Episode 46: How to Advocate for Your Health with Dr. Renee

Acquania Escarne 0:00

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You are listening to the Purpose of Money podcast, a podcast where we talk about ways to build wealth and create more freedom in your life today. I am your host, Acquania Escarne .

Hey guys, welcome back to the Purpose of Money podcast. I'm super excited today because we have Dr. Renee Matthews. She is a leader in the healthcare industry, who spent the early part of her career as a medical educator and a radio host for a satellite TV show. She is the recipient of a 2013 Friend of Mobile Care Award for her commitment to raising awareness of asthma in her city of Chicago. She's an author, and we're gonna talk a little bit more about her book. She's been previously featured in Ebony, Essence. And as well as a contributor to Good Enough Mother, Essence magazine, Madame Noir and more. I'm super excited to have her on the show today. So we can talk about health, women, and how to take care of our parents. We're gonna have a little bit of tips for you today. And we even have some information on how to get entrepreneurs on the right path with their businesses. So without further ado, I'd like to welcome Dr. Rene, welcome to the show. Welcome to the Purpose of Money.

Dr. Renee Matthews 1:41

Thank you so much for having me.

Acquania Escarne 1:43

Awesome, So I'm super excited because I recently spoke to a dope group of women called the Queen's of capital, which you are a part of, and I wanted to learn a little bit more about your interest in joining that group, because that's how we met. So what are you the queen of capital of what are you masterminding away at doing?

Dr. Renee Matthews 2:03

You know, it's an investment mastermind. So I am just trying to stack my coins and build all my bags, and I'm a single woman and I want to make sure I can continue to take care of myself. And thankfully, my parents did a good job of, you know, taking care of themselves. So I would you know, be able to because of my entrepreneurial endeavors, I'm able to help to take care of them now. But financially, they got that covered. So you know, I'm just trying to pass on and create generational wealth,

Acquania Escarne 2:30

and love that that is my mantra generational wealth is what we're all trying to do here to level up and start where our previous generations left off. So I'm excited that you're doing that. And I want to know more about you. Like what inspired you to become a doctor, is anyone else in your family, a doctor? Or was there something in particular that led you down that path?

Dr. Renee Matthews 2:54

So I was a sick kid, I had severe asthma and allergies, my whole life and so I spent a lot of time in the hospitals. And so I think it probably was just a natural thing because I spent so much time in hospitals. My mom was a hospital administrator. She was the director of respiratory therapy. So when we would have breaks from school, rather than her get a babysitter, we would go to work with her. So I spent a lot of time in the hospitals because I would sit in the hospital when she was working and I just I was always into science and math so they were naturally like well engineering or medicine and I actually did major in engineering, but I always majored in it because I was gonna go to med school, but um, I just I This was my thing. Like, I didn't know what else I was really good at so and I could take the sight of blood and I was like I can do this. Okay, really from a young age. I saw a doctor on TV, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, she was on Good Morning, America, I'm aging myself. And she, for some reason, I was like, I want to be like her. I want to be on Good Morning America. And so I didn't know anyone personally that had done this path. But I was like, I can do it. And so here I am.

Acquania Escarne 4:06

I love it. And you are definitely on your way. If not there because you're on TV, you're on satellite radio. So you are not just helping patients, you're helping people across the world. So I definitely want to learn more about your tips. You know, as black women, we're constantly sometimes told our pain is not pain, it's marginalized, or we're led to believe it doesn't exist. I have a family member who actually had a surgery, told her doctor, she was in pain. And the doctor told her No, that's not possible. You just had the surgery, you're just healing and come to find out she actually was going through the beginning stages of the same issue. And they had never seen that before. But when she insisted, then they finally took a second look and apologized but she had to go through pain to do that. So what are some of your tips on how black women can advocate for their own health? Especially when engaging with medical professionals?

