My Spoonie Sisters
by Jen Weaver
Pockets Of Joy After Diagnosis
About this podcast
Welcome to My Spoonie Sisters! If you're wondering what a "Spoonie" is, it’s a term lovingly embraced by those living with chronic illnesses, based on the Spoon Theory. It’s all about managing our limited energy (or “spoons”) while navigating life’s challenges.
Each week, join us to hear from your "Spoonie Sisters" host, co-hosts, and our inspiring special guests as we share real-life stories, tips, and encouragement. Whether you're here to learn, connect, or feel less alone, you’ll find a supportive space filled with understanding, laughter, and strength. Let’s journey through chronic illness together!
Tune in and join the sisterhood!
All guests featured or mentioned in this podcast will be listed for your convenience. Don't forget to rate and subscribe to My Spoonie Sisters and follow @MySpoonieSisters on Instagram for updates on new episodes and more. If you have a story to share or want to be featured on My Spoonie Sisters, please email [email protected]. We eagerly look forward to speaking and hearing from all our Spoonies!
Disclaimer: While we are not doctors or healthcare Practitioners, we want to assure you that this podcast is a credible source of information. It's based on our guests' personal experiences and the strategies we've found effective for ourselves. However, everyone's body is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. If you have any health-related questions, it's always best to consult your Primary Doctor or Rheumatologist.
Remember, our goal at My Spoonie Sisters is to connect people and provide them with the support and tools they need to live better lives.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 164 episodes
- Pockets Of Joy After Diagnosis · 18 min · Season 5 Episode 21What happens after the diagnosis, when the pamphlets end and real life begins? We open up about the messy middle: the anger at being dismissed, the relief of finally being…
- No is a complete sentence · 20 min · Season 5 Episode 20A single word can change a life. When Andi’s nonstop yeses ended in cardiac arrest, she rebuilt her world around a different answer—one that protected her health, restored her…
- Season of Isolation · 21 min · Season 5 Episode 19The light fades, routines slow, and the quiet gets loud. We name the winter blues without sugarcoating them, then share what actually helps: sunlight rituals, happy lights you’ll…
- Survivor Spoonie Edition: What's in Your Bag · 18 min · Season 5 Episode 18Ever wish your bag could calm a flare before it starts? We empty our real spoonie survival kits and show exactly how we plan for pain spikes, long waits, and the kind of detours…
- Please Stop Touching My Stuff, But Also Thank You For The Dishes · 25 min · Season 5 Episode 17Holiday joy doesn’t have to come with a meltdown. We open up about how to survive loud rooms, heavy schedules, and high expectations while living with chronic illness or limited…
- Balance Your Binge · 30 min · Season 5 Episode 16A snack can save your night—or sink tomorrow. We spin our community’s wheel of topics and dive into the art of balanced snacking for spoonies: how to crush cravings, steady…
- MS Disrupted · 39 min · Season 5 Episode 15When Kathy Chester lost her eyesight in one eye on Mother's Day over twenty years ago, she had no idea this would be the beginning of her journey with multiple sclerosis. As a…
- The Power of Mail: Turning Chronic Illness into Advocacy · 42 min · Season 5 Episode 14When life deals you a complicated hand of chronic illnesses, what do you do with it? For Erica Falco, the answer was clear – transform it into a mission of connection and hope…
- Unmasking Autonomic Dysfunction · 42 min · Season 5 Episode 13What happens when the medical establishment tells you your debilitating symptoms are "all in your head"? Dr. Diana Driscoll shares her journey from successful optometrist to…
- Living Through Medical Emergencies · 33 min · Season 5 Episode 12Steve Lovelace didn't plan to share his recent health crisis on the Spoonie Sisters podcast, but sometimes the most powerful conversations happen unexpectedly. When Steve woke at…
- Turning Diagnosis Into Mission: The Birth of Lori Health · 31 min · Season 5 Episode 11Ever Googled your symptoms only to fall down a rabbit hole of doom and gloom? You're not alone. When Asmaa was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2022, she desperately searched…
- Medical Jargon Demystified · 48 min · Season 5 Episode 10Have you ever left your rheumatologist's office feeling like they were speaking an entirely different language? You're not alone. Medical terminology can be overwhelming…
- Your Recovery Plate Matters More Than You Think · 31 min · Season 5Nutrition might be the most overlooked aspect of surgical recovery, yet it fundamentally shapes how quickly and completely our bodies heal. In this deeply practical conversation…
- Becoming Your Own Disease Detective · 51 min · Season 5 Episode 9What happens when a medical professional becomes the patient? Melissa Marquis—a nurse with over 25 years of experience in emergency preparedness—shares her remarkable journey…
- Behind the Mask: Raw Conversations When the Spoons Run Out · 48 min · Season 5What does chronic illness really look like when no one's watching? When the "I'm fine" mask slips away? The Spoonie Sisters gather for an unfiltered, emotional conversation about…
- Unsolicited Chronic Illness Advice · 45 min · Season 5 Episode 8Have you ever been told that celery juice could cure your autoimmune disease? Or perhaps someone suggested that your joints aren't actually inflamed—they're just dehydrated?…
- Mind Over Misery Part 2 · 39 min · Season 5 Episode 7What happens when chronic pain intersects with mental health? Our panel of chronic illness warriors tackles this question head-on, revealing the emotional landscape behind…
- Mind Over Misery Part1 · 39 min · Season 5 Episode 6Chronic illness transforms not just our bodies, but our entire emotional landscape. What happens when persistent physical pain collides with mental health? How do we find joy…
- Finding Your Spoonie Super Power · 54 min · Season 5 Episode 5Have you ever considered that your chronic illness might have given you superpowers? Not the kind that let you leap tall buildings, but the real-life abilities that make you…
- The Lupus Dietitian: Transforming Autoimmune Health · 42 min · Season 5 Episode 4What if you could transform your autoimmune health through nutrition and lifestyle changes? That's precisely what Tanya Freirich, The Lupus Dietitian, has done for herself and…
