Soma Says

Guest: Ashlyn Lelej, MS, CCC-SLP | Founder, Speech Matters Clinic Host: Dr. Soma Mandal, MD Website: speechmattersclinic.com | Instagram: @speechmattersclinic EPISODE DESCRIPTION What happens when the healthcare system decides your child's feeding struggles aren't serious enough — or that the therapy your doctor recommended isn't covered? And what does it cost a woman to spend decades not knowing...

In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with award-winning producer, video confidence coach, and midlife advocate Rosie Faulkner for an honest conversation about confidence, identity, aging, and rediscovering yourself during perimenopause and beyond. Rosie shares her personal experience navigating midlife changes — including weight gain, depression, shifting identity, and the emoti...

In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Dr. Loretta Friedman — a Directional Non-Force Technique® chiropractor, integrative clinical nutritionist, and founder of Synergy Health Associates — to explore what happens when patients don’t feel well… even when everything looks “normal” on paper. With over 25 years of clinical experience, Dr. Friedman brings a unique perspective shap...

In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Dr. Namratha “Nammi” Kandula — Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University and a leading investigator in the MASALA Study — to unpack a critical and often overlooked topic: cardiovascular risk in South Asian populations, especially women. Drawing from her clinical training at Bellevue and public health work i...

In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma sits down with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Hisham Seify of Newport Beach for a thoughtful conversation about how aesthetic medicine has evolved — and how it increasingly overlaps with integrative health, longevity, and midlife wellness. Over the past two decades, aesthetic goals have shifted dramatically. The focus is no longer “bigger” or dramaticall...

In this intimate solo episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma explores a quiet but powerful experience many women face in midlife: the growing sense that the professional identity that once fit no longer feels aligned. Rather than framing this discomfort as burnout, failure, or ingratitude, Dr. Soma reframes it as information—a signal of growth, clarity, and evolving values. Drawing from her clinical exper...

In this insightful episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Kristen Blake, a functional nutritionist and women’s wellness coach dedicated to helping women heal from the inside out. Kristen shares the personal health struggles that led her to build Kristen Blake Wellness, and walks listeners through her root-cause approach—a method that integrates personalized nutrition, targeted lifest...

In this illuminating episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal is joined by Karen Curry Parker, founder of Quantum Human Design™, bestselling author, and pioneer in the field of energy psychology. Together, they explore how Quantum Human Design can help women decode their soul’s blueprint—providing unprecedented clarity, direction, and self-understanding, especially during midlife transitions. Karen b...

In this empowering episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal is joined by Maryellen Reider, co-founder of Yarlap, an FDA-cleared pelvic floor strengthening device designed to help women regain confidence, control, and comfort in their daily lives. Together, they dive deep into the often-ignored world of pelvic floor health, breaking through stigma and silence surrounding urinary incontinence—an issue...

In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal is joined by Sue Choi, founder of The Coherent Body, a somatic awareness and nervous system healing practice that helps women rebuild resilience, presence, and inner stability. Sue shares her powerful personal journey—from living with chronic depression to discovering the healing potential of yoga, martial arts, and mindfulness-based somatic work. She...

In this powerful episode of Soma Says, host Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Michelle Smith, LPC, LMHC, LCMHC, a trauma-informed psychotherapist who helps women move from survival mode to self-trust. Michelle shares her personal journey into psychotherapy and unpacks the deep connection between the brain, body, and emotional healing. Together, they explore what it truly means to heal from the inside...

In this powerful episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal shares exciting news about her new role as Medical Director of Women’s Health at Hackensack Meridian Health. She’s then joined by special guest Krishna Avalon, a subconscious reprogramming expert who blends acupuncture, somatic healing, and subconscious therapy to help clients move through emotional blocks and accelerate healing. Together, the...

