From Cardiac Arrest to Comeback with Dr. Leo Moore

[00:00:01] Speaker A: Welcome back to now. No opportunity wasted. I'm your host, Angelica Ross, and as always, we're here to take a deep dive beyond the surface of things, to challenge our assumptions and find empowerment in every moment. So let's start and kick today off with our Word for Today from Buddhism. Day by Day Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda Our quote for November 11th sense a sense of being part of the great all inclusive prompts us to reflect on our own place and how we ought to live. Guarding others lives, the ecology and the earth is the same as protecting one's own life. By like token, wounding them is the same as wounding oneself. Consequently, it is the duty of each of us to participate as members of the life community in the evolution of the universe. We can do this by guarding Earth ecological system. See, I got tongue tied for a second there. I think this is a really moving though reminder of our interconnectedness, especially in times of change and challenge. We each have a duty to protect, participate and uplift, especially now as we face the outcomes of this election. So let's talk about it. The election's over and Trump will be our next president. This wasn't just an electoral win either. He took the popular vote as well. And as you know, I shared last week that I was voting for Jill Stein, and now I see so much blame swirling around, from those pointing fingers at trans folks to third party voters blaming everyone but the campaign itself. Kamala Harris lost by such a wide margin that even the perfect swing of third party votes wouldn't have changed anything. So let's keep it real. Blame isn't going to get us anywhere. I know some of you are upset or even angry with me over my vote, but I'm not afraid of the criticism or the anger. As a practicing Buddhist, I've learned to live with anger around me, understanding both its destructive and transformative powers. When focused correctly, anger can fuel positive change. But we need to be clear about where to direct that anger. It ain't at me. Turning against each other only strengthens the system that we're all up against. This election should be a wide wake up call for us to organize, not just during election years, but all the time, against a system of white supremacy that isn't doing any of us any favors. I will continue organizing with Transtech and many other organizations here in Georgia and around the world. So let's step forward with responsibility. We are global citizens and that means speaking up and taking action, not retreating into silence or apathy. We need to amplify our Voices not just against the president but for all injustices that we see. Our responsibility doesn't just stop on election day. It's a daily commitment. So let's rest and then let's rally and let's support each other and let's make the change that is needed. And with that spirit of togetherness, I am honored to be having a special Trans Day of Remembrance, TDOR event that I'll be hosting in my home, very exclusive, very private, with performances from artists like 2am Ricky, Jaya J, Royce hall, and myself. I'll be debuting my new song, when a Star Dies. And like I said, it's an exclusive gathering that will have some in person tickets. I will open up some tickets, some VIP tickets as this is a fundraiser for Trans tech. I will also make it available live stream as a fundraiser for just $5. So you can watch this event at YouTube.com forward slash @miss Ross. That's YouTube.com forward slash @miss ross. More details coming soon. So stay tuned to all my social media, the Instagram threads. I'm on Blue sky now. Listen, just stay tuned. If you're in Atlanta, there's going to be a very audience that we're going to do this for. But please join us in honoring those lives that we have lost this year and really all the previous years. We have lost too many lives to violence, as you have heard. There was so much vitriol from Republicans and the Donald Trump's campaign and the rnc. And when we talk about responsibility, when I talk about responsibility, the ability to respond, I want a campaign, I want a candidate, I want a president who can respond to that kind of hatred and vitriol, not with something that is kind of, you know, on the fence or just, you know, not rocking the boat. So you can get as much support as you can. No be unequivocal about your support across the board for us. I also want to send a heartfelt thank you to Destination Tomorrow for honoring me last week with the Angio Award. It was so beautiful. And presented by my friend and former castmate on pose, Dominique Jackson. I'm just so grateful for being recognized for the work that, that we all are continuing to do in community. Well, those of us that are doing that work. All right, now for this week's interview. Oh, my goodness. This is a powerful one. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Leo Moore, a physician whose journey and dedication is nothing short of inspiring. Dr. Moore's story shows the strength and resilience that comes from community, family support and personal Determination. We talk about everything from his journey as a black man in medicine to his recent battle having cardiac arrest and bouncing back from that. It's just such a beautiful conversation and anchored in our need to prioritize our health, especially as a black community. Take a listen. [00:06:40] Speaker B: Well, welcome to Now, Dr. Leo Moore. How are you doing today? [00:06:46] Speaker C: I'm great today. It's nice to see you. [00:06:49] Speaker B: So I gotta ask you. Well, I got two questions I kind of want to start off with. The first question I want to ask you just, you know, to get it out the way, is, how are you doing right now? [00:07:00] Speaker C: I'm great right now. It's been a busy day. I started my day with seeing a few patients and kind of did some administrative stuff this afternoon. But I've been looking forward to this conversation, so I'm great and looking forward to connecting. [00:07:12] Speaker B: I'm glad. Okay, great. I'm so looking forward to this conversation as well, because. Excuse me. This podcast is no opportunity wasted, which the context for our conversations really are around how people have made the most out of the challenges and the opportunities that have come along with their life path. I've done this because. Mostly because, you know, I get it. People look at my life and they're like, oh, my God. You know, you just do so many amazing things. You're gorgeous. You're all these things, right? But it's really a thing that every life and every person, every. No matter what you look like, what your background comes from, whatever, everybody has challenges. And, you know, it really is what makes a difference is how you respond and how you show up for those challenges. So my second question for you is, I want to talk a little bit about the path to doctor, especially as a black man. You know, you were. You were just named. Was it like, the guy? Wait, you're. You're like the ultimate. The ultimate guy. So talk to me. Let's go back a little bit. In the beginning of just what kind of foundation do you believe that you had that supported you to take this path that you've taken? [00:08:49] Speaker C: Great way to start this conversation. So I'll say that the support system I had started with my family. So my mother is a nurse, my grandmother is a nurse, my aunt is a nurse, and my other aunt is a medical assistant. [00:09:05] Speaker B: Oh, wow. [00:09:06] Speaker C: And then on my. On the men's side of my family, they're preachers. And so I come from a family of servant leaders. I am the first doctor in my family. My family really, you know, nurtured that dream that I had at the age of five, up until I was 25, when I graduated from medical school. So it really started with family pouring into me, family supporting my dream and what I saw for myself in the future and