Welcome to Season 3, Episode 13 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! In this episode, I got to connect with Heather Schulte. Heather is the powerhouse behind Stitching the Situation. From her website: "Stitching the Situation is a continuation of artist Heather Schulte’s textile work, Situation Report, a daily cross-stitch documentation of the coronavirus case and death counts in the U.S. from Jan 20-June 25. The Situation Report panels began as the artist’s way to record cases in the US, and translate them visually with stitch. "We discuss a unique art exhibition called "It Comes in Waves," centered around the impacts of COVID-19. Set in The People's Building, an art gallery located on the east side of Aurora, Colorado, Heather took me on a tour of the displayed art pieces, which include drawings, dye sublimation prints, and masks. The exhibition, organized by Heather, features a mix of personal stories and collective experiences related to living with Long Covid. Special attention is given to the ‘Stitching the Situation’ project, which involves community participation in cross-stitching data and personal stories onto cloth. The discussion also highlights the incorporation of art from incarcerated individuals, collaborations with other artists, and the logistical challenges of managing such a significant project. I'm absolutely thrilled that this podcast is included in the exhibit. I called my portion "A Life Redacted," and it is made up of excerpts of episodes with words redacted from the transcripts. It Comes in Waves illustrates the power of art in documenting and processing collective trauma. Heather, you are amazing, thank you for all the work you do!You can find Heather on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stitchingthesituation/ and https://www.instagram.com/heatherdschulte/Press for It Comes in Waves includesThis feature from Visit DenverA review from DARIA Art MagazineOne woman’s method for coping with COVID turned into a 5-year art project, now on display in AuroraArt Show It Comes in Waves Brings Long COVID Stories to LightFrom Denver Westword: Running through December 30, It Comes in Waves invites viewers to consider what happens when a crisis slips from public view but its consequences remain. Supported by an INSITE Fund grant from RedLine Contemporary Art Center, the project builds on artist Schulte’s ongoing initiative Stitching the Situation, a national effort to document the human toll of COVID-19 through collective textile work.
In this bonus episode of A Friend for the Long Haul, I get to talk with Dr. Julia Moore Vogel from Scripps Research. I slid into her DMs to see if she'd like to join me to discuss the recruitment and structure of a new clinical trial examining the effects of tirzepatide, a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist, on long COVID symptoms. Dr. Vogel is the Senior Program Director, The Participant Center, All of Us Research Program. She's a fellow long hauler and "manages The Participant Center (TPC) for the All of Us Research Program which is charged with recruiting and retaining 350,000 individuals that represent the diversity of the United States. TPC aims to make it possible for interested individuals anywhere in the US to become active participants, for example by collaborating with numerous outreach partners to raise awareness, collecting biosamples nationwide, returning participants’ results and developing self-guided workflows that enable participants to join whenever is convenient for them." (Thanks for letting me borrow the blurb, Scripps. <3)Our conversation covers the trial's remote format, patient support systems, potential impacts on symptoms like fatigue, GI issues, and mental health, as well as Dr. Vogel's personal experiences. This episode provides an overview for those interested in participating or learning more about cutting-edge long COVID research. Dr. Vogel also drops a few new nuggets of trial information that she hasn't shared elsewhere! Here's the structure of the episode:Meet Dr. Julia Moore VogelDiscussing the TIRZEPATIDE TrialRemote Trials and Scripps ResearchChallenges and Support in Clinical TrialsPlacebo Concerns and Trial IntegrityGastrointestinal Concerns and Safety MonitoringBeth's quest to be sponsored by the Squatty Potty (Call me!)Support and the recommendations for therapy around Body Dysmorphia, Eating Disorders, Nutritional Guidance, and trauma from things like MCASMetrics and Questionnaires for Measuring ImprovementsMCAS, EDS, and the TrifectaDrug formulations and brand confusionHopes for the TrialFinal thoughts and the big 3 questionsIf you're interested in the the Long COVID Treatment Trial-Tirzepatide (LoCITT-T):Check out their website: https://longcovid.scripps.edu/locitt-t/ or email the team at longcovid-t@scripps.edu.If you're interested in my anecdotal experience using tirzepatide as a first wave long hauler since January, you can follow me on Instagram, TikTok, or Substack. I have several posts there that you won't find anywhere else, and none are behind a paywall. A GLP-Fun AdventureOne Month into GLP-Funa...
