Dare to Ask!

Our social media feeds are filled with products promising optimal care for "down there." Dr. Michaela Heller, OB/GYN, gives us the details about what actually works, what's a gimmick, and what to avoid to protect your vaginal and vulvar health. We then dive into new procedures to treat uterine fibroids, the differences between fibroids and cysts, and the reassurance that, "there are so many differ...

Women tend to blame every symptom on perimenopause or menopause, but it's time to start trusting your intuition. In this episode, Cori and Marjorie Masten, APRN, CNP, discuss cardiovascular health in women. What numbers matter? What symptoms shouldn't be ignored? How do symptoms differ for men and women? When is it time to seek care? We'll give you a crash course in what you need to know about hyp...

What do inhalers, keychains, USBs and pens have in common? They may be vapes hiding in plain sight. Essentia Health pulmonary medicine providers Allison Tamm, APRN, CNP, and Caitlyn Cameron, PA-C, discuss the truth about vaping and lung health. We cover local legislation, signs of teen vaping, and unknowns about the addictive trend. Plus, how getting screened for lung cancer is quicker and easier...

'It's Not Just In Your Head' with Nurse Practitioners April Rohrer and Cassie Plante We're kicking off season 6 of the Dare to Ask Podcast with April Rohrer and Cassie Plante, family medicine certified nurse practitioners at Essentia Health. Listen as we dive into the common health complaints they see from women in their practice, including headaches, hormones, stress, sleep, and more. Sometimes,...

Dr. Stefanie Gefroh Ellison joins Cori Jensen to recap Season 5 of the Dare to Ask Podcast. They’ll review some of our biggest takeaways from the season, as well as share some laughs and memories of past seasons.

‘There’s More to It Than Just Kegels’ with Physical Therapist Christine Isaak and Dr. Michaela Heller Are you doing a Kegel correctly? Our experts on this episode—pelvic floor physical therapist Christine Isaak and OB/GYN Dr. Michaela Heller—give us some practical tips to ensure we’re making the most of our pelvic floor exercises. They also shed light on when you shouldn’t be doing Kegel exercises...

All it takes to reach your goal weight is a once weekly shot, right? Return guest Dr. Kate Kessler, primary care and weight management provider at Essentia Health, shares why partnering with a provider who has specialty training on prescribing weight loss medications can help you on a safe, successful, and sustainable journey toward better health. A healthy weight loss journey begins with the cour...

This episode covers the mental load that many women carry. The self-imposed standards we hold ourselves to can become unbearably heavy. Dr. Alexandra Kohlhase, behavioral health psychologist, helps us reframe to celebrate our successes rather than focus on our perceived failures. We’ll talk about how to get started seeking therapy, the intricate relationship between physical and mental health, and...

General surgery nurse practitioner Camille Brown gets real with us on the uncomfortable truth about hemorrhoids. We’ll talk about what hemorrhoids are, what causes them, and how you can avoid them at all costs. The key? Keep things moving. If it comes down to it, you’re in great hands with the general surgery team at Essentia Health.

There is so much to unpack in this episode with returning guest Tessa Hand, certified nurse midwife. The postpartum period, also known as the “fourth trimester,” brings almost as many changes as you experience throughout pregnancy. We’ll have an honest conversation about what you can expect after your baby arrives. From bleeding and feeding, to hair loss, baby blues, intimacy and more!

Return guest Kalee Wysuph, APRN, CNP, joins us to talk about navigating big feelings with our children. Kalee is a pediatrician who helps us dive into all the reasons why our children are so well-behaved at daycare or school but lose their cool when they return home at the end of the day. Sound familiar? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! The phenomenon is called after school restraint collapse. We’ll...

It’s time to talk about that time of the month. TOM!  Is it possible to love your menstruation? What is cycle syncing and how can it help you live your best life? Nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife Jennifer Janke joins Cori on this episode of the Dare to Ask Podcast to get real about our periods. Your menstrual cycle shouldn’t stop you from doing things you love. If it is, it’s time to...

