Discomfort Zone

I was too sick to attend my sister’s wedding, so she wasn’t expecting me to deliver a speech.Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterCheck out our Official Invisible Not Broken Facebook groupA transcript is available in the show notes.Read the definition of marriage on dictionary.comWritten, Produced, and Sound Designed by: Jason HerterichAudio Engineering by: Justin MaradinSpecial thanks to: Gordo, Barry, my Mom, Luke, Emily, Hallie, and Lisa

My gym teacher ridicules me in front of my peers, prompting the question: was my child-acting career a fluke? If so, what does that say about my legacy? What does free pizza have to do with any of this?Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterA transcript is available in the show notes.Written, Hosted, Produced, and Sound Designed by: Jason HerterichAudio Engineer: Justin Maradin

About KeithKeith McArthur is an author, speaker, kidney transplant survivor, and rare disease dad. He is the host of the CBC Podcast Unlocking Bryson’s Brain, an 8-part documentary-style podcast about his son Bryson, his rare disease, and his family’s search for a cure. Keith is also the CEO and Head of Science for CureGRIN, an organization dedicated to finding cures and therapies for people around the world suffering from GRIN disorders.LinksListen to Unlocking Bryson’s Brain on CBC Listen, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen.To help support research into GRIN disorders, you can donate to: CureGRIN or U of T’s GRIN Disorders Research FundFollow Keith on TwitterFollow CureGRIN on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterFollow Discomfort Zone on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Keith’s son Bryson is a charming and outgoing 13-year old who loves his family, friends, and school. But he faces tremendous challenges. He lives with a rare genetic disease that has his brain locked at the developmental level of a 1-year old. The closure of schools has been especially hard on Bryson as he no longer has access to many of the tools he uses for therapy.Keith, host of the CBC Podcast ‘Unlocking Bryson’s Brain’, talks about life as a rare disease dad, the impact COVID has had on his family, and his search for a cure to Bryson’s brain disease.About KeithKeith McArthur is an author, speaker, kidney transplant survivor, and rare disease dad. He is the host of the CBC Podcast Unlocking Bryson’s Brain, an 8-part documentary-style podcast about his son Bryson, his rare disease, and his family’s search for a cure. Keith is also the CEO and Head of Science for CureGRIN, an organization dedicated to finding cures and therapies for people around the world suffering from GRIN disorders.A full transcript with photos is available in the show notesLinksListen to Unlocking Bryson’s Brain on CBC Listen, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen.To help support research into GRIN disorders, you can donate to: CureGRIN or U of T’s GRIN Disorders Research FundFollow Keith on TwitterFollow CureGRIN on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterFollow Discomfort Zone on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterCreditsWritten, Hosted, Produced, and Sound Designed by: Jason HerterichVideo Editor: Raihan HussainAssociate Producer: Rahima MullaAudio Engineer: Justin Maradin

Lindsay is no stranger to adversity. While most 11-year olds were out playing with their friends, she was at home caring for her mom. Now a front-line healthcare worker in the midst of a pandemic, she is faced with unprecedented challenges. Lindsay shares her insights on how the government could ensure the safety of personal support workers and their clients.About LindsayLindsay Couture has been a live-in caregiver for her mom since a young age. Supporting her through respiratory issues and 2 double lung transplants. It was while caring for her mom she realized that caregiving was her passion. Lindsay went to school to become a PSW in 2016 and graduated with honors. Since then Lindsay has worked in both the long-term care sector and in the community helping support our most vulnerable. Lindsay got away from corporate work after experiencing burnout and has now taken a different approach in the PSW profession. While no longer working in the corporate world, Lindsay has opened her own homecare company, Oakwood Home Healthcare. Being a PSW herself Lindsay knows the struggles and hardships PSWs go through in their profession. Between working the front-line, and managing a team of compassionate PSWs by herself, Lindsay makes time to advocate for change in the PSW profession.A full transcript with photos is available in the show notesLinksOakwood Home HealthcareFollow Oakwood Home Healthcare on Facebook and InstagramFollow Discomfort Zone on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterCreditsWritten, Hosted, Produced, and Sound Designed by: Jason HerterichVideo Editor: Raihan HussainAssociate Producer: Rahima MullaAudio Engineer: Justin Maradin

Early in the pandemic, Melissa spent all day on the phone with disabled people living in fear of COVID-19. Their fears echoed many of her own. Melissa shares her recommendations on how the government can better meet the needs of the disability community.About MelissaMelissa Graham is an advocate for social justice, public speaker, writer, researcher, and community organizer. Melissa is also the founder of the Toronto Disability Pride March, an annual event that began during the Occupy movement. As a social worker and an activist, she fights oppression from an intersectional perspective, and by encouraging others to speak from their lived experience. She has written about these experiences in a number of anthologies and articles. Melissa is also about to begin her first year of PhD studies exploring ableism and sanism within the field of Social Work. A full transcript with photos is available in the show notesLinksToronto Disability Pride MarchDirect Funding ProgramFollow Discomfort Zone on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterCreditsWritten, Hosted, Produced, and Sound Designed by: Jason HerterichVideo Editor: Raihan HussainAssociate Producer: Rahima MullaAudio Engineer: Justin Maradin