Welcome back to another episode of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long COVID Podcast! In episode 11 of Season 3, I sit down with Claire and Amaranthia from Sista Creatives Rising. We met shortly after Art and Mind 2025 so that we could recap the experience and tap in to how they were feeling after hosting the event. Held on Thursday, September 25th, Art and Mind 2025 gathered an impressive turnout and showcased a blend of artists, community care, and education. The team who helped support Claire and Amaranthia and who were featured artists includes:Sarena BrownChi WhiteBrenda Macintyre - Medicine Song WomanFrankie FingerlingBrittany ShorpshireNabila NugrohoVeronica LeeMondo MillionsHan HamelYou can find out so much more about them and find a TON of resources in this document! This year's themes included COVID, climate change, and isolation. You can watch the entire event via Claire and Amaranthia's YouTube channel and check out the interactive art gallery they created here. There's actually a full playlist of videos for the event here. This episode offers a deep dive into the meticulous planning, intentionality, and community collaboration that made Art and Mind 2025 a great success!These two humans truly make the world a better place!Find Claire and Amaranthia on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sistacreativesrising/ and subscribe to their Substack. Please like, subscribe, and share A Friend for the Long Haul! Reviews go a long way to help, too. Thank you!
Welcome to season 3, episode 10 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long COVID Podcast! I got the chance to chat with Angeliska Polacheck for this episode. Angeliska is the beautiful soul behind Sister Temperance Tarot. They have been voted best tarot/psychic in Austin, Texas for 11 years in a row! I found Angeliska on social media about 13 years ago, (via the great Austin connector, Spike Gillespie - whose work you should absolutely read) and as time passed we discovered that we have so much in common, including eerily similar astrological charts and health diagnoses.Angel and I discuss:The profound shifts brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of living with long COVIDPersonal growth and empathyThe vital role of art and tarot in healing, but how it, and artists and healers, get commodified and dehumanizedHow chronic illness, disability, and cognitive dissonance impact an independent, small business ownerWellness culture and the "manifestation" of healthSurviving as two disabled Generation X Capricorns with C-PTSD and neurodivergenceTrusting your intuition when your nervous system is fraggedWhat does community even look like anymoreHow tarot can support Internal Family Systems therapyDiagnoses of exclusionThere's at least one Bjork worked in thereYou can find Angeliska on Instagram and Facebook as Sister Temperance Tarot. If you're interested in booking a reading, you can do that via their booking schedule. If you're in Austin and would like to invite Angeliska to a safe event, you can find out more about events bookings here.They also offer sliding scale rates for 1-hour phone sessions for people who hold marginalized identities that are experiencing significant money struggles. Sliding scale sessions are limited and priority goes to Black, Indigenous, queer/trans and disabled folks, so please only inquire about sliding scale if you are facing genuine financial hardship.If you'd like to support me in my one disabled woman podcasting endeavors, I have an Amazon gift registry that is completely unhinged, where I just throw anything that I see and like. I also have an Amazon Storefront you can use to purchase goods. I also sell long covid tshirts and other products on a Bonfire storefront, and proceeds from that get funneled back into the podcast or used for community care. I also have an Etsy wishlist or you can just Venmo me at @afriend4thelonghaul. That also gets funneled back into the pod.Over the last 1.5 years, I've built a playlist of my guests
Hey, friends! Welcome to season 3, episode 9 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid podcast. This is a conversation I needed to have, and I'm so glad Lissy Donovan (my friend and a coach for people with busy brains) was here for it. I dive into my recent discovery of a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) I’d been pretending wasn't a thing for years, as well as our later-in-life ADHD diagnoses. Lissy was diagnosed in her mid-30s, and I got diagnosed post-COVID. If you've been listening for a while, you know I don't know how to be angry. We talk about how I'm learning to process and even healthily express anger which is a truly revolutionary and scary idea for me. We also get into activism, self-care, and self-compassion. Lissy shares how she navigates Long COVID and ADHD.Topics we gab about include:ADHD diagnoses and hormonal changesAnger expression and conflict's role in making relationships strongerMusic, dance, and well-beingBody image, societal pressures, white supremacy, and the broader systems of oppressionEngaging in activism while managing chronic illness, disability, and traumaReflections on personal growthSocial media habitsLissy's experience with Long Covid and running her own businessJoin us as we explore the intersection of ADHD, trauma, and chronic illness. You can find Lissy at https://lissydonovan.com/ as well as Instagram and TikTok. Her YouTube channel is full of longer-form gems that are soooo helpful.If you'd like to support me in my one disabled woman podcasting endeavors, I have an Amazon gift list that is completely unhinged. I also have an Amazon storefront you can use to purchase goods. I also sell long covid tshirts and other products on my Bonfire shop.Over the last 1.5 years, I've built a playlist of my guests long covid theme songs. You can find it here.Please like, subscribe, and share A Friend for the Long Haul! Reviews go a long way to help, too. Thank you!
