Gin and Chronic, The Podcast

Alaina and Claire are BACK! They talk about their unintentional summer hiatus and why it was so necessary. They remember good things also exist in the world and Alaina reminds everyone what self care is NOT and what resilience is. They reminisce about how the podcast started and how much they've changed, they talk about the hero complex, and they share how hard it is to find balance between feeling effective and feeling constantly negative. They talk about holistic wellness and the importance of finding what works for you - physically, emotionally, spiritually. Hear about what they've been up to these months - solo trips, therapy, art projects, apartment searches, squishing babies, and tears. Get ready for the G&C Comeback!

Claire shares another medical update… or lack of update… and they agree it's a good time for another light-hearted episode! Both Alaina and Claire talk about their current and upcoming travel plans. Claire has decided not to wait any longer to pursue her adventures and Alaina gives a description of hospital visits in Northern Ireland. They end by sharing what they've learned so far about Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drug Company More Info: Pharma Phorum LA Times Wikipedia, Alex Oshmyansky Daily Mail, "Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli Launches Newsletter Slamming Billionaire Mark Cuban's Online Pharmacy 

G&C has a very special guest today: Dr. Apryl Alexander. At the time of this recording, Apryl is an associate professor in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver. She is a clinical psychologist with concentrations in forensic psychology and child and family therapy, and has been widely recognized for her research and advocacy work. Apryl joins the pod this week to discuss health and advoacacy. Apryl talks about endometriosis, a diagnosis she formally received in college, despite knowledge of it long before. Endometriosis is likely underdiagnosed, due to systems of sexism, racism, colonialism, and privielge in the medical field. She shares a bit more about laproscopic surgery, management of symptoms, and barriers to care. She shares about her professional journey to psychology and her call to advocacy work. Everyone has the ability to make changes; people often observe inequities and feel angry about them, but don't do more to change them. Apryl shares her advice for how to start advocating: starting locally, finding existing resources and solutions, and staying informed. She talks about giving testimony, proposing new bills, and building relationships with legislators. They end with a conversation about finding balance between advocacy and self care and Apryl brings up the important concept of allyship. Resources: Follow Apryl here: http://www.aprylalexander.com/  Endometriosis Information NPR: Supreme Court Roe v Wade Decisions Overturned PNAS: Racial Bias in Pain Assessment and Treatment Recommendations Snowball fights in Colorado Legislative Sessions Calendar Colorado Reproductive Health Equity Act Envision You Public Policy Efforts

Alaina and Claire are reunited in this long-distance episode. Claire fills us in on her recent health updates and they discuss the familiar challenges of health insurance and medical supply companies. Claire updates us on how the Insulin 4 All protest went and the challenges she's been facing in work. They talk about the lack of space for mental health considerations in the current medical system. Both agree that the lack of regulation on food and beauty products is susicious and incredibly problematic. With all the news, the awareness of our broken systems, and the exhaustion of work and school, both admit they've felt depressed and have turned to anti-social behaviors and strange coping mechanisms. Claire recommends The Summer I turned Pretty on Amazon Prime, and Shatter Me, a book series by Tahereh Mafi.

Alaina joins from Northern Ireland to discuss what she's learning about trauma-informed practices. She talks about how trauma appears in all levels of society, to various resulting behaviors, and how systems can be build better to support everyone. This is especially true in the medical field and it's important to talk about the trauma that people with chronic illness and pain and disability experience. She discusses some of the myths around intergenerational and transgenerational trauma (check out links below for more). Lastly, she explains that there is still a lot of hope to be found in studying trauma and how we can all make significant changes to re-write our own narratives around trauma. NOTE: Rachel Yehuda, referred to as a biologist, is a doctor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience. See her information and a link to her research, below:  Trauma Summit Conference info Trauma Summit Speakers  Rachel Yehuda Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma Effects: Putative Role of Epigenetic Mechanisms  Rachel Yehuda Intergenerational Transmission of Stress in Humans

