why the struggle made motherhood even more profound. This is one of the most intimate, vulnerable conversations we’ve had on Fem, MD — and a must-listen for anyone in medicine who’s ever wondered when (and whether) their personal life will catch up to their professional one. Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md Guest: Melyssa Hancock, MD Connect with Melyssa: @drmelyssahancock https://drmelyssahancock.com/ Presented by:  @HippocraticCollective ​

In this episode of Fem, MD, Lindsey White—professional fit model, jewelry designer, and mother—joins to explore how fashion, identity, and creativity collide. Through years of working within an industry obsessed with measurement and perfection, Lindsey learned the tension between being the “ideal” body and living in a body that evolves. She opens up about the quiet discipline behind fit modeling, the emotional toll of maintaining sameness, and the moment she began to question who she was really working to please. As motherhood transformed her perspective, Lindsey turned to jewelry design as a new form of expression—one rooted in authenticity rather than approval. This conversation traces her journey from compliance to creativity, unpacking how we learn to define beauty, success, and worth in our own terms. It’s a thoughtful look at how self-acceptance takes shape when we stop trying to fit and start learning to create. Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md Guest: Lindsey White Connect with Lindsey: @lmw_studio https://www.lmwhitestudio.com/ Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

When a freak accident ended her performing career, Lala Ziemski turned pain into purpose—pivoting from the stage to the kitchen, and eventually building The Firefly, a boutique hotel and restaurant in Panama. Now a private chef in New York City and host of the podcast Put It In My Mouth, Lala joins Dr. Lauren Umstattd for an open conversation about resilience, creativity, and redefining success. They discuss how hospitality principles can transform any business (even medicine), finding alignment after chaos, and why balance—not perfection—is the ultimate luxury. Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md Guest: Lala Ziemski Connect with Lala: @ohheylala & @thefireflybocasdeltoro  Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective 0:00 – Meet Lala Ziemski: performer turned chef, hotelier, and podcast host 1:00 – From the Mickey Mouse Club dreams to musical theater life 2:40 – The freak accident that changed everything 4:00 – Learning to start over: from injury to imposter syndrome 5:00 – The restaurant that sparked a new passion 7:00 – Building a hotel and restaurant in Panama 8:30 – The grit it takes to open your own business 9:30 – Lessons in resilience and the power of saying “yes” before you’re ready 10:50 – How simplicity became her food philosophy 11:40 – Working for yourself and learning to let go 14:00 – Moving to NYC and reinventing again during the pandemic 17:00 – Finding alignment and creating her own rhythm 18:10 – The importance of autonomy and mental health 19:25 – How Unreasonable Hospitality changed her approach to service 22:00 – Making guests feel seen: small gestures that matter 23:40 – Inside her podcast Put It In My Mouth — Bourdain meets Sex and the City 24:45 – Food, pleasure, and rejecting diet culture 26:30 – Turning setbacks into creative control 29:00 – Building a show that finally clicked 30:00 – Which Sex and the City character is she most like? 31:00 – Dating in New York at 47 — and loving her independence 33:00 – What makes a perfect first date (and why it’s about thoughtfulness) 35:30 – On self-trust, journaling, and slowing down 38:30 – Flipping the script: Lala interviews Dr. Lauren on facelifts & filler 46:45 – The deep-plane facelift debate explained 49:40 – Medical tourism, brow lifts & the “Forever 35 Face” 54:00 – Why the neck is the ultimate giveaway 56:00 – Wrapping up with travel, food, and the art of balance 58:30 – Final reflections and where to find Lala online

Dr. Lily Nguyen’s path to medicine didn’t begin in a classroom - it began at the bedside. After five years as a nurse, she made the rare leap from nursing to medical school and is now completing her residency in radiology. In this episode of Fem MD, Dr. Nguyen reflects on how her nursing background shaped her clinical intuition, her empathy, and her definition of “success.” We talk about identity shifts, impostor feelings, and the quiet power of taking the long way around. Dr. Nguyen shares how she learned to stop comparing timelines and start honoring her own, proving that purpose doesn’t expire and that every detour brings you closer to where you’re meant to be. Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md Guest: Dr. Lily Nguyen Connect with Lily: @nursemdlily Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

