The Chronically Positive Podcast

You can watch this episode on YouTube In this episode of The Chronically Positive Podcast, I talk with sisters Jacqueline and Alexa, co-founders of Dateability— the first dating app created for people with disabilities and chronic illness. Jacqueline shares her personal journey navigating dating with chronic illness, from rejection and internalized ableism to finding empowerment through building a...

You can watch this episode on youtube In this episode, Anna Snapp joins me to share how she transformed years of medical trauma, mental health struggles, and invisible illness into powerful creative expression. From hospital stays and misdiagnoses to performing her story on stage for med students and Fringe Festival audiences alike, Anna’s journey is a reminder of the strength it takes to reclaim...

You can watch the episode on YouTube here   In this episode of The Chronically Positive Podcast , I’m sharing my first experience traveling abroad with a chronic illness. I recently went to Italy, and while it was an incredible adventure, it came with its own set of challenges. From managing my health on the flight to navigating food, accessibility, and flare-ups, I’m talking all about how I made...

You can watch this episode on youtube In this episode, I sit down with Olivia aka @chronicallyillandhot to discuss our experiences with chronic illness, focusing on the importance of community support, humor, and the emotional toll of living with conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and mast cell activation syndrome. We share personal stories about navigating chemical sensitivities, the impact c...

This week on The Chronically Positive Podcast, I’m joined by a very special guest, my brother Elias. Elias is a rare disease researcher and we’re talking about something that impacts all of us: science funding. Recent cuts to research funding may feel distant, but they directly affect people living with chronic illness and rare disease. In this conversation, Elias explains how science funding actu...

In this episode, I sit down with my boyfriend, Matthew, to talk about the realities of love, support, and navigating life together with a chronic illness. We’re answering your questions, sharing personal stories, and tackling the tough topics—like feeling like a burden, managing household responsibilities, and maintaining intimacy. Whether you’re in a similar situation or just curious about how re...

Welcome to season two of the Chronically Positive podcast! This season, we're diving deep into the complexities of love, dating, and intimacy for those living with chronic illnesses. Today, we are joined by Danni Hertel, who shares her powerful story of navigating relationships while dealing with chronic illness. She discusses the impact of toxic relationships on her health, the importance of supp...

In this gripping episode, the 'Miracle Man' Jake Haendel shares his extraordinary journey of surviving stage four acute toxic progressive leukoencephalopathy, a rare brain disease that left him fully conscious but unable to move or speak for ten months. Jake opens up about his descent into addiction, the horrifying misdiagnosis of being brain dead, and his incredible recovery journey. We delve int...

On this episode of The Chronically Positive Podcast , I sit down with Tyler Scheviak, the creator of the Fig app—a game-changing tool for anyone with chronic illnesses or food sensitivities trying to navigate their dietary restrictions. Tyler opens up about his journey, the challenges faced by those managing food allergies, and the surprising impact of mold toxicity on health. We also dive into th...

In this episode of the Chronically Positive Podcast , I sit down with Sami Leyde, a chronic illness advocate and dance teacher. We dive into her journey with chronic pain, her experiences with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and POTS, and how she’s adapted her teaching methods to accommodate her health challenges. Together, we explore the importance of community, resilience, and finding a balance between m...

In this episode of T he Chronically Positive Podcast , I talk with Emily von Weise, Head of Marketing at Guava. Emily shares her personal journey with chronic illnesses such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, POTS, and MCAS, and discusses how her experiences influenced her role at Guava. We dive into how the Guava app empowers users to manage their health more effectively, featuring tools like symptom tra...

This week, I spoke with Tayler Goectau about her journey navigating life with disabilities, particularly her transition to living with an ostomy. Tayler opened up about the emotional challenges she faced, the importance of community support, and how she turned her experiences into a creative outlet by designing ostomy covers. She also shared how thrifting plays a key role in her designs and emphas...

In this episode of the Chronically Positive Podcast , I sit down with Joe Glasgow , a talented writer and creative powerhouse, to discuss his journey with chronic illness, especially the impact of COVID-19. We explore the challenges of living with chronic conditions, the role of creativity and humor in coping, and Joe’s upcoming children’s book, Be a Hero, which teaches empathy for those with invi...

In this episode of  The Chronically Positive Podcast , I’m joined by Kaylee Bays, a dancer who is breaking barriers and redefining what’s possible in the performing arts. Kaylee shares her journey from discovering her passion for dance to navigating the challenges of living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. We discuss her experiences on  So You Think You Can Dance  and performing at the Paralympics, th...

Today, it’s just you and me! In this solo episode of The Chronically Positive Podcast , I’m sharing my personal journey of finding a new normal after being diagnosed with POTS and EDS. I’ll take you through the ups and downs of accepting my new reality and how I turned my challenges into opportunities to connect, create, and inspire. I’ll also share some practical tips, a fun rapid-fire segment, a...

In this episode of The Chronically Positive Podcast, I’m joined by Samantha Jade Durán, a powerhouse designer, activist, and influencer known online as @adisabledicon. Samantha opens up about her journey as a Latina navigating life with complex disabilities and chronic illnesses while breaking barriers in the worlds of fashion and beauty. We dive into Samantha’s groundbreaking work in adaptive fas...

Welcome to the very first episode of The Chronically Positive Podcast ! I’m your host, Ila, and I’m excited to share my journey with you. In this episode, I’ll dive into my personal story of living with chronic illnesses, including POTS and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and how I’ve turned my experiences into advocacy and community-building. This podcast isn’t about forcing positivity or suggesting that...