The Pain Gap

I first met Priya Bathija when she interviewed me for her then organization’s podcast. It’s been years since that conversation, but only the beginning of our professional relationship and friendship. She also happens to be one of the most important leaders in the women’s healthcare world.A nationally-recognized healthcare leader, attorney, and policy expert, Priya is currently the founder and CEO of Nyoo Health which delivers strategic insights and practical solutions to help organizations drive meaningful progress in women’s health. She also hosts “The Women's Health Playbook,” a podcast designed to make health care easier for women.Previously, she was at the American Hospital Association (AHA) where she led policy efforts and strategic initiatives on value, health equity and maternal health. She started her career as a healthcare attorney and served as in-house counsel and a member of the executive leadership teams at ProMedica and MedStar Health.In this episode, Priya and I speak about the barriers to accessing care in the world’s richest democracy, and what you can do to make sure your symptoms are taken seriously. If you want to know the questions to ask to ensure you’re not dismissed by your doctor, this episode is one you’ll want to take notes on.In this episode, we cover:How healthcare organizations deliver care to women; and how women receive it.How healthcare organizations, including hospitals, can develop realistic care-delivery strategies for women.How organizations can focus on access to care, affordability, building trust, and the social determinants of health.Priya Bathija Bio:Priya is a sought-after speaker and expert on women’s health, with more than 20 years of experience working with hospitals, tech start-ups, and public health organizations to make healthcare better for patients and providers alike. She blends strategic insight, practical experience, and a focus on scalable solutions with a deep understanding of the people and businesses healthcare impacts.Women’s health has been a consistent throughline in Priya’s career. In 2022, she founded Nyoo Health — driven by a clear vision of how healthcare can lead change and the urgent need to act. Nyoo Health helps healthcare organizations rethink women’s health in realistic, actionable steps that start now – resulting in better care, inspired staff, and healthier outcomes for everyone.Episode Resources:https://www.nyoohealth.com/about/https://www.nyoohealth.com/the-womens-health-playbook/https://www.luc.edu/law/faculty/facultyandadministrationprofiles/bathija-priya.shtmlhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/pbathija/Join Anushay in Closing #The Pain Gap in women's health!Become a FREE or PAID subscriber to Anushay's Substack, "ANUSHAY's POINT," Anushay.Substack.com and follow her on Instagram @AnushayHossain.To learn more about her work, check out Anushay Hossain.com or sign up for her newsletter on Substack to keep the conversation going!Want a quick way to show your support for the show? Leave us a rating or review!

Mothers in America face serious systemic inequalities and challenges, from lack of paid leave to affordable childcare to the wage gap. So why does the solution to all our woes always seem to point to a bottle, or two, of booze?On this episode of The Pain Gap, I sit down with author, sobriety influencer and host “The Sober Mom Life” podcast, Suzanne Wayre for an honest conversation about alcohol and women in America. Suzanne and I speak about midlife, my own sobriety journey and how she works to encourage people to embrace her brand of joyful healing and living beyond the bottle.Suzanne and I explore how the alcohol industry targets women and mothers to keep women numbed and addicted to a Group One carcinogen that is grouped with asbestos and tobacco. We talk about the moment we knew it was time to quit alcohol, why moderation is a dangerous myth and the reason Brad Pitt was likely never serious about his sobriety.Suzanne knows the very real fear many women harbor that without the “crutch of alcohol,” we might not know how to live. She’s been there. This conversation is about being honest about your health choices and as Suzanne says, "finding true abundance, as a better partner and a more present parent, and as the architect of a life you love." We hope this episode reminds you that indeed, a good life awaits when we walk away from the substances that chain us.In this episode, we cover:How Big Alcohol targets women.The dangers of "mommy wine" culture.How you can take the first step into a sober life before hitting rock bottom.Suzanne Wayre Bio:Suzanne Warye is a sobriety influencer (@suzannewarye and @thesobermomlife) and the host of the popular podcast "The Sober Mom Life." As the founder of The Sober Mom Life Cafe, she has created a supportive digital community for women to explore their relationships with alcohol and find freedom in sobriety. Her writing has been featured in Scary Mommy and the Huffington Post.Residing on the North Shore of Chicago with her husband and three kids, Suzanne spends most of her time reheating her coffee and rocking her “whole heart, half ass” parenting philosophy.Episode Resources:https://thesobermomlife.com/category/podcast/https://thesobermomlife.com/sober-supporthttps://thesobermomlife.com/thesobermomlifecafeJoin Anushay in Closing #The Pain Gap in women's health!Become a FREE or PAID subscriber to Anushay's Substack @AnushaysPoint, Anushay.Substack.com and on Instagram @AnushayHossain.To learn more about her work, check out Anushay Hossain.com or sign up for her newsletter on Substack to keep the conversation going!Want a quick way to show your support for the show? Leave us a rating or review!

