YNS Live with NFL Thread: Hall of Fame Event 2025 – Legacy, Sisterhood & Service

Join host Cynthia Zordich live from the NFL Hall of Fame event in 2025 for an inspiring conversation with the women behind the football legends. This special episode features three incredible guests who share their stories of family, community, and dedication.

Theresa Dolman, wife of Pro Football Hall of Famer Chris Dolman, discusses honoring her late husband's legacy, raising awareness for brain cancer, and her new national pageant system. Monique Brown, the wife of the late Jim Brown, talks about her husband's foundation, the American Foundation, which teaches life skills to incarcerated and disenfranchised youth. Finally, Cherise Brown, the former president of the Off the Field NFL Wives Association, shares exciting news about the organization's growth, new chapters, and initiatives, including the 25th anniversary of their fashion show.

Listen in to hear about the powerful sisterhood and community of the NFL family.

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction with Theresa Dolman, wife of Pro Football Hall of Famer Chris Dolman.
• 00:00:56 - Theresa discusses carrying on her husband's legacy and raising awareness for brain cancer.
• 00:02:15 - Theresa shares how she would create a statue of her husband.
• 00:04:33 - The importance of the NFL wives' sisterhood and community.
• 00:06:25 - Theresa's background in pageantry and her new national pageant system.
• 00:10:26 - Introduction of Monique Brown, wife of the late Jim Brown.
• 00:11:13 - Monique shares what it means to her to continue her husband's legacy.
• 00:11:59 - Monique discusses the American Foundation and their work with youth.
• 00:15:08 - Monique and Cynthia discuss how she met Jim Brown.
• 00:18:09 - Introduction of Cherise Brown, former president of the Off the Field NFL Wives Association.
• 00:19:17 - Cherise talks about new initiatives and the future of Off the Field.
• 00:20:31 - Off the Field chapters and the importance of local meetups.
• 00:22:21 - Discussing recent Off the Field events and future plans.
• 00:23:07 - Reflecting on the 25th anniversary of the Off the Field fashion show.
• 00:23:26 - Concluding remarks and thank you to the guests.

Transcript:

00;00;00;02 - 00;00;18;21

Speaker 1

Thank you for joining me today. Juliet is sad that she's not here, but she's doing something really cool in California, and so it's going to be wonderful for her. She's like doing a lot of different things, but this is really, really amazing. Working with a friend of hers from high school that is a nurse that developed this product.

 

00;00;18;21 - 00;00;38;29

Speaker 1

That is incredible for burn victims or if you've been cut, but it's also esthetic. So I was like, they need to talk to the plastic surgeons here at the event. Yes. So let's introduce yourself to everybody. So the editor has it so you can put your name underneath it. And I know you are right there Theresa Dolman, wife of Pro Football Hall of Famer Chris Stoneman.

 

00;00;39;04 - 00;00;56;26

Speaker 1

Beautiful. It's so good to see you again. I love that all the events that you participate in. I love seeing you at Super Bowl. I love seeing you at flag. I mean that's just a highlight anymore. And then all the off the field events. So tell me what's going on. What's going on with you this year? What are you looking forward to?

 

00;00;56;29 - 00;01;32;03

Speaker 1

Looking forward to so many things I'm doing things to give back to the city of Kansas and then also always raising awareness for my hubby. I always wear my gray and my gray ribbon for brain cancer, brain tumor awareness. And you know, I look forward to seeing everybody here. We are one big family. It's always a bittersweet weekend because it's so difficult being here without the love of my life, but I like seeing him honored and the fans, they always give me cards and how I talk about him and tell me great things about him, and it just uplifts my heart and my spirit.

 

00;01;32;05 - 00;01;51;03

Speaker 1

I feel like that in a sense, it's a responsibility. And I know Dana Harris, I think, feels the same, that you're carrying on his legacy and carrying on his name. Not that they would ever be forgotten, but it's just nice to celebrate him, isn't it? It is. It is because he's worked so hard on the field, and I didn't know him when he played.

 

00;01;51;04 - 00;02;15;02

Speaker 1

I just know the great man and the great human being that he was. And it's just nice to see all of his hard work that he put into his career being celebrated and honored. And it was really one of the joys of his life, being in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. You know, it's funny, so if there was a statue erected, they might put him in a football position, but how would you predict?

 

00;02;15;02 - 00;02;39;14

Speaker 1

How would you put him if you were the creative behind the statue, what position would you put him in? I would do a mixture because he loves the ball so much. But God, he loved first and foremost. And God was the head of his life. I would put him in an angelic position with a football just because, since he was a young boy, he always wanted to be one of God's angels on earth.

 

00;02;39;17 - 00;02;55;08

Speaker 1

And I always would tell him, you are one of God's angels on earth. He was just such a kind, giving man. So that's what the statue I would put him in and that's an interesting conversation so that you guys would discuss that. And what did he did he just mean he wanted to do for others and be good?

 

00;02;55;09 - 00;03;16;24

Speaker 1

Yes, yes. It's just like we both have a huge heart of giving back. Like we're both givers and we love giving back. We love community service. We met on an even giving back. And that's just what he meant. Like being one of God's angels. Not in the sense of an actual angel, but being kind, helping others, giving back, giving somebody this shirt off your back if you need it.

 

00;03;16;24 - 00;03;36;13

Speaker 1

And that's the type of man and human being that he was. The thing that I always loved about, Juliet would say that what she discovered when I pulled her into the NFL was that the NFL family is such a service driven family, that she did not realize that it's not so exciting to hear somebody say that. It is.

 

00;03;36;13 - 00;03;52;02

Speaker 1

Honestly, the first year when I came to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I was shocked at how great and human beings are. I know most of the world look at the Hall of Famers. Oh, football. Football, just like a lot of people tell me, you know, and they talk about my husband. Oh yeah. He was such a great football player and this and that.

 

00;03;52;02 - 00;04;15;07

Speaker 1

And I say thank you. But I also let them know. And he was an even better human being because I want them to know, like the man, that he was far surpassed the many accolades that he did on the field. Absolutely the man like behind the game. And that inside look that I think lately people are seeing more and more what people are about outside of the game.

 

00;04;15;07 - 00;04;33;01

Speaker 1

And that's refreshing, right? It is. It is. I have to tell so many people when they talk about football players, I have to remind them that they're human beings and they have families, they have lives, they have things going on outside of football. Yes, this is their career. This is what they do. But it's not who they are.

 

00;04;33;04 - 00;04;56;24

Speaker 1

And that goes for us too. And I feel like, tell me, you know, you you mentioned that. Okay. So you met after that you were brought into this NFL family and you are and and you are NFL family. And so tell me coming in how that has changed for you and how your perception of that NFL wife NFL spouse and how that is like and sisterhood for you now?

 

00;04;56;26 - 00;05;19;06

Speaker 1

Yes, it's definitely a sisterhood. I love the Vikings family, the Pro Football Hall of Fame family, a lot of the wives. Molly that's also about, Viking wife and Pro Football Hall of Fame wise. She literally took me in from day one and was so supportive. And it was funny because both of our husbands know how much we love each other.

 

00;05;19;06 - 00;05;39;24

Speaker 1

We call each other sister twins because we're literally almost the same person. And every time we would be at an event, my husband like, there's your sister twin there, and then there's your sister twin. But it's it's truly a huge family. And being brought in the perspective of just seeing the inside and the love and support it really is.

 

00;05;39;24 - 00;06;04;04

Speaker 1

It's such a blessing to be a part of. You know, you said she brought you in, and I feel like if anybody would give advice to the current wives right now, it would be bringing somebody in because everybody tells that story that somebody grabbed them and said, you I got to. Yeah. And it made such a difference because when you first come in, you don't really know what's going on or different things.