I’m having surgery TOMORROW, September 22nd, and could use some support. I have a gift registry set up if you’d like to help me out. It’s truly deeply appreciated. Welcome to season 3, episode 8 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast. This time, I got to gab with Paul Hennessy, who you know as @mixpaulogy on Instagram and @paulypandemic on TikTok. We talked about Paul’s Long Covid advocacy work, including what led him to get involved in 2021, and his work with organizations like Clean Air LA and Mask Together America. We get in to what it’s like to continue to take precautions in a time when very few are, including comments from strangers and how relationships are impacted when “everything is Covid” with you. Paul offers actionable advice for folks interested in being long Covid allies or getting involved in disability justice, and and we discuss the need for local and federal action to address the persistent challenges of ignoring a virus that’s disabled millions of humans worldwide. But it’s not all serious, because I don’t think it could be with us at the mic. Oh! We are joined by two very special guests at the end of the episode, so don’t miss that!Places to find Paul!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixpaulogy/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paulypandemic Also, check out Mask Together America, public health advocates who vowed to expose the life-threatening, yet preventable, risks of contracting COVID-19.If you'd like to support this one-disabled-woman-produced podcast, check out my Amazon Storefront. I'll get a few pennies if you purchase your everyday items through the links in my storefront.You can also listen to the ever-growing Long Covid Theme Songs playlist here.Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share A Friend for the Long Haul! And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes. Thank you!
Welcome to this bonus episode of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! Season 3, Episode 6 features Claire Jones and Amaranthia Sepia, the mother/daughter duo behind Sista Creatives Rising. The mission of Sista Creatives Rising is "To help creative marginalized women and marginalized genders gain accessibility and visibility in the arts to facilitate personal healing." In this episode, we discuss:Our experiences with chronic illnesses and disabilities, and their impacts on our personal growthHow Claire navigated a cancer diagnosis during the height of a Covid surgeAmaranthia's experiences growing up in Japan and moving back to the United States, highlighting a stark difference between the two culturesHow past experiences shape parenting styles and the value of creating a supportive environment where children feel safe to make mistakesGenerational trauma, patterns, and how they drive us to changeThe origins of Sista Creatives Rising and Art and Mind, A FREE virtual charitable film & art event for marginalized women and gendersArt and Mind 2025: Covid, Climate, and Our Future, which "will focus on these themes and their ongoing effects on BIPOC creatives who are homebound, disabled, and immunocompromised and how it’s affected their art & cultural practices while highlighting Indigenous perspectives such as Native North American & Palestinian experiences with displacement & climate disaster. "The challenges of running a virtual organization, including grant rejections and funding issuesCollaboration, community, and accessibilityThe Sistas Uprising Fund, a charity project to help marginalized women & marginalized genders gain financial support through microgrants, created in memory of Claire's motherI am very grateful for this conversation and the opportunity to get to know Claire and Amaranthia! I want to again thank both of them for taking the time to chat with me. Tickets for Art and Mind 2025 will be available on August 21st, and the event will take place on September 25th from 6:30 to 9:30 pm Eastern time. You can find Sista Creatives RisingOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sistacreativesrising/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@artmindseries9207 and Substack: https://substack.com/@sistacreativesrising You can also support them via: https://givebutter.com/sistacreativesrising If you'd like to support this one-disabled-woman-produced podcast, check out my Bonfire apparel shop. Items bought in the shop support the renewal of my Zoom license for recording. Many items co-support other chronically ill friends. I also have an Amazon storefront and I'll get a few pennies if you purchase your everyday items through the links in my storefront. I also have an Amazon Wishlist of fun treats and practical needs for our family...