TW: Suicide. We've got another cousin on the G&C pod - this time to share important conversations about gender and mental health! Meet Red, Claire's cousin, a fellow heathcare worker, chronic illness warrior, and a non-binary, trans masc person. Red talks about his journey of self-discovery and how our pronouns are able to keep changing. They discuss how body image and expectations have become too much of a focus and talk about body neutrality as an option instead. Red shares the range in how companies and communies use pronouns and consider gender, and discusses taking an inadequate intake form and improving it to include important identity-based questions. Once again, profit margins seem to control what healthcare companies decide to care about. There's a lot that still needs to change to make healthcare more accessible to queer and trans patients, particularly de-pathologizing gender presentation. Red shares about his mental health journey, as well, which includes discussion of suicide, anxiety, bipolar tendencies/disorder, borderline tendencies/disorder, and ADHD. This brings up concerns about the tendency to over-diagnose or label, genetic mental health trends, over-medication, a pattern of blaming the patient, and the tendency of minoritized groups to people-please towards the majority, oppressive group. Red and Claire end by sharing information about Monkey Pox and the inherent blame and discrimination in the description. 

Meet Brittany - Brittany is a Type 1 diabetic advocate and legislative lead with the Massachusetts chapter of T1International. A historian at heart, she loves to talk and write about the discovery of insulin. In her free time, she's just a normal diabetic girl enjoying life with her cat, husband, etsy store, and many piles of books. Brittany shares her diagnosis story and she and Claire talk about the challenges of learning about diabetes. They share how they got involved in T1International and the movement for Insulin for All. Learn about how easily everyone can get involved in politics, even when it doesn't feel like it. Claire and Brittany then share about a protest they are planning May 31st -- a century after Eli Lilly received exclusive rights to mass-produce insulin in North America and dramatically raised costs. Reminder: people still die from diabetes, despite how accessible insulin could be, and living with diabetes is not easy. It's exhausting to work to stay alive and hide the challenges that come along with that. They discuss bills T1International has worked on, such as the copay cap bill that has still not passed in Massachusetts. Come join the protest at the Eli Lilly Cambridge Office outside of Boston to on May 31st to protest their price gouging. Remember, you're not helpless. You can make change. Reach out to MAinsulin4all@t1international.com for more information or to get involved! Additional resources: https://www.t1international.com/MA/ https://definingmomentscanada.ca/insulin100/history/patent-protection/ https://www.t1international.com/blog/2019/04/11/reminder-eli-lilly-has-been-exploiting-t1ds-1922/ https://www.t1international.com/blog/2022/04/12/human-rights-watch-insulin-crisis/ https://www.etsy.com/shop/ScreechingChickenCo?ref=usf_2020

Alaina and Claire wanted to talk about mental health in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, but got side tracked by Monkeypox, babies, racism in the US, abortion rights... and cheese. The truth is, there is a lot going on to disrupt our mental wellness right now. Horrifying acts are become normalized and people feel exhausted and overwhelmed. Their best advice for you is to give yourself rest sometimes and protect your physical health and to listen to your own voice about what "mental health" means to you.

Kicking off Mental Health Month, G&C welcomes Kelsey Griffith to the show. Kelsey is a mental skills specialist at The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention who works with young athletes and teaches about how important mental health is in the context of sports and athletics. Kelsey explains the difference between clinical sports/performance psychology and mental skills specialists and shares the story of her own injury that led her down this path. She discusses clinical versus situational depression and the stigma around mental health. Kelsey focuses a lot on failure and motivation and shares how helpful it is to learn those skills throughout our lives. She gives some of her tips for re-framing failure, easing anxiety, and finding motivation. Dan Siegel - "Flipping Your Lid:" A Scientific Explanation 

G&C is excited to introduce you to a special guest, Greta Kohl, an inspiring advocate for women's health. She shares about her chronic illnesses: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Endometriosis, and Interstitial Cystitis and the journey it took for her to get her diagnoses. Particularly with Endometriosis, she acknowledges the privilege she has had; most people with uterises don't get the diagnosis for YEARS! People with uterises get so used to the rhetoric, "It's just your period" and pain is minimized. Irritable Bowel Syndrome often causes Greta the most pain and change in lifestyle. It affects the large intenstine and is managed differently by every individual. Endometriosis is a painful disorder in which the endometrium grows outside the uterus. It is often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Finally, Interstitial Cystitis is a largely unknown condition causing chronic bladder and pelvic pain. They also discuss the temptation to overlook new symptoms, the stigma around STIs, and the frustration that comes from others telling you how to "contol" your chronic pain. They end with an important discussion of Women's Health Clinics and laws protecting people with uterises. Greta has worked on all sides of reproductive health: in family grief counseling, in abortion clinics, on a post-abortion hotline, with a national abortion funder, and now is getting a certification as a doula. They talk about the misconceptions that people are "pro-abortion" or are making these difficult decisions lightly. They also discuss the importance of having better sex education and women's clinics to meet community health needs. They end with an introduction to doula work and a chat about the current over-medicalization of pregnancy. Other sources: ROE Act

