Advice to My Younger Self | SELF

Growing up, Stephanie Germino was aware that her family had a history of carrying the BRCA gene mutation, even though it wasn’t openly discussed in her household. Her mother and her aunt had preventative double mastectomies and opted for implants; her maternal grandmother had breast cancer twice. At the time, the potential consequences of testing positive for the BRCA mutation seemed pretty manage...

“I really wasn’t speaking a lot about my personal life in my younger years,” Raven-Symoné told Jessica Cruel, editor in chief of Allure and host of the Perspectives podcast. But that’s changing now. Raven details the different pressures she endured as a young woman in the entertainment industry, from close scrutiny of the food she ate to the explicit expectation that she’d conform to a hyper-femin...

Dr. Lisa Cassileth is a breast surgeon in Beverly Hills, which, according to her, means encountering “so many bad boob jobs.” But repairing someone else’s questionable handiwork happens to be one of Dr. Cassileth’s specialties, along with innovative reconstructions and other thoughtful surgical developments that prioritize positive patient outcomes and well-being. Dr. Cassileth was the first femal...

Ericka Hart is in the next phase of her lifelong sex education. Starting as a curious and resourceful teenager, looking for answers to supplement her abstinence-only sex-ed class, Hart built on her knowledge when she was diagnosed, at 28, with breast cancer. Until her diagnosis, Hart had never really thought about her breasts. “They really felt like they were in service to other people,” she says....

You can’t talk about breasts without talking about bras. So Jessica Cruel, Allure’s editor in chief, went to the source: Dr. Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Dr. Steele is a pioneer in the field of fashion studies and that the clothes we wear–and what we wear underneath them–merit serious attention. She’s also the aut...

Actor Olivia Munn is no stranger to the spotlight, but in recent years, after the birth of her first child and a breast cancer diagnosis, things have looked a little different for her—a reality Munn is bravely leaning into. “When I get asked about any part of my health journey,” Munn tells Allure’s editor in chief Jessica Cruel, “it feels like I have purpose now.”  Munn walks Cruel through th...

Abbott Elementary actress and SELF cover star Sheryl Lee Ralph gives advice to her younger self at key moments in her life: when she was a young woman, during the early days of the AIDS crisis, when she became a mom, the day before she won her Emmy, and when she was about to turn 40.  Read SELF’s March cover profile of Sheryl Get the episode transcript here This podcast was produced by Hayley Fage...

In our inaugural episode, soccer star Ali Krieger gives advice to her younger self at four key moments: as a kid, when she was coming out, when she didn’t make the women’s national team, and when she became a mom.  Read SELF’s January cover profile of Ali Get the episode transcript here This podcast was produced by Hayley Fager and Rachel Miller, and edited by Hayley Fager. Peyton Hayes is our aud...

In this bonus episode, Dr. Mariel Buquè is back, sitting down with Zahra to talk about how to stay more relaxed throughout our workdays. Dr. Buquè talks about why reducing stress can be such a challenge, offering tips and techniques for staying grounded. She then takes us through a guided mindfulness exercise. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In this bonus episode, we’re continuing our coverage of the COVID-19 vaccines. We revisit a panel that Zahra hosted with David Kaufman, digital director at Architectural Digest, about myths and myth-busting around the vaccines and Black and Latinx communities. Along with experts Dr. Leon McDougle, Dr. Gbenga Ogedegbe, and registered nurse Sandra Lindsay, they discuss how to address inequitable vac...

In our last episode of the season, we hear from Victoria, an archivist who was forced to find answers on her own about her endometriosis. Like many others diagnosed with a chronic illness, she’s faced multiple hurdles while navigating the medical system. Even though she’s learned a lot along the way, she wants to know how to continue to advocate for herself to her doctor—and how she can advocate f...

In this episode of Checking In, we hear from Loree, who is unsure about how to navigate dating right now. Online dating could be difficult even before the pandemic. Now, trust is even trickier to establish when it comes to things like vaccination status, caution levels, and boundaries. Not to mention how daunting dating again can be after so much social isolation. To help Loree figure it all out,...