Dr. Renee Matthews 5:09

I mean, the biggest thing is communication. So I, personally, all my doctors are black. And they're not all women, but they are all black. And I think that that is a huge piece, there's been studies done that have shown that you know, black preemies do better when they have a black doctor, you know, their survival and their, you know, their thriving and everything. So there are studies that show that it does make a difference. Now I am the first to say, unfortunately, not all skin folk are kinfolk. But the most of us are very good, and we pay attention. And so if you can try to get a black doctor, and I know that that's not possible, all the time. So I tell everyone, unfortunately, in our, in our culture, we seem to believe the doctors, we hold them in high regard, which is great. But that high regard means that we never fire them, no the doctor works for you. If you in the doctor don't agree, then you probably should go find another one. So you can fire your doctor, just like you go in job interviews, you can go and interview doctors and figure out No, this isn't a good fit, this is a good fit, and find the one that works for you. So the biggest thing is finding a doctor that listens to you. Because just as much as you need to listen to the doctor, because you do need to listen to us. And you know, and you know we do, you know, we did go to school for something, you do need to listen as we also need to listen to you. And if your doctor does not listen to you, because honestly, I feel like it's a team effort. So we are all a part of a team. And we have to kind of figure out what works so that the team wins. So if you're not listening, if you're not listening to your patient, then that's a problem. So I'm really a huge, huge proponent for please communicate, and if the communication is not working, then you should probably find someone else. And most doctors don't have a problem with you getting a second and third opinion. If they do have a problem. There is a problem.

Acquania Escarne 7:11

I like that

Dr. Renee Matthews 7:12

You know what I mean, if they don't, if they feel some way about you asking another doctor, then you should try and figure out well why do they feel that way? Because then do they have something to hide like something's off? Right? So I think it's really comes down to communication. If you have somebody and communications a two way street, people have to listen, and they have to talk. So if they are not listening to your concerns, and I'm the first to say Google is not you know does not qualify you as a doctor. So I understand. And you know, we have a lot of my colleagues are like, oh God, if another one comes in and says, but you know, I understand doing some research, but make sure that they're listening to you. Listen to your complaints, listen to you know, just don't take because honestly, they have said that black women have a stronger pain tolerance, which is why they will pass you off and say you're not really in pain. When if somebody else had said they were in that pain, then they would do something about it. So that is why I think it's so important. And I'm so glad that because of what's happened recently, I have been told by a lot of hospital administrators that things are actually changing. And there is things happening in the hospitals education going on, where hopefully we will be able to have equality when it comes to our you know, our care. But in the meantime, in between time I'm trying to tell you please try to find a black doctor and you can go to black doctor.org. And you can look up black doctors, there's a whole bunch of different directories out there. But I work with black doctor at Oregon, I know that they have a plethora you put in the specialty and city and state of where you're at. And boom.

Acquania Escarne 8:43

I love it. I love it. And I think that's so important. But I appreciate you sharing the insight to the fact that the industry is slowly changing. And hospitals are taking note. And that's important to know too because it makes me feel like there's hope there's there's a transition. Although we cannot eliminate bias because it will always exist. Some people have those short thoughts that come to mind when they see something or think something, we can try to mitigate the impact of it as much as possible and being clear, and what our needs are. So I love that you highlighted the importance of communicating to your doctor and making sure that the relationship is two way they're not you're listening to them, but they're listening to you as that's really important. And so I appreciate that. So I definitely want to talk more about your show because you're a celebrity. You're featured in different places but you have your own show that's broadcasted in Walgreens and 45,000 doctors offices across the US. Tell me more about the topics that you cover on your show and who should tune in.

Dr. Renee Matthews 9:53

So my show is called Out of Office with Dr. Renee that show is in doctor's office waiting rooms. So basically For the most part because I've actually seen it myself when I was at the OB GYN, it was an episode with an OB GYN. When I was at the dermatologist, it was an episode of the dermatologist. So the episodes usually do pertain to whatever doctor you're going to visit and they're really short episodes or like, maybe three five minute episodes, and they touch on a quick topic, but hopefully it's some information that maybe will help you when you're about to go into your visit because obviously, you're watching in the waiting room. We're also on the tablets as well. So while you're waiting for the doctor, you might see an episode two. And really they're just just like I said, little nuggets that hopefully will help you in your visit. I hope that was the mission and and I've gotten lots of feedback that it has been very helpful information. So clearly people did actually pay attention. So I'm happy for that.

