The Chronic Truth

Dr. Tommy Rhee spent years watching elite athletes at UCLA and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers survive injuries instead of heal them, numbing the pain to play through the season and saving surgery for the off-season. He developed Regen, a needle-free topical that delivers stem cell signaling through the skin to reduce inflammation and trigger regeneration without injections, downtime, or immune response risk. He joins Kim Nash to break down the science in plain language: what regenerative medicine actually is, why it's not about the cells themselves, and where this technology is headed for everyday chronic pain patients.CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast and Guest00:57 Dr. Tommy Rhee's Background and Expertise02:54 Innovations in Regenerative Medicine05:47 Challenges in Athlete Recovery and Pain Management09:05 The Role of Inflammation in Chronic Pain11:57 Future of Regenerative Medicine and Accessibility15:11 Understanding Neuropathy and Circulation18:02 The Impact of Inflammation on Chronic Conditions20:49 Dr. Rhee's Book and Future Insights23:08 Conclusion and Listener EngagementCONNECT & RESOURCESDr. Hendrickson:🌐 Website: rheegen.com📚 Book: The Future of Regenerative Medicine — available on Amazon (two formats in one: science edition + Jeff's Journey plain-language summary)   The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Dr. Debra Hendrickson is a pediatrician in Reno, the fastest-warming city in the U.S., and the author of The Air They Breathe. She joins Kim Nash to talk about something most chronic illness patients and caregivers aren't warned about: how common medications impair your body's ability to cope with heat, and how rising temperatures and wildfire smoke are quietly compounding the health burden for anyone already managing a chronic condition. Practical, urgent, and packed with information you can act on today.             CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS  00:00 Meet Dr. Debra Hendrickson: A Pediatrician in America's Fastest-Warming City 03:27 Wildfire Smoke, Asthma, and Why Children Are Especially Vulnerable 06:51 The Story Behind The Air They Breathe 08:59 Guidance for Physicians: Proximal vs. Distal Climate Health Risks 10:53 Practical Adaptations: Air Filters, Masks, AQI, and Heat Safety for Kids 14:08 Medications That Affect the Body's Ability to Handle Heat 17:18 Protecting Kids in Car Seats and Pregnant Moms from Heat Risk 19:38 Where to Find Dr. Hendrickson and The Air They Breathe CONNECT & RESOURCESDr. Hendrickson:  🌐 Website: debrahendrickson.com (free downloadable handout on heat and wildfire smoke adaptations; contact form) 📚 Book: The Air They Breathe — available on Amazon  The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Kenneth Kabagambe founded Uganda's National Organization for People Living with Hepatitis B after watching a friend die of a disease nobody around him had heard of, and then being diagnosed himself. In 13 years, he has secured government funding, free birth dose vaccination for every newborn in Uganda, a Triple Elimination Conference for Africa, and ongoing advocacy at the highest levels of health policy. He joins Kim Nash for a conversation about stigma that still breaks families, clinical trials that exclude the populations that need them most, funding that still hasn't arrived, and why hepatitis B cannot wait.            CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Hepatitis Awareness02:08 Kenneth's Journey and Advocacy14:06 Progress in Hepatitis B Management20:52 Challenges in Funding and Awareness25:13 Understanding Hepatitis B Transmission27:09 Stigma and Discrimination in Hepatitis B31:21 Future of Hepatitis B Treatment34:45 Connecting with the Advocacy CommunityCONNECT & RESOURCESKenneth: 🌐 Website: noplhb.org 💼 LinkedIn: Kenneth Kabagambe / National Organization for People Living with Hepatitis B 📘 Facebook: Kenneth Kabagambe / National Organization for People Living with Hepatitis B  The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Dwayne Wilson was born with Pompe disease and didn't find out until he was 50 years old, when he couldn't climb a staircase, couldn't get off the toilet, and felt like someone was standing on his chest in a swimming pool. Eight years later, he's on biweekly infusion #194, rolled his Dolphin-stickered electric wheelchair to 14 Anaheim Ducks games this season, and posted a laser show video that got 4.1 million views and counting. He returns to The Chronic Truth to talk about treatment, mental health, hybrid mobility, and why getting the diagnosis is never the end, it's a new beginning.           CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Pompeii Disease and Advocacy09:46 Dwayne's Journey to Diagnosis20:06 Living with Pompeii Disease30:00 Advocacy and Spreading Awareness39:48 Mental Health and Quality of LifeCONNECT & RESOURCESDwayne: 📱 Instagram: @SmashingPompe 📱 Facebook: Smashing Pompe / Dwayne Wilson 🐦 X (Twitter): @SmashingPompe 💼 LinkedIn: Dwayne Wilson (professional content and columns) 🌐 Pompe Champions Program: communityofus.com (lists all 10 Pompe champions) 💪 Free wristbands: Message Dwayne directly — says "Pompe Awareness" and "Smashing Pompe"   The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Dr. Edward Kondrot was a conventional eye surgeon until adult-onset asthma and the tremors caused by his medication forced him to find another way. Homeopathy cured his asthma. It also changed who he was as a doctor. Now he integrates homeopathy, microcurrent stimulation, and whole-person care into his ophthalmology practice and gives away his bestselling book for free because no book helps anyone sitting on a shelf. He joins Kim Nash for a conversation about treating the person instead of the disease, what an argument with your wife has to do with losing your sight, and why hope is the prerequisite for any cure.          CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast and Guest Background05:04 Dr. Kondrat's Health Crisis and Discovery of Homeopathy10:06 Integrating Homeopathy into Ophthalmology Practice14:56 The Importance of Diet and Nutrition in Health20:14 Spiritual Aspects of Healing and Community SupportCONNECT & RESOURCESDr. Kondrot: 📚 Free Book Download: kondrotbook.org (10 Essentials to Save Your Sight) 🩺 Free Eye Record Review: freeconsult.us 📰 Substack: kondrot.com (vision tips twice weekly + Ask Dr. Kondrot sessions twice monthly) 🙏 Prayers for Vision Group: Contact via kondrot.com  The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Jenny Jones is back, and a lot has changed. Since her last visit, she lost her mother to FAP complications, launched Life's Apolyp Foundation as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, and is correcting the record on something she got wrong last time: FAP is not just a colon disease. It's a whole-body condition that can show up in the eyes, skin, teeth, liver, and more, and the gaps in that understanding are delaying diagnosis and putting families at risk. This conversation covers the foundation, the research funding gap, the APC gene, and what it looks like to build a legacy out of grief.         CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast00:47 Understanding FAP and Its Gaps09:13 The Launch of Life's Apollop Foundation16:04 Community and Advocacy for FAP Patients24:48 Future Goals for Life's Apollop FoundationCONNECT & RESOURCESJenny Jones: 🌐 lysapolyp.org  The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Mara Fowler has lived with multiple sclerosis for 26 years, diagnosed just after her 21st birthday, after being misdiagnosed with complex migraines. She's been through plasmapheresis, eight and a half months of not walking, seizures, a torn labrum, and the kind of cognitive decline that quietly dismantles the life you built. She joins Kim Nash, who is currently going through the McDonald MS diagnostic criteria herself, for a deeply personal conversation about resilience, relearning your limits, building the right care team, and why sharing your story might be the most powerful thing you can do for someone else.        CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to the Chronic Truth Podcast01:08 Mara's Journey with MS03:01 Understanding MS Symptoms and Triggers06:42 The Impact of Diagnosis at a Young Age10:05 The Importance of a Supportive Care Team13:00 Navigating Life Changes with MS15:48 Advocacy and Community Engagement17:37 Words of Wisdom for Newly Diagnosed PatientsCONNECT & RESOURCES📱 Social Media: Facebook | Instagram The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Jesus Guillen has been an HIV survivor for 41 years since 1985, when a nurse at UCLA told him he was positive and walked out. He arrived in the U.S. in 1984 with no papers, no community, and no roadmap. What he built in the decades that followed Aguilas in San Francisco, the HIV Long-Term Survivors International Network, a global speaking career, and an Emmy-winning documentary came from the same impulse: nobody should have to think they're the only one left. This episode airs on HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day and during Pride Month. It is one of the most important conversations this show has had.       CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Resilience and Awareness02:37 Jesus Gillian's Journey: A Personal Story of Survival12:40 Stigma and Discrimination: The Ongoing Battle20:03 Advancements in HIV Treatment and Awareness27:21 The Importance of Community and Connection37:01 Building Support Networks for Long-Term Survivors45:30 Closing Thoughts: The Need for Compassion and UnderstandingCONNECT & RESOURCES📱 Social Media: Search #YourSingingAdvocate across platforms 📺 Documentary: Last Men Standing (Emmy Award-winning) 🌐 HIV Long-Term Survivors International Network (contact via social media)  The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Lara Silverman was two weeks into her dream job as a federal prosecutor when a rare neurological condition turned her world literally upside down. Eight years later, she's still largely bedridden with severe chronic vertigo, a widow, and the author of Singing Through Fire — an Amazon #1 bestseller she wrote flat on her back in six months. Her story includes a love story with a man facing terminal cancer, a wedding with a chemo pump in the room, and a faith that has been tested, broken, rebuilt, and tested again. For anyone in the chronic illness community wrestling with God, suffering, and the question of why this one is for you.      CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 The Journey of Pain and Purpose10:09 Finding Joy in Grief20:03 Surrendering to Suffering27:37 Community and Connection in Chronic IllnessCONNECT & RESOURCES📚 Book & Audiobook: Singing Through Fire — available on Amazon 🎙️ Podcast: Singing Through Fire — on YouTube (The Silverman Show) 📱 Instagram: @larapalanjian (maiden name) 📺 YouTube: The Silverman Show The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Chelcie Rice has had Type 1 diabetes since the late 1980s, diagnosed at 25, with no technology, no community, and a pamphlet for guidance. By 2005, he'd lost vision in one eye. Instead of retreating, he built a platform using comedy and storytelling to break the stigma and reach the people who are still navigating it alone. He joins Kim Nash to talk about diabetes burnout, the landmines inside online support groups, how workplaces fail their diabetic employees, and why humor might be the most underrated tool in chronic illness advocacy.     CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to the Chronic Truth Podcast01:06 Chelsea's Journey with Type 1 Diabetes04:35 Navigating Complications and Community Support10:06 Advocacy and the Importance of Community12:57 Understanding Diabetes in the Workplace15:48 The Role of Community in Chronic Illness Management21:11 Advice for Newly Diagnosed Patients23:35 Connecting with Chelsea and Closing ThoughtsCONNECT & RESOURCES 📱 @type1comedianThe Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction: Podcast Mechanic

