Medical Gaslighting, Miscarriage & the Myth of Being Strong with Kayla Branstetter

Have you ever felt like you had to smile through your pain, minimize your symptoms, or convince others that what you were experiencing was real?In this episode of Medicine Motherhood Missions, host Johanna Moses sits down with educator, TEDx speaker, researcher, and author Kayla Branstetter to explore the cultural expectation that women should quietly endure suffering. Together, they unpack how this mindset affects women's health, reproductive care, and emotional well-being.Kayla shares insights from her upcoming book, Don't Be an Athena, releasing July 20, and explains why the strongest thing a woman can do isn't to suffer in silence—it's to tell the truth about her story.• Why women are often praised for silent endurance rather than honest vulnerability• Medical gaslighting• Misdiagnosis/delayed diagnosis in women's health• Miscarriage, infertility, reproductive trauma, and grief• Judgment, shame, and the emotional burden women carry• Teen pregnancy and the importance of compassion over condemnation• Narrative medicine and why every patient's story matters• How healthcare providers can build trust through listening• What true resilience actually looks likeConnect with Kayla BranstetterFollow Kayla to learn more about her advocacy, writing, TEDx talk, and her book Don't Be an Athena: Women's Stories of Surviving Medical Misogyny📖 Book: Don’t Be an Athena:🌐 Website: www.kaylabranstetter.com📲 Instagram: @kaylabranstetterLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-branstetter/[email protected] Connect with Johanna:🌐 www.johannamoses.com📲 Instagram: @medicine_motherhood_missionsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXH7WkmRtzX-gt_sDcKzwFASpotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/35VYJvIJuLWUgjTZIoGWGR?si=54b5368973c14837Apple Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/medicine-motherhood-missions/id1759759710Loved this episode? Leave a review, share it with a woman in medicine who needs it today, and subscribe so you never miss an episode.Empower. Encourage. Educate. — Spark Hope.Johanna Moses, PA-C, MPH, is passionate about helping others live with purpose and courage. With years of experience practicing medicine and serving patients in clinical settings, Johanna brings a unique perspective that bridges healthcare, faith, leadership, and personal growth. She founded a nonprofit and is also the author of the children’s book series Little Evie’s Big Dreams.