Podcast · Health

Judging Meghan

Every week, host Meghan Judge sits down with guests to explore the real stuff—navigating grief and loss, embracing aging with more grace and less judgment, working through relationship challenges, and finding ways to make the world a little brighter. Past guests include Dr. Nadine Macaluso (as portr

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 58 min
Latest: 13 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 52 minNew

Breaking the Silence Around Suicide: A Conversation with Mental Health Advocate Heidi Ambrose

In this episode I’m joined by mental health advocate and speaker Heidi Ambrose for an honest conversation about suicide, grief, and finding hope after loss. Heidi and I first met when I was a speaker at a women's event, there we connected over our shared experiences with loss. She opens up about growing up in New York City with emotionally distant parents and feeling lonely despite having financial privilege. At just 17, Heidi lost her mother to suicide following her parents’ divorce, an experience that changed her life forever. Heidi shares the shock, guilt, and stigma she experienced after…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S1 · E298 · 6 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
The Story My Mom Carried for Years: One of My Most Meaningful Conversations (Revisited)
Today, you’re going to hear a revisited conversation from 2022 between my Mom and me. We talk about her experience being attacked as a young girl and how it forever impacted her life. She has experienced unimaginable loss, including losing both a child and a husband, and has had to learn how to live again after these traumatic experiences. I have experienced my own trauma through the many losses in my life, and my relationship with my Mom has had its ups and downs over the years. But through everything, the love has always been there. I wanted to share this conversation for anyone who may be…
S1 · E297 · 29 Sep 2026 · 43 min
When Life Changes Your Plans: Grief, Resilience, and Starting Over with Lizzie Semmer
In this episode, I sit down with Lizzie Semmer, a former pre K teacher who left the classroom and started a new chapter of her life in Portugal. Lizzie shares what it was like growing up between Chicago and Manhattan Beach with a father who worked in Hollywood, and how she eventually began her own career in entertainment, working with her father. After years in the industry, she followed a calling into teaching and spent a decade working with young children before the demands and exhaustion of the post COVID classroom led her to make the difficult decision to walk away. Lizzie also opens up…
S1 · E296 · 24 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Motherhood From a Different Perspective with Emmy Nominated Producer Riaz Patel
Two-time Emmy-nominated director/producer of TV and Broadway, Riaz Patel isn’t here because of his credentials. He’s here because of his unusual perspective: a man who has spent virtually his entire life in female-dominated worlds. He grew up surrounded by women — two sisters, countless female cousins — then spent years making television about women, for female-led networks, on female-majority teams, for female audiences. And now, as a gay dad raising two kids, he finds himself once again in a world largely populated by moms. He comes to motherhood as an “interloper”: close enough to see it…
22 Sep 2026 · 36 min
Angelic Ancestry and the Search for Purpose with Alisha Das
As I celebrate my sixth year of podcasting and approach my 300th episode, I’m excited to welcome angel communicator, author, speaker, and podcaster Alisha Das. During a time when the world can feel especially divided and difficult, Alisha and I have a conversation about spirituality, purpose, angels, and finding light during challenging seasons. Alisha shares her story of growing up in rural Indiana, experiencing a traumatic childhood, and encountering archangels from the age of four. After briefly pursuing acting, she eventually embraced her gifts and became a spiritual intuitive. Alisha…
S1 · E294 · 15 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
The Connect Effect with Emmy Nominated Director and Producer Riaz Patel
This episode is especially meaningful as I celebrate my podcast’s six year anniversary during Suicide Prevention Month. I’m joined by Riaz Patel, a two time Emmy nominated director and producer and Broadway producer, who shares his story of growing up Pakistani, Muslim, and gay in rural West Virginia and Maryland. He opens up about feeling like an outsider, constantly navigating prejudice, experiencing hostility after 9/11, and a pivotal moment when the film Maurice helped him see a different future for himself during one of the darkest times in his life. Riaz shares how that experience led…
S1 · E293 · 8 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 17 min
Surviving 9/11 and Finding Purpose Through Service with Will Jimeno (Revisited)
I’m repeating this episode to honor Will Jimeno, all of the victims of 9/11, the survivors, the first responders who ran toward the danger, and all of their families. This episode originally aired in 2021, but Will’s story is one I believe should never be forgotten. September 11, 2001, is a day so many of us remember exactly where we were when we heard the news. It was a day that changed our country and countless lives forever. Will was a rookie Port Authority police officer when he saw the shadow of American Airlines Flight 11 moments before it struck the World Trade Center. He and his…
S1 · E292 · 1 Sep 2026 · 54 min
Near-Death Experience, Angels, and Soul Regression Therapy with Author, Therapist and Life Regression Expert Jacob L. Cooper
