Yo, This Can’t Be Life - Black Health and Wellness

Bri Montgomery

Yo, This Can’t Be Life is podcast hosted by Bri Montgomery to educate Black women on how to improve their health and wellness. As a chronic illness warrior fighting Lupus, Bri knows far too well that our bodies can have a plan of their own. We break down complicated medical issues into easily digestible pieces that you can share with your friends and loved ones. We discuss all the things your doctor should have told you but didn’t. Natural and holistic approaches to chronic illness and mental health will also be explored. Resident experts will be interviewed to educate and hand out their very own cheat codes to elevating your wellness journey and living your best life. Please subscribe, rate, review, and share with friends. read less
Health & FitnessHealth & Fitness
EducationEducation
Alternative HealthAlternative Health
Self-ImprovementSelf-Improvement
MedicineMedicine

Episodes

What Is Endometriosis with Lauren Kornegay of EndoBlack
Feb 17 2021
What Is Endometriosis with Lauren Kornegay of EndoBlack
This week we sit down with Lauren R. Kornegay, the founder of EndoBlack, a nonprofit organization that advocates for Black women affected by Endometriosis. We discuss: What is EndometriosisHow is Endometriosis diagnosedWhat are the endometriosis symptomsHow is endometriosis treatedWhat causes endometriosis Lauren R. Kornegay was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in Oxon Hill, MD. She graduated from Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD, where she received her B.A. in Speech Communications. While at Morgan State University, she experienced a series of events that led her to a gynecologist in Baltimore, MD. In meeting her new gynecologist, she would be introduced to a disorder that was an unfamiliar disorder at the time —endometriosis. Diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 20, Lauren experienced the pain, struggles, exhaustion, and confusion accompanying the disorder. She felt like there wasn’t anyone that looked like her that had been impacted by endometriosis that she could reach out and connect with. Having previously searched social media, websites, and other avenues, she knew something had to change. Her mother always told her, “If there’s a void, fill it, and if you want something done, do it yourself.”   Instagram @IAMLAURENRENEE Instagram @endo_black   Yo This Can't Be Life Podcast - Instagram @yothiscantbelife Facebook YoThisCantBeLife Twitter @YoThisCantBLife Website www.yothiscantbelife.com Of course, we are available for your listening pleasure on all the major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google. Go ahead and subscribe so you won't miss an episode. Please consider giving us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or sharing your favorite episode on social media.
Choosing Healthier Food Options and Tips To Start Meal Prepping and Meal Planning
Jan 6 2021
Choosing Healthier Food Options and Tips To Start Meal Prepping and Meal Planning
This week we sit down with Katrina Carter, a Certified Personal Trainer, Coach, and Nutritional Chef. After the recession in 2008, Katrina pivoted from real estate into health and wellness after her own successful journey.  We discuss: How to convert recipes into healthier optionsHow to meal plan for the monthHow meal planning can be done on a budgetHow she got celebrity clientsMeal Prepping vs Meal Planning Katrina Carter is an author/ speaker/ nutritional chef/ certified personal trainer and top-notch real estate agent.  In addition to her successful career as a real estate agent, she earned her wellness coaching certification through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and became a professional meal prep chef creating practical holistic meal plans.  Katrina’s client list includes everyday people who just want more out of life and celebrities who want to maintain their luxury lifestyles.   Kevon Looney (GS Warriors) Ivan Rabb (Memphis Grizzlies) Jabari Bird (Boston Celtics) Hardy Nickerson Jr. (Cincinnati Bengals) and Sterling James (Air personality KBLX) are only a few of the satisfied customers of Katrina Carter’s holistic plant-based meal plans.  Katrina travels the country speaking on health and wellness, has been featured on Bravo, and released her book “Time 2 Eat Clean- Meal Prep Simplified” in 2018   For more information, visit www.thinkkatrina.com.   Instagram @thinkkatrina Facebook @thinkkatrina   Yo This Cant Be Life Podcast - Instagram @yothiscantbelife Facebook YoThisCantBeLife Twitter @YoThisCantBLife Website www.yothiscantbelife.com Of course, we are available for your listening pleasure on all the major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google. Go ahead and subscribe so you won't miss an episode. Please consider giving us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or sharing your favorite episode on social media.
