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Soma Says

Soma Says

By: Soma Mandal MD
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Welcome to Soma Says, the podcast where women’s health gets personal. Hosted by Dr. Soma Mandal—board-certified internist and nationally recognized expert in midlife and menopause—this show brings you no-fluff conversations about the health issues that matter most to women 40 and up. From hot flashes to hormone therapy, anxiety to aging, Dr. Soma blends the best of Western medicine with Eastern wisdom to help you feel informed, empowered, and supported through every stage of midlife and beyond. Whether you’re navigating perimenopause, facing big life transitions, or just want to better understand your changing body, Soma Says offers expert insights, heartfelt stories, and practical tools to help you rewrite your health story—with confidence. 🎧 New episodes every week. Subscribe and join the conversation. Learn more at www.somamandalmd.com and follow @drsomamandal on Instagram.Soma Mandal, MD Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • Voices Unheard: the Silent Struggle of Women in Speech Therapy

    Voices Unheard: the Silent Struggle of Women in Speech Therapy
    Jun 9 2026
    Guest: Ashlyn Lelej, MS, CCC-SLP | Founder, Speech Matters Clinic Host: Dr. Soma Mandal, MD Website: speechmattersclinic.com | Instagram: @speechmattersclinic EPISODE DESCRIPTION What happens when the healthcare system decides your child's feeding struggles aren't serious enough — or that the therapy your doctor recommended isn't covered? And what does it cost a woman to spend decades not knowing she's autistic? In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Ashlyn Lelej, speech-language pathologist and founder of Speech Matters Clinic in Charlotte, NC. Since opening her doors in 2009, Ashlyn has built a practice rooted in the belief that every person deserves the right to communicate, connect, and thrive — on their own terms. Together they pull back the curtain on a field that is quietly foundational to women's and children's health, yet chronically underfunded, undervalued, and misunderstood. From insurance denial playbooks to the sensory roots of pediatric feeding, from late autism diagnoses in women to the neuro-affirming therapy debate — this conversation is equal parts practical and paradigm-shifting. If you've ever been dismissed by a system that should have been listening, this episode is for you. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE Why insurance coverage for speech therapy is wildly inconsistent — and where the biggest gaps are right nowHow missed or late autism diagnoses in girls and women ripple into school services, mental health, relationships, and self-understandingWhat neuro-affirming therapy actually means — and why it's still controversial in some clinical circlesA step-by-step playbook for fighting insurance denials (including the call scripts, manager escalations, code nuances, and grant options most families never hear about)Why maternal concerns about pediatric feeding are so frequently dismissed — and what parents can do right nowThe sensory–feeding connection that changes how we think about picky eating and feeding disordersHow the female-dominated nature of speech-language pathology contributes to the field's chronic undervaluationWhat AI means for the future of speech therapy — and why Ashlyn has concernsHow to access Speech Matters Clinic in Charlotte, NC — including how to get evaluated without a physician referral EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS "Insurance and Research Gaps" [03:29] Ashlyn breaks down where coverage has improved (feeding therapy, autism) and where it has quietly regressed (adult aphasia) — and explains why clinical reality almost always moves faster than the research that insurers are willing to accept. "Autism Missed in Girls" [05:31] The diagnostic criteria for autism were built around male presentations. Ashlyn walks through exactly what that costs girls and women — in school services, in self-knowledge, in mental health — and what it looks like when a woman finally gets answers in midlife. "Neuro-Affirming Therapy Debate" [11:01] What does it mean to support someone's communication without asking them to mask who they are? Ashlyn addresses the controversy head-on and explains how SLPs can build social-language skills in a way that affirms rather than erases. "Insurance Denials Playbook" [14:37] One of the most practically useful segments in this episode. Ashlyn shares real strategies for challenging denials: how to call insurers effectively, when to involve your employer's HR department, how billing codes can make or break a claim, and where to find grant funding when coverage falls short. "Pediatric Feeding Disorders" [22:30] Feeding challenges in children are among the most emotionally loaded — and most dismissed — concerns a parent can bring to a provider. Ashlyn explains what's really happening, why it matters, and what the research actually says. "Sensory Roots of Feeding Issues" [26:32] Picky eating is not a parenting failure. Ashlyn connects the dots between sensory processing and feeding difficulties in a way that reframes what families are often told about their children — and themselves. "Why Speech Therapy Is Underpaid" [29:53] A frank conversation about what it means to work in a field that is over 95% female — and how that reality shapes reimbursement, institutional respect, and the day-to-day experience of practicing clinicians. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Welcome and Disclaimer00:57 — Meet Ashlyn Lelej01:34 — Why She Built a Clinic03:29 — Insurance and Research Gaps05:31 — Autism Missed in Girls07:41 — Midlife Diagnosis Support09:48 — Why She Chose SLP11:01 — Neuro-Affirming Therapy Debate14:37 — Insurance Denials Playbook22:30 — Pediatric Feeding Disorders24:10 — When Feeding Concerns Are Dismissed25:41 — Getting Evaluated Without a Referral26:32 — Sensory Roots of Feeding Issues29:53 — Why Speech Therapy Is Underpaid34:29 — Advice for Practice Owners37:06 — AI in Speech Therapy39:00 — Mission: Everyone Can Express40:48 — Find Speech Matters Clinic42:21 — Podcast Wrap Up ABOUT THE ...
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    43 mins
  • Reclaiming Confidence in Perimenopause: Mindset, Style and Being Seen with Rosie Faulkner

    Reclaiming Confidence in Perimenopause: Mindset, Style and Being Seen with Rosie Faulkner
    May 7 2026

    In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with award-winning producer, video confidence coach, and midlife advocate Rosie Faulkner for an honest conversation about confidence, identity, aging, and rediscovering yourself during perimenopause and beyond.