My other show is on YouTube The ask Dr. Renae show, and that shows the motivate and inspire you to live the life you deserve. And so I think everyone should watch that because I think everyone needs to be motivated and inspired to live the life they deserve. Let's face it, we this is what I say at the beginning of every episode, we have one life this is not a dress rehearsal. So if you would like to play like you have another chance Go ahead, but this is it. And so, you know I always say if it does not harm you or others do it whatever it is, because what could you lose? But then what could you gain? You know, so my guests event today I had DJ Wiz who the DJ for Kid and Play. Last week we had the lead singer Troop Stephen Russell Hearts we've had D Nice everyone knows about club quarantine now, we've had Lisa Nichols who told us how we are all meant to live an abundant life which goes right along with my favorite hashtag my hashtag is like live like you deserve. And we've had Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child. Next week we'll have Jason Weaver from The Chi but we you know, we have people who I believe that they are living the life they deserve. And I know their stories. And I know that everyone sees you know, I've had guests that are bloggers, I've had guests. Cassandra Cummings has been on the show, because of course she's the head of my I always say she's the head of my money team. My money Coach Drejka who I got her as a money coach when I joined Queens of Capital she's been on. These are people that I know their stories but you don't know their stories. And you know, a lot of people see Cassandra, she has a group on, you know, Facebook with almost 100,000 women's Stocks and Stiletto society. But a lot of people don't know her story. So I brought her on my show so they could hear her story and understand. She knows she's a single mom, she knows you know, and people like huh. They don't know, she didn't come from wealth, she created this. She did this herself. And so same thing, Michelle Williams, she talked about her depression long before she was checking in. She came on my show and she talked about that, you know, and even D Nice he went through a depression period people didn't know that. Diane Valentine, who is wedding planner to the stars, Toni Braxton, Nas and Kelis I was sure I mean tons and tons of weddings. She single parent, she didn't come from money there and she created this, you know, entity that she now has this beautiful brand. So I want people to understand that these people are just like us, you know, and some of them fall far, far worse worse than we ever started. And look at what they've been able to make and look out you know, wonderful their lives are just because they took a chance on themselves.

Acquania Escarne 13:33

I absolutely love what you're doing getting stories out there and sharing it with the world who needs to hear it. I am so motivated by that. That's the purpose of this podcast is to share women entrepreneurship stories and how they're building wealth. I'm so curious though, how did you decide to transition from being in the office working with patients or even in the medical industry to an author and on the screen like was that path to get on TV a challenge for you or was it a natural transition?

Dr. Renee Matthews 14:05

So I never seen I've never seen patients I I went to med school and was like my fallback was I was going to be an OB GYN. My main goal was to do what I do which was to be a medical expert medical correspondent and be I told you I wanted to be on Good Morning America. I haven't made the Good Morning America yet. But I am getting very close. But all the other things before I get to Good Morning America, I never saw that I would have a show that would be seen. You know I literally get a text dm or a message from somebody with a screenshot of my show every week. Somebody seen me somewhere. So I never imagined that I never imagined that I'd be in Essence magazine. I like any other black girl grew up while I read in Essence magazine every month. Same thing with Ebony read it every you know my grandma had every Ebony issue from before my time And look, how did I end up in Ebony so I never saw those things. So, you know, my journey to Good Morning America is great because I will get there one day, but I knew that's what I wanted to do. Of course, I didn't know anyone that did it. So I just created the path and did it myself.

I started out with the satellite radio show. And that was right out of med school. And then I've just been where I actually my my entrepreneurial journey is that I have an entertainment company, Matthews Entertainment Group and Associates. I created that company in 2005. I graduated med school in 2005. I created that company I think two or three months after I graduated med school, because I had met a young lady who I felt had talent and her mom was like I called her mom after I met her and said you know did you guys do? And I just was saying things that were logical to me. I didn't know anything about entertainment, nothing. I know medicine. And she said we can sign a contract and I'm listening to this woman on the other end of the phone. I'm like it contract for what, with who. And so I called my sister was like, Girl, we're in business. She's like what? I said, we're in business, we got to come up with a name. My cousin is our graphic designer, since you said this video as well. My cousin created my logo, as you see, that's my logo back there. My cousin's created all our logos. So he created the logo for our company. He and so we came up with the name Matthews Entertainment Group and Associates. He created the logo, our tagline is Live Big Dream Bigger, MEGA. And she was my first client Her name is Lady T.

Lady T is from Detroit like we are and she was 15 when we met her, and she blew up the joint. She was doing things that are high school, you know, locally in Detroit. Well, I got her to blow up the train. She ended up on the radio regularly in Detroit, and then we went to BET 106 and Park and she blew their stage up twice. Um, so we just, you know, just took her from Detroit to national and like I said, I didn't know what I was doing. But I am a networker. I know people that know people or I know somebody and so I knew somebody and I was like that somebody can help me and it was Mos Def's mom, Umi who is to this day, one of my very favorite people in this whole wide world. I would call her every day. And I'm like, cuz she had already met Lady T. And I actually she wanted me to work with Lady T. But she didn't know I was already working with her was too funny. And so I called her I call her every day I would call her and be like, Okay, what do we do? And now this opportunity, and now what do I do? And what do I do? And I would talk to her and she would help me and I learned the business a lot from her. And then I learned the PR side of things from my friend who unfortunately died in 2019 Jada Russell. Jada was on bridezilla. And when I saw her and bridezilla for some reason I just felt drawn to her like I need to meet her and me and her had a joke or running joke. I was stalking with a purpose. And I ended up meeting her she lived in Chicago, I lived in Chicago and we ended up meeting and we just became very good friends and she actually was the first person to pay me and she literally taught me public relations. But I was a paid intern, apprentice kind of a thing. And she did fashion, fashion marketing and my sister's like but you hate fashion I go but I like Jada and I'm learning I went to so many fashion shows and so I learned and so for Lady T, i did management I did PR I did a little marketing I did everything.