Crystals and Chakra Healing to Reduce Pain, Anxiety, and Emotional Trauma
Nov 19 2020
Crystals and Chakra Healing to Reduce Pain, Anxiety, and Emotional Trauma
This week we sit down with Lavene Gass, a Certified Yoga Instructor, Meditation Instructor, and Chakra enthusiast. After a car accident left Lavene with severe back-pain that doctor after doctor didn't address, she found success with yoga and began her wellness journey.  We discuss: What is a ChakraHow are chakras balanced/alignedHow do you know when your chakras are unbalancedHow are crystals used?How she used yoga to eliminate pain and anxiety Lavene Gass is a Media Entrepreneur and Certified yoga instructor. She has a B.A. in Communications from Clark Atlanta University and a MBA from William Paterson University. With a passion for the arts, wellness and just simply feeling good, Lavene has written, directed and produced stage plays and a short film. She also teaches personal and professional development workshops centered around vision boards and conducts themed-based mindful meditation classes focused on astrology, chakra balancing, moon phases and self-love, just to name a few. In her spare time, Lavene also does one-on-one personal and professional development coaching. For more information about her work, visit www.lavenegass.com.    Instagram @lavenegass Instagram @synergybylavene   Yo This Cant Be Life Podcast - Instagram @yothiscantbelife Facebook YoThisCantBeLife Twitter @YoThisCantBLife Website www.yothiscantbelife.com Of course, we are available for your listening pleasure on all the major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google. Go ahead and subscribe so you won't miss an episode. Please consider giving us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or sharing your favorite episode on social media.
Using Food As Medicine To Lower Inflammation With Holistic Nutritionist Stephanie Bernard
Oct 21 2020
Using Food As Medicine To Lower Inflammation With Holistic Nutritionist Stephanie Bernard
This week we sit down with Stephanie Bernanrd,  a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Certified Holistic Nutrition Counselor, non-toxic living consultant and wellness writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. After a Lupus diagnosis in 2010, Stephanie sought out a plant-based and holistic lifestyle to improve her health and quality of life. As a result, she has been med-free and symptom free for 9 years.   How to look for signs of an unhealthy gutWhat food cravings really meanHow to track what you are eating and how that makes you feelFinding your trigger foodsThe importance of identifying vitamin deficiencies You can find Stephanie at Healthy Hair To Toe in Atlanta, GA Instagram @healthyhairtotoe Instagram @the.wholistic.healer   Yo This Cant Be Life Podcast - Instagram @yothiscantbelife Facebook YoThisCantBeLife Twitter @YoThisCantBLife Website www.yothiscantbelife.com Of course, we are available for your listening pleasure on all the major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google. Go ahead and subscribe so you won't miss an episode. Please consider giving us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or sharing your favorite episode on social media. Stephanie founded her platform, Healthy Hair To Toe, to encourage and educate others in their healing health journey. Her holistic nutrition counseling practice, Wholistic Healing Services, specializes in providing holistic nutrition counseling, education and holistic health guidance for various conditions and backgrounds.
Sickle Cell Anemia, Causes, Treatments, And The Roadblocks Patients Face
Sep 30 2020
Sickle Cell Anemia, Causes, Treatments, And The Roadblocks Patients Face
This episode we sit down with Dr. Nina Anderson to discuss :    What is Sickle Cell AnemiaWho gets Sickle Cell Anemia and is it curable?What types of complications do people have? What treatments are available for Sickle Cell DiseaseWhat are some of the roadblocks Black people face in obtaining care The new treatments and clinical trials available to improve care  Resource for more information  https://www.sicklecelldisease.org/  You can find Dr. Nina in Wilmington, DE at Tova Community Health  Instagram @tovacommunityhealth  The Interview of the young woman cured via stem cell transplant https://www.facebook.com/nina.anderson.9041/videos/10157283530986087    Yo This Can't Be Life Podcast - Instagram @yothiscantbelife  Facebook YoThisCantBeLife  Twitter @YoThisCantBLife  https://www.yothiscantbelife.com   Dr. Nina Anderson is an International Speaker, Classically Trained Violinist, Health Educator and owner of Tova Community Health which was named SBA Woman Owned Business of the Year. Dr. Anderson is a nurse practitioner with a doctorate in nursing. Her platform primarily services patients who suffer from Sickle Cell Anemia which primarily affects the African American Community.  Understanding the health disparities in the African American Community, Dr. Anderson wanted to address the most dismissed disease; Sickle Cell Anemia. Understanding the intensity of pain and the over prescribing of pain medicine given to the sickle cell community, Dr. Anderson makes it her mission to also educate and treat her patients on Holistic Medicine and Music Therapy to help with pain management and reduce the over use of opioid prescriptions. Dr. Anderson stays close and connected to her patients, especially during this Covid 19 pandemic through Telemedicine Video calls, FB Tova Tuesday live feed videos, and Direct Q and A messages.   Dr. Anderson also teaches at Delaware State University and has recently,prior to Covid 19, traveled to South Korea educating their country on the health disparities in the African American community and Sickle Cell Anemia in the United States.
