Phoenix Sound by Kel Myers

Where resilience meets truth.
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Society & Culture

Phoenix Sound is a space for enduring conversations that ignite transformation. Each episode features grounded, intelligent voices who have faced adversity, challenged systems, and reshaped their lives—where resilience meets truth, and sparks of change catch fire. phoenixsound.substack.com

  1. 09/05/2025

    S2 EP4: When They Don't Believe You: Overcoming Medical Gaslighting with Tamika D. Smith

    You’re sitting in a sterile exam room, the hum of fluorescent lights filling the silence. You’ve listed your symptoms carefully, like evidence presented in court. The pain is constant, your body a storm you can’t quiet. The test results come back “normal.” Your doctor leans back, smiles softly, and asks: “Have you considered stress? Maybe anxiety?” Your reality — the pain, the history, the instinctive knowledge that something is wrong — is swept away with a single word. Psychosomatic. That is medical gaslighting. What We Mean When We Say Gaslighting By definition, gaslighting is the use of psychological manipulation to undermine a person’s faith in their own judgment, memory, or sanity. It’s the practice of deceiving people through the repetition of a constructed false narrative. When that happens in a medical context — in a hospital, a GP clinic, or increasingly via Telehealth — we call it medical gaslighting. And like every injustice, it doesn’t affect everyone equally. The Evidence Medical gaslighting isn’t anecdotal. It’s systemic. Even The Lancet agreed last year that it was finally time to listen to women about their pain, admitting that dismissing symptoms as “minor or psychological” has eroded women’s health for decades. Research shows: * Women wait longer than men for emergency treatment and are 13–25% less likely to receive strong opioid pain medication for the same symptoms. Despite the fact that 70% of chronic pain patients are women, 80% of pain studies are still conducted on men. * Black patients are consistently undertreated for pain. A 2019 meta-analysis found they were 35% less likely than White patients to receive pain medication in emergency settings. A study of 4.7 million EMS activations confirmed that even when pain scores were high, Black patients were roughly half as likely as White patients to be given opioids or ketamine. * LGBTQIA+ people also face disproportionate bias in healthcare. Surveys reveal that nearly one in six LGBTQIA+ adults report discrimination in healthcare settings, including denial of treatment, misdiagnosis, and verbal harassment. These aren’t isolated failures. They are patterns — woven into the very structure of society and it pollutes the integrity of systems like healthcare where everyone is meant to be treated with dignity and fairness. The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights promises every person access to care that is safe, respectful, and free from discrimination. Internationally, Australia has signed onto human rights treaties — like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 12) — both of which guarantee the right to health without bias or exclusion. Yet the evidence shows a different story. When women are told their pain is “in their head,” when Black and First Nations patients are given less medication for the same pain scores, when LGBTQIA+ people are denied or delayed care — those rights are being eroded in practice. This isn’t about isolated bad actors. It’s about structural neglect — the kind that embeds inequity into triage systems, training curricula, and research funding priorities. The impact is cumulative: it not only harms individuals in moments of crisis, it corrodes public trust in healthcare as a whole. If healthcare is to remain a human right rather than a privilege, it requires more than acknowledgement. It demands systemic repair — where listening, equity, and justice are treated as medical interventions in their own right. These patterns aren’t abstract or isolated to Australia - they are challenges societies are facing globally and they show up in the lives of real people — people like Tamika, whose story reveals what happens when invisible disease and bias collide. Tamika’s Story In this episode of Phoenix Sound, I sit down with Tamika D. Smith — award-winning journalist, author, and survivor. Her book, Medical Gaslighting: The Most Toxic Relationship I’ve Ever Had, charts the toll of endometriosis, lupus, and years of systemic dismissal. At 17, Tamika was already being dismissed. By 2015, hospitalised with stroke-like symptoms, she was told by a Black female doctor to consider psychiatry instead. “When I requested my medical records from the unit, she stated that I basically faked the motor skills test that she had given to me.” she recalls. Her story reveals what most medical charts will never show: * The physical toll — untreated pain, delayed diagnoses, avoidable suffering. * The mental toll — brain fog, PTSD, anxiety, self-doubt. * The social toll — strain on family, finances, and trust in institutions. Gaslighting, as Tamika explains, doesn’t stop at the body. From Survival to Advocacy At one point, Tamika was given six months to live. Treatment plans failed. Doctors grew frustrated. She could have accepted her fate. Instead, she became what she calls “the CEO of my own health.” Through faith, resilience, and relentless self-advocacy, she rebuilt her life and reclaimed her voice. Today, she offers a mantra that doubles as a rallying cry: Speak it. Believe it. Receive it. Why This Matters This conversation isn’t about endometriosis or lupus. It’s about the invisible cost of being dismissed in the exam room. It’s about how intelligent, professional, capable women are still told to doubt themselves in the 21st Century. It’s about a system that has confused care with control, and in doing so has failed millions of us. And it’s about what happens when we refuse to stay quiet. (ANU REPORTER ARTICLE LINK referenced in episode intro) Tamika’s e-book, The Most Toxic Relationship I’ve Ever Had: Surviving Medical Gaslighting is available to download here. Use code ‘Advocate’ for 15% off (exp. 30th Sept). If you’ve been dismissed, disbelieved, or denied care, we want to hear from you. Share your story in the comments or reply directly. Silence protects the system, not us. When one woman speaks up, she lights the path for others. And together, we rise. - Kel Myers, host of Phoenix Sound. Get full access to Phoenix Sound by Kel Myers at phoenixsound.substack.com/subscribe

  2. 05/02/2025

    S2 EP3: Rebuilding Human Connection through Radical Kindness with Mansi: The Ripple Maker

