Just Jenn: A Woman’s Health Podcast

Today’s topic feels timely. We’re diving deep into how much the way we consume media has changed and how the comparison game has evolved as we’ve transitioned into the relentless digital media world of social media, AI, and 24/7 news.  Our guest brings a really unique perspective on all of this because she spent years inside the media world itself. Nicole Pence Becker is the owner and operator of...

There’s something a lot of women are doing at work that no one really talks about: managing their menopause symptoms. So today we’re talking about it. Because so many of us are navigating this shift without the right language, support, and community when it’s something all women experience.  My guest today is Ashleigh Guenin. Ashleigh is a Nurse Practitioner at Hancock Health, working in  the Jame...

Pressure is interesting, because it rarely announces itself as pressure. Today, we’re having a conversation that unpacks that pressure and deconstructs the idea that there’s one “right” timeline or path we’re supposed to follow. Wherever you are in this conversation — wanting kids, not wanting kids, grieving kids, raising kids — you’re in good company. My guest today is Shanelle Bender a licensed...

Today, we’re diving into one of the more emotionally complex topics out there: infertility. If you’ve ever been trying to get pregnant and wondered, “Is this normal? Should I be worried? When do I call a doctor?” you’re not alone. My guest today is Dr. Audrey Martin. Dr. Martin is an OBGYN at Hancock Health, helping women navigate their own reproductive journeys.   Specifically this episode highli...

For women especially, diet culture often starts young and follows us through every stage of life—puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, menopause, and beyond. That’s why we didn’t want this to just be a cultural conversation. Listen in to understand what decades of dieting and food guilt actually do — not just emotionally, but physically. My guest today is Dr. Rudo Mashindi. Dr. Mashinidi is a family phy...

When considering surgery, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Today, we're not just talking about whether surgery is recommended. We’re talking about making a decision in a way that feels informed. Grounded. Like the options are clear and the decision belongs to you.  My guest today is Dr. Amelie Medley. Dr. Medley is a general surgeon at Hancock Health, working with women at all stages of life. ...

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: some doctor’s appointments are going to feel awkward.  In this episode, we’re leaning in to talk about that embarrassment from a clinical point of view. We’re discussing why talking about body parts and functions can feel so weird or abnormal or just plain hard to vocalize the question.  . My guest today is Angela Trackwell, nurse practitioner with Gateway Family Med...

Today is all about breasts. Boobs. Ta-tas. The girls. Whatever you call them, we all have a name for them.  In this episode, we’re sitting down with a breast health provider to talk about the changes women should pay attention to. We’re chatting about what’s common, what’s worth watching, and what deserves a conversation. My guest today is Calee Hochstedler, a nurse practitioner with the High Risk...

There are few things more overwhelming than opening your patient portal and seeing a bunch of numbers, letters, and ranges and being told they’re either normal or abnormal , without knowing what that specifically means for you. Today’s conversation is about taking the mystery out of common lab work. We’re discussing what labs are and how they provide critical trend data for your health and well-be...

Preventive health is not glamorous. No one is casually texting their friends like, “Just scheduled my screenings. Feeling unstoppable.” Which is exactly why we’re discussing it today. Because these preventative care appointments do matter, especially in midlife when routine screenings can help identify changes in our body early. We talk about all of it from STDs to dental checks to colonoscopies....

Before we officially close this menopause series… Jenn takes a moment to reflect and look back at everything we covered. Together we learned about hormones, relationships, weight changes, and treatment options available to women in perimenopause. Specifically this episode highlights: - Let’s Talk Menopause, today’s focus was on summarizing the series - Ways we can normalize, educate, and reduce fe...

We’re continuing our series on menopause. Welcome to Part 5! Today, we’re discussing how menopause doesn't just affect us as individuals, but also how it impacts the people we’re closest with.   In this episode we discuss how menopause can impact our relationships, both physically and mentally. And highlight some treatment options that are available for women navigating perimenopause.  My guest to...

Today, we’re discussing what weight changes actually look like during perimenopause for women. In this episode we discuss what’s actually happening hormonally, metabolically, and mentally to women in midlife, and some lifestyle changes that can help manage the shifting weight changes we experience in our bodies. My guest today is Dr. Rudo Mashindi. Dr. Mashinidi is a family physician at Hancock He...

Today, we’re looking at a study released from the Mayo Clinic based on a survey of women in midlife. In this episode we discuss a study recently published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. This women’s health study found more than 3 out of 4 respondents experienced menopause symptoms. But over 80% did not seek medical care. My guest today is Jason Wells. Jason leads the collaboration between Hancock Hea...

Menopause is having a moment — and it’s about time. Today, we’re getting specific about one of the treatment options that brings up a lot of feelings — Menopausal Hormone Therapy, or MHT. You may also know it by its former name, Hormone Replacement Therapy. MHT is one of those topics that comes with strong opinions, mixed messages, and a whole lot of confusion. For some women, it’s been described...

If the word menopause makes you tense up a little — or you saw the title of this episode and thought, Do I really have the emotional capacity for this today? — stay with me. Menopause is one of those things we joke about, whisper about, or avoid altogether… until one day we’re right in the middle of it thinking, wait, why did no one explain this to us?  Today, we’re starting with the basics. We’re...

We’re officially jumping into Season 2, but before we bring in guests and deep dives and all the good stuff, this episode is a bit of an intro, part preview and part cozy conversation with your friend, Jenn.  Specifically this episode highlights:  - What Just Jenn is (and isn’t) - What types of topics (with examples) this podcast covers - Meet your host, Jenn Wells - What’s coming up in Season 2 M...

As Season One wraps up, Jenn reflects on the biggest lessons (and myths) from the conversations so far, from self-advocacy to redefining rest, and shares what’s next for Just Jenn . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thisisjustjenn.substack.com

Advocating for yourself in a doctor’s office isn’t easy, but it’s one of the most important skills you can build. In this episode, Jenn and Hancock Health OBGYN Dr. Audrey Martin talk about how to be heard, ask the right questions, and know when to push for answers. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thisisjustj...

Your friends aren’t just good for your soul, they’re good for your health. Jenn explores the science behind friendship and why social connection is one of the most important parts of your wellness plan. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thisisjustjenn.substack.com

Sometimes the most powerful lessons in healthcare come from real women’s stories. Jenn talks with her friend Ryan about the symptoms she ignored, the diagnosis she didn’t expect, and what it taught her about listening to your body. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thisisjustjenn.substack.com

You’ve heard of burnout, but what about the invisible checklist that causes it? Jenn talks about “the mental load,” the unseen work that keeps households running, with insight from Christina DeWitt from Hancock Health’s Connection Center. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thisisjustjenn.substack.com

If you’ve been running on empty and wondering why you’re so tired all the time, this one’s for you. Jenn dives into what’s really behind women’s exhaustion, from burnout and the “second shift” to the biology of fatigue,  with insight from Hancock Health primary care physician Dr. Elizabeth Sirois. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to b...