CRxOWN Talks

CRxOWN Talks

The CRxOWN Talks MiniCast is a 10-minute (ok... maybe more) dose of health realness. Hosted by a Black woman Nurse Practitioner, I have real conversations on diabetes to sexual health and everything in between. Each episode features health experts who care about Black health, and break it down in a way that actually makes sense. Whether you’re a healthcare consumer or provider, you’ll walk away with something new, something to take home with you and change, and probably a laugh or two. We bust myths and answer the questions you wish you’d asked your provider so you can protect your health.

  1. 1d ago

    Say my name: How to Advocate for Yourself When Healthcare Isn't Listening

    “Say my name, say my name…” 🎶 Every patient deserves to be seen, heard, and believed. Yet too many people—especially in Black communities—leave healthcare appointments feeling dismissed, rushed, or unheard. In this episode of CRxOWN Talks, we're talking about one of the most important skills you can have: self-advocacy in healthcare. Whether you're navigating a new diagnosis, asking questions about your treatment plan, or speaking up when something doesn't feel right, your voice matters. Joining me is Maria Jasanya, MSN, RNC, CLC, CNM, CNE, a nurse educator, certified nurse midwife, and passionate advocate for patients and nurses alike. Together, we discuss: 🗣️ Why self-advocacy can improve your health outcomes🤝 How providers can create space for patients to feel heard About Our Guest:Maria Jasanya, MSN, RNC, CLC, CNM, CNE is a Nurse Educator, Adjunct Nursing Faculty, Certified Nurse Midwife, Nurse Freelance Writer, and has recently become a guest on several podcasts. She received her BSN from CUNY Hunter College in 2007, MSN in Nurse Midwifery from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in 2012, and a post-MSN in Nursing Education from SUNY Stony Brook in 2019. She has been a Registered Nurse for over 15 years specializing in maternal-child and general medical-surgical nursing. Maria currently serves full time as the Nurse Residency Coordinator (NRP) and Registered Nurse Instructor at a multi-site academic teaching hospital in Brooklyn, New York. She has worked with several companies as a Subject Matter Expert to participate in the review and development of nursing curriculum, job aides, and policies; formulate NCLEX-style questions; create modules for nursing textbooks; fact-check nursing information; and write nursing blogs. Maria is passionate about educating nurses, promoting self and patient advocacy, and improving maternal and newborn health outcomes. Your health is too important to stay silent. Ask the questions. Share your concerns. Trust your instincts. You are your best advocate. 🎧 Tune in to Say My Name and learn how finding your voice in healthcare can change your outcomes. #CRxOWNTalks #SayMyName #PatientAdvocacy #HealthEquity #BlackHealthMatters #HealthcareAdvocacy #BlackNP #EmpoweredPatients

    17 min
  2. Apr 15

    Run the World: Menopause, Brain Fog & High-Achieving Women

    “Who run the world? Girls.” 🎶But what happens when the women who run everything start feeling… off? In this episode of CRxOWN Talks, we’re diving into the intersection of menopause, brain health, and high performance — because brain fog, burnout, and hormonal shifts can hit even the most accomplished women. Joining me is Dr. Agena Renee, a board-certified OB-GYN, speaker, and coach who is redefining how we talk about midlife and mental wellbeing. Together, we unpack what’s really going on when focus fades, emotions shift, and the mental load becomes overwhelming — and why so many high-achieving women feel like they’re struggling in silence. In this episode, we discuss:🧠 Brain fog, executive dysfunction, and cognitive changes🔥 Burnout, mood shifts, and mental health in midlife🧬 The link between menopause and late ADHD diagnoses💼 How high-achieving women can protect their wellbeing and still thrive About Our Guest:Dr. Agena Renee is a board-certified OBGYN, speaker, and coach who is transforming the way we talk about midlife, menopause, and mental wellbeing. After more than a decade in academic medicine as a clinician, educator, and residency leader, Dr. Agena shifted her career to focus on her true passion, supporting high-achieving women through the complex intersection of hormonal transitions, leadership, and neurodiversity. Her brand, Dr. Agena Renee, is built on both clinical expertise and lived experience. During her own perimenopausal journey, she was diagnosed with ADHD and faced profound burnout and depression, which sparked a personal rebirth and a mission to help other women navigate these same challenges with clarity, confidence, and compassion. Dr. Agena is now a sought-after speaker and coach who teaches women — and the organizations that employ them — how to better understand the cognitive and emotional shifts of menopause, including mood changes, executive dysfunction, and late neurodivergent diagnoses. Her warm, relatable, and deeply insightful approach empowers women to lighten their mental load, protect their wellbeing, and thrive in their careers and lives. Contact Dr. Agena Renee: Website: https://doctoragenarenee.com This episode is your reminder: you’re not losing your edge — your body is asking for a new strategy. 🎧 Tune in to Run the World (Girls) — because high-achieving women deserve support at every stage. #CRxOWNTalks #RunTheWorld #MenopauseMatters #BrainFog #BlackWomensHealth #HighAchievingWomen #HormoneHealth #MentalWellbeing #BlackNP

