The Cripple Chronicles

Why You Can’t Just “Think Positive” Through Disability | Ep.60

In this episode of The Crippled Chronicles, I’m talking about self-limiting beliefs in disability, the ones that feel less like thoughts and more like facts. The beliefs that say you’re a burden, too much, behind in life, unloveable, weak, or not allowed to take up space. I talk about how these beliefs form, why they can feel so convincing, and why disability can turn the volume up on old wounds that were already there. I also get into schemas, internalised ableism, self-stigma, disability identity, and how these beliefs can look different depending on whether someone is born disabled or becomes disabled later in childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, midlife or older age. This is not about toxic positivity or pretending everything is fine. It is about understanding the pattern, naming the belief, noticing what it is protecting you from, and seeing what it is costing you. If any part of this episode hit home, I’d genuinely love to hear from you in the comments. What is the most believable self-limiting belief you carry, and when do you think you first learned it? chapters 0:00 When your brain turns one bad day into a life sentence 2:26 Self-limiting beliefs in disability 7:16 Why these beliefs feel true 13:31 The belief that you do not deserve to take up space 20:08 Born disabled vs acquired disability and how beliefs take shape 44:18 Why toxic positivity is useless and what helps instead If you have better sources, lived experience, or nuance to add, drop it below or email me at crippledchroniclespod@gmail.com Content note: this episode discusses disability, shame, self-worth, self-stigma, and thoughts around not wanting to be here. Please take care of yourself while listening. music attribution Intro and outro music: Angelz by ZiMPL Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB1laV2yy_k Thank you for being here, thank you for listening to me yap through the chaos, and I’ll speak to you in the next episode.

Wills, Legacy, and the Stories We Leave Behind (with Jermaine Ee of HeirLight) | episode 59

Today’s episode is a wee milestone because it’s my first ever guest episode on The Cripple Chronicles. I’m sitting down with Jermaine Ee, founder of HeirLight, to talk about the stuff most of us avoid until we absolutely have to: wills, legacy, grief, and the practical reality of what we leave behind. This isn’t a sales pitch and it’s not an advert, it’s just a really honest conversation about time, identity, family, and how “getting organised” can actually be a form of love. WHERE TO FIND JERMAINE - eejermaine.com - heirlight.com  Jermaine describes himself as a founder and a storyteller, and you can hear that straight away. We talk about how his perspective on legacy shifted after losing his mum, why people avoid end-of-life planning even when they know it matters, and how small steps (like journaling and sorting beneficiaries) can reduce chaos for the people we care about. Disclaimer: This episode is not legal advice. Laws vary depending on where you live. If you need legal guidance, please speak to a qualified professional in your area. GET IN TOUCH WITH ME Email: cripplechroniclespod@gmail.com Socials: @cripplechroniclespod MUSIC USED Reflection” by Filo Starquez used with permission. outro music: “Angelz” by ZiMPL artist: ZiMPL / zimplmusic license: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) please check out and support the artists who make this show sound nice.

Life Catch Up: Relationship Update, Complaints + Collab Excitement | Ep.58

Hi friends. It is January, which I’m pretty sure was invented by Big Pharma to sell antidepressants. 😅 This episode is a proper life catch-up. Winter pain and the January blues, a relationship update (yes, a real one), applying for a job I really want, disability admin chaos, and a formal complaint era I did not ask to be in. Also, a wee teaser: my first ever podcast collaboration is coming next (8th Feb 10am) and I’m genuinely so proud of it. chapters 00:00 January blues and a life reset 03:10 Winter pain, energy limits, and how I’m coping 04:45 Relationship status, nervous system chaos, and not begging anymore 10:10 Job application update and grieving the nursing version of me 18:40 Disability admin and complaints (prosthetic + OT kitchen) 22:05 Simba’s health scare and anxious cat mum mode 28:30 Wrap-up, validation, and what’s coming next what’s next My first collaboration episode drops 8th February and I’m so excited for you to hear it. After that I’ve got two more episodes planned, one on disability adjustment and one on self-regulation and coping, the practical version, not the fluffy “everything is fine” version. music attribution Intro and outro music: Angelz by ZiMPL Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB1laV2yy_k Background music used: I’m Giving Up Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4_dJrDFBMo Wrangle The Crazy - Everett Almond Once upon a time - The Grey Room / Density & Time Long Goodbyes to Longer Friends - Randy Schwartz Thank you for being here, thank you for listening to me yap through the chaos, and I’ll speak to you in the next episode.

