Shows
The Pyjama InterviewsEp 17: How do you deal with chronic illness while living alone? Guest Dara ShashouaIn this week's episode Dara Shashoua and Michelle talk about the hard things including:Medical gaslighting and the path to getting a diagnosis with MS.Navigating chronic illness while living alone.Why spoonies are well equipped to run their own businesses.And top tips for doing it in ways that work for you and your body.About DaraDara is a passionate entrepreneur who opened Byzantine Design “The Most Beautiful Tile Store in Melbourne” mere weeks before she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.Dara founded A Chronic Entrepreneur to empower other chronic entrepreneurs to share...2023-03-2247 min
A Chronic EntrepreneurOvercoming Eating Disorders with JL KeezIn this episode I’m joined by JL Keez, a passionate advocate for those experiencing eating disorders, as someone who has experienced one herself. JL has now built a business JL Keez Anorexia Unlocked, where she is a Certified Reality Therapy Counsellor, Author and Speaker.We dive into: The medical advice given to JL when diagnosed with anorexia nervosa What reality therapy entails How unresolved feelings in your childhood store within your body How JL now helps other people with eating disorders Connecting with people who ‘get it’About JLJL Keez is a passio...2022-02-111h 01
A Chronic EntrepreneurTaking Control of Your Chronic with Daryl Elliott GreenIn this episode I’m joined by Daryl Elliott Green, a police officer turned professional speaker living with PTSD, who has taken a horrific situation and turned it on its head to inspire and help others.We dive into: How TWICE SHOT came to life Who Daryl helps with his professional speaking business Keeping a routine for your mental health Not caring what other people think of you How Daryl manages his PTSDAbout DarylDaryl Elliott Green narrowly escaped death whilst on duty as a police officer in 2000, when he was ambushed and sh...2022-01-2848 min
A Chronic EntrepreneurHow Chronic Illness can help you to illuminate your purpose and the value of time with Justine MartinIn this episode, I’m joined by Justine Martin. Justine was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2011, and is now a professional artist, art wellness teacher, author, and resilience consultant and speaker - aka an absolute powerhouse.We dive into: Time being the most precious commodity we have Finding purpose in making art Doctors telling Justine she’ll never work again Justine representing Australia in olympic weightlifting and powerlifting The wellness team Justine surrounders herself with Listening to your body and trusting your gut when you need more answersAbout JustineJustine Martin is a prof...2021-12-1958 min
A Chronic EntrepreneurSayali Apte’s journey from blindness to business - with a mission to empower 10,000 women to take control of their healthIn this episode, I’m joined by Sayali, a hypnotherapist and body coach, empowering busy women through her business, Mind Body Hope. Sayali shares her journey of becoming blind in both eyes and the determination to fight for her diagnosis.We dive into: How Sayali came to call Australia home Feelings of unworthiness within chronic illness Going through a self love and acceptance journey Why organ donation is so important Sayali’s journey to being able to see again Unexpected resilience levels Overcoming daily challengesAbout SayaliSayali Apte probably wouldn't have become an entr...2021-12-1755 min
A Chronic EntrepreneurHow Ilana K switched from being overloaded at an energy company to now helping others “shift” their own energy through kinesiology, yoga and energy coaching.In this episode, I’m joined by Ilana K, a kinesiologist who has gone on a long health journey since her early childhood. Since hitting “rock bottom” and having to completely upend her life to focus on recovery, Ilana’s career has taken a full 180 degree shift from being in the corporate finance industry as a financial analyst, to now practising kinesthesiolopgy where she helps people reclaim their health, wellbeing, inner joy and sparkle for life.We dive into: What kinesiology really means and how to become a kinesiologist Going for working from an energy company to now t...2021-12-1058 min
A Chronic EntrepreneurKere Baker on Clean Candles, Chronic Illnesses, and Taking on the Allergies of your DonorsKere Baker is one of those humans who has an infectious personality, optimistic soul and wholehearted approach to life. She has built a lifestyle and a life, alongside multiple chronic illnesses: including PCOS, endometriosis, and thyroid cancer, and some incredibly hard moments. These moments are hard to put into words which is why we’ll leave it to Kere to share her story in the way that feels right. Alongside these challenges, Kere founded Loobylou Candles – some of the most gorgeous candles going around – and underground ARTspace. She was nominated for a GALA Ethical Award in 2018 for her I AM…MORE T...2021-12-0340 min