    Let’s talk about loneliness. Not the quiet moments of solitude we choose, but the aching isolation that burrows into your bones, amplifying every twinge of chronic pain and whispering you’re unseen. Growing up in a cult like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, I felt this keenly. Every morning at primary school, I endured the pain of my classmates leaving for assembly while I sat alone in the classroom, rubbing my shins feverishly to ease excruciating agony and generate warmth in the wide-open space of manufactured desolation. Some teachers left the light, others didn’t. For the 1 in 10 women living with endometriosis, this kind of pain is all too familiar a companion [1] When your life has been profoundly shaped by medical gaslighting and systemic neglect, like it has for so many of us living with chronic pain, loneliness is more than a feeling—it’s a daily battle that defines our resilience as warriors. Now imagine one act of kindness—a single gesture that says, “I see you.” It’s not just a moment; it’s a spark that ripples outward, creating connection and love that can ease the weight of pain and alienation. Enter Mansi: The Ripple Maker. With 1 in 4 adults reporting loneliness [2], Mansi’s movement is a beacon of hope. For many years now, Mansi has been handing out handmade tokens of appreciation to those society overlooks—baristas, janitors, mammogram technicians. These aren’t mere trinkets; they’re heartfelt works of art, crafted to say, “You matter.” For women with chronic pain, who often feel invisible in a world that dismisses our struggles, Mansi’s movement is a lifeline—a reminder that one kind act can shatter isolation and foster healing. In Season 2, Episode 3 of Phoenix Sound, we sat down to chat about how her Radical Acts of Kindness are breaking the cycle of loneliness and sparking connection with people all over the world. As a solo podcaster pouring my heart into this while navigating endo pain, this conversation feels like a love letter to every endo warrior, every spoonie, every woman who’s felt the sting of dismissal or the flicker of hope that connection is possible. Here’s why this episode will move you: When she travelled to Australia and New Zealand last December, Mansi stepped away from Instagram and Facebook to be present with her family. With over 10,000 followers, she expected someone to notice her absence—yet only two people reached out. This echoes Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism, which argues that social media offers shallow interactions, not true belonging [3]. For women with chronic pain, who often rely on online communities, this is a wake-up call: real connection happens when humans connect without machine-led mediation and Mansi’s story shows us the central role creativity plays in forming an authentic connection with others, but perhaps most importantly first, with ourselves. Her tokens restore dignity to those pushed to the margins, like a mammogram technician who kept one for years, pulling it out to remind herself “I matter” during tough moments. For women with chronic pain, this is a reminder: creativity can soothe emotional and physical wounds. Loneliness and chronic pain feed each other, but Mansi’s acts of kindness disrupt this cycle and during our chat she shares some truly remarkable stories about the healing impact she’s been able to create with people over the years through her intentional art making practice. For women, Mansi’s work is a call to reclaim our space through creativity. In a world that expects us to endure pain silently, carving out time to create isn’t being selfish—it’s self-first – putting our needs ahead of everyone else’s. Mansi’s tokens, which take hours to craft, are demonstrating firsthand that love is a verb, a doing word. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did. Here’s a roadmap to guide you through Phoenix Sound Season 2, Episode 3 with Mansi, The Ripple Maker (33:26): · 2:10: Mansi shares her kindness movement, giving tokens to unseen workers and embracing Substack as The Ripple Maker. · 4:47: Mansi on ditching social media, unnoticed by 10,000+ followers, echoing Digital Minimalism’s call for real connection. · 7:17: Mansi and Kel discuss restoring human decency by seeing beyond labels like “janitor” for true connection. · 8:29: The mammogram story: Mansi’s token uplifts a healthcare technician, cherished for years as a symbol of worth. · 13:15: Mansi explains how creativity helps women reclaim space, rippling healing to families and communities. · 15:47: Kel shares poetry as an endo pain outlet; Mansi suggests nature as a simple creative healing practice. · 28:45: Mansi reveals no token rejections in 7 years, urging listeners to overcome fear of looking foolish. · 32:26: Kel closes, urging endo warriors to try one kind act and share ripples on X/Substack (@phoenixsoundpod) References: * [1] For the 1 in 10 women living with endometriosis * Source: World Health Organisation (WHO). (2021). Endometriosis Fact Sheet. * Link: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis * [2] With 1 in 4 adults reporting loneliness * Source: Cigna. (2018). U.S. Loneliness Index. * Link: https://legacy.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/about-us/newsroom/studies-and-reports/combatting-loneliness/loneliness-survey-2018-full-report.pdf * [3] Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism * Source: Newport, C. (2019). Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World. * Link: https://www.calnewport.com/books/digital-minimalism/ Get full access to Phoenix Sound by Kel Myers at phoenixsound.substack.com/subscribe