From Nurse Becca to Disabled Advocate: Six Years Becoming Me, Grief, Growth, Systems Fail Us (Ep.56)

Hi friends, welcome back to The Cripple Chronicles. This is a shorter, reflective episode that was originally recorded as the final section of my Cripple Wrapped episode, but it deserved its own space. I’m six years into being disabled after my car accident, and instead of focusing on stats or “look how far I’ve come” productivity vibes, I wanted to answer the questions that actually tell the truth: what changed in my relationship with my body, how my identity shifted after losing nursing, how my support network transformed, what still hurts (spoiler: systems), and what I’m hopeful about going into 2026. If you’ve had a big life change, you can absolutely steal these questions and use them as a check-in with your future self. Content note: disability, trauma, family estrangement, grief, medical systems, mental health. If this one hits home, leave a comment or send me your thoughts. Chapters  00:00 - Welcome and why this is a separate episode 01:51 - The “six year check-in” questions (setup) 02:25 - Q1: How has my relationship with my body changed? 05:20 - Q2: How has my sense of self changed? 09:30 - Q3: How has my support network changed? 12:17 - Q4: What am I proud of this year that has nothing to do with productivity? 14:37 - Q5: What still hurts the most? 18:11 - Q6: What am I hopeful about for the next year? 21:18 - Closing, happy new year, gentle winter reminder GET IN TOUCH Email: cripplechroniclespod@gmail.com Socials: @cripplechroniclespod MUSIC USED Reflection” by Filo Starquez used with permission. outro music: “Angelz” by ZiMPL artist: ZiMPL / zimplmusic license: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) please check out and support the artists who make this show sound nice. SEO TAGS cripple chronicles, disabled podcast, amputee podcast, disability advocacy, life after amputation, prosthetic journey, wheelchair user, chronic illness, trauma recovery, grief and disability, chosen family, family estrangement, mental health podcast, nurse identity, identity after trauma, uk disability, accessibility, disabled creator, NHS waiting times, disability rights UK, spoon theory, medical gaslighting, disability community, resilience (the real kind), boundaries, healing journey

2025 Cripple Wrapped: Disabled Life In Numbers (ep.55)

in this episode of cripple chronicles, i am doing my own version of “wrapped” for 2025 and six years since my accident. instead of just spotify and youtube stats, we are looking at what a full year of disabled life actually looks like in numbers. i talk about: why my birthday + accident anniversary week always feels heavy and weird 82k minutes of music, 331 genres and my parasocial relationship with two hot takes what it really takes to make this podcast exist in the background of my life months spent waiting for prosthetics vs the days i actually get to walk garmin stats for wheelchair pushes, sleep and body battery that finally proved i am not “just lazy” how much time i lose every year to pain, advocacy and planning around inaccessibility what my benefits, bills, debt and motability numbers actually look like why my car is not a luxury but an access tool that keeps me from being trapped at home it is part numbers, part rant, part love letter to everyone trying to survive life in a disabled body inside systems that were not built for us. CHAPTERS 00:00 intro, birthday week and accident anniversary 03:03 why birthdays always felt strange for me 05:12 deciding to do a “cripple wrapped” instead of just spotify wrapped 07:25 music wrapped 2025 12:20 cripple chronicles wrapped episodes, editing time, research days, views and watch time 18:26 mobility wrapped ilizarov frame, becoming an amputee, waiting lists and the kitchen saga 25:41 garmin wrapped wheelchair pushes, miles, sleep score and body battery reality check 29:45 pain, medication, advocacy time and planning around inaccessibility 30:30 benefits wrapped income, bills, groceries, debt and the activity trap 37:30 car and driving wrapped motability, 10,400 miles and why public transport is not an option 41:30 closing thoughts on 2025, six years since the accident and a message to anyone in their own “year one” CONNECT WITH ME instagram: @cripplechroniclespod tiktok: @cripplechroniclespod (if you want it there) email: cripplechroniclespod@gmail.com you can send episode ideas, questions, collab requests or your own “disabled wrapped” stats there. MUSIC CREDITS intro music: “Reflection” by Filo Starquez used with permission. outro music: “Angelz” by ZiMPL artist: ZiMPL / zimplmusic license: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) please check out and support the artists who make this show sound nice. SEO TAG WORDS disability podcast, cripple chronicles, cripple chronicles podcast, above knee amputee, amputee life, wheelchair user, disabled creator, disabled women, chronic pain, chronic illness, mental health podcast, trauma recovery, spotify wrapped, year in review, disability wrapped, disabled life stats, prosthetics, nhs waiting times, uk disability benefits, pip, adp, universal credit, motability scheme, accessible housing, inaccessibility, advocacy, disability rights, mental health nurse, amputation recovery, garmin wheelchair, body battery, scottish podcast, uk podcast, disabled influencer, disabled content creator