Treating Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) At Home, Preventing Kidney Stones, and The Importance of Staying Hydrated
Sep 23 2020
Treating Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) At Home, Preventing Kidney Stones, and The Importance of Staying Hydrated
This episode we sit down with Dr. Fenwa Milhouse a fellowship-trained urologist who specializes in female pelvic medicine to discuss :   The difference between a bladder and a urinary tract infectionHow to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) without antibioticsWhy you need to get a culture done when being tested for a UTIWhen do you need to see a urologistHow to avoid or lower your chances of forming kidney stonesThe importance of staying hydrated You can find Dr. Milhouse in Chicago, IL at Dupage Medical Group  Instagram @drmilhouse   Yo This Can't Be Life Podcast - Instagram @yothiscantbelife Facebook YoThisCantBeLife Twitter @YoThisCantBLife Of course, we are available for your listening pleasure on all the major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google. Go ahead and subscribe so you won't miss an episode. Please consider giving us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or sharing your favorite episode on social media.   Dr. Fenwa Famakinwa Milhouse is a fellowship-trained urologist who specializes in female pelvic medicine and urogenital reconstruction.  She was born in Nigeria. Her family immigrated to the US when she was a toddler after her father was awarded a scholarship to get his Ph.D. in geology.  She grew up in Texas and ended up at the University of Texas at Houston for medical school. After hearing a lecture about urology given by a black woman urologist, she found her calling.  She was determined to become a urologist, even after initially getting discouraging feedback from a few advisors. She was the vice president of the AOA honors society and the SNMA chapter at her medical school.  She was one of the first women of color to match in urology from her medical school. She attended the University of Chicago for urology residency, learning from some of the most innovative academic urologists there.  During her 4th year in residency, she scored the highest of any resident on the urology in-service exam. The most memorable experience she had during residency was traveling to Kigali, Rwanda with IVUmed (an international urology volunteer organization) to perform male urethral reconstructive surgery with urologists there.  After fellowship, she joined Dupage Medical Group (the largest private practice group in Illinois) as the female pelvic floor surgeon. Her practice serves 2 large counties in the Chicago west and south suburbs. She is among the 2% of practicing black urologists nationwide.   She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.  She is on the advisory board of the Dupage Medical Group Charitable Fund. She volunteers for an organization in Chicago that focuses on the enrichment of young black girls.  But she is most passionate about telling young people about urology and mentoring underrepresented minorities pursuing urology.
Let"s Talk About Causes of Infertility, IVF, and Egg Freezing
Sep 9 2020
Let"s Talk About Causes of Infertility, IVF, and Egg Freezing
This week we are discussing about the different causes of infertility and the treatment and optons available. We sit down with Dr. Tiffany Jones, an OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinologist (REI) to discuss:     Options for Single ParentsOptions for Same Sex ParentsOptions for Advanced Maternal Aged WomenPCOS and EndometriosisEgg FreezingIUIIVF You can find Dr. Jones at Conceive Fertility Center in Irving, TX  Instagram @tjonesivfmd   Yo This Cant Be Life Podcast - Instagram @yothiscantbelife Facebook YoThisCantBeLife Twitter @YoThisCantBLife Of course, we are available for your listening pleasure on all the major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google. Go ahead and subscribe so you won't miss an episode. Please consider giving us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or sharing your favorite episode on social media. Tiffanny Jones, MD, specializes in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology at Conceive Fertility Center in Irving, Texas.  Dr. Jones earned her medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, and did her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She has served as a fellow representative on the education committee and a lecturer at the Mayo Clinic.  A California native, Dr. Jones has earned several awards and honors, including Alpha Omega Alpha and the Nurses Choice Award for Resident of the Year. She is also a member of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society, the Society for Reproductive Investigation and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Jones has clinical expertise in all aspects of the diagnosis and management of infertility. She understands the emotional investment of couples undergoing fertility treatment and stands with her patients while striving to give the best care to those seeking fertility treatment.  Dr. Jones is very active in her community and volunteers in several different organizations. She currently resides in Dallas, Texas, and enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. She’s an avid moviegoer and is a wizard in the kitchen, as it is her second love next to the field of infertility.
