Invisible Strength

At 10 years old, Elizabeth Peery was rushed to the ER with a blood sugar over 800 and a brand-new type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Her first question wasn't about needles or hospitals — it was, "Can I still play softball?" In this episode of Invisible Strength, Elizabeth shares her type 1 diabetes journey from that frightening diagnosis to becoming a competitive softball player, a Division...

If you’ve ever been told it’s “just bad periods,” “just IBS,” or “just anxiety” — this one’s for you. In this episode of the Invisible Strength Podcast, Karin Wagner and Chris B. sit down with Kelly Jones, who spent roughly a decade fighting to be believed before finally being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and endometriosis — and who later faced a spinal cord tumor and major spine surgery. Kelly...

When Siana Smith's leg kept going numb at work, she and her colleagues laughed it off. It wasn't until she felt an electric shock shoot down her spine during a self-tape that she knew, deep in her gut, something was really wrong. After being told "it won't be MS," she finally saw the white dots scattered across her brain on an MRI screen — and burst into tears. This is the st...

Imagine being a 19-year-old college freshman, playing in every game of your first Division 1 soccer season — and then, over a single winter break, watching your body start to fail. Unexplained bruises. Out of breath after a few steps. Sores that wouldn't heal. For Webb Kosich, that was the beginning of a months-long fight against aplastic anemia, a rare bone marrow failure disease that strikes rou...

Lupus put her in the ICU in college. She came back to run 14 marathons, 5 ultras, and 200 miles from Boston to NYC. Run coach Mireille Siné on training with autoimmune disease — flares , fatigue , and the mindset shift that changes everything . In this episode of Invisible Strength, Karin and Chris talk with Mireille Siné — certified run coach, AIP nutrition coach, and the first Black woman to run...

When Baylee Simmelink was nine years old, she was sick every night before bed — stomach cramps, vomiting, real pain. For a while, the adults around her thought she was just trying to avoid bedtime. Sound familiar? For so many people living with chronic and invisible illness, getting someone to believe you is half the battle. In this episode of Invisible Strength, Karin sits down with Baylee — a co...

Lupus nearly took everything from Emma in her early 20s. She was hospitalized, struggling to walk, losing her hair, and unsure what her future would look like. Doctors didn’t know if life would ever feel “normal” again.23 years later? She’s a mom, works full-time, runs for her mental health, and has learned how to live WITH lupus instead of constantly fighting against her body. In this episode, Em...

From life support to lupus advocacy, Semi shares her raw journey with lupus — the grief, the isolation, self-advocacy wins, lifestyle shifts, and how she created a children’s book to help kids understand the disease. A must-listen for anyone navigating autoimmune conditions who needs hope and real talk. Resources & Links: • Semi’s Children’s Book: Luna and the Tiny Superhero → https://amzn.to/...

University of Texas Austin track & field star Logan Popelka shares how he turned a celiac disease diagnosis at age 15 into elite athletic success — including a near-qualification for the U.S. Olympic Trials. Diagnosed with no obvious symptoms, Logan opens up about navigating a strict gluten-free lifestyle while competing at the highest level. From high school social challenges to fueling as a...

Faith Ring was a driven college swimmer when lupus turned her world upside down. Faith shares how she adapted her training, diet, and mindset — including lessons from Katie Ledecky — and learned to put her health first without quitting her dreams. Raw, honest, and full of practical tips for anyone navigating autoimmune disease while chasing big goals. This episode is for anyone living with autoimm...

🌟NEW INVISIBLE STRENGTH EPISODE!🌟 In this episode of the Invisible Strength Podcast, host Karin Wagner sits down with University of Alabama gymnast Paityn Walker to share her powerful story of competing at an elite level while living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Paityn opens up about the sudden onset of severe joint pain, her diagnosis at just 19, and what it’s been like navigating a chronic...

What does it really mean to live with cerebral palsy —and build a life rooted in independence , resilience, and self-worth? In this episode of the Invisible Strength Podcast , Karin Wagner and Chris Burton sit down with Shelly to share her powerful journey of growing up with cerebral palsy, navigating bullying and anxiety , and learning how to advocate for herself in a world that often underestima...

What happens when someone you love is diagnosed with lupus? In this powerful episode of the Invisible Strength Podcast, Tanisha shares her journey as a former football captain turned lupus advocate —navigating fear, uncertainty, and strength as her dad battles this autoimmune disease. From watching a parent struggle … to finding purpose through pain… this conversation is for anyone living with lup...