Claire and Alaina start off with sharing some "dumpster fires" of the week, because we all need a safe venting space! They talk about finding internal motivation and considering what "therapy" and "healing" might look like for you. Then they kick off Women's Health Month with an update on abortion bills and the history of abortion in the United States. Check out the resources below for more information. Scarlet Letters: Getting the History of Abortion and Contraception Right (American Progress) The Surprising History of Abortion in the United States (CNN) Abortion History in the U.S. (FindLaw) The History of Abortion Law in the United States (Our Bodies Our Selves) Historical Abortion Law Timeline: 1850 to Today (Planned Parenthood) Abortion in America: A Visual Timeline (19th News)

Alaina and Claire decided to keep this episode light-hearted and take a break from all the stress in the world. They talk about American Girl Dolls, Beanie Babies, and what they did as kids they wish they could still do now. They also encourage you to have hobbies that are just fun -- not just things you're good at. They end with an in-depth analysis of their horoscopes -- because why not?! American Girl Dolls  CoStar Astrology  HBO: Atlas of the Heart G&C Patreon G&C Merch!

Claire talks about her new job and the pressure to not be sick. They discuss the necessity of self-defense, especially as womxn (though it's completely unfair). (Check out THIS LINK if you're in Boston and interested in classes.) Alaina shares about her recent advocacy work with the Colorado Psychological Association. They discuss the RaDonda Vaught Case (sources below), in which a nurse accidentally administered the wrong drug to a patient and faces years in prison. They talk about what systems have failed to enable this tragic event and the implications of the verdict. Keep advocating for yourselves out there and practice self-compassion. Claire recommends journaling each day to process and express gratitude. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/03/25/1088902487/former-nurse-found-guilty-in-accidental-injection-death-of-75-year-old-patient https://www.cbsnews.com/news/radonda-vaught-nurse-guilty-death-charlene-murphey-wrong-drug/. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/03/28/nurs-m28.html

Alaina shares about her recent travel experience and how NOT strange it felt. She talks about how weird it is that people in the US always ask "What do you do?" Alaina then talks about some shocking news she received this week: one of her cloest friends was diagnosed with cancer. This news is bringing up a lot of emotions for Alaina, as well as thoughts about giving/receving help and future planning. Alaina discusses why asking for help is so challenging and how privilege relates, and how uncomfortable she feels about future planning!

Meet Julia, a junior at Miami University, a former D1 Athlete, and Claire's cousin - who also happens to have Graves Disease. Julia talks about the symptoms of Graves and her medication and treatment plan. She shares about the experience of being diagnosed while in college and what that meant for her social life and athletic training. She talks about the effect it had on her relationships and her sense of identity. Alaina wonders about the medication that was in question during Kamila Valieva's performance in the Winter Olympics and they talk about medication effects on performance and Julia's eventual decision to leave her team. Julia gives advice for others going through a diagnosis in college: stay true to your identity and keep having fun. We need to enjoy the lives we have! Join our Patreon at:  https://www.patreon.com/ginandchronicpod?fan_landing=true

Alaina and Claire have a lot to say about insurance policies and the fatigue that comes with advocating for yourself and others. They also want to acknowledge the tragic events currently unfolding in Ukraine. They remind everyone to keep intersectionality in mind when thinking about this crisis. See below for ways you can help and don't forget to take care of yourself! Remember: some of the ways you're feeling are not your fault. It's the result of generations of systemic oppression and broken policies. https://jdrf.org.uk/news/helping-the-diabetes-community-in-ukraine/ https://www.t1international.com/Ukraine/ https://beyondtype1.org/help-ukraine-diabetes-community/ https://www.patreon.com/ginandchronicpod?fan_landing=true

