About Dr. Carolyn in Cleveland: A Women's Health Podcast
This is your space to hear authentic stories and learn about groundbreaking insights into women's health. We'll explore ways to redefine wellness and empower you to take charge of your health. Together, we'll talk about practical tools to help you feel your best.
Clinical psychotherapist Lavonne Urban discusses domestic violence statistics and solutions, including creating safety plans and connecting victims with resources, on Dr. Carolyn's podcast in this interview.
5 Oct 2025
Why We Need Gina Barreca Right Now
Dr. Carolyn Ross interviews Gina Barreca, author and professor, about the importance of humor, how women use it differently, and making stories out of painful moments.
27 Aug 2025
How Healthy Are Your Eyes?
Dr. Carolyn interviews ophthalmologist Dr. Sue Saliba about maintaining eye health through regular exams, diet, and protective measures.
12 Aug 2025
What You Need To Know About Your Vagus Nerve
Dr. Carolyn interviews Dr. Navaz Habib about enhancing the vagus nerve to improve anxiety, insomnia, and inflammation, offering practical strategies for better health.
31 Jul 2025
You Can Have Better Hair: An Expert Explains How to Prevent and Treat Hair Loss
Dermatologist Dr. Kyei discusses hair loss prevention and treatment, emphasizing early diagnosis and avoiding harmful hair practices in this interview episode.
6 Jul 2025
Start Your Day Like A DIVA
Dr. Carolyn discusses the DIVA acronym—Deep Breathing, Intentions, Very Grateful, and Ancestors—as a grounding daily practice to start the day with strength and boldness.
24 Jun 2025
Make Yourself A Priority
Functional Nutrition Health Coach Natalie Fink shares her journey of battling Graves' disease and prioritizing holistic health, emphasizing the importance of personalized nutrition, stress management, and self-care in an interview with Dr. Carolyn.
8 Jun 2025
An Alzheimer's Update
Neuroscientist Dr. Sarah Hopp discusses Alzheimer's disease, including its prevalence in women, brain changes, racial disparities, and microglia research, in an interview with Dr. Carolyn, offering insights into potential treatments.
27 May 2025
Giving Courage To Caregivers
Kristi Horner, founder of Courage to Caregivers, discusses preventing caregiver burnout by offering support and resources, emphasizing self-care and community aid in this interview.
17 May 2025
Skin Mistakes You Might Be Making: A Conversation With Dr. Shannon Trotter
You won’t want to miss this special episode on how to take care of your skin!
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and Dr. Shannon Trotter, a board certified dermatologist, is here to correct any skin mistakes you might be making. She also tells us about her favorite skincare products. Her secret is this: first cleanse your skin, then use one product to do the rest!
She takes time to sit down and answer our questions about skin:
When should you worry about moles and other skin changes?
How do you know if you are using the right sunscreen?
Are you making a mistake by avoiding the sun?
What is the one food you might be eating that causes wrinkles and skin sagging?
Collagen products are all over the internet. Should you be using collagen face masks and supplements? And what should you look for in a collagen powder?
What skincare routine do you recommend?
What are the essential skincare products for those of us who don’t have a lot of time?
Dr. Trotter recommends the following daily skincare routine (CPRR):
Cleanse
Protect (sunscreen)
Repair (moisturizer)
Renew (antioxidants)
Her favorite skincare products for use in the morning:
Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield (SPF 50)
Supergoop Mineral Sunscreen (SPF 30)
Elta MD UV Restore Broad Spectrum Facial Sunscreen (SPF 40)
Her favorite retinols for use at night: (First double cleanse, then apply retinol, then moisturize)
Cerave Skin Renewing Retinol Serum (with Hyaluronic acid and Ceramides)
Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol (with Peptides and Vitamin C)
Youth to the People ( with Retinol and Niacinamide) Good for sensitive skin.
References:
https://www.mdanderson.org/cancer-types/skin-cancer/skin-cancer-symptoms.html
https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/
https://scriptherald.com/2025/03/12/why-heavy-metals-in-collagen-powders-are-a-concern-and-how-to-avoid-them/
20 Apr 2025
Getting Ready for Surgery? Some things you need to know
Dr. Carolyn begins this episode with a personal story about a surgery she had that resulted in a serious complication. She shares what she learned from this difficult experience so you won’t make the same mistake she did.