telling me and showing me even that it was possible. [00:09:40] Speaker B: Wow. Yeah. I do have to say that, you know, even though I think as a trans person and just as someone who's experienced sort of the challenges that I did experience in the beginning of my life, one thing that is for sure is that because my parents sort of poured even, you know, even though, you know, I'm saying they didn't stick to all the support. But the initial situation was you can do anything you set your mind to. Education is the key. Education is everything. So how. Because I know there's the one part is the education and the actual, like, doing it part. How believable was this for you? How much, sort of, like, I guess, faith, I would say, did you have in this dream with both the daunting task of medical school of, like, I'm talking about attending and passing not alone, then the other daunting task of financing a, you know, a medical education. Seeing all of that, how did you kind of stay focused on your objective? [00:10:55] Speaker C: So I'll tell you, Angelica, I'm the first doctor in my family, so there was not that blueprint until I met a black physician when I was in high school. So the high school I went to was actually in a majority white area. I was in a program in Atlanta called Minority to Majority, where I was bused from my neighborhood to northern DeKalb county, which was a predominantly white area. And at that high school, there was a hospital right nearby there. And I took this class that paired me with a doctor there who happened to be a black emergency medicine physician. And it was the first time in all of my years of wanting to be a doctor that I actually saw someone who looked like me, who is a doctor and was a doctor, you know? And so once I saw him, which was around the age of 16, so from around 5 to 16, it was just this dream kind of floating in the ether. When I saw him, the dream crystallized because I realized this actually can come to pass. This can come to fruition. I can become this doctor, you know, and I can impact my community and serve my community. Because, look, I'm looking at another black man who looks like me who's doing this every day. And not only was he just an emergency medicine physician, which is not even adjust to become a physician. [00:12:25] Speaker B: Right. Of course. I'm sure that's a Pretty heavy situation. [00:12:28] Speaker C: But he also became chief of staff for the hospital. He was a leader in his community. He had a beautiful family that he loved and supported, you know, So I got to see what it could be like for me to be a black man in the profession and living a life of service, of love, of joy, you know, which is something that I needed to see to say, I'm going to do what I need to do to make this happen. [00:12:56] Speaker B: So I. So you said you. It was a. It was a program. Minority to majority. Is that what it. [00:13:03] Speaker C: M to M for short. [00:13:07] Speaker B: I want to talk about that for a second. I kind of want to pause there for a second, because is that. Is that program still running? Do you know? [00:13:15] Speaker C: I don't think the program is still running. I think they ended it a few years ago. [00:13:19] Speaker B: Yeah. The reason why I ask is because I feel like there has been a shift in our country with obviously the funding for programs like that. And I just can't help but sit here and think, like, maybe how important that one experience was. Not saying that maybe that was like, you know, to claim for the whole thing. But, I mean, I'm sure, like, coming up as a young person, that meant a lot to be able to have access to that. And the fact that we're seeing less and less programs like that, we're seeing more rollbacks on dei. We're seeing really. I think I really see it as this. You see this investment in our culture, not being educated, you know what I mean? And kind of like, look over here. Isn't this shiny and fun and entertaining and what have you? And we're seeing less and less of this. And so when you get into the ranks and here you are, you know, with your colleagues, you know, I'm a doctor just like y'all. A doctor. Were you. Did you feel like the question I want to ask is, like, the experience for black doctors within white institutions. The question I want to ask. I'm being very much like. I'm just being very specific about this, because I guess my question to you is, how has it been for you? How's the experience been for you? Navigating now as a professional, as a doctor who has studied, who knows what, you know, who has the credentials behind your name, but still has to navigate through institutions that may not value the knowledge you went and got? [00:15:20] Speaker C: You know, that's a great question. I also want to go back briefly to what you said about DEI and how a lot of those resources are being pulled back. Another resource that really helped me was The Georgia Hope Scholarship. So it was a scholarship program that if you had a 3.0 GPA at the time that you graduated high school or even throughout college, then you would get free tuition to public universities. So it was free tuition and a book allowance, and they also paid your fees. And so when I graduated from high school, I had a 3.2 GPA. I was not the exceptional student from the beginning. And I think that's something that's very important for people to know, is that many of us come to medicine and come to our careers from different starting points, right? Like, for me, you know, from the 9th grade up until about the 11th grade, my GPA was like a 2.5 or so. I read Ben Carson's Gifted Hands and read his story about, you know, coming up in Maryland and how, you know, his mom couldn't read and how she would push him to go to the library and read books and write book reports and how he learned to. To read and to study and became this neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins. And I thought, well, his mother couldn't read like my mother can read. As a professional, I have everything I need. I can be disciplined. I can do this. And I literally saw my GPA go from a 2.5 for sophomore year fall semester to a 3.5 spring semester after reading that book during Christmas break. And so, you know, the discipline one, you know, and the inspiration, too. And as you mentioned, those resources that I think are so important that are being pulled back from us were key on my journey. But as far as, you know, being a physician and having credentials, xyz, one of the things that has helped me along the way is I went to historically black medical school. So I went to the Morehouse School of Medicine for medical school. And so I got to learn from black doctors and other doctors of color. Like, I got to learn from a doctor who became the director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health. Like, I was learning from black physicians who had learned at huge institutions who, you know, fought for us to have spaces there and to create a nurturing environment for us at the Morehouse School of Medicine. So I felt so blessed and so fortunate to have trained at a place like that that gave me such pride and confidence in what I had learned, so that when I had to step into other environments where I was not the majority, I felt confident in the knowledge that I had. And I knew how to take care of people who look like me. I knew how to take care also, you know, of people who come from, you know, harder backgrounds and rougher experiences and situations and have been marginalized, you know, and it just really helped me to double down and recommit to my purpose in medicine, which I think it's so important in whatever profession you're in to figure out your purpose in that profession, you know, like. [00:18:57] Speaker B: Well, you know, talk to me about that for a second because I want to go back to what you said about being able to talk to our people, you know, being able to. What does that look like in a time of, say, for