Chronic Conversations

Join me for a conversation with singer-songwriter and disability advocate Kendall Renee as we focus on the role music can play in one’s healing both physically and mentally. We start by hearing about Kendall’s own medical condition and how she came to be diagnosed, as well as when she eventually received her feeding tube and how doing so saved her life. She also talks about what it was like growing up chronically ill and the reactions she gets from others in response to her illness. We discuss the simultaneous visibility and invisibility of her condition. Kendall also speaks about her recent Tubiversary and why it’s so important to her that she celebrate it, before we have a conversation about the emotional challenge of anniversaries in general. We then transition into her journey as a musician and how she used it to cope with her experience and the role it played in her healing process. And we end our chat by talking about “Better is Coming”, her latest single, particularly the inspiration behind it and the emotional experience of writing it. Plus, you’ll get to hear her favorite lyrics from the song! Collaborative Spotify Playlist Link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3CFwf2itq0r5YDBqiQivFp?si=-YtTvx9fR3i6Bc5Se56PAA

A fascinating conversation with one woman who is looking to revolutionize the adaptive fashion market! Join me as I speak with Emma Butler, founder and CEO of Intimately, a company that sells both functional AND fashionable lingerie and is providing an empowering shopping experience for disabled women along the way. We start by talking about Emma’s connection to the chronic illness community, including her perspective as the loved one of someone with a chronic illness and how this served as the inspiration behind her company. We also talk about her introduction to the adaptive wear market and when she became aware of the massive gaps in this area of the fashion industry, particularly in terms of intimates. Emma speaks about the process of starting Intimately and how it went from an idea to a reality. She also educates us on what constitutes adaptive fashion and the features included in their products that make them accessible. We discuss sexiness and desirability, as well as inclusivity and representation. Plus, Emma talks about how she’s hoping to evolve the company, including their new line of lingerie!

An episode in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month and World Bipolar Day. Join me for a conversation with Natasha Tracy, author of Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression and Bipolar and the mind behind the celebrated blog Bipolar Burble. We begin by talking about her personal journey with mental illness, including when she started experiencing symptoms, her steps to diagnosis, the process of finding treatment, and her struggle to accept psychiatry in general along the way. She also speaks about how she worked through her feelings of suicidality, the power of hope, and the coping skills she still uses to this day. We then focus on the topic of bipolar disorder more broadly, discussing the differences between Type I and Type II and hypomania vs. mania. We briefly touch on her book before Natasha educates us about the importance of the brain/mind differentiation in mental illness. And then we wrap up by trying to answer the all important question: is mental illness a chronic illness? Trigger Warning: mentions of suicide and self-harm

Have you ever felt alone in your fight with chronic illness? Wished there was someone else who understood? Then this is the episode for you! Join me for a conversation with Julie Morgenlender, editor of The Things We Don’t Say: An Anthology of Chronic Illness Truths, a new book featuring stories by 42 authors that together raise their voices and break the silence of what life with chronic illness is really like. We start by talking about Julie’s own personal journey with chronic illness, from the difficulty of living without a diagnosis for so long to the weird sense of relief when she finally received one to how she took control of the management of her health when the medical system was failing her. She and I also bond over our shared experience of living with multiple chronic illnesses and how that changes their impact. Then we talk about her book, particularly how her personal journey with chronic illness influenced her decision to create it and why she chose to make it an anthology. We also cover several universal aspects of the chronically ill experience, including inspiration porn, chronic illness representation in the media, medical misogyny, and many, many more chronic illness truths.

An episode that will leave you empowered to take back control of your health! Join me for a conversation with Jordan Ray, founder and CEO of Limitless Medical Log, a company aiming to help chronic illness patients eliminate the stress of managing their health through the use of their medical journals and digital app. Jordan shares her journey to diagnosis, including the day everything changed, the frightening and debilitating symptoms she started experiencing, and the moment her illness was finally given a name. She also speaks about undergoing brain surgery and her resulting struggle with PTSD. We discuss the emotional aspects of chronic illness, such as the land of the healthy vs. the land of the sick and the frustration of watching others achieve the dreams you had. And then we dive into her work with Limitless, talking about how her experience led to the creation of the company, the unique components of the log users will find most helpful, and how it helps to improve communication between patients and doctors. Plus, we get a look inside their new app and Jordan tells us what’s next for her!