Mogil's Mobcast-A Scleroderma Chat

Welcome to episode 124 of Mogil’s Mobcast. Today’s guest is Dr. Anthony Esposito. Dr. Esposito is a pulmonologist and the co-director of the Northwestern Scleroderma Program. Interstitial lung disease is the leading cause of death in scleroderma patients, and one of the first manifestations many will develop. In fact, four out of five scleroderma patients will show it on their very first CT scan....

Today’s guest is another incredible scleroderma warrior, Evamarie Cole. Eva was diagnosed 20 years ago, and like many people living with scleroderma, she was initially diagnosed with lupus. When Eva later questioned that diagnosis, she turned to her physician for guidance, only to be dismissed and told he knew better. What ultimately helped save Eva was the strength of her scleroderma community, t...

Today’s guest is Dr. Kimti Kumar, a rheumatologist living in New Zealand and completing her PHD at the University of Adelaide. Dr. Kumar’s research caught my attention for its focus on non-drug strategies to address the significant challenges faced by scleroderma patients with Raynaud’s. As many of you know, I’m always drawn to more holistic approaches to health, and I think you’ll find this conve...

Today’s guest is Sundar Balasubramanian  Sundar is internationally recognized for his pioneering research on how yogic breathing and chanting practices can enhance overall well-being. His work highlights a powerful connection: good health begins with proper circulation—and that starts with effective breathing. Sundar also brings a fascinating personal and professional background, which made this c...

I’m excited to welcome back Dr. Elizabeth Volkmann. Dr. Volkmann takes a truly holistic approach to care, focusing on the whole person rather than just the disease. She also has a wonderful new Instagram page filled with helpful, informative content that you won’t want to miss. As always, it was an absolute delight talking with her.

I’m pleased to welcome back Yoga for Scleroderma and Cheryl Albright. Yoga for Scleroderma was one of my very first podcast episodes. At that time, Lori—who has since passed—graciously joined us and was deeply grateful for the work being done. Her presence and spirit remain an important part of this story. I want to thank Cheryl for taking the time to return and share updates on what’s happening w...

Today’s guests are Cheryl Ferguson and Trish Markey, two women connected by their experiences with scleroderma. Cheryl is the mother of a daughter with scleroderma, and Trish is a scleroderma warrior herself. Each chose to explore an antibiotic-based approach and became involved with the Road Back Foundation along the way. This episode is meant to share personal experiences, not medical advice—so...

Today’s topic is one I’ve wanted to discuss for a very long time and one that’s particularly troubling to me: calcinosis. I was absolutely thrilled when Dr. Ariane Herrick agreed to join me for this conversation. She is incredibly knowledgeable on the subject and shared such valuable insight and information about this challenging condition. I’m so grateful for her time and expertise

Today, I’m joined by two incredible guests: Ted Haugh, who was finally diagnosed with systemic sclerosis in 2022 after symptoms began back in 2016 and five doctors later; and his wife, Erin, who not only cares for Ted but also lost her mother to scleroderma when she was just 17. Together, they share their powerful journeys and perspectives. Let’s listen to their stories.

Today’s guest is Dr. Kathryn Torok, a pediatric rheumatologist at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where she directs the Pediatric Craniofacial Scleroderma Clinic. Scleroderma in children is rare, about five in 100,000 develop localized disease, and only about one in a million develop systemic disease. It's crucial to treat to target as early as possibl...

Today’s guest is Dave Hanson, who shares his journey from his first confusing symptoms to finally receiving a diagnosis. It all began in the fall of 2019, when Dave started experiencing unusual symptoms — painful cramps and a vague but unsettling feeling that something wasn’t right. By early 2020, just before the pandemic, he noticed swelling in his hands and went to the ER. With no signs of Rayna...

Today’s guest is the incredible Dr. Sara Reardon, a renowned pelvic floor physical therapist, author, and founder of V-Hive , a groundbreaking app for pelvic health. I wanted to have Dr. Reardon on the show because nearly 80% of people living with scleroderma are women, and many face challenges such as urinary issues and fecal incontinence topics we don’t talk about enough. Dr. Reardon offers thou...