instance, like Covid, where there was so much misinformation going around and you have, as black people, you know, we have, I think, a very understandable mistrust of the medical industrial complex and just some of the things that they will do and experiment on black bodies without letting a single soul know, you know, without us even knowing about it. So how do you, what does your conversations look like trying to get, I guess, black, our community, to have faith in the medical system, especially with you being a part of it? [00:19:50] Speaker C: Well, first off, for me, it's establishing commonalities, it's. And truly understanding who that person is and answering the questions they have. Because honestly, Angelica, I find the challenges that doctors are talking at people, not talking with them, and not just doctors, other healthcare professionals as well. For me it is a conversation, it is an exchange of ideas. Even as your physician, for example, I recognize that my job is to give you the risks and benefits and for you to make the best decision for yourself. So as long as my patients and the people I talk to in the community know that I am coming at this, just trying to give you the best information that I have, the most up to date, the most evidence based information, and you make the best decision for yourself. I walk away from that conversation regardless of what decision they made, knowing that I did my job, knowing that I did my part. [00:20:47] Speaker B: One thing that, you know, comes to mind as I look at you. You know, a lot of times people judge by what we see. And you seem like a smart, intelligent, able bodied person who, you know, obviously, you know, being black in America, you've had some challenges through, through, through your journey, but nothing like what I heard or read that you went through. Just last year in 2023. Let me look at it again. They said that you. [00:21:26] Speaker C: I went into cardiac arrest and. [00:21:30] Speaker B: Okay, so one, how are you doing now? And two, talk to me about what it looked like to go from that moment to sort of believing, understanding and working towards rebuilding, you know, your life after an experience like that, because that could shake a person. [00:21:57] Speaker C: Well, one thing that I will say that I'm grateful to God for is that there was already that discipline in my life in regards to how I eat, that I exercise very regularly, that I'm truly living the life that I tell my patients and community to live. And so that actually helped me. Because now I'll tell you a bit about the story of what happened, Angelica, because then that will also help to kind of frame this part, because I'm. [00:22:22] Speaker B: Sitting here wondering how someone at your age who said, who is mindful about what they eat and what have you, experiences cardiac arrest. [00:22:32] Speaker C: Yeah. So I went in for an elective procedure and I had actually already had all of my. A pre surgery workup. I had an ekg, it was normal. I had a chest X ray, it was normal. I had all my blood work, it was normal. And so I went in for a surgery that they had never had anyone go into the ICU after this surgery. So, you know, they. They just knew, oh, he's going to be fine. Like, he's at peak health. He's great. So when they went to do an incision into the right side of my chest, they had to pump some CO2 or carbon dioxide into the left side. And when they did that, my heart rate plummeted from about 80 beats per minute to zero. And they immediately went into CPR on me and I was in cardiac arrest for 9 minutes and 25 seconds. [00:23:29] Speaker B: Wow. Do you think about that? I know you think about that. 9 minutes and 25 seconds. Just as, like, I'll say this. The way that I look at my life, there's been moments in my life, there was a moment in my life, trigger warning for those that are listening, I'm going to talk about suicide a little bit. But, you know, there was a moment when people know the story. I talk about the time that basically When I was 16 or 15 or 16, my mother asked me to commit suicide. She was like, either you do or I do, because I can't live with a child like you. And so, you know, there was an attempt at that time. And so I just remember being on the verge of my life, you know, it going one way or the next. And one thing I can't help but think about is for me, I try to knock the poison out of people's hands that helps them to deteriorate from the inside out. You know, less about what other people are saying and doing to them and more about the fact that I am now dying from the Inside out because I've ingested this poison about what my life is. And so from that moment forward, I knew, and I guess you looking back in hindsight, wow, like, had my life not continued, the ripple effect of my life would not have happened. Can you talk to me about what has been the ripple effect of your life from that moment? [00:25:13] Speaker C: That is such a great question. So the ripple effect for me has been one. I realized that my purpose on earth was not done 9 minutes and 25 seconds in cardiac arrest and to be revived. It made it clear that there was more that God had for me to do on this earth. So that was number one. Number two was being able to show people and share with people that although you may not have a cardiac arrest, and I hope you don't have a cardiac arrest, you could deal with a divorce, a car accident, a mental breakdown, whatever it is, the more that we prime our body to be ready to react and to heal from those situations, the more likely we are to be able to recover. I'll tell you, Angelica. So the next morning after the cardiac arrest, when the surgeon came in, he saw me sitting on the side of the bed, already sitting up, eating breakfast. I was holding myself up, eating breakfast. The day after a 9 minute and 25 second cardiac arrest. An hour or two later, I had the nurse walk me down the hall so that I could show them that I'm fine. Because my mother had flown into town from Mobile, Alabama overnight. She wanted me to stay in the hospital. She did. I mean, she made it happen, like, and, you know, of course there's a layover from Mobile, Alabama, right? But she made it happen. And so she wanted me to stay in the hospital. But I was clear that this is not going to happen to me again. I need to go home and rest. I can't rest in the hospital. Anyone who has stayed in the hospital knows that when you're in the hospital, you know, they've got the IV in you, they've got the blood pressure cuff on. You hear beeping and dinging and people talking outside of your room. Like, I knew that I couldn't stay in the hospital, right? And so I had to prove to them that I could go home. So I went home. I was able to prove to them, and they didn't send me to the regular floor. They sent me home. I was discharged. And then the next day, I told my mom, let's go for a walk to the corner store. So we go for a walk to the corner store. The next day I told her, let's Go a little bit further. Let's try to do a mile. [00:27:33] Speaker B: A mile. [00:27:36] Speaker C: We went for a mile walk. By that point, mom is like, you seem to be better. I'm like, mom, I'm good. That third day I started lifting weights. [00:27:51] Speaker B: Was there something in your. Was there something in your body? I feel like you were listening to your. It sounds like you were listening to your body and the cues you were taking, you know, but. Okay, I think that this is always such an interesting conversation and spectrum because I think there's a difference between maybe you listening to, saying, I'm listening to my body and someone else who is listening to the conditioning of their body in the sense of what their body has been conditioned to and what feels comfortable. So I know my body. I know this is what have you. But I think without the basic education that America has been trying to give, you know, the youth, just about biology and your own basic biology and