Meditating at a jungle monastery in Thailand brought me inner stillness. Then Rob showed up.A full transcript with photos is available in the show notesLinks:Short Video Documentary of Wat Tam WuaWat Tam Wua WebsiteSocial MediaFollow me on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterResourcesSubstance Abuse and Suicide: A Guide to Understanding the Connection and Reducing RiskThe National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255 (1800-273-TALK)The Crisis Text Line7 Cups of Tea An anonymous, 24-hour chat with trained professionalsAudio:I’m Letting Go by Josh Woodwardsmall-group-laughter by ch0cchi

Award-winning filmmaker and journalist Karina Sturm joins the show to talk about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare connective tissue disorder she lives with. She opens up about the medical gaslighting she experienced during her long path to diagnosis and how she transitioned from laboratory technician to chronically ill patient to journalist and filmmaker. Karina then talks about her feature-length film, We Are Visible, the challenges she faced while making it, and the false ‘fabricated or induced illness’ (FII) allegations many of her interview subjects experienced.'We Are Visible' highlights the challenges people living with invisible illnesses face every day, specifically in the context of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. The film features seven stories including people of all ages (5 - 60 years old), from six different countries with diverse backgrounds, different financial standing who are all differently affected by this invisible condition. They will share their challenges, fights, and fears, but also their achievements, hopes, and triumphs.A full transcript with photos is available in the show notesKarina SturmJournalistic WebsiteWe Are Visible WebsiteGerman BlogWe Are Visible Trailer 2Follow Karina on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterDiscomfort Zone PodcastFollow Discomfort Zone Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterProduced by: Jason HerterichAudio Engineering by: Justin MaradinEditing help provided by: Melanie McPhail

My parents returned from their vacation in Cuba on March 7th. A few days later, my dad developed a cough and fever. His symptoms rapidly progressed. Could it be COVID-19?A full transcript with photos is available in the show notesLinks:Produced by: Jason HerterichSound design by: Jason HerterichAudio Engineering by: Justin MaradinSocial MediaFollow me on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterLinksBoston Globe - How Accurate Are Coronavirus Tests?

Checking in from quarantine with a special message. This one is for you, Missy Elliot!YouTube VideoShow NotesProduced by: Jason Herterich with help from Djevon EarleAudio engineering by: Justin MaradinMusic: Streetwise by Vodovoz Music Productions

Big News for Discomfort Zone - I'm joining Invisible Not Broken Podcast Network!PodcastsInvisible Not BrokenThe Humancare PodcastDiscomfort ZoneSocial MediaFollow Invisible Not Broken on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterFollow Wellacopia on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterFollow Discomfort Zone on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterHello everyone, Jason here. I’ll be releasing 4 new episodes shortly. In the meantime, I want to fill you in on some big news. I am thrilled to let you know that Discomfort Zone is joining the Invisible Not Broken Podcast Network, a podcast network that speaks to people with chronic illness, invisible illness, disability, and chronic pain. It’s a perfect match for Discomfort Zone. The network includes Invisible Not Broken with host Monica Michelle and HumanCare Podcast with host Eva Minkoff.I was a guest on Monica’s show recently. She and Eva are two of my favourite people. If you like my show, I’m sure you’ll love theirs. I’ve posted links to their shows and social media in the description below.This change should be seamless for existing subscribers. If you listen off of my website, www.discomfort.fm, I’m transitioning over to www.invisiblenotbroken.com. Thank you for listening and keep an eye on your feed for new episodes.

Chronic pain tore my life apart and brought me and my sister closer together.A full transcript with photos is available in the show notesLinks:Lisa Purzner’s websiteSocial mediaFollow me on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterDepression resourcesThe National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255 (1800-273-TALK)The Crisis Text Line7 Cups of Tea An anonymous, 24-hour chat with trained professionalsProduced by: Jason HerterichSound design by: Jason HerterichAudio Engineering by: Justin MaradinExternal Consulting by: Dan Samosh

I was getting better! I left the house to meet women. It didn’t go well.I was getting better! I left the house to meet women. It didn’t go well.A full transcript with photos is available in the show notesProduced by: Jason HerterichSound design by: Jason HerterichAudio Engineering by: Justin MaradinExternal Consulting by: Dan SamoshFollow me on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterThis podcast uses many sounds from freesound.org. For the full list, please see the show notes.

I was in constant, excruciating pain and spent 22 hours a day in bed. I never could've imagined that someone else's life would fall into my hands. In the second half of the episode, my mom and dad talk about the struggles they've had as parents of a chronically ill son.A full transcript with photos is available in the show notesSocial mediaFollow me on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterDepression resourcesThe National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255 (1800-273-TALK)The Crisis Text Line7 Cups of Tea An anonymous, 24-hour chat with trained professionalsMato JelicWebsiteYoutubeAudio: this podcast uses many sounds from freesound.org. For the full list, please see the show notesProduced by: Jason Herterich with help from Justin MaradinSound design by: Jason Herterich

Introducing Discomfort Zone: immersive stories on chronic illness and disability that showcase our vulnerability, wellness, and resilience. My guests and I find comfort by turning towards discomfort, welcoming it, and laughing at it.A full transcript with photos is available in the show notesSocial mediaFollow me on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterProduced by: Jason Herterich with help from Justin Maradin, Igor Rakic, and Bonita MartensSound design by: Jason Herterich