The Feel Better Podcast: Ep. 5 with Dr. Samantha Gelman and Dr. Adelynn Vadrar of The Secret Scope
Kristen Rivenbark
Hey everyone, today I am joined by doctors Samantha Gelman and Adelynn Vadrar from The Secret Scope. I have been following them for quite some time now. I was always impressed at the combination of their medical expertise and their appreciation of beauty products and wellness. I'm super excited to have them on and ask them all of the questions that I have been wanting to ask them that I'm sure you also are interested in hearing about specifically, being a female in medicine, what that's been like for them how they decided to become doctors, did they meet each other in med school? Was this something that they had dreamed of as children together? Also how they prioritize their time. So that's such a hot topic right now, you know, prioritizing time and routine. And for two women who are so incredibly busy, but still seem to have a good balance. I was very curious to hear what their secrets are. And also, you know, COVID, their doctors might as well take advantage of having that expertise and their knowledge and ask the questions that I think we're all really curious to get more information on. So I'm excited for this episode. And let's get into it. Guys being here, I have the listening to the secret scope. Like I think since your first episode, now I fall off here and there because I just kind of run out of time. But I think I remember finding you guys on Instagram, like at the launch when you first like launched your first episode, I think it was about anxiety, or that was one of the first couple and then you had another one about like hormones, I think it was and I was just like, oh my god, I love these girls. First of all, they remind me of home because I'm both but they're also in LA. And how cool is that? That you talk about health and wellness and beauty with the perspective of actually having you know a degree in medicine and being doctors, you're both doctors that is so cool that you can still kind of toe this line of like, appreciating, you know, some of like the, I guess less traditional wellness aspects of kind of overall well being and health, but also like have the actual credentials to speak on this. So I think it's so cool that you combine the two. And then what I guess I'll start from the beginning, how well first, let me introduce you. So Dr. Samantha and Dr. Adelynn. Thank you very much for being here. How did the two of you meet? Did you meet in med school? Did you meet in residency? How did you meet?
Dr. Samantha Gelman
That's funny, we always talk about this - Adelynn do you want to hit this one?
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
So we go way back to about when we were like 14, 15 years old, we met in the area where we grew up. We had a lot of similar friends. And ever since then we've been best friends. And that's pretty much it. We did go to medical school together, Samantha went first. And then she kind of dragged me. I kinda was holding her hand because I didn't know what I wanted to do. So she's like, just calm. Maybe you'll like it. Because I always love medicine and I wanted to do something in medicine. And ever since then it's just that's how it's been?
Kristen Rivenbark
Well, you are who my parents always wanted me to hang out with!
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
it's funny, because if you hung out with us back then you would never think...
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Yeah, your parents would not want you to hang out with us.
Kristen Rivenbark
Well, we would have been friends! I love that, that's so cool. You kind of were friends from an early age and then followed similar career paths, because I'm sure it's been very challenging. So to have someone who understands not only what you're going through, but also understands you as a person.
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
If it wasn't for Samantha, I don't know, like what I would do when it was time to vent because nobody understands truly, they might think that they understand but they don't understand what it's like to be in medical school to be in residency, like, it's very stressful, and you don't see what we see. So for us to be able to have each other to vent to each other. I think that it's truly something special. And that's someone like everyone needs to have that.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Yeah. And I also, we still do that, I still rely on Adelynn all the time when people tell us things, I'll be like, "what they don't understand what we're going through" and we still like every month, something will pop up. We'll be like, "people just don't get it."
Kristen Rivenbark
So lucky to have each other. What made you decide - you know, I think individually you probably came to this decision, but you know, you said, Adelynn, that you had always had a desire to go into medicine. Where does that stem from?
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
Um, well Obviously, part of it is growing up with our parents, you either, you know, were Russian or Ukrainian Jews. So you either have to be a doctor or a lawyer and account and you have to be somewhere in there. Um, and I just worked in a pharmacy, I didn't really like it much because I like action. So I guess just the fact that I also volunteer in medical offices, I really like that. And that's just what drew me in.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
And I'll second that, too. I think like, my mom's a pharmacist, and I even asked her now I was like, if you could go back in time, would you have changed anything? She's like, maybe I would have been a doctor or something. But you know, it's different. We're first generation Americans. So our parents, they came here and they went for whatever job was available at the time, right. So at the time, when my mom came, they're like, oh, pharmacy, He's a good kid, you should do it. But for us, we kind of had our parents come here for us to have that opportunity. So I think really figuring out what we wanted to do was super important.