  3. 04/04/2025

    S2 EP2: Chronic Pain, MS and Women Empowering Women with Chrissy Symeonakis

    Let’s talk about pain. Not the kind you can shake off with a paracetamol and a good night’s sleep, but the kind that burrows deep, rewires your life, and dares you to keep going. If you’re a woman, chances are you know this pain intimately. Studies show that over 30% of people worldwide live with chronic pain, but women bear the brunt - up to 34.6% of us report it, compared to 27.1% of men [1]. And when it’s severe, we’re 37% more likely to feel its full weight, with 19.8% of women rating their pain as severe versus 14.4% of men [2]. These aren’t just statistics - they’re indicators of the daily reality for millions of us, a silent epidemic of suffering that’s been ignored for too long. Now, layer on multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease that disproportionately strikes women—over 2.9 million people globally live with MS, and in Australia alone, that number exceeds 33,000, with women outnumbering men 3 to 1 [3]. Up to 80% of those with MS experience chronic pain at some point, a grinding “companion” to a condition that’s already a thief of energy, mobility, and certainty [4]. I’ve spent the past six years navigating this landscape, and I know you probably have too or someone you love is working their way through this maze. That’s why I’m so excited to share S2 EP2 of Phoenix Sound, “Chronic Pain, MS and Empowerment with the amazing Chrissy Symeonakis, the fierce founder of Creative Little Soul who has turned her pain into a purpose, building a business that gives women their dignity back. This truth has been echoing in my mind ever since: This isn’t just a conversation; it’s a battle cry for every woman who’s ever been dismissed, diminished, or told to “just deal with it.” Chrissy’s story is a masterclass in fierce self-advocacy. When her MS diagnosis hit at 30, she didn’t wait for permission to rewrite her life. She set non-negotiable boundaries—like refusing summer meetings to manage her heat sensitivity—and built a business model that prioritises chronic illness, empowering her team and clients to reclaim their agency. In a world where women with chronic pain are often gaslit by healthcare systems especially those living with episodic disabilities like MS or lupus, Chrissy’s unapologetic advocacy is a reminder: If we don’t stand up and fight for ourselves, who will? But what does it mean to fight authentically and with integrity? Chrissy’s approach to marketing her business is a masterclass in both. She doesn’t hide her struggles—she shares them, building a brand that resonates because it’s real. In an era where 85% of consumers say authenticity drives their loyalty, Chrissy’s transparency isn’t just brave; it’s brilliant [5]. She’s not selling a polished facade; she’s offering a lifeline to women who see themselves in her story. And she’s not afraid to explore alternative therapies to manage her pain either. From medical cannabis to massage and setting her own work rhythm, Chrissy’s journey echoes a growing trend: 57.1% of people with MS have tried complementary therapies, seeking holistic relief where conventional medicine often falls short [6]. Her story challenges us to rethink what healing looks like—maybe it’s not just in a pill bottle, but in the courage to explore something new. What struck me most, though, was Chrissy’s generosity and passion for mentorship. During our conversation she says, “I just have so much time for people starting out,” and you can feel the truth in that through all the incredible work she does. She’s mentored university students, hired interns (one now works for her full-time), and created a culture at Creative Little Soul that lifts others up. A 2023 study found that 87% of mentees report increased confidence and career growth, and for women with chronic illnesses, that support can be a game-changer [7]. Chrissy knows that when women inspire women, we don’t just survive—we succeed. This episode is for every endo warrior, ever spoonie, every woman who’s ever felt the weight of chronic pain, the sting of dismissal, or the flicker of hope that there’s a way through. This conversation is a love letter to say: we see you. Chrissy’s words are a call to action—let’s share our stories, lift each other up, and fight for the care we deserve! We’d love to hear from you—what’s one way you’re finding strength through adversity? Reply in the comments - let’s keep this fire burning, together. Keep rising, Kel Here’s a roadmap to guide you through the episode: - **5:00**: Chrissy takes us inside the nightclub scene—her life before MS reshaped everything. - **5:55**: The power of mentorship—why encouragement can change lives. - **9:16**: How clear communication and assertion can help us come unstuck, even on our darkest days. - **13:30**: Hitting “shit town” and rising stronger—Chrissy’s raw take on resilience. - **22:48**: Adapting to life with MS, from setting boundaries to finding what works. - **28:07**: Building a business that gives women their dignity back—a mission born from pain. - **48:10**: “We have so many stories that need to be shared, and women inspiring women is such a powerful thing”—Chrissy’s closing words that’ll stay with you. References: [1] Mills, S.E.E., et al. (2019). Chronic pain: a review of its epidemiology and associated factors in population-based studies. *British Journal of Anaesthesia*. [2] National Center for Health Statistics. (2021). Chronic Pain Among Adults — United States, 2019. CDC Data Brief No. 390. [3] MS International Federation. (2023). *Atlas of MS, 3rd Edition* [4] Marck, C.H., et al. (2017). Pain in People with Multiple Sclerosis: Associations with Modifiable Lifestyle Factors, Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, and Mental Health Quality of Life. *Frontiers in Neurology*. [5] Stackla (Nosto). (2023). Consumer Behavior Report. [6] Skovgaard, L., et al. (2012). Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among People with Multiple Sclerosis in the Nordic Countries. Autoimmune Diseases. [7] MentorcliQ. (2023). Mentorship Program Impact Report. S2 EP2 Chrissy Symeonakis [00:00:00] Kel: I'm Kel Myers and this is Phoenix Sound. Now, before we start, I want to let you know that this episode includes a reference to suicide, which some might find tough to hear. Now, if you need support, you can find a helpline in your country through find a helpline.com. Supported by the International Association for Suicide Prevention. in today's episode, I sat down with Chrissy Symeonakis founder and managing director of the award-winning agency, creative Little Soul for a conversation that left me truly inspired. When Chrissy found out that she had MS at the age of 30, her world turned upside down. Living with chronic pain is one of the worst forms of adversity a person can face. It's a daily battle that tests every ounce of your strength, and not everyone feels equipped to keep fighting. But Chrissy faced her health battle's head on, transforming her pain into purpose by building a business that not only supports their health, but also empowers others to rise above their own suffering too. Mixing raw innovation with a bold belief that success starts with believing in yourself, Chrissy is a fierce, chronic illness advocate now helping others find their voice through adversity. We talk about how having a get shit done mindset drives her work, how alternative medicine has helped her heal, and why self-advocacy and setting boundaries are essential to healing, for those of us living with chronic pain, stay with us. Hi, Chrissy. How you going? [00:01:31] Chrissy Symeonakis: Good. How you going? [00:01:32] Kel: Yeah, I'm good. Lovely to hear your voice. [00:01:35] Chrissy Symeonakis: Yeah, you too. [00:01:35] Kel: Thanks for joining me on Phoenix Sound, its so great to have you here. So glad that we finally get to chat with each other. We've exchanged a few emails and I just felt an instant connection to you and your work and your journey, which is just truly inspiring. So for our listeners, at 30 Chrissy, While deeply immersed in hospitality marketing and events faced a life altering MS diagnosis and this pivotal moment led to Chrissy reevaluating her career and lifestyle and ultimately inspired. You to establish Creative Little Soul in 2013 and over the past 12 years, your agency's flourished evolving from a solo endeavour into a thriving digital agency with a really diverse team of creatives, all passionate professionals. And you know, it really takes a rare kind of resilience, I think and vision to not only like pivot in the face of that kind of adversity, but to also build something as well that empowers others along the way. That's just, you know, extraordinary really. [00:02:37] Chrissy Symeonakis: Thank you. [00:02:39] Kel: And in terms of, of people that you've empowered I'm including myself in that equation too. So that ripple effect continues to go out and your work is helping so many businesses find their voice as well. And your ability to blend creative with strategy, I think is a real testament to, to your passion and expertise. So welcome to Phoenix Sound Chrissy, it's lovely to have you here. Thank you. And thank you for that intro. That was really nice. You're welcome. My partner and I were researching for the interview and she was actually so excited. I, I said to her, do you wanna interview Chrissy? Because she was so empowered by, by your work and your story and bless. Yeah. Yeah. I'd love to know what originally drew you into the creative service industry, and how has that journey evolved over the past two decades? You know, technology's changed so much in that period of time and the way that we, you know, find information and, use information so I'd love to get your thoughts on that. [00:03:36] Chrissy Symeonakis: So I was always a really creative kid. So, you know, my teacher one of my school teachers that I'm still

  4. 03/14/2025

    S2 EP1: The New Frontier of Healing: Breaking Myths and Reclaiming Truth with guest Mike Sassano