 

00;06;04;04 - 00;06;25;13

Speaker 1

And, and it just helps to have someone that takes you under their wing and show you the way or tell you how things are going or you know, and just support you. So it I think everybody wants to do that. And I do the same thing when I see new wives coming in, I do the same just to make sure they feel comfortable, make sure they feel love supported, know that they can call me at any moment in the hour.

 

00;06;25;16 - 00;06;46;04

Speaker 1

I'm here for them. Yeah. What's it like for you? Having a platform is a unique. It isn't. This isn't your first platform. You've been in the pageants. You have a crown, you know. So for you, I feel like you're probably used to that. Carrying that and the uplifting others. You know, even though you're competing, you seem to compete in an uplifting way.

 

00;06;46;11 - 00;07;08;18

Speaker 1

Yeah, I do, because I always know that what God has for me is for me. I'm never in competition with any other woman in any other thing. Right. And so I will help women with their walk, give them different opposing strategies to help them shine on the stage and do well in the pageant. I'm not concerned about, oh, she may beat me or this and that.

 

00;07;08;18 - 00;07;27;01

Speaker 1

I feel like when I step on that stage, I've already won. Whoever the judges choose, that's who they like the best. And I really feel like pageants. I won an interview when they can really see you and see your heart. So I do help others when I'm competing because, again, I'm not in competition with them. I'm in a competition with myself.

 

00;07;27;04 - 00;07;50;14

Speaker 1

That's so beautiful. Do you do anything and more with the pageants? Are you involved in any way? It's funny that you say that because I do have something big coming up. A lot of people want me to coach them since I won a national pageant, but I always let them know that I can't coach them because I'm actually starting my own pageant system and it's a conflict of interest.

 

00;07;50;16 - 00;08;08;10

Speaker 1

But within the next year or two, I am going to start marketing and start taking contestants. But I am starting my own national pageant. See, I miss the stuff that that was happening. Yes, I'm feeling like when they mentioned it was like that, so much of who you are, it's so much a part of you that it feels like you can't.

 

00;08;08;10 - 00;08;25;06

Speaker 1

That never just goes away. I might sit for a second. Yes. And you devoted your time to your husband? Yes. And to his career. And what he's doing. But now I think that and your own. But now it's like, okay, that's coming back in. Yes. No, that's true, because I literally dropped everything when my husband got diagnosed with brain cancer.

 

00;08;25;06 - 00;08;40;27

Speaker 1

I was actually supposed to be in a pageant. I dropped out immediately. And the director, you know, when you drop off, you don't get your money back. Why won't you pay? You don't get it back. And she was like, are you sure? I said, yes, ma'am. Like my priorities are in order. I'm not leaving my Asma side. At the time, he was my fiancé.

 

00;08;40;28 - 00;09;06;07

Speaker 1

But, you know, I dropped everything to take care of him, but it just now I feel like. Okay. And it's all in God's timing, so I don't rush things. I'm a perfectionist. I like to do things the right way. I do a lot of research. I want it to be a great experience. And sister for the pageant ladies who come and compete, is it going to be in the Ohio Eye is going to be in Atlanta, where I live.

 

00;09;06;08 - 00;09;25;21

Speaker 1

Events of last weekend. Tacit. Yes. I'm putting together that. Of course there's going to be community service. A lot of people don't realize a lot of people, when they look at pageantry, they just look at the external beauty or you know, walking in swimsuits and think that it's really just, you know, surface level. But it's not. There's a lot of very intelligent women.

 

00;09;25;21 - 00;09;46;01

Speaker 1

There's a lot of community service, a platform. So we are going to give back to the community of Atlanta, do tours and things of that nature. Yes, I'm very excited. There's so many NFL women in Atlanta that will want to support you and just kind of like get involved there help in any way. Also, just let that quick a word out I need to do is say so.

 

00;09;46;01 - 00;10;05;09

Speaker 1

So oh I would love that. Yes. Yeah we will I'll I'll get it out. And soon I'm right now I'm in the process of trademarking everything designing the crown. So all the crowns are going to be designed by me. And of course there would be an inspiration of my husband and he was very supportive of my pageantry and everything, but I'm very excited about it.

 

00;10;05;11 - 00;10;26;04

Speaker 1

I'm so excited. Thank you. Thank you for setting Tiffany's. Thank you for having me. Keep going man. Sweet as Abby, thank you for joining us online as I with NFL thread. And are you so happy to be back to the Hall of Fame? I am every year. It keeps getting better and better and it's so beautiful to see the legacy, the history being embraced.

 

00;10;26;09 - 00;10;54;13

Speaker 1

I mean, it's beyond beyond our expectations for the for the audience. Can you introduce yourself and let everybody know when you got into the Hall of Fame? Yes, my name is Monique Brown. I am the wife or widow of the late, great, Jim Brown from Cleveland. And, he went into the hall in 71. I was actually born in 74, so I was like, I wasn't even here when he went in the hall.

 

00;10;54;16 - 00;11;13;03

Speaker 1

But just an incredible legacy. An incredible man. And I'm so honored to be here to represent him and our family. Monique, thank you so much. And, you know, it's interesting because it was talking to the Tressa, talking to Dana and you guys being here with your husbands. God bless. You know, to represent them, to continue their legacy.

 

00;11;13;03 - 00;11;59;04

Speaker 1

What does it mean to you? It means everything. It's family. It's football. It's it's great to know that the fabric of the origin of the sport, you know, the principles that Franco and and Floyd and all those men stood for, you know, they mean something. Football was more than a sport. It was life. And so just seeing that all of us coming together as a as a sisterhood and brotherhood of, of community and, and an age of today where there's a lot of individualism, it just means all that more that the values, family values, and, and the principles, character, integrity, hard work, dedication, perseverance, all of those things that our husbands did on the

 

00;11;59;04 - 00;12;23;12

Speaker 1

field that translated into the communities, into our families, into our children. That's our legacy, too, you know, and I'm very much, you know, about that with my American Foundation, my husband's, organization that teaches life skills to youth that are incarcerated youth and young adults that have been, disenfranchized or just, you know, had dysfunction. And, it's going on 30 years that we've been doing great work.

 

00;12;23;12 - 00;12;56;19

Speaker 1

Yes. You find that, let's find out. Okay. Sure. So it's American, like American Americans. Org. That org. Oh, we're on Instagram. We're on, our website. But yeah, just reach out. My Instagram is Mrs. Monique Brown. So there's a link there as well to the organization, but we're just proud to do the work and do, build more partnerships with, corporations and other organizations to share this.

 

00;12;56;19 - 00;13;19;11

Speaker 1

Yes. I feel like, you know, it's so deep. You know, it's we said individual in. And that means so much to me because everything that I always try to do is about others and team and like connection of a lot of individuals and promoting what they do, talking about what others are doing, that's so exciting. And you're right, today is really different.

 

00;13;19;11 - 00;13;45;05

Speaker 1

It's really about, you know, about you that I'm doing. Yeah, it's it's so important to not forget and to maintain a sense of community and a sense of connection. You know, we're on social media and we're in our devices, but, like, put it down. Take a moment. Listen, you know, with intention, listen and hear and feel the people around you and share a be vulnerable.

 

00;13;45;08 - 00;14;15;06

Speaker 1

And that's very much what we do, here at the hall and, and in our groups with American and, you know, it's people are hungry for that. Yes. So where did you grow up? I grew up in Buffalo, New York to go bills go Browns, any of that? I grew up in Buffalo, New York. And, and just, you know, being a very inquisitive child and being, a child of God, you know, and knowing my purpose was to serve and to help others.

