The Chronic Truth

Opioid Dependence, Relapse, and a One-Year Taper

Nancy Deyo was a Silicon Valley CEO who climbed Kilimanjaro to prove she was still worthy after selling her startup and came down unable to move her legs. What followed was fifteen years of chronic pain, misdiagnosis, three spinal surgeries, fentanyl dependence, and a one-year taper back to life. On this episode of The Chronic Truth, Nancy and Kim talk about what opioid withdrawal actually feels like, why women in pain get referred to psych while men get the painkillers, and what it means to rebuild resilience from the ground up. Nancy's memoir Perilous Ascent is forthcoming. Find her on Substack. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Chronic Pain and Resilience 06:08 The Journey of Climbing Kilimanjaro 11:59 The Struggles with Opioid Dependence 18:09 Gender Bias in Pain Treatment 24:00 Impact on Relationships and Support Systems 30:01 Writing the Memoir and Sharing the Story CONNECT & RESOURCES 🌐 Website: https://nancydeyo.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nsdeyo 🔗 Substack: https://nancydeyo.substack.com 📚 Perilous Ascent — Forthcoming; publisher being finalized at time of recording The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

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The Rare Disease Nobody Talks About, Until It Stops Your Breathing

Deanna Steinle was diagnosed with Generalized Myasthenia Gravis at thirty a neuromuscular disease with no cure that can affect every voluntary muscle in the body, including the ability to breathe. Today she's a rare disease advocate, speaker, and the face of the Rare Connections: GMG film produced by Alexion. Deanna and Kim talk about the crisis that led to her diagnosis, the grief of losing the life you planned, and why the people standing next to us matter as much as any treatment. A powerful conversation for every chronic illness community. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Meet Deanna Steinle: Advocating for the GMG Community 02:35 A Late Diagnosis: Deanna's Journey to Understanding Her Symptoms 05:00 Accepting a Life Forever Changed 06:55 What Rare Disease Communities Have in Common 09:05 Inside the Rare Connections GMG Film 12:52 Tools Every Chronic Illness Community Can Use 14:55 Loving on Our Caregivers: The Forgotten Side of Diagnosis 19:34 Where to Watch and Connect with Deanna CONNECT & RESOURCES Deanna Steinle: 🔗 Instagram: Resilience is Beautiful 🔗 Facebook: Deanna Steinle 🔗 LinkedIn: Deanna Steinle 🎬 Rare Connections: GMG The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

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She Slept for a Month. Then She Figured Out Why.

Jan Rothney was a psychology lecturer in health and social care when her body finally shut down completely leaving her bedbound and asleep for nearly a month. Because she already understood the science of what was happening, she knew exactly what to do: stop pushing, celebrate tiny wins, and send safety signals to a brain that had been running on overdrive for a decade. More than 20 years later, she's the author of Breaking Free and founder of Reset to Thrive. In this conversation with Kim Nash, she explains exactly how the brain creates chronic symptoms and what it takes to change that. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Chronic Illness and Personal Journey 01:55 The Build-Up to Chronic Fatigue 08:48 The Turning Point: Realizing Recovery is Possible 18:59 Practical Strategies for Healing 27:04 The Importance of Support and Community 37:58 Setting Boundaries and Self-Care 47:53 Conclusion and Encouragement for Listeners CONNECT & RESOURCES Jan Rothney: 🌐 Website: resettothrive.co.uk 📱 Facebook: Breaking Free 📱 Instagram: @BreakingFree_recovery 📚 Breaking Free (2nd edition) The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

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The Absence of Visible Disease Is Not the Absence of Suffering

Erika Conrad-Wess has lived with trigeminal neuralgia since 2004 more than two decades of invisible, relentless facial pain, multiple brain surgeries, and a healthcare system that didn't always believe her. Now the author of Nerve, a memoir of chronic pain, medical trauma, and surviving the healthcare system, she joins Kim Nash on The Chronic Truth to talk about what invisible pain really costs, why you have to become the project manager of your own healthcare, and how she redefined hope when a cure stopped being the goal. Pain doesn't have to be the whole story. But first, you have to be believed. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Understanding Chronic Pain and Invisible Illnesses 07:07 The Importance of Empathy in Healthcare 13:51 Navigating the Healthcare System: Advocacy and Self-Care 20:58 Writing as Healing: Erica's Memoir Journey 26:52 Building Support Communities for Chronic Pain Patients CONNECT & RESOURCES Erika Conrad-Wess: 📚 Nerve — Amazon, Barnes & Noble, erikaconradwess.com ⚠️ Verify URL 📱 Facebook: MVD Patient Support | Post MVD Support Group The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Stress, the Immune System, and the Root Cause of Chronic Disease

