Push Pause To Heal

Dr. Emily Roedersheimer
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

This podcast is for high-performing women who are tired of pushing through pain, stress, and chronic illness and ready to finally feel better. Hosted by Dr. Emily Roedersheimer, founder of Balanced Living Functional Medicine, this show explores a truth too often overlooked: many modern health challenges don't start with a diagnosis, they start in the nervous system. When traditional medicine isn't providing answers, it's time to pause, listen to your body, and heal at the root. Each week, Dr. Emily shares practical tools, insights, and nervous-system-based strategies to help you reduce anxiety, manage stress, and understand the powerful connection between your mind and your physical health.

  1. 23h ago

    Breast Cancer: Treatment Decisions & Fear of Recurrence with Dr. Sarah Friend

    After a breast cancer diagnosis, there can be so much information to absorb that you leave an appointment unsure what you heard or what to ask next. Even after treatment ends, questions and fears can remain.   In this episode of Push Pause to Heal, I'm joined by Dr. Sarah Cooke Friend, a triple board-certified physician specializing in breast cancer and survivorship, to talk about understanding your diagnosis, making informed treatment decisions, and finding support throughout cancer care.   Dr. Friend explains why breast cancer treatment can look different from one person to another, how to prepare for appointments, and when a second opinion may help. We also talk about concerns that deserve more space in the conversation, including fatigue, sleep, menopause, sexual health, and fear of recurrence.   As the founder of myFriendMD, Dr. Friend offers cancer coaching and advocacy to help patients and families understand complex information and feel more prepared for conversations with their oncology team.   Whether you're newly diagnosed, navigating breast cancer survivorship, or supporting someone you love, this conversation offers practical ways to feel more informed, heard, and supported.   IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: Where to begin after a breast cancer diagnosis and how to organize your next steps. How cancer subtype and stage help guide treatment recommendations. Asking questions, bringing an advocate to appointments, and seeking a second opinion. Sorting through online cancer information with your medical team. Speaking up about fatigue, sleep, menopause, intimacy, and quality of life. Navigating fear of recurrence and finding emotional support after treatment. Caring for your health while recognizing that you cannot control every outcome. Supporting a loved one with specific offers of help and space for their feelings.   ABOUT DR. SARAH COOKE FRIEND Dr. Sarah Cooke Friend is triple board-certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology, specializing in breast cancer and survivorship. She serves as an Assistant Professor at City of Hope Atlanta and previously spent eight years at Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute. Recognized as an Atlanta Magazine Top Doctor in 2026, she is passionate about helping patients navigate cancer with confidence, clarity, and hope.   She is also the founder and CEO of myFriendMD, a physician-led cancer coaching and advocacy platform providing personalized education and support to individuals and families navigating a cancer diagnosis.   CONNECT WITH DR. FRIEND myFriendMD: https://myfriendmd.com/ Book a cancer coaching session: https://myfriendmd.janeapp.com/ Instagram, @sarahfriendmd: https://www.instagram.com/sarahfriendmd/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574986260883 TikTok, @sarahfriendmd: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahfriendmd Questions about coaching: info@myfriendmd.com RESOURCE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE National Cancer Institute: Breast Cancer Information https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast   RESOURCES FROM DR. EMILY 🌿 Health Begins Here Get personalized coaching and support as you practice sustainable habits around nourishment, movement, sleep, and stress. Together, we help you find a starting point that fits your life. Learn more: https://www.balancedlivingfm.com/schedule   🌿 Balanced Living Experience Make room to practice what you're learning through simple monthly wellness practices, reflection, and community support. Learn more: https://www.balancedlivingfm.com/balanced-living-experience   💛 Balanced Daily Bundle The foundational supplement bundle I personally take every day, created to make supporting the basics simple. Shop the bundle: https://shop.balancedlivingfm.com/collections/balanced-living/products/bundle?variant=43545910509804   If today's episode resonated with you, follow Push Pause to Heal. And if someone came to mind while you were listening, share this episode with them.   You don't have to go through hard times alone. There is support available.

