Posts in Life
Stephanie Matsuba on Mental Health, Movement, and Finding Stability Through Structure

For Stephanie Matsuba—artist, actress, and instructor at BURN Los Angeles—movement has never been just about fitness. In this deeply honest conversation, Stephanie sits down with Amy Cohen Epstein to reflect on her journey living with bipolar II disorder, the early physical and emotional signals she learned to suppress, and the long road toward diagnosis, self-understanding, and care. From navigating illness as a teenager to discovering the stabilizing power of routine, structure, and community, this episode explores how mental health, movement, and self-advocacy intersect—and why listening to your body matters at every stage of life.

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Life After Cancer: Shay Moraga on Survivorship, Loneliness, and Building Shay’s Warriors

After cancer treatment ends, many survivors are told to celebrate and move on — but the emotional aftermath is often far more complicated. In this episode of The SEAM Podcast, Amy Cohen Epstein sits down with Shay Moraga, founder of Shay’s Warriors, to explore the rarely discussed reality of life after cancer.

Diagnosed with stage III triple-negative breast cancer at just 38, Shay shares how subtle symptoms were dismissed, how survivorship brought unexpected loneliness, and how that experience led her to create a community focused on healing beyond treatment. Together, Amy and Shay discuss fear of recurrence, identity after illness, accountability, and why collaboration is essential in women’s health and cancer advocacy.

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Marla Tellez on 10 Years of Hosting Kickin’ Cancer, Motherhood, and Advocating for Women’s Health

For more than a decade, broadcast journalist Marla Tellez has lent her voice, visibility, and heart to Kickin’ Cancer, the Lynne Cohen Foundation’s annual 5K/10K supporting breast and ovarian cancer prevention. In this episode of The SEAM Podcast, Marla reflects on what the event means to her today—now as a new mother—while sharing how motherhood, recovery, and advocacy have reshaped her relationship to health, work, and purpose.

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Taming the Health Insurance Beast: A Step-by-Step Guide for Women Navigating Coverage, Costs, and Care for their Cancer Diagnosis

Health insurance can feel like an overwhelming beast—especially for women facing illness while balancing the realities of coverage, costs, and care. Too often, critical benefits remain hidden in fine print, leaving women underutilizing the coverage they already have. In When Women Get Sick, patient advocate and workplace benefits expert Rebecca Bloom breaks down how to research, ask the right questions, and take proactive steps to maximize health coverage. From staying on an employer’s group plan to exploring individual options through Healthcare.gov, Bloom offers practical advice that helps women cut through complexity, reduce financial stress, and secure the care they need.

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Beyond the Newborn Haze: Marla Tellez's Motherhood Journey Continues

The Series for Education and Awareness in Medicine (SEAM) continues its intimate conversation with Marla Tellez as she navigates the realities of early motherhood with baby Sloan, now nearly six weeks old. This candid discussion explores the physical transformations, emotional challenges, and unexpected joys of postpartum life, offering valuable insights for new and expecting mothers about the importance of community, self-compassion, and trusting the journey.

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Marla Tellez on Motherhood, Media & Showing Up for Each Other

The transition to motherhood is perhaps one of life's most profound transformations, yet it's an experience that often feels impossible to fully prepare for, no matter how much advice you receive or how many books you read. For veteran broadcast journalist Marla Tellez, who has spent over a decade navigating the demanding world of morning television news, becoming a mother at 48 brought revelations that surprised even someone accustomed to high-pressure situations and unpredictable schedules…

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Nailed It: Clean Beauty and the Power of Conscious Choices with CÔTE

The clean beauty movement has transformed from niche concern to mainstream demand, driven by consumers who increasingly understand that what we put on our bodies matters as much as what we put in them. At the forefront of this shift are Mary Lennon and Leah Yari, co-founders of CÔTE, a luxury clean beauty brand that began with a simple question: why can't you find a nail salon you can trust?

