Wellness & Growth Journeys

What if the brain fog, forgetfulness, overwhelm, and loss of focus you've been experiencing in your 40s isn't "just stress" or burnout? In this episode of the Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast, Mialisa Garnes sits down with board-certified OB-GYN and Perimenopause Rebirth Coach, Dr. Agena Renee, to explore the surprising connection between perimenopause and ADHD in women. Dr. Agena shares her own...

What happens when a doctor goes through menopause and doesn't recognise her own symptoms? That's exactly where today's conversation begins. Dr. Angela Sharma is a GP with 22 years of experience, a BMS Accredited Advanced Menopause Specialist, a Clinical Sexologist, and a Fellow of the European Committee of Sexual Medicine. She's also the co-founder of Spiced Pear Health. This private online clinic...

Most clinicians were trained in the years after the 2002 WHI study and were taught that hormone therapy was dangerous, so they stopped offering it. Generations of women have paid the price. Dr. Deepti Gandhi is one of the physicians who refused to leave her patients without answers. She trained herself, got the certification, and became the specialist she could not find for the women she was treat...

The biggest health risk facing women in midlife isn't breast cancer but cardiovascular disease. In this eye-opening conversation, menopause specialist Dr. Carys Sonnenberg joins me to discuss why menopause should be viewed not only as a hormonal transition but also as a major cardiovascular event. Together, we explore the surprising statistics linking menopause, heart disease, stroke risk, cholest...

For years, women struggling with menopause symptoms, low libido, brain fog, urinary issues, and hormonal changes were told there wasn't enough research, enough data, or enough solutions. Dr. Somi Javaid refused to accept that answer. In this episode of the Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast, Dr. Somi shares how she left academic medicine, built HerMD from the ground up, collected the real-world da...

Your hair is thinning, your part is widening, and your hairdresser keeps telling you it's "just stress" — but something feels off. This conversation is for every woman in perimenopause and menopause who's been quietly losing her hair and not knowing where to turn. In this episode of the Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast, host Mialisa Garnes sits down with Dr. Rachael Causon, UK-based GP, hair res...

Why do so many women struggle with weight loss, motivation, stress eating, and staying consistent with healthy habits, especially after 35? In this empowering episode of Wellness & Growth Journeys, I sit down with certified health coach and Happy Food founder Samantha Hua to unpack the emotional side of wellness, sustainable weight loss, cortisol, perfectionism, and healing your relationship with...

What if the reason your body feels "different" isn't laziness, lack of discipline, or "getting older"… but hormones, metabolic shifts, stress, sleep, and nutrition all working together? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Sophia Miranda, a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach and CDC-recognized Diabetes Prevention Program Provider, to unpack what women really need to know about metabo...

Kathleen Brathwaite spent 22 years in nursing before answering a deeper calling: helping caregivers prioritize their own well-being. In this powerful episode of Wellness & Growth Journeys, Kathleen shares the hidden emotional, mental, and physical toll caregiving takes on healthcare workers and why self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity. From burnout and compassion fatigue to toxic work cultur...

Painful periods, bloating, fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, hormone chaos, feeling dismissed by doctors… sometimes it isn't "just stress" or something you need to push through. Sometimes it's a body asking to be understood. In this episode of the Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Jessica Drummond, doctor of clinical nutrition, licensed physical therapist, board-certified health c...

Bloating, fatigue, stubborn weight gain, hormone chaos, cravings, burnout… sometimes it isn't a lack of discipline — it's a body asking for support. In this episode of the Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast, I sit down with holistic health coach and nutritionist Lea Dombrowski to unpack why so many women struggle with weight loss when the real issue may be gut health, hormones, metabolism, and chr...

Perimenopause doesn't just change your body – it surfaces years of suppressed needs, emotional labor, and quiet resentment that never had anywhere to go. In this episode of the Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast, I sit down with counselor, educator, and author Dr. Julie Merriman to unpack why so many women hit midlife feeling numb, exhausted, and unlike themselves. We talk about the hidden weight...