Final Part of the Valentine's Series: Alaina and Claire discuss representation of chronic illness in film. Alaina looks at A Walk to Remember, Claire talks about Steel Magnolias and the strange number of horror movies about diabetes. They talk about the damaging way chronic illness is portrayed, when it's portrayed at all. Alaina talks about the trope of the "sick woman." Claire reminds people to share their stories. Both agree for people with chronic illness or without that representation is important. They end with comments from all of you with your movie recommendations (or anti-recommendations). Pixar, Turning Red: https://www.popsugar.com/family/pixar-turning-red-features-character-with-diabetes-48429698  Encanto: https://movies.disney.com/encanto Sick Girl Trope: https://the-take.com/watch/the-sick-girl-trope-explained ; Me Before You Controversy: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/06/me-before-you-disabled-community-controversy 

TRIGGER WARNING: Gender-based violence, sexual violence, conflict Sources:  International Committee of the Red Cross. (2019). Special appeal 2019: The ICRC's response to sexual violence. Resource Mobilization Division. ICRC. Patel, V., Minas, H., Cohen, A., & Prince, M. J. (Ed.) (2014). Global mental health: Principles and practice. Oxford. Spencer, R. A., J. Usta, A. Essaid, S. Shukri, Y. El-Gharaibeh, H. Abu-Taleb, N. Awwad, H. Nsour, Alianza por la Solidaridad, United Nations Population Fund-Lebanon and C. J. Clark (2015). Gender Based Violence Against Women and Girls Displaced by the Syrian Conflict in South Lebanon and North Jordan: Scope of Violence and Health Correlates, Alianza por la Solidaridad. Syrians for Truth and Justice (2020). Early marriage hits high rate in some areas of Syria. STJ-Sy Gausman, J., Othman, A., Dababneh, A. Dabobe, M., Hamad, I., Daas, I., & Langer, A. (2020). A social-ecological examination into the research, policy and health service delivery environment related to early marriage and sexual and gender-based violence among youth in Jordan. BMC Internation Health and Human Rights 20(16) Waters, V. J. (February 15, 2022). Gender, Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing: specific needs and responsive services [PowerPoint slides] International Rescue Committee. (2021). The women peace and security index: A new lens on forced displacement. Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security

Part Two of the Valentine's Series: Alaina and Danielle interview Sam, Alaina's fiance, to talk about being a partner to someone with chronic illness. They share how they met and talk about the importance of vulnerability and communication. Alaina talks about how her illness actually made her more open to love and Sam discusses how grateful he has felt to be included in the conversations about chronic illness. Sam shares about his previous research on Dystonia, a serious, chronic movement disorder, specifically looking at barriers to care and trends in the illness. Danielle talks about how she has witnessed their relationship. They end with lots of reminscing and laughter!

Part One of our Valentine's Series: Operation Interrogate Claire. (See how much she can procrastine this conversation!) Claire shares a bill that just passed through the senate in Massachusetts: An Act relative to pharmaceutical access, costs and transparency (S.2651) that will create more transparency and management of drug prices. Check out Massachusetts T1 International if you want to get involved. Alaina is hoping to get involved in a bill in Colorado that will mandate inclusion of fertility treatments in insurance policies. Both talk about how to get involved in advocacy efforts. Claire gives an update on her NLD and experience with steroid injections. She shares the results of an Instagram poll about what G&C means to you and two stories from you about some truly apalling acts against people with chronic illness and disability. They remind us to not get too comfortable -- we still have more to do! Finally Claire gets into her conversation around dating. She talks about the temptation to change yourself to fit someone else's ideal and about when to compormise and when to know your worth. Alaina talks about clarifying what you're attracted to and what you want to demonstrate yourself. Claire talks about her ideal partner and waiting for her soul mate. Alaina encourages everyone to date yourself and to stop shaming single people.

Meet Emily: friend, nurse, cancer warrior, and all around wonderful individual! Emily shares the story of her diagnosis with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and talks about the importance of healthcare providers trusting their patients. She and Alaina talk about Googling their symptoms, chemo-brain, identities after cancer, and facing decisions about IVF. Emily walks through her treatment process and side effects. She talks about the importance of a support system and encourages people to normalize conversations around cancer and death. Together, they talk about the mind games that come with life-changing diagnoses. Most importantly: If you want to do something to help, DONATE BLOOD. There is a shortage right now and many people need your help! Check out resources below:  FAQs about Blood Types African American Blood Donors Find a Blood Drive