how to pay attention to when your body is saying something. Talk to me about the relationship or the. Almost like the line between you taking control of your, you know, health in a way that says, I know what's best and taking medicine now. And I want to say this, this is a little bit outside, obviously your, your. This experience we're talking about right now with you. But what I. I'm getting at is, I think, say, for instance, with various things from therapy, like mental health issues to actual physical health issues, we've learned a lot about stress, diet, just environmental issues, just a lot of different things. Where for you is the line or the balance between personal, sort of personal leadership in your health and I guess, giving way to medical, you know, having to take medication, you know, that's a great question. Want to go, like alternative health sometimes. Sometimes people like, I don't want to take no Advil. I'm not taking no Tylenol. I don't even take nothing, you know. So what is, what is the balance? [00:30:11] Speaker C: That's a good question. And I do think that the balance is going to depend on the. On the person. I will say, but the first thing I always tell people, pay attention to your body. Our bodies tell us when something is wrong. Our bodies also tell us when we may be pushing it too hard. Like, I know, for example, if I've been working hard for a few days, all of a sudden around 8pm My body's like, up, time to shut down. It's time to go to bed. You know, our bodies have a way of showing us and telling us, but we have to be in tune with it and we have to listen to it. So in my case, I knew that my body was telling me, you can go a little further. But I also knew that if I felt anything abnormal, I could sit down, I could stop. You know, as far as medication is concerned, I take the same approach. Pay attention to your body, but know that there are some diseases, some conditions that you have to actually take medication for. [00:31:10] Speaker B: Like, it's not even an option. [00:31:11] Speaker C: It's not an option. It's not an option. And that there are some mental health conditions that people genuinely and deeply need therapy and medication. Sometimes it can just be therapy. Other times it needs to be the combination. But what I want people to be open to is recognizing that you can do some of those alternative therapies and Western medicine therapies together. It does not have to be either or. Like, no one is telling you that you have to choose, that you have to, you know, put away your practices. If it's meditation, if it's yoga, if it's acupuncture, what have you, if it's Tai Chi, you know, no one is saying, put those things away. We're saying, let's put together a plan that is fully, like, holistic and takes care of you in all of these aspects. Because for me, it's about a person living their longest and healthiest life. So how can all of these tools complement that so that you can live your longest, healthiest life where you're thriving, able to spend time with family and friends and do the things you love for as long as possible? [00:32:19] Speaker B: Okay, so all of that sounds great, right? It all sounds great. But I want to ask you this. What are your thoughts on between the work that you're doing, the vow that you've taken as a doctor to serve people, and where the political landscape is currently with healthcare access? [00:32:47] Speaker C: I will tell you that that creates an uphill battle for me every day, and it creates an uphill battle for my colleagues across the country every day. [00:32:57] Speaker B: How so? [00:32:58] Speaker C: How so? Well, okay, so I will start with Prep Access, thankfully, because I'm here in California and, you know, Medi Cal or Medicaid was expanded. You know, we don't have as many challenges with that. But even when I think about the COVID vaccine, now that all the COVID vaccines have been commercialized, they have to be purchased. And if there is not a budget to purchase them for people who are uninsured or underinsured, then those people don't get access to the vaccine. And we know from the data, for those who are listening, that the vaccine greatly decreases the risk of hospitalization and death, which are our two main concerns. I want to keep you out of the hospital, and I want to keep you alive, you know, and then when we think about abortion access, right, when we think about reproductive rights across, across the country and women and people who can get pregnant having a right to choose, you know, that is another major challenge that we see that makes it hard for people to make the best decisions for themselves. And so every day it's an uphill battle. Every day it is a fight, but it's one that we all signed up for, quite frankly. When I decided to be a doctor and went through training in Georgia, I knew that there were going to be these types of fights. In fact, Angelica, when I was in medical school, they almost closed down Grady Hospital. They almost closed down the major trauma one teaching hospital where so many black and brown folks go for their care. Like we were outside of Grady, protesting to keep Grady open. So from the beginning of my medical school journey until now, there has always had to be a level of advocacy because I always knew what was at stake for our people and for people who need our services if they were not available. [00:34:56] Speaker B: How did you. So speaking of the advocacy, how did you. So I got into HIV advocacy work in high school. I remember there was this after school program, and I, you know, I don't even think I wasn't even out as anything at that time, but it was just more so, just like it was an after. Nobody had to be out. It was just after schools program, talking about hiv, you know, prevention and all of that. You know, there's so much misinformation, again, I think, you know, within our communities, would you say? Because I feel like we are dealing with a lot of different health challenges when it comes to trying to eradicate and trying to really manage, you know, HIV in this country. But to me, it kind of seems like HIV is less of a threat as misinformation is, because I feel that, like, I didn't know until I knew. And I remember back maybe 10 years ago, I was dating a guy that was HIV positive. And that's when I got my sort of real education around things. And because I liked him and I wanted, you know, to date him, and I had to get over my ignorance about the situation and understanding what it means to be undetectable, understanding what it means to keep myself safe, you know, but also, you know, I'm just gonna put this on the table because we're just having this conversation, but, like, basically, I'm Gonna give some layers to this, is that, you know, at the time I was dating this guy, he was a very handsome, very attractive, very tall, bodybuilder type, you know, white man. And with all those things I just named comes a lot of privilege. Oh, Utah girls are lining up, you know, or whatever, or, oh, you're muscular. And all these. [00:37:07] Speaker A: All these privileges. [00:37:09] Speaker B: And I remember when we first started dating, he told me when he disclosed to me that he was HIV positive, it was like, I also was disclosing to him that I was trans at the time or whatever. But, you know, and just also, number one, realizing we all have something to disclose, number one. But secondly, what was communicated to me in that moment was I feel like dating. It seems like dating is such a game of privilege, and our preferences are so wrapped up in social conditioning and privilege and all kind of other things that when your situation and circumstances change, it's not that your preferences has changed. Is. [00:37:53] Speaker C: Is. [00:37:53] Speaker B: Is just that, you know, now he's realizing the privileges that he didn't have, that he had before were no longer there. And so as. As we're, you know, dating, there's this