Episode 16: Dr. Soyombo -Heart Health: Everybody Feels Alright Until They Are Not.

Episode 16: Dr. Soyombo -Heart Health: Everybody Feels Alright Until They Are Not.

We'd love to hear from you [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2453901/fan_mail/new] Heart disease is still the number one cause of death and disability on the planet, and the scariest part is how quietly it can build. From Barbados, we sit down with Dr. Sayambo, a non-invasive cardiology specialist, to make heart health practical and plainspoken especially for Black men who too often face earlier high blood pressure, higher rates of heart failure and stroke, and worse outcomes when care comes late. We start by clearing up confusion about what cardiologists actually do, then zoom out to what “cardiovascular health” really means: not just avoiding a diagnosis, but keeping the heart and blood vessels working efficiently so your whole body gets what it needs. Dr. Sayambo walks us through the full range of cardiovascular disease and then anchors the conversation in the American College of Cardiology framework that matters most day to day: blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, body weight, diet, activity, sleep, tobacco, and psychological health. We also talk honestly about stress, how it fuels risk factors, and why you can do “everything right” in the clinic and still struggle if your environment keeps pulling you backward. A major focus is hypertension, the silent killer, and the myths that keep men from getting checked. We get specific about what normal blood pressure looks like (less than 120/80), why “I feel fine” is not a plan, how family history helps guide earlier screening, and why tracking your numbers and medications on your phone can prevent dangerous mistakes. We also cover cultural food realities, processed foods, sodium, and small changes that are actually sustainable, plus the warning signs that should send you to urgent or emergency care because time is muscle. If you want a clear, grounded guide to heart disease prevention, cardiovascular screening, and healthier routines that fit real life, press play. Subscribe, share this with one man you care about, and leave a review with the one heart-health number you’re committed to tracking. Promote my new consolidated website: grantleymartelly,com Bad Science: Changes in politics and ideology do not change our need to be vigilant. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/realhealthblackmen] Become a Supporter: Click here to become a supporter [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/realhealthblackmen]. Comments are welcome: realhealthblackmen@gmail.com Become a Sponsor, send us an email. Rating: Leave a rating on your podcast listening site. Follow on Instagram: realhealthblackmen  #realhealthblackmen #blackmenshealth #menshealth #blackmen #blackhealth #prostatecancer #mentalhealth

Episode 15: Sex Medicine with Dr. Marah Hehemann

We'd love to hear from you [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2453901/fan_mail/new] We sit down with Dr. Marah Hehemann, a Seattle-based urologist and men’s sexual and reproductive health specialist at the UW Men’s Health Center, to unpack why erections, fertility, and urinary symptoms can reflect your heart health, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar control. We get specific about the science of erections and why ED can show up years before a cardiac event. Dr. Hehemann explains how diabetes contributes to erectile dysfunction through blood vessel injury, penile nerve damage, scar tissue changes, and even hormonal shifts, plus why common ED medications may be less effective when nerves are impaired. We also connect the dots between male fertility and overall health risk, and why a urologist can be an important entry point for men who haven’t seen a primary care provider in years. From there, we move into what you can do today: exercise targets to improve erectile function, practical dietary shifts to reduce inflammation, and a “food as medicine” mindset that respects culture rather than demanding perfection. We also cut through the noise on testosterone therapy, including what “normal” can mean, why free testosterone matters, and how to avoid clinics that sell hormones without real medical oversight. Finally, we talk about mental well-being, masculinity, and the emotional recovery men face after prostate cancer treatment or any major health change, plus how caregivers can find support too. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a brother or friend, and leave a review so more men can find credible guidance on men’s health, ED, testosterone, fertility, and prostate cancer survivorship. #sexmedicine          #testosterone        #menshealth     #prostatecancer Promote my new consolidated website: grantleymartelly,com Bad Science: Changes in politics and ideology do not change our need to be vigilant. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/realhealthblackmen] Become a Supporter: Click here to become a supporter [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/realhealthblackmen]. Comments are welcome: realhealthblackmen@gmail.com Become a Sponsor, send us an email. Rating: Leave a rating on your podcast listening site. Follow on Instagram: realhealthblackmen  #realhealthblackmen #blackmenshealth #menshealth #blackmen #blackhealth #prostatecancer #mentalhealth