Obesity In The Black Community: Treating It As A Disease, Removing Bias, and the Link to Increased COVID-19 Mortality
Sep 2 2020
Obesity In The Black Community: Treating It As A Disease, Removing Bias, and the Link to Increased COVID-19 Mortality
This week we sit down with Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, FAAP, FACP, FAHA, FTOS, an Obesity medicine physician, to discuss Obesity in the Black community.  Topics Include: The issue of labeling people with Obesity as well as the shame that it causesThe bias of the very doctors tasked to treat patients with ObesityTreating Obesity as the disease it is and doing more than saying eat less Treatments available for Obesity including surgery and prescription medicineThe high amount of Black women with ObesityThe evidence supporting Obesity leading to a higher chance of mortality in COVID-19 patients Mentioned In this Episode  Facing Overweight And Obesity: In Children And Adults   Dr. Stanford practices and teaches at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)/ Harvard Medical School (HMS) as one of the first fellowship-trained obesity medicine physician in the world. Dr. Stanford received her BS and MPH from Emory University as a MLK Scholar, her MD from the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine as a Stoney Scholar, and her MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government as a Zuckerman Fellow in the Harvard Center for Public Leadership. She completed her Obesity Medicine Nutrition Fellowship at MGH/HMS after completing her internal medicine and pediatrics residency at the University of South Carolina. She has served as a health communications fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and as a behavioral sciences intern at the American Cancer Society. Upon completion of her MPH, she received the Gold Congressional Award, the highest honor that Congress bestows upon America's youth. Dr. Stanford has completed a medicine and media internship at the Discovery Channel. An American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation Leadership Award recipient in 2005, an AMA Paul Ambrose Award for national leadership among resident physicians in 2009, she was selected for the AMA Inspirational Physician Award in 2015. The American College of Physicians (ACP) selected her as the 2013 recipient of the Joseph E. Johnson Leadership Award and the Massachusetts ACP selected her for the Young Leadership Award in 2015. She is the 2017 recipient of the HMS Amos Diversity Award and Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) Award for Women's Health. In 2019, she was selected as the Suffolk District Community Clinician of the Year and for the Reducing Health Disparities Award for MMS. Yo This Cant Be Life Podcast - Instagram @yothiscantbelife Facebook YoThisCantBeLife Twitter @YoThisCantBLife Of course, we are available for your listening pleasure on all the major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google. Go ahead and subscribe so you won't miss an episode. Please consider giving us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or sharing your favorite episode on social media.
Acne, Maskne, Hyperpigmentation, and Sunscreen on Dark Skin with Dr. Tiffany Clay
Aug 27 2020
Acne, Maskne, Hyperpigmentation, and Sunscreen on Dark Skin with Dr. Tiffany Clay
On this episode we dive into best practices for skin care highlighting dark skin tones with Dr. Tiffany Clay.  We talk about products and ingredients to look out for on different types of acne as well as the new phenomenon maskne.  Dr. Clay breaks down hyperpigmentation, how to address it, and ways to prevent it.  We also discuss the importance of sunscreen, the pros and cons of mineral vs. chemical sunscreen, and her suggestion for use. Tiffany L. Clay, MD, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist serving the Atlanta area. She practices medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology with special interests in skin of color, injectable fillers and neuromodulators as well as skin cancer detection and prevention. Dr. Clay loves the diversity of patients and diseases seen in Dermatology. Having dealt with skin issues herself she prides herself on empathizing with patients and forming relationships with them to improve outcomes. Dr. Clay received her bachelor’s degree in Biology at Dillard University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She received her medical doctorate at Meharry Medical College. Dr. Clay completed her dermatology residency at Saint Louis University where she served as chief resident during her senior year. Dr. Clay also prides herself on philanthropy as a volunteer at skin cancer screenings, health fairs, and a community dermatology clinic. Dr. Clay is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology. She is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Women’s Dermatologic Society, Georgia Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Atlanta Association for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery and the National Medical Society.   Find her at Dermatology Affiliates in Atlanta, GA Instagram @dermdrclay Yo This Cant Be Life  Instagram @yothiscantbelife Facebook YoThisCantBeLife Of course, we are available for your listening pleasure on all the major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google. Go ahead and subscribe so you won't miss an episode. Please consider giving us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or sharing your favorite episode on social media.