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Designing with the Sky in Mind: Andrea Fohrman on Jewelry, Inspiration, and Balancing Creativity with Life

Some jewelry tells a story the moment you see it—each detail holding a memory, a vision, or a piece of the person who created it. Andrea Fohrman, the Los Angeles–based designer hailed as the “Celestial Queen” by Vogue, has built a career on capturing the beauty of the night sky and the energy of the earth in her fine jewelry. In this conversation with SEAM founder Amy Cohen Epstein, Andrea reflects on the inspirations rooted in her Marin County childhood, her love for one-of-a-kind gemstones, and the ways she’s learned to shape her business around the life she wants to live.

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Beauty, Boldness and Becoming: Adrianna Abbott on Building Lily Pop

The children's beauty market is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by parents seeking safer, cleaner alternatives for their young ones who are naturally drawn to experimenting with makeup and self-expression. Enter Adrianna Abbott, a seasoned beauty industry executive who spent a decade at Estée Lauder Companies before embarking on her own entrepreneurial journey with Lillipop, a clean play makeup brand designed specifically for children.

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Thriving at 49: Amy Cohen Epstein on Grief, Growth, and the Power of Preventive Health

In this first-ever solo episode of the SEAM Podcast, Amy Cohen Epstein, founder and CEO of the Lynne Cohen Foundation, shares a deeply personal reflection as she approaches her 49th birthday—a milestone shaped by memory, grief, and profound gratitude. Amy opens up about the significance of turning 49, the age her mother, Lynne Cohen, was when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and how this past year has felt like an emotional holding of breath. With honesty and vulnerability, Amy explores the legacy of her mother’s strength, the value of preventive care and early detection, and the journey of self-discovery that comes with age. This powerful reflection reminds us that caring for ourselves—and one another—is one of the most meaningful ways we can honor those we’ve lost and the lives we continue to build.

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Writing Through Grief: Megan Tady on Bluebird Day, Mother-Daughter Bonds, and Healing Through Fiction

Amy Cohen Epstein sits down with novelist Megan Tady, author of Bluebird Day, to explore how fiction can hold space for grief, healing, and complex family dynamics. Megan’s novel follows a mother and daughter—former elite ski racers—who are forced to confront painful truths and rebuild their relationship while stranded in a Swiss village during a snowstorm. Inspired by personal loss and her evolving relationship with her own mother, Megan shares how writing became a path toward self-understanding and emotional reconciliation. Together, Amy and Megan discuss themes of parenting, performance anxiety, resilience, and the generational shifts in how we define strength and healing.

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How Holistic Healing, Social Connection, and Purpose Shape Our Health: A Conversation with Nurse and Wellness Advisor Jules Timms Robertson

Drawing from her diverse background as both a clinical nurse and creative force in luxury hospitality, Jules Timms Robertson, RN, shares how her work integrates science-backed modalities and therapeutic touch with the healing power of joy, sensory awareness, and human connection

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From Loss to Wellness: Katelyn Burke on Honoring Her Mother’s Legacy Through Community and Infrared Therapy

In this emotional and inspiring episode of the SEAM Podcast, host Amy Cohen Epstein sits down with Katelyn Burke, owner of Perspire Sauna Studio in Brentwood, to discuss how the loss of her mother to cervical cancer reshaped her life and fueled her commitment to wellness. Katelyn shares how her personal experience with grief and caregiving led her to explore preventive health, clean living, and holistic recovery—values she now brings to her community through the healing power of infrared sauna therapy. While the Lynne Cohen Foundation advocates for preventive care in partnership with trusted medical providers, this conversation offers a window into how lifestyle-based wellness practices—when used responsibly and alongside medical advice—can play a powerful role in self-care, emotional healing, and physical recovery.

