A photo of Joan, aka Joan of Heart, who discusses GERD, Barrett's esophagus and absent esophageal contractility

Joan of Heart From Pedal Playhouse on Her Complex Medical Journey

Joan, or as she is better known on the internet Joan of Heart, is an enthusiastic content creator who is best known for her YouTube channel Pedal Playhouse. There she shares her passion for effect pedals not just by reviewing them, but demonstrating what they are capable of along with Read more…

Bonnie from Dream Big Wellness discusses art therapy and mental health care for chronic illness and cancer care patients.

Art Therapy and Mental Health Care for Chronic Illness Patients

Bonnie is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Washington state as well as a nationally registered and board certified art therapist.  As an undergrad in psychology and art, Bonnie knew she wanted to help people but was initially hesitant to take on the graduate school needed to become an Read more…

A photo of podcast guest Hannah, who discusses her history with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (VEDS)

Living with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS)

Hannah is still trying to live her life as any other 22 year old would, dancing with friends, enjoying the outdoors, and loving the cows on her family farm. She hopes to share this positive view of life with chronic illnesses on her public Instagram page beyond.the.label_0 to help show Read more…

A photo of Willemijn, who discusses visual snow syndrome

Living with Visual Snow Syndrome

Willemijn lives with a rare condition called visual snow syndrome, or VSS. She sees static in her entire field of vision, no matter if her eyes are open or closed. This constantly moving static is black and white, similar to that of an old TV. The static itself is only Read more…

Sarah Fox on the Intersection of Mental Health and Faith

Since being diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder, Sarah Fox has made it her mission to break down the stigma surrounding mental health. She is the host of the Rough Edges podcast, which provides tools for mental health education and examines the intersection between faith and mental health. Sarah’s faith journey Read more…

How Chronic Pain Led Pallavi to Holistic Wellness

Pallavi’s journey through chronic pain began with physical agony, but led to spiritual transformation. She grew up in India with a deep love of dance that had turned into a passionate career in her early 20s. On a fateful day about 6 months after her marriage in 2011, she fell Read more…

Premature Birth at 24 Weeks: Preeti Discusses The Lifelong Impact

The normal gestation period for birth is 40 weeks, and anything under 37 weeks is considered premature or preterm birth. Preeti experienced a premature birth at 24 weeks in 1989, weighing only 2 pounds, an astonishingly early birth that she feels incredibly lucky to have survived. Premature birth can impact Read more…

Every Time This Baker Eats, She Risks Intense Abdominal Pain

Danni Hertel (aka foodie_with_da_booty) has turned her passion for baking into a full time career. She is known for putting a fresh spin on classic treats. Her recipes have been featured in the Houston Chronicle, she has worked with dozens of celebrities and she has even won Best Holiday Cookie Read more…

Tayler’s EDS was Screaming for Attention, But Doctors Ignored It

Looking back through the history of her medical challenges, it becomes painfully obvious that Tayler was born with the connective tissue disease EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome). Unfortunately, the lack of quality healthcare in her youth prevented this diagnosis for many years. She struggled physically throughout childhood, often being accused of laziness Read more…

Before Helping Others With CFS Recovery, Miguel Battled For His Health

After recovering from CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome aka myalgic encephalomyelitis) Miguel Bautista felt like he had a new lease on life. At the height of his illness he was unable to walk or sit up in bed and needed meals blended so he could drink them. Now he is running Read more…