Kristen Rivenbark
And you didn't want to waste that opportunity that they had given you I'm sure.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Exactly, parent push helps. But I feel like at the end of it, when it was time to actually go to medical school, no one really pushed me like my mom even asked me like, "Are you sure? Is this what you want to do?" Because we went to the Caribbean. So it's also leaving your nest egg of being with your parents at home, You know?
Kristen Rivenbark
Yeah, University of Antigua? Wow, amazing. Okay. So cool. How long were you there studying?
Dr. Samantha Gelman
It's four years, it ends up being there for two and a half and a half there. And then you do two years off the island. So it's four years total. So you graduate from UA, but you only spend like two, two and a half years on the island.
Kristen Rivenbark
Amazing. Yeah, amazing. I love that. I love that you had that. You know, that kind of the support of your family, but also the push of your family to know that, you know, your parents were looking for an opportunity that they weren't given the way that you have, and take that into making something really great out of it. That's so cool. And to do it, even though it's hard, you know, so many people are like, Oh, she was a doctor. Oh, it'd be so nice. But to do the work to actually, you know, continue when it gets hard and to put in that time and effort. That's amazing. I love that. friends for a long time. What? What do you think of the common misconception about med schools? You were saying? Like everyone thinks they understand that they really have no idea if they're not in it? What is something that you find that maybe you roll your eyes at? Or sounds very cliche that we all think that we don't know?
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Ithink it's like other people don't understand what it is like to put in the hours. We've missed out on a lot of people's life events. I think that's one big one. And a lot of people take it very personally. But they, it's hard to explain it to people because you know, they say this thing, like you make time for who you want to make time for. But like, you just don't have time. Like I cannot explain it. And I don't want to say some things are more important than others. But me getting rest is more important than just certain life events. Because we're so exhausted and adults and I talk about this all the time. And our friends still to this day, you would think that at this point they would, but still they don't understand in certain circumstances.
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
Yeah, it's tough, it definitely is tough, you have to figure out a balance. Also, the balance has to be doing something that you enjoy and what you want to do, not necessarily what other people want you to do. I think that's very important. And it is very, very important. And if I want to, for example, on my Friday night off, chill on my couch, because I'm so tired from working all week. I think that let's say the next week when I'm like, “okay, I'm chill, I want to go eat somewhere with my fiance or something. And then it's like, oh, you're going out to eat, but you won't call me to hang out. Like we're planning to come to you right now. I just want to say, but that's a very big misconception that a lot of people don't understand.
Kristen Rivenbark
Yeah, like, Oh, I get it. You're so busy, but you can do you know, if you wanted to but you're like no, I literally have like, I have to make a choice between like rest and like, helping people live or going to the movies that I don't really care about. Like you have to really prioritize that free time. I think that's something everybody can benefit from really at the end of the day is prioritizing, you know your free time you don't have to say yes to everything even if you have the time like you know I'm sure you guys don't have the time but I think that kind of can cross over into everyone's lives in a way that you know, just setting boundaries and sticking to your boundaries and not feeling guilty about that if you want to stay on a Friday night, but I appreciate that, that you have to really prioritize, I think, you know, deciding to attend medical school and become a doctor, that is the commitment of a lifetime, like, everything else just kind of falls where it may. And that's just the reality of the situation, right? That is, what you're dedicated to, and what you're focused on. It's hard not to take it personally, I'm sure for other people.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
It's just perspective. It can apply to any field, but it's for us, like, people will never understand how busy somebody else is. So it's just very important to kind of at the end of the day, like, reflect on that maybe they are truly, really that busy or whatever. So kind of like a balance of everything. So I think that's the biggest, that's the biggest thing.