Are you experiencing hair thinning or breakage? Is your skin becoming dry, tight, and itchy? Is your chin spouting out random hairs you've never seen? Welcome to perimenopause, the near decade-long transition to menopause!In midlife, our hormones get on a rollercoaster, and all that chaos shows up on our skin and in our hair. I feel so lucky to have this conversation with Dr. Corinne Erickson because in my mid-40s, I don’t just want to know my cosmetic options. I want education and information! And that’s exactly what our guest today helps us navigate as women begin the sometimes decades-long transition known as perimenopause.Dr. Erickson is a board-certified dermatologist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner known to her audience as “The Menopause Dermatologist.” She owns Georgia Skin Specialists in Atlanta and writes The Skin Pause on Substack, where she shares actionable insights into the hormone-skin connection. Her work is built around one underserved question: what happens to the skin and hair at midlife.Committed to educating women and advancing menopause awareness, she serves on the advisory boards of Alloy Health, EncorVita, and HotPauseHealth, speaks nationally to clinicians and consumers, and is a frequent podcast guest. She treats perimenopause as a dermatologic event, one that deserves the same rigor, and the same respect, as any other.If you want to understand your skincare and haircare options in midlife, and get your skin ready for menopause, this episode is for you!In this episode, we cover:Menopausal & Hormonal Dermatology.Understanding integrative dermatology.Considering all options with aesthetic and cosmetic procedures.Dr. Corinne Erickson Bio:Dr. Erickson is a board-certified dermatologist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner known to her audience as “The Menopause Dermatologist.” She owns Georgia Skin Specialists in Atlanta and writes The Skin Pause on Substack, where she shares actionable insights into the hormone-skin connection. Her work is built around one underserved question: what happens to the skin and hair at midlife.Committed to educating women and advancing menopause awareness, she serves on the advisory boards of Alloy Health, EncorVita, and HotPauseHealth, speaks nationally to clinicians and consumers, and is a frequent podcast guest. She treats perimenopause as a dermatologic event, one that deserves the same rigor, and the same respect, as any other.Episode Resources:https://www.myalloy.com/expert/dr-corinne-ericksonhttps://themenopausederm.com/https://drcorinneerickson.substack.com/Join Anushay in Closing #The Pain Gap in women's health!Connect with and follow Anushay on Substack @AnushaysPoint, Anushay.Substack.com and on Instagram @AnushayHossain.To learn more about her work, check out Anushay Hossain.com or sign up for her newsletter on Substack to keep the conversation going!Want a quick way to show your support for the show? Leave us a rating or review!

Americans are drinking less alcohol at record low numbers, but what does this mean for women? This week on the show, I speak with Kristen Bear, writer and founder of Creative Sobriety, a modern, multi-platform resource for the sober and sober curious. We talk about sobriety, why women and creatives find such empowerment in it, and how the alcohol industry targets women.In one of the show's most personal episodes, Kristen and I talk about our “rock bottom” moments, the epiphanies we had about alcohol and why we think Brad Pitt was likely never serious about his sobriety. I also speak about my own sobriety journey after being a functioning alcoholic for decades.At a time when more Americans are evaluating or ending their relationship with alcohol, this episode gives you advice, direction and inspiration to do the same. Grab a mocktail or my personal favorite, Little Saints NA cocktails, and join us.In this episode, we cover:How the alcohol industry targets and feeds on women.How Big Alcohol needs you addicted.Why women and overachievers find so much empowerment in sobriety.Kristen Bear Bio:Kristen Bear is a writer, actress, and the founder of Creative Sobriety, a modern, non-12-step community for sober and sober-curious creatives. Uninspired by traditional programs and rhetoric, she decided to create something new. Removing drugs and alcohol from her life has been the most rewarding and transformative choice Kristen says she's ever made. Now, she is sharing what she's learned on her journey with others.Episode Resources:https://www.creativesobriety.co/https://kristenbear.substack.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-sobriety/id1811240508The Pain GapConnect with and follow Anushay on Substack @AnushaysPoint, Anushay.Substack.com and on Instagram @AnushayHossain.To learn more about her work, check out Anushay Hossain.com or sign up for her newsletter on Substack to keep the conversation going!Want a quick way to show your support for the show? Leave us a rating or review!Little Saints Non-Alcoholic Spirits and Cocktails:LittleSaints.comUse Code 'ANUSHAY20' for your discounted first order.

