Shows
The Living Well PodEp. 29: When Recovery Is Just the Beginning (with Hannah)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 always bring the relief we expect* The impact of pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood on the healing journey* The overlap of chronic illness, mental health, and disordered eati...2025-05-0133 min
The Living Well PodMinisode: What We Do When We're OverwhelmedWe’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 while the mental snow settles.There’s no right or wrong way to move through overwhelm, but we hope this conversation reminds you that you...2025-04-2907 min
The Living Well PodEp. 28: When a Diagnosis Sends You SpiralingWhen 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 back to the present. We also explore the difference between practical next steps and mental spiraling, the role of self-care (especially for those who tend to do it all), and...2025-04-2424 min
The Living Well PodEp. 27: Letting Go of "This Shouldn't Be Happening" (with Megan Laubacker)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 quiet strength she’s discovered in meeting each day as it comes, with less resistance, more presence, and fewer rules than before.Megan’s story is a reminder that our physical hea...2025-04-1733 min
The Living Well PodMinisode: Books That Changed How We See HealthIn 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 time.Whether you're just starting to explore the connection between thought and experience or you’ve been on this path for a while, one of these...2025-04-1508 min
The Living Well PodEp. 26: How to Travel When You're Never Symptom-FreeToday 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 moments and incredible memories.In this episode, Samantha shares what it really takes to travel when you're never symptom-free. We explore the preparation, flexibility, and presence that made it possible—and why Samantha came home...2025-04-1026 min
The Living Well PodEp. 25: From Anxiety to Advocacy (with Lily Sais)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—but you’ve also been down the rabbit hole of endless research and racing thoughts?In this episode, we shift the focus to the energy beh...2025-04-0333 min
The Living Well PodEp. 24: Self-Advocacy & Finding a Cure (with Emily Ricks)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 intuition, and advocated for her own well-being -- all at only 18 years old. Emily’s story is a testament to the power of persistence, resilience, and consistently taking the next right step.This is one of...2025-01-1635 min
The Living Well PodEp. 24: Self-Advocacy and Finding a Cure (with Emily Ricks)Send us a textIn this powerful season 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 intuition, and advocated for her own well-being -- all at only 18 years old. Emily’s story is a testament to the power of persistence, resilience, and taking the next rig...2025-01-1637 min
The Living Well PodEp. 23: I Can Only Be Happy If...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 specific outcomes leads to unnecessary suffering* How to start recognizing and letting go of the unhelpful "agreements" we’ve made with ourselvesIf...2025-01-0921 min
The Living Well PodEp. 23: "I Can Only Be Happy If..."Send us a textIn this episode, Crystal and Samantha explore the concept of "hidden agreements"—the unspoken stories we believe about what needs to happen for us to be happy, okay, or fulfilled. While they often go unnoticed, these stories weigh us down and create a lot of unnecessary suffering.We discuss... What "hidden agreements" are and how they show up in our livesWhy tying our happiness to specific outcomes leads to unnecessary sufferingHow to get curious about the agreements we’ve made with ourselvesPractical examples of living with more lightness, even in the f...2025-01-0921 min
The Living Well PodEp. 22: Ultra-Rare & Undiagnosed (with Christine McGarvey)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 turned her pain into purpose.* The role of compassion in navigating chronic illness.* Finding fulfillment in the face of uncertainty.* Insights on parenting children with similar health challenges....2025-01-0223 min
The Living Well PodEp. 22: Ultra-Rare and Undiagnosed (with Christine McGarvey)Send us a textJoin Us on Patreon: Patreon.com/LivingWellPodIn this episode, we welcome Christine McGarvey, a podcast listener and rare disease advocate, who shares her inspiring journey of living well despite significant health challenges. Christine talks about her decade-long journey to get a diagnosis, how her advocacy work has brought meaning to her life, and the lessons she’s learned about resilience, compassion, and staying present. What You'll Hear in This Episode:How Christine has turned her pain into purpose through adv...2025-01-0227 min
The Living Well PodEp. 21: Waiting for the Other Shoe to DropIn 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 lives, unpack the roles of control, responsibility, and self-blame, and explore what helps ease the tension despite life’s inherent uncertainties. Whatever your worries, we hope this conversat...2024-12-1925 min
The Living Well PodEp. 20: It's a Tool, Not a RuleIn 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 felt weighed down or overwhelmed by all of the rules surrounding your health, this episode is for you.Episode Links:Coaching with Samantha: https://transf...2024-12-1223 min
The Living Well PodEp. 19: Choice, Control & Letting Go of the Pressure to Decide (with Dr. Amy Johnson)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 to get it all “right”If you’ve ever felt stuck in indecision or burdened by self-blame over past choices, this conversation will challenge your assump...2024-12-0531 min