If you've ever been told "it's just stress" but you know something feels off… this episode is for you. Join us as we break down perimenopause, the phase before menopause that most women are NEVER properly taught about. From brain fog and weight changes to mood shifts and hormonal chaos, this episode explains what's really happening in your body and why so many women feel dismissed. In this powerfu...

What if your symptoms aren't the real problem? In this episode of the Wellness and Growth Journeys Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Esther Trotman, a medical doctor and founder of Star Wellness Lifestyle, to explore the power of whole-person care. From her journey through public and private healthcare systems to building her own wellness brand, Dr. Trotman shares why treating symptoms alone isn't enou...

If you've ever struggled with self-worth, negative thought patterns, or unhealthy relationships, this episode helps you understand why and how to heal. In this conversation, we explore how childhood trauma shapes your adult life, how faith and therapy can work together, and practical ways to retrain your mind, break cycles, and rebuild your identity. You are not broken. Healing is possible, and it...

What if staying healthy didn't require long workouts or strict fitness routines? In this episode, Dr. Amy Bantham, public health expert, fitness professional, and author of Move to Live More, shares a refreshing perspective on staying active, especially for busy women balancing careers, family, and daily responsibilities. Instead of treating exercise as a chore, Dr. Bantham explains how movement,...

International Women's Day Special In this special collaboration episode, I am joined by  Dianne Squires , host of the Island Woman Podcast , for a conversation about women's voices, podcasting, leadership, and visibility in the Caribbean. We discuss why more Caribbean women need to take up space in media, how podcasting can help build authority, and why conversations about women's health, entrepre...

Stress doesn't just affect emotions; it shows up as pain. In this episode, I speak with reflexology expert Njideka Olatunde about the stress–pain connection, why listening is the first form of healing, and how touch therapy supports the body's natural ability to restore balance. We explore: 🌿How stress turns into physical pain 🌿Why numbing symptoms isn't the same as healing 🌿The link between fi...

If you're a wellness professional trying to grow your practice without burning out, this episode is for you. Business strategist Dionne Harris shares how clinic owners and health entrepreneurs can build sustainable growth through strategic planning, better systems, smarter delegation, and values-driven leadership. We also explore how marketing builds trust and why self-care is a performance strate...

In this episode of Wellness & Growth Journeys, I speak with executive coach and PGA associate golf coach Richard Forde about how golf helps women build confidence, mental strength, and community on and off the course. From overcoming intimidation to finding belonging in a traditionally male-dominated space, this conversation explores why creating access, structure, and support changes how women sh...

Women's health has long been underserved, and it's time for a better approach. In this episode of Wellness & Growth Journeys, I sit down with Amy Gaston, VP of Strategic Growth at OhmBody, to explore how technology, education, and empathy can transform women's healthcare. We discuss autonomy, innovation in women's health tech, the role of education in building trust, and why partnering with your b...

Motherhood doesn't end at birth, and neither should support. In this powerful episode of Wellness and Growth Journeys, I sit down with Dr. Eboni January, board-certified OB-GYN, to have an honest conversation about postpartum mental health, maternal wellness, and the support women actually need after having a baby. Together, we unpack: 👉 Why everyone checks on the baby but forgets the mother 👉 T...

Money affects every part of our lives, yet it's one of the hardest topics to talk about. In this episode of the Wellness and Growth Journeys Podcast, I speak with financial strategist Marcia Armstrong about financial wellness, money mindset, and building sustainable wealth as a woman entrepreneur. We discuss why cash flow matters, how discipline shapes financial confidence, and simple steps women...

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Adi Jaffe shares his journey from addiction and incarceration to becoming a leading voice in mental health and recovery. Together, we explore why change is so hard, the hidden emotional hooks that keep women stuck, and the mindset shifts that make healing possible. If you're navigating burnout, emotional overwhelm, relationship struggles, or habits you can't brea...

In this episode of the Wellness & Growth Journeys podcast, I sit down with Dr. Sharlon Lewis, obesity specialist and president of the Diabetes Association in the BVI to unpack the REAL reasons Caribbean women over 35 struggle with weight. This conversation goes deeper than willpower. We explore hormones, culture, tradition, emotional eating, activity levels, and why obesity is a medical condition...