SOME PRE-OP IDEAS to help you prepare for surgery:
Ask about anesthesia options
Confirm who will be doing your surgery
Decide on Medical Power of Attorney
Create a Living Will
https://www.ohiobar.org
SCREENING TESTS
Various pre-op screening tests that you might need include: an EKG, Chest X-ray, Cardiac stress test, and Pulmonary Function Tests. There is also a special questionnaire to see if you are at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
http://www.stopbang.ca/patient/screening.php
NEW RECOMMENDATIONS from several groups include:
The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association now recommend that every patient needs to be assessed to determine their risk for a post-op cardiac event. In other words, it’s important to find out if you are at high risk of having a heart attack during or after surgery. There are also new recommendations regarding certain medications to stop prior to surgery, including SGLT2 inhibitors, like Invokana, Jardiance, Farxiga or Steglatro.
https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology
If you’re taking a GLP-1 agonist like Ozempic, Wegovy or Trulicity, the American Gastroenterological Association, along with several other medical societies, now recommends that you follow a liquid diet 24 hours prior to your surgery.
https://www.asahq.org
As of 2025, the American Society of Anesthesiologists has new recommendations for patients over age 65 to prevent delirium (acute confusion) after inpatient surgery:
Screening older patients to identify those at risk for developing delirium
Choosing type of anesthesia with your anesthesiologist
Minimizing certain medications that might increase your risk for delirium
Considering the medication dexmedetomidine during the immediate post-op period to prevent delirium in high risk patients.
https://www.asahq.org/about-asa
SUMMARY
The more prepared you are for surgery, the better your chances will be for a good outcome.
Discuss the details of the surgery with your surgeon. Ask about anesthesia options.
Schedule a pre-op visit with your primary care doctor. Ask about recommended screening tests and assessments. If appropriate, ask about getting tested for a metal allergy.
Be sure to have your list of questions answered prior to surgery. It helps to take someone with you to these appointments.
Take charge of this important pre-op time period. You’ll be glad you did.
Note: The information included in today’s podcast is not meant to be used as personal medical advice. Always consult your doctor or nurse practitioner before making medical decisions or making any changes in your medication.
29 Mar 2025
How to Kick Your Sugar (and Carb) Cravings with Gretchen Spetz
“I think I have a sugar addiction.” In this episode, Dr. Carolyn talks candidly about her difficulty saying no to carbs. She grew up in a “baking family” and has many happy memories attached to homemade cookies and birthday cake.
The thing is, too many carbs can lead to elevated blood sugar levels that might develop into diabetes, fatty liver disease, and even Alzheimer’s. Plus, high blood sugars (blood glucose) can make you gain weight, feel tired, and give you brain fog.
In this important episode of Dr. Carolyn in Cleveland, we listen to Gretchen Spetz MS RDN LD IFNCP, a functional dietician and nutritionist, tell us how we can put an end to carb cravings.
Why Gretchen thinks that protein and fiber are the key
The reason to eat carbs at the end of a meal (Reference: Diabetes Care 48: e15, 2025)
How to use a glucose biosensor to track your glucose levels (For info on the Stelo biosensor, visit https://stelo.com. For info on the Lingo biosensor, visit https://www.hellolingo.com)
How Dr. Carolyn found out that eating a bowl of cereal increased her glucose more than a piece of cake
Join us to find out how you can have your cake and eat it too! To learn more about free programs from Gretchen Spetz, including How to Kick Your Sugar Cravings, visit: https://www.gretchenspetzrd.com/freebies
23 Mar 2025
Dr. Nancy Johnson: An Interview With a True Trailblazer
March is Women's History Month, and today we interview a true trailblazer in the field of women's health, a physician who paved the way for many women who came after her.
In this episode, we enter the world of Dr. Nancy Johnson who tells us what life was like at a time when there were very few women in OBGYN, a time when male physicians weren't always offering adequate care to their female patients. Dr. Nancy tells us how she fought to improve care for women, and in the end, how men came to accept her as a respected colleague and friend.
WHO IS DR. NANCY JOHNSON?
She's a family practice physician who, at age forty, decided to enter an OBGYN residency.
She was the first female board-certified OBGYN physician in private practice in Cleveland, Ohio and who, over the course of her career, delivered over 7,000 babies.
She's also
a mother who cared deeply about her children.
an athlete who skied in Aspen (and around the world).
an adventurer who hiked in the Himalayas.
a creative who enjoyed sculpting and playing the piano.
a physician who, in her nineties, continues to work on improving the care of women by focusing on osteoporosis prevention and enhancing the practice of geriatrics.
In 1977, as Dr. Nancy completed her training, a wave of young women entered the field of OBGYN and changed the entire culture. But at the start of her residency, she was the only woman. Here is her story, in her own words, beginning with those first difficult days in the OBGYN clinic…
13 Mar 2025
LOVE Should Not Hurt: A Conversation with Carol Carbary
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE is more common than you think. Worse yet, physical injuries are often missed, even by medical professionals.