    "Percys had my soul, Percys had my soul!” – Percocet by Dave East & Araabmuzik The opioid crisis didn’t just happen. It was designed. For decades, marginalised communities across the world have been over-policed, over-prescribed, and systematically left to deal with the wreckage alone. The war on drugs tore families apart—nowhere more visibly than in the U.S., where harsh sentencing laws and corporate-backed pharmaceutical lobbying continue to create cycles of addiction and incarceration. But this isn’t just an American problem. From the UK to Australia, prohibitionist policies and economic disenfranchisement have given rise to powerful mythmaking in mainstream society. We were taught to fear cannabis—told it was a gateway drug, a danger, a threat. At the same time, we were conditioned to trust the pharmaceutical industry, despite its long history of profit-driven deception. Prior generations were raised to revere the doctor—to see them as unquestionable authorities, the final word on life and death, sickness and health. Medicine was institutionalized, and with it, trust became doctrine. The idea that healing could come from outside the system—let alone from nature—was ridiculed, dismissed, even criminalized. Generations have been raised on the belief that healing comes in the form of a pill, prescribed by a doctor who knows best. That discomfort should be masked, pain should be dulled, and symptoms—rather than root causes—should be managed indefinitely. The opioid epidemic, the rise of antidepressant dependency, and the explosion of chronic illness tell the story of where that thinking has led us. But as we dislocate further from nature, we become sicker. We now know the limitations of conventional treatment—as well as its incredible breakthroughs. This isn’t about upending modern medicine but expanding it. Integrative medicine isn’t a rejection of science; it’s a recognition that science itself must evolve. Expansive medicine considers the complexity of the human being—body, mind, and environment. In The Fourth Turning, William Strauss and Neil Howe write: “The myths that endure are those that illuminate the virtues (or vices) that successive generations see recurring in their own time.” (p.75) We need to ask ourselves: * What aren’t we willing to tolerate anymore? * What don’t we want to see happen again? * What won’t we put up with? Right now, we have an opportunity to move beyond the binary of good vs evil by shining a light on truth over ideology, healing over profit, and possibility over fear. Medicine is not a war. Science is not a battleground of pharmaceuticals vs. nature, doctors vs. patients, or conventional vs. alternative. It is, and always should be, an evolving pursuit of what works—what actually heals, empowers, and restores and what doesn’t. What we’re witnessing right now is not just a shift in healthcare, it’s a reclamation of autonomy, knowledge, and connection. We are not just patients. We are people entitled to actively participate in our own lives. And we are rewriting the story. From Season One to Season Two: A Metamorphosis Hip-hop has always been the voice of the unheard. It tells the stories institutions try to bury—the consequences of failed systems, the weight of generational pain, the reality of survival when the odds are stacked against you. This isn’t just about music. It’s about truth-telling in a world where narratives are controlled by those in power. When Dave East raps about his battle with oxycodone, he’s exposing what policymakers, pharmaceutical executives, and medical gatekeepers refuse to acknowledge: addiction isn’t just chemical. It’s systemic, cultural and generational. Season One of Phoenix Sound was about exploration - a nomadic search for answers in a world where conventional medicine often fails those who need it most. I sat down with people who weren’t afraid to challenge the status quo—people who’ve risked their reputations, careers, and livelihoods to speak the truth. 🔥 Amanda Blesing – A powerhouse in women’s leadership, Amanda showed us that breaking through isn’t about waiting for permission—it’s about demanding space. 🔥 Dr. Amy Carmichael – A doctor who lost everything for standing by her medical ethics. She taught us that like COVID-19, courage is also contagious. 🔥 Dr. Susie Alegre – An international human rights lawyer fighting for the freedom to think in an era of AI where surveillance and corporate control are normalised. She reminded us that autonomy and freedom start with the mind and that yes - humans do have rights. These were people who didn’t just question the system—they stood against it, risking everything to speak truth to power. They weren’t just guests. They were signposts pointing toward something bigger. The Architects of Transformation This season, I’m speaking with people who don’t just navigate change—they ignite it. Their work is disruptive, dynamic, and at times, dangerous. But they push forward because the alternative—staying silent—isn’t an option. In the first episode of Season Two, I interviewed Mike Sassano, who, as CEO of SOMAI Pharmaceuticals, is pushing alternative medicine forward against a backdrop of institutional resistance. His company works with Cookies, a brand that’s deeply embedded in hip-hop culture, a reminder that cannabis isn’t just about medicine—it’s about identity, equity, and reclaiming freedom over our own healing. We discussed: 🔥 The fight for a future where medicine is determined by science and patient need, not Big Pharma greed. 🔥 The vital role of education in the ongoing battle against misinformation. 🔥 What a truly integrative health system, where alternative medicine is accepted and accessible, looks like. This is the metamorphosis. 🎧 Thanks for listening. 🔗 Watch Percocet: Moving forward, we will be releasing new interviews on the first Friday of every month. Please see below for timestamps, transcript and to submit questions, guest suggestions etc. KEY TOPICS AND TIME MARKERS [00:00:00] – Introduction [00:02:00] - Mike Sassano’s Background & SOMAI Pharmaceuticals [00:03:30] - Culture & Medical Cannabis: Beyond the Doctor’s Office [00:06:00] - Personal Experience with Medical Cannabis [00:07:30] - Terpenes & The Science of Medical Cannabis [00:10:00] - The Power of Big Pharma in Healthcare Mythmaking [00:22:30] - Reducing Stigma & The Fight for Medical Cannabis Equity [00:28:00] - Expanding Alternative Medicine to Match Human Complexit  [00:38:00] - The Future of Healthcare: What Comes Next? [00:44:00] - Closing Reflection  PODCAST LINKS: ·      Substack: https://phoenixsound.substack.com ·      Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/R5iZN ·      Spotify: https://shorturl.at/wLteQ ·      RSS: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1495034.rss ·      Pocketcasts: https://pca.st/2ef7kmo5 SOCIAL LINKS: ·      Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kel-myers-0790298/ ·      X: https://x.com/Kelmyer5 ·      Threads: @phoenixsoundbykelmyers  ·      Substack: https://phoenixsound.substack.com TRANSCRIPT: [00:00:00] Kel: I'm Kel Myers and this is Phoenix Sound. Today I'm joined by Mike Sassano, the CEO of SOMAI Pharmaceuticals, together we deep dive into the science behind medical cannabis. In today's conversation we focus on the groundbreaking role of terpenes in medical cannabis and how these compounds are reshaping patient care and influencing treatment outcomes. The science backed potential of full spectrum cannabis to address a wide range of health challenges from inflammation to anxiety and the ongoing tension that exists between government regulations Big Farmers Interests, and the urgent need to put patients first in this ever evolving space. Stay with us. Thanks for joining me on Phoenix Sound today, Mike. I really appreciate it. I'd love if we can start with really what inspired your journey into medical cannabis, into this space, and also, if we can start by giving the audience an overview as well of SOMAI pharmaceuticals, that'd be really helpful. [00:00:56] Mike Sassano: So, SOMAI Pharmaceuticals, was kind of created to bring, uh, cannabis products, uh, to the global markets. And then if you, uh, go back even further in history, uh, where my, where my roots are, uh, with cannabis. Um, you know, I developed, uh, and built with my own hands and my brother and I both actually, um, built over 25 cannabis facilities in the United States. And as, uh, time went on, I realised that we could make, uh, better products by running our own facilities and, uh, and, and making better products for the patients because in the early form it was medical markets. Um, And then, uh, taking that knowledge of creating better products, better flower, uh, for those medical patients, metamorphosised, um, as the market developed. And then I saw the development of the medical markets in the global markets, and I said, that's another place where I believe we can have an advantage, um, to help patients to get better products for those communities. And so, Um, now Somai is 134 employees and we've reached 12 countries and growing, um, with our products and, uh, we've gone from, uh, simply making the most, uh, comprehensive portfolio for extracts to, um, to now owning our own cultivation and, um, Uh, not only growing for some of the best brands in the world like cookies, but also bringing flowers across the global market. So we've, we've expanded quite well, um, to fit the shoes of a top vertically integrated multi country operator. [00:02:36] Kel: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I have heard of cookies, the brand. quite into hip hop and I've heard that brand referenced a few times by rappers. Um, yeah, just to see that growth and obviously Australia's seen significant growth in his medical cannabis market. Ibis world. that be

