Surviving out of Spite

Ulcerative colitis, chronic illness, mental health, and self-advocacy — this episode of Surviving Out of Spite gets real about what it’s actually like living with an unpredictable chronic illness. Sam talks with Jesse about his ulcerative colitis (UC) diagnosis, severe symptoms and flares, bowel accidents, travel, mental health, stress, and the challenges of navigating life with IBD (inflammatory...

Living with gastroparesis can affect far more than digestion. It can change your relationship with food, your body, clothing, relationships, work, and even your sense of identity. In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite, Sam sits down with Dr. Erica Agudo to talk openly about the realities of living with gastroparesis and chronic illness, both personally and professionally. Erica shares her expe...

What happens when gastroparesis makes eating and drinking enough nearly impossible? When do feeding tubes or TPN become part of treatment? In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite, Sam sits down with Dr. Kent Sasse, a surgeon with decades of experience treating gastroparesis, to talk about nutritional support, feeding tubes, TPN, and the realities of living with severe gastroparesis. Most importa...

Are we treating gastroparesis all wrong? In this conversation, Sam and Dr. Zachary Spiritos explore the complexities of gastroparesis, chronic illness, autoimmune disease, dysautonomia, and the gut-brain connection, and why treating gastroparesis may require looking beyond a gastric emptying test. They chat about the limitations of gastric emptying studies, the wide range of gastroparesis symptoms...

Living with chronic illness can affect far more than your physical health; it can change your identity, relationships, mental health, and sense of connection. In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite, Sam sits down with psychotherapist and fellow patient Jodi Taub to discuss the emotional realities of chronic illness, medical trauma, mental health, and relationships. They explore isolation, feeli...

Living with chronic illness can change everything; including how you see yourself, your future, and your place in the world. In this conversation, Sam and Deanna dive into the realities of living with chronic illness and rare disease, exploring how diagnosis can reshape identity, mental health, relationships, and everyday life. They talk about the ongoing process of understanding an illness, adapt...

Finding a protein source that works with a sensitive digestive system can be challenging. In this episode, Jack, founder of Drink Wholesome, shares the story behind creating a protein powder designed for people who struggle with digestive issues, food sensitivities, and dietary restrictions. Sam and Jack discuss why many traditional protein powders can be difficult to tolerate, the importance of s...

What’s new with Zenowell taVNS? In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite, Sam sits down with Jane to explore the latest Zenowell device and app updates, including the brand-new Digest Mode and Focus Mode; and what these features could mean for people living with gastroparesis, digestive symptoms, stress, and gut-brain health. Jane shares a behind-the-scenes look at how these new features were dev...

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) is more than just “vomiting.” It is a debilitating GI disorder that can cause intense, recurring episodes of violent vomiting, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, dehydration, malnutrition, and a devastating impact on daily life. Yet many patients and families face years of searching for answers, misdiagnosis, stigma, and the painful experience of not being beli...

Could Parkinson's disease begin in the gut? Emerging research suggests the connection between the gut and brain may be much stronger than we once believed. In this episode, Sam talks with Dr. Trisha Pasricha to explore the relationship between Parkinson's disease, gastroparesis, constipation, and other gastrointestinal disorders. Together, they discuss how digestive symptoms often appear y...

What does it really take to create a documentary about chronic illness? In this episode, Sam sits down with Lauren Keenan, Director of the film, to take you behind the scenes of this powerful chronic illness documentary. Together, they discuss the creative process, the emotional realities of filmmaking, and the deeply personal journey of telling authentic patient stories that capture life beyond a...

What does it really take to tell an authentic story about chronic illness? In this behind-the-scenes conversation, Sam sits down with Joe Keenan to discuss the creation of Chronic Life Media and the documentary that captures the realities, resilience, and humanity of people living with chronic illness. From the first concept to filming, editing, and planning for film festivals, they share what aud...