We talk Young Adult Gynecology with Tessa Hand APRN, CNM.  Having "the talk" with our young people can be an intimidating conversation for most.  But, it really doesn't have to be.  Tessa has some excellent advice for parents.  We're going to go over when and at what age to have "The Talk" with your kids?  How can the "drip method" help with building communication with your kids about their body,...

What's becoming more prevalent due to the world we live in when it comes to pediatric chiropractic care?  Dr. Allison Klug helps us uncover many facets of chiropractic care from Prenatal throughout Pediatrics. And She also has a dynamic suggestion that will help your overall health.  Klug has a wonderful demeanor that helps every concerned parent though their fears and Explains how “aggressive” ad...

A return guest is Athletic Trainer Tessa Martin. We’ll dive into the profession, and her specific role working with high school athletes.  What kind of impact an athletic trainer has with a student athlete, coaches, and parents.  There is much more to The field than meets the eye.   Tessa is an advocate for young people who are interested in the profession of athletic training. She provides a prac...

Can your brain really have that big of an affect on the gut?   The answer that Dr. Kimberly Kolkhorst of Essentia Health will really get you thinking.  Dr. Koko is a return guest that has some excellent perspectives on your GI and trendy topics that are the buzz these days.  Like the popular weight loss meds and the big side effects, also having a bowl movement as soon as you go out shopping? We'l...

Sometimes the hardest conversations are the most important. Most would agree when we discuss cancer those talks come with the biggest challenges.  How important it is for those effected to have a provider that gives them comfort.  Tamala Anderson, APRN, CNP at Essentia Health is one such provider who is uplifting and inspirational and the perfect guest to cover the topic.  We also get into end of...

Noise exposure is a real issue these days.  For everyone, but it can really be especially threatening to our young peoples hearing.  So Essentia Health Audiologist Cari Frisk helps parents know what to look for when things are "too loud" for our kids.  And we'll get into conversations on hearing from newborn to adults and the progress we are making in the medical field as well as what parents can...

Starting healthy conversations with our kids and teens about mental health, nutrition and body positivity can be a daunting task for parents. Having the right resources can be key!  Essentia Health’s Dr. Mari Knudsen helps us unpack weight management for our children.  What the new guidelines for intervention recommend and how getting to know young patients can help break such intimidating subject...

As women we are inundated with options, advertisements, constant "noise" about our weight, our hormones and our diets.  How do we cut that down.  Be open to what will work for us and not get fooled by the next trend.  Insert the expert!  An Essentia Health Dietician Moriah Anderson.  We'll cover a lot of those hot topics to help you make the right choices for your health. 

It’s a trending topic for couples who can no longer sleep in the same bed: Sleep Divorce .  And it’s much bigger than a social media trend.  A National Sleep Foundation survey from 2017 estimated one in four American couples sleep in separate beds.  We’ll chat with one of Essentia Health’s sleep experts, Spring Huffman, APRN, CNP.    We’ll dissect sleep divorce and see if this could be the answer...

HOW do you know when you are in Perimenopause? Essentia Health's Dr. Stefanie Gefroh's makes a comparison that is like the opposite of puberty.   We'll talk about the AHAH moments women can look for including what TWO things most women can and should look for to find their answer if they are in perimenopause. We'll also discuss age ranges, how long it'll last, symptoms, including the weird ones, a...

To kick off the 3rd season we held a live event with a panelist of 7 female providers and we covered many topics one women's health. It was a causal atmosphere that brought a sense of humor even when covering big women's health issues. Enjoy the podcast version, and if you'd like to watch the event it's made available on Essentia Healths website.

She gives what she calls pockets of lactation education as a lactation consultant at Essentia Health. Mom and Baby are learning together when it comes to lactation. Christofferson and I cover a LOT of ground when we talk about feeding your infant. From the trends to the education of nursing and feeding a newborn. She gets vulnerable and real with her own journey with her two oldest kids and now ex...

Some of the BIGGEST barriers with pelvic floor issues is many women don’t want to mention them. However, Dr. Maetzold approaches urogynecology with wisdom and gentleness that makes you comfortable . Also she is able to do it with a sense of humor, and assures us that we are NOT alone with thesecommon issues! Some hot topics we dive right into like can we prevent pelvic floor disorders like peeing...