Autoimmune Adventures

Are we defined by our genes—or are we more than what we inherit? In this episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we sit down with Amber Sher, certified genetic counselor and host of the podcast Gods and Genes, to explore the role genetics play in autoimmune disease and comorbidities—without fear, shame, or oversimplification. We talk about: What genetic susceptibility really means (and why it’s not inev...

We’re kicking off the new year with an inspiring and educational conversation with Phylicia Harris on Autoimmune Adventures! 🎉   In this episode, we explore: What functional medicine really is and how it differs from conventional care Root causes of autoimmune disease and what may be driving symptoms beneath the surface How habit stacking can support medical treatments and long-term healing Wheth...

As we wrap up the year, Autoimmune Adventures welcomes Christine Ruch for a reflective and compassionate conversation about living with chronic illness, honoring your needs, and moving into the new year with grace instead of pressure. This episode is especially for those navigating autoimmunity, chronic conditions, or burnout—and anyone looking for a gentler way to reflect and reset. 🎧 Listen, re...

Holiday music has a unique way of bringing people together, sparking joy, and creating meaningful connections—especially during a season that can be both beautiful and emotionally complex. In this final holiday episode of the season, the hosts of Autoimmune Adventures explore the powerful role holiday music plays in helping us feel connected, comforted, and more present during the holidays. We tal...

Not everyone experiences the holidays as happy — and that deserves to be said out loud. The holidays can be joyful — and they can also be overwhelming, emotional, and physically draining, especially for those living with chronic illness or autoimmune disease. In this episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we’re having an honest, compassionate conversation about navigating the holiday season in a way th...

Releasing December 9 — Holiday Episode 3 of Autoimmune Adventures The holidays can be magical… and overwhelming. In this week’s episode of Autoimmune Adventures, Stacy, Becky, and Alysia dive into the traditions that shape our season — the ones we keep, the ones we change, and the ones that help us feel connected when living with chronic illness or autoimmunity. We explore: 🎄 The power of simple...

Welcome back to Autoimmune Adventures! Our second holiday episode, releasing December 2nd, is all about creating vibrant, flavorful holiday plates without relying on artificial dyes—because those colors shouldn’t come at the cost of your health. Join Stacy, Becky, and Alysia as we explore: ✨ How artificial dyes can impact people with autoimmune and chronic illness ✨ Easy natural swaps to keep yo...

Welcome to the FIRST episode of our 2025 Holiday Series! Releasing just in time for Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday rush, this episode of Autoimmune Adventures dives deep into how to travel during the holidays with chronic illness or autoimmune disease—without losing your sanity, your health, or your joy. In this conversation, Stacy and Becky sit down with guests Anthony Heard and Chelse...

In this empowering episode of Autoimmune Adventures, Stacy and Alysia sit down with Sharon Jones — speaker, advocate, and chronic illness warrior — to talk about what it really means to rebuild your strength while living with autoimmune disease. Sharon opens up about her personal journey, the mindset shifts that changed everything, and the practical strategies she uses to navigate daily life with...

In this inspiring episode of Autoimmune Adventures, hosts Stacy, Becky, and Alysia sit down with Chelsea Streit, a passionate rare disease advocate living with Cowden Syndrome and Sjögren’s Syndrome. Chelsea shares her powerful story of navigating chronic illness, emotional healing, and the small victories that make each day meaningful. From the heartbreak of diagnosis to finding love, purpose, an...

Meet Stacy Griffin, co-host of Autoimmune Adventures — a Mind Mastery Coach, speaker, and autoimmune adventurer who turned her journey of loss, resilience, and renewal into a mission to help others thrive. After autoimmune disease forced her to completely rebuild her life, Stacy discovered the power of mindset, self-compassion, and intentional living. In this inspiring episode, she opens up about...

In this heartfelt episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we sit down with Hana Birch, an author, advocate, and lifelong rheumatoid arthritis warrior who has lived with the condition for more than 50 years. Hana shares how she’s learned to find hope, humor, and strength through the hardest seasons of chronic illness—and why she believes we must never give up, because doing so means we’ll miss the light...

