That's So Chronic

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. Today I sat down on video call with Hayley Cockman, who was diagnosed with premature menopause - or primary ovarian insufficiency as it is called nowadays - when she was only 14 years old.  In today’s episode Hayley talks us through her diagnosis, what that meant for her growing up, why she kept it a secret for so long, some tips and tricks to menopause, her...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. Today I am bringing you an interview with ‘aging acrobat’ (his words!) Joshua Phillips. Back when Joshua was around 11 or 12 he was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD. In this episode we chat about his diagnosis, what obsessions and compulsions are like for him, we discuss the misinformation floating around about OCD, and there’s even a message f...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. Ohhh this episode is a big one!! Today I sat down with Lauren Dewhirst during a rainy Dunedin day. Lauren was finally diagnosed after years of uncertainty with mcEDS - musculocontractural ehlers danlos syndrome. There are 13 different subtypes of EDS and mcEDS is very rare. At the time of recording, Lauren is one of two people living with this diagnosis in New Zea...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. Today you are in for a treat as I interview my friend Abbie Madden. Abbie was born with congenital glaucoma, which has led to a variety of different diagnoses for her eyes. This hasn’t stopped her though! Abbie has traveled the world, founded a circus and dance company called Blindful, and has most recently been awarded Arts Access Australia’s National Leadership...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. Today’s episode is super exciting for me as I have had Olivia Odey on my wish list since the very first idea of making this podcast! Today she shares with us how she came to be diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome and neural sensitisation syndrome. It's a goodie! In this episode Liv talks us through what happened that day at high school when she suddenly...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. Today I am chatting with Emily Spink all about Crohn’s Disease. Emily was diagnosed in 2014, and since then she has done some incredible things! In this episode Emily talks us through her journey to a diagnosis, what it’s like to volunteer for Camp Purple - a camp for young people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease run by Crohn’s and Colitis NZ, and she tells...

Welcome back to That's So Chronic! Did you miss me?! Here's a sneak peak into what will be coming up over the next few Tuesdays and during 2021. On a side note: I still feel incredibly overwhelmed with the positive response to this podcast, and at the time of uploading this we have downloads in 23 countries! Which when you're from a tiny country at the bottom of the world that blows my mind. So I...

Wow we actually made it to the end of 2020!! I almost can’t believe it! Here is a quick episode to wrap up the year!  In this episode I give you an insight into what inspired me to start this podcast, I make a promise that an episode about my story IS coming in the new year, and I tell you all how much I love you for listening every week from all around the world! To everyone who has been sup...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. Today we are featuring our first injury of the podcast, and it is with circus performer Quinn Beasley. Back when both Quinn and I were performing street shows in Australia for the Adelaide Fringe Festival, Quinn had an accident during one of his shows. It was eventually discovered (after a series of discharges and readmissions!) that he had fractured his skull, ha...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. Today I am chatting with Anna Reeve (she’s a powerhouse! Model, instagrammer, blogger, co-founder of Pals & an amazing Mum to The Reeve Nuggets) to talk all about all things alopecia universalis. When Anna was 7, she was diagnosed with alopecia universalis - an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, resulting in com...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. Today I am chatting with Bianca Smeekes from Neurospark. On the 22 of February 2011, Bianca was in the city during the horrific Christchurch Earthquake. Following this she was diagnosed with vulvodynia, fibromyalgia, and central sensitization syndrome - all very generalised diagnoses. In this episode Bianca shares her health journey, breaks down what those diagnos...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. Today I’m chatting with musical theatre graduate Mackenzie Norton to talk all about boobs, and in particular her breast reduction surgery that she had at the end of 2019. Which, randomly, all started at the clinic next door to the airbnb that I'm currently staying in in Christchurch! In this episode Mackenzie explains the years of pain and discomfort from dancing...

HERE IT IS! (Hi, welcome to That’s So Chronic!) This is the episode I have been really excited to share. Today I am chatting with my friend Rachel, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) back in 2008. Since diagnosis she has been on a variety of DMTs (disease modifying therapies) and in 2017 she went to Singapore to do the Stem Cell Transplant (aHSCT - Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell T...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic! Today, it’s all about Crohn’s Disease with Claire Chitham. You might recognise her as Waverley on Shortland Street, Aurora on Outrageous Fortune, or more recently as Penny on TVNZ’s Fresh Eggs. In this episode Claire talks about what it was like to be diagnosed with Crohn’s at only 13 years old, a hospitalisation while working on Shortland Street that changed her...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. Today I bring you an episode from my kitchen table with The Rock FM’s Lee Weir. We chat all about his Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis - the ups, the downs, and the everything in between. In this episode Lee talks about his diagnosis, how his diet and exercise regime led him to be his GP’s star pupil, the setbacks lockdown had on his health, and of course, we HAD to talk...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic and happy Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Today I sat down with a cup of tea and a chocolate chip cookie to chat with the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation’s latest ambassador Sarah Gandy. You might recognise her from the radio (The Hits Breakfast Show, ZM) or perhaps you’ve seen her in a magazine or on the telly spreading awareness about breast cancer. Most recently, alo...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. Today’s episode is all about endometriosis with secondary school drama teacher and endo warrior Adele Louise Tunnicliff. Adele had quite the journey to get to her diagnosis which included a whole lot of pain, surgery and passing out. Adele was so generous with what she shared in the episode… so generous in fact she even brought me pictures of her scans! I feel so...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. Today’s episode is with the incredible Morgan McKenzie Moore from How To Coeliac. Since being diagnosed with coeliac disease Morgan has moved to London and has been baking up a gluten free storm all while building an online community of over five thousand. Her most recent project has been recreating all of NZ’s iconic biscuits and making them gluten free. In this...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic’s Spotlight On: series! This is where I dive a little deeper into a topic that’s in our TSC community. Today… it’s all about medicinal cannabis. I interviewed Sophia, who was diagnosed with crohn’s disease when she was 15, and Dr Anna Harvey from the Cannabis Clinic Auckland. Both of these interviews were extremely informative and eye opening and I feel grateful th...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. Today I chat with Sam Smith and learn all about his life with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Sam was diagnosed with MS in 2015 and was forced to give up a successful career as a dentist… only to have another successful back up career as a comedian. He has been a comedian and writer for TV shows such as 7 Days, Jono & Ben, The Project, Dancing With The...

Hi! Welcome to That’s So Chronic. For today’s episode I sat down with Hayley Sproull on her living room floor to chat about all things Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Hayley is a TV presenter (Have You Been Paying Attention), comedian (7 Days, Jono and Ben), actor (Golden Boy), and all round incredible human. She has been on a journey to not only her PCOS diagnosis, but to understanding that d...

Welcome to That's So Chronic - a new weekly podcast hosted by Jess Brien Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.