Systemic Silence: Why Black Women Are Still Dying of Heart Disease

In this powerful roundtable episode of Heart to Heart Talk, host Mary Burrell is joined by Azure Burrell and Katherine Jones to shine a light on the heart health crisis facing Black women. With raw honesty and lived experience, they explore the medical bias, missed diagnoses, and systemic disparities that too often leave Black women unseen, unheard, and untreated.Together, they share personal stories of caregiving, loss, self-advocacy, and survival, unpacking the cultural silence around health in Black families and the emotional and physical toll it takes. From mental health and motherhood to trust in the healthcare system, this episode challenges the myths and calls for a future where Black women are not only heard—but believed.Because heart disease is the #1 killer of Black women—and silence is no longer an option.Katherine Waddell ~CEO and founder of This Needs to Be Said Media, Inc. and a seasoned podcaster, coach