SHARING OUT LOUD

Heather Danby

Midlife hit, the filter broke, and the truth started swinging. From menopause to alcoholism and sobriety, to identity and the mess we all pretend we’re not drowning in — she’s finally saying everything women were taught to swallow. And the guests? Bold, brilliant, and absolutely ready to say the quiet parts out loud.  Imagine what beautiful things could happen if we all chose to be vulnerable. If we all decided to be BRAVE, to start SHARING our personal stories OUT LOUD, because we knew it could help someone else who is going through the same thing. Want to be a part of the SHARING OUT LOUD movement? I want to hear from you! Please message me on Instagram @heathermdanby and of course, give me a follow!

  1. The Disease No One Prepared Girls For: Endometriosis & the Fight for Care -- with Nicole Notar

    8H AGO

    The Disease No One Prepared Girls For: Endometriosis & the Fight for Care -- with Nicole Notar

    Did you know that endometriosis has been found in embryos? Yes, you read that correctly. Endometriosis doesn’t suddenly begin when a girl gets her first period — research suggests it can start developing long before that. This is not simply a “woman’s disease.” It is a female disease that can impact girls and women across their entire lifespan. In this episode of Sharing Out Loud, I sit down with Nicole Notar, founder of Endo Excision For All, for a conversation every woman, and quite honestly, every human, needs to hear. Nicole shares her deeply personal journey through the pain, dismissal, and medical gaslighting that so many women with endometriosis experience, often for years before receiving proper care.  In our conversation, we unpack the harsh realities of living with chronic pain, navigating a healthcare system that frequently minimizes female suffering, and the dangerous pattern of women being told their symptoms are “just anxiety,” “stress,” or “all in their head.” Women (and young girls!) with endometriosis do not need to be dismissed, handed antidepressants, or sent for psych evaluations when they are living with very real physical disease and pain. They deserve to be heard, properly evaluated, and given access to evidence-based care.  Through advocacy, awareness, and community support, Endo Excision For All is helping women get the care they desperately need and deserve. Any donations are so appreciated and go directly toward helping women access proper treatment and reclaim their lives. This episode is raw, emotional, validating, and empowering — a reminder that women deserve to be heard, believed, and properly treated. Whether you live with endometriosis yourself, love someone who does, or simply care about the future of women’s healthcare, this is a conversation that will stay with you long after it ends. Questions? Need guidance with surgery or finding a doctor that specializes in Endo and Excision Surgery? Visit https://endoexcisionforall.org/ or send a message via their Instagram page @endoexcisionforall. Nicole is there for any woman who needs guidance. Thank you, Nicole, for sharing your time with me and for all you are doing❤️. xoxo, Heather

    59 min
  2. Brainstem Stroke to Midlife Powerhouse — with Dr. Kristine Gravino

    MAR 31

    Brainstem Stroke to Midlife Powerhouse — with Dr. Kristine Gravino

    Today on Sharing Out Loud, I’m joined by the incredible Dr. Kristine Gravino — Ph.D., psychologist, integrative health expert, and a true force when it comes to helping women break self-sabotage and rebuild trust with their bodies. But this conversation? It goes way deeper than mindset tips. We talk about the brainstem stroke she survived in her early 20s — an experience that could have taken her life in a completely different direction. Instead, it became part of the foundation for who she is today. We get into motherhood — raising her two now-grown sons — body image struggles (because yes, even the experts live this), and her very real, very human initiation into perimenopause. And we also go there — into something so many women quietly normalize — mommy wine culture. Dr. Gravino shares her own experience with it, how easy it is to fall into, and how, with the help of community, she was able to pull herself out and come out stronger on the other side. Now? It’s not something she hides — it’s something she owns as part of her life experience. Because that’s who she is. She doesn’t just teach mindset — she lives it. Every single day. She’s one of the most genuinely positive people I’ve met — not in a toxic positivity way, but in a grounded, resilient, “I’ve been through it and I choose how I show up” kind of way. This episode is about doing the work. The real work. And if you’re ready to dig deep, uncover what’s holding you back, and actually step into your strongest, most aligned self — you’re going to want more of Dr. Gravino. You can learn more about her 1:1 sessions, group programs, masterclasses, and her personalized approach to nutrition, movement, and mindset at  👉 drkgravinowellness.com You can also reach her directly at  📩 drkgravinowellness@gmail.com And find her on Instagram  📱 @drkgravinowellness