  2. Oct 21

    Social Media Addiction: Breaking the Scroll Cycle with Dr. Alaina Puff

    You reach for your phone while you're waiting, between tasks, or when you finally get into bed. Scrolling feels like a little time for yourself, but you put the phone down feeling more drained, with less time for the things you wanted to do.   In this episode of Push Pause to Heal, Dr. Alaina Puff returns for a candid conversation about social media addiction, doomscrolling, dopamine, and how to build a different relationship with your phone.   Alaina shares the wake-up call of seeing more than six hours of daily screen time while feeling like she had no time to care for herself. We explore why our phones can become a place to escape when we're exhausted, how unpredictable rewards keep us checking, and what we may be seeking underneath the urge to scroll.   We also get practical about protecting sleep, setting phone boundaries, and finding moments of connection and enjoyment in everyday life. Alaina shares how small changes helped her move toward weekends with Do Not Disturb turned on and more attention available for the people she loves.   In this conversation, we discuss: • Dopamine and intermittent reinforcement, including why social media can feel like a slot machine. • How to notice automatic phone pickups and get curious about what you need. • The difference between distraction and a break that leaves you feeling restored. • Recognizing when phone use is interfering with sleep, relationships, or caring for yourself. • Moving your phone away from your bed and creating a different evening routine. • Practicing brief periods away from your phone and reconnecting with reading, creativity, nature, and conversation.   If you're ready to spend less time scrolling and feel more present in your own life, this conversation offers a compassionate place to start.   ABOUT DR. ALAINA PUFF Dr. Alaina Puff is an intuitive business coach, speaker, and founder of Flow State Coaching & Consulting. She helps ambitious women leaders unlearn patterns of over-giving, doing it alone, and dimming themselves down, supporting them in stepping into wealth, visibility, and impact from a place of alignment and feminine power. Drawing on a PhD in psychology, neuroscience, trauma-informed coaching, and somatic work, Alaina helps women build self-trust and a way of leading that honors their well-being.   CONNECT WITH ALAINA Flow State Coaching & Consulting: https://www.flowstatecc.com/ Instagram, @dralainapuff: https://www.instagram.com/dralainapuff/   RESOURCES FROM DR. EMILY 🌿 Health Begins Here Get personalized coaching and support as you practice sustainable habits around nourishment, movement, sleep, and stress. Together, we help you find a starting point that fits your life. Learn more: https://www.balancedlivingfm.com/schedule   🌿 Balanced Living Experience Make room to practice what you're learning through simple monthly wellness practices, reflection, and community support. Learn more: https://www.balancedlivingfm.com/balanced-living-experience   💛 Balanced Daily Bundle The foundational supplement bundle I personally take every day, created to make supporting the basics simple. Shop the bundle: https://shop.balancedlivingfm.com/collections/balanced-living/products/bundle?variant=43545910509804   If this conversation encouraged you, follow Push Pause to Heal and share the episode with someone who could use it.   You're allowed to reclaim your attention, one small moment at a time.