Kristen Rivenbark
Are your partners in the medical field as well, so that they have an understanding of what your life is like.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Both of us have completely different situations. So my partner Yeah, he's also a doctor. He's doing internal medicine. And I'm going for my fellowship. So even there, there's like some difference because their schedules are different now, as opposed to when we were in residency, but Adelynn's situation is completely different.
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
Yeah, but he's super supportive no matter what, though, I think that's something that I'm really grateful for. And even though he sometimes says he understands, I feel like, you know, even him saying, that just makes me feel better, even though he doesn't understand that out there.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
And then to me and my husband. I can see it from both perspectives, and you know, some people say, like, Don't marry in the medical field or someone in the medical field. And then other us like, we're in the medical field, we're like, well, we understand each other other people don't. So it's all about perspective. I think if you have a good solid relationship, no matter if you're in the field or not, it's gonna work.
Kristen Rivenbark
Very true. That's cool. And I love that Adelynn, your fiance also has your best friend and her husband to kind of talk to and to get a better understanding. That's great. That's so cool. Do you find and I'm sure you get this question a lot, but I think it's an important question. Do you find that it is more challenging to enter and succeed in this field as a female? Um,
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
I think that the gears are shifting. I'm saying that is because I can help more women attendings than male attendings. I come from a residency, where each year there are eight spots, and all of my year is female. And it's the first time I think, ever, that my residency program has all females in their year. That's it.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Yeah, exactly. Getting up there. What did they estimate? And if on medscape, I don't want to quote it because I don't want to be wrong about it. But I think it's like, right at the cost of like 50% women and 50% men now, when you start going into specialties, then that's a little bit of a different story. Like I'm in fellowship right now. I'm the only girl so just in like family medicine, internal medicine, even now my OBGYN was initially all male now, my OBGYN is like, now it's like all women predominant, like a minority.
Kristen Rivenbark
Like a cliche, the old white bald man who is your overview.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
But like, you know, it's just the cultures are shifting. And everything shifts, even in medicine. It's like, oh, like what's hot to be now like, one year, it's gi next year, it's cardiology next year is something else. So that also kind of influences who's going to apply for what position. So right now, there's definitely half and a half. But as you keep specializing, it lowers a little bit, but now it's coming up again, with Does that make sense? So surely, we're getting there. Yeah,
Kristen Rivenbark
That's amazing. I love to hear that. I think it's so encouraging just for other women and even, you know, young girls to see that and understand that, like, you can absolutely go into these fields, you can still have all the things you want to have just in a different way. And I love that.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
And they're so big on that, now more so than they ever were before. So that's why that's opened a lot more opportunities.
Kristen Rivenbark
That's awesome. Gosh, I wish I could go back and do things all over again. Oh, my goodness. So how did you guys come up with the idea for a podcast amongst everything else you've got going on? And how did you decide to combine beauty, wellness and medicine together?
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
So um, it all started after I graduated from medical school, Samantha was already in residence. See, and we always spoke about doing something beyond medicine. And we love beauty, health, wellness. So we started listening to podcasts, and we listened to the skinny confidential Lauren Bostic, and I fell in love. I put Samantha on it. I know, you know. So, um, we saw that we didn't see anyone, just like you said, um, how there were no, basically, there's influencers who talk about wellness and beauty, but they don't have a medical background. And we saw that that was lacking. And so we're like, this is perfect, we can totally jump on it, and start doing it. And that's when the secret scope developed him to be. Yeah,
Kristen Rivenbark
awesome. So you kind of saw a little bit of a gap in between the credibility and the desire to discuss that information. And you were like, let's kind of sweep in there and fill in that gap to that audience.
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
And we also want to make it fun, and relatable to our lives and kind of like, make it glamorized. So that's kind of if you go on our page, and you see, we try to make it cute and attractive. Yeah,
Kristen Rivenbark
and you do a really good job about that it has a very skinny confidential field, but with the credibility of, you know, your background, which I think is really cool. And it's very unique, it's not something that I see very often, you know, like, you were saying, there's so many wellness influencers and, you know, advice being put out there that may or may not work for everybody to hear that, you know, professional perspective on and I like a nice shut down to, like your podcasts are always about something in particular, whether it's anxiety or periods, or UTI, or cardiovascular health or COVID. Like I like how you kind of break it down and just get to the point, I think that's really helpful. And it gives you I guess, an outlet to talk about things other than school
Dr. Samantha Gelman
and talk like to other people in the field, like talk in more layman's terms, like more relatable, like I would be explaining to my patients, you know?