The Living Well PodEp. 18: Navigating the HolidaysSince 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 that remain, and how we’ve found more moments of peace and joy in the midst of it all. Whatever the rest of this year brings, we’r...2024-11-2732 min
The Living Well PodEp. 17: Living & Traveling with Autoimmune Disease (with Jen Lefforge)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 tips and encouraging insights about trusting your inner wisdom, designing a life that works for you, and saying “yes” to the adventures you’ve been dreaming about—even if you have...2024-11-2140 min
The Living Well PodEp. 16: You Can't Sneak a Thought Past Your BodyIn 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 health conditions. As Mavis Karn says, “you can’t sneak a thought past your body.”If you've ever been thrown for a loop by what's going on around you, we hope this episo...2024-11-1427 min
The Living Well PodEp. 15: Parenting When You Don't Feel Well (with Jess Silverman)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 resilience in both ourselves and our children. This episode is filled with gentle encouragement and real talk about finding grace and strength as a parent, even on tough days.Episode Links:Find Jess on Ins...2024-11-0731 min
The Living Well PodEp. 14: What is Medical Hexing?Today on The Living Well Pod, we’re discussing "medical hexing." While the name might sound fitting for a Halloween episode, we’re not talking about spells, curses, or witchcraft here. Rather, medical hexing describes how the language and labels used by doctors, practitioners, and even friends can shape the way we perceive and experience health diagnoses.Together, we’ll explore how terms like “chronic” and “incurable” can impact the way we think about our health — and how curiosity can totally shift that impact. We’ll also talk about how the dynamic nature of thought means that no label or diagno...2024-10-3135 min
The Living Well PodEp. 13: The Hamster Wheel of HealingIn this episode of The Living Well Pod, we discuss how the relentless pursuit of healing often creates unnecessary pressure and suffering.Together, we explore questions like:* Is it up to us to heal ourselves?* How do we work toward healing without becoming overwhelmed or consumed by it?* Is healing necessary in order to live well?We also reflect on how loosening our grip on the need for specific outcomes and, instead, embracing what feels right in the moment has transformed our experiences and reshaped our understanding of what...2024-10-2424 min
The Living Well PodEp. 12: Feelings as Feedback (with Mavis Karn)In this episode of The Living Well Pod, we sit down with Mavis Karn, a counselor, educator, and author with over 45 years of experience working with everyone from professional athletes to school children to people in prison. Mavis has a remarkable gift for making profound truths feel simple and accessible, and this conversation is no different.We explore how our feelings act as a real-time feedback system, reflecting the quality of our thinking and guiding us toward the next right step. Mavis shares how tuning into our feelings — rather than ignoring or numbing them — can help us let...2024-10-1731 min
The Living Well PodEp. 11: What does it mean when symptoms come back?In this episode of The Living Well Pod, Crystal shares a story about a recent solo trip to New York City that took an unexpected turn when she experienced a full-blown panic attack—something that hasn’t happened in years. Together, we dive into what it means when symptoms we thought we had “under control” resurface and how easy it can be to attach meaning to these moments.Crystal talks about the small sliver of insight that helped her through the panic, the difference between acting out of fear versus responding with calm, and how this perspective shift ap...2024-10-1025 min
The Living Well PodEp 10: Freedom from Chronic Pain, Illness & Trauma (with Chana Studley)Chana Studley suffered for decades with allergies, asthma, cystitis, IBS, chronic pain, and PTSD before discovering something that turned her experience around. Today, she’s an inspiring author, coach, and speaker, living life with a quiet mind and a (mostly) symptom-free body. In this episode of The Living Well Pod, Chana shares her journey through years of searching for solutions, trying everything from meditation to iridology to chiropractics, and the profound transformation she experienced when she discovered that her well-being wasn’t dependent on finding a “fix.”Together, we explore how our thoughts shape our experien...2024-10-0336 min
The Living Well PodEp. 9: Is hope helpful?This week, we’re taking a deep dive into “hope” — and it’s quite a journey!We discuss: What hope is and whether it’s inherently helpful (you’ll hear Crystal’s thoughts on this change as the conversation unfolds — there’s a lightbulb moment around minute 12).The difference between feeling hopeful and clinging to hope.How being fully present right now might provide more freedom and peace than hoping for something different in the future.We also share personal stories and insights about the role hope has played in our own experienc...2024-09-2628 min
The Living Well PodEp. 8: Loving Your Body (& What to Do If You Can't) with Missy MaioranoJoin us at livingwellpod.substack.com and be part of the conversation!This week we’re excited to introduce our new name: The Living Well Pod.Rest assured, everything you loved about Living Well (When You Don’t Feel Well) remains the same. The new name is simply a better reflection of the diversity of our listeners, the breadth of our conversations around health and wellness, and our commitment to building a community that extends beyond these weekly episodes.Now on to today’s episode. It’s a good one! We’re joined by Missy M...2024-09-1934 min