  3. Oct 14

    Burnout in Women: The Hidden Cost of Handling It All with Dr. Sarah Wittry

    You can be the person everyone counts on and still need someone to support you. If you're keeping everything moving but feeling exhausted, irritable, or disconnected from yourself, this conversation is for you. In this episode of Push Pause to Heal, I'm joined by Dr. Sarah Wittry, a hospice and palliative care physician, certified mind-body coach, and mom of four, to talk about self-abandonment: the everyday habit of putting your own needs last until there's little room left for you.   We share honestly about the patterns we learned in medical training and carried into motherhood—from postponing meals and bathroom breaks to feeling responsible for everyone else's emotions. Sarah also shares how caring for people at the end of life has shaped her choices about how she wants to live now.   Together, we explore: How self-abandonment can show up in capable, caring women. Why resentment can offer useful information about what needs to change. Practical ways to lighten the mental load through simplifying, sharing responsibilities, and receiving support. How to hold boundaries while allowing your children to experience their own feelings. Why guilt can arise when you start doing things differently. Small ways to rebuild self-trust by noticing your needs and following through.   Whether you're a physician, a working mom, or someone who's used to handling everything, this episode offers encouragement to make room for yourself, one small step at a time.   You don't have to prove your strength by carrying everything.   About Dr. Sarah Wittry Dr. Sarah Wittry is a hospice and palliative care physician and certified mind-body coach dedicated to empowering women physicians. She specializes in stress resilience, emotional regulation, and nervous system regulation. A mom of four, Sarah enjoys yoga, books, travel, and deep conversations over good coffee. Her holistic approach supports women in finding greater well-being in their personal and professional lives. Connect with Sarah 📖 Free Substack: Personal stories and reflections on working, mothering, and making room for yourself. Subscribe for new articles each week. https://sarahwittry.substack.com/ 🌿 Free Guide for Reducing the Mental Load: Make the invisible work more visible and identify where you can begin to lighten your load. https://sarahwittry.myflodesk.com/mentalload   Resources from Dr. Emily Health Begins Here Ready to make space for your health with support along the way? Our coaching program helps you build sustainable habits around nourishment, movement, sleep, and stress. https://www.balancedlivingfm.com/schedule 🌿 Balanced Living Experience Bring what you're learning into everyday life through simple monthly practices, reflection, and community support. https://www.balancedlivingfm.com/balanced-living-experience 💛 Balanced Daily Bundle The foundational supplement bundle I personally take every day, created to make supporting the basics simple. https://shop.balancedlivingfm.com/collections/balanced-living/products/bundle?variant=43545910509804   If today's episode resonated with you, follow Push Pause to Heal—and if someone came to mind while you were listening, share this episode with them. Small steps can create powerful change.

  4. Oct 7

    Breast Cancer Risk: Mammograms, Dense Breasts & Lifestyle with Jodi Gibbs

    Does thinking about breast cancer leave you feeling anxious—or unsure what you can actually do to care for yourself? In this episode of Push Pause to Heal, I'm joined by Jodi Gibbs, a Certified Physician Assistant with more than 26 years of experience caring for women, for a compassionate conversation about breast health, individual risk, and feeling more empowered in your care. We explore what deserves your attention, which lifestyle choices can influence risk, and how to know your body without becoming consumed by worry. Together, we talk about: Family history, genetics, and why having no family history doesn't mean having no risk. Movement, nutrition, and alcohol—and approaching change without shame or an all-or-nothing mindset. What dense breast tissue means and questions to ask about screening and additional imaging. Getting familiar with your breasts and speaking up when something feels different. The emotional side of breast health, including health anxiety and the value of community and support. Jodi also shares how Vibe Women's Health Collective brings physical and emotional care together—and why bubble baths and dancing are her favorite ways to push pause. Whether you have a family history of breast cancer, have been told you have dense breasts, or simply want to better understand your health, this conversation offers a place to begin. You don't have to live in fear of your body to take good care of it. Learn more about Jodi at Vibe Women's Health Collective. If this episode resonates with you, follow Push Pause to Heal and share it with someone who could use this conversation. About Jodi Gibbs Jodi Gibbs is a Certified Physician Assistant with more than 26 years of clinical experience caring for women through all stages of adulthood. Known for her compassionate, thoughtful approach, Jodi is committed to helping women feel informed, heard, and supported as they navigate complex health decisions and life transitions. Her areas of special interest include breast health, perimenopause, menopause, postmenopause, sexual health, and the emotional well-being of women facing these transitions. Jodi also works closely with women navigating concerns related to breast cancer risk, family history, dense breast tissue, treatment-related changes, and the physical and emotional effects of cancer and survivorship.   Connect with Jodi https://www.vibewomenshealthcollective.com/ Resources from Dr. Emily Interested in taking charge of your modifiable lifestyle risk factors? The Health Begins Here program helps walk you through that with all the support and guidance you need. https://www.balancedlivingfm.com/schedule