Eric Butcher was told to get his affairs in order at 38. He had cirrhosis, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency, and five years. That was 15 years ago. His MELD score has dropped from 15 to 8 through lifestyle changes, community, and getting off medications that were quietly compounding the damage. Now he's built The Prepared Patient, a navigation framework for chronic illness patients who are tired of 15-minute appointments that go nowhere. He joins Kim Nash to talk Alpha-1, insurance gatekeeping, how to advocate without being labeled difficult, and why community is the most underrated medicine there is.    CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Milestone01:04 Eric Butcher's Journey with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency08:57 Navigating Chronic Illness and Healthcare Challenges15:55 Advocating for Yourself in Healthcare20:48 Community Support and Personal Struggles22:54 Conclusion and ResourcesCONNECT & RESOURCES📱 @EricButcherOfficialThe Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction: Podcast Mechanic

Jason Jepson was 19 when he had a psychotic break at an Army base in the Mojave Desert. He's 45 now, living independently, volunteering, writing a blog cited by academic journals, and traveling to Portugal with his family. His mother, Maye, is a trained counselor who became an expert in schizoaffective disorder overnight, started a Facebook group called Parenting Through Mental Illness, and trains law enforcement through NAMI on how to respond to mental health crises. Together, they join Kim Nash for a conversation that covers the full arc: diagnosis, crisis, the trust partner model, long-acting injectables, triggers, and why recovery doesn't mean cured, it means living.   CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Mental Health Advocacy02:05 Jason's Journey: From Army Life to Diagnosis05:50 Understanding Schizoaffective Disorder10:03 The Role of Family in Mental Health14:12 Becoming a Trust Partner17:59 Advocacy and Community Engagement24:09 Navigating Law Enforcement and Mental Health29:47 Medication Management and Recovery34:02 Daily Routines and Coping Strategies38:13 Conclusion and Call to ActionCONNECT & RESOURCES📝 Jason's Blog: jasongepps.blogspot.com 👥 Facebook Group: Parenting Through Mental IllnessThe Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction: Podcast Mechanic

Dean Graves has spent 20+ years teaching one idea: the condition of the body is a manifestation of the mind. As a meditation teacher, mental health counselor, and author, he works with veterans, trauma patients, and chronic pain sufferers who are ready to stop fighting their bodies and start understanding them. This conversation covers consciousness, the ego mind, how stress works as a teacher, and a set of trauma-clearing techniques he learned from a Serbian psychologist that can dissolve a lifelong pattern in 10 minutes. For anyone living in chronic pain who wonders if there's more to healing than medication, this one is for you.   CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to the Chronic Truth Podcast 01:10 Meet Dean Graves: A Holistic Healer 03:32 Understanding Consciousness and Healing 09:10 The Mind-Body Connection in Healing 15:41 Stress as a Teacher 17:00 The Power of Meditation 20:21 Defining Happiness and Bliss 23:04 Pain, Energy, and Healing 24:24 Exploring Dean's Books and Teachings 27:11 The Role of Medication in Healing 28:34 Conclusion and Resources CONNECT & RESOURCES🌐 Website:  ddeangray.orgThe Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction: Podcast Mechanic

Ruthy spent years being dismissed before passing out from pain and finally landing in the office of a surgeon whose bio said: If you're in pain, please come see me. The MRI showed seven internal organs fused. She built The Yellow Hub: a global specialist map with over half a million views so no one else would have to find the right doctor by accident. Now, as co-founder of Ma Pott Health, she's bringing AI-powered symptom forecasting to endometriosis patients so they can manage their lives around the disease instead of being controlled by it.  Chapters/Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast and Ruthy's Journey06:55 The Birth of the Yellow Hub and Community Support14:12 Understanding Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Treatment Challenges21:58 Innovative Solutions: AI and Patient Empowerment25:48 Life After Diagnosis: Managing Chronic Pain and Daily LifeCONNECT & RESOURCES🌐 Website:  theyellowhub.org 🌐 Website:  ma-pott.comThe Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction: Podcast Mechanic

Lorrinda Gray-Davis went from managing billion-dollar construction projects to crash-landing in an ER with end-stage liver disease, then inoperable liver cancer, then a high-risk transplant that was only possible because of clinical trials. As president of TRIO and vice chair of OPTN's Patient Affairs Committee, she's turned that journey into systems that actually help: a peer-to-peer transplant support meeting running six years online, and the Transplant Medication Navigator, which has taken medications from hundreds of dollars to single digits for patients who didn't know they had options. This one is packed with information the transplant community needs and isn't hearing anywhere else. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS00:00 Facing the Diagnosis: A Life-Changing Moment06:51 Navigating the Transplant Journey14:12 Empowerment Through Advocacy and Support19:56 Understanding the Transplant System25:49 Living Life After Transplant: A New PerspectiveCONNECT & RESOURCES🌐 Website: trioweb.org 💊 Transplant Medication Navigator: transplantmedicationnavigator.com 📧 Email: [email protected] Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction: Podcast Mechanic