disclosure, information, respect. There's this kind of thing of not just taking every girl and doing whatever you want with it. So it's almost like in my experience, dating him, I would have to say afterwards, was that he was one of the most respectful men I've ever dated. He was the most. One of the most honest men I've ever dated. He's one of the most man who's ever cared for me in such a way and cared about my health and cared about certain things. And I saw the way he cared about his own health. So I say that to say that I feel that these conversations we're still having within the black community and at large feel to me like sometimes more of a threat. The misinformation is more of a threat than the actual virus because we are finding ways to deal with it this these days. [00:38:54] Speaker C: Angelica, first, thank you for sharing that story. That was beautiful to hear about that relationship and to hear about how respectful, how caring, how loving he was. Right? Just beautiful to hear about that. Thank you for sharing. [00:39:08] Speaker B: Yes, it was amazing. Because I want other people to, you know, I. And honestly, as a black trans woman, I have stepped so far outside my box, let me tell you, because the girls know I'm dating a whole woman right now. I'm a whole lesbian. But the thing is, is that I was not that before. I was like my. But it literally had to. It's it's decolonization. It's so much stuff. And to me, what was a game changer was me being equipped with information, period, about myself and about the lies that the world told me. [00:39:41] Speaker C: So two things I agree with you about the misinformation. I also want to name stigma, because I think stigma is huge, is pervasive. It affects every aspect of hiv, from HIV testing to the denial that can come along with HIV diagnosis, the shame that comes along with HIV diagnosis, the desire not to be on treatment because you don't want anyone to know or to find out that you're taking medication, the failure to disclose or discomfort with disclosure as well, because of all of the stigma that is with HIV and the fact that that stigma keeps people from dating and connecting with people who are living with HIV because they don't want to be attached to that stigma. I think it's more the fear of the stigma and the shame associated with that than it is, oh, I might get hiv. Because as you mentioned and as has been said many, many times, people know that people who are on treatment are unable to pass it on. Many of the times, people know that and they still choose to say, oh, well, I only want to be with someone who's clean. Words that we need to completely strike from the lexicon. Like, it needs to be out of our vocabulary, clean and dirty, you know? And so I think that stigma is huge. And until we address that, we're not going to see our numbers decrease. We're not going to be able to end HIV without ending HIV stigma. And I think it really takes more conversations that, quite frankly, people who are HIV negative are having with their friends, with their family. The burden should never be on people who are living with hiv. It absolutely has to be championed and taken on by people who are negative, because for some people who are living with hiv, just living with it every day is the burden, is the stress, you know? And now you want those people to also turn around and advocate. You want those people to also have to publicly disclose. I think that all of that is a choice that that person should make, but it should never be the burden on them to end the HIV epidemic in this country and around the world. [00:41:54] Speaker B: Now, speaking of your heart, is it on the market? Oh, listen, when they laugh. When they. Listen, listen, y'all. Y'all hear it when they laugh for a long time before they answer the question. You know, it's something. What's going on? [00:42:13] Speaker C: I mean, this heart is completely on the market. [00:42:16] Speaker B: Oh, good, okay. Because, listen, the reason Why? I asked because you are black, handsome and a doctor. Let me tell you, it's a lot of people out there looking for that. It's a lot of people out there looking for that. [00:42:31] Speaker C: They better come correct. [00:42:32] Speaker B: What are you. Well, that's why. Wait, listen. We about to get it correct right here because we need to know what it going to take to land a black doctor. Not a black. No, excuse me, not any black doctor. This black doctor, Dr. Leo Moore. What are you looking for? What does it take? What do you look for in a partner or in someone that you would date? Where are you at right now? Are you open to that? What are you open for? [00:42:56] Speaker C: You know, that's such a great question. I. I don't get asked it often. So let me see what is important to me? I will say one of the things that's most important to me is someone who has their own passion for something that is very important. Because, you know, I am quite a driven person. I'm passionate about the things that I'm doing. It does not have to be that, you know, he's passionate about the same things that I'm passionate about. But have something that you're interested in, something that drives you, but also someone who's thoughtful and pays attention to detail. My love languages are quality time and acts of service, you know, so someone who, like, they value time with a partner and they think about how to make life easier for me in the same ways that I'm going to think about how to make life easier for them. Someone who knows who they are. That is also very important to me because, you know, if someone is trying to find themselves and they connect with me, I'm very clear and sure on who I am and the direction that my life is going. So I want to be with someone who is secure in who they are. That doesn't mean you're not open to growing together, that you're not open to evolving. But knowing who you are, knowing what you stand for, knowing what you will and will not deal with, not allowing yourself to be easily swayed by the opinions of others, all of those things are really important to me and a partner because I'm not just looking for a passenger. I'm looking for a co pilot. [00:44:33] Speaker B: Y'all heard that, right? Listen, and, and I, I'm hands down the same way. Like, I pretty much, you know, amen over here in this. In the corner over here. Because I've been. I have been praying because, listen, as. Especially as a trans woman who can snatch her hair back and look like, you know, the sexiest vixen on the planet. Whenever I want to, you know, a lot of people will get me twisted as just this. That's where I'm at, and that's what I'm selling when obviously, I'm so much more than that. Obviously I'm selling much more than that. But. And to. For me, spiritual spirituality, my Buddhist practice, or just people having a spiritual compass, like, they don't even have to practice the same thing. But just having a spiritual compass. Compass is extremely important for me because for me, I see that as another container of health. Because just like mental health and physical health, for me, spirituality is kind of like the core of really just like, we have the heart at our center. I feel like the spirit is at the center, too, because if that thing gets damaged, a lot can happen when your spirit is damaged. What does spiritual health look like or sound like to you? [00:45:46] Speaker C: Spiritual health? For me, it is at the center of everything I do. So I'm glad that you mentioned that, because even from kind of starting my day with prayer to also just going through the day and affirming myself, I have this thing where every day, at least one time of the day, I'm going to tell myself, I'm proud of you. There is something that's going to happen, and I'm going to be proud of myself. It could be. It could be that I got up early enough to not be rushed throughout the morning, or it could be that I had a really difficult meeting and that I kept my composure. Whatever