This episode could also be titled, "A Capricorn & a Pisces Walk Into a Podcast." In season 3, episode 4 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast, I welcome back my friend and pacing buddy, Katrina Dreamer. Katrina was a guest on season 2, where we discussed how they kicked off Covid Safe Colorado, our local mask bloc. This is a very different conversation! In this episode, we discuss:Katrina's plans to resume their dream and energy work, sharing their experience of running a 6-week long Social Justice Dreaming workshop, where they work with participants learning to trust their intuition and how they can use that to guide their activismTheir experience with dreamwork, including how it manifested in their childhood, and their professional experiences Lucid dreaming, how factors like medications, chronic illness, PTSD, and inflammation can affect dream patternsWhether Beth might be astral projecting in her sleep, and whether she is clairaudientDream journaling and ancestral workThe launch of Katrina's new website and offerings of intuitive readings and energy healingsHow they protect their energy doing these readingsBeth's newest diagnosis of a midbrain traumatic brain injury caused by neuroinflammation from Covid-19How challenging experiences have led to a greater sense of self-worth for both of usKatrina's webtoon, Chaotic Good and the Banned Bookmobile," which features covid conscious, queer and trans high school characters who rally around their librarian who is circulating banned booksOur year of being pacing buddies, using a shared Google spreadsheetThere's a lot of giggling about Pedro PascalCelebrities we've met and what they smelled likeYou can find out more about Katrina and their offerings at www.katrinadreamer.com! The next cohort of Social Justice Dreaming begins on August 8th. Contact Katrina to find out more! Katrina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katrinadreamerAnd Bluesky.Katrina's podcast, Dreaming Back to the EarthAnd the cartoon, Chaotic Good and the Banned Bookmobile, is available on Webtoon! Sarah Steinberg is the illustrator.If you'd like your own copy of our pacing spreadsheet, here's one you can duplicate! Please don't use this copy! In this episode, we also chat about our friends Lissy and Lior. Lissy will be on an upcoming episode, but she is a coach who blends neuroscience-backed strategies, compassionate support, and her own lived experience with ADHD in her approach. Lior Ocean is a queer collage artist, intuitive reader, and interspiritual companion. Lior has been on the podcast a couple of times....
If you'd like to support this one-disabled-woman-produced podcast, check out my Bonfire site for silly long covid apparel. Items bought in the shop support the renewal of my Zoom license for recording. Many items co-support other chronically ill friends. I also have an Amazon wishlist and Storefront. I'll get a few pennies if you purchase your everyday items through the links in my storefront. You can also Venmo me @afriend4thelonghaul.Welcome to another episode of A Friend for the Long Haul: A Long Covid Podcast! This is part 2 of my conversation with Nina Storey. In this episode, we talk about:Nina's plans for the futureGetting dogs while dealing with long CovidCute aggressionFunctioning in public around people when you're used to being at homeHow it feels like long Covid has made pre-existing sensitivities more intenseWhere all the lip balms and hair ties goMedical gaslightingNina's attempts to soothe her nervous system and how singing helpsHer experience getting the Novavax boosterThe fact that we don't know how to feel angerMy travel tips for Las VegasNina's dog's autoimmune issuesNina has shared a link to her song, Shadows Fall, which can be listened to on Even. Even is a new streaming platform she's using for her music. The model is pay what you can, and the funds go to artists. She says this about the release: "I wrote this song (which is still in demo form) about living with a chronic illness and how sometimes we have to be our own biggest champions. I got Long Covid after initially being infected in early 2020, and I have to say the silver lining has been meeting some extraordinary warriors in the disability community. So this song is dedicated to them and to any person facing health challenges. I see you. ✊🏼💕🙏🏼🙌🏼🎉"You can find Nina and tour information on her website, and on Instagram. She is published in The Long Covid Reader, and her comedy writing is at https://strangelyoptimistic.com/. If you're interested in Nina's Singing To Improve Health or Vocal Classes for Beginners to Professionals workshops, email theninastorey@gmail.com. Mention the podcast for 20% off the regular price! Please share A Friend for the Long Haul. If you're feeling generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes. You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify.Disclaimers etc: The information provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast producers, sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Or like, friends? Family? Anyone. This podcast does not provide medical diagnosis, treatment, or professional healthcare services. If you have any concerns regarding your health or medical condition, please consult a qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or
If you'd like to support this one-woman-produced podcast, check out my Bonfire site for silly long covid apparel. Items bought in the shop support the renewal of my Zoom license for recording. Many items co-support other chronically ill friends. I also have an Amazon wishlist and Storefront. I'll get a few pennies if you purchase your everyday items through the links in my storefront. You can also Venmo me @afriend4thelonghaul. ---Welcome to Season 3, Episode 3 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long COVID Podcast! I got to sit down and talk with my dear friend, Grammy-nominated artist, and incredibly talented human, Nina Storey. Nina’s website highlights her amazing career:“Nina Storey has been making waves, having opened for other powerhouse female performers like Sara Bareilles, Rachel Platten, Milck, and Hailey Reinhart, as well as performing in numerous international festivals, such as the Montreal Jazz Festival and the New Orleans JazzFest. People Magazine wrote, “With a voice like hers, pyrotechnics are redundant.”. This conversation was just shy of two hours, so I split it up into 2 episodes. Part 2 will be released on 6/30. In part 1, we discuss Long COVID's impact on Nina’s creativity, songwriting process, and career, including lost work and venue discrimination, emotional processing, grief, and the nervous system.You can find Nina and tour information on her website, and on Instagram. She is published in The Long Covid Reader, and her comedy writing is at https://strangelyoptimistic.com/. If you're interested in Nina's Singing To Improve Health or Vocal Classes for Beginners to Professionals workshops, email theninastorey@gmail.com. Mention the podcast for 20% off the regular price! She will soon be using a new platform, EVEN, that pays artists. Despite millions of streams of her music, Nina says that Spotify has never paid her a dime. The EVEN model is pay what you can. "It's like Bandcamp and Patreon had a baby." You can also send her a tip via Venmo: @Nina-Storey.Nina shared that the clinic in Sedona she has been working with for her Long Covid symptoms is remote and their website is: mybiohack.com. I have not used the clinic. All information is Nina's anecdotal experience. The clinic is not endorsed by the pod, nor is the pod sponsored by the clinic. Neither is Nina. Please share A Friend for the Long Haul. If you're feeling generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes. You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify.Disclaimers etc: The information provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast producers, sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Or...
