Maria Menounos Believes Therapeutic Ought to Be A Group Exercise

Maria Menounos isn’t one to go it alone.

When she was identified with mind most cancers in 2017, she wasn’t introverted in regards to the expertise — the leisure reporter and New York Instances bestselling writer made headlines by bringing the world alongside for the journey, opening as much as reporters about her prognosis, therapy, and restoration. The identical factor occurs when she interviews others. On her Sirius XM radio present, Conversations With Menounos, company like speak present host Ricki Lake or Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown didn’t go to to speak in regards to the pink carpet — they have been there to attach on actual points, like dependancy and psychological well being.

Together with her new podcast and YouTube sequence, Higher Collectively, Menounos continues to be connecting, this time by a family-style strategy to podcasting. So it was no shock that, when Maria confirmed up for our interview at a workspace in Los Angeles, she didn’t come alone — she introduced the workers of Higher Collectively alongside together with her. However for the reason that convention room was a bit tight, Keven Undergaro — Menounos’ husband and co-founder of AfterBuzz TV — and producer Stephen Lemieux opted to attend outdoors throughout my interview with Maria and present producer Stephanie Sabraw.

“I really feel like the primary incarnation of (Higher Collectively) was on my Sirius XM radio present,” mentioned Menounos, after interviewing Hannah Hart onstage at Patreon Meeting. “I began veering into well being and wellness after my mind tumor expertise. And I made a decision to simply shift it into a complete podcast the place I’d carry the very best of the very best in each area to assist us get higher at every thing.”

From her penchant to share the mic — most episodes are co-hosted by Undergaro, Sabraw, and Lemieux — to the specialists she brings on the present, Menounos is on a two-part mission: to tug sickness out of the Jungian shadows and into the intense gentle of group, and to tell individuals on essentially the most chopping methods of bettering their lives in all areas.

The podcast, which is being powered by membership by Patreon, brings Menounos along with company that vary the wellness gamut, from reminiscence guru Jim Kwik to nutritionist, writer, and most cancers survivor, Elissa Goodman. And whereas the podcast is essentially the most centered work she’s produced within the well being and medical spectrum, serving to audiences study and develop has been a ardour of hers for the reason that starting of her profession.

“Each time I did tales for The At the moment Present or Nightly Information, and even my leisure information segments, like no matter I might do, it’s at all times in regards to the takeaway,” mentioned Menounos earlier than itemizing the sort of questions that encourage the content material she makes. “What are you going to get? Are you going to get inspiration? Are you going to get motivation? Are you going to get tangible ideas that can show you how to?”

The concept for Higher Collectively got here from a spot of actual trauma for the TV persona. In 2017, whereas she was serving to her mom, Litsa Menounos, get well from an aggressive type of mind most cancers referred to as glioblastoma, she began experiencing unusual signs of her personal, together with slurred speech, complications, and light-headedness, she instructed Individuals Journal. A pair months later, whereas recovering from mind surgical procedure, she was impressed to begin Higher Collectively.

“I really like studying,” mentioned Menounos. “I’m on an infinite journey to study and develop. And earlier than my mind tumor, my mother had her mind tumor — so I used to be searching for information and options for a very long time and from there, Higher Collectively was born.”

Whereas Menounos’ tumor was efficiently eliminated and identified as benign, her mom continues to battle most cancers. On the present, Menounos shares updates on her mom’s therapy and restoration, and by sharing her household’s journey with most cancers, she’s offering an area for viewers coping with their very own points to be uncovered to new remedies, concepts, and to really feel much less alone.

“I’m sharing my journey proper alongside everybody else,” mentioned Menounos. “I’m being sincere about the place I’m. And as embarrassing as it may be at instances to confess sure issues, I’m placing my stuff on the market too as a result of I do know if I do, will probably be simpler for you because the listener to take action as nicely.”

Sabraw mentioned the present’s viewers ranges from youngsters — “women on Instagram who’re like 15 reached out to me about how they take heed to it on the health club” — to people who are a lot older. And, each week, she and Menounos obtain tales from listeners of all ages, lots of whom cope with long run diseases, about how their lives have been improved by one thing they realized on the present.

After I requested Menounos why she thinks the present is affecting so many individuals, she acquired choked up desirous about it.

“I believe that individuals need to be higher,” mentioned Menounos. “I believe life is so onerous; I might cry. Okay, I sort of am. Life is tough, and we’d like assist.”

Because the interview wrapped, we opened the door to a nice shock, Undergaro and Lemieux ready with plates of meals for a gracious Sabraw and Menounos, who’d been so busy that day they’d forgotten to eat. As I mentioned my goodbyes and glanced again on the staff behind Higher Collectively sharing a meal, it appeared rather a lot much less like a enterprise lunch and an entire lot extra like a household dinner.