 

00;14;15;09 - 00;14;32;27

Speaker 1

And then meeting my husband who shared that same passion. And, for humanity, it was just like soulmates for 30 years. So when you say you grew up in Buffalo, did you grow up anywhere near Orchard Park or like, are you in Buffalo? A couple of our friends lives in Orchard Park that we played with the Wolf.

 

00;14;32;27 - 00;14;50;13

Speaker 1

Liz. Yeah, Ryan Mobley, Craig Wolf, Lee, Dale. Okay, you know the Wolf Lee family there? I don't think in the NFL all the kids play. All of the guys played. And so we would go visit all the time to a big tree and oh, oh wow. Hanging out in Buffalo was like, I mean, I had to Orchard Park for the games obviously as you.

 

00;14;50;13 - 00;15;08;15

Speaker 1

Right? But I was like more near if you know, where, where, where, middle college or, you know, where, the the, Buffalo Zoo. Yes. Yeah. It was the area that was I was in that area on that. Yeah. I live near the zoo. Yeah, exactly. So those were my trekking grounds. And how did you guys meet?

 

00;15;08;15 - 00;15;29;11

Speaker 1

How did you and Jimmy. We met on the morning show. I was a guest on a, not a, buffalo, but. Yeah, actually am buffalo. I was going to say it was kind of like our Good Morning America. Okay, so we were in the green row. I was a model. We were both guests that day. And he was on talking about his foundation, this program coming to our city and me being the volunteer and the community person I was.

 

00;15;29;11 - 00;15;51;13

Speaker 1

I was like, I'll sign up. So we met because of his work. I knew nothing about his football or acting career, so it was really special. How many people get to say they met in the green room? They met in the greenhouse that we did. We did. And I love that you were immediately jumping in and wanting to get involved because what impressed me was not Jim's.

 

00;15;51;13 - 00;16;11;18

Speaker 1

I mean, obviously his career was very, you know, acclaimed, but he was someone who had done it all. He didn't have to do anything else, but he was bringing not only inspiration to our community, he was bringing something that was tangible, that could affect change and and that curriculum just it's so transformative. It changed my life. Being a volunteer.

 

00;16;11;18 - 00;16;37;15

Speaker 1

And I said, this is what I want to dedicate my life and this is how I want to serve. And so thank you. God bless you. Yes, I'm doing it. Thank you. Offered all the links to everything or and yes site, you know on your gun. Yes. Just want to thank you for coming on. Oh, thank you for taking the time to hear us and to give us an opportunity to share our love for the hall.

 

00;16;37;17 - 00;16;54;12

Speaker 1

You know, I, Jim Porter, everyone on the team is doing such an incredible job. It is it is very refreshing. Yes. I don't live far from here because I marry a guy from Youngstown, Ohio. Okay. Oh, I was taken away. I know a lot of Youngstown people, if you type. Oh, yeah. I turned a lot of our friends when I.

 

00;16;54;17 - 00;17;12;17

Speaker 1

It is, a lot of our friends. Yeah. They're like, come stay with I leave Sunday, I may go to Youngstown. So, you know, I sell those old ones. And then. And then Michael Bruno and the and his. Beautiful. Yeah. We just had dinner earlier this week in L.A. How about his house? Oh my God. Yeah, I know, he's like.

 

00;17;12;20 - 00;17;33;13

Speaker 1

It's like Frank was art into, I know that's he was like, come, come hang out. I'm like, okay, I'll be in Youngstown. This was just at a wedding. And I got to meet his little rock right here. Michael Bruce. Yes. And Michael's met his wife. Oh, yeah? Yeah. His little. Yeah. And so Donald's got married in Michigan?

 

00;17;33;13 - 00;17;53;02

Speaker 1

Yes. He married? Yeah. So they. So Antonio and. Yeah, he's really cute. He's got great kids, great family, great man. So happy for him and the Zoltan Zoo so much. Oh. My dog. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Our Youngstown crew is deep. Well, I'll connect with you and then. Yeah. And young time. You have to stop and see me.

 

00;17;53;02 - 00;18;09;02

Speaker 1

I would love to, but my son has a cute, restaurant down in the hollow. Oh, right here by OSU. And so you see a lot of the meat there and have, like, you know, have something to eat. Yeah, definitely. I'd love that. Okay. Thank you for what you're doing. Thank you. Okay. Cherise Brown, thank you so much for joining me today.

 

00;18;09;03 - 00;18;43;19

Speaker 1

So happy to join you Cynthia. You are so amazing. I saw you and I was hoping you were here. I was like, I hope my sisters here, my my like my my the former president of off the Phil NFL Wives Association. I'm so excited to be here. Yes. If you it means so much to me. And actually I'm so excited because today we were going to be bringing in Gabrielle, which I love her and Lacey Anthony, she was coming to bring in OTF TV and kind of have an unveiling and, we'll do that again.

 

00;18;43;24 - 00;18;57;07

Speaker 1

We'll do that because we're really excited about it. Yeah, we're all excited. I'm excited about OTV. I'm like, you know, I was kind of sharing it with some of the ladies, letting them know what we're going to be doing next year. So hopefully.

 

00;18;57;09 - 00;18;58;09

Speaker 2

2020.

 

00;18;58;15 - 00;19;17;20

Speaker 1

One that'll be 2026. We will have TV up here in representing, off the field here at the Hall of Fame. I think that's going to be so awesome, you know. Yes. It'll just be like the perfect you know, like Gabby's mom is here. Like we were going to do the interview and that's okay because we'll get it.

 

00;19;17;20 - 00;19;37;13

Speaker 1

And I'm just so excited about everything that we have planned and everything that girls are doing. It's exciting times with off the film right now. I mean, we have our new president, Tanisha Patterson. We have all our new board members, like you were mentioning. Gabby. So many of those ladies are awesome. Alyssa McKenzie I mean, I can just name them all Kristen Pressley.

 

00;19;37;20 - 00;20;04;00

Speaker 1

Is this our new group of ladies? They're just bringing all that energy and excitement to off the field. We love it. There are motivated. They're driven. I mean, we have all these new initiatives that we're doing. I know with, Doctor Hagar, you know, what she's doing with the swim initiative, with YMCA, partnering with YMCA, you know, on the road to, you know, what is it, Olympics coming up and, you know, just exciting things we're doing USA flag.

 

00;20;04;01 - 00;20;31;06

Speaker 1

I mean, the list goes on. And it just is exciting, you know, to see off the field, just growing in those directions and progressing where we're going, along with everything that everyone, everything that's happening right now, really, you know, being prevalent in this system where people are seeing all the things that women can do, you know? And it's not just the guys playing football or it's not just, you see the young ladies, you know, being interested in having their own teams now.

 

00;20;31;06 - 00;20;59;21

Speaker 1

So just to be a part of that, it's been really, really exciting. We also are talking about our new chapters. We're having our now. We have our, our our off the field chapters in each football city, I should say. And that's exciting. You know, making sure that our members are being a part of everything that we're doing, and we're doing some things on a local level to be able to not just, you know, give back, but also just those meet ups and, you know, comradery with the other ladies that may be in your town and that are off the field members as well.

 

00;20;59;21 - 00;21;21;27

Speaker 1

So that's a for me, you know, and I always say this and I said this from the very beginning, that we are the gatekeepers and we're leading the younger women and we're teaching them. And now they're being pulled into what we're doing off the field. And then me personally, having that first board call and knowing it was happening because I said to my daughter, Aiden, it's Wednesday, it's a board call.

 

00;21;22;03 - 00;21;45;08

Speaker 1

And I have not not been on a board call. I don't think I missed one since 2016. And I was like, this is very weird for me. But then when I was like realizing I'm like, oh my goodness, this is a great opportunity for TV. And I'm like, this is a great opportunity for me to show that you can be on the board and then you can be involved as much as you are when you're not on the board.