What happens when your child is born with a rare condition that most doctors have never seen? When Amy Schefer's daughter, Lazer, was born missing nearly a third of her jaw, Amy was thrust into a world of medical uncertainty, complex healthcare systems, and constant advocacy. What began as a mother's fight to get her daughter the care she needed became a lifelong mission to help other families nav...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Annie Toro Lopez — cookbook author, chronic illness advocate, and autoimmune warrior — as she shares her remarkable journey of healing through food, therapy, and deep self-discovery. After facing lupus, celiac disease, and profound personal loss, Annie transformed her pain into purpose, using the power of nourishment, mindset, and emotional healing to reb...

Join the hosts of Autoimmune Adventures—Becky, Alysia, and Stacy—for an honest, insightful, and laughter-filled roundtable all about celiac disease. In this special episode, the sisters pull back the curtain on what it really means to live with celiac—from the everyday challenges and hidden pitfalls to the empowering strategies that make thriving possible. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, supportin...

In this special Alopecia Awareness Month episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we sit down with Kellie Rhymes — advocate, coach, and host of the Bougie Baldie Podcast. Kellie shares her journey with alopecia and how it inspired her to help others navigate hair loss with strength and clarity. From finding the right dermatologist, to building a support system, to embracing confidence with a wig, head wr...

What does it mean to truly find your authentic voice—and why might it matter for healing? In Part Two of our conversation with transformational artist, sound healer, and author Helen Sheppard, we explore the deeper connections between identity, self-expression, consciousness, and well-being. Helen shares fascinating insights into how different parts of the brain are reflected in world religions, i...

What if your voice is more powerful than you realize? In this episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we sit down with transformational artist, sound healer, and visionary voice mentor Helen Sheppard to explore the fascinating connection between sound, healing, and personal transformation. With more than 25 years of experience spanning the music industry, therapeutic sound, and consciousness studies, He...

Living with chronic illness can feel isolating—but it doesn’t have to. On Autoimmune Adventures, psychotherapist Deborah Sharp shares why bringing your partner in as a teammate—not just a spectator—can make all the difference. Deborah specializes in a cultural relational model of psychotherapy, honoring the impact of culture, identity, and lived experience. With deep expertise in supporting couple...

This week on Autoimmune Adventures, we pause for a deeper, more serious conversation during Suicide Prevention Week. For many living with chronic illness, the weight of depression, isolation, and even suicidal thoughts is a hidden struggle—one that deserves to be spoken about with honesty and compassion. We’re joined by Garra Lloyd-Lester, Coordinator of Community and Coalition Initiatives at the...

Join us for a powerful conversation with Anthony Heard, author of My Purple Patch, poet, and rare disease advocate. Anthony shares his journey with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) and fibromyalgia, opening up about the challenges of invisible illness, the path to remission, and the healing power of creative expression. We dive into his book, his poetry, and his advocacy work to shine a light on what...

In this episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we sit down with Elizabeth Forrest, founder of Touched By Type 1, an organization dedicated to raising awareness, empowering individuals, and building community for those living with Type 1 Diabetes. Elizabeth shares her journey of turning a diagnosis into a movement that inspires strength, hope, and advocacy. From education to empowerment, Touched By Type...

Life with chronic illness often brings layers of grief—grief for the life you once had, for the “normal” that keeps shifting, and for the constant reinvention these changes demand. In this episode of Autoimmune Adventures, Stacy and Alysia talk with grief educator and disability advocate Julia Pearce, who shares her wisdom on navigating loss, identity, and the unknown while still holding onto hope...

Life after an autoimmune diagnosis can feel overwhelming—but it can also be the start of something new. In this inspiring conversation, we sit down with Shawn Jackson Every—businesswoman, chronic illness warrior, and master of reinvention—to talk about what it really takes to restructure your life with clarity, compassion, and courage. From redefining success to building strong support systems, se...

In this powerful episode of Autoimmune Adventures, we sit down with Audrey Pawl Walker—a dynamic speaker, nonprofit executive, and lupus warrior with over 20 years of lived experience. Audrey created the “Let’s PARTY” framework to help people move from burnout to re-engagement with purpose, energy, and joy—and today, she’s sharing it with us. Audrey opens up about the early days of her lupus diagn...