Inflamed Sisters Thriving

In this episode, Stephanie Burke walks us through her journey and a job interview that changed her life. Many of us have been in a position where our background, culture, and the way we look, has played a role in how people see us rather than seeing the value within us. Stephanie is working towards being the change she wants to see amongst educated female bosses. Stephanie Burke is a certified lif...

In this captivating episode of the Inflamed Sisters Thriving Podcast, we delve deep into the inspiring journey of Robin Thomas, the visionary behind Living Well Connections. A seasoned professional in the realm of clinical research, Robin's path to creating this transformative community is a testament to her unwavering dedication. As a mother to a son battling three autoimmune diseases, Robin fear...

Dr. Elena Alawa, osteopathic board-certified physician in internal medicine, functional medicine, and bioidentical hormone therapy shares tips on how to embrace a natural lifestyle, prioritise  gut health, and treat chronic illness in a more holistic way. The idea is not to diss conventional medicine but to integrate holistic and naturopathic medicine. We also discuss the difference in male and fe...

While living  with chronic illness, self awareness is key to coping with the ups and downs and developing peace of mind and heart.  In this episode, we meet Angelic Ingram,  Holistic Health Practitioner, Mindfulness Coach and Amazon best selling author. She takes us through her journey to diagnosis of Dermatomyosis, a rare autoimmune disease that affects the muscles and skin, leaving Angelic compl...

“You have rheumatoid arthritis? But you’re so young?!”  Has this been your journey? Cheryl Crow was just 20 years old when she was diagnosed with RA. She was in college and the captain of her soccer team, until one day a number of mysterious and seemingly unconnected symptoms started showing up.  Cheryl talks us through her diagnosis and treatment journey, postpartum depression,  acceptance and co...

Do you have anxiety every time you go to a doctor's appointment because you feel that your symptoms will be dismissed and you won’t be listened to?  That was Erika’s initial experience until she was able to find her voice and advocate for herself confidently. In this episode we discuss her journey to diagnosis and why it was important to her. Erika also shares her top tips on how to become a self...

Do you have not just one chronic illness but multiple chronic conditions? That is the reality for Keyla Caba with more than 5 chronic conditions including ulcerative colitis, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, and crohn's disease, as well as being a caregiver for a child with a chronic disease. After having symptoms dismissed for many years, Keyla decided to get a second opinion and advocate for herself...

As a chronic illness warrior, have you ever tried to go somewhere and realise it’s not accessible to you? What able bodied people often don’t realise is that their view of accessibility is very different to that of a person with disabilities. All people, regardless of ability, deserve to live a fulfilling life. Jessica Stephens serves the chronic illness community through her travel service, The C...

What is the relationship between Vitamin D and people of color? Why are so many people deficient in a vitamin that is so easily accessible? Did you know that a Vitamin D deficiency could affect your mood and anxiety, fatigue and pain even? We delve into this necessary nutrient with Robin Allen, and discuss her journey to creating her own brand of supplements. She educates us on the importance of q...

Do you struggle to be productive because of your ADHD? Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can have a significant impact on an individual’s life. Understanding the signs of ADHD can be vital when it comes to treatment and support. In this episode, we discuss some of the signs and symptoms of ADHD and how to manage and cope with the symptoms. Guest...

The Connection Between Masking Symptoms and Misdiagnosis Many chronic illnesses are misunderstood and not socially accepted. So do you find yourself masking  symptoms of your chronic illness just to fit in? Many in the chronic illness community have done this for years by suffering in silence. This must stop now. So many have gone undiagnosed and misdiagnosed which has led to fatal consequences. I...

Did you know that endometriosis affects approximately 176 million women during their reproductive years worldwide? Symptoms of endometriosis may include infertility, pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, painful menstruation, back pain, constipation, nausea, anemia, and more. In this episode, Dr. LJ Johnson debunks many endometriosis myths. She is part of the estimated 10% of women globally to be...