I’m joined by Jacob Cooper, an author, therapist, speaker, and past life regression expert, for a fascinating conversation about near death experiences, spirituality, and what may exist beyond this life. Jacob shares the stories behind his two books, Life After Breath, which explores his own near death experience, and The Wisdom of Jacob’s Ladder, which explores the lessons and insights he took from that experience. Jacob recounts experiencing a near death experience at just three years old in 1993 after suffocating from undiagnosed pertussis. He describes seeing a tunnel and a light,…
S1 · E291 · 25 Aug 2026 · 50 min
Relationship Renovation: The Tools for a Healthier, Stronger Marriage with Therapists and Coaches EJ & Tara
This episode I sit down with therapists and coaches EJ and Tara from the Relationship Renovation podcast and a counseling center in Tucson. They share their own relationship story, including meeting, marrying quickly, and then facing intense challenges after having colicky twins while blending a family with four young children. Sleep deprivation, postpartum struggles, constant conflict, and a loss of intimacy put tremendous strain on their marriage and ultimately became the catalyst for a deeper understanding of relationships. Their experience inspired them to create the research based…
S1 · E290 · 18 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
Life After Loss: Signs from the Other Side, Healing, and Finding Purpose with Fitness Professional Nicole Sciacca
In this episode, I’m joined by Nicole Sciacca, a fitness professional and host of Shockin’ Y’all, for a deeply personal conversation about spirituality, “exit points,” divine protection, and the signs we may receive from the other side. We talk about how trauma and major life experiences can create clarity, shift our perspective, and ultimately lead us toward a deeper sense of purpose and faith. Nicole shares her journey from growing up as a dancer in Birmingham, Alabama, to moving to Los Angeles and navigating a major back injury that completely changed her identity. She opens up about…
S1 · E289 · 11 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
The Lessons Death Teaches Us About Life with Hospice Nurse and Author Penny Hawkins Smith (Revisited)
This is a revisited episode with Penny Hawkins Smith, a compassionate hospice nurse, influencer, and author of Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living. With over 2 million followers, Penny uses her platform to educate, inspire, and bring light to the often-taboo topic of death. Together, we delve into the emotional and spiritual depths of end-of-life care, from Penny’s personal journey of overcoming death anxiety to the remarkable, love-filled moments she’s witnessed at the bedside of her patients. We share stories of redemption, forgiveness, and the surprising ways people find…
4 Aug 2026 · 49 min
Randy Spelling on Growing Up in Hollywood, Addiction, Grief, and Finding Purpose Through Life Coaching
In this episode, I’m joined by former actor, author, and holistic life and business coach Randy Spelling for an honest conversation about growing up in one of Hollywood’s most famous families. As the son of legendary television producer Aaron Spelling and brother of Tori Spelling, Randy shares what life was really like behind the scenes, the unique challenges of growing up in the spotlight, and how fame shaped both his family and the relationships around him. Randy opens up about his acting career, his experience filming Sons of Hollywood while privately coping with his father’s declining…
28 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Kate Doerge on Reimagining Grief, Penny's Flight & Finding Hope Again
In this episode, I’m joined by grief coach, author, speaker, and Penny’s Flight founder Kate Doerge for a heartfelt conversation about loss, healing, and finding purpose after unimaginable tragedy. We begin by talking about the importance of supporting other women, overcoming jealousy, and choosing to lift one another up instead of competing. Kate shares her extraordinary story of losing her father to heart failure, her mother in a tragic car accident, and, most devastatingly, her daughter Penny, who passed away at just 16 years old after years of battling neurofibromatosis, multiple…
S1 · E286 · 21 Jul 2026 · 57 min
The Tiger of Beijing: Dr. Joy Kong on Resilience, Healing, and Stem Cell Therapy
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Joy Kong, a triple board-certified physician, educator, stem cell expert, and author of Tiger of Beijing. Dr. Kong shares her incredible journey growing up on a university campus in Beijing during a time of major economic change in China. Although her family had very little money, she was surrounded by education and developed an early fascination with America and the opportunities she believed it could offer. Dr. Kong opens up about the many obstacles she faced while trying to build a new life in the United States, including having her visa denied despite…
S1 · E285 · 14 Jul 2026 · 55 min
Why Skin Cancer Prevention Matters with Melanoma Activist Leah Adams
In this episode, I’m sharing why melanoma awareness has become so important to me. Between recently losing an old family friend to melanoma, having my own skin cancer scare when a spot on my leg thankfully turned out to be benign, and my mom’s history with melanoma, it was a real wake-up call. Those experiences made me realize how important it is to have this conversation and remind everyone that early detection saves lives. I hope this episode encourages you to protect your skin, schedule regular skin checks, and never ignore changes you notice, because it truly could make all the…