  5. 02/14/2025

    S1 EP13: Lucy Haslam on Purpose, Power, and the Fight for Patient Acceptance

    SHOW NOTES: Watch 'In Plain Sight' documentary demo story here Support funding for 'In Plain Sight' here Learn more about United In Compassion here TRANSCRIPT: [00:00:00] Kel: I'm Kel Myers and this is Phoenix Sound. Today I'm joined by Lucy Haslam, retired nurse, health advocate, and co-founder of United in Compassion, the driving force behind medical cannabis reform in Australia. Lucy's journey is one of incredible determination, transforming personal loss into a movement that continues to change and sustain lives. But a decade on, significant challenges still remain in making this new class of medicine truly accessible to those who need it. So now, Lucy is leading the way to launch Australia's first public education campaign on medical cannabis through the documentary In Plain Sight. The film will explore the history, science, and politics of medical cannabis whilst exposing the barriers that still exist, from stigma to misinformation and flawed policies. Today we dive into Lucy's journey, the fight for change, and why this documentary is so urgent. Stay with us. You're joining us as I speak with Lucy about the incredible impact of her work and the change she's helped spark. Let's jump in. The change that you've helped spark is really remarkable. And I guess what began as a deeply personal journey has blossomed into now a national movement that continues to make such a meaningful impact on countless lives across the country. And I think it's one thing to face. Um, any kind of adversity but it's another to transform that Into something to help change other people's lives for the better and I think that's nothing short of a miracle to be honest and I just wanted to give you your flowers to be honest to start with because I did, because I just think it's really important that we remember the people that have paved the way. And yeah, I was, I'm just so, yeah, awestruck by everything that you do and continue to do. So, I'd love it if we could start with maybe you sharing with us how your personal experience led to founding United in Compassion. [00:01:59] Lucy: Okay, well thanks Kel for saying all that you've actually helped me just in hearing that to remember why I did this in the first place because I kind of lose sight, I suppose it's been a decade now and sometimes you lose sight and you become a bit frustrated and disillusioned, so thanks for saying that. So I guess my personal journey I never expected to be doing what I'm doing. But adversity, you know, sort of puts you in places where you have to change tack, I suppose. So for us it started in 2010 when our youngest son Dan was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. Dan was he was just 20 at the time and very much a kid. He was a beautiful person. He was going to uni. He was living the dream, excited about life, one of those people that wanted to do everything. He, you know, he was musical, he was adventurous, he wanted to travel, he just wanted, he was sporty, he just, he just loved life. And so when he was diagnosed, really out of the blue on the 5th of February in 2010. Our lives changed his certainly did, but our whole family's lives changed. And you don't expect that you're going to suddenly be facing a terminal illness in your youngest child when they've got You were thinking that they had so much to be looking forward to. So Dan obviously started on really rigorous cancer treatment immediately. He had five years of continuous chemotherapy. He had lots of major surgeries including bowel resections, liver resections. His body was basically riddled with cancer and it was always going to be a fight. But you keep hope front and center when that's your child and you try not to let yourself go down those pathways of thinking that you've got to be preparing for the end. But I think instinctively I knew that was, that was there based on my background in nursing. I certainly wasn't expecting to become a medicinal cannabis advocate, but by 2014 Dan was in such a bad way. Basically every side effect that you could have from chemotherapy he had, and then some, despite the doctors telling us that, you know, chemotherapy is so much more manageable these days, you know, don't expect that you'll get all these symptoms. Well, I think Dan pretty well got every one of them. And. By 2014, he really, he had no quality of life whatsoever, he, he literally was he was just hanging on for dear life. He was not able to maintain an appetite or his weight, he was extremely anxious, very worried about what was coming next, and very worried about us, and all of that. And, his, his he made good friends with another person in Tamworth who had bowel cancer. He was actually a local businessman and that businessman eventually said to Dan that he thought he should try cannabis because during his cancer journey it had helped him a lot and Dan said no, not going to do it. Mum and Dad won't ever agree. You know, at our, for our background, mine was in nursing and my husband's was in policing and most of his career had been in the drug squad. So we were at that time very anti cannabis, I've got to say. very, very much the way we found the rest of the community. But luckily for me, his friend contacted me and said, Look, Lucy, Dan said no to this, but I want to, I want to put it by you. Would you be interested in me giving you some cannabis for Dan to try? And I said without hesitation, absolutely, yes, please, please bring it round. And we then had to convince Dan that he needed to use cannabis just at least to give it a try. And I will never forget the day that he tried it when he had his next round of chemotherapy which was fortnightly at that stage. My husband rolled in the joint and Dan had a couple of puffs on that joint at a time when he was normally throwing up, the colour came back into his face, and he asked for something to eat. And that was just so incredibly different to what we had been going through for years. And it, it really did give us some hope that he would get some quality of life back. He began to eat better, he stopped vomiting, he began to sleep better. He eventually wanted to start to make the oil because we started to do some exploration on the internet and saw that many people were using it in oil form to try and treat their cancer, so he did that making his own oil from cannabis that I would buy. And, you know, things like his mouth ulcers cleared up which, you know, it doesn't sound like a big thing, but when you've got a mouth full of cavernous mouth ulcers that rarely heal between between rounds of chemotherapy, you know, that's a, that's a big deal. And, [00:07:11] Kel: yeah, absolutely. [00:07:13] Lucy: But, you know, this was very challenging for us because this challenged everything I, I really thought or believed or had been taught about medical cannabis. And so I just, I just thought I've just got to know more. I've got to, I've got to understand why this is working. And at that time, there'd been a recent Senate inquiry in New South Wales. The year before there'd been a Senate inquiry and a couple of my local politicians had been involved on that Senate inquiry. And I reached out to them, one of whom was been our solicitor and they came and saw me and they said, look, we, we unanimously recommended that cannabis be reintroduced, but the health minister had thrown cold water on it and said kind of basically over her dead body. And so, you know, another opportunity had been missed. And I reached out to people like Alex Wodak, who was an addiction specialist with St. Vincent's Hospital and said, Look, my son's using cannabis now. Is he going to come to any harm? You know, what should I do? We, we, we're sort of searching the internet trying to find answers and he was wonderful. He contacted me and he said, look, Lucy, firstly, he won't come to any harm. I mean, how stupid, what a silly question. Dan was dying anyway. But that's kind of where my head was at. I just didn't want him to come to any harm from using this. And he said, look, you know, I've been banging on about cannabis for so long now, you know, the politicians just think I'm an idiot. But you know, maybe they'll listen to you as a mother. And, and I just thought, well, this is the right thing to do. And it just began from there, I guess. I didn't make a big decision. I'm going to run a. medical cannabis campaign or anything like that. I just wanted to help my son. So it was, it was pretty clear and simple. And, you know, the best thing that I thought that I could really do because I found it was so challenging personally, I thought, well, people are either going to love us or they're going to loath us, loath us. And It was really hard, it was important to me that, that people knew what we were doing and why we were doing it, and so I decided to go public about it, and we lived in a conservative country community in Tamworth in New South Wales, and I went to my local members and I told them, like the state and federal member. They were kind of shocked and horrified at first, you know, and I went to the local newspaper and spoke to the editor and told him what I wanted to do and, and he said, look, I will support you any way I can. A lot of people knew us in the town, they knew the kind of people that we were, they knew Dan, he'd been the school captain at one of the largest high schools there. And so, you know, I, I thought it was risky, but I thought I just wanted to, I wanted people to know that we were doing what we were doing for the reasons we were doing it and that perhaps we all needed to think twice about medicinal cannabis. And I guess just luckily for us, they they supported us. overwhelmingly. It was quite incredible to be part of it. The local community ran a campaign called Doing It For Dan. They, they made it very public and they really supported us. Local councillors supported us. The local police supported us. And it took away a lot of that fear because we really were expecti