Kristen Rivenbark
yeah. What is the thing that you hear often, you know, from, quote, unquote, wellness influencers that makes you cringe?
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Well, like the big one that we discussed, like, recently, there was this whole thing with Gwyneth Paltrow and the SPF situation. Her dad is a physician. So it's funny that she created this whole brand, which is great. I used to listen to Goop and all of that as well. But the issue is, it's not necessarily medical, good medical knowledge, right. So the way she was applying her SPF, she was saying, apply it like here, here and here. And it's like, that's not medicine, but you don't need to, and a lot of people say, Oh, you don't need to go to medical school to be a doctor. Okay, sure, you can Google it. But if you don't know what you're googling, then it won't be accurate information you're receiving, and then you're spreading that information to millions of other people. And then that information becomes propagated further and further by the time we've already revoked that that was wrong. It's already too late, you know? Yeah. So things like that.
Kristen Rivenbark
That's a good one. And I, you know, you usually Google to find the answer that you're looking for. So it's not like, you know, you're googling for research purposes all the time. I think we have that bias in our heads, and we're googling to find the information that's going to confirm what we want to hear or what we've been told. So that's not the way to go. Oh, my gosh, well, what do you think of that? I've been hearing a lot about ingestible. I can't even say without laughing. Adjustable SPF?
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
I haven't heard of that.
Kristen Rivenbark
I shouldn't even bring it up because people are gonna hear this and they're gonna go try it.
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
No, no, no, I want to know about this. We should do an episode on this.
Kristen Rivenbark
Here's the doctor from Osmosis. He is Dr. Ben Johnson. Is that his name? And he now has an ingestible SPF. So you take the supplement and it's supposed to give you sun protection. And I've heard about it from another company. So I'm afraid that this is something now that's catching on. So you'll have to let me know.
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
You know even with our episodes, we always have a disclaimer at the end saying that whatever you hear or whatever we recommend, we still at the end of the day, even though we are doctors, we recommend that you go to your own physician and find out what works for you. And some of the stuff that we post. Let's say it's a beauty product. Or anything wellness, if it works for us, that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to work for you. So I always want to put that out there.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Yeah. Even if those supplements or whatever ingestible gummies are like a thing, like it's probably some vitamins, it's probably like vitamin C or something like that which don't have SPF type properties. Even with that there would be no way that someone would recommend that as the sole thing to protect you from the sun, they would still tell you, you should still wear your SPF though. That's the thing is like as physicians, we because like physicians get sued left and right for things they did do that things that they didn't do. So like we always have, we know we have to be self aware of that even if we make mistakes, right? We're human beings. And even like people who learn this information for years and years and years, but also at the same time, other people who aren't in the field, they don't have that sense of responsibility necessarily because they've never had to deal with the consequences of those actions. So I think that's also the other thing of people just giving out medical information without having the medical background. So we've got Well, that's the thing, we're totally going to look into that.
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
I don't know why we don't know about that! I was scrolling earlier today, I didn't get a chance to actually look into it. But I saw an Instagram ad for a toothpaste that's vitamins. I don't know how it works, what it is, but it's the same concept that I want to look into these two things.