When chronic illness enters a relationship, it doesn't ask permission, and no one gives you a manual for what comes next. Lisa Gray is a licensed marriage and family therapist, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patient, and author of Thriving in a Relationship When You Have a Chronic Illness. She joins Kim Nash to talk about why both partners are grieving (just differently), how to stop fighting each other and start fighting the illness together, and what to do when your partner won't accept your diagnosis. Packed with practical tools for newly diagnosed patients, caregivers, and couples at every stage. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS00:00 Navigating Chronic Illness and Relationships07:14 Grief and Acceptance in Chronic Illness14:06 Communication Strategies for Couples20:57 Tools for Thriving in Relationships26:23 Finding the Right TherapistCONNECT & RESOURCES🌐 Website: LisaGrayAuthor.com (both books available) 📚 Books: Available on Amazon, independent bookstores, and LisaGrayAuthor.com 📱 Instagram: @LisaGrayMFT (chronic illness content)🗂️ Find a chronic illness therapist: chronicillnesstherapists.comThe Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction: Podcast Mechanic

Dr. Bruce Gillis spent over a decade proving what too many doctors still refuse to accept: fibromyalgia is a real, diagnosable immune deficiency — not a made-up condition affecting neurotic women. His FM1 blood test, covered by Medicare and most major insurers, gives patients a definitive rule-in diagnosis. His supplement Imbix targets the gut-brain axis and has helped people off wheelchairs, off anti-psychotics, and out of decades of suffering — with zero confirmed adverse effects. This conversation covers fibromyalgia, long COVID, interstitial cystitis, the dangerous drugs the FDA did approve, and why 65 million Americans are still suffering when they don't have to be.CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS00:00 Understanding Fibromyalgia and Its Prevalence02:50 The Science Behind Fibromyalgia Diagnosis06:03 Innovative Blood Tests and Their Impact08:59 The Role of Immune System in Chronic Pain12:01 Treatment Options and Patient Experiences15:01 Challenges with Traditional Medical Approaches17:58 The Future of Fibromyalgia Treatment19:26 Understanding Interstitial Cystitis and Diagnosis Challenges21:56 The Importance of Accurate Testing and Lab Accreditation23:59 The Mental Health Impact of Chronic Pain26:59 The Role of Big Pharma in Patient Care29:56 Empowering Patients with Information and Resources32:08 Connecting with Dr. Gillis and His WorkCONNECT & RESOURCES🌐 fm1test.comThe Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction: Podcast Mechanic

Eileen Flynn Wagner survived five Hep C treatments, a near-fatal liver failure, and a transplant she almost didn't live to receive, and eight years later, she's still navigating the aftermath. Her kidneys are now at 20% function, she gets stents replaced every three months, and she carries a partially collapsed lung she's never once felt. She joins Kim Nash to speak candidly about why a combined kidney-liver transplant should have been done from the start, the anti-rejection medications patients aren't fully warned about, and why waking up from surgery turned her into a lifelong voice for organ and tissue donation. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS00:00 Eileen's Journey with Hepatitis C and Transplantation07:25 The Impact of Interferon Treatment08:29 The Need for Simultaneous Kidney and Liver Transplants12:21 Current Health Status and Ongoing Challenges15:44 Advocacy for Organ Donation19:31 Life After Transplant: Lessons LearnedCONNECT & RESOURCES🌐 Organ Donation: organdonor.govThe Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction: Podcast Mechanic

At 14, Allany Muniz had her first seizure right before freshman year of high school. During basketball tryouts, she had another—and became known as "the seizure girl" for the rest of high school. Years of severe depression, suppressed trauma, and silence followed until a fractured ankle in November 2020 left her bedridden with visions in her head that wouldn't stop. She started filming videos (still under anesthesia) and created Diary of an Epileptic—a platform breaking the stigma around epilepsy's physical and mental toll. She's not a perfect role model, and that's exactly why her story matters.     CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction to Epilepsy Awareness02:00 Alani's Journey with Epilepsy05:57 The Impact of Epilepsy on Mental Health10:03 Content Creation as a Healing Tool11:50 Understanding Treatment and Individual Experiences16:12 Advocacy and Community EngagementCONNECT & RESOURCESConnect with Allany Muniz: 📺 YouTube: Diary of an Epileptic 📱 TikTok: @DiaryofanEpilepti (without the C at the end) 📷 Instagram: @DiaryofanEpileptic 📧 Email: [email protected] (for those uncomfortable with social media) 💬 DMs Open: Allany responds to direct messages for advice, support, and questionsThe Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction: Podcast Mechanic

Your treatment plan is decided before you walk into the doctor's office by an insurance actuary in another city who limits your doctor to 12 drugs. Dr. Kevin Smith, founder of Chronic Condition Center, has spent 25 years proving functional medicine works differently: asking why instead of chasing symptoms, testing 10 thyroid markers instead of just TSH, and investigating toxic load, hormone imbalances, and the 27 anemia patterns traditional medicine ignores. If you've tried all the drugs and you're still stuck, this episode is your roadmap to something different.    CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS00:00 The Essence of Health and Functional Medicine09:10 Exploring the Chronic Condition Center17:00 Understanding Thyroid Health and Testing22:23 Alternative Approaches to Health and WellnessCONNECT & RESOURCESConnect with Dr. Kevin Smith:🌐 Website: MetabolicSolutions.net  📋 Free Health Quiz: 2-minute assessment with personalized action plan sent via email (categorizes issues as severe, moderate, or minor) The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction: Podcast Mechanic

Kim Nash was the first baby born to a kidney transplant recipient in the United States and unknowingly contracted Hepatitis C at birth. Diagnosed at 37 with young kids, she faced end-stage liver disease, treatment failure, and crushing depression before a 2014 clinical trial cured her and changed her purpose. Now navigating dystonia, neuropathy, and MS diagnosis while her liver regenerates, Kim shares the raw truth about surviving chronic illness: seeking therapy, starting a gratitude journal with just "a cup of coffee," and discovering that the first battle is in your mind. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction to the Chronic Truth Podcast00:47 Kimberly Nash's Personal Journey with Chronic Illness04:02 Resilience and Hope in the Face of Adversity05:54 The Power of Positive Thinking and GratitudeCONNECT & RESOURCESConnect with Rare Patient Voice:🎙️ Website: Chronic Truth Podcast 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @ChronicTruthPodcast 💬 Share Your Testimony: Testimonials 🎗️ Bonnie Morgan Foundation: Patient advocacy organization (Kim serves as President)The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: Survey📧 Sign Up: Rare Patient Voice ($120 per hour for participation)Production Inquiries: Podcast Mechanic

Seven to ten years, that's how long most people wait for an accurate rare disease diagnosis, cycling through treatments that don't work and doctors who've never seen their condition. Pam Cusick, VP of Rare Patient Voice, has built a community of 200,000 patients across 1,500 conditions who get paid $120/hour to shape clinical trials, test medical devices, and ensure research reflects real patient experiences. With over $18 million paid to participants and 300+ active studies, this is how patient voices drive medical progress and get compensated for it.CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS00:00 Understanding Rare Patient Voice09:46 The Importance of Rare Disease Day11:56 The Zebra Symbol and Its SignificanceCONNECT & RESOURCESConnect with Rare Patient Voice:🌐 Website: Rare Patient Voice (https://rarepatientvoice.com/rp/chronictruthpodcast) 📧 Sign Up: Free registration for patients and family caregivers (all conditions welcome) 📰 Active Studies: View 90+ studies needing participants under "Patients" → "Newsletters" on website 💰 Compensation: $120 per hour for participation 💳 Payment Options: Check (first-time participants), direct deposit, or PayPal (returning participants) 📊 Community Stats: 200,000+ patients and caregivers, 9 countries, 1,500+ conditions 📈 Milestone: Over $18 million paid to participants (as of the end of 2023)   Resources Mentioned:National Institutes of Health (NIH): Rare Disease Day celebration in Bethesda, MD (February 28th) Rare Disease Day Global Awareness: Monument lighting (Empire State Building and landmarks worldwide) Zebra Symbol: "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses—but don't forget the zebras" (rare disease awareness) Previous Episode: CEO Wes interview on Rare Patient Voice (listen for full organizational overview) The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: Survey📧 Sign Up: Rare Patient Voice ($120 per hour for participation)Production Inquiries: Podcast Mechanic