Today I sit down with Dr. Reza Movahed, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who’s making a real impact in the scleroderma community. As scleroderma patients we  know how this disease affects the mouth. Dr. Movahed helps patients regain function and comfort, and the surprising role sleep plays in maintaining oral health. Dr. Movahed was a crowd favorite at our July conference.

Today’s guest is Dr. Laura Hummers, a rheumatologist and co-director of the Scleroderma Clinic at the Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center. In our conversation, we dive into the different phenotypes observable characteristics of scleroderma, as well as the three major antibodies commonly found in patients and how they aid in diagnosis. This episode is packed with valuable insights and information you...

Today’s guest, Scleroderma Warrior Dr. Joseph Washington, is the definition of resilience and perseverance. His journey began with Raynaud’s symptoms in junior high, but it wasn’t until pharmacy school that he was diagnosed with diffuse systemic sclerosis. So much has happened in just four years since then, and I can’t wait for you to hear his inspiring story. 

Today’s guest is another incredible scleroderma warrior, Natalie Puccio. As many of you know, no two scleroderma journeys look exactly alike. Natalie and I discovered we had so much in common—both personally and in our symptoms—which made our conversation especially meaningful. One big difference, though, is that Natalie was diagnosed at just 24 years old and went on to have three children while l...

Today’s guest is rheumatologist Dr. Jessica Gordon. Together, we explore two topics that every scleroderma patient is familiar with skin and Raynaud’s. Dr. Gordon explains the three stages of skin progression in scleroderma, the challenges patients often face, and the treatments available. We also touch on Raynaud’s our discussion may be shorter, but it’s filled with helpful insights. I truly enjo...

Today’s guest is another incredible scleroderma warrior. Kristina Hamilton was diagnosed in 2022 at just 32 years old, while raising three young children. Like so many women, she was initially told her symptoms were simply due to stress. Not long after, she found herself hospitalized, her weight dropping from 120 to 68 pounds. Her life changed almost overnight. Yet Christina’s story is one of resi...

Today’s guest is Dr. Ebru, a dynamic force in the world of skincare. With a background in molecular medicine, immunology, and cosmetic chemistry, she created her skincare line, AveSeena , from the ground up. She was one of the first to connect inflammation, “inflammaging,” the immune system, and the skin microbiome in the development of her products. Beyond her scientific expertise, Dr. Ebru bring...

Today’s guest is Shubhda Chaube. Shubhda is a scleroderma warrior who was diagnosed just a year ago on her 47th birthday, no less. Despite being early in her journey, she’s jumped in with both feet: attending multiple support groups, including one based in India, and starting a thoughtful blog called Calm Core Cozy Layer . She’s also working on a powerful project called From Patient to Pattern See...

As many of you know, I love to move and I’m always eager to share that energy. But I also understand that for some, especially those living with scleroderma, exercising can feel overwhelming. That’s why I’m thrilled to be joined by Will Gregory, a physiotherapist with over 20 years of experience working with the scleroderma community. Will shares powerful insights on why fatigue, not pain, is ofte...

Today, we have an inspiring story of resilience, purpose, and advocacy. Our guest is Perry Bray, he was diagnosed in 2018 with diffuse systemic sclerosis, Perry faced life-altering changes, including stepping away from his beloved football and ministry work. But rather than let the diagnosis define him, Perry chose to redefine what it means to live with this rare disease. He became a powerful voic...

When you hear the term palliative care , what comes to mind? I’ll admit I used to think it meant something very different. But today’s guest, Dr. Shannon Herndon, helped reshape my understanding. Dr. Herndon joins us to talk about how palliative care can support scleroderma warriors not just at the end of life, but throughout the journey of living with this disease. You may remember a recent surve...

Today’s guest is Carolyn Haeler, the founder of a delicious gluten-free cookie brand, called MIGHTYLICIOUS and someone with an inspiring story to tell. Carolyn lives with celiac disease, and in this episode, she shares her journey: from navigating the challenges of her diagnosis to the surprising lessons she learned along the way. Her desire for a truly good gluten-free cookie led her to create he...

W hat an incredible milestone! What began as a simple idea during the pandemic, something to keep me busy in retirement and a way to give back to the scleroderma community has grown into something truly meaningful. I’ve been deeply moved by how warmly this podcast has been received. In this special episode, I want to honor that spirit by reconnecting with the incredible scleroderma warriors who ge...