Kristen Rivenbark
Oh, my goodness, I think, you know, if there's just such, my, the way I approach these things is I look at it as what is being sold here. Is this a product? This is a marketing gimmick, like I really, I think just 90% of what we are seeing specially on social media and targeted ads and things like that. I mean, it's just, there's just so much marketing nonsense out there. Like I'm sure, like you said, certain vitamins can provide an element or layer of sun protection, but not to the extent that it's going to prevent you from getting sick, cancer, wrinkles, sunburn. So, yeah, I think we always have to be so, so careful. And to your point, even someone with the you know, highest level of knowledge and training is still only human. So everything needs to be approached from a very individual perspective. And, you know, with your doctor, with yourself and all that good stuff. Yeah. Oh, my gosh. Well, thank you for dispelling that I have some make use of I don't know. I used to love goop and then I don't know if Gwyneth Paltrow gets me when she talks about being healthy, but still likes drinking and smoking. And I'm like, I get it the balance. But like, that's just I don't know, I feel like sometimes that gives people the okay to go do those things and think that it'll just be counteracted by taking some vitamins The next day, or
Dr. Samantha Gelman
like you can do what you want to do, but don't promote for everyone to want to do it. Like I love the stuff that's on her goop podcast, she gets people on there. Like I like listening to it, because it stands for what we stand for, health and wellness and all of that. But at the same time if you're gonna say something, or at least fact check yourself. Make the mistake - apologize. We even have a question like on our board exams. There's questions that say things like, if you make a mistake, what do you do? And it's always, tell your patient you made the mistake.
Kristen Rivenbark
Yeah, you're bound by that honesty, that integrity? Yeah. Well, I will say that Gwyneth Paltrow, her book, The Clean Slate, her cookbook is one of my favorite go-to’s. So if you're ever looking for a really good, clean, simple group of recipes, like that's the book that has all the stains all over it, because I'm always using it in the kitchen, and she has some good stuff. One of my favorites. So what would you say that you are seeing more commonly in women these days? Is there anything that you're seeing like trending in terms of health issues or health concerns that maybe we can be a little bit more mindful of in terms of like preventative measures,
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
I think it depends what area you're in, like, for example, I'm doing residency and an area where they have like charity care people, basically those who don't have insurance. So it's a little bit like it's sad to see that some. Some patients don't have the same health care that a normal person does. So called In for regular letsie pap smear might be a little bit. It takes a little bit of time, even though it's like something that can be screened, that's acted and cured. It shows some of them aren't even aware what a pap smear is. So it depends where you're located. I think also,
Dr. Samantha Gelman
yeah, that's, and also like the whole preventative thing, there's a lot of stuff that you could do it, we actually did like an episode like on all of it. So for men and women, some of them are similar. So for example, like women should get breast cancer screenings and pap smears like Adelynnwas saying, those are preventative measures that the problem is, is that a lot of people in society just don't believe in them or they're scared, they're thinking it's some tactics to get for, like some doctors to get people in. Like, I know that because even in my own family, I have that old school like cultural belief that doctors are out to get you or something.
Kristen Rivenbark
Right, they're going to find something so they can charge you.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
I'm sure there's, you know, there's always people who do that, right. So I'm not knocking it. But preventative care is a real thing, right? If you get your mammograms, you can potentially live if they find cancer early on, that would have been a completely different scenario if they found the cancer in stage four. So same thing with colonoscopies like I had to force my grandfather to go get a colonoscopy, and he was just not trying to do it. And then he did it. I was like, see, that wasn't that bad, like, but like, now, you know, doesn't that give you a peace of mind that like now, you know, okay, I'm good, I'm clear. And hope like, if something happens, things could obviously have an in between, but hoping that nothing will happen, and I don't know makes us feel better. But I think that's more of a millennials and Gen Z type thing.