    1h 2m
  3. HRT in Midlife: Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All -- with Angie Knierim

    MAR 18

    HRT in Midlife: Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All -- with Angie Knierim

    I am republishing this episode because it needs to be heard! So please listen and share, share, share! Angie Knierim is a menopause advocate and the founder of Empower Women in Midlife, a FREE app designed for women like you to connect, share experiences, and advocate for your own health and life. In midlife — especially during perimenopause and menopause — you don’t have to feel confused, isolated, or overwhelmed. We’re breaking the stigma and having real, open conversations about everything from vaginal health to GLP-1s. Angie’s passion for this work was born from her own health struggles, which opened her eyes to just how isolating perimenopause is, so instead of staying silent, Angie chose to speak up, sharing real stories and creating spaces where women feel seen, heard, and supported. Angie’s mission is clear: to remind women they are not alone, that their experiences matter, that they are in charge of their hormone and health journey, and that together, we are stronger. Be sure to follow Angie on Instagram @angieknierim 💛 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ SPECIAL UPCOMING EVENT! Sophia Yen, M.D., M.P.H. is the CEO and Co-Founder of PandiaHealth.com, and is joining Angie for Perimenopause & Menopause 101! If you’ve been struggling with symptoms no one can explain, this is for you. https://joinewm.com/plans/1961691?bundle_token=f16480a83727c50b3a570786fb5ccda5 5pm PT | $5 |

    1h 7m
  4. Dr. Alexis Dunne Is Back!  HRT Explained: Hysterectomy, Endometriosis & More

    MAR 12

    Dr. Alexis Dunne Is Back! HRT Explained: Hysterectomy, Endometriosis & More

    Dr. Alexis Dunne is back on the podcast! If you don’t already know her, Dr. Dunne — also known as @dunnewithmenopause — is a board-certified internal medicine physician and certified menopause specialist based in Illinois who has become a trusted voice for women navigating midlife health. Last week, Dr. Dunne graciously joined me for an Instagram Live so we could dive into a few important topics we didn’t get to cover the last time she was on the show — including hormone replacement therapy after a hysterectomy and using HRT when you have endometriosis. These are questions so many women have, and Dr. Dunne breaks them down in a way that is both clear and empowering. Of course, the conversation didn’t stop there. We also talk about a variety of other menopausal “fun,” myths that continue to circulate, and why women deserve better information about their health during this stage of life. If you’re not already following Dr. Dunne, now is the time. She’s smart, funny, refreshingly honest, and absolutely not afraid to tell it like it is — which is exactly why so many women are drawn to her! Let us know if you’d like Dr. Dunne to become a recurring guest on the podcast! 🎙️ We love these conversations, and there is so much more we could cover together. And most importantly, what topics do you want us to tackle next? Menopause, HRT, hair loss, weight, sleep, mood, libido, bone health, dental health… nothing is off the table. Drop your questions and topic ideas below! 👇

    41 min
  5. Ozempic: An Accidental Discovery, A Life Reclaimed -- with Paige Gordon

