The Code We Can’t Ignore: Knowing Your DNA Can Save Your Life with Genetic Counselor Dena Goldberg
Welcome back to Uncover Your Eyes with Dr. Meenal! Join us as we uncover our lives as healthcare professionals.
This is Episode 73, where Dr. Meenal Agarwal sits down with Dena Goldberg, nationally recognized & board-certified Genetic Counselor, to reveal how healthcare innovations in genetic testing are saving lives—and why you might need one even if no one in your family has the condition. Watch the video episode on YouTube and listen to the audio episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your other favorite podcast spots – follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re enjoying the show!
- Episode Summary & Player
- Show Notes
- Learn more about Uncover Your Eyes with Dr. Meenal
- Learn more about Dr. Meenal Agarwal
Uncover Your Eyes with Dr. Meenal Episode #73: The Code We Can’t Ignore: Knowing Your DNA Can Save Your Life with Genetic Counselor Dena Goldberg
What if your DNA could hold the answers to your migraines, mental health struggles, or even your future risk of disease?
💡 Did you know?
- Over 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with a genetic condition that doesn’t run in their family.
- 88% of rare diseases have a genetic root—yet many go misdiagnosed for years.
In this eye-opening episode of the Uncover Your Eyes podcast, Dr. Meenal Agarwal sits down with Dena Goldberg, nationally recognized & board-certified Genetic Counselor, to reveal how healthcare innovations in genetic testing are saving lives—and why you might need one even if no one in your family has the condition.
Whether you're a healthcare provider, wellness advocate, or simply looking for peace of mind with your own genes, this episode is packed with practical, science-backed tips to help you understand how genetic testing works—even how it relates to mental health to physical vitality.
At Uncover Your Eyes, Dr. Meenal Agarwal shines a light on the hidden struggles of healthcare—bringing powerful conversations around self-advocacy, healthcare education, mental health, wellness, and innovations in healthcare that help us live longer, fuller lives.
This episode isn’t just about genetics—it's about validation and empowerment in a healthcare system that too often overlooks what’s going on in our bodies at the microscopic level.
Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:
- When to consider genetic testing (and which kind to get)
- How your BRCA genes drive 15% of cancers
- Lynch syndrome and how it increases your risk of developing certain cancers
- Why early detection in newborns changes everything
- How genes impact your mental health, physical health, and wellness
- Whether adults can really “alter” their genes
Learn more about Dena Goldberg on Instagram @Dena.DNA, on TikTok & YouTube @DenaDNA, and at MalibuGenetics.com
Subscribe to Uncover Your Eyes on your favorite podcast platform and YouTube, and learn more about Dr. Meenal on Instagram @Dr.MeenalAgarwal.
Check out the episode and show notes below for much more detail.
Show Notes
- The Code We Can’t Ignore: Knowing Your DNA Can Save Your Life with Genetic Counselor Dena Goldberg
- [0:34] Welcome to Uncover Your Eyes with Dr. Meenal
- [1:15] Welcome to the show, Dena Goldberg!
- [1:42] Difference between genetic traits and inherited traits
- [3:33] When to get genetic testing
- [6:42] Types of genetic tests
- [9:26] Why are there healthcare gaps for genetic counselors?
- [12:36] Inherited cancer syndromes
- [16:21] The awareness gaps around Lynch syndrome
- [21:22] Anxiety around knowing results
- [25:03] What kind of pediatric testing is beneficial for families?
- [31:51] What are the chromosomal causes of infertility?
- [35:33] Can we alter genes?
- [39:21] When BRCA careers make life-saving choices
- [42:35] Connect with Dena Goldberg @Dena.DNA, on TikTok & YouTube and at MalibuGenetics.com
- Subscribe to Uncover Your Eyes on your favorite podcast platform and YouTube, and learn more about Dr. Meenal on Instagram @Dr.MeenalAgarwal
- Theme Song: “Upbeat Motivational Pop Rock” by Alexey Anisimov
What is Uncover Your Eyes with Dr. Meenal?
Thanks for listening to Uncover Your Eyes with Dr. Meenal. Being an eye doctor makes life easy, right? Not so fast. Join us as we uncover our lives as healthcare professionals. In each episode, you will face reality and vulnerability. You’ll hear how to manage your wellbeing, culture, and physical and mental health. You’ll also navigate self-improvement and professional development, all while uncovering innovation in patient care from experts in our healthcare system. Let’s do this while keeping it “real” and authentic. Hosted by Dr. Meenal Agarwal, Expert Optometrist, Entrepreneur, Speaker, and Mom of 3.
Who is Dr. Meenal Agarwal?
With three clinics in Toronto and sought-after experience, Dr. Meenal Agarwal is an expert in vision and eyecare innovation. She is a leading voice on patient care, technology, professional development, and wellness in the healthcare industry.