Can you get hormone replacement therapy after Breast Cancer? What do you do if your doctor doesn’t “believe” in hormone replacement therapy? Or worse, doesn’t listen to you seriously about your symptoms? In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Jordan Emont, board-certified OB/GYN and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner whose practice is built on the cases most clinicians decline.He founded Emont Medicine because he is passionate about helping women who have been dismissed or overlooked by conventional, fast-paced healthcare systems. Dr. Emont specializes in tailoring hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and metabolic protocols to a patient's unique biology, particularly for high-risk individuals navigating menopause alongside cancer, heart disease, or high blood clot risks.If you’ve ever felt gaslit or dismissed about your symptoms by your doctor, this episode on midlife health centers on the power of listening to and believing women about our pain and our symptoms. After all, your healthcare is a team effort and you are the most important member of that team!In this episode, we cover:How fears about hormone therapy are often based on outdated or misinterpreted data.How the Women’s Health Initiative's messaging that HRT causes breast cancer caused so much harm to women.How women’s concerns about menopause, sexual health, and menstrual symptoms are often dismissed.Dr. Jordan Emont Bio:Dr. Jordan Emont is a board-certified OB/GYN and Menopause Certified Practitioner who specializes in menopause care for women who’ve been dismissed, undertreated, or told their symptoms are just part of aging. He’s here to change that conversation.He trained at Yale, Brown, and Columbia, and is now an adjunct clinical faculty member at Stanford. He works at a community health center in the Bay Area, providing care to underserved populations, and runs his own private telehealth practice focused on complex menopause care.Episode Resources:https://www.drjordanemont.com/https://drjordanemont.substack.com/The Pain GapConnect with and follow Anushay on Substack @AnushaysPoint Anushay.Substack.com and on Instagram @AnushayHossain.To learn more about her work, check out Anushay Hossain.com or sign up for her newsletter on Substack to keep the conversation going!Want a quick way to show your support for the show? Leave us a rating or review!

This week on the show, I'm joined by attorney and author Jennifer Weiss-Wolf who serves as executive director of NYU Law’s Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Center. She also leads partnerships and strategy at Ms., the feminist movement-making magazine.A passionate writer and advocate for issues of gender and politics, Jen was dubbed the “architect of the U.S. campaign to squash the tampon tax” by Newsweek. She has presented on issues related to her area of expertise at the White House and before Congress, as well as in state legislatures and major city governmental bodies. Her 2017 book Periods Gone Public: Taking a Stand for Menstrual Equity was lauded by Gloria Steinem as “the beginning of liberation for us all.”In this conversation, Jennifer and I talk about menstruation, menopause, the law, what it was like meeting Margaret Atwood in the flesh, how medicine is practiced in America, the reality of maternity care deserts, and her latest book, When in Menopause: A User’s Manual and Citizen’s Guide which is out now, so go get your copy now!Episode Resources:https://www.brennancenter.org/bio/jennifer-weiss-wolfhttps://msmagazine.com/author/jenniferweisswolf/The Pain GapFollow Anushay on Instagram @AnushayHossain and on Substack @AnushaysPoint Anushay.Substack.comTo learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay Hossain.com or sign up for her newsletter on Substack to keep the conversation going!Want a quick way to show your support for the show? Leave us a rating or review!