it is, I'm going to have something that I'm saying that I'm proud of myself for. It is very important to me that as I'm walking through my life and through this journey, that the person I'm with have a strong moral compass and that they have some sort of belief system. You know, I know that my mother would love for me to say, oh, well, he definitely needs to be a Christian as well, you know, like you are. I know she would love for me to say that, and I know that alignment could help, but I am open to learning, you know, another person's spiritual compass, if that is what works for them, and being. Being very happy with what I believe and who I am, if that makes sense. [00:47:09] Speaker B: No, that does make sense. And I am very proud of you, my brother. I am very proud of you because, you know, you talk about your parents, you know, wow, you know, just being so supportive and loving, but you also talk about, you know, having this spiritual foundation. And so I'm wondering What the picture looked like for you coming up and maybe coming out as a black gay man in that kind of a household. How did you get to the place that you are now in your family? [00:47:42] Speaker C: Well, I will tell you that it was not easy because, you know, growing up in a spiritual household in Mobile, Alabama, and then in Atlanta, Georgia, with a grandfather who was a pastor of a church and my mother, who was not yet a minister but is now a minister, it was. It was tough. And I was around the age of 25 when I came out to my mom. So, you know, further along, I was already in residency. I was living in New Haven, Connecticut. I did my residency at Yale University School of Medicine. And so I was there. And I remember she asked me, because I was really cagey about that information, because I had grown up being the golden child and being the child that everyone was looking. [00:48:34] Speaker B: Baby, I bet you they saw all their dreams, and I bet you you was going. Baby, you was going to be bringing home in babies. They had envisioned the wedding, the college thing. I mean, you. I could see it. [00:48:47] Speaker C: So I held on to it as long as I could. But I went off to residency on purpose because I wanted to finally be in a place where I could live as myself fully. You know, there's something about growing up in a place and then this deciding that I have to be fully myself and being around people that you went to church with, the people you went to school with, and feeling like instantly you're put back into that childhood, you know, frame of mind, and they think of you as that little boy, you know, or that little girl. Right. But you're a totally different person now. And so every time I feel like I'm put back in a box. And so I needed to move away to be able to introduce myself as myself, to be able to come back home and come back to family and friends and say, this is who I am. And so when I came out to my mother, it was not an easy conversation, you know, and we both went to therapy. [00:49:48] Speaker B: Your dad is, as your father. Has he. Did he have a response or. [00:49:54] Speaker C: Unfortunately, my dad had passed away when I was in college. [00:49:58] Speaker B: When you were in college. So, again, the reason why I'm. The. The reason why I'm asking it. And if I'm saying too much or asking too much, you let me know. Be like, angelica, come on, girl. But listen, what I'm. What I really want to get to here is you've mentioned not probably one, but two now and three things. Things that can be a little bit Too much for one person to bear while trying to go through college, stay focused on the things that they're doing. So one just congratulations. Because, you know, in Buddhism, we always say, when we hear someone has a challenge in their life, a big challenge, we say congratulations. Because we know that on the other side of whatever the challenge is, if you don't give up on yourself, is experience, is wisdom, is strength, is, you know, fortitude, is resilience, is a lot of different things. So, you know, I appreciate you saying that just because, again, so many people go through similar experiences. They lost their parent while they were in college, or they lost their parent during a major thing, and maybe that was something that turned, you know, the car for them, whereas, like, they couldn't finish their objective or finish their dream. I know. I just know. Were you able. So you were in college, you were like. So you were early 20s. You hadn't come out yet. So. But. But you got to. And this is what I love about not. But what I'm saying is, is that. So you hadn't come out yet, but how did your father talk to you, treat you? [00:51:42] Speaker C: You know, growing up, he was so loving. He was so proud of me, like, you know, getting me my first car, really, when we were able to spend time together, you know, it was always just beautiful time. And he always was just nurturing and supportive and proud. And you could tell that, like, I have so many memories of him that I'm so grateful I have them, you know, because now it's been over 10 years since he passed, right. So I don't get new memories with him. So that means I go kind of deeper into the memories that I do have. Right. And the beauty of that is that I discover memories that I hadn't even tapped into. You know, things that. That I'm like, oh, well, I remember when I was a kid and Friday nights my dad would have all of my cousins and over, and we would watch scary movies, and he would, you know, make us popcorn and homemade chocolate chip cookies, and we would all sit. And I'd sit in his lap and I'm eating, and I'm just enjoying the moment with him and with my family, you know. So the beauty of it is that I've gotten to go deeper into those memories, and I'm always reminded of how much he loves and loved me. You know, I. I dated this guy a long time ago, someone that I still am close friends with and love. And he told me one night, well, one morning when we woke up, he said, leo, I just Want you to know that I felt an energy in this room last night. And he said, I could tell that it was your father. And he said, you know, I woke up a bit and. And it was like I could see that he was just kind of looking over you lovingly and that he was protecting you. And that was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever heard. [00:53:34] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, Listen, I mean, I will say this. You know, I stay open to all the things because I say, you know, as a Buddhist, what we, you know, believe is that we're constantly on this cycle of birth and death and that, you know, even though the body may perish, that the spirit lives on again and again and again and, you know, just comes back in different forms. And so. But there is a way in which. Because the spirit never dies, there's a way in which we can keep their spirit alive, you know, in the. In how we. In the memories, in how we remember and how we bring up their memory, you know, and. And also in how we live our lives. You know, I know that my grandmother. I have this one, my grandmother. Both my grandmothers have passed away. And, you know, one was the evangelical pastor and the other was. She eventually found Christ, but she would cuss a mother out, like, she just. She would teach and she just loved us so fiercely. And there's so many different things she would say, do tell us. Not about trusting. Not about trusting certain people or what have you. And it's just I find myself often invoking their spirit. You know, if my. If my grandma was here right now, she. She say you are full of it or blah, blah, blah, or whatever, or. And there's just ways in which, for me, we're all human. And I know that your mother had to demonstrate her humanity with you, you know, as you came out as she, you know, had to learn to love you through all of these different things. And I know that, you know, that your father loved you point blank period. So, you know, all