This week on The EmpowHERment Show, Adama, Maddie, and Sam are joined by Lynsey Chediak, a friend of Maddie who has spent over a decade at the forefront of health policy and patient advocacy driven by a singular mission: addressing the unmet medical need of children affected by rare diseases like hers.

In this enlightening conversation, Lynsey shares her personal journey with arthrogryposis, a rare bone disease, and discusses the broader implications of rare diseases affecting millions of Americans. The discussion highlights the importance of advocacy, the role of caregivers, and the challenges posed by the current political climate in healthcare.

Lynsey emphasizes the need for early diagnosis through newborn screening and the significance of language in describing health conditions. The conversation concludes with valuable resources for families navigating the complexities of rare diseases.

Here are some of the key takeaways from this episode:

• Rare diseases affect about 30 million Americans.
• Over 80% of caregivers for rare diseases are women.
• 95% of rare diseases lack FDA-approved treatments.
• Access to medical innovation can significantly improve quality of life.
• Newborn screening can save lives by identifying rare diseases early.

And if you want to tune in for specific portions, here’s the episode breakdown:

• 00:00 Introduction to Rare Diseases
• 06:08 Lynsey’s Diagnosis Journey
• 11:59 The Role of Advocacy and Community Support
• 17:59 Navigating Healthcare Systems: US vs. UK
• 29:07 Navigating Healthcare Costs and Insurance Plans
• 30:04 Researching Medical Specialists and Community Support
• 32:12 The Role of Digital Connectivity in Rare Disease Communities
• 34:08 Parental Choices and Quality of Life in Rare Diseases
• 36:34 Addressing Skepticism Towards Traditional Medicine
• 39:15 The Importance of Early Intervention in Childhood
• 41:16 The Language of Illness: Disease vs. Condition
• 45:29 Policy Changes and Healthcare Access for Rare Diseases
• 53:50 Advocacy for Newborn Screening
• 56:59 The Importance of Early Detection
• 01:01:07 Privacy Concerns in Healthcare
• 01:04:04 Resources for Rare Diseases

Check out the National Organization for Rare Disorders if you want to find more information and resources! And follow the EmpowHERment ladies on socials as well as subscribing on YouTube and wherever you listen to Podcasts:

• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast

info@nextdaypodcast.com

Dating in 2025 is chaotic—but we’re still showing up, swiping, and sharing. In this episode, Adama, Maddie, and Sam get real about their own dating journeys: the highs, the horror stories, and the hilarious in-betweens. From ghosting to green flags, we unpack why finding connection feels harder than ever in the age of dating apps, performative vulnerability, incel culture, and more.

We also lay out our non-negotiables—emotional maturity, consistency, and mutual respect, to name a few—and challenge the idea that women should shrink themselves to be “chosen.” We talk about how men need to show up: with intention, integrity, and the ability to court without entitlement. And we explore why choosing to be single isn’t a failure—it’s a conscious, powerful decision when the alternative is settling for less than you deserve. This one’s part group chat, lots of pep talk, and all truth.

Tune in to feel seen, laugh a little, and leave with a stronger sense of what you won’t settle for. And keep up with the EmpowHERment ladies by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts and following on socials:

• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok

This week, the EmpowHERment ladies talk to Kristin Miller, a certified coach, speaker, and accomplished professional with over 24 years of experience leading high-performing teams and driving results.

Kristin works with women across diverse industries, helping them earn more money, reclaim 7+ hours in their week, and take bold action toward the life and career they truly want without losing themselves in the process. Whether through 1:1 coaching or delivering transformative workshops, she empowers women to trust their intuition, navigate challenges with curiosity and confidence, and step into new identities with clarity, calm, and joy.

Maddie worked with Kristin earlier this year to dig into some of the challenges she was facing, particularly burnout. This episode is a can’t-miss for anyone else who is struggling to get through their days and feel like they are truly thriving versus barely surviving.

You can read more about Kristin’s work on her website and follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Keep up with the EmpowHERment ladies by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts, watching the show on YouTube, and following them on social:

• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok

This week, the EmpowHERment ladies talk to Maddie's friend, Troy Tazbaz. Troy lost his wife to colorectal cancer in 2019 and channeled his grief into action by pursuing public service. In 2023, he was appointed by the Biden administration to lead the Digital Health Center of Excellence for the United States Food and Drug Administration, where he was responsible for developing digital health policy, guidance, technology evaluation and approvals for emerging technologies in healthcare delivery.

