169. A Conversation on Multiple Sclerosis Navigating MS in the Performing Arts: Angela's Story

Angela Birchett is said by many to be “an incredibly connected singer with vocal skills as that of a master angler.” She is a seasoned lead vocalist and has appeared in musical offerings that span the musical theatre, classical, jazz, gospel and pop worlds. She hails from Detroit, Michigan. She has been featured at various NYC nightlife venues and is the host of the electrifying Monday night curated open mic, "Lights Out On Broadway" in the heart of Times Square. Angela made her Broadway debut in the 2015 Tony Award winning revival of The Color Purple and has several regional and touring credits including: The Color Purple (First National tour), Dreamgirls (Effie White), Once On This Island (Asaka), Smokey Joe’s Café (BJ) and Hairspray National Tour(Motormouth). Television credits include CBS' "Kevin Can Wait" and NBC' "Blindspot." Most recently she starred in Lifetime’s movie event “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel as Jacky Clark Chisholm which reached 11 million viewers in its opening weekend, making it the most viewed premiere on cable television of 2020! www.angelabirchett.com Summary: Alicia and Angela discuss their experiences with multiple sclerosis, including their diagnoses, symptoms, and treatment approaches. They also explore the challenges of managing MS in the entertainment industry and the importance of advocating for oneself. Keywords: multiple sclerosis, diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, alternative healthcare, advocacy, entertainment industry, career impact, Multiple Sclerosis, Acting, The Preacher's Wife, Musical, Support, Creative Process, Impact, Theater, Broadway Takeaways: Diagnosis and Symptoms: Alicia and Angela share their experiences of being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and the symptoms they experienced prior to diagnosis. Treatment Approaches: The conversation explores alternative healthcare options and the decision to manage MS without medication. Advocacy and Career Impact: The importance of advocating for oneself in the entertainment industry and the impact of MS on their careers is discussed. Angela's experience with MS and the challenges she faces as an actor provide insight into the impact of the condition on performing arts. Sound Bites: "I have never taken one injection, not one pill. Yes, I've had steroids over the years, but not for that. It's been for sinus infections, voice things, but specifically for MS." "We're so reliant on Western medicine and what it offers us. And that's fine. Listen, I'm not taking away from that from anybody because it does help certain people. And if that's what works for you, great. But for a lot of people that want to try something else, there are options." "It took so much blood, sweat and tears, but we are here and it has been amazing to be a part of an original piece." Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage 02:28 Diagnosis and Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis 08:27 Treatment Approaches and Alternative Healthcare Options 15:26 Advocacy, Empowerment, and Career Impact 26:21 Support and Creativity: Overcoming Challenges in Theater The Preacher's Wife: A New Musical: https://www.alliancetheatre.org/ Stay connected with Angela! Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AngelaBirchett Subscribe to The Eating Me Podcast on YouTube!! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@aliciachristian9226?si=lndTSV7K9miNuetj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stay in contact with Alicia! Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.aliciachristian.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/Divaleesh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thealiciachristian/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thealiciachristian?lang=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