Nine out of ten people with eating disorders never receive specialty care. They're sitting right next to you, walking wounded in a diet culture designed to keep them that way. Eating disorder dietitian Jessica Setnick has spent 28 years uncovering the intergenerational food stories, unconscious childhood rules, and emotional programming that drive disordered eating long before anyone thinks to ask for help. From the language to use when a friend is struggling to the childhood circle exercise that reveals exactly why you eat the way you do, this conversation brings eating issues out of the shadows and into the light, where healing can actually begin.   CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS00:00 Understanding Eating Disorders and Self-Perception02:50 The Role of Upbringing in Eating Habits05:47 The Impact of Diet Culture on Eating Behaviors09:11 Healing Your Inner Eater: A New Approach12:03 Intergenerational Patterns and Food Relationships15:10 Navigating Crisis in Eating Disorders17:56 Supporting Loved Ones with Eating Issues21:46 The Importance of Professional HelpCONNECT & RESOURCESConnect with Jessica Setnick:🌐 Website: JessicaSetnick.com (newsletter signup available on homepage) 🌐 Program: HealingYourInnerEater.com (workbook + online program waitlist) 📧 Email: [email protected] 📱 Instagram: @UnderstandingNutrition📘 Facebook: Jessica Setnick 📚 Healing Your Inner Eater Workbook: $15 with code PODCAST at HealingYourInnerEater.com (instant eBook download, printable)  Resources Mentioned:Healing Your Inner Eater Workbook: HealingYourInnerEater.com — Use code PODCAST for $15 digital downloadEating Disorders Bootcamp: Jessica's professional development training for hospital staff and healthcare providersKey Statistic: Only 1 in 10 people with eating disorders ever receive specialty eating disorder care — 9 in 10 go undiagnosed and untreatedFinding Help: Ask your primary care doctor for an eating disorder dietitian or counselor referral; telehealth options are also availableThe Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: SurveyProduction: Podcast Mechanic

After healing her multiple sclerosis naturally over 20 years, Christine Ruch discovered the missing piece that no diet, supplement, or lifestyle change could address: nervous system dysregulation. Her journey from Boulder holistic chef to transformation guide reveals why emotional capacity matters as much as nutrition, how unconscious patterns keep us sick, and the radical difference between forcing healing through rules versus trusting your body's innate wisdom. For anyone managing MS, autoimmune disease, or compounding chronic conditions, this conversation offers hope beyond the pill bottle.  CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS00:00 The Journey of Self-Healing03:11 Awakening to Deeper Healing10:50 Understanding the Nervous System's Role15:05 Transforming Emotional Landscapes20:17 Building Trust with Your Body25:07 The Non-Linear Path of Healing30:04 Creating a Safe Space for HealingCONNECT & RESOURCESConnect with Christine Ruch: 🌐 Website: ChristineRuch.com 📝 Substack: Writing on the healing path and holistic transformation (linked from website) 📱 Instagram: @christineruch.ms (podcast links, articles, and select content) 📞 Book a Call: Free discovery calls available at ChristineRuch.com 💬 WhatsApp Mentorship: 3, 6, and 9-month immersions with 24/7 nervous system support Resources Mentioned:McDonald's Criteria for MS: Diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis (referenced by host Kim Nash)Costa Rica Healing Experience: Transformational nervous system work with two healers (2022)Holistic Nutrition & Celiac Disease: Christine's entry point to natural healing (2006)Nervous System Regulation: Vagus nerve work and dysregulation patterns in autoimmune conditionsThe Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials📋 Community Survey: Survey

The day Maye Jepson's son called from a psychiatric hospital in California with a schizophrenia diagnosis, everything changed. Over 20 years later, she's transformed that fear into fierce advocacy—co-presenting Crisis Intervention Team training with Jason, founding Parenting Through Mental Illness, and giving parents the hope and practical tools they desperately need. From becoming a "trust partner" to knowing when to call the police, Maye shares what actually works when serious mental illness enters your family. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS00:00 Navigating Mental Health Challenges06:28 The Journey Begins: Diagnosis and Initial Reactions12:41 Building a Support System18:38 Crisis Intervention and Law Enforcement Training20:10 Managing Schizophrenia: Treatment and Recovery26:15 The Importance of Community and Education32:00 Finding Hope and Moving ForwardCONNECT & RESOURCESConnect with Maye Jepson: Maye Jepson - Licensed Counselor (Master's Degree in Counseling), National Mental Health Advocate, NAMI Co-Presenter 📘 Facebook: Parenting Thru Mental Illness 📝 Jason Jepson's Writing: AmazonResources Mentioned:NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): NAMI.org - Parent support groups, educational programs, family-to-family courses, CIT training for law enforcement Mental Health America: mhanational.org - National organization providing mental health resources, screening tools, and advocacy Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training: Week-long specialized training for police officers on de-escalating mental health crises and working with individuals experiencing psychiatric emergencies NAMI South Carolina: namisc.org - State affiliate offering local programs and police department trainingThe Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials

What if the "healthy" grains you're eating are actually fueling inflammation and disrupting your sleep? Board-certified clinical nutritionist Beverly Meyer pioneered the Paleo diet decades before it had a name, and her ancestral approach to healing reveals why chronic conditions improve when we stop fighting our biology. From batch cooking strategies to the hidden truth about olive oil fraud, discover practical nutrition that actually works for chronic illness.CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast01:28 Beverly Meyer's Journey to Health02:13 Understanding the Paleo Diet06:23 The Impact of Diet on Chronic Health Conditions09:01 The Shift in Cooking and Eating Habits12:10 Practical Cooking Tips for a Healthy Diet16:00 The Importance of Healthy Fats26:54 Improving Sleep for Chronic Health Sufferers33:48 Final Thoughts and ResourcesCONNECT & RESOURCESConnect with Beverly Meyer: Beverly Meyer - Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Paleo Diet Pioneer 🌐 Website: OnDietAndHealth.com 🎙️ Podcast: Primal Diet Modern Health 📌 Pinterest: Beverly Meyer Nutrition 📚 Free 16-Page Batch Cooking eBook: Available at the bottom of any article on OnDietAndHealth.com (requires newsletter signup) 🛒 Online Clinic Store: Pharma GABA and practitioner-grade supplements available through websiteResources Mentioned:Pure Indian Foods: PureIndianFoods.com - Fifth-generation ghee makers, highest quality pastured butter gheeUS Wellness Meats: GrasslandBeef.com - Pastured heritage pork and 100% grass-fed, grass-finished meatsChosen Foods: ChosenFoods.com - Pure avocado oil (not cut with canola)Pharma GABA: Fermented, chewable GABA supplement for sleep and anxiety support (available through Beverly's online store)Functional Medicine Resources: Referenced for trusted alternative health informationThe Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials

Is type 2 diabetes truly reversible, or are we being told the wrong story?Kim welcomes professional chef and diabetes advocate Jeff Grundy for an honest conversation about the confusion, fear, and misinformation surrounding type 2 diabetes.After spending years relying on medication alone, Jeff experienced a wake-up call that changed everything. Today, he helps others understand that real change doesn’t come from extreme diets or quick fixes but from mindset shifts, identity change, and small, consistent habits.Kim and Jeff discuss:🔴 Why diabetes is often the foundation of many chronic diseases🟢 How to start reversing diabetes with simple, sustainable steps🟣 Why medication alone is not the solution for type 2 diabetesChapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Illness and Diabetes Awareness01:28 Chef Jeff's Journey with Diabetes03:44 Understanding the Impact of Diabetes08:09 Diet and Lifestyle Changes for Diabetes Management10:06 Building a Supportive Community for Diabetes11:12 The Importance of Identity in Health Management12:12 Advice for Newly Diagnosed Individuals14:09 Myths and Realities of Diabetes15:44 Recognizing Symptoms and Risks of Diabetes16:48 Resources and Final Thoughts on Diabetes ReversalConnect with Jeff:🌐 yourdiabetesroadmap.com/chronic📘 Free Book: Your Diabetes Reversal Roadmap Support the show and share your experience: Visit chronictruthpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashPodcast Creative Director & Co-Producer: Jay Wilson