S1 · E284 · 7 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
The Glow Is an Inside Job: Founder Michelle Crosby on Wellness-First Beauty
In this episode I'm then joined by Michelle Crosby, a registered nurse with more than 25 years of experience in critical care, plastic surgery, and aesthetics. We dive into the connection between internal health and outward appearance, discussing how nutrition, hormones, sleep, and overall wellness can dramatically impact not only how we look but how we feel. Michelle shares how her work with PRP and PRF treatments inspired her to take a more holistic approach to health, focusing on achieving optimal wellness rather than simply falling within "normal" lab ranges. Michelle also introduces her…
S1 · E283 · 30 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
ADHD coach Sam Led explains adult ADHD, hyperfocus, rejection sensitivity, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, CPTSD overlap, and why your brain isn't broken.
In this episode I sit down with ADHD coach, consultant, podcast host and Beyond ADHD author Sam Led for a conversation about what ADHD actually feels like from the inside. Sam shares his own story of being misdiagnosed with anxiety, OCD and other labels before understanding his ADHD brain. He explains why he believes ADHD is not an attention deficit but an attention difference, why many ADHD brains experience the world in “Technicolor,” and why sensitivity, hyperfocus, creativity and intuition can become strengths once people stop seeing themselves as broken. We also talk about ADD vs ADHD,…
S1 · E282 · 23 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
The Hidden Pain of Adult Bullying and Friendship Loss with Dr. Noelle Santorelli (Revisited)
In this revisited episode, I sit down again with clinical psychologist Dr. Noelle Santerelli for a conversation that feels especially important. We talk about adult bullying, relational aggression, and the deep grief that can come from losing friendships and a sense of belonging, particularly within mom groups and close communities. This episode is rooted in mental health and grief, because these losses change how safe the world feels and how we see ourselves. I share openly about why I started this podcast. A devastating friend breakup in 2020 collided with unresolved childhood trauma and…
S1 · E281 · 16 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
The Weight of Walking Away- Losing my Brother to Addiction with Hayley Spitaleri
Hayley Spitaleri, host of A Splash More, opens up about her brother Nick’s 20-year struggle with opioid addiction, his fatal fentanyl overdose, the boundary she set six months before his death, and the federal investigation that followed. This conversation connects the fentanyl crisis to prescription painkillers, athlete injuries, OxyContin, heroin, counterfeit drugs, overdose prevention, Hayley’s story is for siblings, parents, spouses, and children who have loved someone with substance use disorder—and for anyone trying to protect their family without abandoning the person they love.…
S1 · E280 · 9 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
From Loss to Loud: Advocating for Men's Mental Health with Reshma Kearney
This episode I’m joined by Reshma Kearney, a trauma informed yoga instructor, mental health advocate, and someone I first connected with through Instagram. We begin by talking about my own journey with mental health advocacy, the importance of suicide prevention awareness, a recent personal loss, and the incredible milestone of celebrating six years of the podcast. I also reflect on what it means to see Judging Meghan reach the Top 10 on Apple’s Mental Health charts and why these conversations continue to matter so much to me. Reshma shares her deeply personal story, including her move to…
S1 · E279 · 2 Jun 2026 · 58 min
Escape to Jekyll Island & Beyond with Bestselling Author Sandy Malone
In this episode I sit down with bestselling author Sandy Malone for a fun and inspiring conversation about her writing career, the stories that have captured readers’ hearts, and what exciting projects she has coming next. Sandy shares the journey behind her popular Gem of the Golden Isle series, which begins with Escape to Jekyll Island, and discusses why the charm, beauty, and close knit communities of Georgia’s Golden Isles continue to inspire her work. Sandy also gives us a preview of her upcoming novel, Thicker Than Blood, which is set to be released this fall. While details are still…
S1 · E278 · 26 May 2026 · 29 min
The Caregiving Crisis: Dementia, Mental Health, and Practical Prevention with Neal K. Shah
In this episode I sit down with Neal K. Shah, a Johns Hopkins and NIH funded researcher, former caregiver, and co founder of CareYaya, for an important conversation about dementia, caregiving, and mental health. Neal shares his personal experiences caring for his grandfather during his battle with dementia and later supporting his wife through a multi year cancer journey, opening up about the emotional and physical toll caregiving can take on families. We discuss the lack of support many caregivers receive after a diagnosis, the rising costs of home care and assisted living, and the growing…
19 May 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Grief, Trauma & The Emotional Cost of Working Undercover with Author, Advocate & Former Detective Todd McGuire
This episode I'm joined by Todd McGuire from Queensland, Australia, a mental health advocate, former undercover detective, and author of the memoir Donny: An Undercover Cop with a Death Wish. Todd opens up about his life before policing, growing up in a loving home with no major trauma, and how everything changed after the devastating suicide of his partner, Karen, on New Year’s Day in 2000 while her young son was in the home. He shares the heartbreaking moments that followed, the guilt he carried for years, and how that loss shaped the course of his life and mental health. Todd speaks…