It was me and my sister her mom. Wow. And that was my first client and from Lady T people saw what I did and girl I used to get messages from everybody they could rap or sing because they want this wanted me to do for them. But from Lady T I ended up working with Chico Debarge we did PR for him. I did PR for Stephen Russell Hearts of Troop I did PR for Troop briefly. Um I did booking for Chrisette Michelle. I booked her for some gigs I booked, Camille Wimbush ,unaudiable . I booked her for some stuff. So I worked with some nonprofits and they needed people. And so I booked these celebrities for them. And so I just did everything. And then I didn't want to do that anymore. And I really wanted to push Ask Dr. Renee and so kind of like was like I can I had the contact. I was like I can do this for myself, I think. And it was funny because I sent somebody a message, how do I pitch myself they're like, but you get your clients and magazines. Your clients have been in Vibe and blah, blah. I go but I don't know how to talk about me. And my job actually was eliminated June 24 2013. So I just celebrated eight years. And I had to do it. I'm single and I was like you gotta be real hungry and real homeless. You don't figure this out, or you better go get a job and everyone's like, don't get a job you need to work on your show. And so, Ask Dr. Rene literally, I went from like zero followers, zero likes on Facebook, zero followers on Twitter, and I grew everything to like 400 500% in a year's time. And my Facebook page has a blue check. I'm even verified. So yeah, I just, I worked on it, and it made it happen. And in that first year, I was my I had a video on the Katie Kirk show. I was on Sway in the Morning. And I was on Roland Martin's news one now on TV one. And I literally went from writing for one blog for free to writing for five and getting paid in that first year.

Acquania Escarne 20:46

Yes, so I'm sorry, I have to unpack all of that. That was alot. But it was so interesting. I was just like, and then like she keeps going. And I'm like, what, really. So you, you emphasize a point I tell people all the time, your net worth is your network, or your network, or your net worth, right, because you utilize your network to get one person everywhere. And then you build genuine relationships. So it wasn't, you know, a business transaction situation, you built relationships, you learn skills, you are willing to intern, and then you use that to make yourself a better entrepreneur. I think that's super powerful. And it really resonated with me, and I'm sure it resonated with my listeners. But then you also highlighted another thing that I hear women say all the time, and I'm even a victim of this. We do so much for other people. And then don't think to do it for ourselves. And someone had to push you to promote your own show to get you know to get behind yourself just as much as you were helping other people because you clearly have the skill set you have the success record. And I think that's key too because you're now aware of it you saw when you did it and now you're not doing that anymore and you have blown up successfully I think that's it's just phenomenal. I'm super excited about your success. I'm like cheering for you to hold time I was like yes,yes,yes. Oh my god, I think that's so amazing. So and you pivot you were able to pivot you said I like doing this but I don't want to do this anymore.

Dr. Renee Matthews 22:40

Well, my I had a business coach. Okay, so and she was like, you know, this PR game really well. Why don't you do it for doctors? It's like Oh, so I do have the Twin Docs so I kind of call it one client. Um

Acquania Escarne 22:56

Are they Thetwindoc's on Instagram, or they're just

Dr. Renee Matthews 23:00

The Twin doctors. Yes, they're both there guys.

Acquania Escarne 23:04

Yes, there reels are hilarious. Yes, yes. And they're their stuff. Like I told them to watch what they eat and somebody is like watching themselves eat, but I love them

Dr. Renee Matthews 23:18

Doctors Idries and Jamil Abdur-Rahman.

Acquania Escarne 23:21

Yeah

Dr. Renee Matthews 23:22

They are my clients. They live in Chicago as well. And the funny thing is me and my family, we watched Amazing Race. They were on Amazing Race A long time ago. And I remember seeing them on there and I knew they were from Chicago because it said it on the show. The funny thing was that I had been seeing them at the hospital but did not realize they were twins like I completely forgot. And so we ended up seeing each other again an event and so I started working with them and so they were my first and they're the only ones I have now as far as Doctor clients, but I love them. Those are my peeps and, and they we've been to CNN, they were on HLN we've been in Sway in the Morning. They've been on the Karen Hunter show of your you know, serious person. Sirius XM listener, you know if you listen to those shows, so yeah, they've they've been a whole lot of places.

