On the cool yet sunny afternoon in late November, I had the immense privilege of interviewing Mary Vicario, LPCC-S, at Cincinnati’s iconic Union Terminal. We discovered a cozy nook within the terminal – a fitting backdrop for a conversation that revealed the deep personal significance this historic landmark holds for Mary. Union Terminal connects her to cherished childhood memories and the people who inspire and shape her extraordinary work to this day.
Read MoreI was welcomed into La Shanda Sugg, LPC’s comfortably-curated home for our Thursday evening interview – it was effortless to get settled in and open up, feeling like a cozy therapy session. She spoke passionately about her work, often using analogies to tie grand realizations into easy-to-digest teachings. La Shanda also made sure the environment was appropriately catered for the occasion from the background ambiance music to the natural lighting. And during the conversation, we frequently stopped to check-in and regulate our nervous system. La Shanda embodies many roles in this life: a mother, a teacher, a partner and an artist to name a few. From the totally on-brand accents of gold in her flowy outfit to the Paw Patrol bandaid she humbly fashioned on her finger, she was everything I imagined meeting her in person would be like – radiant, respectful, and real.
Read MoreOn a sunny winter morning a few weeks ago, we met with author, consultant, and life coach Quanita Roberson at the Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Though we hadn’t met before, we fell into deep topics quickly – touching on race, wisdom, and much more. While we walked around the museum, we learned about her path to healing, the leadership workshop she facilitates (called Fire and Water), and the book she wrote over the course of a decade (called “The InnerGround Railroad”).
Read MoreThere is only one way to summarize Ms. Renee Mahaffey Harris: A Powerhouse. While her office at the Center for Closing the Health Gap in Clifton is fashionable and cozy, it’s hard not to notice the accolades that cover the shelves and cabinets. She is the recipient of a UC Health Humanitarian Award, MLK Humanitarian Award, Business Courier’s Women Who Mean Business Award, and countless others. A picture of her standing with Dr. Cornel West adorns a corner. A lifetime of serving others has not gone unnoticed. After completing this interview, I mentioned Ms. Mahaffey Harris to several people who turned out to have connections with her, and all said the same thing: “Isn’t she amazing?”
Read MoreIt’s a beautiful spring day, and I’m sitting at one of the picnic tables at Washington Park. The birds are chirping, music is in the air, and in the middle of everything, I find myself happy to sit down with…my gynecologist. While this may sound unusual, it’s actually the start of a very fun, light-hearted conversation with Dr. Shwetha Manoharan, a gynecologist with a devoted clientele, as evidenced in Cincinnati moms’ groups on Facebook.
Dr. Manoharan is a busy professional woman with young children of her own and a full schedule of patient visits. However, she was able to break away for a quick moment to talk to us about being a doctor, where she draws her strength from, and why you shouldn’t feel guilty about saying “no.”
Read MoreOne in five teens and adults suffer from mental illness. We connected with Nancy Miller over Zoom in early February to learn about her journey to founding 1N5, an organization focused on making a difference in how we talk about mental health. Knowledgeable and passionate, Nancy shared how thoughtful conversation and early education can help eliminate the stigma around mental illness and allow people to get the help they need. We were struck by how many programs she has helped create in Cincinnati to educate about mental health, open the way for conversations about mental health, and provide a community for those impacted by mental illness.
Read MoreDr. Nicole Avant carries titles familiar to many women: mother, sister, daughter, caretaker, provider, business owner, employee, teacher, professor… But, now at age 42, she’s learning to define herself outside these roles. In our recent conversation, Nicole shared how she’s taking the time now to find and love herself. She’s breaking free from the confines of productivity, structural inequality, and capitalism to build a life centered on joy – and she wants more women to do the same.
Read MoreZoey Peach is, as her name implies, a real peach, with a bubbly personality and excitement behind her glistening eyes. The health educator and outreach maven invited us into the newly re-opened offices at Caracole, a nonprofit AIDS service organization serving the tri-state area in the fight against HIV/AIDS through prevention, housing, and care. Zoey shared stories of the amazing people she’s learned from and how she’s using that knowledge to fight discrimination in the tri-state area.
Read MoreY’all, I’m so thrilled to share this one with you finally. I had the chance to have a phone conversation with Natalie Andrews, a sex and relationship therapist, to address a few things that we, as women, deal with daily!
Read MoreCincinnati is full of so-called local celebrities; they grace nightly newscasts and are shown in The Enquirer on a regular basis. Founder and CEO of RaJean Beauty, Megan Seard, just might be considered one – after all, she estimates her products are in more than 1,500 tri-state homes! However, when taking into account the way one feels after using her shower scrubs and shea butters, the title “local goddess” might be more appropriate.