  6. 01/31/2025

    S1 EP12: High Science® & Full-Spectrum Living with guest Stuart Marsh

    For decades, the conversation around plant-based medicine has been clouded by stigma, misinformation, and regulatory roadblocks. But that’s starting to change. Stuart Marsh—Chief Commercial Officer of Cannim and a key contributor to the groundbreaking docuseries High Science®—joins me to discuss how science, patient stories, and a shifting cultural landscape are transforming the way we think about full-spectrum health. We talk about the synergistic effect vs. the entourage effect, the economic case for new treatment approaches (spoiler: it could save the NHS £12-15K per patient, per year), and why word-of-mouth is outpacing government messaging when it comes to education. Stuart explains how a 90-year-old in a retirement home might be more open to new therapies than your local regulator, the challenges of navigating strict advertising laws, and why the research-backed approach is the only way to move forward. Also in this episode: — The real meaning of full-spectrum medicine (and why it’s not just about THC or CBD percentages)— Why big pharma is struggling to adapt to individualised, plant-based solutions.— How the TGA’s heavy-handed regulations make it nearly impossible for providers to educate patients.— The ripple effect of healthcare choices—on families, communities, and economies.— My own experience of navigating a broken system as a patient with endometriosis—and what I wish I had known sooner. It’s a conversation about science, policy, and the power of patient-led change—and it’s one you won’t want to miss. EPISODE LINKS High Science® | S1 E4 - Medical: Big Pharma Alternative: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P5o5jS2INc Cannim's website: https://cannim.com/ Stuart's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-marsh-503a762/ Learn more about the Endocannabinoid System SHOW UPDATES Since recording this episode at the start of January - Cannareviews has returned! Founder Steven Ng shared this update with us: 'After a few months of difficulty, Canna Reviews is live again for patients to continue educating themselves about alternative medicines. Patients can keep having proactive discussions with their health care practitioners armed with a bit more knowledge and supported by their community. Canna Reviews has worked with the TGA to understand the regulatory requirements of such a patient focused platform and is glad to be back. The Canna Reviews you know and love is the same as before bar a few minor restrictions and changes. It's had a fresh design update and most information is still available except for pages on how to access doctors/clinics. Patients now have to validate their accounts before gaining access. We look forward to continuing to support everyone!' TRANSCRIPT [00:00:00] Kel Myers: I'm Kel Myers, and this is Phoenix Sound. Today, I'm joined by Stuart Marsh, Chief Commercial Officer at Cannim, and a passionate advocate for innovation in healthcare. As a key contributor to the groundbreaking new doco series, High Science, which explores the evolving role of cannabis in healthcare, Stu and his team are leading the way in this field. Together we discussed how HIGH SCIENCE is breaking down stigmas surrounding cannabis through relatable education, storytelling and humour. The importance of ongoing research in shaping perceptions and building trust in this emerging field, and why listening to patients experiences is key to evolving healthcare and delivering real world impact. Stay with us. Now, if there's one thing British expats in Australia would love to ask each other when they meet, it's where you're from. And sure enough, after a quick sound check. Yeah, you sound fine. You sound great. Do I sound okay? [00:00:55] Stuart Marsh: You sound very northern. [00:00:58] Kel Myers: Yes, yeah, it's not left me at all. [00:01:01] Stuart Marsh: Where are you from? [00:01:02] Kel Myers: Originally from, yeah, the North West. So, I grew up just outside of, between like Preston and Bolton. [00:01:09] Stuart Marsh: Oh, yeah. [00:01:10] Kel Myers: Yeah, yeah, and then lived in Manchester, like after uni. [00:01:13] Stuart Marsh: How long have you been here? [00:01:15] Kel Myers: I've been here for 12 years. So yeah, the accent hasn't shifted at all. It's it's here to stay I think. [00:01:21] Stuart Marsh: I know that feeling. [00:01:22] Kel Myers: Yeah, you sound great. Obviously you're from the Northern Hemisphere as well, Stu. [00:01:26] Stuart Marsh: Yeah, yeah. I'm from, I'm from the opposite end of the country to you. I'm from Royal Tunbridge Wells originally. Um, yeah, but I've been here 20 years, so it's funny. I had two reactions from my friends to, to the, uh, High Science episode. One was just people taking the piss out of me for one second of me wearing a hairnet and the other, which is nice of them, you know, and then the other one was my English friends going, Oh, you sound so Australian. To which I replied, I have lived here for 20 years. [00:02:00] Kel Myers: Yeah, [00:02:01] Stuart Marsh: yeah, [00:02:02] Kel Myers: yeah, that's it. Thanks for joining me Stu.. And welcome to Phoenix Sound. Talking about medical cannabis, it's such a fascinating topic to explore and it's one that I feel, has kind of found me in a way. One of my earlier guests Sam Costa, she's a nurse practitioner and she's launched an app for women's health called CHARLI and she said to me something quite insightful. She's like, where you start isn't often where you end up and I guess in our journies that's been literally the case. I'm so happy to be, having these conversations with people like yourself and I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Kylie O'Brien about the women's health study that Cannim is doing and exploring whether medical cannabis can help alleviate period pain, which is an amazing thing to be exploring and an area that, is so under resourced and underfunded. So it was really such a delightful chat with her. She was great and you guys are like breaking new ground, aren't you? Medcan is transforming the way we approach healthcare. It's such an exciting time, isn't it? [00:03:02] Stuart Marsh: Well, I think it's really interesting from a women's point of view as well, women's health point of view, because what we know about the endocannabinoid system is that the second highest number of receptors is actually in the female reproductive system, and so for women, I think it's certainly a new and novel way to approach some of the traditional issues that they've had that modern science has not been able to resolve for them. [00:03:27] Kel Myers: That's definitely something that I've experienced in my own patient journey with endometriosis, severe endometriosis, and my partner has endo and chronic pelvic pain. So it's been quite the journey for us in terms of understanding the science. And I know Cannim's focus a lot around the science of the products and the quality and it's interesting it's a rabbit hole, like, we continue to go down, to be honest there's always something to kind of learn and know, and I think that the overarching thing for us is just to know that, with more traditional big pharma medications, like opioids, that are focused on masking the pain, the Med Can is focused on modulating the pain and making sure that, it's manageable and has genuine therapeutic benefits that these pills just don't have. We are at, an interesting, juncture are we, you know, in healthcare and obviously you are the Chief Commercial Officer. You're the one like juggling all of this I'm looking forward to hearing your perspective on managing the complexities of all of this and all these regions frameworks and everything's evolving in different countries at different paces so, how does that impact the way that you communicate the benefits of the medicine and What challenges do you face like say here in Australia when it comes to like walking the line of adhering to the TGA guidelines whilst ensuring that patients and clinicians understand the value of medicinal cannabis? [00:04:49] Stuart Marsh: Yeah it's an interesting conundrum to be in really. We often talk about kind of going to the first part of your point, it's such a nascent industry. We often talk about, you know, we're driving a car down a road that is being built as we drive, right? And we've got an end destination that we want to get to, but we might have to take a few detours and, you know, side roads and interesting places to get to where, where we need to be. And that's the whole industry. And I think some people can navigate that effectively, and other companies find that very, very difficult, you know, to have a set idea. And if they don't get where they're going, then they really struggle. So I think dealing in a, an entirely new industries, you know, certainly an interesting challenge from a communications point of view, as you rightly said, I mean, you go to California and you can say entirely different things to what you can say here in Australia, but it still comes down to the fact that you know, we're dealing with medicine and we're dealing with patient health and you, you can't be flippant about that. You, you can't, you have to be very, very conscious of not making any kind of claims that are not fully substantiated, and I think that's something we're very, very conscious of and that's why I have a bit of sympathy, really, for what the TGA are doing in Australia, because, you know, there's a lot of excitement and there's a lot of talk about, you know, they should be building the industry and helping us get bigger. That's not their job. Their job isn't to make an industry be there or not be there. Their job is to look after patient health and patient welfare. There have been some well reported incidences where patients probably have not been looked after the way they should have been. People are just with people just chasing, you know, some easy money. And I think it's fundamentally important that we recognise the n