Acquania Escarne 24:12

I love them. They're hilarious. If anybody wants to check them out, their reels are so comical.

Dr. Renee Matthews 24:19

I kept telling them to do them and they would they hadn't started took them a while and then they finally started so I'm really excited. But yeah, they're the twin doctors everywhere. Yeah, Twin doctors, TV and YouTube. And yeah.

Acquania Escarne 24:33

Awesome. Awesome. That's so dope. Oh, see, every time I just let you speak and you become even more amazing. You're dopeness just continues to grow. So what advice do you have for entrepreneurs then and because you've had several pivots in your business, you mentioned you have a coach. I also have a coach so I do believe and mentors and coaches to help guide you, but what other tips do you offer?

Dr. Renee Matthews 24:59

I think that my biggest thing is, please, if you know that there's something you want to do. Either you need to quit telling people that don't believe in you, or just try to find your tribe, your people that you know, are going to cheer you on. Because those naysayers can kill a lot of great dreams, that would have been great, you know, that were great ideas that would have been great innovation, you know, innovative things. But you, you know, you just let those people get to you. And I was just telling somebody that I had several people that said, I could never be a doctor. And if I was one of those people to take that stuff inwardly. Where would I be now? And then once I became a doctor, and I was saying, how I'm not really going to go into the hospital and work, and I'm not gonna have a doctor's office, people were like, well, you have to, and I'm like, No, I don't, and they didn't quite understand that I could do what I want to do, and be successful at it. And there's still people that don't believe and I'm like, that's fine, because you're not paying my bills. And that's okay, I'm fine, you know, but I know that I get to get up when I feel like getting up. I don't have an alarm. I the only alarm is Sunday, because I don't want to be late for church. But um, but other than that, I get up when I feel like I have the good sense to set my meetings later. So because I actually do get up. I don't get up early, but I get up at a reasonable time. But I just let my body wake me up. And I think that's, that's a great thing for me. And then I can hop on a plane when I feel like it, and go where I need to go because all I need to do is be at my computer and work. And I can work from my computer anywhere. I just need my computer, I need my computer and my phone. And then I use my iPad sometimes too. But that's it. And I'm good.

And so I in my entrepreneurial journey, I will tell people that you work hard, because I worked harder than I ever worked for anyone else. The difference was that it was for me. And I probably enjoyed it more than I did. Other people. Um, so my sister always said, well, you don't have a job. So you out. But I work 24 I like I worked seven days a week. But I enjoy what I do. And it's not it doesn't feel like work. Like they said, if it doesn't feel like work, then you never work a day in your life. So it's fun. So I'm not. I don't feel like I'm working. But yes, I usually am working every day. But I don't feel like it. Like I love it. And I've seen my family. My dad's from the islands. So my mom's from Detroit, my dad's from Antigua. So I'm a Caribbean black, I call myself and I've been to the islands now more than I did when more than I went when I had a job.

Acquania Escarne 27:40

I know that feeling. I still have a job and my businesses but I always joke about how my job doesn't give me enough vacation time and I'm gonna have to figure something out because I want to be away I want to do things and this whole earning vacation time is just not it's not it. So I totally get what you're saying. And I also get your background and culture because my dad was from Panama. My mom is from New York. Yes. My dad is Panamanian see is Yeah, we we connect on so many levels Yeah, we're Where are you best friend I why it takes so long to meet you.

Dr. Renee Matthews 28:18

Yes, my Tia. Oh my gosh, she she's so my aunt is Panamanian, my uncle's and Antiguan He's my dad's brothers. So, but yes,

Acquania Escarne 28:27

B. So I definitely want to talk a little bit about your book. I don't want to, I want to make sure our listeners know about that. So tell me more about your book. And what inspired you to write it? It's called Mom, I can't

Dr. Renee Matthews 28:40

Mommy, I Can't Breathe.

Acquania Escarne 28:41

Mommy, I Can't Breathe. So tell me more about that. And what is, I guess the top things that people will get out of it if they read it? Because I definitely have friends who have severe asthma even as adults. And I know they would benefit from learning more.