he would have needed was some space, time and energy, you know what I'm saying, to get through that as well. But now, you know, you get to. You are such a. I'm just. I don't know you. I just met you through this interview and what have you. And I'm so proud of you. Like, I'm just so proud of. And it really has less to do about the accolades, and it really has to do with what you've chosen to do with your life and with your challenges and how you overcame. Thank you for being a model because for black, queer, trans, LGBTQ folks, it's really hard to find a model that that has both been through some things, like we just found out in this interview, but that is also determined to do their best with their life. And that is what you've done. I know you're going to continue to do that. I know your mama's proud. I know your dad is proud. Your mothers are proud, your community's proud. Baby, we are all proud of you, baby. You are doing so good. Seriously. Yes. Gosh, it was very great having you on. And now, so before we go, I want to ask you, in your opinion, what is one or a couple health tips for living in today's environment where you have both environmental issues that might affect your health? When there are our own choices and maybe the government's not cracking down as hard on food regulations and, you know, all kind of stuff. You know, there's all kind of stuff going on. So how do we stay healthy and stay safe? [00:57:35] Speaker A: Can you tell us? [00:57:35] Speaker C: I sure can. I sure can. So my tips are grounded in one of my board certifications, which is in lifestyle medicine. So there are six pillars of lifestyle medicine. So the first pillar is physical activity. So making sure that you are moving your body regularly. So the goal is to ensure that you're completing at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week, a minimum of that, and two days of resistance training. The more the better. And I also like to tell people, move your body, period, even if you don't get to the 150, it is better that you are moving. Every little bit counts. So that's number one. [00:58:21] Speaker B: I need to do that. I'm bad at that one. Okay, So I must start working on number one. [00:58:24] Speaker C: Number two is nutrition. So I want people to eat as many vegetables, as many fruits, as many nuts and seeds. Lean meats, if you eat meat, seafood, olive oil. I am very much on a Mediterranean diet. Have been on that for many years and have found that that's the diet that works best for me. But I challenge folks to figure out which diet works best for your body. You know, not necessarily being on what I'm on, but it's important that most of your diet be plants. Now if you add some meats in there, great. Try to make sure they're lean and have the fatty things here and there, you know, treat yourself to them. Don't get me wrong, but the majority of that diet should be plants and should be fruits and all of those things. So that's number two. [00:59:14] Speaker B: Well, I'm Doing pretty good on that one. That one I'm doing pretty good on. [00:59:18] Speaker C: So the next one is sleep. [00:59:22] Speaker B: Oh, God. Okay. All right. Well. Okay. I'm okay. Okay. Okay. Tell us why it's important because, you know, I'm failing at that one. I think I'm not the only one. I think a lot of America is losing sleep right now. I think a lot of people around the world are losing sleep right now. So. [00:59:37] Speaker C: So I know that a lot of people are losing sleep, but a lot of people are intentionally staying up past the time that they should be sleeping as well because they're like, oh, I'm going to work late, or I'm going to stay up and watch this show or what have you, and I'm going to forego sleep because I have to be up by a certain time to go to work or do whatever. So getting seven to nine hours of sleep has been shown to help extend a person's life. So the goal is seven to nine hours a night. And so I encourage people to have their sleep hygiene. You know, get yourself ready for bed around a certain time. Get your. Get your routine in place. You know, brush those teeth. Floss them, too. Now don't just brush, brush and floss. [01:00:21] Speaker B: Yes. Hello. [01:00:23] Speaker C: Take your medications, all those things. Get in bed, find something to read, low light. Get yourself into a place to go to sleep. [01:00:33] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:00:34] Speaker C: So that's number three. [01:00:36] Speaker B: Is that what. That's number three. [01:00:37] Speaker C: Number four is social connectedness. [01:00:42] Speaker B: Yes, Did. So you're saying that the fact that I love being alone by myself all the time, that's. I should probably, like, get out and touch grass and some. Talk to some people. I'm joking. But, yes, I do get out and talk to some people. But, yes. And now you're not just talking social media, because that ain't. That ain't all the time real. [01:00:59] Speaker C: Yeah. Do you know that one in two people are estimated to be lonely in this country? I've heard that one in two adults estimated to be long lonely in this country. So having a social network, having friends, spending time with your family, whether chosen or biological or both, you know, joining up with people who have a similar hobby, what have you, like, that's so important. Social connectedness. That's number four. Number five, reduction of risky substances. [01:01:37] Speaker B: I heard that. Now listen, I love that you said we're gonna tap on that. I love that you said reduction. Because, listen, for some of y'all, y'all know, y'all need to eliminate it completely because somebody. People. There's some people that can't they know reduction is not even an option for them? They can't even do a little bit. So, but let's. What do you mean by reduction of harm, harmful substances? [01:02:04] Speaker C: So when I think about reduction of risky substances, I think risky substances, looking at what you are currently ingesting and being intentional about decreasing. [01:02:19] Speaker B: Because yeah, no, I think, I think that's a great, you know, I, I've brought more awareness to my body because I even know, Let me not tell. [01:02:30] Speaker C: Myself, no, no, you got so much out of me. It's your turn. [01:02:36] Speaker B: Well, okay, so I'll say this. You know, I am trying to be completely open, especially as I go into representation. I've been in, obviously in community representation, things like that, but I am discovering my career in politics and all of that. And I just believe that if you're going to get into that level of representation, there should be no corner, no stone on top, no stone not turned over. That where you. I don't have anything to hide. I don't have anything that I'm embarrassed about. But I'm an American just like everybody else. I have had to deal with anxiety, deal with so many different. And now, you know, knowing that I have had ADHD all these years, you know, and figuring that out. And so for so much of my life, my way of dealing with my anxiety was smoking marijuana, was cannabis. And for some folks, it's a great thing for anxiety or different things or what have you. But what I didn't know about my situation was that I had layering issues. So it wasn't necessarily that I had anxiety, just anxiety that I was treating. I had adhd. And so the moment I started treating the adhd, anxiety is gone. Like I, I, I immediately saw the anxiety gone. And so I saw myself obviously in a reduction and of needing to, or wanting to even smoke, you know, cannabis. But I don't see anything wrong with that discovery process I just talked about. And yet I would be criminalized, depending on where I lived at, for finding that solution for myself. So what does it look like when you're trying to reduce risky substances or reduce, you know, the things that your body's currently conditioned for while also being criminalized to try to access healthc care. Because, you