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY or TBI doesn’t just affect football players and boxers. Women who are hit in the head by abusers can develop TBI, too. Again, often an invisible injury.
STRANGULATION during sex is also being reported. An alarming new statistic: one in three young women describe being strangled during a recent sexual encounter.
In this podcast, Dr. Carolyn talks with Carol Carbary who tells us what we need to know:
What is “domestic violence” (vs intimate partner violence)
How to recognize injuries (traumatic brain injury and strangulation)
What are the signs that someone is an abuser (red flags)
What to say to someone who’s in an abusive relationship (and what not to say)
How Cleveland’s Journey Center for Safety and Healing can help (and it’s free)
About Journey Center
For nearly half a century, Journey Center for Safety and Healing has been a leader in Cuyahoga County, Ohio around issues of domestic violence. Journey’s mission is to provide services that foster safety and healing to those affected by child abuse and domestic violence and to prevent abuse through education, advocacy, and systemic change. Journey is the most comprehensive domestic violence agency in Northeast Ohio and is unique in combining the issues of both domestic violence and child abuse in its mission.
Journey’s services include a 24-Hour helpline, emergency shelter, housing, trauma therapy, justice system advocacy, support groups, supervised visitation, parenting classes, education and training events, community advocacy, and special services for the Hispanic community.
Call Journey Center 24/7 at: 216-391-4357 (HELP)
Live Chat online at: Journeyneo.org
Carol L. Carbary can be reached at: 216-229-2420
28 Feb 2025
Protect Your Heart: Three Tests You Need To Know About
This episode is personal. I always thought I was at low risk for a heart attack, but I was wrong. I want to share with you the story of how I found out I was at high risk. With this important information, hopefully you can learn how to protect your own heart.
Today’s show will include information from Dr. Leslie Cho, Head of the Women’s Heart Center at the Cleveland Clinic. She is an international expert who carries out research on women’s heart health. If anyone knows how to protect our hearts, it’s her.
We are now living in a time when access to medical information is becoming increasingly limited. Women’s health websites are being taken down. The funding of research that includes women is being frozen.
My mission is now threefold:
To continue to provide you with a space to hear women’s stories and concerns
To give you access to critical women’s health information
To process feedback from you in order to improve the podcast
Please feel free to send feedback to Carolyn.Nemec@icloud.com. And please use “Heart Health” in the subject line.
Here are two references for today’s show:
Mesi O, Lin C, Ahmed H, and Cho L. Statin intolerance and new lipid-lowering treatments. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine 2021, 88 (7) 381-387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpc.2023.100579
Sukkari M, et al. Is there a benefit for aspirin therapy for primary prevention to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in patients with elevated Lipoprotein (a)––A review of the evidence. American Journal of Preventive Cardiology 2023 Sep1; 15:100579. https://www.ccjm.org/content/88/7/381 or for pdf https://www.ccjm.org/content/ccjom/88/7/381.full.pdf
17 Feb 2025
It Might Be Your Heart: A Message from Jan Jones
Do you ever think about how hard your heart works for you––the strong muscle in your chest that beats every second of your life? If not, maybe it's time to think about taking care of this vital organ.
When an artery to the heart muscle becomes blocked, the flow of blood is interrupted, and a small piece of this muscle can die. We call this a heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction or MI). This is what happened to Jan Jones, a Cleveland TV celebrity, and she didn't realize it right away.
In this episode, Dr. Carolyn Nemec sits down with Jan who shares how she saved herself from a serious heart attack. We also discuss the warning signs of a heart attack and how these symptoms are different in women. Instead of chest pain, women can develop nausea, back pain, sudden fatigue, or "something that just doesn't feel right."
Later in the show, we share the secret of making lifestyle choices like changes in diet and exercise. February is American Heart Month, the perfect time to be inspired by the warmth and wisdom of Jan Jones. For more information about heart disease, please go to Heart.org (https://www.heart.org), a website sponsored by the American Heart Association.
10 Feb 2025
How to Make and Keep Friends and the Science of Why It Matters
Join Dr. Carolyn and Dr. Marisa G. Franco, author of PLATONIC, as they explore how non-romantic friendships can help us be healthier.
We each have "attachment styles" that influence how we make friends and it helps to be aware of these styles.
A book like PLATONIC can guide us as we do the work of healing ourselves, resulting in relationships that are deeper and richer. Good friends also help us live longer. Friendship truly is medicine!
Who has been a guest on Dr. Carolyn in Cleveland: A Women's Health Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Lavonne Urban
Gina Barreca
Dr Sue Saliba
Dr Navaz Habib
Dr Kyei
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.8 / 5
18 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
53
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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