S1 · E276 · 12 May 2026 · 51 min
House of Pretend: Healing Childhood Wounds with Author Joanne Redding
In this episode I’m joined by writer and former Wall Street professional Joanne Redding to discuss her powerful memoir House of Pretend, releasing May 19th. Joanne shares the heartbreaking story of losing her father to suicide when she was just six years old, growing up in a home where grief was silenced, and later discovering the truth her mother had hidden from her for years. She speaks candidly about emotional neglect, family trauma, losing her brother to suicide as well, and the long journey of healing through trauma therapy and self understanding. Together we talk about the survival…
S1 · E275 · 5 May 2026 · 54 min
Perimenopause, Hormones & Feeling Like Yourself Again with Experts Dr. Azin Shah & Kavita Sahai
Today I welcome wellness advocate Kavita Sahai, founder of Vibe Tribes, along with Dr.Azin Shah Shaw, a gynecologist and urogynecologist specializing in perimenopause and menopause, for an honest and empowering conversation about women’s health, hormones, mental health, and what it really means to thrive in midlife. I talk openly about my own experiences with fibroids, my hysterectomy, weight gain, depression, and hormone therapy, while sharing why I believe mental health, fitness, nervous system regulation, and hormone health are all deeply connected. Kavita shares how her own struggles…
S1 · E274 · 28 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Fighting for Truth, Justice & Human Dignity with Award Winning Trial Lawyer and Podcast Host Robert Simon
In this episode, I sit down with award winning trial lawyer, civil rights advocate, and podcast host Robert “Bob” Simon for an urgent and deeply honest conversation about justice, truth, activism, and the state of our country. What begins as a discussion about politics becomes something much bigger as we talk about right and wrong, human dignity, and why staying silent is no longer an option. Bob shares his journey from a working class upbringing in Pittsburgh to becoming a respected attorney who fights for survivors, victims, and communities harmed by abuse and injustice. We discuss the…
S1 · E273 · 21 Apr 2026 · 58 min
Healing, Empathy, and the Future of Kids in a Digital World with Juliette Blake of Moxies
In this episode I sit down with mental health advocate and founder Juliette Blake of Moxies for a candid and wide-ranging conversation about resilience, empathy, and raising children in a rapidly changing digital world. Juliette opens up about her childhood in Connecticut and how early experiences, including her time as a Girl Scout and being raised by hardworking parents, shaped her drive, empathy, and entrepreneurial spirit. She reflects on how those foundations carried into adulthood, influencing both her career path and her perspective as a mother of three. A major focus of the…
S1 · E272 · 14 Apr 2026 · 58 min
Essential Inner Resources for a Healthy Mind and Fulfilling Life with Dr. Celeste Birkhofer (Revisited)
In this revisited episode from November of 2025 I had sat down with Dr. Celeste Birkhofer, a licensed clinical psychologist, longtime Stanford educator, mother, and upcoming author whose work centers on grief, suicide prevention, and the emotional weight of perfectionism. Dr. Celeste opens up about growing up in a military family, navigating a parent’s alcoholism, and how her own experiences with depression, compulsive exercise, and an eating disorder eventually led her into psychology. She also shares her forty–year marriage, a partnership strengthened through separation, therapy, and…
S1 · E271 · 7 Apr 2026 · 41 min
Loving the Fire | Healing, Identity, and Becoming Who You’re Meant to Be with Author and Activist Deborah Santana
In this episode I sit down with author, activist, and leader Deborah Santana for an honest conversation about resilience, identity, and what it truly means to keep going after life tries to break you. Deborah shares the foundation of her strength, growing up in a family rooted in hard work, faith, and perseverance. From generational stories of resilience to her mother’s experience as a farmworker in California, those early lessons instilled a deep sense of independence and purpose. We talk about her memoir Loving the Fire and the idea that life’s most painful moments can also be…
S1 · E270 · 31 Mar 2026 · 51 min
Pieces You’ll Never Get Back | Survival, Motherhood, and Finding Your Voice with Author, Advocate, and Mother Samina Ali
In this episode I’m joined by author, advocate, and mother Samina Ali. After months of trying to make this conversation happen, we finally sit down to talk about her memoir Pieces You’ll Never Get Back and the life changing medical trauma she experienced during childbirth at one of the top hospitals in the United States. What should have been a joyful pregnancy turned into something much more serious, as Samina repeatedly asked for help and was dismissed again and again. She shares what came next, a devastating medical emergency and a seven year recovery where she had to relearn how to…

About Judging Meghan

Judging Meghan is a English health podcast from Cloud10. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Cloud10
Language: English
Category: Health
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 58 min
Latest episode: 13 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1535524824
Rights: Cloud10

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