Women are living longer than before, so why do we still have to fight ageism to be seen? In this episode, I speak with Jacynth Bassett, founder and CEO of Ageism Is Never In Style, a Global Platform For Age Inclusion. As an anti-ageism pioneer, Jacynth is a powerful and influential voice in the age-inclusive, longevity space, using her platform to inspire change for all ages and champion intergenerational connection.Jacynth and I talk about what it was like for her to watch her mother become invisible and how that led her to build a global movement for millions of other women. We dive into the ways ageism shows up in work, mainstream media and the influence it has on how we view women and in turn, how women view themselves.By designing campaigns and creative work to partnering with brands, working with journalists and media, and creating new ways to challenge stereotypes and shift perceptions, Jacynth is redefining what it means to be “seen.” And exposing the truth behind the anti-aging industry.Episode Resources:https://www.ageismisneverinstyle.com/about-jacynthThe Pain GapFollow Anushay on Instagram @AnushayHossain and on Substack @AnushaysPointTo learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay Hossain.com or sign up for her newsletter on Substack to keep the conversation going:Anushay.Substack.com

Are your labs normal but you’re feeling terrible? Our guest today knows all about that life. After experiencing years of "normal" lab results while feeling anything but healthy, Rachel Stephens, Rachel Stephens, Holistic Health Practitioner, Integrative Health Practitioner (IHP) and First Line Therapy Lifestyle Educator, set out to understand what conventional medicine was missing. That personal journey shaped the philosophy behind her practice: healing doesn't require more information, it requires the right sequence.Rachel joins me on the show to talk about how she specializes in helping high-achieving women navigate complex hormone, gut, nervous system, and chronic health concerns through a root-cause, functional medicine approach rooted in nervous system safety, biological interpretation, and prioritized healing.From navigating diet trends to building sustainable habits, this conversation is about coming back to the foundations that truly support your energy, metabolism, and long-term wellness. Whether you’re considering seed cycling and strength training or stabilizing blood sugar and prioritizing whole foods, this episode is filled with simple yet powerful strategies that create real, lasting change.Episode Resources:Website: https://rachelstephenswellness.com/The Pain GapFollow Anushay on Instagram @AnushayHossain and on Substack @AnushaysPointTo learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay Hossain.com or sign up for her newsletter on Substack to keep the conversation going: Anushay.Substack.com

What happens when your body goes into menopause early? That’s what happened to Menopause Coach and Women’s Health Specialist, Julie Parana after she had a hysterectomy at 42 yrs old. In this powerful episode, Julie talks to me all about how “she lived it, then studied it.”We discuss the barrage of symptoms women experience in perimenopause, and how these major changes can last up to a decade before women hit menopause. So why are most of us still left completely unprepared for this major health transition? That’s exactly what Julie works to change by sharing her transition from occupational therapy to menopause coaching.With a background in healthcare and firsthand experience of the misinformation and lack of support around menopause, Julie dedicates herself to educating and empowering women going through this significant life stage. Her story reminds listeners of the transformative power of self-advocacy and education, especially for women’s health. If you’ve been feeling “off,” leaving your doctor’s office with more questions than answers, and exhausted from trying to figure it out on your own, this episode is for you!Episode Resources:Website: https://www.themenopauseot.com/The Pain GapFollow Anushay on Instagram @AnushayHossain and on Substack @AnushaysPointTo learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website, Anushay Hossain.com or sign up for her newsletter on Substack. To continue the conversation, feel free email her team at [email protected].

Today on the show, I am joined by Allison Butler, Senior Lecturer and Associate Chair in the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is also the Vice President of the Media Freedom Foundation and the author of The Judgment of Gender: How Women are Centered and Silenced in Pop Culture.Allison and I talk about how women are presented in mainstream media and society and how that, in turn, shapes our medical and overall legitimacy. We discuss how her new book examines the ways mass media fixates on prominent women while stripping away their agency, context, and voice.While it appears as though we have significant numbers of representation of women and girls, is it of significant quality? How are women’s stories being told, and by whom? How does pop culture determine how we view women’s pain?This conversation also looks at how Butler’s latest book embraces the contradiction that while women are taking up more space in pop culture, they are still being silenced, in part, by the way their stories are being told.Episode Resources:Website: https://www.umass.edu/social-sciences/about/directory/allison-butlerBooks: https://www.strandbooks.com/the-judgment-of-gender-how-women-are-centered-and-silenced-in-pop-culture-9798999804914.htmlThe Pain GapFollow Anushay on Instagram @AnushayHossain and on Substack @AnushaysPointTo learn more about Anushay Hossain's work, check out Anushay's website, Anushay Hossain.com or sign up for her newsletter on Substack. To continue the conversation, feel free to DM @anushayhossain or email her team at [email protected]