Bringing sports videography to life and seeing athleticism through the lens brings so much high energy that the person behind the camera has to have the passion. And our special guest has that passion! It’s videographer for the NFL and NWSL, senior video producer for UCLA Athletics, and Lupus warrior, Suzi Mellano.  Doing sports videography work that’ll get all sports fans crazy, Suzi also has contracts with the NFL and NWSL, capturing athletes achieving great success and teamwork. And reaching this career goal happened simultaneously with her Lupus diagnosis in 2019. While knowing life would change, Suzi has been determined to raise awareness for the Lupus community while simultaneously never giving up on her dream job and growing her outstanding videography. 

Here’s the Four Hot Takeaways: 

1. At 3:22 Suzi answers rapid-fire questions letting us know the sport she’d love to film, the most impactful sporting event she worked, what she’ll binge-watch, the sweetest last card she mailed, why her Italian genes will definitely impact where she’s like to live and dual language goals, and the best adjectives for her videography style. 
2. At 16:07 Suzi and Dominique talk all about how a unique full circle moment led her from being in front of the camera to behind it, how she’s seen growth in diversifying the male-dominated sports videography worlds she’s been part of, what makes her excited about that and where there could be change, and how there are ways she can adapt to excel when handling the physical demand of the job while balancing a chronic illness with the conversation of knowing you can always ask for supports to bring your independence forward. 
3. STORY TIME Intermission at 37:07 gets real as Suzi talks about a pre-diagnosis struggle of hair loss and how she navigated that journey with some signature dark humor and even got humorously creative in the ways of hiding it when she wanted to put her hair up that might have added more sparkles than needed. 
4. And we end the podcast at 43:45 Suzi and Dominique talk about their advice on how to process emotions during a diagnosis process and ways they manage emotions during flare-ups as time has gone on, they give advice on how to ask for supports in the workplace and with your families to make your health manageable while not allowing others to question your capability, and the one piece of advice that Suzi would give her pre-Lupus diagnosis self about her future, and it’s full of how extra rich and rewarding her outlook would become. 

Please like, comment, subscribe and share this episode, follow Suzi @suzimellano, on Instagram! Please check out the InvisiYouth Charity Shop to buy yourself or someone you care about our limited edition Subtle Activist Color Block bracelet on www.etsy.com/shop/invisiyouthcharity with free shipping globally, and please support InvisiYouth Charity by donating, following and joining our programs and community @invisiyouth! 

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