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PODCAST

My Spoonie Sisters

Welcome to My Spoonie Sisters! If you"re wondering what a "Spoonie" is, it’s a term lovingly embraced by those living with chronic illnesses, based on the Spoon Theory. It’s all about managing our limited energy (or “spoons”) while navigating life’s challenges.Each week, join us to hear from your "Spoonie Sisters" host, co-hosts, and our inspiring special guests as we share real-life stories, tips, and encouragement. Whether you"re here to learn, connect, or feel less alone, you’ll find a supportive

society & culture relationships

All Episodes

34:14

So, You're Newly Diagnosed Part 2

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/08/21

Have you ever been casually told about a serious medical diagnosis you didn't even know you had? That jarring experience is just one of the many challenges we explore in this heartfelt conversation about navigating life after receiving a chronic illness diagnosis. We kick off by catching up on our summer experiences and current health challenges – from mysterious hip pain and shoulder inflammation to surprising diagnoses and upcoming surgeries. Each of us shares the reality of living with un...

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33:32

Patient Voices: When Champions Lead the Way

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/08/18

For those living with rheumatic diseases, finding your voice can be as powerful as finding the right treatment. In this candid roundtable conversation, six extraordinary patient advocates—Chelsea, Stasha, Nya, Tanya, Jen, and Cheryl—pull back the curtain on their journeys from diagnosis to becoming Rheum Champions with the Rheumatology Research Foundation. Each champion brings a unique perspective to the table, having navigated conditions ranging from rheumatoid arthritis and lupus to Hashim...

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33:54

So, You're Newly Diagnosed Part 1

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/08/11

Imagine the moment: sitting in a doctor's office, hearing those words for the first time – "You have a chronic illness." What follows isn't just medical treatment, but an emotional journey through fear, confusion, and eventually, finding your way forward. We've been in that exact seat, and in this heartfelt season opener, my Spoonie Sisters and I share the raw, unfiltered truth about our diagnosis experiences. Andi reveals how years of medical gaslighting led to a diagnosis only after a seri...

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38:12

Lemon or Lyme? Part 2

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/06/16

The tiny creatures lurking in your backyard could change your life forever. Shira Haid knows this reality all too well, having battled severe tick-borne illnesses that left her unable to walk or speak. Today, she's turning that painful experience into purpose through her educational platform, Lemon or Lime. What began as a website has blossomed into a YouTube channel and growing social media presence dedicated to demystifying tick-borne diseases like Lyme, Babesia, and Bartonella. Shira's mi...

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37:43

Lemon or Lyme? Part 1

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/06/09

Chronic illness steals more than your health—it can rob you of your identity and everything you once loved. For Shira Haid, a classically trained musician and clinical massage therapist, the onset of multiple tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme disease, marked the beginning of a devastating transformation. What began as extreme fatigue in 2014 quickly spiraled into debilitating pain, cognitive dysfunction, and the loss of her independence. The road to diagnosis proved maddening. Despite hav...

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34:01

The Audacious Patient: Finding Your Voice in a Broken...

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/06/02

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be both the healer and the one in need of healing? Meet Mallory Carlson, an acupuncturist of nearly 12 years who has simultaneously navigated her own 16-year journey with debilitating migraines and women's health issues. Mallory takes us deep into the raw reality of chronic pain, sharing how she's learned to read her body's signals and transform what once required days of recovery into hours. Her story illuminates the profound mental health chal...

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42:26

When Diagnosis Becomes Your Doorway, Not Your Destiny

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/05/26

What happens when doctors dismiss your symptoms for years, even as you're coughing up blood? For Amy, this medical gaslighting journey finally ended with a diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension in March 2023, followed by immediate hospitalization and life-altering treatments. Amy's story isn't just about receiving difficult diagnoses – including a rare heart defect, genetic mutation, and eventually breast cancer. It's about her revolutionary decision to reject the limitations others t...

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36:46

Competition or Comparison: Finding Your Place in...

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/05/19

Have you ever found yourself scrolling through social media, seeing others with your same diagnosis seemingly thriving while you struggle to get out of bed? That gnawing feeling of "why them and not me?" isn't something we talk about enough in the chronic illness community. The Spoonie Sisters dive deep into the complicated emotions of competition and comparison that silently impact many people with chronic conditions. Hosts Jen Weaver, Andi Byers, Linnea Knisley, and Angelic Ingram share th...

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48:48

Defying Limits: One Man's Battle with Arachnoiditis

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/05/12

Steve Lovelace's journey with arachnoiditis demonstrates the remarkable strength of the human spirit when faced with seemingly insurmountable pain. When his neurologist delivered the devastating diagnosis in 2014 with a solemn "I'm sorry," Steve realized his life would never be the same. This rare disease, ranking at the top of the pain scale, forced him to abandon his career as a traveling salesman and reimagine his entire existence. The roots of Steve's condition trace back to 1982, when a...