Is it normal forgetfulness or an Alzheimer’s warning sign? How do you talk to a defensive parent about their declining memory?Gerontology expert Janice Goldmintz, who cared for both parents with Alzheimer’s, provides a compassionate, step-by-step guide for overwhelmed families.   In this episode, Kim and Janice discuss:🔴 The “Fruit & Orange” Analogy: Simply understand dementia vs. Alzheimer’s 🟢 The Family Visit Checklist: Spot red flags like unopened mail and keys in the freezer  🟣 The #1 Legal Mistake: Why waiting for a diagnosis to get a Power of Attorney is dangerous 🟡 The 4 Criteria for “Home vs. Facility”: Finance, community, health, and future-proofingChapters00:00 Introduction to the Chronic Truth Podcast01:25 Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia02:26 Navigating Caregiver Challenges05:51 Recognizing Signs of Cognitive Decline08:37 Family Involvement in Care Decisions10:10 Making Care Decisions for Aging Parents12:08 Importance of Legal Preparations14:12 Advocating for Loved Ones with Alzheimer's15:52 Finding Support for Isolated Individuals17:59 Resources and Support for CaregiversConnect with Janice:📱 @agingparentjourney on Instagram To support the show or share your experience, visit our website at chronictruthpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashPodcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What if everything we think about boys and emotions is backwards? Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, a pioneering psychologist with 50 years of experience, will pull back the curtain on the emotional suppression of men in our culture.     In this enlightening and thought-provoking episode, Gloria reveals:​🔴 The Shocking Research: Boys enter the world with a wider emotional range than girls. Dr. Vanderhorst explains how we systematically train them to suppress it from infancy, and the lifelong cost of that narrowing. ​🟢 The Relational Fallout: Why the phrase "boys don't cry" is a direct contributor to failed relationships and emotional disconnect in partnerships. Discover why men often can't express fear or sadness, and how that "emotional robot" persona breaks down marriages.  ​🟣 The Path to Healing: From groundbreaking men's groups to a unique journal that uses drawing to unlock non-verbal trauma, Dr. Vanderhorst provides the tools for men to reclaim their emotional birthright and for all of us to raise a healthier generation. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Emotional Expression in Men03:09 Understanding Boys' Emotional Range08:01 The Impact of Emotional Suppression10:59 Tools for Raising Emotionally Healthy Boys13:33 The Importance of Mental Health17:39 Creating Safe Spaces for Emotional Expression19:29 Exploring Emotions Through Creative Outlets22:44 Resources for Emotional GrowthConnect with Dr. Vanderhorst:💻 Website 📘 EVRYMAN: Men's Support Group To support the show, visit our website at chronictruthpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashPodcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What if a circular saw blade could revolutionize kitchen safety for millions? After learning knife smithing but being unable to use traditional knives during a severe flare-up, Doug created the Nulu: a groundbreaking adaptive kitchen knife that aligns with your musculoskeletal structure, eliminates grip strain, and puts the blade exactly where your hand knows it is. But this episode goes far beyond a product story.  This week, Kim sits down with our featured guest, West Point graduate and disabled Army veteran Doug Katz, who turned his own upper extremity disabilities—arthritis, carpal tunnel, tennis elbow—into innovation. In this episode, we cover:🔴 The Universal Design Reality: Everyone is one second from needing adaptive tools—disability isn't an identity, it's a curve we all move through (broken arm? You're disabled for six weeks) 🟢 Hidden Entrepreneurial Gold: Every state by law has adaptive lending libraries nobody knows about + financial resources that remove price barriers from the disabled market🟣 The 114 Million Person Market: Elderly, children, temporarily injured, permanently disabled—when you think in "functional disability" and tasks, massive opportunities emerge🟡 Military Task Framework: Change the conditions and standards of tasks to unlock employability, independence, and innovation ⚪ Why the Nulu Works: Eliminates grip strain, aligns with musculoskeletal structure, blade is exactly where your hand knows it is—vision-impaired Paralympian partnership proves it00:00 Introduction to the Chronic Truth Podcast01:25 Meet Doug Katz: A Journey of Resilience02:41 The Invention of Nulu: A Game-Changer for Mobility Challenges06:20 Understanding the Kinetic Chain and Its Importance12:25 Universal Design: A Solution for All17:51 The Ability Curve: Redefining Disability21:26 Empowering Independence Through Adaptive Tools24:33 Encouraging Entrepreneurship in the Disabled CommunityGet the Nulu Knife: 💻 nuluknives.com | 🛒 Amazon | 📱 TikTok: @the_nulu_guruConnect with Doug Katz: 🎤 DouglasMKatz.com | 💼 LinkedIn | 📸 @douglasmkatzTo support the show, visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠chronictruthpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashPodcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

As 2025 comes to a close, this brief but powerful message reminds us why The Chronic Truth exists: to ensure no one fighting a serious health condition feels alone. In this heartfelt bonus episode, Kim pauses to reflect on an incredible year of storytelling, connection, and community building. As we enter the new year, share one Chronic Truth episode with someone who needs to hear they're not fighting alone. Whether it's a friend with a new diagnosis, a family member struggling with chronic pain, or a colleague navigating midlife health challenges, your share could be the connection that changes their perspective.Choose an episode that resonates with you and share it on your social media or text it directly to someone who needs itMUCH LOVE AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!To support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe on SpotifyThis episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashPodcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Men are dying of loneliness. The statistics on male suicide, isolation, and preventable chronic disease are staggering—yet most men wait until they're broken before seeking help. Stretch Rayner knows this firsthand. After climbing the corporate ladder, quitting to become a personal trainer, and building a thriving London gym, he hit complete burnout. This week, Kim sits down with our featured guest: Stretch Rayner, Founder of Midlife Mavericks. Former corporate professional turned fitness entrepreneur, Stretch rebuilt his life after burnout and now coaches men through midlife transitions. Based in remote Australia, he connects men globally through his online platform and signature "From Warrior to King" nine-week program.In this episode, we cover:🔴 The Masculinity Crisis: Why "toxic masculinity" debates leave men confused about how to show up—and the one question every man must answer for himself🟢 Warrior to King Journey: How the armor that served you in your 20s-30s no longer fits at midlife—and the nine-week rite of passage to transform your approach🟣 The Goal Framework That Works: 20,000-foot vision work, six-month milestones, 30-day experiments (not commitments)—consistency over intensity, failing fast without shame🟡 Why Self-Care Isn't Selfish: The oxygen mask principle for entrepreneurs and fathers—how prioritizing your health exponentially improves everything elseStretch Rayner's Links: 💻 Website: Midlife Mavericks 📱 Instagram: @stretch.raynerTo support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashPodcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