A Chronic EntrepreneurHow Melissa Pepers Creates Businesses That Have Never Existed Before with a Chronic IllnessMelissa Pepers describes herself as ‘a business designer and a futurist.’ She’s the founder of Bonbo – where she makes businesses that have never existed before. Melissa shared her story with us and how she’s practising self-love, self-care and letting go of the idea that she has to prove anything to anyone. Melissa has a metabolic myopathy which is a metabolic muscle disorder which can result in muscle weakness, severe pain and exercise intolerance. She also has interstitial cystitis. Melissa has carved out a life that allows her to look after herself while also crafting a career she loves.2021-11-261h 07
A Chronic EntrepreneurFrom Paralysis to Entrepreneurship - Amanda Campbell's Inspiring Story of ResilienceAmanda Campbell personifies the term ‘entrepreneur’. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 24, it wasn’t until she turned 29 and had an MS attack that left her paralysed, that she began to redefine who she was and live life on her own terms. Since then she has launched a number of successful businesses, all with the mission of helping others live full and healthy lives. She is an avid learner, having completed a number of degrees and working as an accredited sports kinesiologist, and works as an ambassador for MS Limited. She now works as a resilience trainer and keynote speake...2021-11-1942 min
A Chronic EntrepreneurTalking Authorship and Chronic Illness with Susanne GervaySo many people diagnosed with Chronic Illness have a moment where we decide that the disease won’t beat us, that it will no longer be the story the defines us. Instead, it becomes part of our story. It is also the part of our story that leads to so many wonderful adventures that perhaps we wouldn’t have had if it weren’t for our Chronic Illness. Today’s Chronic Entrepreneur is Susanne Gervay, a prolific children’s author whose books deal with many of life’s challenges including bullying, inclusion, humanity and refugees. Susanne certainly has a gift with wo...2021-11-1258 min
A Chronic EntrepreneurHow Tyla Hodgson Turned Pain Into a Pleasure-Based Business.Tyla Hodgson is a badass entrepreneur who is familiar with pain; she deals with Ulcerative Colitis, Endometriosis and Chronic Kidney Disease on a daily basis. This, however, hasn't stopped her from starting two successful businesses. She is the founder of Oh My Vibes - a self love company all about changing the convo around women’s pleasure - their aim is to leave you feeling empowered to enjoy, explore + celebrate yourself. She is also the Founder + Branding Consultant at Wise Funnels - a digital marketing consultancy that partner startups to build their marketing systems and develop their growth strategies. In...2021-11-051h 04
A Chronic EntrepreneurHow Dara Became An Entrepreneur with a Chronic IllnessDara, the founder of A Chronic Entrepreneur, shares her story of discovering her chronic – multiple sclerosis – how it’s changed her life and how she lives with it today whilst running a successful business."My name is Dara and I am the founder of A Chronic Entrepreneur. I am also an entrepreneur, having founded Byzantine Design “The Most Beautiful Tile Store in Melbourne” mere weeks before being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This podcast is what I was looking for when I was first diagnosed with MS - and I hope that through it I can empower oth...2021-10-2920 min
The Energy ShiftA Chronic Entrepreneur With Dara Shashoua | E66Chronic illness can often leave you feeling lost, alone, and stuck in survival mode (trust me I know all too well), but it can also be your greatest gift, asset, and teacher to show up in the world and inspire. In today’s episode we discuss the topic of “a chronic entrepreneur” with founder Dara Shashoua who is passionate about challenging the notion that a chronic illness is a sentence for suffering, when in fact, it often makes great entrepreneurs and leaders. In this episode we discuss: Dara’s health and business journey. What is a “A Chronic...2021-10-0544 min
The Bend Like Bamboo Resilience PodcastDara Shashoua from Byzantine Designs and A Chronic Entrepreneur, Ep 2, How a Chronic Entrepreneur Transformed Her LifeIntroducing Dara Shashoua, founder of A Chronic Entrepreneur, a blog that shares the stories of entrepreneurs, living with chronic Illness. Inspired by her own journey of personal transformation, Dara is an entrepreneur at heart that has a drive that is inspiring. Having faced a challenge of a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis that led to her on a journey to learn how walk again, in our interview Dara opens up and shares how she navigated her way through that enormous challenge, discovering what she was made of. Dara achieved this at the same time while she was...2020-10-1931 min
The DISabled to ENabled podcast for people with chronic illnesses22. Dara Shashoua | I wore an eye patch to my shop and just pretended to be a pirateDara drops by from ByZantine Design to discuss everything MS, what she’s learnt since having the illness and tells us about some ‘hacks’ she’s picked up since diagnosis. We discuss the important topic that is ‘normal business hours’ not being inclusive to members of the chronic illness community. Why can’t there be more flexibility with a ‘normal working day’ in a business? We discuss the importance of a morning and evening routine when you have a chronic illness and the especially important-making of your bed! We also discuss what it was like for her to open her...2019-10-0200 min