IVF is under fire. So, what happens when access to IVF is suddenly at risk? How much power should policy have over your ability to build a family? And what can one voice, or one story, really do to protect fertility care for millions?

In this timely episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is joined by Danielle Melfi, the new CEO of RESOLVE, who brings a powerful blend of policy expertise, personal fertility experience, and a deep commitment to family-building equity.

Airing at the start of National Infertility Awareness Week, Dr. Lora Shahine and Danielle are talking about the real-world impact of recent legislative threats to IVF, including the Alabama ruling that temporarily halted treatment. They explore how advocacy organizations mobilize quickly to protect patients.

Danielle shares her own egg freezing journey, her background in government and healthcare advocacy, and how RESOLVE is working to expand access, improve patient education, and fight misinformation in an increasingly complex fertility landscape.

In this episode you'll hear:

• [1:41] Meet Danielle Melfi, CEO of RESOLVE
• [5:45] Why IVF Stopped in Alabama
• [10:55] What RESOLVE Does
• [14:15] Fertility Care Coverage in California and Recent Advocacy Wins
• [19:29] The Power of Fertility Stories
• [21:48] Restorative Reproductive Medicine Movement: A Threat in Disguise?
• [23:12] Personhood Bills Explained
• [36:55] RESOLVE's Strategic Plan
• [38:31] Get Involved

Resources mentioned:

resolve.org

@resolveorg on Instagram

Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations

Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

What if your PCOS diagnosis is about more than fertility? What if the symptoms you've been told to "just manage" are actually your body asking for deeper support? And what if you could take back control in a way that feels empowering rather than restrictive?

In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with registered dietitian and author of PCOS is My Power Cory Ruth, RDN to explain all about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and why it's often misunderstood. Cory shares her personal journey to diagnosis and how it shaped her mission to help women better understand the metabolic, hormonal, and reproductive components of PCOS.

Dr. Shahine and Cory cover the diagnostic criteria, common misconceptions (like "just lose weight"), and the evolving science around lifestyle interventions, blood sugar regulation, and long-term health outcomes.

This episode will give listeners a clearer understanding of how to manage PCOS through sustainable nutrition, movement, and mindset shifts, without falling into restrictive or shame-based approaches. Cory's refreshing expertise helps us reframe PCOS as a potential catalyst for lifelong health—giving you the tools to feel informed, supported, and back in the driver's seat.

In this episode you'll hear:

• [1:56] PCOS "triple threat": reproductive, metabolic, & hormonal
• [5:40] Cory Ruth's personal journey
• [8:01] Early signs of PCOS
• [11:43] The Rotterdam criteria
• [17:33] PCOS is a weight issue: MYTH
• [19:09] Nutrition is the foundation of PCOS management
• [22:24] Simple, realistic meal ideas to support PCOS
• [31:25] Intermittent fasting & PCOS
• [34:27] Mental health & PCOS
• [37:35] Long-term risks of PCOS
• [40:10] Sustainable lifestyle changes that actually work
• [43:05] Reframing PCOS as an opportunity for lifelong health

Resources mentioned:

www.thewomensdietitian.com

@thewomensdietition on Instagram

Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations

Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Are you struggling with unexplained infertility and wondering if endometriosis could be the missing piece? Have you been told that surgery is the only way to get a diagnosis? What if a simple test could offer answers without going into the operating room?

In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine welcomes guest Dr. Bruce Lessey, a double board certified OBGYN and Reproductive Endocrinologist with decades of research experience and over 150 peer-reviewed publications. Together they explore a groundbreaking question in reproductive medicine: can we diagnose endometriosis without invasive surgery?

Dr. Lessey and Dr. Shahine explain the science behind BCL6 testing, a biomarker found in the uterine lining that may signal inflammation linked to endometriosis. Dr. Lessey also shares how this research evolved from studying implantation markers to developing a potential non-invasive diagnostic tool, and why timing in the menstrual cycle is critical for accurate results.

They also discuss the realities of delayed diagnosis, the connection between endometriosis and unexplained infertility, and how this test is already being used in clinical settings.

In this episode you'll hear:

• [1:21] Meet Dr. Bruce Lessey
• [4:27] Why does diagnosing endometriosis take years?
• [7:16] Introducing BCL6 testing
• [16:20] Timing the biopsy window
• [22:51] IVF outcomes study
• [25:42] Fresh vs. frozen transfers
• [27:22] Treating expected endometriosis
• [28:44] Lupron and surgery explained
• [30:42] BCL6 in recurrent pregnancy loss and recurrent implantation failure
• [33:04] Progesterone resistance and benefits of letrozole
• [40:48] Timing and testing pitfalls
• [43:02] Future research and wrap up

Resources mentioned:

Overexpression in Eutopic Endometrium of Women With Endometriosis. doi: 10.1177/1933719116649711.

Endometrial BCL6 testing for the prediction of in vitro fertilization outcomes: a cohort study. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.09.017.

Unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss and unexplained infertility: twins in disguise. doi: 10.1093/hropen/hoz021.

This episode is sponsored by Cicero Diagnostics.

Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations

Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.