After breaking his neck at 12 and being told he'd be "fragile and crippled for life," Dr. Alan Weisser refused to accept that diagnosis. Today, he's a clinical psychologist with nearly 40 years of experience helping chronic pain patients move from suffering to mastery. In this powerful episode, Dr. Weisser reveals why chronic pain isn't just a medical problem—it's an existential challenge with up to 200 "collateral damages" that affect every aspect of your life. He introduces the Survival Triad, a revolutionary framework borrowed from martial arts that teaches patients to use anxiety and anger as tools rather than enemies, practice non-illusory thinking, and embrace conflict productively. This isn't about managing pain—it's about mastering it.Featured Guest: Dr. Alan Weisser, Clinical Psychologist and Founder of New Options Incorporated With nearly 40 years of clinical experience and over 50 years studying martial arts, Dr. Weisser developed a whole-person approach to chronic pain that addresses the physical, psychological, and existential impacts of living with persistent symptoms. Author of "Unraveling the Mystery: Mastering Chronic Pain."In this episode, we cover:00:00 Facing the Harsh Reality of Chronic Pain02:59 The Journey from Injury to Empowerment06:06 Understanding the Complexities of Chronic Pain08:56 The Role of Emotions in Pain Management11:49 Innovative Approaches to Chronic Pain Treatment15:04 The Importance of Emotional and Mental Health18:02 Transforming Pain into Personal Power20:51 The Future of Chronic Pain ManagementActionable Takeaways✔ For chronic pain patients: Start an Evening Journal today—during the day, list everything making you anxious, rate each 0-10, and strategize solutions so your brain isn't ruminating at bedtime✔ For physical therapy patients: Tell your PT directly, "I'm scared—reassure me and I'll do it" to get the support you need to follow through with exercises safely✔ For anyone feeling overwhelmed: Recognize you're likely facing 30+ collateral damages, not just 1-2 problems—understanding the full scope helps explain why it feels like a tsunami✔ For those experiencing depression: Understand that depression is your attempt to shut down anxiety and anger—but these emotions are your survival toolkit, not your enemiesDr. Alan Weisser's Links:💻 Email: [email protected] (best way to reach him)To support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashPodcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠About the Host: Kim Nash is a chronic illness advocate and podcast host who brings both personal experience living with chronic conditions and deep advocacy expertise to every conversation. Her mission is to amplify patient voices and bridge the gap between patients and healthcare providers through honest, transformative discussions.

What if pharmaceutical companies actually listened to patients before launching treatments? This week, Kim welcomes  Wes Michael, president and founder of Rare Patient Voice, who's spent over 25 years proving that patient perspectives aren't just nice to have—they're essential to developing treatments that actually work.     In this empowering episode, Wes reveals:​🔴 $120/hour in checks: Not gift cards—"We can't pay rent with gift cards" changed compensation philosophy ​🟢 180,000 patients registered: 1,500 conditions from rare to "medium rare" to common—42-person team connecting voices to research  ​🟣 Kim's impact story: Hepatitis C survey led to first major TV commercials within a month of sharing patient perspective Chapters00:00 Valuing Patient Voices in Healthcare Research10:10 The Importance of Patient Perspectives19:45 Navigating the Diagnosis Journey25:09 Compensation and Support for ParticipantsConnect with Wes:💻 Website 📘 Facebook: Rare Patient Voice To support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashPodcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

 What happens when your voice fails while your husband battles cancer? This week, Kim  Eileen Meehan, a longtime special education teacher and lifelong choir member, whose voice began failing just as her husband faced serious cancer surgery. While learning to give injections and manage tube feedings—wearing a mask in 2021—hospital staff thought she was crying when her voice cracked and broke. She wasn't.      In this profoundly moving episode, Eileen reveals:​🔴 Devastating timing: Voice cracking while learning injections/tube feedings—hospital staff mistook competence for tears ​🟢 Triple identity loss: Retired teacher, widowed 15 months ago, voice "busted"—all identities gone at once  ​🟣 50,000-100,000 affected: Spasmodic dysphonia makes vocal cords slam together—a rare disease with daily support groups Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Chronic Truth Podcast01:14 Eileen Meehan's Journey of Resilience10:12 Navigating Life Changes and Loss15:48 Understanding Spasmodic Dysphonia22:41 Finding Hope and Support in CommunityConnect with Eileen:💻 Website To support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly Nash Podcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens when caregivers never put themselves first? This week, Kim welcomes Jenny Lytle, a hospice and end-of-life care nurse with over 30 years of experience, who learned the cost of neglecting self-care through devastating loss. After burning out so badly she left her job and went through an identity crisis, Jenny's mother died from a ruptured brain aneurysm—an aneurysm she knew about but planned to fix "after getting all these other things taken care of."     In this deeply personal episode, Jenny reveals:​🔴 Tragic catalyst: Mother died from a ruptured brain aneurysm she knew about but delayed fixing for "other things." ​🟢 Praise addiction: Hospice families' validation became more fulfilling than family at home, who didn't say she was great  ​🟣 One to five minutes: Self-care doesn't need beach vacations—bathroom breathing exercises prevent burnout Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Chronic Truth Podcast01:14 The Journey of Caregiving and Burnout04:51 Understanding Self-Care for Caregivers08:18 The Becoming Method: A Path to Self-Care12:47 Recognizing Signs of Burnout18:28 Practical Strategies for Stress Relief24:26 Connecting with Resources and CommunityConnect with Jenny:💻 Website 🎙️ "The Nurses Break Room" podcast📚 Free book + stress guide To support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly Nash Podcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

 What if everything mothers tell daughters about period pain is wrong? This week, Kim welcomes back Michele Forsberg, pelvic physical therapist and endometriosis expert, to address the flood of listener questions from their first conversation. Michele delivers a powerful message that will change how mothers respond to their daughters: debilitating period cramps are NOT normal, even if you had them too.    In this critical follow-up episode, Michele reveals:​🔴 95% correlation: Debilitating period pain almost always means endometriosis, should be ruled in/out FIRST, not last resort ​🟢 Organ damage reality: Untreated endo can infiltrate bowels, cover ureters, cause kidney loss, not "just" reproductive disease  ​🟣 Sisterhood paradox: Two sisters, both with endo, one severe symptoms/minimal disease, the other deep infiltrating/NO symptoms Chapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Illness and Community Support01:14 Understanding Endometriosis: A Deeper Dive02:57 Symptoms and Diagnosis of Endometriosis11:33 Treatment Options and Surgical Interventions17:07 Finding the Right Healthcare Provider21:08 Pelvic Physical Therapy and Holistic Approaches23:15 Medications and Emerging Treatments25:46 Advocacy and Awareness for Endometriosis26:08 Empowering Patients: Trusting Your BodyConnect with Michele:💻 Website🔗 Linktree📱 Instagram📘 FacebookTo support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly Nash Podcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens when surgery or GLP-1 medications work, then stop working?    This week, Kim welcomes Dr. Pavi Kundhal, a general surgeon and diplomat of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, who spent 16 of his 17 years in practice watching a devastating pattern. After performing high-volume bariatric surgeries, Dr. Kundhal noticed the patients with lasting success weren't the ones who followed the strictest diets; they were the ones who did "the deep work" to change their relationship with eating.  In this transformative episode, Dr. Kundhal reveals:​🔴 Devastating pattern: Patients losing 50-60 pounds, then gaining more than half back with no strategy ​🟢 Physical vs emotional: Hunger builds slowly over 4-6 hours; emotional craving hits rapidly with comfort food and guilt  ​🟣 Environment beats willpower: Clear counters, pre-cut vegetables at eye level, remove TV distraction while eating Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Chronic Truth Podcast01:14 Meet Dr. Pavi Kundal: A New Perspective on Weight Loss02:13 The Importance of Mindset in Weight Management05:33 Understanding Emotional vs. Physical Hunger10:14 Mindfulness and Eating Habits12:10 The Role of GLP-1 Medications in Weight Loss15:24 Navigating Weight Gain and Health Challenges16:45 Dr. Kundal's Book: Shift Your Mind to Shift Your Weight18:55 Sustainable Changes for Long-Term SuccessConnect with Dr. Kundhal:💻 Peel Weight Loss Clinic 📱 Instagram | Facebook | YouTube 📚  "Shift Your Mind to Shift Your Weight" on AmazonTo support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly Nash Podcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