Kristen Rivenbark
And the generations before us kind of got lost in that layer of self care in a way to you know, continuing to go for those routine examinations and, and make that a priority and not just kind of put your head in the sand and hope everything's fine until it's not because like you said, If you catch something early, there's a much easier course of treatment versus later down the line. And you're like, Oh, I wish I'd known I would have done something about and like we could have known but you just chose not to make your career priority. So I think that's really important. I think, especially like younger people, younger women, well, I feel fine, nothing's wrong, everything. I'm not trying to get pregnant. You know, I'm this and that. So I don't need to go to the doctor. I don't need to go to the dentist. I don't need to do all that. But it's really important. It's really beneficial in the long run. So I'm glad you highlighted that. It's always easy to avoid something when there's no issue like when I have clients who are like, well, I'm always really good when something goes wrong. Like if they hate or they feel like they get sick or something then all of a sudden, they're on track. But when things are good, that's when I lose them. They fall off and they're like, I don't know what happened. And I'm like you have to stay the course when things are feeling good. Oh my gosh. I do want to ask you so obviously Hot Topic COVID the COVID vaccines. I have. I hear, you know, from other people around me about cardiovascular issues, blood clots. What are your feelings on that? What do you want to say? Kind of on that for anyone who's afraid to get that shot? Or is reading articles or studies about cardiovascular issues or blood clots? If you could just speak to that, from your experience a little bit, I think that would be helpful.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
So I think I will write very transparently, like on this topic. I mean, in the beginning, we were scared to write every now and then. I don't want it to be like, Oh, they were scared, they're doctors. So get the vaccine, no, but you know that something new and something out, I'm a human being like, obviously, we're going to be scared. And we're also scared to get COVID. It's kind of like a double edged sword. So for me as a physician, and so on in health care, they didn't force us to get the vaccine or anything like that, especially like, in the beginning, it was more so because it was still kind of trial, then two, it was more So here, you have access to this, this is a way that you can protect yourself, these are the studies that have been done. It's so and so percent effective. So I was like, Okay, well, that's a pretty good percentage for me to think about doing the vaccine, instead of getting COVID, right, because it was going to be one of one of the two options, the likelihood of me getting COVID would be very high, because we're an ICU, and we're seeing these patients. So having the vaccine once I got it, and I didn't really have side effects. It kind of gave me a sense of relief. But I felt that I could go see these patients and not have to worry about my safety or my family safety as much. So I think that was really the major thing for why I got it. Now other people will be like, Okay, well, you don't know the long term effects. But we don't know the ones who are affected by anything we do, right? A plastic water bottle people drink from doesn't go on to reflect the cocaine they do on Saturday. And we know the long term effects of that there was the city to do that. So or like smoking cigarettes, like we know lung cancer, same thing. So it's like, if we're really going to put it head to head, then the people who say that should be the healthiest people on the planet. Now at the same time, if you don't want to get the vaccine, I also understand it, you don't have to, but then you have to do your due diligence. So other people don't get in trouble, right? If you're not getting vaccinated, and you're out there, and you're doing whatever you want to do. And then out of nowhere, these variants come out. That's why these variants happen. Because we're out there doing whatever we want, we're not vaccinated. So someone else is getting a super strain of COVID. And then that's how this turns into a problem where all of us now have to get boosters probably. So it's kind of like, when you think about whether you want to get the vaccine or not, don't only think about yourself, think also about the people around you and who may affect you if you don't care about the person across from you, because you don't know that that's fine. But do you care about your grandfather, your grandmother, your aunt, your uncle, your mom and dad, those are the people you need to think about? So that's my take on that.
Kristen Rivenbark
Thank you.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Adelynn maybe wants to jump in?
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
I think you've got that one.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Right. Well, it's very quick, honestly, um, in terms of the class, it was with Johnson and Johnson, right? And how many cases was it? I want to say what six to eight It was a while ago. So I don't really remember. But it was out of like 7 million doses. Only 16 people got those classes. Now. I also think it's like, with the vaccines in general, their side effects. It's a form, you know, it's an injection, it's like any type of injection, you go and get a cortisone shot, it would be the same thing. There are side effects, right. You can have a localized infection like cellulitis, you can have fever, whatever, like I had a reaction to HPV vaccine, I have no reaction to COVID. So it's, that's the thing that people need to realize it's amplified more so because it's COVID. You know, so, like, get super excited on that topic. And but if you really put it head to head, all of these vaccines have very similar side effects for the most part. Now, the other thing is what's happening now with microcode itis. Yeah, it's a side effect that initially when I first heard about it, I actually knew someone. And they told me that they knew someone who got that and I was like, Well, you know, what's actually possible? And they're like, Oh, well, they're saying there's no way it's possible. I mean, no one could say there's no way it's possible that I didn't come from the vaccine, right. It's the same thing that we could say about the illness as well. But then, it came out that this is a side effect of myopiaitis and all that and even pericarditis with the virus itself. And the reality of it is there's always going to be exceptions to the rule. Most of us will be fine. But yeah, do you think that you're going to be that one in a million that this happens to if that's kind of also what it comes down to knowing your history, knowing your family history, and thinking understanding that I'm less likely to have that happen to me
Dr. Samantha Gelman
That one case isn't going to make or break whether I should get it because we also don't know the long term effects of COVID, except for lung fibrosis and that sucks. So yeah,
Kristen Rivenbark
you know, I appreciate that I always laugh I had a boyfriend when I was in college and he wanted to quit smoking and we both it actually and I was like well you turn really works, it helps you cut back on smoking this is back and like I knew he wouldn't do it because he was like, I don't know the long term effects of Wellbutrin, I was like well the long term effects of a packet Campbell's day, it's gonna kill you.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Just do what you think is right and what's gonna protect you and your family, and I've made decisions in life, period.