The Living Well PodEp. 7: When There Are No AnswersIn this episode, we’re discussing our recent experiences with undiagnosed symptoms that left us both without clear answers for quite a while. We talk about what that uncertainty has felt like, but more importantly, we dive into what’s given us peace of mind and a path forward, even when a diagnosis is unclear.Here are a few things we discuss in this episode:- The surprising relief that comes from being present in the moment, even when the future is uncertain.- Why trusting your instincts and inner wisdom can be more...2024-09-1231 min
The Living Well PodEp 6: Caring for Yourself While Caring for OthersCalling all caregivers! This week, we’re talking about caring for loved ones with health challenges and special needs, while still taking good care of ourselves. Drawing from our personal experiences — Samantha with her son, Joshua, who was diagnosed with cerebellar hypoplasia at age 2, and Crystal with her daughter, Lily, who was recently diagnosed with Graves' disease — we explore the insights that have helped us the most in letting go of over-doing and learning to navigate caregiving with more ease and compassion for ourselves and our loved ones.If you’re a caregiver of any kind, th...2024-09-0529 min
The Living Well PodEp 5: How to Worry Less (with Lily Sais)In this episode, we’re joined by Lily Sais, a coach and popular content creator who shares her journey with anxiety, disordered eating, and type 1 diabetes.Our conversation with Lily centers on how we can take really good care of ourselves without worrying or obsessing about our health. We also talk about the importance of self-compassion, the ways we get caught up in overthinking — sometimes without even realizing it, and how sending our brain on a metaphorical holiday can bring about more clarity and peace.Whether you’re facing a physical diagnosis or struggling with your m...2024-08-2935 min
The Living Well PodEp 4: Chronic Illness & IdentityThis week, we’re exploring how a chronic illness diagnosis can impact our self-image and challenge our sense of identity — and how understanding what self-image and identity really are can help alleviate the suffering this often causes.In this episode, we discuss the habitual thoughts that shape how we see ourselves, the stable part of us that remains unchanged despite our circumstances, and the importance of staying curious about the stories we tell ourselves. We also talk about the difference between being impacted by an illness and being defined by it, sharing how our personal experiences have tran...2024-08-2229 min
The Living Well PodEp 3: Finding Peace in Uncertainty (with Clare Assante)This week, we sit down with fellow coach Clare Assante who shares her journey with a genetic eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa. Clare talks about the moment she was diagnosed, the uncertainty that followed, and how she’s found peace within the unknown. This is an inspiring, reassuring conversation for anyone struggling with the uncertainty of their diagnosis. You can learn more about Clare at www.blindsidedbythought.com.Subscribe to our Substack community at https://livingwellpod.substack.com/ to get all future episodes sent directly to your email inbox and gain access to exclusive bonus co...2024-08-1531 min
The Living Well PodEp 2: Does it matter what other people think?It’s something most of us with a diagnosis have encountered at some point: other people’s unsolicited opinions, advice, and comments about our health condition. These interactions can feel really challenging, but they also offer valuable insights into what’s actually true about our experience and what is (and isn’t) up to us.In this episode, we discuss…* how these comments and our reactions to them, which often feel very personal, aren’t really personal at all.* the societal belief that there’s always something more or different we could/should be doing and h...2024-08-0823 min
The Living Well PodEp 1: A Different Perspective on HealthWelcome to our first full episode of Living Well (When You Don’t Feel Well)!In this episode…* We look at how we talk and think about health and illness — and why that matters when it comes to alleviating our suffering around chronic conditions.* We discuss how to avoid “crowding out” the pleasurable areas of our lives in the name of getting well.* Samantha shares that she used to feel like she was in a constant boxing match with her illness and explains the shift that simplified her symptom management and made her d...2024-08-0131 min
The Living Well PodEp 0: Our StoriesWelcome to the launch of Living Well (When You Don’t Feel Well)! We’re so excited to have you with us. In this short introductory episode, we’re sharing our own experiences with chronic illness and letting you know what you can expect from this podcast going forward. We’d love to learn more about your experience, as well. Connect with us on instagram, Facebook, or via email. Or, subscribe to our Substack community at https://livingwellpod.substack.com/ to get all future episodes sent directly to your email inbox and gain access to exclusive bonus content. You can lear...2024-08-0111 min
The Living Well PodTrailerLiving Well (When You Don’t Feel Well) premieres August 1st. Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit livingwellpod.substack.com2024-07-2000 min