    23 min
  3. Mar 25

    Listen: Why Providers Need to Hear Black Women on HIV Prevention

    Beyonce said... “You won’t break my soul"… But not being heard in healthcare just might break trust.🖤 In this episode of CRxOWN Talks, we’re having a necessary conversation about HIV prevention in Black women — and the critical gaps that continue to put our communities at risk. Black women are speaking. Asking questions. Seeking care.So why are so many still being overlooked? Joining me is Dr. Christina Madison, a nationally recognized clinical pharmacist and public health expert, to break down where healthcare is missing the mark — and what providers must do differently to truly serve Black women. Together, we discuss:🧠 Why Black women are often left out of HIV prevention conversations💊 The role of PrEP and why access and education matter⚕🏾 How bias and communication gaps impact care📣 What it means to truly listen and center Black women in healthcare About Our Guest:Dr. Christina Madison is a nationally recognized clinical pharmacist, public health expert, and healthcare media contributor with over 20 years of experience. As the Founder and CEO of The Public Health Pharmacist, she specializes in culturally competent health communication, with a focus on HIV prevention, STI awareness, and advancing health equity. Dr. Madison is a trusted voice in media and public health, known for amplifying critical conversations around Black women’s health and empowering communities through evidence-based education. This episode is about more than prevention — it’s about being heard, being respected, and being prioritized. #CRxOWNTalks #HIVPrevention #BlackWomensHealth #ListenToBlackWomen #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #BlackNP

    27 min
  4. Mar 11

    Pressure: The Silent Killer

    Ari Lennox sang about a different kind of pressure, but on this episode of CRxOWN Talks we’re talking about the kind that can quietly damage your body — high blood pressure. Often called the silent killer, hypertension can develop without symptoms while increasing the risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other serious health issues. In this episode, we break down what blood pressure numbers actually mean, why hypertension impacts Black communities at higher rates, and what steps you can take to protect your heart. Joining me is LaToya Lucas, MSN, ANP-C, a nurse practitioner, educator, and health equity advocate who is passionate about expanding access to culturally responsive care. Together we discuss:❤️ Why hypertension is known as the silent killer🩺 How to understand and track your blood pressure numbers🥗 Lifestyle and prevention strategies that can make a difference Guest Bio:LaToya Lucas, MSN, ANP-C, is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student, nurse practitioner, educator, and health equity advocate based in Greensboro, North Carolina. She is the Founder and CEO of Lucas Exceptional Healthcare & Consultation, a nurse practitioner–owned primary care practice dedicated to delivering patient-centered, culturally responsive care and expanding access to underserved communities in the Piedmont Triad region. She is also the founder and executive director of Simone Cares Center for Health Equity, a nonprofit organization in Greensboro, NC. With advanced training in adult/gerontological primary care and nursing education, LaToya blends clinical excellence with academic leadership. Her scholarly work centers on health equity, digital equity as a social determinant of health, and culturally competent obesity screening for African American women. A passionate community leader, LaToya is deeply engaged in civic and service organizations and is committed to empowering women, strengthening families, and advancing justice in healthcare. Above all, she is a proud wife, mother, and grandmother who believes in leading with purpose, faith, and service. 🎧 Tune in to Pressure on CRxOWN Talks — because knowing your numbers could save your life. #CRxOWNTalks #Pressure #Hypertension #SilentKiller #BlackHealthMatters #KnowYourNumbers #HeartHealth #HealthEquity #BlackNP