 What happens when a healthcare professional doesn't recognize her own brain injury?   This week, Kim welcomes  Kelly Tuttle, a neurology nurse practitioner who became a traumatic brain injury survivor after a car accident—and whose brain injury was so hidden that even she didn't recognize the danger signs. After being cleared to return to work in two weeks, Kelly pushed through headaches, dizziness, memory lapses, and horrific whiplash until she fell asleep driving home and nearly hit a tree.    In this eye-opening episode, Kelly reveals:​🔴 Dangerous denial: Cleared to work in 2 weeks, fell asleep at the wheel, planned roadside naps as "solution" ​🟢 Seven-year secret: Hid invisible disability from employer while napping at lunch, sleeping 2 hours after work daily​🟣 Neuro fatigue reality: Brain takes "side streets" instead of highways—wake with 25% battery, no recharging Chapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast02:32 Kelly Tuttle's Journey and Insights07:24 Understanding TBI and the Importance of Care10:49 The Five Foundational Pillars of TBI Recovery15:49 Navigating Financial Wellness After TBI18:53 Mental Health Challenges and Personal Growth25:08 Understanding Neuro Fatigue27:30 Resources and ConclusionConnect with Kelly Tuttle:💻 ⁠⁠Brain Loving Advocate 📚 "After the Crash: How to Keep Your Job, Stay in School, and Live Life After a Brain Injury" on AmazonTo support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly Nash Podcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens when compassionate doctors are crushed by corporate medicine?   This week, Kim welcomes Dr. Joe Sherman, a pediatrician who experienced something that would shock his colleagues: complete burnout requiring him to quit medicine altogether. After 35 years practicing across the US, Uganda, and Bolivia, Dr. Sherman went from a vibrant community-engaged physician to someone suffering acute anxiety, headaches, numbness, and back pain—all from the stress of "cranking up patients" and losing connection to why he became a doctor.   In this powerful bridge-building episode, Dr. Sherman reveals:​🔴 Personal breaking point: Acute anxiety, numbness, back pain—doctors ordered a brain MRI before considering stress as a cause ​🟢 Epidemic reality: 50-60% of physicians are currently burnt out—disconnected, distracted, just trying to get through the day​🟣 Two-way compassion: Hand over heart self-kindness practice that helps doctors metabolize patient trauma without drowning Chapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast01:33 Meet Dr. Joe Sherman: A Journey in Medicine05:00 Burnout in Healthcare: A Personal Story09:36 Understanding Physician Burnout12:33 Addressing Burnout: Strategies for Physicians18:09 The Importance of Self-Compassion21:20 The Center for Courage and Renewal24:42 Impact of Burnout on Patient Care26:25 Creating Supportive Healthcare Teams28:22 Final Thoughts on Overcoming BurnoutConnect with Dr. Sherman:💻 ⁠⁠Joe Sherman, MD (free consultation scheduling, blogs, articles, podcasts) 📧 [email protected] 🎯 Services: Individual physician coaching, medical team workshops To support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly Nash Podcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens when you're diagnosed with guaranteed cancer at eight years old?   This week, Kim welcomes Jenny Jones, author and advocate living with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)—a hereditary colon cancer syndrome that guarantees colon removal at some point in life. Diagnosed at eight years old and having her colon removed at nine when polyps started turning cancerous, Jenny spent five years angry at everyone, developing medical PTSD from surgical complications that led to short bowel syndrome.   In this raw and educational episode, Jenny reveals:​🔴 Brutal honesty: Genetic reality: 50-50 chance of inheriting FAP if parent has it. Colon removal is inevitable when polyps turn cancerous ​🟢 Five years of anger: Medical PTSD and surgical complications led to hating everyone, parents, doctors, and herself, until therapy ​🟣 Advocacy mission: Written children's book with mutant characters, pushing for earlier screening than current age 10-15 guidelines Chapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast01:33 Understanding Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)04:57 Growing Up with FAP: Personal Experiences07:36 Daily Challenges of Living with Rare Diseases10:59 Diet and Its Impact on Health11:44 Advocacy Through Writing: Children's Books on FAP15:04 Genetics and Inheritance of FAP19:45 Future of Research and Advocacy for FAP22:58 Diagnosis and Symptoms of FAP28:09 Advice for Young Patients with FAPConnect with Jenny:💻 ⁠⁠Life's A Polyp📚  Amazon: "Life's A Polyp"To support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly Nash Podcast Creative Director  &  Co-Producer: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens when you find a lump at 37 with an 18-month-old and 11 year old sons?  This week, Kim welcomes her cousin Stephanie Adler for a raw, personal conversation about surviving stage 3 breast cancer at just 37 years old with an 18-month-old and 11 year old sons.  When a simple shower discovery led to finding cancer in her lymph nodes, Stephanie made the controversial decision to demand a double mastectomy against her surgeon's recommendation—telling her doctor point-blank: "I don't ever want to go through this again. This is about living, not my breast."   In this deeply emotional episode, Stephanie reveals:​🔴 Brutal honesty: Demanded a double mastectomy against the doctor's advice: "This is about living, not my breast." ​🟢 Eight surgeries, three years: Radiation ripped skin apart during reconstruction, forcing back muscle transfer to create an implant pocket​🟣 Twenty years later: Never said "cancer-free" out loud, admits skipping follow-ups, celebrates life day by day Chapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast01:33 Stephanie's Inspiring Journey with Breast Cancer12:50 Facing the Reality of Diagnosis20:48 The Reconstruction Journey24:11 Reflections on Survival and SupportTo support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashCo-Producer & Podcast Creative Director: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