Let’s talk menopause! What is menopause and how does it affect women’s mental, physical and emotional health? Whether your in peri-menopause, menopause or post-menopause, you will definitely find this episode enlightening and relatable. In this episode, you’ll meet Dana Lawson, she opens up about her experience going through menopause and the help she received from professional health coaches so t...

As human beings, we all desire a sense of belonging, and that sense of belonging is what connects us to the many relationships we develop. In this episode, Jenni Weaver shares her journey to diagnosis. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 32 after experiencing medical gaslighting and multiple allergic reactions with one resulting in severe pustular psoriasis. Jenni also shares...

Prepare yourself for a very emotional episode. Ebonee Debrah was severely burned from a house fire. Her trauma taught her to confront her insecurities and overcome them. Ebonee’s healing process was not only physical but emotional, she learned to be confident in her own skin. In this episode, Ebonee describes what it was like to be a burn victim, how her husband and 6 children supported her, and h...

You are the difference that is needed now. You can get involved in research that answers questions that the chronic illness community have been asking for years. There are dots to be connected between the many autoimmune diseases that exist. In this episode, Emily Harari​, Business Development Manager with a B.S. from UC Berkeley in Molecular & Cell Biology, explains how ImYoo is building a longit...

There is more to healing than just medicine. One of our bodies natural healing sources is through sleep. When you get enough sleep, your immune system is happy. With better sleep quality your threshold for pain goes up. In this episode, Dr. Valerie Cacho explains her journey into Integrative Sleep Medicine. She also shares how her mother's advice influenced her views on the connectivity of the min...

An adaptogen is a natural substance considered to help the body adapt to stress. These days our bodies and minds are inundated with potential stressors. How can we combat these overwhelming influences? In this episode, Nicola shares her health journey and what led her to co-founding her own adaptogenic supplement. Learn how all the systems in the body are intrinsically linked with diet and exercis...

Children experiencing physical pain can often be dismissed as just having growing pains. Mayo Clinic describes growing pains as ache or throb in the legs — often in the front of the thighs, the calves or behind the knees. But what should you look out for if you think your child’s pain is more than that? In this episode, Dr. Saimun Singla explains the steps she takes to help her patients track and...

Relationships are a vital part of life that can contribute to your overall health and well-being. For chronic illness warriors, isolation and loneliness caused by a lack of friendship can be harmful to their mental, emotional and physical health.  Since relationships can have both a positive and negative impact, it is important to create relationships with intention and a mutual understanding...

Many chronic illness warriors say, "I’m fine," but are you happy? Your happiness does matter. In fact, there is a correlation between happiness and how people cope with chronic illness and pain. In a research article by the University of Washington they found that people who found happiness “by having a life with lasting meaning were more likely to report lower levels of pain, pain that didn’t get...

Mold toxicity “describes the effects prolonged exposure to mold and dampness may have on your body.” ( How to Detox Your Body from Mold: Signs and Treatment of Mold Toxicity (healthline.com) Research has shown that mold toxicity could be the root cause of several chronic illnesses, especially those that affect the immunocompromised. Symptoms of mold exposure may include skin irritation, itchy, red...

Self-advocacy is the foundation to finding your voice and using it to receive the quality of care you deserve. Oftentimes, chronic illness warriors find it challenging to advocate for themselves in health, career and business. But what if finding your voice could actually change the course of your disease and life while helping countless others? For Jessica Wilson 2020 came with a breast cancer di...

Can you imagine coming so close to your goal, but a flare-up robs you of achieving it? This is a frequent reality of autoimmune disease warriors. Many have lived the disappointing experience of giving up dreams, careers and businesses within their grasp due to uncontrolled symptoms. However, others have chosen instead to find ways to strive for their goals and thrive. LaKeasha Williams was finally...

Could you imagine becoming disabled in your 20’s and not even knowing why? Autoimmune diseases are often undiagnosed, misdiagnosed and untreated for extended periods of time. This is especially the case for minorities and POC. This may be a result of cultural biases, lack of access to appropriate care and diagnostic testing, and limited research of autoimmune diseases’ impact on certain ethnicitie...