    22 min
  5. Feb 25

    WAP: Wellness and Pelvic Power

    Pelvic health is something we don’t talk about enough — but it impacts everything from bladder control to intimacy. In this episode of CRxOWN Talks, we’re breaking the silence on pelvic floor dysfunction and what your body may be trying to tell you. Joining me is Dr. Sha’Rose Erion, PT, DPT, who helps us unpack why leaking is common but not normal, when to seek pelvic therapy, and why many people are doing Kegels completely wrong. In this episode we discuss:💪🏾 What pelvic floor therapy is❗ Signs it’s time to see a pelvic PT🧠 Common mistakes people make with Kegels Guest Bio:Dr. Sha’Rose Erion, PT, DPT is the owner and CEO of Rose Pelvic Physiotherapy, a pelvic floor physical therapy clinic in Huntsville, AL. Dr. Sha’Rose is a Florida Girl, born and raised, an avid Miami Dolphins fan, and a lover of foods of all kinds. Her passion is in providing under-served and marginalized communities with the education and affirming care they deserve through wholeness and authenticity. Dr. Sha’Rose graduated with her Bachelor of Science from the University of South Florida, in Tampa, her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine, in Austin, and has trained directly under manual physiotherapists in Queensland, Australia. She has written for and been featured in multiple magazines and is a host and public speaker on all things health/wellness. To sum up Dr. Sha’Rose, she is a woman that enjoys her family, some sunshine, travel, and a hot plate of food. Pelvic health is whole-body health — and it’s time we talked about it. Check out Dr. Erion's lube she mentioned in the show https://www.rosepelvicphysio.com/product-page/oh-asis-personal-lubricant#pelvicfloortherapy #pelvicPT #PT #urinaryleakage #menopause #cancer #intimacy

    20 min
  6. Feb 11

    Survivor: Breast Cancer, Strength, and the Power of Lived Experience

    “I’m a survivor, I’m not gon’ give up…” 🎶 For the first time on CRxOWN Talks, we center something just as powerful as clinical knowledge: lived experience is expertise. In this special episode, we’re joined by Niasha A. Fray, MA, MSPH — breast cancer survivor, researcher, and health equity advocate — who shares her personal journey through diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, along with the emotional and family dynamics that often go unspoken. Together, we discuss:💗 The emotional reality of hearing the words “you have cancer”💊 Navigating treatments and the physical toll of survivorship👨‍👩‍👧 How breast cancer reshapes family roles and support systems About Our Guest:Niasha A. Fray, MA, MSPH is a breast cancer survivor, social and behavioral researcher, and health equity professional whose work centers the lived experiences of Black communities navigating health systems. She is the Founder and CEO of Niasha Fray Consulting LLC and host of the podcast Questions You Didn’t Ask, where she leads candid, evidence-informed conversations about health, trust, and social justice. Her scholarship and advocacy related to breast cancer survivorship and racial disparities in care have been featured in peer-reviewed journals and national platforms, including NPR and Duke University media outlets. To hear more from Niasha, tune in to her episode “Ageless Intimacy” on Questions You Didn’t Ask, which we discuss during this conversation. This episode is a reminder that healing is shaped not only by medicine, but also by story, community, and the power of voices that have lived the journey. #CRxOWNTalks #BreastCancerAwareness #Survivor #LivedExperienceIsExpertise #BlackWomensHealth #CancerSurvivor #HealthEquity #BlackNP

    21 min
  7. Jan 28

    I'll Be There: School Counselor's role in student emotional health

    In this episode of CRxOWN Talks, we explore the power of presence, listening, and emotional safety in schools with Reverend Keia R. Boyd — an ordained minister, certified social worker, grief educator, and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Specialist with over 20 years of experience in mental health, education, and community-based practice. Reverend Boyd is the founder of Living Beyond and Graced for Grief, two initiatives dedicated to providing grief education, SEL-aligned programming, and healing-centered support for individuals and organizations navigating loss and life transitions. Her work integrates evidence-informed social-emotional learning frameworks, trauma-responsive practices, and culturally responsive approaches to address how grief impacts learning, behavior, leadership, and overall well-being. In this conversation, we discuss why listening is one of the most powerful tools school counselors can offer, how grief shows up in students’ lives, and what it truly means to create grief-aware and emotionally safe school environments. Reverend Boyd also shares how schools, districts, faith-based institutions, and community organizations can work together to build cultures of compassion, resilience, and emotional literacy. Grounded in both professional expertise and lived experience, this episode reminds us that healing begins when students feel seen, heard, and supported. Guest Bio: Reverend Keia R. Boyd is an ordained minister, certified social worker, healing and hope strategist, grief educator, and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Specialist with over 20 years of experience in mental health, education, and community-based practice. She designs and facilitates educational workshops, professional development, and community programs that promote emotional literacy, resilience, and adaptive coping strategies. Her work centers family-focused practice, legacy building, and long-term community impact. Contact Reverend Keia R. Boyd: 📧 krboydconsulting1124@gmail.com

    20 min

About

The CRxOWN Talks MiniCast is a 10-minute (ok... maybe more) dose of health realness. Hosted by a Black woman Nurse Practitioner, I have real conversations on diabetes to sexual health and everything in between. Each episode features health experts who care about Black health, and break it down in a way that actually makes sense. Whether you’re a healthcare consumer or provider, you’ll walk away with something new, something to take home with you and change, and probably a laugh or two. We bust myths and answer the questions you wish you’d asked your provider so you can protect your health.