Living with rheumatoid arthritis or an autoimmune disease can feel overwhelming, isolating, and exhausting—but it doesn’t mean your life can’t still be meaningful. In this episode of Invisible Strength , Keri Pratt shares her journey navigating RA, Hashimoto’s, seizures, and more—and how she’s learning to grieve who she was while becoming someone new with purpose, resilience, and hope . If you’ve...

From house fire at 16 + abusive marriage to unbreakable strength: Bethany Stone's raw story of trauma recovery & thriving.➡️ JOIN OUR FREE MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUPSLiving with chronic illness is hard. You don't have to do it alone.🔗 Book your spot here 🌿 Struggling with autoimmune, flares, fear, or overwhelm? Invigorate helps you move to clarity, steadiness & a life that feels like YOU agai...

Discover how Nicole Charles turned her Graves' disease diagnosis into a superpower with Heal Me Delicious! In this inspiring Invisible Strength podcast episode, Nicole shares her raw journey: from being overworked and over-caffeinated in grad school, rapid weight loss, heart palpitations, and a lightning-fast diagnosis... to finding resilience through creativity in the kitchen during the pandemic....

Imagine your child saying, “Eating hurts… but I still have to try.” That was Bridget’s daily reality as she navigated years of unexplained symptoms, medical dismissal, and the overwhelming fear of not knowing what was wrong. Eventually, her daughter was diagnosed with Crohn’s — but the journey to get there was anything but straightforward. In this powerful episode of the Invisible Strength Podcast...

You're managing your symptoms, attending appointments, pushing through — but nobody warned you about the emotional weight of chronic illness. The grief. The identity loss. The trauma of just trying to get a diagnosis. In this episode of the Invisible Strength Podcast, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Jessica Grove joins hosts Karin Wagner and Chris Burton to break down the psychological side...

What does it take to rebuild your life after a rare autoimmune disease leaves you partially paralyzed during a global shutdown? Today’s guest, Marion Jones, shows us what invisible strength really looks like. Diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) during the COVID-19 pandemic, Marion faced misdiagnosis, isolation, nerve damage, and the grief of losing the life she once knew. But her story doesn...

💜 In this episode of the Invisible Strength Podcast , Olivia Atkin shares how a childhood epilepsy diagnosis reshaped her life —and ultimately fueled her work as an entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and founder of Achieving Success . From navigating an invisible illness to working with the New York Giants , launching a business, and redefining success on her own terms, Olivia reminds us: You can build...

Rachel Hayden, host of the SpoonFull Podcast, shares her journey living with both MS and Type 1 Diabetes. From a six-year diagnostic search to navigating identity, energy, and mental health, Rachel opens up about the invisible strength required to live with multiple chronic illnesses . She reflects on learning to ask for help, pacing her energy, and rebuilding her sense of self—while raising compa...

A father. A daughter. One life-saving decision. In Season 5 of the Invisible Strength Podcast, hosts Karin Wagner and Chris Burton sit down with Paul and Tianna Butler to share an extraordinary true story of kidney disease , organ donation , faith , and resilience .Paul’s health declined quietly—until he was faced with kidney failure and the long, uncertain transplant waitlist. When the search for...

What happens when you do everything right—eat clean, train hard, manage stress—and your body still breaks? In this remarkable episode of the Invisible Strength Podcast, hosts Karin Wagner and Chris Burton,  @baddestchaplain  , sit down with Krissy Ward, a clinical nutritionist and autoimmune advocate, to unpack her 20-year journey with chronic illness, medical gaslighting, and the long road to rea...

If you’ve ever been told “your tests are normal” or “ we can’t find anything wrong ,” this episode is for you. 🎙️ In this powerful conversation, Dr. David Clarke, MD — Gastroenterologist, author, and President of the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms — breaks down the real science behind chronic pain, stress, trauma , and how the brain can generate (and heal) physical symptoms...

When rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue, and central sensitization syndrome (CSS) took over Felicity’s life, she reached a breaking point. Then one mindset shift changed everything. In this powerful, raw, and unexpectedly funny interview, Felicity @the_dead_arthritic reveals how a radical, research-backed approach helped her rewire her brain, reduce her symptoms, and rebuild her life—one tiny d...