Episode 4 - Women’s Health Empowerment with Sera from Clay Health
By Jessica Garrison
It’s always reassuring to catch a glimpse of the impact the F.E.E.L podcast makes by sharing the voices of others in a different way. The guest we have for this week’s episode is a great example of that, because she is the first one who our host and creator, Melissa Crook, had not known prior to filming. The two met through social media and share a passion for bringing women’s voices to the forefront of difficult conversations. Our guest, Sera, is the founder of Clay Health, a comprehensive lifestyle health delivery network that aims to “mold the healthcare experience for women.” She shares her story of a health crisis she experienced at a young age and how she’s shifted her life to a healthier form that includes more than just her physical health.
Sera describes prioritizing self care as an “evolution.” It’s very specific to her needs in the moment as well as the needs of those around her, particularly her son. She became a mom right before the pandemic hit and has had to adjust her life to that struggle. Regularly looking at her schedule, Sera sees what time she has available, how much of it she’s putting into her work, and how much of herself she is giving to pursue her dreams. She doesn’t feel guilty about the time she takes for herself anymore because it helps her be more creative, which therefore helps her achieve the goals she sets. Sometimes it takes a while for us to understand this because of society’s pressure to always be on the move, but the sooner we recognize this, the sooner we can become our best selves.
It’s quite emotional to hear Sera share the story of her health crisis, especially at an age where you’re still figuring yourself out. However, it was after her struggle that she decided to leave her job in finance to pursue something she was actually passionate about. She was no longer willing to risk her health, which means all parts of her health: spiritual health, emotional health, physical health, and mental health. Sera is quite a captivating storyteller; it’s refreshing to hear people talk about chasing their dreams despite the obstacles they have to overcome. It’s a nice change of pace from the fantasy we see on television.
Considering her past, Sera deeply cares about her physical and emotional health, as well as taking care of both of them equally. After suffering from her health crisis, she wanted to prove to those around her that she was better, and by doing that involved abusing her body. She would continue to work herself as a runner to prove she was healthy. She also describes her journey with chronic pain. With doctors trying to convince her the pain was in her head, she didn’t know how to handle everything that was going on with her body. Now, she makes it a point to take care of her mental health before her physical health, knowing things will fall into place much more easily for her. I really cannot do Sera’s story justice—listen to her explain and you’ll understand just how powerful her words are. Melissa agrees during the conversation that “your body is for you,” and that is a huge takeaway from this episode.
When it comes to supporting women, Sera describes it as so important and simple, yet difficult. Letting other women share their stories in a safe space is what will help us all with the support we need. She says that women don’t always need to be “fixed,” we just need to be heard and feel heard. Community is one of the most important things when it comes to women feeling supported in their everyday lives. By founding Clay Health, she opened the door to women being able to share their health stories in a world where it is difficult to seek help, feel believed, and be believed.
My favorite part of this episode comes towards the end while listening to Sera describe the unraveling of her layers. It truly never stops. They are complicated and scary and hurtful, yet it’s still beautiful to discover new layers of yourself. Everyone has these layers they have to uncover throughout their lives and learn to accept in order to grow as a person. It can be one of the most difficult things we have to do, but it’s beneficial in the long run.
Sera was always told she was “inspiring” after overcoming her health difficulties, which she says she hated. She says she isn’t brave for dealing with her health crisis and overcoming it—what she finds brave and inspiring is women who are able to share their stories, share their truths, and offer a listening ear to those who need it. I must say, however, that the way she speaks about her journey so candidly and unapologetically is truly inspirational, and I’m glad we are able to share her truth through this episode.