know, I feel like the pharmaceutical industry for me is one of the biggest thug gangs out there. And they know that people are out here needing a need and they fix, and I say fix of whatever the pharmaceuticals are selling, you understand? I'm saying they know that. And so the relationship between them being the Ones who sell it to you versus you having some autonomy and leadership in figuring that out in a way. [01:05:16] Speaker A: That feels like you're a part of. [01:05:17] Speaker B: The decision making process, You're a part. You're leading those decisions. What does it look like to have autonomy in that space when you're trying to reduce those things? I think part of one of the things I might be thinking is like finding all things to replace that inclination. [01:05:36] Speaker C: Well, I mean, the first thing I think of is based on what you just said around finding the root cause. Because sometimes it's not just the enjoyment of the substance. Many times it's a substitution. It's a replacement, actually, or, you know, something that we're putting there to help self soothe, self medicate. Right. So really getting to the root of why do I feel like I need that substance? And are there opportunities for me to have less of that substance and still feel good, still feel happy? You know, for me, one of the things that I, you know, have done because I love an old fashioned. I'm a bourbon guy. I love an old fashioned. [01:06:17] Speaker B: Yes. Oh, I love a bourbon good. Wolf of reserve. [01:06:20] Speaker C: Yes, I am a bourbon guy. But I realized that when I'm going out, there was a default that the expectation is that because we're going out with friends, because we're going out for dinner, because we're going out to a bar, whatever, you know, that instantly we're supposed to drink. Like, it isn't even that, oh, I want this. It's that this is what we do when we go to these places. Oh, you're going to this day party. Oh, we about to be drinking all day, you know, xyz. Like, it just became that this is what you do. And so what I started doing is deciding before I go anywhere if I'm drinking that day and if I'm drinking that day, I'll have one. If I'm not drinking that day, I'm not going to have it. [01:07:00] Speaker B: That's. I've actually found myself doing that, maybe even like unconsciously where I'm like, okay, today's. That just. I know today's not going to be the day they don't. They're not going to ask me. I'm not even trying to be bothered with that. So. And do we get to. Do we get through all six? Do we get through. We get. [01:07:15] Speaker A: No, you're at number three. [01:07:17] Speaker B: We are six now. Yes. [01:07:19] Speaker C: So stress management. [01:07:21] Speaker B: Oh, God, yes. So, okay. Okay, okay. Yeah. Okay, so let me talk about that for a second. Let's talk stress management. And then I'm gonna let you go. But because I wanted to say really quickly that life is stress. Life is it meaning like, okay, you cannot go from birth to death without experiencing some kind of stress, anxiety, loss, grief, what have you. What does it look like to manage stress while also not trying, like numbing or cutting off your feelings from experience, like, you know, from whether it's denial, whether it's, you know, cutting yourself off of your feelings. What's the balance of feeling, being a human being, experiencing stress and putting a hand on. [01:08:18] Speaker C: Well, I think first is acknowledging and being clear about what you're feeling or trying to be clear about what you're feeling. Because sometimes, you know, we're stressed and we don't even realize that we are operating at a constant stress. Right. And that's what I get particularly concerned about because of the cortisol levels in our body when we are continuously stressed, as you mentioned, everyone gets stressed, but what we want to see is little blips of stress. Not just you're at a baseline high level of stress because that's increasing the risk for cancers and other chronic medical conditions. Right. And so for those who are constantly stressed or who are dealing with stress, I mean, having a therapist I think is so important. Being able to think about how we can actively work to relieve stress. Sometimes it's finding ways to spend less time with people who are contributing to our stress. Sometimes it's being intentional about moving our body after a stressful workday. Sometimes it is incorporating breathing practices in to help you to reset. You know, sometimes it's daily yoga practice, sometimes it's meditation, it's journaling, it's a massage, what have you. It becomes all these built in strategies that you have that help you to actively bring down that stress level. It's an active process. [01:09:45] Speaker B: You know what I love about what you said is because what I learned after a while was it's better to have more than one because you don't want, oh, I constantly go to the whale with this one or with this one. No, sometimes it's tennis, sometimes it's a walk with the dog, sometimes it's recording and making music in my studio, you know, for as long as I want to. Sometimes it's playing at the piano, sometimes it's a good meal, sometimes it's a bubble bath. But if you get like a menu of stress relievers that ain't indica sativa there, you know, listen. No, no, no, you know, as against it. What I'm saying though is we can have another menu, right? We can have another menu of stress relievers that don't even have to cost us half the time, you know, that they don't have to cost money. I am going to ingrain those six pillars into my mind, and I am going to because I've already been trying. I've been talking to various people I've had on this show. Super, Super Nova, Salama hat on. We're talking about health, him and Queen of Fool. I'm, like, trying. I'm trying. And I think sometimes that is a great place to start is trying. I wish that you were my black doctor, but you're not. But maybe you could be like, you know, in just in the. You know, in some kind of sense. You need to get that black doctor. You need to get that. Go ahead up. So I could just kind of get on the email list or just whatever, because I want you to be okay. Thank you so much for just sharing your life and your story with us here. And hopefully someone out there who heard this, identified with something. There were so many gems there from dealing with, you know, family challenges to physical health challenges, to own personal challenges, but yet still never giving up and being able to see your objective through. Thank you so much. This is no opportunity wasted. We will be right back, y'all. All right. [01:11:52] Speaker A: Thank you all for tuning in today. And remember, our work is not done. It's ongoing. So together, let's try to build a world where every voice counts, where every action matters. Before we wrap up, I just want to leave you with this week's Buddhist breadcrumb and circle back to a concept called Isho funi, or oneness of self and environment. Now, I know I tapped on this in a previous episode, but I feel like now might be a good time for a refresher. This teaching reminds us that our environment and our surroundings are interconnected, inseparable. At the most fundamental level, just as we are affected by the world, we also shape it through our actions, our intentions, and our choices. As we reflect on this challenging time, let's remember that protecting each other, the environment, and standing up against injustices doesn't just benefit those around us. It transforms our lives. Our words, actions, even our anger, when directed with wisdom, can create waves of change in our communities and in ourselves. So as we move forward, let's carry a sense of oneness, knowing that in guarding the dignity and lives of others, we're actually truly protecting our own. Until next time, keep pushing, keep standing up, keep speaking up, and keep finding opportunities to change the world for good. No opportunity wasted.