Session 464: All About Colon Health
Therapy for Black Girls
iHeartPodcasts and Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D.
4.8 • 5.8K Ratings
🗓️ 20 May 2026
⏱️ 43 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
When was the last time you really thought about your colon health? For many of us, conversations about digestion, gut health, and colorectal cancer can feel uncomfortable or easy to put off—but the reality is that colorectal cancer rates are rising among younger adults, and Black communities continue to face significant disparities when it comes to diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Today, I’m joined by gastroenterologist and health advocate, Dr. Sophia Balzora, to talk about what we all need to know about colon health. Dr. Balzora helps break down what the colon actually does, the warning signs we shouldn’t ignore, and why early screenings can be lifesaving. We also discuss the unique ways colorectal cancer impacts Black women, how stress and diet can affect gut health, and the importance of advocating for yourself in medical spaces when something doesn’t feel right.
About the Podcast
The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls podcast, a weekly conversation about mental health, personal development, and all the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. |
| 0:23.8 | I'm your host, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. |
| 0:30.0 | For more information or to find a therapist in your area, visit our website at Therapy for Blackgirls.com. While I hope you love listening to |
| 0:40.4 | and learning from the podcast, it is not meant to be a substitute for a relationship with a licensed |
| 0:47.1 | mental health professional. Hey, y'all. |
| 0:56.6 | Thanks so much for joining me for session 464 of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast. |
| 1:01.5 | We'll get right into our conversation after a word from our sponsors. |
| 1:10.6 | This is an I-Heart podcast. |
| 1:13.4 | Guaranteed human. |
| 1:18.3 | When was the last time you really thought about your colon health? |
| 1:21.6 | For many of us, conversations about digestion, gut health, and colorectal cancer can feel uncomfortable or easy to put off. But the |
| 1:28.8 | reality is that colorectal cancer rates are rising among younger adults, and black communities |
| 1:33.7 | continue to face significant disparities when it comes to diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. |
| 1:39.0 | So today, I'm joined by gastroenterologist and health advocate, Dr. Sophia Belzora, to talk about what we all need to know about colon health. |
| 1:47.3 | Dr. Belzora helps break down what the colon actually does, the warning signs we shouldn't ignore, and why early screenings can be life-saving. |
| 1:55.3 | We also discuss the unique ways colon cancer impacts black women, how stress and diet can affect gut health, |
| 2:02.1 | and the importance of advocating for yourself in medical spaces when something doesn't feel right. |
| 2:06.3 | If something resonates with you while enjoying our conversation, please share with us on social |
| 2:10.4 | media using the hashtag TBG in session or join us over in Patreon to talk more about the episode. |
| 2:16.8 | You can join us at community.com. |
| 2:18.3 | Here's our conversation. |
| 2:26.3 | Well, thank you so much for joining us today, Dr. Valdura. |
... |
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