Facing Inward: The Podcast

Medical Gaslighting: How to Advocate for Yourself in a Broken System with Ilana Jacqueline

Author and Patient Advocate Ilana Jacqueline joins Facing Inward to break down medical gaslighting—why it happens and how patients can advocate for themselves. A must-listen for anyone who's ever felt dismissed in the exam room. 🎧 Subscribe to hear real patient stories and healthcare conversations that matter. 📝 A Transcript of this episode is available on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/collection/1748050]. 📘 Want to go deeper? Ilana's Book Medical Gaslighting [https://amzn.to/40Z2pjD] and Melissa's memoir Facing Inward [https://amzn.to/4nrC7jq] are available wherever books are sold.

From Diagnosis to Purpose: Bryon Daily on Living Beyond Blood Cancer

In this episode of Facing Inward, host Melissa Carter speaks with Bryon Daily, National Community Outreach Manager at Blood Cancer United and a multiple myeloma survivor, about what it means to face a life-altering diagnosis with courage, curiosity, and community. Bryon shares how subtle changes in his lab work—and an attentive primary care physician—led to an early diagnosis, and walks listeners through his treatment journey, including chemotherapy and an autologous bone marrow transplant. 🎧 Subscribe to hear real patient stories and healthcare conversations that matter. 📝 A Transcript of this episode is available on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/collection/1748050]. 📘 Want to go deeper? Melissa's memoir Facing Inward [https://amzn.to/4nrC7jq] is available wherever books are sold.

You Don't Know Your Strength Until You Need It: Aurea McGarry's Story

Aurea McGarry was told she'd never speak again. In this candid episode, she shares her incredible journey through cancer, chemo, and recovery with host Melissa Carter. Together they explore what happens when patients are ignored, how to rebuild after devastation, and the strength we don't know we have—until we need it. 🩺 Lifeline Screening – Click 👉 Here [http://llsa.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=387&aff_id=1257] for affordable preventive Health Screenings. (http://llsa.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=387&aff_id=1257) [http://llsa.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=387&aff_id=1257)] 🎧 Subscribe to hear real patient stories and healthcare conversations that matter. 📝 A Transcript of this episode is available on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/collection/1748050]. 📘 Want to go deeper? Melissa's memoir Facing Inward [https://amzn.to/4nrC7jq] is available wherever books are sold.

Kaedy Kiely: Finding Her Voice Beyond Cancer

Radio icon Kaedy Kiely has spent decades connecting with Atlanta listeners — but nothing prepared her for the moment she found a lump in the shower and heard the words, "It's cancer." In this candid conversation, Katie shares her unexpected breast cancer diagnosis, the shock and humor that carried her through treatment, and the strength she found in faith, community, and even a wig she lovingly named "Bridget." From vulnerability on-air to resilience in the chemo chair, Katie's story is both deeply personal and universally inspiring — a reminder that survival is not just possible, but transformative. 🩺 Lifeline Screening – Click 👉 Here [http://llsa.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=387&aff_id=1257] for affordable preventive Health Screenings. (http://llsa.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=387&aff_id=1257) [http://llsa.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=387&aff_id=1257)] 🎧 Subscribe to hear real patient stories and healthcare conversations that matter. 📝 A Transcript of this episode is available on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/collection/1748050]. 📘 Want to go deeper? Melissa's memoir Facing Inward [https://amzn.to/4nrC7jq] is available wherever books are sold.

Parenting Through the Unknown: Patrick Powell's Journey with Medically Fragile Children

Parenting comes with countless unknowns — but for Patrick Powell, father of two medically fragile daughters, those unknowns are magnified by the absence of a clear diagnosis. In this candid conversation, Patrick shares the joys and challenges of raising children with special needs, the strain and resilience it brings to family life, and how moments of compassion — from Disney's Make-A-Wish trip to everyday acts of kindness — reshape what it means to belong. As a Senior Development Officer at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation, Patrick also brings perspective on the support networks families need and deserve. 💡Learn more about Make-A-Wish [https://wish.org]. (https://wish.org [https://wish.org]) 💡Learn more about Bert's Big Adventure [https://bertsbigadventure.org]. (https://bertsbigadventure.org [https://bertsbigadventure.org]) 🍊Learn more about the Melissa's Leadership Fund at the University of Tennessee [https://give.utk.edu/campaigns/42950/donations/new]. (https://give.utk.edu/campaigns/42950/donations/new) [https://give.utk.edu/campaigns/42950/donations/new)] 🎧 Subscribe to hear real patient stories and healthcare conversations that matter. 📝 A Transcript of this episode is available on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/collection/1748050]. 📘 Want to go deeper? Melissa's memoir Facing Inward [https://amzn.to/4nrC7jq] is available wherever books are sold.