Dr. Renee Matthews 28:59

Yeah, so mommy I can't breathe is the that's the title because that's what I used to say at night. Most asthma attacks happen at night, you find out in the book Why? Although they haven't quite figured out the exact reason why but they have some ideas. But Mommy, I can't breathe, I would wake up in the middle of the night, and I'd go in my parents room and I'd shake them Mommy, Daddy, I can't breathe. So that's why it's called that. As I said before, I spend a lot of time in hospitals. I literally was sick pretty much every April and October, that's when the seasons changed in Michigan. And that was for the first 10 years of my life. So I went to the ER a couple times a week, if not, you know, five or six times in a week, um, because I was so sick. And my mom's respiratory therapists I also mentioned so if I was sick enough to go to the hospital you met I was really really sick because she could she had everything. We had oxygen at the house with everything. So I joined a lot of Facebook groups and I saw these parents because as you know, food allergies are actually more common now than they were when I was a child. And so I was reading and these parents were raising their children in these bubbles and you know clearing the whole house of allergens or we can't travel because Johnny's allergic to this and he was like allergic to things I'm allergic to as my sister for me today, the top eight allergens plus. And so I, I traveled as a child, my parents, we always went places. My parents have never eliminated anything out of our house. So I am allergic to citrus, citrus, chocolate, nuts, eggs, seafood, I cannot smell seafood cooking, or can I eat it? wheat, rye, barley. And did I say nuts? Yeah. Yeah. So that's me,

Acquania Escarne 30:44

oh, I feel bad for the seafood. I love seafood. Right?

Dr. Renee Matthews 30:48

Well, because I was born this way, I've never eaten these things. So that's the other good thing is that I don't miss what I never had. But my parents, they never went without any of that. All of those things were always in the house. And they always ate seafood. My mom cooked it in the garage, or they'd cook it before I'd come home and air out the house, different things like that. But I have always been around these things. And I just want, I wanted to write the book because I wanted people to see, hey, I made it to 44. And my parents didn't do any of those things that you're doing. And my parents also didn't have the benefit of the internet. Because nowadays, you know, you can look up a restaurants menu online, they didn't have that. And we went out to eat, you know, not all the time. But we went out and we traveled and went out to eat at those, you know, wherever we were traveling to I traveled internationally as a child. And I never got you know, had a problem. So I just really wanted to show parents that your kids will be okay, and they can live normal lives. I lived overseas for two years. And no, I lived overseas for three years. So for the fact that I lived in the middle of the ocean, I lived on the island of St Maarten for two years, then and I survived it. You know, seafood was everywhere. every restaurant you went to was fresh seafood. And I survived that shows you you know, so I really wanted to show people. So I tell stories. The first half is me telling you stories about me and my life. And then the second half is literally the modern guide to navigating. So that has all this stuff about asthma and allergies, diagnosis and how to treat and you know, all that good stuff.

Acquania Escarne 32:21

So I do have a question for you. Because you brought up a point that I've been saying I think this is true, but I didn't know how to prove it, other than reading research. But people are more of is it are Do you really think people are more allergic to things today than they were before? Or are we just more aware of the allergies ?

Dr. Renee Matthews 32:40

I think they are. And I really think that it might have something to do with what food is not what we used to have.

Acquania Escarne 32:46

Right? It's been altered,

Dr. Renee Matthews 32:49

Altered and all of that, that I think that that's probably what's contributing to it, don't quote me, but that's my thought is that it's just not the same food that we grew up on, it's changed.

Acquania Escarne 33:00

That makes sense. Because I said the same thing I used to tell my husband all the time, I was like when I was in elementary school, this whole peanut thing was not as big I don't even remember anyone who I knew was allergic to peanuts

Dr. Renee Matthews 33:13

Whereas me I was always the only, right like the whole school, I was like the only one.

Acquania Escarne 33:19

And now its now

Dr. Renee Matthews 33:20

Now you have peanut free child daycare. You can't bring snacks and cupcakes and whatever to celebrate birthdays to school. So it's totally different because it wasn't like that as a child from right, you can wrap your mind and that's what I keep saying I survived all this because my nut allergy is not it's not inhaled. So I can be around people eating nuts that way. But if you take your hands and touch me, I will start wheezing.

Acquania Escarne 33:47

Hmm, that's interesting. And then what is your recommendation as far as allergy tests because you said you knew your allergies when you were born

Dr. Renee Matthews 33:56

And that in the book.

Acquania Escarne 33:57

Okay, so give us a

Dr. Renee Matthews 33:59

It's called a scratch test.