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49:16

Empowering Parents through Asthma Education

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/05/05

Andrea's inspiring journey from interior design to public health is a testament to the power of personal experience in shaping professional paths. Prompted by her son's asthma diagnosis and the challenges they faced navigating the healthcare system, Andrea became a Certified Health Education Specialist and Asthma Educator. Through her story, we uncover the emotional resilience required to manage a child's chronic illness and the unwavering trust in parental instincts that guided her towards a...

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39:56

The Art of Slow Nomad Living

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/04/28

How do you pursue your dreams when your body seems to have other plans? For slow travel nomad and empowerment coach Caitlin, the answer lies in adaptation rather than abandonment. With a background in environmental engineering and a life shaped by fibromyalgia and complex mental health challenges, she's crafted a unique approach to entrepreneurship that prioritizes well-being alongside achievement. "I got very, very sick because I was trying to keep up with everybody else," Caitlin reflects,...

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35:37

Dr. Amee's Vulnerability with Epilepsy and Advocacy

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/04/21

What happens when you combine the expertise of a trailblazing dentist with an unwavering commitment to mental health advocacy? Dr. Amee shares her powerful story of living with epilepsy since age eight and how it catalyzed her mission to challenge societal stigma and embrace vulnerability. Her journey from patient to advocate is a beacon of hope for those newly diagnosed, offering insights into balancing a thriving career and personal life while managing an invisible illness. Join us as we un...

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31:25

Resilience in Motion

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/04/14

Join us for a deeply moving conversation with Ashley Spalla, as she recounts her extraordinary journey living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and hip dysplasia. From a seemingly benign basketball injury in college, Ashley quickly found herself facing a challenging medical path that culminated in 49 surgeries over a decade. Her story, filled with determination, resilience, and hope, offers valuable insights not just into the challenges of navigating chronic illness, but also the importance of advo...

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32:24

POTS & Strategies with Maggie

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/04/07

Struggling with the challenges of invisible disabilities? Join us as Maggie Cavanaugh, a National Certified Counselor living with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), reveals her transformative journey from an advertising career to becoming a counselor. Diagnosed at just 14, Maggie navigates the complexities of mental health and chronic illness with empathy, sharing her insights on overcoming disparities in income and workplace stigma. Her story unfolds with a heartening look at ...

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51:14

Taboo Talk: Sex, Mormonism

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/04/05

Chronic illness impacts every aspect of our lives, including the bedroom. In this refreshingly candid conversation, we break down the walls of shame and silence surrounding sexuality when living with chronic conditions. Ali returns from her mountain cabin retreat to share how her diagnosis completely changed her relationship with intimacy—once a proudly sexual person who even won a Thunder Down Under fake orgasm contest (with her mother cheering her on!), years of severe symptoms and medicat...

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37:18

Nerdy Workouts and Connection

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/04/01

Ever wondered how fitness can be more inclusive and empowering for everyone? Join us as we dive into a transformative conversation with Keira, the innovative founder of Chaotic Good Fitness, who has redefined personal training for neurodivergent and queer individuals. Keira's journey, marked by personal battles with ADHD and depression, has fueled their empathetic and personalized approach to fitness. Discover how Kira crafts unique fitness plans for those with chronic conditions like RA, fib...

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52:13

Epilepsy Beyond the Ordinary

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/03/24

What happens when ordinary deja vu becomes something far more complex? In honor of Epilepsy Awareness Day, join us as we uncover Emma's extraordinary journey with epilepsy, a condition she was unexpectedly diagnosed with at the age of 23. Her story is a testament to resilience as she navigates through the labyrinth of symptoms and misdiagnoses, revealing the often-overlooked intricacies of living with epilepsy. Emma's candid recount of a pivotal episode in Sri Lanka and her subsequent advocac...

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38:18

Rheum Champions Tell All ACR 2024

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/03/17

Uncover the power of advocacy and community in rheumatology as we welcome our empowering guests, Jennifer Weaver and Cheryl Crow. Jennifer, a dedicated patient leader, and Cheryl, an occupational therapist and founder of Arthritis Life, open up about their journeys as Rheum Champions at the ACR Convergence 2024. With a promise of insight and inspiration, we navigate the intricacies of large conferences, including the importance of patient voices at the table and the small yet significant mome...

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42:17

Guava Your App to Health Tracking

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/03/10

Have you ever felt unheard or dismissed in a doctor's office? Join us as we navigate through the deeply personal health journeys of Isabel and Emily, part of the founding team of Guava Health, who share their compelling stories of battling complex medical challenges and the frustrating experience of not being believed by healthcare professionals. These stories aren't just about struggle—they're the catalyst for innovation at Guava Health, a personal health app designed to change the way we ma...

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34:36

The Silent Struggle: Endometriosis Revealed

My Spoonie Sisters ·

2025/03/03

Join us for a heartfelt and enlightening conversation tackling one of women's health's often-overlooked issues: endometriosis. Through the eyes of three women who bravely share their personal narratives, we uncover the complexities around the experiences of living with this painful condition. From the onset of their first menstrual cycles, fraught with discomfort and uncertainties, to the ongoing struggle to have their pain validated by medical professionals, their journeys are filled with re...

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174 results

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