Made Visible

Mallory Gothelf was diagnosed with general anxiety and major depressive disorder when she was 15. At that age, Mallory didn't realize that recovery would be a long road or that it would ignite her passion for giving back and being a voice for others. On this episode, Mallory and I talk about her journey with depression and anxiety, the moment during college when she took her first real steps towar...

Margie Strauss felt a strange, electric pain in her body while on vacation with her family in the summer of 2001. After being admitted to the hospital, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) that very same day. Quickly, the nuisance that had disrupted her vacation became a new reality. On this episode, Margie and I talk about why she snapped into action to find her team, why her diagnosis...

When Matt Glazer calls his bipolar disorder his superpower, it's not just a catchphrase. He genuinely means it. From using his experience to deepen his communication skills, produce creative work, or reframe the idea of "failure," Matt is serious about using his superpower for good. On this episode, Matt and I talk about how his journey with bipolar disorder has intersected with his life and work,...

Tiffany Dyba first felt a lump in her left breast while on vacation with her husband in Iceland. When she returned home, she went for a mammogram and ultimately discovered that she had Stage 1 breast cancer. On this episode, Tiffany and I talk about the importance of patients advocating for themselves, how she keeps her cancer in perspective, and why she started C.D.R.E.A.M. (an acronym for "Cance...

In this bonus episode, Danielle Diamond shares a powerful essay, Behind Closed Doors , about an early memory of her mom, who had bipolar disorder and depression. This essay is poignant, honest, and punctuated with humor. It provides a window into the challenging role that loved ones navigate when caring for those with invisible illness, as well as the realities experienced by those who have them....

For Danielle Diamond's entire childhood, her mom struggled with bipolar disorder and depression. As she grew older, and especially after her mom died by suicide when Danielle was just 21, she grew to better understand the reality of her mom's experience. On this episode, Danielle and I talk about her relationship to her mom, how yoga and meditation have helped her manage trauma, stress, and grief,...

When Phoebe Lapine was first diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, she didn't want to hear it. As time went by, she eventually came to terms with her diagnosis and discovered she could use her skills as a chef and recipe developer to heal her body. Phoebe and I talk about her journey to "healthy hedonism," the challenge of balancing the extremism of some holistic health solutions, and why just b...

Growing up, Carly Alterman loved that she was able to spend a lot of time with her dad, Harvey, who had retired from his dentistry practice due to chronic Lyme disease. Starting in third grade, Carly, along with her mother and brother, acted as a primary caregiver for her dad, whose disease was progressing. Even while Carly was taking on adult responsibilities, she didn't fully realize how differe...

For Christina Blacken, an early pre-diabetes diagnosis was the wake-up call she needed to take control of her health and her life. Not taking "no" for an answer, she did whatever it took to get the answers she needed for her health, eventually venturing outside of conventional medicine to learn about the impact of food and nutrition. From the social struggles of restrictive eating (and how to hand...

I'm so excited to launch the first episode of Made Visible, an idea which has been a long time in the making. I didn't always know that I wanted to launch a podcast, but I did know that I needed to do something to make people with invisible illnesses feel less alone and more supported. I only came to that realization once I started talking about my own illness, which I hid for many years. Talking...