Every Body (With Kristen Erekson)
by Kristen Erekson
Everybody has a body. Every body experiences something—whether it's pain, injury, illness, or disease. Every experience can teach us something. On this podcast, guests are interviewed about their health experiences and what they have learned, including awe and appreciation for the human body and spiritual insights. They also help listeners build awareness related to their health condition. Each episode is also recorded into the FamilySearch. Kristen Erekson has been a Nurse Practitioner since 2011. She is currently on the Faculty of the College of Nursing at Brigham Young University.
Episodes
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Mariita Carter- Childhood cancer
In this episode, Mariita Carter shares her son’s journey with a relatively rare childhood cancer: Ph+ B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ B-ALL). Both the diagnosis and the aggressive treatments that followed were incredibly difficult, sometimes becoming a matter of life and death. Mariita...
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Whitney Bassett- Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition many women experience, yet the stigma surrounding maternal mental health often causes women to suffer in isolation. In this episode, Whitney Bassett courageously and candidly shares her experience with PPD following the birth of her second child.…
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Rock Erekson - Retinal Tears
What happens when your world suddenly loses its light? In this episode, Rock Erekson recounts his harrowing experience with temporary vision loss caused by retinal tears. Beyond the clinical reality, Rock relates how this brief season of darkness deepened his appreciation for the daily miracle of...
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Anisa Guy- Hearing Loss (Acoustic Neuroma)
In this episode, Anisa Guy shares her journey from the first signs of tinnitus to a life-changing diagnosis of a vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma, or a benign tumor of the hearing nerve). As a professional trained in American Sign Language interpretation, Anisa offers a unique, full-circle...
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Stephanie Ollerton - Brain bleed
In 2022, Stephanie Ollerton experienced a dramatic and painful medical emergency which was later diagnosed as a perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage (brain bleed). In this episode Stephanie shares insights she has gained from this experience, including an increased love and appreciation for...
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Annette Perkins - Eating Disorders
In this episode, Annette Perkins vulnerably shares her journey with eating disorders and disordered eating. She describes her internal transformation—from feeling pressured to earn her worth through performance and achievement to experiencing a deep sense of being loved, accepted, and inherently...
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Zachary Lifferth- Polymyositis
In this episode, Zachary Lifferth shares about his journey with polymyositis—a rare autoimmune disease that causes muscle inflammation and weakness. He recounts the relatively long path to diagnosis and discusses some of the physical challenges he has learned to navigate. He also reflects on some...
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Kristin Sokol- Celiac Disease
In this episode, Kristin Sokol shares her journey with Celiac Disease and the profound impact it had on her daily life. She talks about the initial diagnosis, the challenges of adapting to a gluten-free lifestyle, and some of the hurdles in managing the disease. Kristin also relates the…
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Jojo and Bethany Newman Hall: Legg-Calve-Perthes
In this episode, Bethany and Jojo share their experience navigating Legg-Calve-Perthes, an orthopedic condition that causes avascular necrosis of the hip. Their faith has been a guiding influence throughout the process, reinforcing their beliefs and making them stronger individuals.
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Alicia Kimball McCoy- Food allergies in children
In this episode, Alicia shares some of the experiences she and her husband have had navigating their children’s food allergies, relating some intense and frightening moments along the way. She emphasizes the importance of doing our best while trusting God for guidance, extending grace to one...
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Matt Anderson - Loss of a child
In this episode, Matt Anderson shares the deeply personal story of losing their son Hyrum in a tragic drowning accident. He also offers profoundly moving insights about grief, longing, love, faith, and our Heavenly Father. *** Links from the Interview: Life After Loss Conference , 2025 Conference...
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Kylie Webster- Leigh’s disease (Leigh Syndrome)
This episode features an interview with Kylie Webster, who was diagnosed at a young age with Leigh’s disease (Leigh syndrome), a genetic metabolic disorder affecting the central nervous system. Kylie shares how she has learned to live fully, embrace life’s challenges, and find purpose and meaning...
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Whitney (and Lara) Erekson- Rare Genetic Condition: KDM5C
In this episode, Lara Erekson shares the health journey of her daughter Whitney. It was only after many years of symptoms and distressing experiences and procedures and testing that she finally received the diagnosis: a rare genetic condition known as KDM5C. Their story sheds light on the...
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Katie Willis-Meningioma (Brain Tumor)
Katie Willis endured a series of aggravating symptoms and underwent a variety of treatments before ultimately discovering she had a meningioma—a tumor growing in the brain’s meninges. In this episode, she shares her journey with this diagnosis, along with deeply personal experiences she and her...