Welcome Jackie Wiley to G&C! She joins the pod to talk about her organization, Sportsmen's Tennis & Enrichment Center, which is a non-profit community-based organization dedicated to bringing health and wellness, academic excellence, and tennis to the Blue Hill Corridor of Boston. They offer health chats, after school programs, wellness activities, and currently are offering the vaccine for community members. Bonus: Jackie's mom Toni Wiley is the CEO. (Yes, you read that right: a Black woman running an amazing company inspiring her community!) Along the way, Jackie talks about the inequities that exist for people of color in education and healthcare. Pay attention to ways you can give to Sportsmen's Tennis so we can continue to support kids and families in our community.   Please also see below for information about donating blood: https://www.massgeneral.org/blood-donor/faq/ https://www.massgeneral.org/blood-donor/eligibility-guidelines/ https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html 

You knew it had to happen... Alaina and Claire broach the dreaded topic of COVID-19. They talk about the risk-benefit calculations that now happen constantly as people try to find balance while also keeping themselves and others safe. They admit feeling hypocritical and tired of being so careful, but they are concerned for public health and those at higher risk than them. Alaina talks about the mental health impacts of isolation and everyone's personal decision-making scales. Claire expresses frustration at those who aren't taking the extra steps to care for themselves and others and shares a story about a friend who felt dismissed because of her illness. Alaina discusses differences in social psychology and its impact on public health. She also talks about how industries measure the "burden of disability" with the DALY, which she feels unsure about. They end with some light-hearted questions and more teasers for what's to come after EPISODE 50! See Caroline J Sumlin for more inspiration and insight: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYrDg4ThL2D/ For information about DALYs: https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/158 To see 'Diabetes Looks Like Me': https://jdrf.org.uk/news-and-media/campaigns/t1d-looks-like/

Alaina and Claire start out with some of your "hot takes" and questions, and you'll hear from our rudest accidental guest! They end with a conversation about how to respond to someone who has recently received a life-changing diagnosis.

Claire fills everyone in on her program and celebrates some wins (as she should!). She is working on self-care and acknowledging her growth. Alaina explains the concept of 'moral injury.' Both talk about the idea of trusting the path that you're on. They also discuss what intentions they're taking into the year and how hard it is not to judge yourself on productivity. They reflect on the pandemic and the continuing strain, globally. Alaina ends with some speed-round questions for Claire as her welcome back (again) celebration.

After a quick health update, Alaina moves to the topic of the dreaded topic of resolutions. Love them or hate them, we're about to be flooded with pressure to set them, so how can we combat that and go into the year with our own intentions set? Alaina talks about what resolutions can look like, how to set meaningful ones, how to create new routines, and how to accept and learn from "failure." If you still hate resolutions, stay til the end for some other options!

Alaina is coming at you today from a closet in Boston! She shares a story about her move from NYC to Boston and asks for your help in supporting a family in need. She reminds everyone about communication: it should be collaborative between people, respectful, and beneficial to all involved. Establish prefered communication channels with your cloest relationships. Set expectations and boundaries around your communication. Acknowledge compromises and adapt to communication styles. Lastly, Alaina reminds everyone that cancel culture can be detrimental not only in society and in relationships, but to our own mindsets. We're allowed to change -- in fact, we need to adapt. Give yourself permission to change and to explore those changes with others.

Before heading to the airport, Alaina shares some exciting news — and her subsequent over-analysis of it. It's good to keep learning, but it's important to also celebrate and feel happiness. Why is it so hard for us, in general, to feel happiness? What relationships in our lives might hold us back from happiness and how can we shake their control? What societal expectations are we still holding on to that prevent us from feeling happiness? When does the self-doubt and imposter syndrome end? Love and happiness are not an ending or a cure!

Alaina admits she was feeling pretty tired this week and so shares about her own fatigue category system and recovery steps: Step 1: Identify your fatigue (physical, mental, emotional, social, spatial, spiritual). Step 2: Share you fatigue in specific language to your trusted circle  Step 3: Recover/Rest  Step 4: Reflect. The holidays are an exciting and exaughsting time. You do not need to earn rest! Set your boundaries and know your limits!

