Have you ever left a doctor’s appointment feeling more defeated than when you arrived? Perhaps a diagnosis felt like a life sentence, or a well-meaning comment planted a seed of fear that lingered for months. This isn’t just bad bedside manner; it’s a phenomenon I call “medical hexing.” It’s the subtle, and sometimes not-so-subtle, way that language in medical settings can disempower us, shaping our beliefs and even our health outcomes.

Today, we’re diving deep into the power of words in medicine – how they can both heal and profoundly harm. In this episode I give you the down-low on:

• The Concept of Medical Hexing: How negative language and disempowering beliefs, often unintentionally, can act as a "medical hex," influencing our health beyond just our physical symptoms.
• The Nocebo Effect's Reality: This isn't just "woo-woo." The "evil twin" of the placebo effect, has a neurobiological basis, demonstrating how negative expectations can directly impact our physiology.
• Words as Physiological Triggers: The language used by healthcare providers directly impacts our brain and body, triggering stress responses, altering hormone levels, and even influencing our immune systems.
• The Power Imbalance: The traditional doctor-patient power dynamic can amplify the nocebo effect, making us more susceptible to negative suggestions and limiting our ability to advocate for ourselves.
• Reclaiming Your Agency: It's crucial to recognize your own expertise in your body and health, to question negative prognoses, and to seek out providers who foster trust and empowerment.
• The Body's Innate Healing Capacity: We must shift away from a disease-focused model and recognize the body's remarkable ability to heal, a capacity that can be enhanced or diminished by our beliefs.

For a deeper dive into advocating for yourself within the medical system, be sure to read my book, "Hormone Intelligence." It includes a full chapter dedicated to empowering you to get the supportive, respectful healthcare you deserve.

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

Mentioned in this episode:

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

What if friendships were just as vital to our health as sleep, nutrition, and exercise? Research suggests they might be. But in our fast-paced, modern world, nurturing deep and lasting friendships can feel overwhelming.

In this episode, I sit down with journalist and author Anna Goldfarb to explore the evolving landscape of friendship—why it can be so challenging to maintain meaningful connections as we move through different life phases, and what we can do to strengthen the relationships that nourish us the most.

Anna’s book, Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections, gave me so many “aha” moments about why friendships shift, how we can show up for each other in a more intentional way, and how to release the guilt we sometimes feel when friendships change.

Join us as we unpack:

• How relationships have changed over time—why past generations had built-in social structures that kept friendships steady, and how today’s hyper-fluid, fast-paced world has reshaped the way we connect.
• How understanding the difference between “bathtub friends,” “swimming pool friends,” and “memorial friends” can ease the strain in relationships and help us let go of unrealistic expectations.
• Why some friendships fade over time (and why it’s not your fault!) and how to cope with changing relationships.
• The impact of social media on our lives and how having ‘friends’ online can leave us feeling more lonely than not.
• How we can keep connections alive through life changes—from motherhood to career shifts, big moves, and more.
• What to do when a connection feels out of sync—how to know whether to repair it or let it go.

If you’ve ever felt lonely, longed for deeper relationships, or struggled to navigate the shifting nature of connection as life evolves—this conversation is for you.

The way we connect in our modern lives is changing, but meaningful relationships are still the key to a healthy, fulfilling life. Have a listen to learn how to nourish the connections that truly matter.

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

Mentioned in this episode:

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

Have you ever felt torn between dreaming big and staying realistic? Between trusting your instincts and wondering if fear is holding you back? In today’s conversation, we’re diving deep into what it truly means to reclaim your personal sovereignty—the ability to stand fully in your own power, free from self-doubt, external expectations, and the weight of comparison.

My guest today, Dr. Emma Seppälä, is a psychologist, researcher, and bestselling author dedicated to helping people cultivate happiness, resilience, and self-leadership. As a Yale lecturer and the Science Director at Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research, she’s spent years studying what actually helps us thrive—not just succeed.

Together, we explore:

• The social science behind self-doubt and imposter syndrome—and how to break free from it.
• The inner critic: where it comes from, why it keeps us small, and how to find inner quiet.
• The role of meditation and breathwork in rewiring our nervous systems for resilience.
• How comparison culture and social media impact our self-worth—and how to navigate them with sovereignty.
• Why we need to redefine success and self-worth in a world that constantly tells us who we should be.
• Daily practices to help you stay rooted in self-trust, confidence, and joy.

This conversation is full of powerful takeaways, practical tools, and a deeply personal look into how we all wrestle with self-doubt—even those of us who have spent decades doing this work. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re enough, struggled with self-judgment, or wanted to free yourself from limiting beliefs, this episode is for you.

If this episode resonates with you, share it with a friend who might need a reminder of their own power. And if you love it, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps other women find this show!

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements

Mentioned in this episode:

Looking for supplements for yourself and your family, including some of those I talk about in episodes? You can find those - and your 15% discount on every order here: avivaromm.com/supplements