Mind Meets Medicine

Certified nurse midwife Dana Ramsey is back on Mind Meets Medicine. In part two of our conversation with Dana, founder of Nurture Women’s Health & Fertility in Santa Cruz, we go deep on what perinatal and postpartum mental health care actually looks and feels like.  • Why prenatal visits dropped from 13 to 6 during COVID  • The hormonal freefall after delivery — and why it mimics menopause • Breastfeeding pressure, formula guilt, and the psychology behind both • Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) — depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD in the postpartum period • What 1 in 5 new mothers will experience   • Why postpartum mental health care belongs with a specialist, not just a primary care providers • What a genuinely supportive, holistic care model could look likeIf you’re pregnant, postpartum, a partner, a provider, or you’ve ever felt like you were failing at something that was actually just really hard — this episode is for you.Guest: Dana Ramsey, CNM — Certified Nurse Midwife, Founder of Nurture Women’s Health & Fertility (Santa Cruz, CA)Host: Kaila (licensed therapist & founder) + Dr. Sir (board-certified psychiatrist)CHAPTERS0:00 — Introduction & Dana’s background2:30 — How postpartum care collapsed post-pandemic8:00 — The reality vs. the romanticized version of new motherhood13:00 — Breastfeeding pressure and formula guilt22:00 — The hormonal shift after delivery31:00 — Pregnancy ambivalence — why 80% of women feel it35:00 — PMADs: depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD in the perinatal period47:00 — When symptoms cross into clinical territory54:00 — Medication in pregnancy and postpartum — why it’s more specialized1:06:00 — What postpartum care should actually look like

Healing isn’t linear — and nobody knows that better than the women postpartum. In Part 2 of our conversation with Erin Murray, we go deep about what postpartum recovery looks like when the hard feelings don’t go away on their own, what it means to rebuild your sense of self after becoming a mother, and why reaching out to a professional might be the most important thing you do.Erin walks us through what the healing process really looks like as we grief our previous life and precious sense of self — the breakthroughs, the setbacks, and the moment things finally start to shift. This episode is about facing the reality of postpartum mental health head-on and learning that who you’re becoming on the other side is worth fighting for.Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.Follow Mind Meets Medicine:📍 Instagram: @mindmeetsmedicine_podBook with Erin (Located  in Santa Cruz and San Jose California @pacificcoasttherapy)📍https://pacificcoasttherapy.com/erin/

Erin Murray is a licensed therapist specializing in teens, adults, couples, and families — known for her warm, down-to-earth approach that makes even the hardest conversations feel safe. In this episode, she joins us to talk about one of the most overlooked and misunderstood periods of a woman’s life: postpartum mental health.Erin helps us understand the real mental health impacts of pregnancy and parenthood — the ones that often go unspoken — and why it’s time we start taking them seriously. She also walks us through how she supports clients using evidence-based approaches like EMDR, IFS, DBT, CBT, and EFT, and what it looks like when people finally get the care they deserve.This is a conversation for every mother, every partner, and everyone who loves one.Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.Follow Mind Meets Medicine:📍 Instagram: @mindmeetsmedicine_pod🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mind-meets-medicine/id1865024423🌐 Website: https://www.mindmeetsmedicine.com#health #MaternalMentalHealth #Therapist #MentalHealth #Postpartum #NewMom #Motherhood #EMDR #Pregnancy #MentalHealthPodcast

What happens when medical care and mental health stop operating in silos?In this episode of Mind Meets Medicine, we unpack the real-world impact of multidisciplinary care — and why collaboration between psychiatrists, therapists, physicians, and social workers is critical to better patient outcomes.From hospital systems to private practice, today’s healthcare landscape demands integrated care. But training pathways, billing structures, and cultural differences between specialties still create barriers. We explore:• The role of therapists in psychiatric treatment• How inpatient psychiatric systems are structured• Why collaboration in healthcare is harder than it sounds• What true integrated mental health and medical care could look likeIf you’re a clinician, psychiatrist, therapist, healthcare provider, or someone passionate about whole-person treatment, this conversation offers insight into the future of integrated healthcare, collaborative care models, and multidisciplinary treatment teams.The future of healthcare isn’t fragmented — it’s connected.Subscribe to Mind Meets Medicine for more conversations at the intersection of medicine, psychology, and human connection.