Acquania Escarne 34:00

Okay,

Dr. Renee Matthews 34:00

that is the most accurate,

Acquania Escarne 34:03

okay,

Dr. Renee Matthews 34:04

You can have a blood test. But the most accurate is a scratch test. And if you scroll on Facebook, because you said something about allergies and you see something about an allergy test, that you can get the kid at home, I would say you need to go find an allergist and ask for a scratch test and that's alll inm going to say

Acquania Escarne 34:23

I'm not saying you should see your professional but I just think you should okay. No, I love that. I love that because my son has a few allergies. And we discovered them by trial and error, right? Fortunately, none of them to the severity that he was sick or had to go to the hospital. But we took note like I gave him salmon and then he got red hives and I was like well, they're salmon and then we did shrimp it came as a well no more seafood so we actually don't give him any seafood. But we'd never gotten the test and I'm always like I don't want him to be picked in poked but then I was like, I think I don't want him to get too old and he doesn't know if he's anything.

Dr. Renee Matthews 35:04

And that's the thing because I did I actually in the month of May is allergy and asthma awareness month and on the Ask Dr. Renee I interviewed every time every interview was about allergies and asthma. And one of my guests, Javier Evelyn, who has created an amazing app and technology allergy a l e r j i j e he, he was one of those people who didn't know, and found out when he was working a job in high school or something, and at a pizza place and found out he was allergic to a protein and milk or something.

Acquania Escarne 35:34

Yeah. Wow. Yeah, that's pretty interesting. So I'll definitely check that out and get him tested with the skin test, because that's what Dr. Renee said. But I think that's so interesting, because and he's the only one in our family with allergies because I don't have allergies, my husband doesn't have allergies, and my oldest son doesn't. So that was also a shock for me as a parent to even have to write anything under allergies, because I was like,

Dr. Renee Matthews 36:02

That is so my family. My mom has allergies allergic to melons that's it. But then, like her brother has allergy and that you know, so she has it falls in her line, her family line as my allergy. So yeah, I got the brunt of them. Because nobody is no one in either sides of my family has allergies, right? And I've told everyone, my children more than likely will be like me, and I'm okay with that. I was like, I can handle asthma and allergies. I don't know about no other diseases. Yes, I'm a doctor. I can handle allergies and asthma.

Acquania Escarne 36:35

I love that. I love it. I love it. How long did it take you to write the book?

Dr. Renee Matthews 36:41

It took? I don't know, I should have wrote this down. I don't know. Maybe it took me like, I'm a month, maybe. Okay. And that was you know, I'm doing other things out during the day. And it was usually at night that I would sit there and start cranking out and start typing. So

Acquania Escarne 37:01

yeah, I love it. I'm gonna definitely check it out. And I'll include a link to your book in the show notes. So listeners can grab a copy, too.

Dr. Renee Matthews 37:08

Thank you.

Acquania Escarne 37:09

So another question about taking care of parents because I learned that you are also taking care of an elderly parent who has had some health challenges. And as a millennial, some of us are also in that sandwich generation where we're taking care of our own family, we are also providing for our parents, what are some tips that you have for women in this position, especially when it comes to helping manage their parents health care.

Dr. Renee Matthews 37:37

So I Well, thankfully, like I said, My mom was in healthcare. So my mother is real big on, Renee, the doctor said that, you know, because yes, she knows a whole lot about medicine. But then she also knows that I am a doctor. And then she also knows that I have a network of physicians that I can always tap into. So I think that is huge. My biggest thing I tell anybody, elderly parents or children, whatever, you always need to advocate, do not talk to the doctor without somebody else present. Because if you get bad news, and you turn off, somebody needed to hear what was said after you turned off, so you always should have an advocate. So if at all costs can you please even if y'all live in different states, face time, something so that you can hear what the doctors tell your parents. Because just like that game operator, by the time it gets down to you, you might not have all the picture that you need. And the last thing you want to do is to not come home when you should have came home because you thought your your dad was fine, because nobody quite understood the severity of the situation. So make certain that your parents have given you because I my parents it has been in you know, they put it in writing, all of that it says that we can discuss their medical stuff me and my sister can discuss they're in so especially with my father when he was in the hospital during COVID. And of course we couldn't visit everything was by the telephone. So therefore, you know, in my mom's before I came to stay with them, I was living in another state. So me and my mom weren't necessarily calling it same time, so I can call and you should be able to tell me because my mother has given me permission. And so it's really important that you make sure that if anything, you've put that in writing so that they understand at the doctor's office, at the hospital, at the nursing home, wherever they are, they understand they can discuss these things with you. Because if you can't get on the FaceTime or whatever you need to be able to call and say hi my parents visited today, blah, blah, blah, or you need to email something you need to be able to understand what's going on. And I think that is so huge.

