Surviving out of Spite

Navigating the healthcare system with a chronic illness can feel overwhelming, frustrating, and, at times, isolating. In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite , Sam sits down with Meredith Mangold for a real and honest conversation about what it truly means to advocate for yourself as a patient. Meredith shares her journey living with ulcerative colitis and the many challenges she’s faced along t...

One year ago, Surviving Out of Spite launched to share stories, insights, and real-life experiences living with gastroparesis. In this special episode, Sam reflects on the journey of building the podcast, the lessons learned, and the incredible community that has grown along the way. Join us as we celebrate one year of connection, resilience, and storytelling.

Gut health is complicated, especially when you’re living with gastroparesis. In this episode, Sam sits down with Liz Roman to unpack the complex systems involved in digestive health and how they impact people with chronic gastrointestinal conditions. Together they explore the differences between conventional medicine and functional medicine, and how each approach looks at gut health, digestion, an...

What does a panic attack actually feel like, especially when you're already living with gastroparesis and chronic illness? In this raw and unplanned episode of Surviving Out of Spite, Sam shares a deeply vulnerable moment after experiencing an intense anxiety and panic attack at home. From suddenly struggling to breathe to using grounding techniques to calm her nervous system, Sam walks throug...

Living with a chronic illness is often framed as a limitation—but what if it could also be a strength? In this episode, Lilly Stairs joins us to share the concept of your “secret sauce”: the powerful combination of your natural skills, lived experiences, and the unique strengths developed through navigating chronic health conditions. Lilly explains how the resilience, problem-solving, adaptability...

What does it look like to grow up managing central lines and still build a life full of strength, independence, and purpose? In this inspiring episode, Vincent shares his journey of growing up with complex chronic illnesses, central lines, and learning line care and medical independence at a young age. He reflects on how his parents supported him in navigating healthcare while still encouraging hi...

Chronic pain isn’t just physical; it affects your mental health, emotions, and daily life. In this powerful conversation, Sam and Alec break down what chronic pain management really looks like when empathy, trust, and communication are at the center of care. Alec, a primary care provider, shares the personal experience that led him into medicine and shaped his approach to patient-centered care. Sa...

In this powerful conversation, Donna and Sam explore what it really means to live with chronic illness while navigating a complex and often broken medical system. Through personal stories and lived experience, they discuss patient advocacy, the emotional toll of being dismissed or misunderstood, and why awareness and systemic change in healthcare are so urgently needed. The episode also reflects o...

What does it mean to be diagnosed with a serious heart condition at a young age, and then have to fight to be believed? In this powerful conversation, Hannah shares her journey as a heart patient diagnosed with HCM and the realities of navigating a healthcare system that often overlooks young patients. She opens up about misdiagnosis, self-advocacy, and the emotional toll of living with a heart co...

#ChronicIllness #GutHealth #DigestiveHealth #gastroparesis In this week’s episode, Sam sits down with Dahlia and James Marin, co-founders of Married to Health, where they unpack the gut-immune connection and why food is so much more than fuel when you live with chronic digestive illness. Together, they explore the concept of “gut debt,” the emotional and psychological weight we carry around eating...

Dating is hard. Dating with chronic illness or disability? That’s a whole different battlefield. In this episode, Sam sits down with the founders of Dateability, the first dating app built specifically for people with chronic illnesses and disabilities. Together, they unpack the emotional reality of navigating dating in bodies that don’t always cooperate, the isolation so many experience on mainst...

Gastroparesis isn’t just about digestion — it’s about identity, grief, resilience, and learning how to fight for yourself. In this episode, Sam and Dr. Eva Alsheik unpack the science behind gastroparesis, the mental health piece that’s often ignored, and what real treatment looks like beyond a prescription pad. They explore options like G-POEM, gastric stimulators from Enterra therapy, and emergin...

In this final episode of the year, Sam pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to grow a chronic illness community. From the early days of G-PACT to the powerful network it’s become today, she reflects on the wins, the setbacks, and the moments that nearly broke her, and the people who helped her keep going. This episode is a love letter to every person who has ever felt isolated by illness...

