Living with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Body Image, Desire, and Resilience

In this episode of Feed the Matriarchy, Heather and Johanna sit down with Penny MacDonell (she,her) to talk about living with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, navigating body image, and learning to see herself as beautiful in a world that rarely reflected bodies like hers. Penny shares her journey through chronic illness, medical procedures, family support, and the emotional impact of societal beauty standards that often exclude disabled and diverse bodies. Together, they explore disability, desirability, representation, and what it means to reclaim joy, sexuality, and self-acceptance at every stage of life. This is a powerful conversation about resilience, identity, and learning to love the body you live in.