If you don't know what's going on, then you you can't you don't know what help they need. Um, I've learned a lot being here because one, I tell everybody go into the business of senior transport. You'll make a killing. It is so expensive. Because my dad can't and get he can't really quickly easily get into the car we need him to go by wheelchair. Wheelchair transportation is expensive as all get out and needless to say there were some doctors he actually had to go see and not virtually expensive as all get out please go into senior transportation but there is usually in most cities the Department of Aging I believe that's what it's called. And you should have each state has a Department of Aging and then they'll have a little thing for your city try and tap into them they can have a lot of resources hopefully that'll help you if your parents need rides if they you know whatever they need they should be able to help you um I think that um hopefully your parents have all their ducks in order thank you Jesus mind to do, they've had their wills they've got all of that stuff is in orders. So everything is in writing we all you know, everyone knows we've got copies and everything. So we know what to do. Everyone has you know, a plan. So that's really important especially in this general you know, in this day and age make sure because look at DMX Did you see that his fiance isn't gonna get a dime, so say eight years, eight years. So in prints two, there's a whole bunch of people that recently have died, didn't have nobody's will, you guys need to have a will. And I hate to you know, you hate to have that conversation with your parents. I didn't have to my mother was on it, because I want to talk about it, but she took care of it. And I'm like, that's why I love my mother, I didnt have to deal with that. But um, because I'm here, I'm able to well, you know, COVID I couldn't at first go to the appointments, but at least my mom could go.

But now the virtual ones I've been on all the virtual ones and then the portal, I'm on the portal so I can send questions to them. And that, you know, and stuff like that. So that's helpful. Um, you know, wherever you can try to insert yourself so that you can understand what's going on, because the last thing you want to happen is that your parents are too prideful to tell you what's going on. And then they get too far sick for you to be able to get them help. That is my my biggest thing as a doctor is the earlier we figure it out, the quicker we can fix it. But if you say oh, I don't need to go to the doctor, oh, I need to go back and by the time you go, it's some huge colossal problem that they can't fix. Well now we got to say goodbye to you. And that's not fun. So please, if you you know, make sure that they go to their appointments. We all need to go to the doctor regularly. Make certain we all go regularly. It doesn't matter what age you are, you need to make sure you're visiting the doctor regularly and getting all your appointments in get all your numbers checked I I made sure my parents have the top of the line blood pressure cuffs because we need to make sure we check our blood pressures regularly. Thank you Jesus. We don't have diabetes here. But if we did, we would have the best you know, thing just read your sugar, whatever, make sure that they have what they need. And a lot of times their insurances will pay for these things. It's just a matter of somebody didn't go to the doctor to find out they needed it.

Acquania Escarne 43:05

Love it, love it. Those are really good tips and super helpful. And I've had so much fun talking to you today like this conversation has brightened my eyes into not only the diversity in the medical profession and how you can be an educator beyond TV be on a radio show. But then you as a person you're just amazing being able to pivot to entertainment and then back to being an awesome daughter taking care of her parents and anything else in between. But I have to ask you my signature question because I asked everyone on the podcast this what is your purpose for money?

Dr. Renee Matthews 43:42

My purpose for money I tell everyone my why is my sister my sister still works a day job and my why is to retire her because I don't have any children yet. Now because she she's getting there pretty soon. I think my purpose for money now is really generational wealth. I am going to be a mother one day and I want to make sure my children and children's children and children's children's children are taken care of you know I always jokingly say, you know that building in New York is called Rockefeller Center I said there's going to be the Matthews center.

Acquania Escarne 44:11

I love it I love it I can't wait to see it. I want to be there. I also want my listeners to follow you especially check out your chat show on YouTube and anywhere else please let us know where can we find you on social media and your website?

Dr. Renee Matthews 44:29

My website is AskDrRenee.info and I'm Ask Dr. Renee on every platform so that's YouTube channel is Ask Dr. Renee, Pinterest ,Instagram Twitter, Facebook page. Um, Tic Tock everything I'm asked Dr. Renee so if you just type in AFK Dr. arienne he you're find me

Acquania Escarne 44:50

Awesome. I'll make sure to include all of that in the show notes guys, so make sure you check it out follow if you liked this episode, please share it like and subscribe. Don't forget to leave a review, and I hope that you guys will continue to tune in because this was a great episode and I have many more to come.

Until next time, keep building generational wealth.

Thank you for listening to the Purpose of Money podcast. For more resources and information, check out my website the PurposeofMoney.com. And while you're there, please sign up for our newsletter so you have the latest information on new episodes and blog posts. Until next time, keep creating freedom in your life today.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai