Advocate and author Tonya Hegamin

Hair Stylist and energy healer Julie Schumann

My next guest is Julie Schumann She is a type one diabetic, a mom, and a sound healer. Julie was diagnosed at the age of 14. She became a mom at a young age (20) and says she is very grateful for the opportunity to have had 3 babies and proud to say she is healthy and was very healthy in all of her pregnancies. Julie has been through some tough relationships rooted in mental health and substance abuse. She has learned so much and continues to work behind "the chair " making people beautiful, as a hair stylist, doing sound baths, energy clearings and coaching people with their food and daily lifestyle. Julie is 43 years old, and says she's as healthy emotionally and physically as she has ever been.  "Each day comes with a new choice and sometimes a challenge. I am free to make the choices to be happy, find joy and want to share my success with  everyone I can." You can find Julie online on Instagram @unleash_your_soul

Advocate and author Tonya Hegamin

Finally got the opportunity to have a chat with my friend Tonya Hegamin.  Tonya and I have known each other for some time now and we've had conversations about diabetes before.  But now we got to record it! This introduction is from her website tonyacheriehegamin.com: "Tonya C. Hegamin, MFA (she/her/hers), is a queer, (dis)abled award-winning author of Most Loved In All The World, M+O 4evr, Pemba’s Song and Willow. Her honors include the Ezra Jack Keats’ New Writer Award and The Christopher Award. Her books have received starred reviews in Publisher’s Weekly and been featured in USA Today, The Washington Post, Ebony, and Essence.  Hegamin is an Associate Professor and Chairperson of the English  Department at CUNY Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY. She also serves  on the CUNY-wide Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board as well as on  the Narrative Medicine Track of Distinction Advisory Board for CUNY’s  School of Medicine. Hegamin has been a victim and patient advocate since  1998, working as an educator and counselor for organizations like Women  Against Rape, Police Athletic League, JPMorgan and Johnson&  Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceutical." I hope you enjoy our chat as we cover everything from diabetes in the black community to Bobo her diabetes alert dog.

Talking diabetes fitness with Christel Oerum

On this episode of The Soul of Diabetes podcast I'm talking with my friend and diabetes coach Christel Oerum. Originally from Denmark and now residing in California where she  owns and operates the website DiabetesStrong.com. From her website: "Christel struggled to find easily accessible information about  exercise and healthy nutrition with diabetes online, so she decided to  create a website where she could share her own advice and invite experts  from the diabetes community to contribute." "The goal of Diabetes Strong is to provide a platform where people  living with (any type) of diabetes can find all the information they  need to live healthy and active lives." Christel is a great advocate who works with several diabetes orgs to bring healthy awareness and most of all she's a great friend. You can also find Diabetes Strong on social media Instagram: @DiabetesStrong Facebook Group: Diabetes Strong YouTube Channel:  Diabetes Strong

Talking food with Diabetic Savvy's Davis Knight

Davis Knight is an award winning executive chef, podcaster, creator of Diabetic Savvy and Type 2 diabetic  Davis uses his culinary expertise to help other people living with diabetes select and create healthy food choices that are diabetes friendly. No need to feel restricted with your diet with Davis' help! This was a really fun episode and it was a pleasure getting to know someone I've seen and followed online but never got a chance to talk to. Be sure to check out his website at DiabeticSavvy.com and you can also find him on social media under the same name. Thanks for listening!

Is there a history of racism in diabetes care in America? An interview with Dr. Arleen Tuchman

Dr. Arleen Tuchman author of her current book Diabetes A History of Race and Disease is a professor of History at Vanderbilt University specializing in the cultural history of medicine. She is the author of Science, Medicine, and the State in Germany and Science Has No Sex: The Life of Marie Zakrzewska, M.D. https://www.amazon.com/Diabetes-History-Arleen-Marcia-Tuchman/dp/0300228996/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1621920044&sr=8-1