Why is gastroparesis so difficult to diagnose and treat? In this episode, Sam chats with gastroenterologist Dr. Aditi Stanton to discuss the realities of living with and treating gastroparesis, one of the most challenging digestive disorders. Dr. Stanton shares why gastric emptying studies don't tell the whole story, the biggest gaps in gastroparesis care, and why nutrition, patient advocacy,...

Can patients trust AI with their healthcare decisions? And who should be responsible when technology becomes part of the diagnostic process? In Part 2 of this conversation, Sam and Erika from IncitefulMed dive deeper into the complex relationship between artificial intelligence, healthcare, trust, and patient advocacy. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into medicine, patients are faced with im...

What happens when culture, bias, trauma, and chronic illness intersect? In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite , Sam sits down with patient advocate and non profit leader Tina Aswani-Omprakash to chat about her journey living with Crohn’s disease, gastroparesis, and other GI conditions. Tina shares how cultural expectations, healthcare biases, and how unfortunate medical trauma shaped her exper...

How can patients use artificial intelligence to better understand their health, and should they trust it? In Part 1 of this conversation, Sam chats with Erika Warren, founder of InsightfulMed, to discuss AI literacy in healthcare and how technology can help patients become more informed advocates for their own care. Many patients struggle to understand medical records, test results, research studi...

In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite, Sam chats with Amber Tresca of AboutIBD to discuss the realities of living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastroparesis, and other chronic health challenges. Amber shares her personal journey with J-pouch surgery, navigating life after major medical interventions, and learning how to balance work, health, and personal growth. Sam and Amber talk ab...

In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite , Sam sits down with Dr. Sarah Cohen Solomon for a deeply honest conversation about chronic illness, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and what it really takes to build a more humane healthcare system. Dr. Solomon brings a unique dual perspective as both a physician and a patient, offering insight into the lived reality of navigating chronic illness while prac...

In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite , Sam sits down with Maddie, the voice behind Eosinophilic Chick , to talk about what it’s really like living with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE). Maddie shares her personal journey; from early symptoms and diagnosis to navigating strict dietary restrictions and the reality of starting medication injections. This conversation dives into the physical challe...

In this episode, Sam sat down with Ruth O’Driscoll to have the kind of conversation most people avoid, but absolutely shouldn’t. They dive into the reality of living with digestive issues, why we need to normalize talking about gut health (yes, even the awkward parts), and how self-tracking can be a powerful tool for understanding your body. Ruthie shares her personal journey with digestive health...

In this episode, Casey shares her personal journey living with celiac disease, from diagnosis to the ongoing realities of managing a strict gluten-free diet. She opens up about the challenges of navigating hidden gluten in unexpected foods, the learning curve that comes with dietary restrictions, and the emotional impact that can follow a life-changing diagnosis. Together, Sam and Casey explore wh...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Sam and Sarah dive deeper into Sarah’s story and how she refused to let gastroparesis define her life. From the challenges of diagnosis to the daily realities of living with a chronic digestive condition, she opens up about what it truly means to navigate life with gastroparesis. This is not just a story about illness, it’s about resilience, identity,...

Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is more than just managing symptoms, it’s navigating a healthcare system that often doesn’t understand you. In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite, Sam sits down with Lara Bloom of the EDS Society to talk about what it really takes to live with and advocate for EDS. From the long road to diagnosis to the validation that comes with finally being heard, La...

Ty Gipson has been through more than most; juvenile diabetes, multiple organ transplants, and years of fighting just to stay alive. In this episode, Sam and Ty talk about what it actually looks like to keep going when your body keeps throwing the worst at you. This isn’t a sugarcoated story. It’s about resilience on the hard days, the mental battles no one sees, and the moments where giving up fee...

Living with a chronic GI condition like gastroparesis isn’t just physical; it’s mental, emotional, and deeply personal. In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite , Sam chats with Dr. Ali Navidi to break down the powerful (and often overlooked) role of GI psychology in chronic illness care. Together, they dive into the gut-brain connection and why treating digestive conditions requires more than ju...