    Rosie shares her personal experience navigating midlife changes — including weight gain, depression, shifting identity, and the emotional impact of no longer recognizing herself in the mirror. What followed was a powerful realization: accepting your current self doesn’t mean giving up — it means meeting yourself with compassion while still taking steps toward feeling better.

    Together, Dr. Soma and Rosie explore the pressure women face around aging, appearance, and “anti-aging” culture — and how authenticity, style, mindset, movement, and small daily actions can help women feel confident and visible again.

    🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:
    • Why so many women feel disconnected from themselves in midlife
    • How perimenopause can impact confidence, body image, and identity
    • The emotional toll of clothes no longer fitting — and what it represents
    • Why accepting your body and wanting change can coexist
    • Practical ways to rebuild confidence through style, movement, and mindset
    • How small daily actions create lasting transformation
    • Why self-care becomes essential during the “sandwich generation” years
    ✨ Key themes explored:
    • Aging gracefully vs. anti-aging culture
    • Positive self-talk and personal style
    • Visibility, authenticity, and fear of being seen
    • Midlife reinvention and confidence rebuilding
    • Walking, weightlifting, and sustainable wellness routines
    • Prioritizing yourself without guilt
    💫 About Rosie Faulkner

    Rosie Faulkner is an award-winning producer, speaker, and video confidence coach who helps women — especially those in midlife — show up confidently on camera and in life. Through coaching, workshops, and online programs, she empowers women to embrace authenticity, rediscover confidence, and stop hiding themselves during seasons of transition.

    She is also the creator of the upcoming intimacy-focused course: 🔥 Reclaim Your Sexy

    Rosie is based in the Washington, DC area and works with clients virtually.

    🌐 Connect with Rosie Faulkner
    • Website: https://www.rosiefaulkner.com
    • YouTube: https://www.instagram.com/faulkner_rosie/
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosiefaulkner/
    ⏱️ Timestamps

    00:00 – Disclaimer and Introduction 00:52 – Meet Rosie Faulkner 02:03 – Her Midlife Wake-Up Call 04:39 – Positive Self-Talk and Style 06:01 – Why Identity Shifts in Midlife 07:36 – Getting Unstuck Through Action 09:36 – Who Rosie Helps Most 11:27 – Understanding Perimenopause 12:11 – The Aging Gracefully Mindset 16:28 – Accepting Change Without Giving Up 19:11 – Self-Care During the Sandwich Years 23:11 – Starting Small: One Step at a Time 24:31 – Client Transformation Story 27:24 – Where to Find Rosie 27:58 – New Course + Wrap-Up

    🎙️ Listen to Soma Says

    Now streaming on:

    • Spotify
    • Apple Podcasts
    • YouTube
    👩‍⚕️ Connect with Dr. Soma Mandal
    • Website: https://www.somamandalmd.com
    • Instagram: @drsomamandalmd
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    30 mins
  • Toxic Truths: Why Modern Medicine Ignores Your Symptoms: With Dr. Loretta Friedman

    Toxic Truths: Why Modern Medicine Ignores Your Symptoms: With Dr. Loretta Friedman
    Apr 14 2026

    In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Dr. Loretta Friedman — a Directional Non-Force Technique® chiropractor, integrative clinical nutritionist, and founder of Synergy Health Associates — to explore what happens when patients don’t feel well… even when everything looks “normal” on paper.

    With over 25 years of clinical experience, Dr. Friedman brings a unique perspective shaped by her early career as an operating room nurse in cardiothoracic and transplant medicine, followed by her transition into integrative and functional care.

    Her work focuses on inflammation, metabolic health, lymphatic function, and personalized treatment — particularly for women navigating midlife changes. She is also known for developing proprietary approaches such as Lymph-Biologics™, a specialized form of lymphatic drainage, and her “Aging Analysis” testing methodology.

    🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:
    • Why chronic symptoms are often missed in traditional medical models
    • What “toxicity” and inflammation mean from an integrative perspective
    • The role of the lymphatic system in chronic disease and overall health
    • Why some patients don’t feel well despite “normal” lab results
    • How stress, hormones, and metabolism intersect in midlife women
    • The benefits — and limitations — of both conventional and integrative approaches
    🌿 Key themes explored:
    • A different lens on inflammation and detoxification
    • The importance of listening to patient symptoms, not just lab values
    • Lifestyle foundations: nutrition, sleep, stress, and light exposure
    • Individualized care vs. protocol-driven medicine
    • The evolving conversation around women’s health and midlife wellness
    🩺 About Dr. Loretta Friedman

    Dr. Loretta Friedman is a New York–based practitioner specializing in:

    • Integrative and functional medicine
    • Lymphatic drainage and detoxification
    • Clinical nutrition and metabolic health
    • Women’s health and anti-aging care

    She has been in practice for over two decades and is recognized for her work in lymphatic health and holistic approaches to chronic illness.

    📚 Book
    • The Lymph Link (available on Amazon)
    🌐 Connect with Dr. Friedman
    • Website: https://synergyhealthassociates.com/
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synergyhealthassociates/
    • Facebook: https://www.somamandalmd.com
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    27 mins
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