In this powerful episode, Mike welcomes Katya Karlova, former corporate VP, resilience alchemist, author, and endometriosis advocate, for a conversation centered on transforming pain into purpose. Originally from Moldova and educated at UCLA and University College London, Katya spent 15 years in global talent management before a life-altering health journey redirected her calling. During the pandemic, Katya confronted chronic pain, anxiety, and body dysmorphia, eventually receiving a long-overdue diagnosis of endometriosis, a condition affecting millions of women worldwide yet still widely misunderstood and ...
In this powerful episode, Mike welcomes Katya Karlova, former corporate VP, resilience alchemist, author, and endometriosis advocate, for a conversation centered on transforming pain into purpose. Originally from Moldova and educated at UCLA and University College London, Katya spent 15 years in global talent management before a life-altering health journey redirected her calling.
During the pandemic, Katya confronted chronic pain, anxiety, and body dysmorphia, eventually receiving a long-overdue diagnosis of endometriosis, a condition affecting millions of women worldwide yet still widely misunderstood and misdiagnosed. She shares the emotional and physical toll of navigating a medical system that often dismisses women's pain, and the resilience required to continue advocating for answers.
That experience became the catalyst for her debut book, Invisible Pain, Unstoppable Power, and for her growing advocacy work supporting those living with trauma, chronic illness, and unseen suffering. Katya also opens up about body positivity, self-love, and reclaiming confidence, including her journey into boudoir modeling as a powerful form of healing and self-expression.
With more than 500,000 social media followers, Katya discusses authenticity, censorship, bias against curvy women, and the challenge of balancing vulnerability with empowerment online. Recognized as one of Womenpreneur Magazine's Top 20 Empowering Women, her story is a compelling testament to resilience, leadership through empathy, and the transformative power of gratitude.
IN THIS EPISODE:
➡️ THE DIAGNOSIS FIGHT: Katya's years-long battle to be diagnosed with endometriosis
➡️ MEDICAL GASLIGHTING EXPOSED: How women's pain is dismissed inside the healthcare system
➡️ PAIN INTO POWER: The personal crisis that sparked Invisible Pain, Unstoppable Power
➡️ THE POWER OF POSITIVE BODY IMAGE: Katya's journey into the world of boudoir modeling
➡️ IMPACT THROUGH AUTHENTICITY: Building a global community by leading with truth and vulnerability
📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY:
True healing often begins the moment you stop questioning your pain and start trusting your voice. Katya's story reminds listeners that self-advocacy is not confrontation; it's self-respect, and it can be the turning point that changes everything.
🚀 PERFECT FOR:
Those living with chronic pain or searching for answers to unexplained health symptoms, as well as anyone who has felt dismissed or unheard within the healthcare system. Katya's story is also perfect for leaders and professionals seeking to transform personal adversity into purpose-driven impact. Ultimately, this conversation is for anyone looking for hope, resilience, and meaning in the midst of life's most difficult seasons.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
Invisible Pain, Unstoppable Power
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Womenpreneur
The Endometriosis Association
Endometriosis Foundation of America
Connect with Katya:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
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Connect with Mike:
Linktree
SPONSORS:
Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast
AFFILIATES:
Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT
Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside
Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email mike@socialchameleon.us
Copyright © 2025 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email mike@socialchameleon.us