 

00;21;45;08 - 00;22;00;24

Speaker 1

Yeah. So what are we doing? What can I do a chapter? I'm going to be involved, you know. So for me it was really important. And that's why I was like jumped on that opportunity. And I hope that I can be a lesson to it because it's a quick run now. It's different, you know, and I just feel like I love it.

 

00;22;00;28 - 00;22;20;25

Speaker 1

I love that our members can be more involved. You know, they kept saying we want to do more, not just the fashion show, you know, not just our annual conference or a conference. We are doing a bi annual now every two years, but it's like or every other year, I should say, but it is just having them be involved and doing things on a local level.

 

00;22;21;01 - 00;22;45;00

Speaker 1

I mean, we did a golf clinic in Dallas and it was a great turnout. It was so much fun. Partnered with one of our OTF sisters, Brittany Oliver, Oliver Lee. And I mean just doing that, bringing in some of the younger wives and getting some of the active lives to be a part of it. I mean, I think I always say we're stronger together and, if we come together, we can do some amazing things in these communities.

 

00;22;45;00 - 00;23;07;17

Speaker 1

We were able to raise money for Dominic Cares, which, you know, they're benefiting children with autism and just, you know, making a difference. You know, it's just so important to be able to do that. Well, when you think back to when you guys founded and think of where you are right now. I'm about 22 years, Cynthia, in San Francisco, the fashion show will be our silver anniversary, 25 years.

 

00;23;07;17 - 00;23;26;14

Speaker 1

It's just it's amazing when you think back of what we were able to accomplish over these 25 years, but all of us together, women have been able to do this. If we wouldn't have had that whole sisterhood coming together, doing the fashion shows, you know, doing the conferences, everything that we do, and we all do it together. And it's important.

 

00;23;26;19 - 00;23;46;10

Speaker 1

Yeah. In in the growth and the. Yeah. And the, the realization of like we can be so many more places very much so very much so. So I'm here at Hall of Fame and of course, and this is my husband's ten year anniversary of him being inducted. So it's special times for the Brown family. And so proud of him.

 

00;23;46;10 - 00;24;06;24

Speaker 1

And I'm so proud of the new, you know, inductees that are going in. Eric Allen played at the Raiders with us. So I'm excited to be here to support him and his wife Lynn. I'm going to get her to join. Yeah. Slam. Yes Lynn Allen we were at them in Philadelphia. Yeah I adore that. And the old family back, you know full family.

 

00;24;06;24 - 00;24;21;02

Speaker 1

I was, was just coming in, I think the last year that they in Philly. Yeah. So that was one. Yeah. So we were with them, right. I mean she they watched you are babies being born. I mean, she introduced me to a boutique that Tim was going to kill me over because it had the cutest little stuff.

 

00;24;21;02 - 00;24;38;03

Speaker 1

And of course, I end up having girls. So, you know, she has she has four boys. And so she's a kid. I got to tell you about this cute boutique. They had nothing for boys, but she sent me over there. I was like, girl, you're going to get me killed. But. Yes. So. Yeah. Yeah, but you you have a family.

 

00;24;38;03 - 00;24;58;24

Speaker 1

Yeah. Here's the NFL family. Yeah. All those being family. Us. You have this, you know, everything that you do. It's so intimate. And you it just so you jump in and you know everybody. Yeah. So. Well that is in your community. It's I love that it's important you I think I love our sisterhood I love that we have this I have my otter family, like you said, my whole family or NFL family.

 

00;24;59;02 - 00;25;20;09

Speaker 1

But we all come together and we all are here to support each other. Yes. Remember, we always had to keep doing what we do. Don't worry about what anybody else is doing and just focus on what we're doing. Yes, service, sisterhood. And I mean, it has really, really just been a blessing. So grateful. Truly. Yes. Okay. Okay.

 

00;25;20;12 - 00;25;33;01

Speaker 1

Thank you for joining me today on minus five with NFL thread at the Hall of Fame 2025. Can't believe it. Tell me about your brand. I got had the beautiful opportunity to hear you speak, but please introduce yourself and introduce your brand.

 

00;25;33;07 - 00;25;55;14

Speaker 3

Yeah, well, first off, thank you for having me. So, my name is Michael Spell. I'm the CEO, co-founder of a company called Society Brands. So we are a functional health and personal care consumer products company that's dedicated to clean and toxin free living in, on and around your body. So think of vitamin supplements, organic skin care products, your ionizer for your home.

 

00;25;55;17 - 00;26;13;17

Speaker 3

There's a lot of toxins in the world, especially with what we put in on and around our bodies, like in our actual household. People don't actually know it. There's like 90,000 toxins out there. And what Society Brands does is we provide products for consumers, for their household that is healthier for them.

 

00;26;13;20 - 00;26;27;27

Speaker 1

Beautiful. I would imagine young families would be a target. Right? Those kids, you're just starting your family out. You have young kids in the house and you're like, what is my child ingesting? Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.

 

00;26;27;27 - 00;26;57;05

Speaker 3

I mean, like, I just think of my household, right? Like, my wife and I have three children, ten year olds, eight year old and four year old, two boys and a girl and like, we are like, really, really focused on, like, what we're putting in our kids bodies. And we're way more conscious today than even what I was when I was growing up as to like how what kind of sugars, if you could read on the back of a label and if it looks like a paragraph, the amount of stuff that's in there, it's probably not good for you.

 

00;26;57;07 - 00;27;07;11

Speaker 3

Not always the case, but most of the time, if it's that much, it's not really that good for you. So what we try to do is make sure that the products that we offer to people are just very simple.

 

00;27;07;11 - 00;27;08;08

Speaker 1

It's like a pure.

 

00;27;08;08 - 00;27;26;21

Speaker 3

Ingredients and it's all healthy for you. So, yeah, certainly younger demographic is important, but I also think in order demographic as well, especially like vitamins and supplements, just organic ways to help your body recover from various different things. It's an important thing.

 

00;27;26;24 - 00;27;51;04

Speaker 1

It's beautiful. It's funny that you say that, a few years ago, you know, I was raised on Tang, you know, and a few years ago, the dishwasher was not working, and it needed to be cleaned out in the. Somebody told me, throw Tang in the dishwasher and run it, and it will completely clean out your dishwasher. And I was thinking, what was he doing to my body?

 

00;27;51;07 - 00;27;51;27

Speaker 1

Right.

 

00;27;51;29 - 00;28;10;09

Speaker 3

Yeah, it's it's a little bit concerning when you have something that you're putting in your body and you're like, oh, wait, you should put that in your dishwasher or put it on your car or something like that. Like it's a little bit concerning for sure. I don't know about things specifically, but I do remember as a kid having Tang, so it tasted good.

 

00;28;10;11 - 00;28;33;14

Speaker 1

But yeah, about, you know, so my like my kids are starting out and they are introducing their kids to great organic foods and fruits and like their, their popsicles are just watermelon juice and blueberries and, and I'm just like, wow. I really tried to be respectful because they're doing the reading and the research and they're listening. They're really listening.

 

00;28;33;18 - 00;28;41;00

Speaker 1

And I was just talking to my girlfriend about this today. It's different world, and they know what they're putting in their kids bodies. That's kind of exciting, isn't it, for you.

 

00;28;41;02 - 00;29;02;15

Speaker 3

People care more today about because I just mentioned this. Like we are not okay as a society like a lot of the illnesses, the chronic illnesses that we have are due to the foods and drinks and things that we have in, on and around our body. People don't realize that the most common thing is people think of like the food that they have.

 

00;29;02;18 - 00;29;11;24

Speaker 3

But it's not just the food. It is fragrances. It's skincare products. There are so many different things that.

 

00;29;11;24 - 00;29;13;10

Speaker 1

Are really, really impactful.

 

00;29;13;12 - 00;29;32;07

Speaker 3

What I love about the younger generation, I think it's just part of all generations now that are slowly but surely getting there is like, this is not something that's okay. It creates a lot of issues and problems long term. And at the end of the day, all of us want to live like really, we don't want to just live to an old age.

 

00;29;32;07 - 00;29;49;16

Speaker 3

We don't want to just live to 100. We want to live a healthy life until 100. I don't want to get to 100. When I was chronically ill with something at 65 or 70, and I had to be confined to a hospital bed or something like that. So it's all about living a long life, but a healthy life.

 

00;29;49;16 - 00;29;58;18

Speaker 3

And I think that that is has everything to do with, like what we're doing. And people are waking up to that. And your kids are certainly, prove that.

 

00;29;58;20 - 00;30;05;04

Speaker 1

Well, is there, is there a website that has brands, products and also information that you can share?

 

00;30;05;06 - 00;30;16;24

Speaker 3

Yeah, absolutely. So if you go to Society brands.com, you'll see a list of a lot of our different brands. And check us out there. You'll see a number of them. So we'd we'd love to have people check it out.

 

00;30;16;27 - 00;30;19;27

Speaker 1

Tell me your take on serial.

 

00;30;19;29 - 00;30;40;06

Speaker 3

So serial is definitely. There's a lot of, like, bad things, a lot of sugars in cereal. There are good cereals, too. We actually don't have any serial brands that we own today, but I think that that is an industry that is due to a healthy amount of disruption in a good way, not in a bad way. So you could disrupt in a good way.

 

00;30;40;06 - 00;30;49;10

Speaker 3

And I think a lot of the the cereal out there has a lot of sugar, had a lot, a lot of, bad things in it. So yes, I.

 

00;30;49;10 - 00;30;50;13

Speaker 1

Am pro like.

 

00;30;50;13 - 00;30;52;26

Speaker 3

Healthy cereals. There are healthy ones, but a.

 

00;30;52;26 - 00;31;09;01

Speaker 1

Lot of them aren't today. It's so funny because you always think, oh, have those cereal. You know, give the kissable cereal cereal before bed. That was a tradition of ours. And then all sudden you start to like, click on an app and look at what's in it. And it's like, no, absolutely never have that. There are some good ones.

 

00;31;09;01 - 00;31;17;20

Speaker 1

You're you're right. And that's and that's interesting. I just wanted to know your take on that. What would you definitely say. Avoid avoid avoid at all costs.

 

00;31;17;22 - 00;31;23;14

Speaker 3

So the red dyes or something that is really. Yeah. I could not mention the red dyes.

 

00;31;23;14 - 00;31;23;26

Speaker 1

But like the.

 

00;31;23;26 - 00;31;49;28

Speaker 3

Red dyes are very, very bad. Obviously government is cracking down on that and I don't think that that's going to stop. That's just one man's personal opinion. Yeah, but that is really, really bad. And then oftentimes people are overmedicated and things. Now medicine's a good thing. We love, you know, you obviously need to have medicines for a number of different things, but oftentimes people are overmedicated on things.

 

00;31;49;28 - 00;31;58;08

Speaker 3

And when you could have there's certain natural ingredients, natural supplements that do a very, very good job and is healthy for you.

 

00;31;58;09 - 00;32;00;02

Speaker 1

And you have that information on your site.

 

00;32;00;04 - 00;32;09;04

Speaker 3

Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. So we have a number of different, vitamin and supplement brands that we have. Yeah. Vitality now is one in in a number of other brands in the supplement space.

 

00;32;09;06 - 00;32;25;03

Speaker 1

So exciting. I love that because my doctor always last because he'll go to prescribe something if something is going on and I'll say, and he's like, oh, for goodness sake, you need potassium, just eat a Cortese. And that's what I was getting. I'm like, okay, I'll do it. I will do that because he knows I'm just trying not to.

 

00;32;25;03 - 00;32;33;24

Speaker 1

Of course, someday I might have to be on September medication, but I'm just trying to avoid it until it's like a necessary. Necessary? Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.

 

00;32;33;24 - 00;32;56;26

Speaker 3

I mean, like, there's a lot of medicines that are obviously, really help people, but there's always side effects and, if there's natural ways to do things, it's as good or better than, you know, a medication. I think that that's a great thing. And, you know, my, my kids, we give them supplements on a very regular basis and vitamins and supplements and, and my wife and I do as well.

 

00;32;56;26 - 00;33;18;09

Speaker 3

So the end of the day, you know, in order for me to lead the company, I need that I've never been able to sell anything to somebody else that I wasn't fully convinced of myself, and I wasn't a believer of it myself. I believe in what we're doing here. Let me serve 4 million customers a year right now.

 

00;33;18;11 - 00;33;48;08

Speaker 3

And it's just all around the country, also internationally as well. And I really believe that when people get our product shipped to their front door, it makes their lives better. And when it's when that's the mission that you're on as an organization other than just only profit and just only shareholder value, which obviously every company is focused on that as well, then it really puts a purpose behind what you're doing.

 

00;33;48;08 - 00;33;56;00

Speaker 1

Yes, you're making an impact. And, you know, changing generational like history, you know, by doing that says what really wonderful.

 

00;33;56;02 - 00;34;00;09

Speaker 3

Yeah, absolutely. Trying to make my kids and eventually grandkids someday proud.

 

00;34;00;09 - 00;34;05;21

Speaker 1

So thank you for joining us today. Have fun. Enjoy the rest of the Hall of Fame.

 

00;34;05;23 - 00;34;07;10

Speaker 3

Yeah. Thank you so much for having me.

 

00;34;07;16 - 00;34;15;01

Speaker 1

Hi, Julia. Hi. How are you? We. I'm wonderful. But I'll tell you, we are missing you here today at the Hall of Fame.

 

00;34;15;04 - 00;34;19;29

Speaker 2

I'm missing you guys too. So much. Oh, my gosh, I can't believe it.

 

00;34;20;01 - 00;34;22;23

Speaker 1

So, can you tell us all where you are right now?

 

00;34;22;25 - 00;34;43;29

Speaker 2

So I'm in San Diego at a conference called San Diego Arts, and it's with the top surgeons, plastic surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, but then also orthopedics. And we're talking about regenerative medicine, all things that like help the body last longer. What are some of the newest things out there to help us live longer? Longevity. All these really interesting, kind of avenues.

 

00;34;43;29 - 00;34;52;12

Speaker 2

And so I'm sitting with some top doctors, which is very interesting from what I usually am sitting across from you guys talking to NFL players and you. Right.

 

00;34;52;15 - 00;35;04;18

Speaker 1

Right. It's exciting. I know I was just talking to the plastic surgeons at Crystal clinic, and I wanted to say, I need to introduce you to everything that Juliette's doing, and you need to make that contact with them.

 

00;35;04;20 - 00;35;14;15

Speaker 2

I know we actually 100% do, because I was thinking about that. I was like, this is so interesting. I'm usually there talking to them. Remember the first time we interviewed them in The sun was coming, right? And I was like, oh, you're a plastic surgeon.

 

00;35;14;15 - 00;35;15;13

Speaker 1

And I was like, oh.

 

00;35;15;19 - 00;35;27;14

Speaker 2

The sun is right on my face and made me like so crazy. And he's like, oh no, we do. They do so much with the breast cancer, which I loved and all of that reconstruction. So you're right, I definitely need to be in touch with them.

 

00;35;27;16 - 00;35;40;07

Speaker 1

Beautiful. That's awesome. I really we have beautiful girls lined up. I'm getting ready to talk to them. And we love you so much. We miss you so much. You look like you're 30. SUV. Oh my God, thank you.