 What if most dementia aggression isn't the disease, it's us? This week, Kim welcomes Kathi Miracle, a dementia expert with over 30 years of experience who learned everything the hard way by being thrown into a wall, having her ribs broken, and getting kicked, punched, and scratched as a 22-year-old CNA with zero proper training. From those brutal early days in the 1990s, Kathi built a career transforming memory care facilities where families specifically sought her out, not just her buildings.  In this deeply emotional episode, Kathi reveals:​🔴 Caregiver mistakes: 80% of behaviors are triggered by approach, communication, and environment, only 20% by actual dementia ​🟢 Prevention power: 60-90% of people could avoid diagnosis with six lifestyle components backed by the CDC and the National Institute on Aging ​🟣 Not just aging: Youngest dementia patient was 2 years old; 700,000 under-18 kids worldwide live with a diagnosis Chapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast01:33 Kathy Miracle: A Journey into Dementia Care03:15 The Importance of Proactive Care in Dementia05:22 Understanding Dementia: Hereditary Factors and Statistics07:35 Lifestyle Changes for Cognitive Health10:20 The Role of Nutrition and Hydration11:58 The Significance of Sleep for Brain Health15:36 Oxygenation and Physical Activity for Cognitive Function19:19 Socialization: A Key to Cognitive Health23:06 Cognitive Exercises: Strengthening the Brain28:46 Cognitive Exercises for Brain Health31:19 Understanding Dementia Triggers36:59 Effective Communication Strategies40:54 Navigating the Dementia Journey47:58 The Importance of Caregiver SupportConnect with Kathi:💻 ⁠⁠The Silver Tsunami 📚 Pre-order "Your Ticket to Compassion" 💬 Free one-hour consultation available To support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashCo-Producer & Podcast Creative Director: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What if trying to sit up straight is making your back pain worse?This week, Kim welcomes Ben O'Loghlin, who spent his early twenties battling chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain that nothing could fix, not doctors, chiropractors, massage, or medication. After waking up 30 minutes early just to stretch enough to face college exams, Ben discovered the Alexander Technique, a 100-year-old cognitive approach developed by an Australian actor who was constantly losing his voice. In this transformative episode, Ben reveals:​🔴 Brain autopilot problem: 85% of chronic back pain comes from muscle tension your brain creates without you knowing. Imaging shows nothing wrong​🟢 Posture paradox: Forcing "good posture" uses the wrong muscles and creates more tension. The secret is reawakening automatic reflexes​🟣 Seven-month results: Students reduced pain from 24 days per month to just 4 days without surgery, drugs, or endless physical therapyChapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast01:33 Ben O'Loughlin's Journey with Chronic Pain05:57 Understanding the Alexander Technique10:53 Teaching the Alexander Technique Online14:00 Holistic Healing Approaches20:14 Cognitive Techniques for Pain Relief25:58 Investing in Long-Term Wellbeing27:38 Connecting with Ben O'LoughlinConnect with Ben:💻 ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠: (90-minute workshop available)📘 ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠To support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashCo-Producer & Podcast Creative Director: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens when routine surgery becomes a cancer diagnosis mid-operation?This week, Kim sits down with Phantom from Phantom Electric Ghost Podcast, a musician, software engineer, and podcasting veteran with nearly 1,300 episodes under his belt. What started as a routine cyst removal at 27 became a terrifying discovery when Phantom could hear his surgeons realize mid-operation that he had stage 3 sarcoma spreading toward his spine.In this episode, Phantom reveals:​🔴 Shocking discovery: Stage 3 sarcoma spreading toward spine discovered during "cyst removal"—patient could hear surgeons' realization​🟢 Recovery resilience: Spent months at mother's house planning comeback with custom mountain bike parts bought with disability payments​🟣 Creative advocacy: Nearly 1,300 podcast episodes later, it now supports a worldwide organization for the disabled.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast01:33 Guest Introduction and Background02:46 Facing Cancer: A Personal Journey06:09 Navigating Treatment and Recovery10:10 Empathy and Caregiving12:16 Holistic Approaches to Health16:01 The Power of Creativity and Expression17:33 Advice for the Newly Diagnosed18:42 Closing Thoughts and ResourcesConnect with Phantom:💻 ⁠Website⁠🔗 ⁠Podcast📱 ⁠Instagram⁠📘 ⁠Facebook⁠📺 YouTube🎨 Sista Creative RisingTo support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashCo-Producer & Podcast Creative Director: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What if everything you know about endometriosis is wrong?This week, Kim sits down with Michele Forsberg, a pelvic physical therapist who's been living with undiagnosed endometriosis for decades while watching her daughter face the same debilitating reality. From a family doctor's devastating dismissal to discovering endometriosis isn't actually the endometrium, Michele exposes the shocking medical misinformation that's keeping millions of women suffering in silence.In this episode, Michele reveals:​🔴 Shocking truth: Not a "reproductive disease"—found in fetuses, noses, brain tissue, and throughout the body like "non-cancerous cancer"​🟢 Medical incompetence: Most surgeons doing "endo surgery" burn lesions instead of removing them, making the problem worse​🟣 Chronic illness overlap: Strong correlation with EDS, POTS, autoimmune conditions—it's part of a bigger systemic pictureChapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast00:54 Understanding Endometriosis and Personal Stories05:57 The Complexity of Endometriosis11:48 Diagnosis and Treatment Challenges18:13 Holistic Approaches to Managing Endometriosis24:13 Empowerment and Advocacy for PatientsConnect with Michele:💻 Website🔗 Linktree📱 Instagram📘 FacebookTo support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashCo-Producer / Editor: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens when you're part of an epidemic but invisible in the conversation?This week, Kim sits down with Derek "D-Rex" Canas, a 40-year-long-term survivor whose story begins with infant heart surgery and a blood transfusion that would change everything. Diagnosed with HIV at just 16, Derek discovered something shocking: there was virtually no support for heterosexual men living with HIV. For over a decade, he's been building coalitions and breaking down barriers in a community that often overlooks his demographic.In this episode, Derek reveals:​🔴 Hidden epidemic: "DL lists" exposing men living double lives, spreading HIV to heterosexual partners while advocates stay silent​🟢 Medical mysteries: Living with a fifth pacemaker while surviving 40 years of HIV and why he feels better when his heart device dies​🟣 Forgotten voices: Building the first real coalition for heterosexual men with HIV after a decade of finding no representationChapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast00:54 D-Rek's Journey and Advocacy12:13 Challenges in HIV Advocacy17:57 Life Today and Support Systems22:08 Final Thoughts and InspirationSupport Derek's Mission:💻: ⁠D-REK's Angels & Warriors⁠To support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashCo-Producer / Editor: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens when a therapist needs therapy?Kim welcomes and sits down with Kesley Rogers, a 27-year-old licensed mental health counselor who's demolishing misconceptions about therapy one conversation at a time. From her private practice in Tennessee, Kesley shares the shocking reality that therapists aren't "all put together"—they see therapists too. Navigating her own journey with ADHD, anxiety, and an eating disorder while helping others, Kesley exposes why the stoic, note-taking movie therapist is a myth, how introspection in grad school led to her own breakthrough diagnosis, and why asking "What's your relationship with food?" changed everything.In this episode, Kesley reveals:​🔴 Shocking reality: Therapists aren't "all put together," they have their own therapists and struggle with ADHD, eating disorders, and life changes just like everyone else​🟢 Root cause revolution: Why asking about sleep, food, and daily structure matters more than just treating symptoms and how one question changed her life​🟣 Therapy truth bomb: Real sessions aren't movie stereotypes of note-taking—they're interactive conversations between equalsChapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast00:54 Meet Kesley Rogers: A Journey Through Mental Health02:59 Navigating Personal Mental Health Challenges05:57 Understanding Triggers for Mental Health Issues08:56 Misconceptions About Counselors and Therapy12:08 The Reality of Being a Therapist15:03 The Importance of Holistic Care in Therapy17:56 Decompressing After a Long Day20:47 Resources for Mental Health SupportConnect with Kesley and Resources:💻: Denny Counseling🌐: Psychology Today📞: 988 (mental health crisis line)To support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashCo-Producer / Editor: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kim welcomes Dr. Elizabeth George, a seasoned family physician who transformed her practice after witnessing the explosion of chronic disease in the mid-90s and 2000s. Frustrated by patients climbing to "five medicines, seven medicines" without improvement, Dr. George discovered that whole food, plant-based nutrition could reverse conditions doctors typically manage with lifetime prescriptions.In this episode, Dr. George reveals:​🔴 Shocking reversals: Ankylosing spondylitis pain gone in one week, autism symptoms disappeared in a 20-something patient, Hashimoto's thyroiditis completely reversed​🟢 The gut-brain connection: Why your microbiome controls depression, anxiety, and that "I'm full" signal—and how the Standard American Diet destroys it​🟣 28-day miracles: Patients sleeping better, mood lifting, chronic conditions improving faster than pharmaceuticals could manageChapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast00:54 The Importance of Nutrition in Chronic Illness04:00 Community Wellness Initiatives07:55 The Science Behind Plant-Based Nutrition12:10 Reversing Chronic Conditions Through Diet15:46 The Role of Gut Health20:05 Personal Health Journeys and Experiences23:56 Practical Cooking Tips for Plant-Based Diets27:56 Conclusion and Call to ActionConnect with Dr. Liz:🌐 Website: ⁠⁠Healthy Eating Adventure⁠📲 Follow Dr. George: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ To support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashCo-Producer / Editor: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kim reunites with Tonya Henry (The Chronically Ill Soldier) to pull back the curtain on gastroparesis, a condition where the stomach is partially or fully paralyzed. Diagnosed after 20 years of unexplained nausea and vomiting, Tonya reveals why "just eat something" is dangerous advice, how a gastric stimulator (like a pacemaker for the stomach) failed her twice, and why patient communities are lifelines when medicine falls short.In this raw episode, Tanya reveals:​🔴 Shocking tests: Swallowing radioactive eggs, smart pills, and the "Sitzmarker" capsule tracking colon paralysis.​🟢 Treatments gone wrong: How Reglan caused Parkinson’s-like tremors and why gastric stimulators fail.​🟣 Life-saving community: Why patients trust Facebook groups over doctors for tube leakage fixes.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast01:33 Understanding Gastroparesis02:15 Personal Experiences with Gastroparesis06:51 Treatment Options for Gastroparesis09:03 Community Support and Awareness12:04 Advocacy and Fundraising Efforts16:47 Connecting with Others in the Gastroparesis Community20:01 Navigating Healthcare and Resources25:23 Testing and Diagnosis of Gastroparesis28:56 Encouragement for Newly Diagnosed PatientsResources:Oley Foundation: oley.org (peer support, conferences, IV/tube resources)G-PACT: g-pact.org (gastroparesis-specific advocacy)IFFGD: iffgd.org (global GI disorder education)To support the show, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by:The Chronic Truth Podcast, LLCHost/Executive Producer: Kimberly NashCo-Producer / Editor: Jay Wilson, for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Podcast Mechanic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