With a passion for self-care, a relentless customer-first mentality, and a hell of a lot of determination, Megan has been to nearly every corner of Cincinnati and Indiana – with her famous backpack full of products in tow. RaJean Beauty has gone from kitchen table concoctions to a beauty empire that brings out decadent skin with a cult-like following. We sat down with Megan at her favorite partnering location, Aladdin’s, to discuss what’s important to her in these unprecedented times.
Read MoreFrom the moment you sit down with Dr. Pratima Shanbhag, she’s an old friend and an immediate joy to be around. Dr. Shanbhag’s compassion and empathy is effusive and she channels it toward her passion: advocating for children of abuse and neglect as a pediatrician. And maybe unbeknownst to her, through her example, she’s advocating for everyone she meets to view the world through a lens of compassion.
Read MoreWhen I logged on to my video chat with Dr. Angelica Hardee, I could feel her energy and enthusiasm – even through video. Dr. Hardee’s mother worked for the Urban League in Cleveland, which instilled in her a lifelong passion for service. When, as an undergraduate, she learned that a career in public health brought together her passions and interests in service, healthcare, and community-based research, she was all in! Dr. Hardee still maintains her youthful enthusiasm for public health. We talked about public health, policy, and her current projects as the V.P. of health strategy for the American Heart Association and president of the local Urban League of Young Professionals.
Read MoreWhen Ciara Staunton popped into our virtual meeting, she seemed excited and energized, but our healthcare-worker readers will know she’s had some exhausting months. Frontline workers of all kinds are donning their P.P.E. and masks and continuing to serve their clients, but there are still so many unanswered questions as our world works to respond wisely to the rise of COVID-19.
Staunton, however, is no stranger to new directions. She created her own private practice, Staunton Primary Care, as a nurse practitioner aiming to offer affordable and approachable family primary care in the Walnut Hills neighborhood. It was a joy to talk to her about her passion for accessibility and comfort in a healthcare setting.
Read MoreI’m a licensed clinical psychologist; that's my foundation, professionally at least. I'm also a wife and mom to four young kids: My daughter is almost six months old now and then [my other children are] two, five, and seven.
My professional background is specialized in the treatment of eating disorders; that’s where my dissertation research and all my clinical administrative experience was. I went to grad school at Xavier, and did the doctoral program in clinical psychology there. I love that work. I did it for almost 10 years following graduate school, and I never ever thought I would stop doing that – well, I haven't really stopped doing that work.
Read MoreBabes – it’s crazy out here. I can’t lie that I have been overwhelmed, underwhelmed, overworked, and lacking sleep the past couple of months. This quarantine comes at an interesting time for me, and I hope it finds you able to step back from the complexities of your typical day-to-day life to find positive changes to come. I hope everyone is staying safe, above all. This month I wanted to give you a few sex reminders for this strange time, and my book recommendations as of the past week.
Read MoreI had gone from being a happy, energetic college student to someone who could sleep for 12+ hours and still lack the zest necessary to pour a cup of tea. The transformation was truly bewildering. This was no simple vitamin deficiency or hormonal imbalance. I was suffering from seasonal affective disorder.
Read MoreTeaera specializes in cannabinoid medicine – often working with folks who are battling addictions to other substances. She opened Lotus Health when she recognized a need to treat patients holistically and search for the why’s behind their problems. Teaera set out to not only treat her patients as wholly human, but to use science as the backbone of her work as she challenges stereotypes. In everything that comes her way, Teaera never stops asking why.
Read MoreAs a college student at Indiana University, Brooke Van Paris was thriving as a business major, gymnast, and outgoing co-ed. After a car crash left her with two broken hands, she went through years of physical therapy and surgeries. She relied on her dad to help her through domestic tasks, asked friends to help her eat Lunchables before class, wrote papers using voice-to-text software, and graduated as a management major. When she finally got her casts off her hands, she’d experienced depression and claustrophobia – and she didn’t recognize herself as the independent, athletic person she’d been before the accident. She worked for Anheuser-Busch after college as a sales rep, and when a coworker asked her to do an obstacle course race, she agreed, with some hesitance. Brooke became obsessed, completing dozens of races in a year, including the world championships of obstacle course racing. That led to an opportunity to do a reality television show with a fitness angle, then to a new career as a personal trainer.
Read MoreAs a resident of Women of Cincy, I was charged to create a capstone project, something that would top off this experience and serve as a culmination of my work. While at Women of Cincy, one of the most surprising aspects was the emphasis on empathy. I’m always astounded by people taking the initiative for others, or wielding selflessness for the health of a community.
Read MoreOn a chilly winter afternoon, we grabbed a latte at blaCk Coffee Lounge with Lisa Sloane, founder and C.E.O. of More Inclusive Healthcare. Lisa talked with us about her work improving the health of our country, and about how to establish your credibility at tables where you may not be invited to sit. She also gave some sage advice about staying true to yourself and your values, even with a quarter-million dollars on the line.