 

00;35;40;09 - 00;35;44;09

Speaker 2

Okay, well, we got to get some gel for all of us. We're going to bathe in it.

 

00;35;44;11 - 00;36;06;03

Speaker 1

Nice. I love, I love, I love it, guys. So I'm so proud of you. Bye bye. Bye bye. We just had the most wonderful conversation about Crystal clinic being here now. I was here the first year. That was the title, the first mimosa bar year that they came. So now this is like the third year. But five years as a sponsor.

 

00;36;06;05 - 00;36;08;16

Speaker 1

Tell me what this means to you, this event.

 

00;36;08;19 - 00;36;23;20

Speaker 2

You know, it's it's actually a huge honor that we get to be here as a group to have our, individuals from our practice, the the women we work with every day get to be here and sponsor the event. It's a huge honor, to be honest. So.

 

00;36;23;22 - 00;36;31;28

Speaker 1

Please introduce yourself and tell me when you introduce yourself how you got started. What made you know that you wanted to be a plastic surgeon?

 

00;36;32;00 - 00;36;56;28

Speaker 2

So my name is Shada mir Haidari. I am a plastic surgeon who works here in canton, Ohio. I also work in Akron, Ohio. I knew from a young age I wanted to be a physician, which is kind of a little unusual. I don't think I knew what I was getting into. I love the sciences. My dad was probably one of my biggest advocates and encouragers to to become a physician.

 

00;36;56;28 - 00;37;04;01

Speaker 2

And the way he explained it to me said, there's no really bigger privilege in life to get to take care of people. So I.

 

00;37;04;08 - 00;37;07;06

Speaker 1

How old were you when you when did you know.

 

00;37;07;09 - 00;37;09;10

Speaker 2

I was I was a teenager.

 

00;37;09;11 - 00;37;09;29

Speaker 1

Okay.

 

00;37;10;01 - 00;37;26;27

Speaker 2

And again, I didn't really know what it meant to become a doctor, but that's when I my interest started to peak. And so I pursued a career in medicine. I went into this program where you get to to go to med school a little bit early. And, when you're in medical school, you get exposed to different fields.

 

00;37;26;27 - 00;37;43;04

Speaker 2

And I had no idea what plastic surgery was. That was not where my mindset was. When I was a fourth year medical student, you get the I had the opportunity to go abroad. And I like love to travel is like, yes, I want to go abroad. So I picked a country. I went there and I went to Turkey.

 

00;37;43;07 - 00;38;03;08

Speaker 2

Yeah, it was, it was a little scary. It was like outside of my comfort zone. I went by myself and, and then they, they gave you different specialties that you could potentially rotate in. And plastic surgery was like fourth in my list. At that point I had already matched into general surgery, so I knew I was going to become a general surgeon, which is like someone who does gall bladders, colon surgeries.

 

00;38;03;08 - 00;38;22;10

Speaker 2

And so that was my first exposure. I just had the time of my life. I thought what these surgeons do was just so cool. It's not like what you think of when you watch some of these TV shows. It's it's very different. There's a heavy reconstructive a component to become being a plastic surgeon. And so that was my first exposure.

 

00;38;22;10 - 00;38;26;16

Speaker 2

I did general surgery and then I was like, you know what? I think this is what I want to do.

 

00;38;26;23 - 00;38;42;22

Speaker 1

That's what I keep hearing. And I'm understanding. You hear plastic surgery and you're automatically you think they're going in for a facelift. But we're talking about reconstruction. We're talking about changing lives, saving lives in saving spirits, you know? So tell me the most interesting case that you were involved with.

 

00;38;42;24 - 00;39;05;23

Speaker 2

Oh, my goodness. That's that's a hard one. Well, boy, you know, I would say the things that come to mind were some of the, trauma cases that we take care of. So trauma can be head to toe, and plastic surgeons are often asked to take care of patients that have been ran over by cars.

 

00;39;05;23 - 00;39;26;00

Speaker 2

Bad accidents. Unfortunately, just like horrible things that happen. And so we we will do surgeries to kind of reconstruct a part of the body that's been lost so that getting into too many detailed specifics, I would say those surgeries definitely, you know, run keep memories for me. Yeah.

 

00;39;26;03 - 00;39;44;25

Speaker 1

Well, you know, you feel like when you said privilege, I think that's what you're talking about. When your father told you it's a privilege. And I think that saving somebody like spirit and soul and giving them a life that that was almost taken from them, you know, and even being maimed is taking a part of yoga. So being able to fix that has to be so rewarding.

 

00;39;44;27 - 00;40;09;18

Speaker 2

100%. So in general surgery, I when I decided to go into plastics, it was kind of saving lives and acute care situations, things like that. But in plastics you kind of have a second to breathe and it's not so much always saving lives, but it's more kind of reconstructing lives and helping remold what someone's been dealt with and trying to give them a better outlook on things.

 

00;40;09;18 - 00;40;13;01

Speaker 2

And so you have that opportunity, and I think that's what makes it so special.

 

00;40;13;03 - 00;40;35;11

Speaker 1

I feel like that, you know, when you think of that, what you just said, you know, I'm I'm a marketing person. But when you think of like Crystal clinic plastic surgeons, reconstructing lives like that is like pretty much says, oh, this is more than you're saying. You're changing. You're changing lives. You're reconstructing lives from the inside out. You know, it.

 

00;40;35;11 - 00;40;59;24

Speaker 2

Is a huge privilege to get to do that. Absolutely. And I think that's what makes what we do so special. I mean, people come to you, you know, they don't know you. They're at their most vulnerable, and they are putting their trust in you to help them. And like, that's what the privilege part of the job is. So yeah, I would say that what I find most rewarding are the relationships I have with patients.

 

00;40;59;27 - 00;41;22;26

Speaker 2

Again, they come into that office and they have a whole nother life outside that they share with you. And those are sometimes the most private and, you know, precious things that are part of their lives. They share those moments with you and you get to know them. Over the years. I can't tell you how many so many of my patients are just like a special niche in my life.

 

00;41;22;28 - 00;41;45;24

Speaker 2

And then they know me too. They've gotten to know me and my life and my family and we we each care about each other in our in our relationship. And so some of the things that they've told me, with the struggles that they've, they've, they've had and the challenges they faced, is it makes you stop and just appreciate this life that we have that is so stinking short.

 

00;41;45;26 - 00;42;12;17

Speaker 2

And the attitudes that they have, despite some of the things that they've faced, really puts your life in perspective and makes you have gratitude for everything you know. So I from each person comes their own experiences. And, I guess words of advice, some of my older patients, some of my younger patients and like I, I have this liberty to get to get all the information told to me and so that I'm very appreciative.

 

00;42;12;19 - 00;42;16;06

Speaker 1

What do you study say? Like what does your family say, a mom like.

 

00;42;16;08 - 00;42;29;10

Speaker 2

That, they're obviously very like, I don't want to use the word proud, but they're, they're they're happy and they're very, you know, they're they they think that what I do, they're very, I guess, proud of, you know. Yeah.

 

00;42;29;12 - 00;42;43;15

Speaker 1

They have to be proud because of what you do is such a service, you know. And they probably and they also know the hard work that it took to get there. And the time and the talent and the effort and the knowledge, you know, so that's thank.

 

00;42;43;15 - 00;42;44;15

Speaker 2

You and words.

 

00;42;44;18 - 00;42;47;17

Speaker 1

Thank you. Thank you. And we do like your family time.