A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast 100% produced by a disabled Covid long hauler. If you'd like to support my work, please check out the following ways you can do so:My Amazon wish list, which currently focuses on low-spoon activities for my family this summer. We have four kiddos, with three kids who are also navigating disabilities. You can also visit my new Amazon storefront, where I share only the items I use, love, or highly recommend. If you use my links to buy products you already purchase from Amazon, they'll throw me a few pennies.Check out my my Bonfire shop, where I create and sell long Covid items (shirts, totes, hats, etc) that reflect my dark sense of humor coping mechanism.---In this episode of A Friend for the Long Haul – A Long COVID Podcast, we dive into love, relationships, and resilience in the face of chronic illness. I sit down with Chimére Sweeney, a Long COVID activist, writer, and retired educator, alongside her husband, Tory Sweeney, to discuss their relationship and journey together.Chimére founded The Black Long COVID Experience, an initiative dedicated to amplifying Black Long COVID stories, advocating for equitable healthcare, and supporting disability access in Black communities. She and Tory met in college and reconnected after Chimére became ill, and their story sheds light on the emotional, social, and practical realities of navigating love and disability.We explore:💜 How childhood relationship models shape adult connection💜 Reconnecting and finding love despite chronic illness challenges💜 Navigating intimacy, disability, and Long COVID’s impact on relationships💜 Advocacy, resilience, and pushing for equity in medical care🚨 Content note: We discuss sex and intimacy with chronic illness, interabled relationships, and mental health topics including suicidal ideation.This episode was recorded in October, and I want to send a huge thank you to Chimére and Tory for their patience, wisdom, and honesty.Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share A Friend for the Long Haul if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes.You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7948dbf2222c4392The information provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast producers, sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Or like, friends? Family? Anyone.This podcast does not provide medical diagnosis, treatment, or professional healthcare services. If you have any concerns regarding your health or medical condition, please consult a qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment based on information heard in this podcast. Please don't compare yourself to someone else you hear, either. Our illnesses are highly individualized and what works for one person may not work for you.While we strive to
A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast 100% produced by a disabled Covid long hauler. If you'd like to support my work, please check out the following ways you can do so:My Amazon wish list, which currently focuses on low-spoon activities for my family this summer. We have four kiddos, with three kids who are also navigating disabilities. You can also visit my new Amazon storefront, where I share only the items I use, love, or highly recommend. If you use my links to buy products you already purchase from Amazon, they'll throw me a few pennies.Check out my Bonfire shop, where I create and sell long Covid items (shirts, totes, hats, etc) that reflect my dark sense of humor coping mechanism.--Welcome to Season 3 of A Friend for the Long Haul! In this episode, I twith Caryn Zaner, PsyD, a Clinical Psychologist based in Oregon specializing in anxiety, identity development, values work, and interpersonal group therapy. Caryn (they/none) provides tele-therapy for adults 18+ and shares their personal experience navigating Long Covid.Topics covered include:✅ Caryn’s journey with Long Covid and the support group they founded✅ People-pleasing, grief, coping mechanisms, and emotions✅ Perfectionism, social media pressures, and self-trust✅ Listening to your body and intuition when it feels unfamiliar✅ Comorbidities, chronic illness, and shared experiences🔔 Content Warning: From 59:45 - 1:14:05, we discuss:GLP-1 medications for Long Covid, including Caryn’s experience with tirzepatideStrength training, weight lifting, body image, and off-label medication accessIf you prefer to skip this section, jump to 1:14:05, where we wrap up with our signature three questions.Other things mentioned in this episodeMy Too Flared to Funk fake band tee shirt for The Social Distanced's "Survive 2025" World Tour. You can find Caryn on InstagramFelt Not Fixed: https://www.instagram.com/felt.not.fixed/Therapy for the Apocalypse: https://www.instagram.com/therapy.for.the.apocalypse/Caryn's websitehttps://www.carynzanerpsyd.com/The post that led me to Caryn: Attachment Theory and Still CovidingBook: Lifting Heavy Things by Laura KhoudariDon't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share A Friend for the Long Haul if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes. You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7948dbf2222c4392The information provided in this podcast...