Dr. Adam Dorsay—aka EnthusiAdam—is a longtime friend, bestselling author, renowned psychologist, and exceptional podcast host. His podcast, SuperPsyched, spans over 300 episodes and features some of the most respected voices in mental health today. We’re lucky to have his brilliant mind with us this week.In this episode, we explore how connection—whether formed early in life or built in adulthood—shapes the way we think, grow, and even experience something as intangible as luck.Follow Dr Adam Dorsay @ the "SuperPsyched" podcast and online via TEDx talks, because he's THAT cool.-MMM

In this Mind Meets Medicine episode, we’re joined by Dr. Lauren Lowe, sports psychologist from the University of San Francisco. She breaks down how the stress of competition, constant travel, and life as a high-level athlete shape both your mind and body. We explore how mental resilience builds alongside physical performance, and how understanding the psychology behind pressure can transform both your athletic game and your overall well-being. If you want to know what it truly takes to thrive at the top, this conversation is for you!This pairs perfectly with last week’s episode featuring Dr. Charles Bay—just in time for the Super Bowl. As Dr. Lowe makes clear, understanding what athletes go through adds perspective—while we’re sitting on our couch, they’re battling both mentally and physically. Dive in to learn how the psychology of performance impacts the whole game!-MMM

On this episode of Mind Meets Medicine, we welcome sports psychiatrist Dr. Charles Bay for a deep dive into how athletes navigate mental performance in today’s rapidly changing world. From the influence of technology and the rise of gambling-related pressure to the realities of modern competition, we unpack the psychological challenges athletes face on and off the field.We also explore how psychology and medication intersect with an athlete’s physique, schedule, and level of play—whether professional, semi-professional, or amateur—and how the evolving sports landscape is reshaping mental health care in athletics.This conversation resonates far beyond sports alone, and with such an over-encompassing and timely topic, Dr. Bay will likely be a recurring guest. He was an absolute pleasure to have on, and his insights are ones you’ll want to return to.Don’t miss this compelling episode—just in time for the Super Bowl-MMM

Menopause and perimenopause are often treated like checkboxes on a timeline--On this episode of Mind Meets Medicine, we sit down with Dana Ramsey, founder of Nurture Women’s Health, for a deeply thoughtful conversation that reframes how we look at hormonal transitions, symptoms, and care.Dana shares her philosophy on why symptoms aren’t random or something to silence, but meaningful signals from the body asking for attention. We explore the gaps between conventional medicine and lived experience, why so many women feel dismissed during perimenopause and menopause, and how a more integrated, patient-centered approach can lead to real, lasting relief.This episode goes beyond protocols and prescriptions — it’s about listening, context, and restoring trust between women and their bodies. Whether you’re personally navigating these changes, supporting someone who is, or working in healthcare, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and a powerful reframe of what care should look like.Find Dana and her awesome team practice online: https://www.nurturesantacruz.com/@nurturesantacruz-MMM

Welcome to Episode 2 of Mind Meets Medicine! In this episode, we dive into that all-too-familiar feeling of being in the wrong place at the wrong time in life—both professionally and personally. Dr. Sir and Kaila share their insights from both their careers and personal journeys, exploring what it means to find—or miss—your timing in today’s world. They tackle how we define success and what kind of timeline we really need when it comes to thriving in our own unique way.Episodes dropping on Tuesdays WEEKLY at 3pm PST.<3 MMM

Hello and WELCOME to Mind Meets Medicine-- a curiosity led podcast where mental health meets science though open and balanced conversation. On today's episode we're so excited to introduce the show and its hosts, Kaila and Sir. We hope you have as much fun as we're having!