In this episode of Soma Says, host Dr. Soma Mandal, newly appointed Medical Director of Women’s Health at Hackensack Meridian Health, shares exciting updates about her new role at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and the mission to advance comprehensive, compassionate women’s care. Joining Dr. Soma is Dr. Robert Kane, CEO of Kane Thermal Imaging, for a fascinating look into how thermal imagi...

In this inspiring episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal welcomes Lisa Axelrad Schultz, founder of The Verdura Method, to discuss how women can break free from the trillion-dollar insecurity industry and reconnect with their innate vitality. Lisa shares her fascinating journey from the beauty and wellness industries to creating the Verdura Method, a transformative approach that empowers women to em...

In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Beatty Carmichael, creator of The Prayer of Freedom, a transformative spiritual practice designed to help people release fear, stress, and emotional pain. With a background in business and a family rooted in medicine, Beatty has devoted his life to helping others experience mental, emotional, and spiritual healing through the power of fa...

In this episode of Soma Says, host Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Claire Snowdon-Darling, founder of The College of Functional Wellness, to unpack the truth about women’s health and hormone balance. Claire shares her personal journey from health struggles to becoming one of the UK’s leading voices in menopause care. Together, they explore the root causes of hormonal imbalance—the adrenals, blood s...

In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma sits down with Dr. Krystal Couture, DPT, LAc., a holistic physical therapist and acupuncturist, to shine light on an often-overlooked topic: pelvic floor health. Krystal explains what pelvic floor dysfunction really is, the common symptoms women (and men) experience, and the surprising emotional and physical causes behind it. Together, they explore how holist...

In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma sits down with Carolyn Zaumeyer, founder of LowTE Florida and a nationally recognized Nurse Practitioner who has spent over 20 years transforming lives through bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). Carolyn shares her personal journey into hormone therapy and the patient-first philosophy that defines her practice. Together, they unpack common hormon...

Welcome to Season Three of Soma Says! In this powerful episode, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Briana Bass, founder of The Wellness Institute in Dallas and board-certified clinical sexologist, to explore how midlife can become a masterclass in health, connection, and self-discovery. Brianna shares her journey from corporate burnout to mental health advocate, offering evidence-based, practical stra...

Episode Description: In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal takes an in-depth look at the significant yet under-recognized threat of heart disease in South Asian women. She explains the genetic predispositions, metabolic risk factors, and cultural influences that make this demographic particularly vulnerable. Along with uncovering why symptoms are often dismissed, Dr. Soma shares actionable...

In this powerful episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma sits down with Stormy Quinn, author of The Menopause Decoder: The Ultimate Men’s Guide to Understanding and Supporting His Partner Through Change. Through a raw and personal journey, Stormy shares her struggles, revelations, and the passion that led her to write a book that supports both women and their partners during perimenopause and menopause. To...

In this inspiring episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma welcomes Dr. Tonie Reincke—a board-certified vascular and interventional radiologist and the founder of Reincke Vein Center in Sugar Land, Texas. With nearly three decades of experience, Dr. Reincke shares her extraordinary journey from ICU nurse to leading vein specialist, highlighting the power of perseverance, compassion, and patient-centered car...

In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma welcomes Eloise Drane, the founder and CEO of Family Inceptions, the first Black woman-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency in the U.S. With extensive personal experience as both an egg donor and gestational surrogate, Eloise shares her inspiring journey and discusses the challenges and joys of helping families build their futures. The discussion highlight...

Episode Description: In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma speaks with Estefana Johnson, Executive Director of Arise Alliance , about her transformative work in trauma counseling and the creation of the Critical Memory Integration (CMI) method. Estefana shares her personal journey, including the challenges she faced as a Latina navigating the mental health field, and the deep impact of cultural a...

In this inspiring episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal interviews Virginia “Gin” Oman — a transformational expert, licensed clinical mental health counselor, certified life coach, personal trainer, and harp therapist. Diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis in the late 1980s and told she’d never walk again, Gin rebuked expectations. She used the healing power of the mind-body connection, mo...