In this episode, Troy discusses his point of view on why the U.S. needs to reimagine healthcare to drive positive public health outcomes as well as the concerning rise of colorectal cancer in our country. He explains how he managed grief in the wake of his wife's passing and recommends how others prepare for the loss of loved ones.

Keep up with the EmpowHERment ladies and what’s coming next by subscribing wherever you listen podcasts and following them on YouTube and social:

• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok

This week, the EmpowHERment ladies speak with Justin Ángel Knighten, former Associate Administrator of External Affairs for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a current Pritzker fellow with the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics. Justin brings 20 years of experience in political and corporate communications, advising C-suite executives and leaders at the highest levels of the US government.

During this episode, Justin provides helpful advice for how to prepare for disasters and ensure you can care for yourself and your loved ones during emergencies. He also discusses how the politicization in our current political system is so damaging and how we must come together to ensure we're healthy and safe.

Follow Justin on socials below:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn

And keep up with the EmpowHERment ladies by subscribing on YouTube and following on socials:

• YouTube
• TikTok
• Instagram

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast

info@nextdaypodcast.com

This week, Adama, Sam, and Maddie continue their interview of Christine Pelosi, an author, attorney, and advocate. Christine’s mother is Nancy Pelosi, an American politician who was the 52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, serving from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023.

In part 2 of this special edition episode, Christine talks about the budget process and everything at stake if the Republican proposal passes, particularly when it comes to healthcare. Tune in to learn about the ongoing negotiations and how these decisions could impact millions of Americans’ lives.

If you want to join the fight to preserve Medicaid, check out SaveOurHealthcare.org and contact your representative to tell them not to cut this critical program by calling 202-224-3121. And remember, they do listen!

Keep up with the EmpowHERment ladies and what’s coming next by subscribing wherever you listen podcasts and following them on YouTube and social:

• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast

info@nextdaypodcast.com

This week, Adama, Sam, and Maddie interview Christine Pelosi, an author, attorney, and advocate. Christine’s mother is Nancy Pelosi, an American politician who was the 52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, serving from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023.

In part 1 of this special edition episode, Christine talks about growing up as one of five children in San Francisco and how her mother’s incredible career in public service got started as a local library commissioner. The empowHERment ladies also talk to her about the role of money in politics and how the landmark Supreme Court case Citizens United established the basis for modern campaign finance. Additionally, Christine shares her insight into the challenges women face entering the political arena and inspirational advice for anyone wanting to make a difference in America today, including how impactful shopping small and buying from local businesses can be.

If you are interested in learning more about campaign finance, below are some resources Christine recommends:

• Federal Election Commission
• California Fair Political Practices Commission

You can also follow Christine on social media @SFPelosi

And if you want to join the fight to preserve Medicaid, check out SaveOurHealthcare.org

Last but not least, if you want to contact your representative to tell them not to cut Medicaid, call 202-224-3121. And remember, they do listen!

Keep up with the EmpowHERment ladies and what’s coming next by subscribing wherever you listen podcasts and following them on YouTube and social:

• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast

info@nextdaypodcast.com

This week, Maddie continues her interview of Adama and Sam about their careers as lobbyists. Lobbying is a growing profession in the United States. As of 2024, there were just over 13,000 registered lobbyists, and California represents a large portion of the industry, with over 3,000 in the state. More and more women are registering as lobbyists, and Adama and Sam have insights from their own experiences into why that's happening.

Here's some background on our amazing hosts and their lobbying careers:

Adama

• Adama is a seasoned government affairs strategist based in New York City with over 20 years of lobbying experience across the insurance, financial services, and technology industries.
• She was selected as a California Fellow when she graduated from college, a highly selective program for aspiring policy professionals in the state.
• In 2017, Adama was featured on the cover of TIME as a Person of the Year for her incredible efforts to eliminate discrimination, sexual harassment, and assault within employment and academic settings.

Sam

• Sam is a public policy, regulatory affairs, and AI expert based in Sacramento, California who helps businesses and non-profit leaders acquire money, power, and influence
• She has procured $11B+ in funding for her clients, including multi-year investments to support formerly incarcerated individuals through housing, workforce, and trauma-informed care.
• She also led efforts to pass whistleblower protections for Capitol Staff when she teamed up with Adama to start We Said Enough.

Keep up with The EmpowHERment ladies and what's coming next by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts and following them on YouTube and social:

• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok

Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast

info@nextdaypodcast.com