 

00;42;47;17 - 00;43;08;22

Speaker 2

But so I am married I have three little boys. Yeah. And so my life is just pure chaos with boys. Anybody that. It's a boy mom knows that. It's just, you know, yelling and screaming all the time. And I'm the only female in my household. I don't have a dog or a cat that's female. So. But it's a blessing.

 

00;43;08;22 - 00;43;15;01

Speaker 2

It's. I wouldn't have it any other way. Six, four and seven months. Yeah, yeah. Do you have any kids?

 

00;43;15;01 - 00;43;25;06

Speaker 1

Yes, I do, and they're having their kids. Oh my gosh, that's amazing. And I'm having blast for it. And I just love it. This new role that she's freed up on you. Yeah.

 

00;43;25;08 - 00;43;30;29

Speaker 2

Sometime I pray one day I get to enjoy that or get to that point in my life. I hear it's the best.

 

00;43;30;29 - 00;43;49;09

Speaker 1

Take back, so I need to. I need to keep it up. Okay. Thank you was a great topic to. Once again, we are so excited to have Crystal Clinic Plastic Surgeons here as the title sponsor for the, fashion show for the Hall of Fame. I think I was here the first year when you guys were the first time presenting sponsor.

 

00;43;49;13 - 00;44;09;23

Speaker 1

Although you've been sponsors for, what, five years exactly? It's always so. First of all, it's such a fun event. And what you guys bring is the mimosa and the fun party in the bars. But really, the information, every time we sit here, we're in awe of everything that you guys do. So please introduce yourselves for our listeners.

 

00;44;09;27 - 00;44;22;15

Speaker 3

All right. Thank you. Cynthia. Yes, this is easily our favorite event of the year or two. And we were really blessed with beautiful weather today. My name is Daniel Ho. I'm a plastic surgeon with Crystal clinic plastic surgeons, and I'm just thrilled to be here today.

 

00;44;22;17 - 00;44;24;04

Speaker 1

How long have you been with Crystal clinic?

 

00;44;24;11 - 00;44;32;28

Speaker 3

So I joined the group in 2022. I've been there almost three years at this point. And previously had, grown up and trained in the Akron area.

 

00;44;33;00 - 00;44;44;05

Speaker 1

Oh, in Akron. That's fantastic. I love Akron, very music, you know, arts and everything like that in Akron. How when did you think you knew you wanted to be a plastic surgeon or anything in the medical field?

 

00;44;44;07 - 00;45;06;01

Speaker 3

Yeah. So my story when I was 19, I was diagnosed with cancer. I was referred to a wonderfully compassionate surgeon who helped me through that process. Ultimately, we're able to achieve cure. And I'm now 20 years cancer free. I was blessed with the opportunity then to go on and train under her as a general surgeon, and her primary practice was breast cancer treatment.

 

00;45;06;03 - 00;45;16;04

Speaker 3

When those operations would finish, the plastic surgeons would come in and I'd stick around to watch them do their reconstructive surgery. And it was really in those moments where I knew I got to put me on this earth.

 

00;45;16;06 - 00;45;21;23

Speaker 1

So how old were you when you were diagnosed, and how old were you when you were clear of cancer?

 

00;45;21;25 - 00;45;26;01

Speaker 3

I was 19 when I was diagnosed, and treatment extended for about a year and a half.

 

00;45;26;04 - 00;45;31;16

Speaker 1

It's God bless you. That's fantastic. So it was the reconstruction that you found the most exciting?

 

00;45;31;18 - 00;45;56;10

Speaker 3

Yeah, yeah. General surgery and cancer treatment is, you know, incredibly impactful. And you are giving patient back years of their lives. But for me, I always had an interest in the arts and in drawing and sculpting and modeling. And that was the part of me that I really found the most fulfilling. And watching the reconstructive surgeons begin to rebuild that patient's life, was something that I found a lot of fulfillment in.

 

00;45;56;13 - 00;46;17;14

Speaker 1

Well, you know what I always find interesting when I talk to you guys is that when people hear plastic surgery, they immediately think of the esthetics of it. You know, the beauty looking for searching for beauty. But all of you guys seem to have this deeper meaning, deeper purpose in this surgery. And usually it's reconstruction. So can you tell me about how that empowers you and how that has impacted you over the years?

 

00;46;17;17 - 00;46;42;07

Speaker 3

Yeah. So those two things go hand in hand. You know, we develop our skills through the esthetic surgery, which is really seeking beauty and symmetry, looking for perfection. And then we're able to take those skills and apply them to the reconstructive patients to rebuild that same form and function that we expect to achieve through our esthetic cases. And similarly, on the other side of that, we take the skill set that we hone doing the reconstructive cases, and that makes us better esthetic surgeries.

 

00;46;42;07 - 00;46;47;06

Speaker 3

And those two things really are a yin and yang and ultimately make us better surgeons.

 

00;46;47;09 - 00;46;58;26

Speaker 1

Do you have a particular story without saying any names that you felt? This is why this is my purpose. This is why I do what I do in terms of being able to treat somebody.

 

00;46;58;28 - 00;47;14;04

Speaker 3

And so one of my first patients that I took care of once I graduated from residency and went into my own practice, was a breast cancer patient who I was able to do a deep flap, use her abdominal tissue to rebuild her breasts, and she has kept in touch with me. She's the first person to text me on every birthday.

 

00;47;14;04 - 00;47;32;28

Speaker 3

She's the first person to wish me Merry Christmas. And she's gone on to lead a successful breast cancer nonprofit. She hosts A5K run every year that my family has gone to, and just build these thriving relationships that spanned many years, where my skill set touches her life, her heart touches my life and really gives me the fuel to keep going.

 

00;47;33;01 - 00;47;46;06

Speaker 1

That is just so incredible. And it really is. It's about you are impacting not just her life, but her family's generations to come. And now look how many lives impacting. Because of what she's doing with her own mission, because of it. So that's fantastic.

 

00;47;46;06 - 00;47;57;23

Speaker 3

And that impact comes back to influence other patients, because seeing that much good be done through through my surgical skills, then gives me the drive and desire to, to really push it to help more patients.

 

00;47;57;25 - 00;48;10;01

Speaker 1

So before we sat down, you were talking about a particular aspect that I can't like, really not not knowing your field room. Right. Can you talk to me more about like, exactly what it is that you would like to share that you were so excited?

 

00;48;10;03 - 00;48;28;20

Speaker 3

Yeah. So one thing I wanted to raise awareness about today is something called onco plastic surgery. And what's what onco plastic surgery is, is it's it's focusing on breast conservation for women who have cancer. So in general there's two main ways that breast cancer is treated. One is with a mastectomy that's removing all of the breast tissue. And the other is with breast conservation.

 

00;48;28;20 - 00;48;48;27

Speaker 3

It's removing just the tumor and enough, neighboring tissue to get a clean margin at the time of surgery. And there's a lot of patients who can't have breast conservation. And despite it having some of the best long term health related quality of life, it's just not an option because their cancer's too big or their breast is too small, or it's in an inconvenient location that the breast surgeon won't offer that treatment.

 

00;48;49;03 - 00;49;09;00

Speaker 3

So what what my specialty has been working on for a number of years is to stretch the limits of that breast conservation to these women that otherwise wouldn't be candidates. And we use the skill set that we've developed, doing breast lifts and breast reductions in order to have that breast tissue that would usually be removed in those operations, be the specimen that contains the cancer.

 

00;49;09;06 - 00;49;22;20

Speaker 3

So that allows us to really make lemonade out of the lemons and take that new diagnosis of cancer and have an opportunity not only to provide an effective treatment, but to improve the appearance of the patient's breasts and give them back their life.

 

00;49;22;22 - 00;49;34;18

Speaker 1

Explain to me I'm not really quite understanding when you do the lift or reduction. Like how does that actually work? And like is it just, you know, in terms of like the structure and if, if somebody was afraid of it.