Cancer biologist and TEDx speaker Rebecca Maff, known as the Healthy Biologist, joins Kim Nash on The Chronic Truth to explain the science of how stress feeds chronic disease and what we can do to get ahead of it. From the amygdala's role in immune suppression to AI-powered cancer screening, Rebecca brings real clinical depth to the conversation and keeps it grounded in tools anyone can use today. If you've ever wondered why stress makes you sick, why cancer is hitting younger people faster, or whether AI in healthcare is something to trust, this episode is for you. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Chronic Illness and Advocacy 01:24 Rebecca's Journey: From Burnout to Wellness 04:46 The Impact of Stress on Health 09:31 Managing Stress: Techniques and Strategies 12:49 Alarming Trends in Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases 16:58 The Role of Data and AI in Healthcare 20:42 Building a Healthier Society 24:44 The Importance of Community and Support CONNECT & RESOURCES Rebecca Maff: 📱 @rebeccamaff on Facebook & Instagram The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

What Nobody Tells You About Living With Chronic Pain

Davis Bain sustained a concussion during a soccer game in his senior year of college. Nine prior concussions had healed. This one didn't. Nearly four years later, he still lives with post-concussion syndrome, and he's turned that experience into Chronic Pain Warrior, a compassionate and practical guide for anyone facing chronic pain, illness, or invisible disability. In this episode, Davis joins Kim Nash to talk about what it's really like to live inside an invisible condition, what medical dismissal costs a patient emotionally, and why asking for help specifically and without apology might be the most important thing anyone struggling can do. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Chronic Illness and Advocacy 02:16 Davis Bain's Journey with Chronic Pain 05:30 Understanding Invisible Disabilities 11:07 The Impact of Medical Dismissal 16:23 Navigating Support and Advice 22:32 Writing 'Chronic Pain Warrior' and Its Purpose 25:55 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement CONNECT & RESOURCES Davis Bain: 🌐 chronicpainwarrior.com The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Epilepsy Doesn't Own Your Life

Epilepsy advocate and founder of The Epilepsy Network, Tiffany Kairos, shares her journey through nearly 18 years of living with epilepsy, from an unexpected diagnosis to becoming a beacon of hope for thousands. She and Kim Nash have an honest conversation about seizures, stigma, self-advocacy, and the power of community. A moving reminder that a diagnosis doesn't get to own your life. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Living with Epilepsy: A Journey of Resilience 10:01 Community and Advocacy in Epilepsy 20:07 Misconceptions and Stigmas Surrounding Epilepsy 23:23 Empowerment Through Education and Support CONNECT & RESOURCES Adison Woods: 📱 @tiffanykairos | 🌐 riseaboveepilepsy The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

The Tick Bite Nobody Treated | Adison Woods on Late-Stage Lyme and the Diagnosis 25 Years Late

Adison Woods has been navigating chronic illness since childhood: fainting, migraines, back surgeries, and a tick bite at summer camp that nobody connected to anything for 25 years. When her mother finally said, "You have Lyme disease," Adison rolled her eyes. Then the labs came back positive. An infectious disease doctor told her the test was wrong because she'd never been to the Northeast. She got treatment anyway, built a community called Sick and Shining, and is writing a book. She joins Kim Nash for a deeply personal conversation about late-stage Lyme, Babesiosis, the chronic illness pain scale, and why you are not your diagnosis. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introducing Addison Woods: Chronic Illness Advocate and Writer 01:41 A 25-Year Mystery: Addison's Childhood Symptoms and POTS Diagnosis 04:50 The Lyme Disease Discovery: Testing, Co-Infections, and Medical Dismissal 09:26 Late-Stage Lyme: Treatment, Antibiotics, and Tick Prevention Tips 14:25 Why Addison Started Sick and Shining 17:38 What Invisible Illness Really Looks Like Day to Day 22:15 The Pain Scale Problem and Growing Awareness Around Chronic Illness 23:47 Writing Her Book and Advice for Reclaiming Identity CONNECT & RESOURCES Adison Woods: 📱 @sickandshining | 📧 sickandshining@gmail.com The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Survive or Heal: What Elite Athletes Know About Injury That Chronic Pain Patients Need to Hear

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 Guest 00:57 Dr. Tommy Rhee's Background and Expertise 02:54 Innovations in Regenerative Medicine 05:47 Challenges in Athlete Recovery and Pain Management 09:05 The Role of Inflammation in Chronic Pain 11:57 Future of Regenerative Medicine and Accessibility 15:11 Understanding Neuropathy and Circulation 18:02 The Impact of Inflammation on Chronic Conditions 20:49 Dr. Rhee's Book and Future Insights 23:08 Conclusion and Listener Engagement CONNECT & RESOURCES Dr. 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: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Wildfire Smoke, Rising Temperatures & the Chronic Health Crisis Nobody's Connecting the Dots On

