The Living Well Pod

Hi there! We’re popping in with a special episode to share what’s been going on in our worlds, including personal health updates and new research that holds exciting possibilities for those living with gastroparesis and other functional GI disorders. You’ll hear about Samantha’s work with her Thriving with Gastroparesis group, Crystal’s rewrite of Living Well with Gastroparesis , and the discoveri...

Welcome to the Season Two finale! In this episode, we talk about how easy it is to get caught up in doing things the “right way” when it comes to our health and well-being — and how much freedom there is in letting that go. We reflect on the experiences and insights that kept bringing us back to this theme all season long, from hearing the many different paths our guests have taken to live well, t...

In today’s episode, we sit down with coach Sarie Taylor, who is currently undergoing treatment for stage three breast cancer. Sarie tells us how she went from being hospitalized due to debilitating anxiety and panic to deeply seeing that worry is never useful — not even when it comes to serious diagnoses and health challenges. Sarie speaks candidly about navigating cancer treatment without falling...

In this minisode, we share the quotes that resonate most deeply with our journeys and the message of this podcast. Crystal reflects on a quote by Sydney Banks that speaks to the freedom that comes from not fearing our experience, while Samantha shares a reminder from Michael Neill that peace doesn't require fixing ourselves—it comes from seeing that we were never broken. This discussion truly capt...

When you're living with a chronic illness, it can feel like your whole world revolves around management plans, symptom tracking, and just getting through the day. In the midst of all that, it's easy to lose touch with the things that used to light you up—the simple joys, passions, and pieces of yourself that make life feel meaningful. In this episode, we’re talking about Ikigai , the Japanese conc...

In this episode, we’re joined by Living Well Pod listener, Vanessa. Vanessa discusses the winding road to her gastroparesis diagnosis, the biases she’s faced as someone navigating the medical system with a disability, and how she’s learned to keep showing up and moving forward, even when it feels difficult. We talk about creating boundaries around illness, finding joy in everyday moments, and embr...

In this minisode, we respond to a question about navigating the financial stress that often comes with chronic illness. Rather than focus on the particulars, which vary so much from person to person, we explore the inner experience of financial strain—how our thoughts and state of mind shape how we feel about our circumstances. We talk about how frantic thinking can narrow our perspective and make...

In this episode, Crystal discusses what finally brought clarity after two years of unexplained breathing symptoms. Not through more tests or treatments, but by stepping back and looking at the full picture — with help from an unexpected source. We explore: * How it feels when the answer isn’t as complex or dramatic as we expected * The difference between anxious problem-solving and true insight *...

In this episode, we’re joined by Living Well Pod listener Hannah as she shares her powerful story of navigating the ups and downs of gastroparesis, mental health struggles, and an eating disorder shaped by years of illness. Hannah reflects on what healing has meant for her, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually, as well. Together, we explore: * Why recovery from illness doesn’t alwa...

We’re back with another minisode, and this time we’re talking about what we do when our thoughts are swirling and the overwhelm sets in. There’s nothing you have to do in those moments—your thinking will settle on its own. But sometimes, certain things do feel helpful or supportive. Whether it’s music, movement, or just taking a breath, these small acts can create space and help us stay grounded w...

When Samantha was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis, her mind immediately jumped to the future. What would this mean for her mobility? Her travel dreams? The next several decades of her life? In this honest and deeply relatable conversation, we talk about how quickly fearful thinking can take hold after a new diagnosis, and how noticing the feelings of uncertainty and unease can gently bring us...

This week we’re joined by Megan Laubacker. After struggling with gastroparesis for many years, Megan’s symptoms gradually disappeared. But several months ago, those symptoms began to return—something her brain insisted wasn’t supposed to happen. We talk about the initial disappointment and disbelief Megan felt, the relief of letting go of trying to figure out why her symptoms came back, and the qu...

In our first-ever minisode, we’re answering the question: What books have been the most impactful for you when it comes to living well with chronic illness? We each picked two personal favorites: one that completely shifted our perspective and one that brought us a deep sense of peace and possibility. Listen in to hear who picked what—and why these books felt so impactful and stayed with us over t...