Alaina talks about COVID-19, differentiating between intuition and fear, and gratitude. Thanks to all of YOU for listening, validating our experiences, and creating such a beautiful community. Express your gratitude this week and keep moving towards your goals. https://iamsahararose.com/podcast/

Alaina and Claire discuss next chapters of Gin & Chronic and how they have been holding themselves back. Imposter Syndrome, perfectionism, and fear -- of judgement, of change, of failing -- have held them back. Alaina talks about wanting to pursue creative passions, Claire struggles with belonging in her program. Both discuss their insecurities and self doubt, and how sometimes milestones also hold them back. They invite each other (and all of you!) to join a challenge to overcome self-doubt. (Plus, a bonus dating story from Claire!)

Guess who's back! Claire tells us about the ups and downs of her time away -- and you won't believe it! Both Claire and Alaina talk about mental illness, prioritizing your health, and leaving jobs. They also bring up the Build Back Better plan and vaccine mandates. They end with some positive stories of support and good doctors! Send us your Halloween costumes! 

Alaina and Lizz talk about dealing with change and about other challenges they're experiencing at the moment. Alaina discusses how she introduced more change into her life and felt apathetic about it. Lizz explains how choice can feel exhausting, but feeling means you care and pulls you into the present. Set a timer to really feel without judgement and break the cycle. Shift expectations to goals - "write your plans in pencil" and allow them to change. "Wherever you go, there you are." If you are supporting someone else who is experiencing depression or anxiety, just be there. Check out Seize the Awkward if you need more insight. Lizz shares more information about maintaining her medication throughout her pregnancy. Alaina talks about her current struggle with disordered eating. Lizz brings up Ted Lasso in the contexts of panic attacks and how you can support someone experiencing one. Alaina and Lizz end with questions from all of you -- about burnout, resting, and childhood trauma.   Follow Morgan Harper Nichols for inspiration!  Stop Self Sabotage, by Dr. Judy Ho  Check out Headspace for mindful movement  "Ted Lasso," Apple TV

Alaina gives a quick update on her health and poses the question: who is researching our symptoms and side effects? Alaina explains how her health has changed since altering her medication and moving across the country. She addresses her questions and concerns around nausea, hormone cycles, and food habits, and encourages everyone to share information with our community.

Gin and Chronic welcomes Alaina's friend Nicole Zizzi to the podcast. She discusses her various physical and neurocognitive disorders: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, POTS, Hip Dysplasia, recurring kidney stones, hemorragic ovarian cysts, depression, anxiety, ADHD, Austism Spectrum Disorder, OCD, PTSD, Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, Dyslexia. Nicole and Alaina talk about women's health, specifically as it pertains to Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is frequently not diagnosed in girls and women. They talk about the social implications of neurocognitive differences and the stigmas and assumptions that surrounded them. They assess how important it is to raise issues of intersectionality in these discussions. Nicole explains Ehlers-Danlos and POTS and her process for managing the illnesses. They end with a discussion about transforming hardships into art, academics, and advocacy. Wait to hear how architecture fits into the chronic illness conversation! Contact Nicole on Instagram or via email. Check out her dance company, Evolve Dynamicz, for more information. 

Alaina is back with a short episode, this time to share some revelations from her first weeks of school. 1 - Let's include ableism in our conversations about diversity! 2 - We can learn more about the effects of stress (and intergenerational stress) on chronic illness. 3 - It's important to share psychological information and open access to academic spheres. 4 - Stay critical!

Alaina welcomes her friend, roommate, and personal pharmacist, Danielle, to G&C! They talk about moving across the country, inappropriate comments from doctors, COVID-19 treatments, and the complexities of pharmacies so you can be your own best advocate!

Alaina and Claire discuss how they attempt to manage their time and many hobbies (whether successfully or not). They talk about procrastination, how to honor your own organizational style and preferred productivity hours, and the importance of prioritizing and setting boundaries. Always remember that what you see in others is not always the whole truth and that busy is not necessarily better!

Alaina is here with a short episode to check in on the G&C community. She shares her recent experience with medical leave and encourages everyone to take time to recognize where you have opportunity to grow and where you are holding yourself back.

Claire and Alaina come back together to rant about life changes, current events, privilege, and medical updates.