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 & RESOURCES Dr. 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: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

"Hepatitis Cannot Wait" | Kenneth Kabagambe on 13 Years of Advocacy, Policy Wins & Gaps That Remain

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 Awareness 02:08 Kenneth's Journey and Advocacy 14:06 Progress in Hepatitis B Management 20:52 Challenges in Funding and Awareness 25:13 Understanding Hepatitis B Transmission 27:09 Stigma and Discrimination in Hepatitis B 31:21 Future of Hepatitis B Treatment 34:45 Connecting with the Advocacy Community CONNECT & RESOURCES Kenneth: 🌐 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: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Born With It, Diagnosed at 50: Dwayne Wilson on Pompe Disease and Why Early Testing Saves Muscle

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 Advocacy 09:46 Dwayne's Journey to Diagnosis 20:06 Living with Pompeii Disease 30:00 Advocacy and Spreading Awareness 39:48 Mental Health and Quality of Life CONNECT & RESOURCES Dwayne: 📱 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: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

What Conventional Eye Care Gets Wrong

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 Background 05:04 Dr. Kondrat's Health Crisis and Discovery of Homeopathy 10:06 Integrating Homeopathy into Ophthalmology Practice 14:56 The Importance of Diet and Nutrition in Health 20:14 Spiritual Aspects of Healing and Community Support CONNECT & RESOURCES Dr. 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: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

"FAP Is So Much More Than the Colon"

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 Podcast 00:47 Understanding FAP and Its Gaps 09:13 The Launch of Life's Apollop Foundation 16:04 Community and Advocacy for FAP Patients 24:48 Future Goals for Life's Apollop Foundation CONNECT & RESOURCES Jenny Jones: 🌐 lysapolyp.org The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Cognitive Decline, Tough Exteriors & the Breaking Point: The Real Face of Multiple Sclerosis

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 Podcast 01:08 Mara's Journey with MS 03:01 Understanding MS Symptoms and Triggers 06:42 The Impact of Diagnosis at a Young Age 10:05 The Importance of a Supportive Care Team 13:00 Navigating Life Changes with MS 15:48 Advocacy and Community Engagement 17:37 Words of Wisdom for Newly Diagnosed Patients CONNECT & RESOURCES 📱 Social Media: Facebook | Instagram The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

HIV Long-Term Survivors Were Never Supposed to Exist

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 Awareness 02:37 Jesus Gillian's Journey: A Personal Story of Survival 12:40 Stigma and Discrimination: The Ongoing Battle 20:03 Advancements in HIV Treatment and Awareness 27:21 The Importance of Community and Connection 37:01 Building Support Networks for Long-Term Survivors 45:30 Closing Thoughts: The Need for Compassion and Understanding CONNECT & 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: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Singing Through Fire: What Joy Looks Like When You've Lost Your Health, Your Career & Your Husband

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 Purpose 10:09 Finding Joy in Grief 20:03 Surrendering to Suffering 27:37 Community and Connection in Chronic Illness CONNECT & 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: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Diabetes Burnout, Workplace Stigma & Why the Right Community Changes Everything

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 Podcast 01:06 Chelsea's Journey with Type 1 Diabetes 04:35 Navigating Complications and Community Support 10:06 Advocacy and the Importance of Community 12:57 Understanding Diabetes in the Workplace 15:48 The Role of Community in Chronic Illness Management 21:11 Advice for Newly Diagnosed Patients 23:35 Connecting with Chelsea and Closing Thoughts CONNECT & RESOURCES 📱 @type1comedian The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production: Podcast Mechanic

The Prepared Patient: Three Things Every Chronic Illness Patient Needs Before a Specialist Visit

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 Milestone 01:04 Eric Butcher's Journey with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency 08:57 Navigating Chronic Illness and Healthcare Challenges 15:55 Advocating for Yourself in Healthcare 20:48 Community Support and Personal Struggles 22:54 Conclusion and Resources CONNECT & RESOURCES 📱 @EricButcherOfficial The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production: Podcast Mechanic

"Recovery Doesn't Mean Cured" | Two Decades of Schizoaffective Disorder

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 Advocacy 02:05 Jason's Journey: From Army Life to Diagnosis 05:50 Understanding Schizoaffective Disorder 10:03 The Role of Family in Mental Health 14:12 Becoming a Trust Partner 17:59 Advocacy and Community Engagement 24:09 Navigating Law Enforcement and Mental Health 29:47 Medication Management and Recovery 34:02 Daily Routines and Coping Strategies 38:13 Conclusion and Call to Action CONNECT & RESOURCES 📝 Jason's Blog: jasongepps.blogspot.com 👥 Facebook Group: Parenting Through Mental Illness The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production: Podcast Mechanic