 

00;49;34;21 - 00;49;52;21

Speaker 3

Yeah. So when we're doing a breast lift or reduction we're doing a couple of things. One is we're repositioning the nipple. Oftentimes, as time goes on, the nipple move down on the breast. And women aren't happy with that appearance. It gives it an aged appearance to the breast. The second thing is we're we're tightening up the skin on the breast to improve the shape.

 

00;49;52;23 - 00;50;10;06

Speaker 3

And then we're working to resolve natural asymmetry. So we always say in the office, they're sisters, not twins. Rusty asymmetry is incredibly common. And in fact, perfect breast symmetry is rare. And when we do these operations, whether it's a lift or a reduction, we're trying to improve the cemetery that that patient has.

 

00;50;10;09 - 00;50;26;22

Speaker 1

That's interesting. And for a lot of people, you know, you're right. You know, you have to feel good within your body. And if you can do something that is so skillfully done today, I think that that would probably eliminate that fear for a lot of people. So I just wanted to mention that because I do think a lot of people want to do it, but they're just a little bit afraid to do it.

 

00;50;26;23 - 00;50;43;00

Speaker 3

Yeah. You know, those wouldn't be operations that I would be afraid of. Typically, when I see patients back in two weeks, they report having zero pain. And one thing that's always shocking to me is when I go check on my patients an hour or two after surgery, many will already have pain relief and their neck, back and shoulders that they weren't expecting the reduction patients.

 

00;50;43;00 - 00;50;57;13

Speaker 3

We know that that's going to happen because that's the reason they're seeing me in the office. But what's shocking is when the patients who come in for a lift tell me that neck, back and shoulder pain, migraines, other symptoms that they've had for years and did not attribute to their breasts actually got substantially better.

 

00;50;57;15 - 00;51;16;16

Speaker 1

So that is fantastic. I know, I remember my older aunts and such. They were just end up hunched over and they were miserable. And it really does take away the quality of your life. And it seems like something simple, but it isn't. You can't really run. You can't, you know, work out, you can't function is like you used to because of that.

 

00;51;16;16 - 00;51;18;01

Speaker 1

It's a barrier. I think one.

 

00;51;18;01 - 00;51;43;17

Speaker 3

Thing I like to do is to work with the spine surgeons, especially when they're seeing younger women, patients with large breasts and problems in their cervical spine. A lot of times the spine is not the source of the problem, the weight of the breast. And I try to raise awareness, you know, we're a multi-specialty orthopedic group, so we have a number of fantastic spine surgeons, and I try to bring that to their attention that if they see these women, you know, with size D, double D breasts that are coming in for cervical spine surgery, send them to my office.

 

00;51;43;17 - 00;51;52;07

Speaker 3

First, let's work through a physical therapy protocol. Let's talk about and discuss breast reduction and see if we can get an improvement that ultimately saves them surgery on their spine.

 

00;51;52;10 - 00;52;01;02

Speaker 1

That is fantastic. What else do you do that you would like to like? What's new in your world that you just are so excited to share?

 

00;52;01;05 - 00;52;26;00

Speaker 3

And so I think the trend in plastic surgery is moving towards less and less invasive procedures. I think that's beneficial to patients because they have less downtime. It's beneficial to providers because we can offer lower risk options to patients that can, you know, with advances in technology, really yield superior results. And, you know, over the next five years, I really expect that we're going to see a big resurgence of less invasive procedures.

 

00;52;26;00 - 00;52;37;12

Speaker 3

Maybe the degree of changes aren't as extreme as some of our invasive options, but certainly they're safer. And, take patients away from their life a little bit less.

 

00;52;37;15 - 00;52;53;08

Speaker 1

Yeah. I feel like I like that less and less and less. And I think that that I feel like that would be the trend. Have you ever had a situation where somebody has come into your office and used and asked for something and you were like, no, you're not doing that. Here's what we're going to do.

 

00;52;53;10 - 00;53;11;12

Speaker 3

Yeah, that happens quite frequently. You know, some patients come in and they want me to really tell them exactly what I think. I like that, but, you know, the reality is that that patient, they're looking in the mirror, they're seeing what they don't like. It's a collaborative discussion between me and the patients. I'll also have patients come in with unrealistic expectations.

 

00;53;11;15 - 00;53;25;16

Speaker 3

The one thing that I'll frequently turn away are the 22 year olds wanting what? Filler. I don't think that that is a look that, is going to be durable over time. And I think that's primarily driven by social media and those kind of trends. I am not a fan.

 

00;53;25;16 - 00;53;33;00

Speaker 1

Of disappoint you because you feel like, you know, they're going to go somewhere else because when they decide they want something, they're going to go get it.

 

00;53;33;03 - 00;53;50;29

Speaker 3

I don't know that disappoint is the right word. You know, I, I, I do know that they're going to go somewhere else. They're going to find somebody to do it. But, you know, I take that 15 to 20 minutes that I have with them in the office and try to educate them on the risks and benefits of those treatments and, and try to give them a good idea of why they're beautiful and why, you know, that is perfect the way it is.

 

00;53;50;29 - 00;54;02;11

Speaker 3

And part of what I do is helping people look the way they feel. The other part is making sure that people know that, you know, oftentimes their concerns are a bigger deal to them than they are to somebody else.

 

00;54;02;13 - 00;54;24;06

Speaker 1

It's a little bit of therapy when it comes to that. I mean, I feel like anybody in these situations, whether it goes from a plastic surgeon to, you know, a coach or a hairdresser or a, you know, a decision, things like, we're always trying to encourage the inner beauty into the eyes, to see the beauty that exists. But it is nice to be able to tweak.

 

00;54;24;09 - 00;54;41;17

Speaker 3

Yeah, yeah. And I think that's, that's the best thing about my specialty is because, you know, I see a, I see a lot of beautiful women all day, every day. And sometimes there are some minor things that bother them that we can do something about. Sometimes they do just need a dose of encouragement and positivity. And, you know, I think that builds a relationship that lasts for many years.

 

00;54;41;17 - 00;55;11;25

Speaker 1

I wanted to ask you about today, what does this event mean for you, Dana? Dana Harris, love you. What does this event mean for you today? To be here at the Hall of Fame and here being able to have conversations with some of these dynamic NFL women that are here celebrating and also participating in something that you guys have really grown into quite an event from, not just the luncheon and fashion show, but the pop up shopping and the Mimosa bar, which is today mean to you.

 

00;55;11;28 - 00;55;37;26

Speaker 3

Yeah. So I think today is a day about community. Certainly we're always blessed with a beautiful day, cans, most beautiful women. And, you know, really an opportunity to get out in the sun on a Friday and have a lot of fun. For us, this is really an event that's about awareness. You know, we, we try to consistently bring attention to breast cancer treatment to our pink runway, which is our annual fashion show that we host for survivors.

 

00;55;37;28 - 00;55;41;13

Speaker 3

And then really to just have a great time.

 

00;55;41;16 - 00;55;49;15

Speaker 1

Thank you so much. Now, where can I be like, I know, I know because I've been on your site many times. McCormick share of the site and the new information work.

 

00;55;49;18 - 00;56;05;22

Speaker 3

Yeah. So the best place to find us is Krystal. Funny plastic surgeons.com. We recently opened up patient self scheduling. So if patients want to come in and talk with one of our surgeons, they're able to schedule through that portal. And then patients can find us in the office where they're Monday through Friday with a smile, happy and ready to help.

 

00;56;05;24 - 00;56;06;12

Speaker 1

Thank you so.

 

00;56;06;12 - 00;56;08;13

Speaker 3

Much. Thank you. Pleasure talking to.