Facing Inward: The Podcast

When Venus Gines was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, she was stunned. The women she saw in breast cancer awareness campaigns were white, and she had never imagined that someone like her could face the same diagnosis. More than three decades later, Venus has transformed her personal experience into a lifelong mission to improve healthcare access, education, and advocacy for Latina women. In t...

What happens when your body knows something is wrong—but no one believes you? Breast cancer survivor and advocate Megan-Claire Chase shares her extraordinary journey from years of unexplained symptoms to becoming a voice for patients navigating healthcare, bias, and self-advocacy. 🌐 https://warriormegsie.com 🗣️ See  Megan-Claire's Speech at the 2026 ASCO Voices ( https://bit.ly/4fdY1Uu ) 🎧 Subsc...

In this episode of Facing Inward , Melissa sits down with Dr. John Lipman , a pioneer in uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), to discuss one of the most common—and misunderstood—conditions affecting women. They explore the many ways fibroids can impact the body beyond heavy menstrual bleeding, why symptoms are so often dismissed or misdiagnosed, and how millions of women may be living with unnecess...

Author and Patient Advocate Ilana Jacqueline joins Facing Inward to break down medical gaslighting—why it happens and how patients can advocate for themselves. A must-listen for anyone who's ever felt dismissed in the exam room. 🎧 Subscribe to hear real patient stories and healthcare conversations that matter. 📘 Want to go deeper? Ilana's Book M edical Gaslighting and Melissa's memoir  Facing In...

In this episode of Facing Inward , host Melissa Carter speaks with Bryon Daily , National Community Outreach Manager at Blood Cancer United and a multiple myeloma survivor, about what it means to face a life-altering diagnosis with courage, curiosity, and community. Bryon shares how subtle changes in his lab work—and an attentive primary care physician—led to an early diagnosis, and walks listener...

Aurea McGarry was told she'd never speak again. In this candid episode, she shares her incredible journey through cancer, chemo, and recovery with host Melissa Carter. Together they explore what happens when patients are ignored, how to rebuild after devastation, and the strength we don't know we have—until we need it.   🩺 Lifeline Screening – Click 👉 Here for affordable preventive Health Screen...

Radio icon Kaedy Kiely has spent decades connecting with Atlanta listeners — but nothing prepared her for the moment she found a lump in the shower and heard the words, "It's cancer." In this candid conversation, Katie shares her unexpected breast cancer diagnosis, the shock and humor that carried her through treatment, and the strength she found in faith, community, and even a wig she lovingly na...

Parenting comes with countless unknowns — but for Patrick Powell, father of two medically fragile daughters, those unknowns are magnified by the absence of a clear diagnosis. In this candid conversation, Patrick shares the joys and challenges of raising children with special needs, the strain and resilience it brings to family life, and how moments of compassion — from Disney's Make-A-Wish trip to...

In this powerful episode of Facing Inward , Melissa Carter speaks with Dr. John A. King—author, poet, TEDx speaker, and trauma recovery advocate—about his journey from childhood abuse to becoming a leader in resilience and identity restoration.  Together, they discuss the high-profile cases of Jeffrey Epstein, Peter Nygard, and Sean "Diddy" Combs—not to sensationalize them, but to spotlight the of...

In this premiere episode of  Facing Inward , host Melissa Carter shares her personal journey through chronic illness, identity, and transformation. Diagnosed at a young age and later undergoing a life-saving kidney transplant, Melissa reflects on the challenges, insights, and resilience that shaped both her health journey and her purpose as a storyteller. This self-interview explores the inspirati...