What does it take to survive — and actually thrive — as a surgeon when the system keeps asking you to show up like a machine? In this episode of Fem MD, host Dr. Lauren Umstattd talks with Dr. Mel Thacker — double-boarded ENT, lifestyle medicine specialist, and surgeon-coach — about the “dark surgeon psyche,” the ways training teaches us to disconnect from our bodies and feelings, and how to come back to being a whole person. Mel pulls back the curtain on perfectionism, trauma responses in training, and the dopamine-seeking habits that help us numb out. Whether you’re in the OR, the clinic, or parenting after a 24-hour call, this episode offers humane, practical steps to feel less alone and more like yourself again. Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md Guest: Dr. Mel Thacker Connect with Mel: https://www.melthackercoaching.com/ Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

What does it really take to be happy? In this episode of Fem, MD, host Lauren talks with happiness coach Dannie De Novo, who shares her powerful journey from years of depression and anxiety to building a life rooted in true joy. Dannie opens up about breaking free from destructive cycles, challenging the idea that happiness is out of reach, and finding the courage to face yourself honestly. Together, they dive into the limits of relying solely on medication, the role of nutrition and mindfulness, and why rewiring your patterns of thought is key to lasting change. You’ll walk away with both inspiration and practical tools—from cultivating gratitude to practicing emotional honesty—that can help you create your own path to well-being. This isn’t about chasing happiness. It’s about building it. Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md Guest: Dannie De Novo Connect with Dannie: https://www.danniedenovo.com/ Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

What if the secret to a long, fulfilling medical career isn’t doing more—but doing less? This week on Fem MD, host Lauren sits down with Dr. Joan Chan, a Canadian family physician, coach, mom, and host of The Other Human in the Room. Joan shares her radical approach to working under maximum capacity, teaching physicians how to reclaim space, set boundaries, and prioritize joy without sacrificing patient care. Together they explore why honoring your limits can actually make you a better doctor, how to recognize the signs that you’re over capacity, and what it looks like to say no without guilt. Joan explains the value of creative days, rest, and small acts of humanity—like a midday nap or playing her ukulele—as well as how technology like AI scribes is reshaping charting and giving time back to clinicians. Her calm, grounded energy offers a refreshing antidote to hustle culture and a reminder that we are all human first, doctors second. Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md Guest: Joan Chan, MD Connect with Joan: https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/joan-chan-md And listen to her podcast, The Other Human in the Room Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

In this powerful episode of Fem MD, host Lauren Umstattd sits down with Alex Owens to share the raw, unfiltered reality of life after a breast cancer diagnosis. Alex speaks candidly about the unique grief of losing parts of oneself—physically and emotionally—captured in her poignant words: “You’re grieving your old self, you’re grieving your breasts.” Through intimate storytelling, Alex and Lauren explore the fears, losses, and identity shifts that come with serious illness. They discuss the tension between maintaining a professional facade and navigating personal pain, the societal pressures to hide vulnerability, and the transformative role of community and connection. This is not just a story about cancer—it’s about identity, womanhood, and the resilience that emerges in the face of life-altering change. Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md Guest: Alex Owens Connect with Alex: @alexowenskc Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective

In this episode of Fem MD, we explore the uncomfortable truth: love alone doesn’t make a marriage last. Dr. Lauren Umstattd opens up about the realities of partnership, drawing from her own experiences to unpack the deeper ingredients that sustain a strong marriage—kindness, respect, communication, and growth. It's a candid conversation about what happens after the honeymoon phase ends, how couples evolve through challenges, and why being intentional in your relationship matters more than romantic ideals. Whether you're married, thinking about it, or questioning what a healthy relationship looks like, this episode offers a thoughtful, grounded perspective on building a life together.

In this powerful episode of FEM MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd sits down with Dr. Frances Mei Hardin for an unflinching conversation about the darker realities of surgical training. Frances Mei shares her personal experience navigating a medical culture where bullying, abuse, and emotional isolation are often normalized—and where “resilience” is too often code for silent suffering. Together, they unpack the structural issues baked into the hierarchy of medicine and what it means to walk away—not as a failure, but as an act of reclaiming agency. This episode explores what happens when your identity is bound to your profession, and what’s possible when you begin to untangle that narrative. It’s a must-listen for anyone who’s ever questioned the cost of staying silent in a broken system. Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd Connect with Dr. Frances Mei Hardin IG: @francesmei.md Website: https://hippocratic-collective.com Presented by: The Hippocratic Collective