Setting, Achieving, and Maintaining Wellness Goals
Aug 20 2020
Setting, Achieving, and Maintaining Wellness Goals
On this episode we sit down  with Ohasha Hightower, who is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst to learn how to: Set Realistic Goals Form an Action Plan Maintain the New Behavior Reward Yourself For Your Wins and Stop Beating Yourself Up For Missing the Mark Oascha Hightower M.Ed, is a Board Certified Behavior Analysis and yoga instructor. Oascha obtained her Masters from the University of  Cincinnati in 2016 and passed her boards in 2017. Oascha has spent 6 years in the autism community serving children across the spectrum both as a behavior therapist and a BCBA.  Recently, Oascha has stepped into using behavior analysis and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to talk about mental health and trauma informed care. Her goal is to bring mental health and behavior analysis together to provide behavior coaching to those struggling with mental health issues. Oascha has shared her life after trauma and continues to inspire through yoga and behavior.  When not talking behavior you can catch Oascha on her yoga mat or at home enjoying quality time with her husband and French bull dog.    Find Oascha at www.oaschamonae.com Facebook - Instagram  - Twitter @oaschamonae The Podcast at www.yothiscantbelife.com Facebook - Instagram @yothiscantbelife Please consider subscribing, we are on all the major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. If you enjoy the show please rate or write a review on Apple Podcasts.
Covid-19 Antibodies + Food Intolerance, Sensitivity, and Allergies with Dr. Akilah Jefferson Shah
Aug 13 2020
Covid-19 Antibodies + Food Intolerance, Sensitivity, and Allergies with Dr. Akilah Jefferson Shah
This episode we discuss the data so far about how long Covid-19 Antibodies stay in your system and what that means in terms of a vaccine and the concept of herd immunity. We also discuss the similarities and differences in food intolerance versus a sensitivity versus a full blown food allergy.  We answer questions such as, what are the ways food allergies are diagnosed. What types of blood tests can be given? Are food intolerances forever? Are food sensitivity tests reliable or recommended?  Dr. Shah lets us in on the potential danger in using Benadryl  and how often we can use over the counter anti-histamines.  Akilah A. Jefferson Shah, MD, MSc is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine, Allergy and Immunology Section. Prior to this appointment she was faculty at University of California San Diego and Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego. She completed her allergy and immunology fellowship at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD and residency in internal medicine at The George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC. She received her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine and her BA in Bioethics from Brown University. Dr. Jefferson Shah is also an expert in health policy and bioethics, completing post-graduate training in both fields at Georgetown University and the National Institutes of Health, respectively. In addition to clinical care, her work focuses on the intersections of health care, clinical research, health disparities, health policy, and ethics. Her research is supported by the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute and Arkansas Biosciences Institute. She is from New Orleans, Louisiana. Akilah Jefferson Shah MD - Instagram @akilahjeffersonmd   Yo This Can't Be Life - Instagram @yothiscantbelife     Facebook facebook.com/yothiscantbelife If you like what you hear please consider subscribing,rating, or reviewing the podcast to show your support.  Join our email list at yothiscantbelife.com
Living with PCOS and Being a Health Advocate with Lorna Finn
Jul 16 2020
Living with PCOS and Being a Health Advocate with Lorna Finn
This episode we are learning about PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) from Lorna Finn. PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. She explains how her life was prior to being diagnosed, her lifestyle with the disease, and her journey into becoming a health advocate. Lorna Finn is an influencer, model, blogger, and is the creator of the blog and brand www.cystumofcurves.com. The word “cystum” was derived from the word cyst, a characteristic of PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome); a syndrome that Lorna herself suffers from. PCOS is known to attack the femininity of being a woman, and more importantly, makes it difficult to achieve weight-loss However, instead of letting PCOS get her down, Lorna decided to transform herself and use her syndrome as a platform for inspiration and motivation for others. As an advocate for chronic illness, her overall mission is to encourage everyone to love themselves enough to never quit living for their dreams, no matter the obstacle placed on your path. Her transparency and positive aura continues to keep her viewers motivated to win in life, look great while doing it, and never let the word NO be their final answer to achieving their goals. www.cystumofcurves.com Instagram: @cystumofcurves Facebook: Plus Model Lorna Finn Twitter: @SheGoesByLoLo The podcast Instagram and Facebook: @yothiscantbelife Email bri@yothiscantbelife (dot com) or DM to contact us Please consider rating and/or reviewing on Apple podcasts or sharing with friends as this really helps the show.