In this episode of Checking In, we hear from Jenna, a listener who has a question many of us feel deep down during this time: How can we help ourselves feel better when the world is basically a dumpster fire? Sometimes, adding even just one more thing to your to-do list feels insurmountable. Zahra consults Mariel Buqué, Ph. D., a licensed psychologist and holistic mental health expert based in NYC...

In this episode we hear from Stasia, a pregnant Black woman who wants to know how to prepare for birth and how to advocate for herself along the way. Zahra chats with Kameelah Phillips, M.D., an ob-gyn and women’s health advocate based in NYC. One of her core interests is health care disparities—and how to help prevent them. Zahra also consults with Latham Thomas, a doula and the founder of Mama G...

In this episode we hear from Nan, a young woman who is trying to figure out if meditation is right for her. Zahra consults with SELF’s health editor, Carolyn Todd, who has reported extensively on what meditation can and can’t do for your health. Then Zahra speaks with a mindfulness meditation teacher, Kriste Peoples, who walks us through what starting a meditation practice can look like and talks...

Welcome to Season 2 of Checking In with our new host, Zahra Barnes, SELF’s interim editor in chief. In this episode, we hear from several listeners with common questions and concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines. Questions like: Where can I get vaccinated? Should I get the vaccine if I have underlying health conditions? What if I’m breastfeeding? How do I manage my anxiety about getting vaccinated?...

While we are getting things ready for Season 2 of Checking In, we wanted to share a bonus episode with you from our friends at The Savvy Psychologist ! Dr. Jade Wu takes the science of psychology and makes it both entertaining and relatable – we're excited to be bringing you one of our favorites from their show for our Checking In audience. Some people who continuously care for others burn out and...

In this episode of Checking In, we hear from Traci, a listener who has recently given birth and is struggling to rekindle intimacy with her husband. She wants to know: Is this normal? Carolyn shares some of her own postpartum experiences and reassures Traci that she’s far from alone. Carolyn then speaks with journalist Angela Garbes, as well as therapist and sex educater Dr. Lexx-Brown James, to l...

In this episode of Checking In, we hear from Sophie, a listener who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She cares deeply about her career and is worried that her colleagues will make assumptions about her capabilities in light of this diagnosis. She wants to know: How much should she disclose to them? Carolyn consults with Lauren Selfridge, a psychotherapist who lives with multiple scl...

In this episode of Checking In, we hear from Sara, a listener who has struggled with an eating disorder for over a decade. She wants to know what recovery looks like, and she also notes that as a Black woman, she feels that eating disorders are seen as taboo in her community. Carolyn talks to psychiatrist Dr. Erikka Dzirasa about how racial bias can create significant barriers to treatment for BIP...

In this episode of Checking In, we hear from Monica, a listener who says she knows she should develop a fitness and exercise routine—but she just can't find the motivation to get started. First, Carolyn consults with Amy Eisinger, SELF’s digital director (and a certified trainer). Amy shares useful tips about how to turn exercise into a lifelong habit (for real this time). Amy then speaks with Roz...

In this episode of Checking In, we hear from Robert, a listener whose doctor has told him that he should lose weight in order to bring down his high blood pressure. Robert’s loved ones also frequently make hurtful comments about his body size. He wants to know: Is weight loss the best or only option for him? To find out, Carolyn consults with Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones, registered dietitians, S...

In this episode of Checking In, we hear from Elise, a listener who is taking a 90-day hiatus from drinking after realizing that her relationship with alcohol isn’t always healthy. She wants to know what happens next: Is complete sobriety the best or only option? Carolyn consults author and thought leader Glennon Doyle, who shares her personal experiences with addiction and sobriety, as well as adv...

On this week's episode of Checking In, we hear from Deanne, a listener who lost her husband of 30 years to leukemia. Deanne's question is about moving past her grief and finding ways to not feel lonely—an especially challenging task given the current pandemic. Carolyn speaks with Dr. Katherine Shear, an internist, psychiatrist, and grief expert, plus Nora McInerny, a writer whose career includes t...

On this week's episode,  Queer Eye  star Jonathan Van Ness and sex therapist Casey Tanner, MA, LCPC give some truly servicey advice about how to have sex and start dating when you're newly out as queer. We cover a wide range of topics in this fun, thoughtful, and emotionally moving show, from lube to consent; safety to self-compassion. Here's to finding your person—and having a lot of (safe, conse...