  7. 11/21/2024

    S1 E11: Breaking Barriers: Eric Chan on Revolutionising Medical Cannabis Access in Australia (UPDATED)

    For more information on the COMPASS Program: www.cannabiswarehouse.com.au/compass www.ausmca.org TRANSCRIPT Kel: I'm Kel Myers and this is Phoenix Sound. My guest today is Eric Chan, COO of Cannabis Warehouse, an end to end logistics business aiming to bring Australia's gold standard medical cannabis system to the world. Eric has also played a crucial role in launching COMPASS, Australia's first centralised Compassionate access program, with the goal of making medical cannabis accessible and affordable to everyone eligible for it. In our conversation, we explore what inspired the creation of the COMPASS Program and how it all works, the power of industry collaboration and putting our minds together to create something bigger than ourselves, and what the future of the medical cannabis space looks like, both in Australia and throughout the world. Stay with us. Welcome to Phoenix Sound. It's a real pleasure to have you here today. I mean on this podcast, we explore ideas, that challenge the status quo around endometriosis. And one promising alternative to conventional treatment that we're seeing emerging more and more is medicinal cannabis which has been getting a lot of attention lately from all angles for its potential to provide meaningful relief. And the problem is, medicinal cannabis isn't cheap and the high cost I guess, of access is locking many people out of experiencing its therapeutic benefits. Now, the COMPASS program, which you founded is seeking to address this inequity and is now doing that in a very tangible way. So I'd really love to start there, Eric, with what inspired the creation of the COMPASS program and how did this transformation come about for you? Eric Chan: I really appreciate you having me on Kel to speak about the Compassionate Access Scheme. And you're absolutely right. Medicinal cannabis is a wonderful medicine, but can be extremely costly. And I would love to claim all the credit for founding the COMPASS Scheme. But in reality, the story of the COMPASS Scheme starts with AMCA, the Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association. Have you heard of AMCA before? Kel: I've heard of AMCA, but for people listening who might not have, I think it's worth, yeah, maybe explaining what that is. That'd be helpful. Eric Chan: Yeah, absolutely. So, AMCA is like I said, the Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association, and it's one of the first associations representing medicinal cannabis in Australia since legalisation.  And it's history is really tied into the birth of the medical framework because Lucy Haslam and her story with her son suffering, you know, severe illness, severe a palliative and terminal illness, required medicinal cannabis to alleviate some of the suffering that he was experiencing. And none of the other medications were working well. And it was medicinal cannabis that helped him. And they had to get it obviously illegally and through these back-end channels, which spurred Lucy to go to the government and campaign for the medicinal framework. And it is because of her and her works and obviously the collaboration with all the people along the way that medicinal cannabis as a medical framework exists in Australia. So we have a lot to thank Lucy and AMCA for, and on that particular train of collaboration, as well as doing for the greater good, they saw the need for a centralised Compassionate access scheme, because right now in the medicinal cannabis industry, there was for a while only a Compassionate access scheme accessible via the brands themselves, but nothing centralised. So you can imagine as a patient, if you've got multiple products in your treatment plan and you needed financial assistance, you'd have to go and plead your case to each and every brand. Ask them for help, and they come back to you with varying degrees of help, which is exactly what we saw with patients. Some got one bottle free, some got, you know, X percentage off for a limited amount of time. Some got only you know, support over a six month period, but then had it cut off, which in some ways is setting them up for failure. I'm sure we've all, you know, seen and know people who are in similar situations like this. And so the centralised aspect of the Compassionate access scheme was the idea that AMCA wanted to push forward. And unfortunately, while this idea was trying to be brought into fruition, the concept and the strategy was to look to the government for help and we know how challenging that can be right. And to be fair, though, that the health minister's office Before the changeover, I think it was can't even remember his name, Greg Hunt or something like that. He was very open to the idea and very open to medicinal cannabis and was willing to entertain funding the centralised Compassionate access scheme. However, once the changeover to the new minister, maybe because of post COVID, maybe because of, you know, the economic climate. They decided to table even reviewing the proposal and it was at last year's United in Compassion Conference where the AMCA board members announced that rejection and the tabling of the proposal that I was sitting in the audience thinking to myself, Hmm, this problem doesn't seem too hard to solve because as a distributor, which is what my company Cannabis Warehouse does, we distribute medicinal cannabis to pharmacies. We thought that this should be an easy problem to solve because we already handle the Compassionate access schemes for the individual brands. But if we put our minds together and just think of a good process and perhaps some good digital infrastructure to handle this centralisation aspect, we could make this come to life. And lo and behold, in November slash December of 2023, we came up with the idea, put it to the AMCA board, got the doctors involved that's part of the clinic Cannabis Clinicians Australia, which is a subgroup of AMCA, and we were able to run a pilot program for six months. Kel: Absolutely incredible. I just love your can do attitude, Eric. And I know that you said, Oh, yeah, it's kind of no big deal to put it together. But I think it actually is. I think it's a it's a big undertaking, and it requires a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of focus, like