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Building Families Through Surrogacy: Marly Steinman on Infertility, Loss, and the Power of Informed Choices

In this deeply moving episode of the SEAM Podcast, SEAM founder Amy Cohen Epstein speaks with licensed marriage and family therapist Marly Steinman, who shares her personal and professional experience with infertility and surrogacy. After enduring years of miscarriages, IVF cycles, and emotional loss, Marly became a mother through gestational surrogacy—a life-changing experience that led her to help others navigate the same path. Drawing from her clinical training and lived experience, Marly now supports intended parents with compassion, clarity, and informed advocacy. This conversation highlights the emotional toll of infertility, the importance of self-compassion, and the value of having access to informed reproductive options in partnership with medical professionals.

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Clean Eating, Holistic Health, and Healing: A Conversation with Elissa Goodman on Nutrition and Wellness

Nutrition plays a crucial role in overall well-being, and making thoughtful, science-backed lifestyle changes can support long-term health. In this conversation, SEAM founder Amy Cohen Epstein speaks with holistic nutritionist Elissa Goodman about how diet, stress management, and self-care can complement traditional medical treatment. Elissa shares her personal journey with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, how she used nutrition and lifestyle adjustments alongside medical care, and the lessons she’s learned about healing from the inside out. Together, they discuss the importance of digestive health, hormone balance, and the power of choosing nourishing foods to feel and function at your best.

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The Uniquely Challenging Disease of Lung Cancer: A Conversation with Haley Fisher on Early Detection, Advocacy, and Navigating Care

Lung cancer remains one of the most challenging diseases to diagnose and treat, particularly for non-smokers who may not realize they are at risk. In this deeply personal interview, SEAM founder Amy Cohen Epstein speaks with Haley Fisher, who was diagnosed with lung cancer despite living a healthy, active lifestyle. Haley shares her journey, from the unexpected discovery of her tumor to the importance of early detection, second opinions, and advocating for oneself in the medical system. Together, Amy and Haley discuss the stigma surrounding lung cancer, the need for more research on non-smoking patients, and why being an informed patient can make all the difference. Their conversation highlights how proactive healthcare—alongside expert medical guidance—can help patients make the best decisions for their unique circumstances.

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Healing Through Nutrition: Yalda Alaoui on Beating Autoimmune Disease and Building Eat Burn Sleep

When facing a serious health diagnosis, medical advice is essential—but so is understanding how lifestyle choices impact your overall well-being.In this conversation, our own Amy Cohen Epstein speaks with Yalda Alaoui, founder of Eat Burn Sleep, about how making intentional changes to diet, movement, and stress management can complement medical treatment and improve quality of life. Diagnosed with two life-threatening autoimmune diseases, Yalda took a proactive approach to her health, combining expert medical care with research-backed lifestyle adjustments that ultimately helped her heal. In this interview, she shares her journey, insights on reducing inflammation, and practical steps anyone can take to support their health alongside their doctor’s guidance.

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Crafting Memories Through Design: A Conversation with Lauren Pudwill, Founder of By Bago

Lauren Pudwill is the creative force behind By Bago, a lifestyle and design company based in LA. With an entrepreneurial spirit fueled by curiosity, Lauren discusses her journey from singer-songwriter to designer, crafting unique lifestyle products inspired by her Chinese-American heritage and experiences across California. From hand-poured candles to custom leather goods, Lauren's approach emphasizes creativity, community, and personal memory-making. Dive into this inspiring conversation as Lauren shares how passion and purpose guide her work, bridging the gap between artistry and daily life.

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Empowering Women in the Workforce: Insights from Jenny Galluzzo, Co-Founder of The Second Shift

In this interview, SEAM founder Amy Cohen Epstein speaks with Jenny Galluzzo, co-founder of The Second Shift, a platform designed to provide mid-career women with flexible job opportunities and professional development. Jenny shares how The Second Shift has adapted to the changing workforce landscape, emphasizing flexibility, community, and empowerment. With insights into work-life balance, career pivots, and building resilience, Jenny’s perspective sheds light on the evolving roles of women in today’s workforce and the power of connection. Join Amy and Jenny as they explore the ways women can find purpose and meaning in their professional and personal lives.

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