  5. Sep 30

    Mental Fitness: Small Habits for Stress and Burnout with Lissy Alden

    Feeling overwhelmed, stuck in negative self-talk, or tired of always feeling behind? Discover a practical approach to mental fitness that starts with small, repeatable habits—even when your energy and motivation are low. In this episode of Push Pause to Heal, Dr. Emily Roedersheimer talks with Lissy Alden, founder of MYNDY, about stress, burnout, and building a more resilient mindset. Lissy shares her own experience with burnout and explains how she approaches training the mind through tiny daily practices. We explore: • Why burnout can happen even when you love what you do • How perfectionism keeps you feeling behind • How to "win the moment" with one small decision • Ways to interrupt negative self-talk and soften your inner critic • Why celebrating small wins matters for building habits • A simple, one-minute morning practice you can try with us If taking care of yourself has started to feel like another overwhelming task, this conversation offers a gentler place to begin. Guest links: Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MYNDY_Mental_Fitness Newsletter - https://www.myndy.co/#newsletter Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lissy-alden/ Learn more about the Balanced Living Experience wellness membership - https://www.balancedlivingfm.com/balanced-living-experience Shop the Balanced Daily Bundle and other high quality supplements - https://shop.balancedlivingfm.com/ Follow Push Pause to Heal for more conversations about slowing down, reconnecting with yourself, and creating sustainable health. Share this episode with someone who could use permission to start small. 💛

  6. Sep 23

    The Power of Pause: Manage Stress, Navigate Change & Live Intentionally with Monica Brooks

    What if you didn't have to react to everything life throws your way? In this episode of Push Pause to Heal, Dr. Emily Roedersheimer sits down with motivational keynote speaker, leadership trainer, cancer survivor, and Becoming a Better YOU podcast host Monica Brooks to explore what can happen when we create a little space between what happens to us and how we respond. After a Stage III breast cancer diagnosis and years of feeling exhausted by corporate life, Monica began reevaluating how she was spending her time, energy, and attention. That experience eventually helped shape her Power of PAUSE framework—a practical approach to navigating change with more intention, self-awareness, and emotional resilience. Monica and Dr. Emily talk about how to stay present instead of getting lost in worry, practice acceptance without pretending you like what is happening, focus on what is actually within your control, become more aware of your emotional reactions, and find possibility even during difficult change. They also explore why pausing can feel so difficult in a culture that constantly asks us to react, respond, achieve, and keep moving—and why creating even a few intentional moments in your day can begin to shift how you feel. Monica's reminder is simple but powerful: you may not be able to control what happens, but you often have more influence over your response than you realize. In this episode, you'll hear about: Managing stress and emotional reactions Navigating change and uncertainty Radical acceptance and letting go of what you can't control Emotional awareness and self-regulation Living more intentionally Creating small habits that make everyday life feel better Why you don't have to wait for burnout, illness, or crisis to make a change And perhaps most importantly, Monica challenges us to ask: How bad does it have to get before you give yourself permission to pause? Because sometimes the most powerful thing we can do isn't push harder. It's pause long enough to decide how we want to move forward. Guest Website: https://monicabrooks.com/home Books Discussed:  https://danielsilvabooks.com/books/an-inside-job/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/0743269519?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback https://shop.eckharttolle.com/products/the-power-of-now? srsltid=AfmBOoouLGWQbSg3OlI1shTK3dezcVpdJKzbHT0SF1Zy7BK3cFICi2Ju https://www.tarabrach.com/books/radical-acceptance/ https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/4069.Man_s_Search_for_Meaning

