Seen, Not Fixed

At just 21 years old, Matthew Zachary was a concert pianist whose life changed overnight after being diagnosed with brain cancer. Thirty years later, he's become one of the most influential voices in patient advocacy, founding Stupid Cancer, launching one of healthcare's first podcasts, producing award-winning documentaries, and authoring We the Patients . In this episode, Matthew joins ho...

In this deeply personal conversation, host Gigi Robinson sits down with chronic illness advocate and founder of Chronicon, Nitika Chopra, to explore what healing truly means. Together, they discuss grief, identity, nervous system regulation, self-advocacy, community, ambition, and the complex reality of living fully while navigating chronic illness. This episode challenges the idea that healing re...

In this candid conversation, host Gigi Robinson sits down with media personality, content creator, and Miss New Hampshire Volunteer 2026, Sophie Sargent, to explore what it means to pursue big dreams while navigating chronic illness. Sophie shares her journey from years of unexplained symptoms to a Lyme disease diagnosis, the realities of balancing health with an ambitious career in media, and the...

In this deeply reflective conversation, Gigi sits down with psychotherapist and mentor Dr. Victoria Grinman to explore the intersection of chronic illness, post-traumatic growth, spirituality, mentorship, and emotional healing. Together, they unpack what it means to live with uncertainty while still choosing hope, possibility, and self-trust. From navigating chronic pain and medical trauma to unde...

In this deeply honest and hopeful episode of Seen, Not Fixed , Gigi sits down with metastatic breast cancer advocate Sally Joy Wolf to talk about what it truly means to thrive while living with chronic illness. From navigating a stage 4 cancer diagnosis to redefining identity, purpose, and joy, Sally shares how she transformed unimaginable uncertainty into a life rooted in meaning, advocacy, and c...

This conversation explores what it means to truly be “seen” while navigating chronic illness, neurodivergence, and life after a major health diagnosis. Kaitlyn Carroll shares how her experiences with cancer, late-diagnosed autism and ADHD, and burnout reshaped her relationship with work, self-compassion, and support. Together, the hosts unpack invisible effort, the grief that accompanies identity...

This episode explores the profound role community plays in the chronic illness experience, especially for those navigating invisible conditions. Jill shares how platforms like Inspire create safe, moderated spaces where people feel validated, understood, and less alone. Through personal stories and patient experiences, the conversation highlights how being seen, rather than “fixed,” can transform...

This episode explores the psychological and emotional realities of living with chronic illness through a conversation between Nicole and Dr. Rachel, a behavioral medicine psychologist. They unpack the deep connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, highlighting how unhelpful thinking patterns like “should” statements, catastrophizing, and rigid thinking can keep people feeling stuck. Th...

In this episode of Seen Not Fixed , host Nicole Pedra is joined by chronic illness advocate Anja Vesterhus Knustad and clinical hypnotherapist Lucy Seligman ACC, CCHT for an honest conversation about living with invisible illness. Anja shares her experience growing up with ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) and the profound ways it reshaped her life from childhood, while Lucy reflects on decades of li...

In this deeply honest conversation, host Nicole Pedra sits down with Deidra Murphy and Eli Weinstein, LCSW , to explore the complex intersections of chronic illness, infertility, marriage, mental health, and identity. This episode is a powerful reminder that there is no single “right” way to build a family, live in a body, or navigate partnership. Whether you are walking through infertility, chron...

In this episode of Seen, Not Fixed , Nicole Pedra is joined by Danny O’Malley, Lindsey Provencher, and Cara Bowman for an honest conversation about chronic illness, invisible pain, caregiving, and nervous system regulation. Together, they explore what it feels like to be dismissed by medical systems, to lose trust in your body, and to live with symptoms that others cannot see. The group discusses...

In this episode of Seen, Not Fixed, Nicole sits down with Miel Johnson and Meli Kirkwood for an honest conversation about chronic illness, caregiving, nervous system regulation, and the quiet labor that so often goes unseen. Together, they explore childhood diagnosis, medical advocacy, food challenges, trauma responses that get mislabeled as anxiety, and what it really takes to listen to the body...

Our first episode is a coming-together of voices, lived experience, and shared recognition. With Nicole Pedra , Spoonly founder Rachel Barnett , and Lauren Freedman of Uninvisible Pod, this conversation explores what it means to live inside a body and mind that others can't see, measure, or fully understand. We explore chronic illness not as a single diagnosis, but as an ongoing relationship w...

Join us as we explore the real-life experiences, challenges, and triumphs of those living with chronic illness. Tune in for heartfelt conversations, insightful stories, and practical tips. Our first episode is coming soon. We're so glad you're here!