In this week's episode, Megan Riehl joins the show to break down the brain–gut connection and why it’s a physiological process, not a dismissal. We explore how stress and nervous system dysregulation directly affect GI function, shaping symptoms that too often get misunderstood or minimized. Megan explains how psychological therapies, including gut-directed hypnotherapy, can be powerful, evide...

In this episode, Sam sits down with Kate Bochnewetch, a physical therapist and running/strength coach, for a conversation about living, moving and thriving with chronic illness. Drawing from her own journey with hEDS syndrome, POTS and chronic migraines, Kate breaks down the realities of chronic pain, the emotional toll of navigating the healthcare system and the power of finding people who truly...

In this episode, we’re joined by Jennifer Akimoto. She’s a registered dietitian with 20 years of clinical nutrition experience, and today, we are talking about the world of blended tube feeding. Inspired by a patient’s daughter, Jennifer shares how blended foods can offer more options than traditional formulas and play a vital role in overall health, especially for those with chronic illnesses. In...

In this episode, Sam sits down with Maisy to unpack what it means to build a life around chronic illness without losing yourself in it. Maisy shares her personal journey through shifting identity, relationships, and the search for community when you exist between able-bodied and chronically ill spaces. Together, they dive into the emotional and practical realities of asking for accommodations, nav...

In this solo episode, Sam opens up about what it’s like to navigate food-centered holidays while living with gastroparesis. From gatherings built around meals she couldn’t eat to the years when not a single dish felt safe, she shares the emotional weight, the isolation, and the small wins that helped her get through it. Sam talks candidly about the pressure to “just try a bite,” the guilt of sayin...

In this episode, Sam sits down with Izzy ; a chronic illness warrior, marathon runner, and fierce self-advocate. Izzy opens up about navigating multiple chronic illnesses while training for endurance events, and what it took to reframe her mindset from limitation to possibility. She shares the real challenges behind long-distance running with a complex health journey, how she built a supportive ne...

In this episode, Sam sits down with CarmenRose Fiallo to explore the complexities of living with invisible disabilities, with a focus on chronic migraines. They discuss the pressure to appear “normal,” the stigma that often accompanies hidden conditions, and the emotional toll of being misunderstood or dismissed. The conversation emphasizes the importance of finding a supportive community, leverag...

Disclaimer: This episode includes open and honest conversations about sex and intimacy. Listener discretion is advised, and we encourage you to tune in when you feel comfortable engaging with this topic. Intimacy is about so much more than sex; but living with a chronic illness can make every part of it complicated. In this episode, Samantha chats with Ali DiGiacomo, where they dive into the unspo...

In this episode, Samantha Cook opens up about her 15-year journey with gastroparesis and the lessons she’s learned along the way. As both a patient and a psychologist, Samantha offers a unique perspective on the importance of mindset, emotional processing, and self-care in navigating chronic illness. She reflects on the role of community support, evolving medical care, and the impact of illness on...

In this episode, Sam and Kristen share an honest conversation about what it means to run with chronic illness and disability. For Kristen, running became a lifeline during a particularly tough health season. Together, they explore the emotional and physical realities of adaptive athletics, from the trial-and-error process of figuring out what works, to the deep mental health benefits that running...

In this episode, Sam sits down with Dr. Zachary Spiritos, a neurogastroenterologist, to dive into the complex and often overlooked challenges of treating gastroparesis and other GI motility disorders. Dr. Spiritos shares valuable insights on the crucial brain-gut connection and highlights why a holistic, patient-centered approach is essential for managing these conditions effectively. We get real...

What happens when chronic gut issues meet the fast pace of the ER? Dr. Rick Pescatore, an emergency physician, joins us to discuss the rising number of patients facing digestive health challenges and the unique barriers they encounter in acute care. We talk about why patient stories matter just as much as test results, and how digital health tools like BellyMD are giving patients the power to trac...