A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast 100% produced by a disabled Covid long hauler. If you'd like to support my work, please check out the following ways you can do so:My Amazon wish list, which currently focuses on low-spoon activities for my family this summer. We have four kiddos, with three kids who are also navigating disabilities. You can also visit my new Amazon storefront, where I share only the items I use, love, or highly recommend. If you use my links to buy products you already purchase from Amazon, they'll throw me a few pennies.Check out my Bonfire shop, where I create and sell long Covid items (shirts, totes, hats, etc) that reflect my dark sense of humor coping mechanism.---Welcome to the 1st Annual Long Covid Sickstravaganza Holiday Episode! This episode features contributions from a few different lovely folks:Segment 1 features my 7 year old. We discuss what he really wants for the holidays - which is apparently for me to stop being so hard on myself. Oof.For Segment 2, The Long Covid Choir kindly shared a recording of a holiday song with us, called Alles Schweiget! Included is an introduction from choir director Merel van der Knoop. You can watch a video the choir put together on YouTube. In Segment 3, I have a chat with Lior Ocean about what a crock new year's resolutions are, and we discuss self compassion and showing ourselves loving kindness in 2025Segment 4 features Joe Glasgow, who contributed a story called If These Pillows Could TalkNina Storey kicked my ass with shares a demo of a new song called Shadows Fall (Love Myself). Nina said: "Let your audience know you inspired me after we spoke after your iron infusion, and every person dealing with a chronic illness and chronic pain or disability inspires this song too. We are all warriors."Lyrics: Shadows Fall (Love Myself) Written by Nina Storey Verse Iso long alone surrounded by the noise still on my ownscattered through an empty voidbut get up and I show upcause I've grown up in the darkand I'm bleeding but I'm breathingand I know I'm come so farChorusshadows fall from yesterdaywhat I've lost is far awaywhere to go when all the love is gonewhen everyone has walked away and I alone have got to stay I learn to love myself and carry onVerse IItake my life in minutes count them each a winwhen I reach the end of one, then I start to count againso I'll fake it, 'till I make itcause most don't seem to carebut I'm ready and I'm clawing my way back for every breath of airBridgeI survived a stormy ride across my soulyou can't break meiron veins have made me wholeChorusshadows fall from yesterdaywhat I've lost is far
A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast 100% produced by a disabled Covid long hauler. If you'd like to support my work, please check out the following ways you can do so:My Amazon wish list, which currently focuses on low-spoon activities for my family this summer. We have four kiddos, with three kids who are also navigating disabilities. You can also visit my new Amazon storefront, where I share only the items I use, love, or highly recommend. If you use my links to buy products you already purchase from Amazon, they'll throw me a few pennies.Check out my Bonfire shop, where I create and sell long Covid items (shirts, totes, hats, etc) that reflect my dark sense of humor coping mechanism.---Welcome to season 2 episode 12 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long COVID Podcast! This week's guest is Katie Drackert, who most of you will know as @kd_kinetic. Katie is the founder of Clear the Air ATX, a volunteer-led, community resource library that lends out air purifiers and other COVID mitigation tools for free to artists, musicians, and independent event producers in Austin, Texas - where I lived for many years and sadly had to leave due to my COVID experience.In the pre-rona days, Katie primarily worked full time as a performance artist. When Omicron hit, things changed. In this episode, we discuss our personal experiences with chronic health issues, including long COVID, and the challenges we face managing our symptoms while advocating for ourselves and others. We share our experiences with medical treatments, their emotional impacts, and the importance of community support and self-care. The conversation also touches on our backgrounds - which are really similar despite our age difference (I am an old) as well as our many shared interests, and future plans for advocacy work and creative projects that we are both plotting.By the end of this episode, I became fully obsessed with Katie, and I think you will, too! You can find out more about Katie's advocacy work in so many places! Check out: Co-created a Zine with The Sick Times, Featured in BioWorld Med Tech, Teen Vogue, CBS Austin - Mask Bans, CBS Austin - Homeless Camping Ban, Texas Observer, Spectrum Local News, YES! Magazine, 48 Hills, KUT Austin, and a...