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Wes Rasmussen- MCTD (Mixed Connective Tissue Disease)
In this episode, Wes Rasmussen shares his experience living with MCTD (Mixed Connective Tissue Disease), describing it as a constant presence, like a shadow (as Aimee Mullins has discussed*). Mountain biking has been a therapeutic intervention for Wes, and has also taught him about the and body’s...
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Emily Deardeuff - Breast Cancer
In this episode, Emily shares about her experience with breast cancer. She highlights some of the complexity of making medical decisions, the peace from trusting in God’s greater design when things don’t play out the way we hoped, the comfort of having a divine identity when we have a loss of...
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Camille Moffat- Motor Vehicle Crash/ Traumatic Brain Injury
Camille Moffat has such a vivacious personality and approach to life, which is remarkable considering the struggles she faces daily after a life-altering motor vehicle collision caused by a drunk driver. In this episode, Camille shares her story and discusses how her faith in God grew through…
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Tatha Enz- Down Syndrome
Tatha Enz's youngest child, Conner, was born with Trisomy 21/Down Syndrome. In this episode, Tatha shares some of her experiences related to her son, including both challenges and joys. She offers perspectives and advice for other parents, family members, and friends who have a loved one with...
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Cameron Earl - Polycystic Kidney Disease
In this episode, Cam Earl shares his experience with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). He discusses his proactive approach to this life challenge, including selecting his medical team and maintaining a positive mental attitude. He also provides touching insights into the...
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Leticia Bollinger- Type 1 Diabetes
Leticia was diagnosed as a young adult with Type I diabetes. In this episode, she shares her experience with receiving the diagnosis and learning to manage this condition. She also shares insightful reflections about her mental and emotional journey. She highlights the mental and emotional load…
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Jimy Erekson- sickle cell trait
In this interview, Jimy shares his unfolding health journey with sickle cell trait and what it’s like to be in the messy middle of finding a diagnosis. For years, he had symptoms he could not explain. After many tests and conflicting diagnoses, they have ultimately concluded that he is likely...
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Corinna Trujillo Tanner- Blindness
Corinna Trujillo Tanner started noticing vision loss as a teenager and was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a rare genetic eye disease. Corinna shares her experiences with blindness and important lessons she has learned, including a perspective on post-traumatic growth and how persons facing...
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Heart Attack (SCAD) with Kimberly May
Kimberly May was feeling quite healthy one day and the next day she found herself seeking emergency care and was diagnosed with a heart attack (more specifically a Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection—SCAD). In this episode, Kimberly recounts her experience and shares her appreciation for...
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Hunter Montgomery- Hemophilia
In this episode, Hunter Montgomery shares his experience with hemophilia. What is hemophilia? If you have it, will you bleed from a paper cut? Hunter answers these questions along with some insights and how this health challenge has become a net positive in his life. (Note: I have no financial...
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Madie Gines -ALS
Madie Gines is a young adult who was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) shortly after her mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This condition is a neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive muscle weakness. Even though it is difficult for her to…
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Ryan Griffin -Living with Quadriplegia
In this episode, Ryan Griffin shares about an accident that left him with quadriplegia and some insights he has gained. He has faced this difficult situation with bravery and he has continued to be hard-working, kind, and dedicated to God.
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Ben Schilaty - Having a loved one with Alzheimers
Ben Schilaty shares about his Mom’s journey with Alzheimer’s. He shares poignant and beautiful insights, including the concept of ambiguous loss, the importance of loving and living in the present, and a perspective about having God in our life and still experiencing hard things.
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Millie’s Journey with Narcolepsy
In this episode, we hear from Millie Carlson, who shares her journey with narcolepsy. She suffered extreme sleepiness and fatigue while trying to find clarity on her diagnosis and has since learned to adapt to a new pace of life. In the process, she has learned more about what it means to “Be...
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BONUS 2 minute segment: Emily Deardeuff awareness advice
Crohn's awareness idea
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Emily Deardeuff - Crohn's Disease
Emily Deardeuff was diagnosed with Crohn's disease as a teenager. Crohn's is a inflammatory bowl disease that causes chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal system. In this episode she shares a little about her experience and some of the insights she has gained.
About this show
Everybody has a body. Every body experiences something—whether it's pain, injury, illness, or disease. Every experience can teach us something. On this podcast, guests are interviewed about their health experiences and what they have learned, including awe and appreciation for the human body and spiritual insights. They also help listeners build awareness related to their health condition. Each episode is also recorded into the FamilySearch. Kristen Erekson has been a Nurse Practitioner since 2011. She is currently on the Faculty of the College of Nursing at Brigham Young University.
Hosted by
Kristen Erekson