Claire interviews her classmate, Ally, to discuss Synovial Sarcoma and the path to becoming a nurse. Ally shares her diagnosis story and how it felt to try to understand and overcome her diagnosis at 18. As for so many, Ally's health story led to her career path and deeper interests. https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/soft-tissue-sarcoma/types https://greatcyclechallenge.com/

Alaina is joined by a very special guest -- her sister, Lizz! Lizz shares her journey through anxiety and depression and gives insight on mental wellness. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 Maisey and Luke (Lizz's dogs and contact)

Welcome Steven Yankopoulos to the G&C community! Listen in for a story that has it all: the Patriots, a marathon, the National Basketball League of Canada, a movie script, and, of course, chronic illness. Steven shares about his careers and passions, how his cystic fibrosis diagnosis has impacted his choices and relationships, and how our culture avoids conversations around death. Check out more: https://joeandruzzifoundation.org/ https://www.facebook.com/syankopoulos email: Steven@UndertheScope.com https://www.instagram.com/ginandchronicpod/?hl=en

Alaina and Claire answer your questions and offer some advice on navigating difficult conversations. Some takeaways: Keep the relationship at the forefront Try to remember the other person is coming from their own expereinces Understand your boundaries Send us more of your questions or challenges anytime! 

Welcome to a previously unknown edition of Headlines with G&C! Claire talks about the cultural contexts of pregnancy - check out Em(body)ing Culture (Alaina's textbook) for more! Should we expect another COVID ourbreak and shutdown? Let's go get vaccinated, everyone!  Let's talk more about Simone Biles - the hero we all needed but didn't deserve! PS Athleta is worth the investment -- sponsor us? July 27th was the centennial anniversary of the discovery of insulin -- but access to insulin has only declined. (Shout out to Claire for all her work with T1 International) Will Claire win the next VaxMillions giveaway?   Next week: Send us your tough conversations and we can help you navigate them!

It's another special guest episode! Please welcome Claire's cousin, Lila Haffey, a Gin and Chronic listener and someone who lives with vitiligo. Lila explains vitiligo and how they test for it. She discusses the the body comparison game and the pressure of a visible illness (and all the comments she has faced). She talks about the importance of support in going through chronic illness and Claire acknowledges her positivity and perspective. Claire discusses more about the visibility of her Type 1 and shares an ignorant comments and reactions she has dealt with. They talk more about the importance of representation of chronic illness and normalizing other body types in general so we can improve our relationships with our bodies. No one should have to defend their body and put others down to lift themselves up! We all deserve to live in the moment and be happy!

Please welcome special guest Erin Gaudreau -- friend, lawyer, business manager for Miss Massachusetts, and all around fabulous human! Erin offers insight about her Crohn's Colitis and Ulcerative Colitis and also discusses the dynamics of managing a romantic relationship through chronic illnesses. How our body weight affects doctors' diagnoses and treatment of our illnesses. How stress impacts our health and triggers our illnesses. How doctors can work together as a team to offer holistic care. Talking about our illnesses (read: poop!) with others. How "healthy" food is different for different people. Advocating for ourselves regarding our invisible symptoms. How we should include accessibility into more of our DEI conversations. How to communicate about our illnesses in romantic relationships, and the stages of that communication and support. Erin also discusses her fiance's illneses: Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Iritis. How boundaries are different (and sometimes impossible) for people with chronic illness. How chronic illness impacts family planning and pregnancy. Most importantly, there is hope and love for all of us!

Alaina and Claire consider how chronic illness impacts learning, and how education systems can improve to enhance access and promote understanding. Claire is back (along with Wyatt and Luna)! Alaina is on medical leave, has moved out of Boston, and is getting ready for grad school (hopefully!) Random tangent: Should over-anxious Wyatt consider a career change? Claire reflects on her experience with chronic illness through grade school and college, and considers when she chose to use her accommodations. They discuss how that choice is indicative of privilege, even in the chronic illness space. In academics, financial privilege continues to play a huge role and excludes people who rely on jobs for health insurance or family stability. School also rewards people for their attendance, which perpetuates the idea that our health doesn't need to be a priority. Similarly, school rewards performance alone, without taking a student's full context into consideration. Lastly, Alaina and Claire question how much our education system truly prepares us to work and live in a collaborative, diverse world.

In this special edition G&C episode, Alaina and guest Maggie interview their dads to learn more about how they perceive their role in their daughters' illnesses -- with some drinks, laughs, and tears along the way! In honor of Father's Day, Alaina and Maggie get to know their dads even better with some icebreakers and stories. Both Dave and Monty recap their daughters' diagnoses and consider their role in how their families cope with them. They end with their advice for other parents out there and agree that sometimes a little humor is the best way forward.