Kristen Rivenbark
Yeah, yeah I mean health is so individual and you I mean, no one, no one can force you to do something you know against your will really but there's a lot of information out there, and I, I hope that people, you know, get their information from reputable sources and credible sources and really think hard. Whatever decision that happens to be, and make the decision that's right for that, you know, I think that's the most important when you really understand why you're making that decision and to make the right decision. So thank you for speaking on that, that's such, you know, obviously, a question on everyone's mind and continue fire. Yeah, fire topic exactly what is, are you seeing a trend I you know I hear and read that the trend of the severity of, you know COVID has gone down so people are coming into the hospital, they're not dying. Is that what you're seeing for the most part, because they are vaccinated so the vaccinated, you know, individuals who are getting infected are having less severe symptoms and recovering more quickly.
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
Um, actually it's a mix. But the majority are unvaccinated. In terms of dying. It's definitely less, there are still deaths, I don't want to say that someone with COVID, who's unvaccinated will go into the hospital be there, and then walk out,
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Sometimes that doesn't happen. Yeah, so it's still out there. Yeah. And it's also like a lot of the people who are getting it out, are the younger people because during quarantine nobody was out. So, factor, a bunch of the elderly population, which obviously they get more sick because they have a bunch of conditions, but again there are certain young people who have underlying conditions that they don't know about that we didn't catch it, and you never know what's going to happen so a lot of younger people aren't getting it but you know, everyone's out and about and doing their thing and it was summer and I don't blame them but I be extra cautious and extra careful.
Kristen Rivenbark
Yeah, I have a lot of family in Florida, so I feel the young kids. What tips do you have I know a lot of people are now starting to travel a little bit more they're getting that bug it's fall like fall in New York is beautiful, it's nice to go there when you're from LA, but I see people going to like Capri and to Greece and there's, there seems to be like the edge to get out because we've been cooped up for so long. And yes, being vaccinated, I'm sure it gives people a level of security in not getting sick. What are your tips for keeping your immune system high and supported when you are traveling?
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
Um, so, it comes back to still continuing to take your vitamins. Take your doses of vitamin C, vitamin D, I'm obviously still hand sanitizer, wash your hands, wear masks when you're in public, that's what it really just all comes down to. You have to protect yourself and like Samantha said, the ones that you're around.
Kristen Rivenbark
I've definitely been hearing a lot about increasing vitamin D and zinc and C. I haven't traveled since COVID unfortunately but I was doing that anyway because I always get a cold on the plane like without a vehicle, I always got sick after I was on a plane so those helped me, at least. Yeah. Good to know. I hope everyone stays safe when they are traveling but I get it. The urge is strong.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Oh yeah, we all have that urge like we're knocking it, just
Kristen Rivenbark
be careful. So on to a little bit of a more fun topic, what is your top favorite beauty product or resource?
Dr. Samantha Gelman
What's the skincare Bible that we both read? That's a good resource.
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
I'm like looking around because I had it somewhere, and I don't know, I don't remember the author
Kristen Rivenbark
The Skin Care Bible?
Dr. Samantha Gelman
It's a book, it's super quick and easy to read. It's a nice intro.