Welcome to season 2 episode 9 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! This week's guest is Dr. David Putrino, Professor of Rehabilitation and Human Performance at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Director of Rehabilitation Innovation for the Mount Sinai Health System was appointed the Nash Family Director of the CoRE - and so many other things. Dr. Putrino and I discussed the onset of the pandemic, its impacts on him and his team (we feel like we’ve aged about 10 years since March 2020), and how the work they did early on influenced their response when patients weren’t getting better. We also talked about how he and his team care for their own mental health, impediments to research, upcoming studies they have planned, and he answered listener questions like “will you adopt me” and my question which was, “how do I set up a PO Box in New York so I can come to the clinic?” 🤣 We also get into ableism, gaslighting, ways we can all best work together, and he answered the same questions I ask everyone at the end of each episode. Thanks, again, to Dr. Putrino for joining me! About an hour after we met, I tested positive for the vid again, which kind of made me feel like I was living in Alanis Morrisette’s “Ironic” video or Bizarro World. I also want to add - yes, we talk about medical stuff, trauma, and meds and supplements. Just because you hear about those things on this podcast, doesn't mean you should start them. Always discuss everything with your doctor! Find out more about the Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illnesses (CoRE) here: https://reports.mountsinai.org/article/rehab2024-02-core-center-opens Follow them on Twitter here (yes, I thrive on spite and still call it Twitter): https://x.com/coresinai The team is putting out amazingly helpful videos on their YouTube channel and you should check it out, because a lot of questions listeners had can be answered by that content: https://www.youtube.com/@coresinai And, of course, they're on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/coresinai/ You can follow Dr. Putrino on Twitter: https://x.com/PutrinoLab and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/putrino_lab/ Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share A Friend for the Long Haul if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes.You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7948dbf2222c4392 If you'd like to support this low budget/high love podcast, you can check out my Bonfire shirt for silly long covid apparel: https://www.bonfire.com/store/a-friend-for-the-long-haul/ or my Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MYBB5G0P7YUD?ref_=wl_share Thank you for listening!
Welcome to season 2 episode 8 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! This week I chat with Jaydo, who you probably know from TikTok and Instagram. Jaydo creates videos focused on "Things You Should Know About Covid," and they've been incredibly successful. In this episode we discuss: The Power of Community: Learn how Jaydo's COVID-conscious community is making a difference, including more about the CC Circle, his 0% lending circle for expensive Covid safety gear The Unexpected Influencer: what it's like to become a source of news for thousands Navigating a Divided World: We explore the challenges of being COVID-conscious in a society that often dismisses safety measures - including what it's like to date Listener-submitted questions: Jaydo and I answer questions about to handle difficult social situations, finding love while being cautious, and raising COVID-conscious kids (special mentions to @decolonize__ https://www.instagram.com/decolonize__/ and ShiShi Rose https://www.instagram.com/shishi.rose/ who both post wonderful round-ups of books and resources for children) A Deeper Dive: Delve into the socio-political implications of the pandemic and the importance of critical thinking A friendly reminder: This episode is a bit longer than usual at about an hour and a half. Feel free to listen in chunks to preserve your spoons. You can find Jaydo on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@JaydoCovid and on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/jaydocovid/ Here is his linktree and his YouTube channels: https://www.youtube.com/@JaydoCovid https://www.youtube.com/@jaydomusic Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share A Friend for the Long Haul if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes. You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7948dbf2222c4392 If you'd like to support this low budget/high love podcast, you can check out my Bonfire shirt for silly long covid apparel: https://www.bonfire.com/store/a-friend-for-the-long-haul/ or my Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MYBB5G0P7YUD?ref_=wl_share Thanks again for listening!
Welcome to season 2 episode 6 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! This episode features my friend, Laura Thomas. Laura and I met in an Austin, Texas-based long covid support group, and started talking when she found out that I had moved from Texas because I discovered that my MCAS symptoms improved out of state. Laura hosts a podcast called Rescued By A Dog, which features stories of dogs saving their people. In this episode, Laura and I discuss: How we met and our long covid experiences Moving out of state in an attempt to see any improvement in our symptoms Acknowledging the privilege we both had to be able to move Low dose Naltrexone, Paxlovid, anesthesia, and ketamine therapy (none of this is medical advice!) What we call "zero dignity moments" with chronic illness EMDR, brain retraining, staying present "Resentment rebellion" Lymphatic massage The story behind Rescued by a Dog Find Rescued by a Dog on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0t6XikdERybsS3wwwaJb6j?si=c1654161e4504d1e And Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rescued-by-a-dog/id1648960693 Support the podcast via Laura's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RescuedbyaDogPodcast Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share A Friend for the Long Haul if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes. You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7948dbf2222c4392 If you'd like to support this low budget/high love podcast, you can check out my Bonfire shirt for silly long covid apparel where I'm raising money for a pro license of Zoom (as of right now, I can only record 30-40 minutes at a time and then we have to hang up and come back. Not great for conversational flow!): https://www.bonfire.com/store/a-friend-for-the-long-haul/ or my Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MYBB5G0P7YUD?ref_=wl_share Thanks again for listening!