you say, a lot of collaboration. And, you know, it's it's a testament to everyone's effort and to your leadership, really, to galvanize something as powerful as this. You know, which kind of brings me to the next question because when we talked on the phone for the first time, you shared how someone had rung up asking if the COMPASS program was actually a myth, which is kind of sad in a way, isn't it? That that we don't, think that these things are possible, and that's yeah, that's, that's maybe a conversation for another day. But, but you know, the cannabis industry, as we know, has been plagued with a lot of misinformation. It can make it very difficult for patients to find trustworthy sources of guidance, and I'm wondering what your thoughts are on that and someone who's so heavily involved in the space of why you think it's so challenging to get like clear Accurate messaging across and what advice would you give to someone who's like skeptical about Med can? Maybe they're on the fence But then they read an article and then they get scared or they just don't really know how to navigate safely through the process It's a couple of questions ever. I'm really interested to hear your take on that Eric Chan: Yeah, absolutely. So on the first point about the patients ringing up our business line, and please remember, we're distributors, so we don't normally deal with patients, but they had heard about the COMPASS Program, and that was one of those key moments where that patient asked exactly that question. I heard on the grapevine that this is a Compassionate access scheme. Is it a myth? And you are absolutely right. It really gobsmacked our team that we are in this space where it's so challenging to find this level of support, especially again, because this medication is an unapproved therapeutic good, therefore is not part of the PBS scheme. And though it helps many people, it is a treatment that requires usually, you know, two or three products from an oil from CBD to a flower to a vape cart, like something like that, that matches their needs, which sometimes can go into, you know, the hundreds of dollars. And so it's just another marker for us to really signify that we're doing the right thing here. And we made the program really easy because coming out of pilot, since we launched we went from 60 patients being served during pilot to now over 150 patients in the last two and a half, three months. Kel: Wow. Eric Chan: Yeah, it's amazing, right? And we went from eight brands contributing and producers contributing to the pool of medication to now 14 or 15. And this just, again, signifies that regardless of all the stigma and all the challenges that we've heard about medicinal cannabis and the business around cannabis and the business in general around healthcare, which can cause a lot of these issues which probably leads into your next question, but just the business of cannabis is one thing we all know that business is required to move industries forward. They have to be self sustaining. They have to be able to generate money. And in other words, it's own life force in order to keep moving and growing. We all sort of understand that, but I think what people forget is that in healthcare, there is a measure of moral and ethical requirements. That it's not just plain straight business and the COMPASS program looks to address that because we keep the submissions and the approvals of cases within the health care professional hands like the way that it works is that the patient's doctor actually submits a case to the COMPASS program where a panel of their peers. Nurse pracs and doctors will review the case, and if it gets approved, they get their treatment taken care of for six month blocks at a time. And fortu

  8. 10/10/2024

    S1 E10: How Women Can Negotiate Powerfully in Health, Business and Beyond with guest Amanda Blesing

    In this transformative episode of Phoenix Sound, I sit down with Amanda Blesing, a powerhouse in women's leadership and negotiation. Amanda’s mission is clear: to help women rise from the ashes of outdated systems and claim their rightful place in every sphere—whether it’s in the boardroom or the doctor’s office. Together, we discuss how to ignite your personal transformation by harnessing the power of negotiation, setting audacious goals, and showing up as an equal partner in every interaction. Amanda also introduces three unique strengths that women possess, which—when activated—can fuel our rise to success. Here are three takeaways from this episode: 1. Negotiation is Your Catalyst for Change Amanda reveals why women are naturally skilled negotiators and how you can ignite this ability to transform conversations, creating powerful outcomes in both your career and healthcare. 2. Set Goals that Light a Fire Under You Whether in life, work, or health, setting bold, audacious goals is what drives transformation. Amanda shares how this mindset propelled her to new heights and why it’s essential for women aiming to break barriers. 3. Forge Partnerships, Not Power Imbalances In any high-stakes scenario—whether it's with a healthcare provider or as a corporate leader—approach it as a partnership. Amanda explains how this mindset shift can spark better results and ensure you’re respected for your expertise. Curious about the three "feminine leadership superpowers" Amanda shares that can fuel your personal and professional transformation? Tune in to the full episode to discover these hidden strengths and learn how to ignite them in every aspect of your life. This episode is packed with insights to help you rise, transform, and lead with confidence. Don’t miss this chance to fan the flames of your potential and become the Phoenix in your own story! For more information about Amanda's work: https://www.amandablesing.com Get full access to Phoenix Sound by Kel Myers at phoenixsound.substack.com/subscribe

See All (17)

About

Phoenix Sound is a space for enduring conversations that ignite transformation. Each episode features grounded, intelligent voices who have faced adversity, challenged systems, and reshaped their lives—where resilience meets truth, and sparks of change catch fire. phoenixsound.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Where resilience meets truth.
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kel Myers
  • Show Website
    Phoenix Sound by Kel Myers