Kristen Rivenbark
Okay. I think I've seen it. I think I've seen it and I have a lot of aesthetician friends and I feel like they have it on their shelves.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Yeah, yeah, it's like a starter kit and very easy to read for anybody.
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
That one's really good to start with, for sure. I'm sorry, what was the other part of the question?
Kristen Rivenbark
Beauty product or resource? Since you guys kind of toe the line between medicine and fun wellness products.
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
This. This is the Jack Black lip balm like you can see, I picked it up right away. I always have to have my lips, like, moisturize, something has to be on it there's SPF in it, like, look, I'm already ready to. I have a new one, actually in my mailbox, this is Amazon order number 15 I'm not even joking.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
You know what's funny, my husband uses that. I bought that for him for his face, it has SPF and moisturiser together and it's also bomb.
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
I think this is a men's... I just, this stuff like I've gone through so many like Nivea What else is there, um, actually the Summer Fridays one. The one before they rebranded, that one was good but it's just, it was very sticky so applying it from their previous tube. I just wasn't feeling it. This stuff - magic.
Kristen Rivenbark
Blackjack... Did you say Jack Black?
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
Yes!
Kristen Rivenbark
I'm gonna have to check that out. I love that it's always good when you, when you're buying something, again, like when you actually finish a product you're like okay that was, that was good stuff. I mean, That's a keeper. When you're squeezing out the last little bit.
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
It's insane.
Kristen Rivenbark
I'm sure I'm sure!
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
I just like when the seasons change my skincare like has to change, I noticed that even though I want to hold on to a product I see that something is not working, or it's like if I try a new sample of something my skin starts liking it and it doesn't go with the other products that I'm working with, so it's like I shift up and down, but I actually we recently reported, I'm trying to stop myself because I'm also like attics, like, I'll go on Sephora, I like put a million. I'll put a million things in my cart, and then, like I'll go away I'm like no, I don't need it, because I really don't need it. I already have so much.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Right. Oh, that's crazy. Yeah, so, but whatever we talk about this all the time we go back and forth when you travel your skin changes everyone just needs to find what works for them. And when it works for them. Because your seasons in New York, you have four seasons in Cali yeah you kind of have them they're like mellow four seasons so the skin changes a lot but every time I fly home to New York. My skin is completely different in New York for the three days that I'm there as to change my whole routine. Yeah.
Kristen Rivenbark
It's so true. Oh my gosh, this was so great, thank you so much for being here. Where can everyone find you, Where can they listen to your podcast and learn a little bit more about the products and the advice that you've got,
Dr. Samantha Gelman
So you guys could find this basically on every podcast platform Apple podcast Spotify, I Heart Radio, a bunch of them. And you can also find this on our website www.thesecretscope.com Instagram @thesecretscope, Facebook, Twitter, even though we don't really use it, but if you guys have any questions, concerns, or anything like that, you could always reach us on any of those platforms. You can also email us at thesecretscope@gmail.com
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
Yeah and Pinterest and Tik Tok, I don't know if you said that.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
we're on literally everything!
Kristen Rivenbark
Like I can't keep up. Oh, that's great, thank you so much. So @thesecretscope everywhere, basically? I will also link all this in the show notes and some links and your Instagram, your website and all that good stuff, and maybe some of the products that you mentioned too because I need to go get myself a tube of that.
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
I should have been more prepared for the product, because I'm telling you I have so many favorite ones, and we will do a separate episode.
Kristen Rivenbark
Well, thank you so much. This was such a pleasure. I appreciate you jumping in right afterwards diving in before you go to bed. This has been so much fun. I've been a follower for a long time so it's an honor to have you girls on here and I just love talking to cool intelligent people, so thank you,
Dr. Adelynn Vadrar
We're so happy that you finally have a podcast! Once, we started one, we've been following you as well so very happy for you as well.
Dr. Samantha Gelman
Thank you so much and we hope to do more stuff in the future. We should probably do swap episodes too, so that'd be great.
Kristen Rivenbark
That would be amazing. Let me know anytime I feel like we've got another couple hours at least of things to talk about.
Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed the show! Be sure to rate and review, and also follow along on Instagram @holistic.w.kristen and I will see you soon.