  7. Sep 16

    Small Changes, More Energy: Learning to Listen to Your Body

    What if feeling better doesn't require a complete health overhaul? In this episode of Push Pause to Heal, Dr. Emily talks with former Balanced Living client Toni about the small discoveries that made a surprisingly big difference in her energy, digestion, sleep, stress, and overall well-being. Toni was already incredibly active—teaching fitness classes, playing pickleball, and prioritizing her health—but she was still struggling with afternoon fatigue. Through learning to pay closer attention to her own body, she began noticing connections she hadn't recognized before: how coffee affected her energy and stomach, how certain foods made her feel, how stress showed up physically, and how a simple bedtime meditation changed the quality of her sleep. She also shares what she learned from wearing a continuous glucose monitor—including one blood sugar response that completely surprised her—and how seeing her body's response in real time helped turn health information she already "knew" into choices that actually worked for her. But perhaps the biggest shift wasn't about food, exercise, or a number on the scale. It was learning to listen to her body, let go of some of the things she thought she should do, and think about health as staying strong, capable, energetic, and able to keep doing the things she loves as she gets older. In this conversation, you'll hear about afternoon fatigue, blood sugar, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), stress, sleep, healthy aging, strength, body awareness, and the power of small sustainable habits. Because sometimes the next step toward better health isn't doing more. It's getting curious enough to notice what your body has been telling you all along. Join the Balanced Living experience: https://www.balancedlivingfm.com/balanced-living-experience

  8. Sep 9

    When Healing Becomes Hypervigilance: Nervous System Regulation, Food Fear & MS with Christine Rook

    What if constantly trying to "fix" your health is actually keeping your nervous system on high alert? In this episode of Push Pause to Heal, Dr. Emily Roedersheimer sits down with holistic transformation guide Christine Ruch to explore the powerful connection between nervous system regulation, chronic illness, food sensitivities, stress, and healing. Christine shares her personal journey with multiple sclerosis (MS), celiac disease, restrictive eating, and chronic health challenges—and how years of striving for the perfect diet and perfect wellness routine eventually became another form of hypervigilance. Together, Christine and Dr. Emily discuss what can happen when healing shifts from controlling and fixing the body to learning how to listen to and trust it. You'll hear why nervous system dysregulation can become so familiar that we don't even recognize it, how fear around symptoms and food can shrink our lives, and why slowing down may be one of the most powerful things we can do for our health. In this episode, you'll learn: What nervous system dysregulation can look like beyond anxiety Why chronic illness can create hypervigilance around symptoms How perfectionism and "doing everything right" can add more stress to the body Christine's 30-second "Sit With It" practice for responding differently to uncomfortable symptoms and emotions How fear and restriction can affect our relationship with food Why rebuilding trust with your body may require small, gentle steps The difference between reacting to symptoms and listening to what your body may be communicating Why rest, spaciousness, nature, and slowing down can support a healthier nervous system If your health has begun to feel like a full-time job—or you're exhausted from constantly wondering what to eliminate, fix, test, or optimize—this conversation offers a different way forward: less force, more curiosity, and a deeper relationship with your own body. Connect with Christine Ruch: Visit Christineruch.com  If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who needs permission to stop striving so hard for healing. And follow Push Pause to Heal so you don't miss future conversations about functional medicine, nervous system health, chronic illness, and creating the conditions that allow the body to heal.

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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

This podcast is for high-performing women who are tired of pushing through pain, stress, and chronic illness and ready to finally feel better. Hosted by Dr. Emily Roedersheimer, founder of Balanced Living Functional Medicine, this show explores a truth too often overlooked: many modern health challenges don't start with a diagnosis, they start in the nervous system. When traditional medicine isn't providing answers, it's time to pause, listen to your body, and heal at the root. Each week, Dr. Emily shares practical tools, insights, and nervous-system-based strategies to help you reduce anxiety, manage stress, and understand the powerful connection between your mind and your physical health.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Emily Roedersheimer
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Push Pause To Heal

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