    FEB 17

    Ozempic: An Accidental Discovery, A Life Reclaimed -- with Paige Gordon

    For more than twenty years, Paige was sick — not visibly sick, but quietly battling bulimia nervosa. And like so many people living with invisible illnesses, she became incredibly good at looking “fine.” She built a life. She had a career, relationships, a social circle. She laughed at the right times. She showed up. But internally, she was locked in a relentless negotiation with food, her body, and shame. For two decades, Paige lived as two people: the woman everyone saw and the woman who hid. And the hiding was exhausting. She wasn’t just managing an eating disorder — she was managing a performance. High-functioning. Capable. Put together. All while feeling deeply unwell. She had been in and out of treatment more times than she could count — therapy, groups, residential programs, books. Each time she declared herself “better,” what she really felt was hopeless. She didn’t believe lasting recovery was possible for someone like her. And then, after twenty years of suffering, something unexpected happened. She stumbled upon a podcast episode discussing GLP-1 medications — specifically Ozempic — and she heard a phrase that stopped her cold: “the food noise went away.” Food noise. The constant, obsessive, intrusive chatter in her brain had a name. And maybe — just maybe — it could be quieted. Now, Paige is very clear: do not go rogue the way she initially did. These are powerful medications that require medical supervision and thoughtful conversations with a physician. But hearing that phrase — and ultimately pursuing treatment appropriately — may very well have saved her life. Today, four years into treatment with Ozempic, Paige is in remission from Bulimia Nervosa. And she’s not just living in recovery — she’s helping lead the conversation. She is an advocate for thoughtful research, clinical exploration, and compassionate discussion around GLP-1s and eating disorders. She’s stepping forward, helping carve a path for others who may still be stuck in silence. There is so much more to her story — much of which we unpack in this episode. And in 2027, Paige’s memoir will be released, sharing even deeper layers of her journey. This is Paige Gordon’s story — and today, she’s sharing it out loud. Want to talk? Paige would LOVE to hear from you! She can be reached through her DM's on Instagram @paigegordonauthor, or you can email her paigeegordon@gmail.com

    1h 3m
  6. Loud, Political, and Pro-HRT: Dr. Alexis Dunne Unfiltered

    FEB 11

    Loud, Political, and Pro-HRT: Dr. Alexis Dunne Unfiltered

    Today’s guest is the kind of physician who doesn’t just practice medicine — she lives it out loud. Dr. Alexis Dunne is an Internal Medicine physician who pivoted her career to become a menopause specialist after witnessing how deeply women were being dismissed, misinformed, and left to suffer in silence. But she didn’t just stay inside the exam room. She picked up her phone. Yes, she jumped headfirst onto the social media bandwagon — and her very first video? It went viral after Dr. Mary Claire Haver reposted it. Practically overnight, her voice reached thousands of women hungry for clear, evidence-based, no-BS education about what is actually happening in their bodies. And she has not been quiet since. Dr. Dunne has become known for her LOUD voice — not only in the menopause space, but in the human rights space as well. She takes her oath to “do no harm” very seriously, and for her, that extends beyond prescriptions and lab results. It includes speaking up. Advocating for bodily autonomy. Calling out misinformation. Addressing the very real political forces shaping healthcare in this country right now. Because, as she says — medicine is political. And silence? That can cause harm. What makes her even more magnetic is her dry sense of humor and unapologetic, no-BS attitude. It’s refreshing. It’s sharp. It cuts through fear and confusion with clarity and just the right amount of wit. She tells the truth — even when it makes people uncomfortable — and somehow makes you laugh while she’s doing it. Dr. Dunne is deeply passionate about women taking charge of their health earlier — not later. When women say, “I’ll wait to start HRT,” she asks: Why? What exactly are you waiting for? To lose bone density? To increase your cardiovascular risk? To watch your brain fog, joint pain, sleep disruption, and mood shifts steal your quality of life? She believes in proactive, preventative care — not waiting until the damage is done. This conversation is bold. It’s empowering. It might ruffle a few feathers — and that’s exactly the point. Let’s dive in. Be sure to follow Dr. Dunne on Instagram @dunnewithmenopause Want to make a virtual appt with her in Illinois? https://www.advocatehealth.com/doctors/alexis-p-dunne-1336324367?address_id=60489&source=sparkle&patient_type=returning_patient Thank you, Dr. Dunne, for taking so much time to hang out with me!  xoxo, Heather

    40 min
4.7
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Midlife hit, the filter broke, and the truth started swinging. From menopause to alcoholism and sobriety, to identity and the mess we all pretend we’re not drowning in — she’s finally saying everything women were taught to swallow. And the guests? Bold, brilliant, and absolutely ready to say the quiet parts out loud.  Imagine what beautiful things could happen if we all chose to be vulnerable. If we all decided to be BRAVE, to start SHARING our personal stories OUT LOUD, because we knew it could help someone else who is going through the same thing. Want to be a part of the SHARING OUT LOUD movement? I want to hear from you! Please message me on Instagram @heathermdanby and of course, give me a follow!

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