Episode 14: Hakim Asadi: Healing Out Loud

We'd love to hear from you [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2453901/fan_mail/new] Strength doesn’t have to mean silence. If you’ve ever pushed through a health scare, family pressure, or daily stress while telling yourself you’re “fine,” this conversation puts real words to what’s happening underneath. We sit down with Hakeem Asadi, a licensed social worker, speaker, and facilitator who works closely with Black men across prostate cancer support, HIV care, substance use recovery, and community settings. Together, we unpack why mental and emotional wellness often gets treated like an emergency only, and how a simple shift in language can reduce mental health stigma. When “therapy” feels loaded, words like support, mental fitness, and coaching can open the door to getting help without shame. We discuss the grief that comes with diagnosis, treatment, and recovery; the “strong Black man” narrative that rewards emotional suppression; and why anger is often a secondary emotion hiding pain, fear, or exhaustion. We also talk about social determinants of health, including how your zip code, environment, and exposure to violence shape trauma responses over time. Then we explore survivor’s guilt, reframing it as empathy and compassion, and we challenge the idea that healing means abandoning your people. We end with practical takeaways on building emotional literacy, creating a new normal that holds both grief and joy, and forming a real support team through friends, faith spaces, barbershops, and support groups. If this resonates, subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more Black men can find these mental health and wellness conversations. #wellbeing #mentalandemotional wellness #therapy #buildingcommunity @hakimasadi Promote my new consolidated website: grantleymartelly,com Bad Science: Changes in politics and ideology do not change our need to be vigilant. Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/realhealthblackmen] Become a Supporter: Click here to become a supporter [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/realhealthblackmen]. Comments are welcome: realhealthblackmen@gmail.com Become a Sponsor, send us an email. Rating: Leave a rating on your podcast listening site. Follow on Instagram: realhealthblackmen  #realhealthblackmen #blackmenshealth #menshealth #blackmen #blackhealth #prostatecancer #mentalhealth

Episode 13: Neville Brewster - From Diagnosis To 12 Years Cancer Free

We'd love to hear from you [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2453901/fan_mail/new] A routine physical, a shocking PSA spike, and a phone call that changed everything—Neville Brewster opens up about choosing life when prostate cancer tried to choose for him. We sit down in Barbados to trace his path from diagnosis to a swift radical prostatectomy, and the faith, family, and community that helped him turn a feared death sentence into twelve cancer-free years. You’ll hear a candid look at side effects like stress incontinence, an honest take on sex after surgery, and a powerful case for testing early—especially for Black men with a family history. Neville’s story stretches beyond one operation. He returned from surgery to two sisters in hospital—one with terminal breast cancer, another with a rare nasal cancer—three siblings battling cancer at once. That experience sharpened his mission: dismantle the myths keeping men from screening, talk plainly about what treatment is really like, and show how gratitude and prayer steady the mind when fear flares.  Practical and hopeful, this conversation blends hard facts with lived wisdom: know your family history, get your annual physical, exercise, build a circle of support, and choose longevity over ego. Technology improves, treatments advance, and knowledge turns panic into a plan. If you or someone you love has questions about prostate cancer risk, early detection, or life after surgery, this story offers both clarity and courage.  Subscribe, share this with a brother who needs it, and leave a review to help more men find the information that can save their lives. #NevilleBrewster      #prostatecancer   #prostatecancerbarbados Promote my new consolidated website: grantleymartelly,com Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/realhealthblackmen] Become a Supporter: Click here to become a supporter [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/realhealthblackmen]. Comments are welcome: realhealthblackmen@gmail.com Become a Sponsor, send us an email. Rating: Leave a rating on your podcast listening site. Follow on Instagram: realhealthblackmen  #realhealthblackmen #blackmenshealth #menshealth #blackmen #blackhealth #prostatecancer #mentalhealth

Episode 12: Anthony Christie - I control What I can Control

We'd love to hear from you [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2453901/fan_mail/new] A lean, disciplined runner with decades of clean eating and meticulous checkups doesn’t fit the stereotype of heart disease—until a quiet pinch of chest pain during a run reveals a 70% blockage that advances to 90%. Anthony takes us through the surprise diagnosis, the three stents that restored blood flow, and the sober truth that genetics can outrun even strong habits. His story is more than a scare; it’s a blueprint for how informed action, consistent monitoring, and mental resilience can change the arc of a life. We walk through the early warning signs many men dismiss, from “heartburn” mid‑run to a post‑race collapse during the pandemic’s most chaotic months.  He breaks down the stent procedure in clear language, shares the new medication that has finally stabilized his cholesterol after years of statin struggles, and details a practical recovery plan that returned him to sprints, hills, and half-marathons. The heart of the conversation is mindset. Anthony’s stress playbook includes sleep protection, time‑blocking, midday resets, and filtering toxic inputs. He shares a mental model for right‑sizing problems, along with a simple framework—wisdom, understanding, and knowledge—to turn fear into decisions. We openly discuss family history, the roles of spouses and siblings, and why sharing our stories helps other men identify issues sooner. If you’ve ever put off a checkup, ignored a nagging symptom, or doubted that change could matter against your genes, this one offers both clarity and courage. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. Your next checkup might be the pivot that saves your life. Promote my new consolidated website: grantleymartelly,com Support the show [https://buymeacoffee.com/realhealthblackmen] Become a Supporter: Click here to become a supporter [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/realhealthblackmen]. Comments are welcome: realhealthblackmen@gmail.com Become a Sponsor, send us an email. Rating: Leave a rating on your podcast listening site. Follow on Instagram: realhealthblackmen  #realhealthblackmen #blackmenshealth #menshealth #blackmen #blackhealth #prostatecancer #mentalhealth