Living Chronic

Send us Fan Mail Brandy Schantz shares her journey of living with chronic illness and the challenges she faced in getting a proper diagnosis. After experiencing severe reactions to medication, she was diagnosed with drug-induced lupus and an unknown neurologic condition. She struggled with migraines, chest pain, vertigo, dizziness, and various other health issues. Eventually, she was diagnosed wit...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Brandy Schantz interviews Rachel Myers, a breast cancer survivor and coach for women going through the same journey. Rachel shares her personal story of being diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer and undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. She emphasizes the need for support and coaching during and after treatment, as well as the importance of add...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Living Chronic, Brandy Schantz discusses the challenges faced by disabled individuals in the workforce and the need for better inclusion and support. She highlights the lack of awareness about resources and programs available to disabled individuals and emphasizes the importance of finding meaningful employment. Brandy also addresses the misconception that disab...

Send us Fan Mail June Heston, a burn pit advocate and the wife of the late Brigadier General Mike Heston, shares her journey and advocacy work for burn pit victims. She discusses the challenges of getting disability claims approved and the lack of support from the government. June emphasizes the need for more awareness and education about burn pits and their impact on veterans' health. She al...

Send us Fan Mail Stephanie Humphrey shares her journey of living with chronic illness, surviving breast cancer, and navigating the VA healthcare system. She discusses the challenges of being diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age and the importance of early detection. Stephanie also highlights the impact of sinus issues on overall health and the benefits of ENT care for veterans. She emphasiz...

Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Brandy speaks with Anna, a chronic illness patient and caregiver. They discuss the challenges of being a caregiver while also dealing with their own chronic illnesses. They share their experiences of role reversal, financial struggles, and the emotional impact of being both a patient and a caregiver. They also highlight the similarities in the healthcare expe...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Benjamin Caplan discusses the benefits of cannabis in medicine and how it can be used as an alternative to traditional medications. He emphasizes the importance of education and empowerment for patients to make informed decisions about their health. Dr. Caplan also highlights the potential of cannabis in treating various health conditions, including mental health issues and wo...

Send us Fan Mail Season 2 is underway and it's going to be a very exciting season. I want to address some questions I've gotten about mistrust in the medical system, medical professionals, and various institutions. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail n this conversation, Amanda Chay, author of The Girlfriend's Guide to Lupus, shares her personal experience with lupus and offers advice for individuals living with chronic illness. The conversation covers topics such as the challenges of diagnosis for athletes, the importance of dental and eye health, the prevalence of autoimmune diseases in women, setting boundaries and cho...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Living Chronic, where we delve into the challenges and triumphs of living with chronic conditions. After a brief hiatus for surgery and recovery, I'm thrilled to announce the return of Season 2! In this season, we're taking Living Chronic to new heights by exploring the intricacies of veterans' issues and advocacy. Join me as we navigate the unique c...

Send us Fan Mail This week I interviewed Best Buddies Champion of the Year, Virginia and DC nominee, Suzanne Garwood. She talks about being the parent to disabled children, working with organizations like Best Buddies to better the lives of disabled children, and her personal experiences working to make this a better world for her two children. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week I interview Ohan the Money Doctor. https://www.ohanthemoneydoctor.com/ Financial Planning is important for everyone, especially the chronically ill. We discuss some tips and the right documents to have in place to ensure your finances are taken care of. These are difficult conversations but necessary. Ohan helps you to understand various powers of attorney, trusts, and o...

Send us Fan Mail Chronic illness can be devastating to your career and often, patients must make a career change in order to continue working or work with HR at their current job to help them work through illnesses and treatments. Rosalind founded the only chronic illness focused career coaching business after suffering from MS and UC and struggling in her own career. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week I participated in Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's Advocacy Day on the Hill. It's important that we as patients advocate for ourselves, not just in the medical setting, but in the policy setting as well. This week we advocated for 2 bills in particular, Safe Step Act and HELP Copays but there is so much more that can be done to help patients and the disa...

Send us Fan Mail Jon "The Posture Monster" Clark Expert Posture Therapist, Podcast Host, Ordained Psychedelic Minister is the only psychedelic posture therapist in the worldd and we talk about how he used posture therapy, magic mushrooms, and a new outlook to go from a wheelchair to living without pain. www.chronicpainrewired.com Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Michele is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, certified in yoga, nutrition, and women's health. She's also a mom of 4 and a military wife. Michele talks about health and wellness over 40 and living a healthy lifestyle. www.micheleriechman.com  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Antra Boyd has served in the Navy, been an OR nurse, advocated for patients, and survived cancer. She has so many great tips and tricks that I can't wait to have her back on the show. ChatGPT for help asking questions at the doctor!! www.connectedcarepatientadvocates.com Support the show

Send us Fan Mail I've been reading The Divided Mind by Dr. John E. Sarno. I've learned so much through this podcast about the relationship between my PTSD, my trauma, my mind, and my body that I felt it was time to start really reading about the science. This marks the beginning of my journey to understanding the origins of my pain and working to find peace within myself. Support the sho...

Send us Fan Mail Jessica Bartley of New Hope Natural Healing, https://www.newhopenaturalhealing.com/, knows what it feels like to be desperate for help, any help, that can get your life back from chronic illness. In this episode, we discuss that feeling of desperation and hopelessness and how to get your life back fro chronic illness. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Winners Never Quit and Quitters Never Win. That's what we are taught. Is it always true though? Quitting can be difficult but when you're in a toxic situation, sometimes quitting is self-care and the best thing you can do for yourself. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail This week I spoke with Tanja Degitz, coach, Body-Mind Mentor, and specialist in healing through nervous system regulation. She works on the mind and body connection to reduce pain and find healing. Tanja can be found on Instagram at Making.it_possible and helps you to make it possible to live pain free. Connect with Tanja:  https://www.instagram.com/making.it_possible/ Pain Relief...

Send us Fan Mail Over these past 2 years, I've often felt lost, even frantic. I am a problem solver and being so depressed after going through so many severe health issues, especially after just picking myself up after a very life altering Crohn's flare, meant that I was trying to make myself happy, even if I didn't understand what I was looking for or how to be happy again. I'...

Send us Fan Mail I interview Maria Pendolino about being a disabled voice actor and learning to navigate healthcare bureaucracies and advocate for yourself. ⁠http://www.voicebymaria.com⁠ ⁠http://www.disabledvoiceactors.com⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariapendolino/⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mariapendo/⁠ ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@mariapendo⁠ Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Holly Bertone, Coach and Podcast Host, Gratitude Builds Fortitude, talks about how mindset can shift your perspective and change your life. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Krystalore Crews founded Crews Beyond Limits (www.krystalorecrews.com) after suffering some big set backs in life including Rheumatoid Arthritis, a big military move with her husband that left her unemployed (military spouses know), and then a skin cancer diagnosis. She knows how difficult it is to pick yourself up and she's fought hard to thrive as a coach and fitness leader...