Today we’re bringing you a conversation about Samantha’s recent seven-week trip with her family. From the outside, it might sound like an impossible undertaking: traveling around the world while managing chronic illness and recovering from surgery — not to mention the unexpected health challenges that popped up along the way. But somehow, this trip didn’t just happen, it was full of peaceful momen...

Welcome to Season 2 of The Living Well Pod ! We're thrilled to have Lily Sais, one of our most-loved guests from last season, back to kick things off with a conversation about the sometimes blurry line between self-advocacy and anxious thinking. How do you know if you’re advocating for your health or just stuck in an anxiety loop? What if your doctor isn’t listening, and you know something’s wrong...

In our season one finale, we sit down with musician and actress Emily Ricks to hear her incredible journey of self-advocacy and healing. Emily had been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, colonic paralysis, MCAS, POTS, and more before finally finding an innovative treatment that changed her life. In this episode, she shares how she navigated biases in the healthcare system, trusted her intuitio...

In this week's episode, we're talking about "hidden agreements"— the stories we believe about what needs to happen in order for us to be happy, okay, or fulfilled in life. While they often go unnoticed, these made-up requirements can weigh us down and create a lot of unnecessary suffering. We discuss: * What "hidden agreements" are and how they show up in our lives * Why tying our happiness to spe...

This week, we welcome Christine McGarvey, a rare disease advocate and Living Well Pod listener, to share her inspiring journey of living well despite significant health challenges. Christine talks about her decade-long search for a diagnosis, the meaning she’s found through advocacy, and lessons on resilience, compassion, and staying present. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: * How Christine turne...

In this episode, we’re discussing something we’ve all felt at one time or another: that uneasy sense of waiting for the other shoe to drop. Whether it’s the return of symptoms, a new diagnosis, or something completely unexpected, our minds often spin stories about why we need to stay on high alert—worried, vigilant, and constantly “prepared.” We share how this pattern has played out in our own liv...

In this episode, Crystal shares a recent insight about how often—and how quickly—we can turn helpful health tools into rigid, must-follow rules, making life feel harder and more limiting than it needs to be. Together, we explore why we (innocently!) do this and how getting curious and leaning into flexibility can help us navigate life with chronic illness with more freedom and ease. If you’ve ever...

In this episode, Crystal chats with Dr. Amy Johnson, psychologist, coach, and creator of The Little School of Big Change , about the mental weight we often carry around decision-making. We explore: - why choices, especially those related to our health, often feel so overwhelming - the illusion that our choices guarantee particular outcomes - the freedom that comes from letting go of the pressure t...

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the US, we’re coming to you a day early with an episode about navigating the holidays with chronic illness. This time of year can bring such a mix of emotions — gratitude, excitement, wonder… overwhelm, loneliness, tension. In this episode, we’re sharing how we handle the ups and downs of the holiday season: what’s worked for us, how we deal with the challenges th...

This week, we’re excited to share a fun and inspiring conversation with our friend and YouTube creator, Jen Lefforge. Jen has built an incredible career as a travel and lifestyle vlogger while navigating the ups and downs of Hashimoto’s disease. We love her unapologetic approach to setting boundaries and how she’s refused to let her diagnosis define or limit her. Jen’s story is full of practical t...

In this episode, Crystal shares how post-election anxiety flared up her physical symptoms, reminding her of the importance of self-care and letting ourselves truly feel our feelings. This conversation isn’t about politics. It’s about how easily all of us can get caught up in anxious thinking about external events and how we tend to experience that thinking physically, especially when dealing with...

In today’s episode, we sit down with parenting coach Jessica Silverman to discuss the realities of raising children while navigating health challenges. We talk about the common feelings of guilt and pressure that arise when health issues impact parenting, explore how embracing self-compassion can help us let go of perfection, and share practical pointers for recognizing — and trusting — the resili...