Welcome to season 2 episode 5 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast. This episode features Lola Germs, a self-described "pandemic communicator + disabled guy w AuDHD + a funky rare genetic disease." We met on Instagram and once we got to talking we realized we share a lot of weird funky health stuff and our life and work trajectories have been similar in a lot of ways. Lola shares information about the pandemic in a way that's inclusive, creative, and accessible - which is not an easy thing to do, especially with such complex information! We talk about what led her to creating her YouTube channel, important things like the warmest socks you can get, the fact that I didn't sweat for almost two years, how illness impacts self-identity, how gratitude can be weird, the confidence required to care for yourself in modern society, and then we venture on to righting the wrongs of the medical industrial complex, her hopes for the future, climate change, the need for popular science communicators, and the future of space travel. I'm an old lady and I was ready to adopt LG by the end of this episode. Truly. I love smart people with hearts like this, and it's a privilege to get to have these conversations! Find Lola Germs on social media: Lola's YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@LolaGerms Instagram - instagram.com/lola.germs TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lolagerms and LinkTree with resources - https://linktr.ee/lolagerms Support Lola's work on ko-fi ko-fi.com/lolagerms or by simply subscribing on YouTube and interacting in the comments. Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share A Friend for the Long Haul if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes. You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7948dbf2222c4392 If you'd like to support this low budget/high love podcast, you can check out my Bonfire shirt for silly long covid apparel where I'm raising money for a pro license of Zoom (as of right now, I can only record 30-40 minutes at a time and then we have to hang up and come back. Not great for conversational flow!): https://www.bonfire.com/store/a-friend-for-the-long-haul/ or my Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MYBB5G0P7YUD?ref_=wl_share Thanks again for listening!
Welcome to season 2 episode 4 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! Join me for a conversation with Merel and JC. Merel leads the Long Covid Choir, and JC is a member. Discover how this unique community has brought joy and support to those living with the debilitating effects of Long Covid. In this episode, we delve into the origins of the choir, how to join, and what to expect from the weekly sessions. Learn about some support group events and Merel's work with Long Covid Kids groups, and the things that bring us joy. We also discuss our experiences navigating healthcare systems in the US, England, and Norway. Whether you're living with Long Covid or simply curious about this inspiring community, this episode offers hope, connection, and a glimpse into the power of music. Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes. You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7948dbf2222c4392 If you'd like to support this low budget/high love podcast, you can check out my Bonfire shirt for silly long covid apparel where I'm raising money for a pro license of Zoom (as of right now, I can only record 30-40 minutes at a time and then we have to hang up and come back. Not great for conversational flow!): https://www.bonfire.com/store/a-friend-for-the-long-haul/ or my Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MYBB5G0P7YUD?ref_=wl_share
Welcome to season two of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! Thank you for being here! For episode one, join me as I sit down with Katrina and Corey, the founders of Covid Safe Colorado. Covid Safe Colorado is a grassroots organization dedicated to providing high-quality masks to vulnerable communities in the state. Learn about their journey from starting a mask bloc to building a supportive network of volunteers. In this episode, we delve into the challenges and triumphs of pandemic activism, the importance of community-led initiatives, and the personal impact of long Covid. Katrina and I also share our experiences as "pacing buddies," exploring how mutual support can help navigate the complexities of chronic illness. If you're considering starting a mask bloc on your own, Corey and Katrina share their lessons learned and offer advice and resources to help you get started. Don't miss this conversation about compassion and the power of collective community care. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share for more episodes. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps me keep bringing you episodes. Resources mentioned in this episode: How to Start a Mask Bloc, a collaborative zine by Fight COVID NOLA, Mask Up Pittsburgh, Mask Bloc ATX, World Wide Mask Map, Masks for London, Mask Block UCD, Mask Bloc LA, and Charlotte Mask Bloc, found at Worldwide Mask Bloc Directory – Find your local Mask Bloc Covid Safe Colorado's website and Instagram Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha Katrina's podcast, Dreaming Back to the Earth Don't forget to check out the podcast's playlist. Each guest is asked to share their long covid theme song: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7399eb50bf8a4a9d