In this special episode of FEM MD, the tables turn.

Host Dr. Lauren Umstattd steps into the hot seat as she’s interviewed by her cousin, former Emmy-winning journalist Brooke Martin. What follows is an unfiltered look at the woman behind the brand—surgeon, founder, mother, and builder of one of the most sought-after facial plastic practices in the Midwest.

They cover:

1. What it actually takes to build a surgical practice from the ground up
2. The myth of a “flawless” medical career—and what failure really looked like
3. Confidence, imposter syndrome, and learning to trust yourself
4. The emotional reality of surgery (for both doctor and patient)
5. Work, motherhood, and the truth about “balance”
6. Why she believes you don’t need to rush your life

This is a rare, behind-the-scenes conversation about ambition, identity, and choosing your life on your own terms.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to build something from nothing—this episode is it.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md

Guest: Brooke Martin

Connect with Brooke: @brookemartin.tv

https://morewithbrookemartin.com/

Controlled Burn: https://store.dexteritybooks.com/prod...

Presented by: ‪@HippocraticCollective‬

In this episode of Fem MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd speaks with Marta Ravin—Emmy-nominated executive producer, showrunner, TEDx speaker, and creator of Personality Hire, a framework focused on the human skills AI can’t replace.

Marta shares her deeply personal journey with body image, weight, and identity, shaped by early childhood experiences, cultural pressures of the ’80s and ’90s, and decades in entertainment. She opens up about her recent life transitions, including an 80-pound weight loss using GLP-1 medications—exploring not just the physical changes, but the mental “peace” these drugs brought by quieting lifelong food noise.

Together, Marta and Dr. Umstattd unpack the long-term psychological impact of growing up in weight-focused environments, the realities of dieting culture, the promise and risks of GLP-1 medications, and how these drugs may reshape society, Hollywood, and expectations around thinness.

Marta Ravin is an Emmy-nominated executive producer, showrunner and writer who has redefined the landscape of television by seamlessly blending comedy, culture and unforgettable storytelling.

With roots as a stand-up comic featured on Comedy Central, Marta has been the creative force behind some of television’s most iconic moments, including MTV’s TRL, Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards, Love & Hip Hop reunions, and she created TLC’s Long Island Medium. She most recently served as Executive Producer of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Reunion, and is currently the Executive Producer of Fanatics Fest, continuing to push the boundaries of storytelling, brand partnerships and fandom.

Known for her collaborative leadership style, Marta builds and guides high-performing creative teams while mentoring emerging producers and talent across the entertainment landscape.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md

Guest: Marta Ravin

Connect with Marta:

@martaravin

https://www.martaravinproductions.com/

Presented by: @HippocraticCollective

In this powerful episode of FEM, MD, Dr. Lauren Umstattd sits down with ENT surgeon-turned-author Frances Mei Hardin to discuss her debut memoir and the hidden emotional cost of surgical training.

Frances Mei speaks candidly about the anger she carried out of residency and how writing became the vehicle that transformed it. From resident-on-resident hostility and weaponized reporting systems to the psychological toll of perfectionism, sleep deprivation, and hierarchy in the OR, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what many physicians experience but rarely say out loud.

They explore:

• The cultural legacy of The House of God — and why its themes still ring true

• How narrative nonfiction differs from anonymous venting and why accountability matters

• Neurodivergence as both vulnerability and superpower in medicine

• The role of hypnosis therapy in healing trauma and reclaiming focus

• Perfectionism, emotional intelligence, and the cost of brittle excellence

• Psychological safety in the operating room and how hierarchy without respect harms patient care

• Resident-on-resident toxicity and the bystander effect in surgical culture

Frances Mei shares what it means to “write through the anger." What began as revenge writing evolved into a reckoning with her own blind spots, emotional immaturity, and survival mechanisms. The result is a memoir that examines burnout, identity, agency, and reinvention inside academic medicine.

If you are a medical student, resident, attending physician, or simply someone navigating ambition in a high-pressure field — this episode will resonate.

📖 Surgeon on the Edge is available wherever books are sold.

🎟️ Book tour stops include NYC, Cleveland, Chicago, Philly and more.

Host: Dr. Lauren Umstattd

Connect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_md

Guest: Dr. Frances Mei Hardin

Connect with Frances Mei:

@francesmeimd

https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/frances-mei-hardin-md

Presented by: @HippocraticCollective