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Melissa Bergstrom remembers being anxious since childhood.Her anxiety manifested with physical symptoms and it was rare for Melissa to have a full week of school. She had always had dry skin but over time, it began to turn into something worse.Melissa was formally diagnosed with psoriasis in 2014 and getting the diagnosis of an actual autoimmune disease that was for life, felt like a punch to the stomach for Melissa and created even more anxiety and a new search for solutions. How does it feel to live with anxiety and autoimmune disease? Listen to Melissa's story now.
Say hello to Melissa Bergstrom and Kate Marple of The Perpetual Visitors Theatre Company. Together they bring us their unique brand of documentary playwriting with their play, The Big Work, which you can download on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. They interviewed dozens of people across their country about their feelings about their jobs and weaved their words together into a fascinating play which talks about how people really feel about their work. They also put out the Identity Tales podcast which you can download for free. Season 2 of Boston Podcast Players is supported in part by the Bob Jolly Charitable Trust. Also thanks to Patreon donor Melissa Fristrom. Cast Melissa Bergstrom Christa Brown Teddy Crecelius Emily Duggan Kate Marple Sunit Sharma Play excerpt provided courtesy of The Perpetual Visitors Theatre Company.
Many people would find the act of performing on stage to be anxiety inducing. Ironically, for actor Melissa Bergstrom, it’s actually the place her anxiety dissipates. In this episode of Identity Tales, Melissa shares how trying to control her anxiety over the years often felt paralyzing, and how she now treats it like a dance partner instead. Melissa tells Kate about the freedom that comes the moment you decide to own who you are, and the surprising connections that can follow.Be sure to check out Melissa’s blog at www.theperpetualvisitor.com. It’s an inspiring and practical exploration of what it means to build creativity and play into your daily life.
Many people would find the act of performing on stage to be anxiety inducing. Ironically, for actor Melissa Bergstrom, it’s actually the place her anxiety dissipates. In this episode of Identity Tales, Melissa shares how trying to control her anxiety over the years often felt paralyzing, and how she now treats it like a dance partner instead. Melissa tells Kate about the freedom that comes the moment you decide to own who you are, and the surprising connections that can follow.Be sure to check out Melissa’s blog at www.theperpetualvisitor.com. It’s an inspiring and practical exploration of what it means to build creativity and play into your daily life.
The tables are turned in this episode of Identity Tales where Kate talks about the experience of growing up as an asexual woman, and what it's like to be part of the largely invisible A in the LGBTQIA mix. Melissa Bergstrom steps in as interviewer while Kate reflects on the incredible power of learning you aren't the only one of something. Together they unpack the burden and joy of trying to imagine a future for yourself that isn’t reflected anywhere in culture...pop or otherwise.Editor's Note: While it's not discussed specifically in this episode, there is a difference between someone's sexual and romantic orientations, and they shouldn't be conflated or confused. People who identify as asexual, can also identify as aromantic, homoromatic, biromantic, or heteroromantic. In other words, it's a spectrum! For resources and information on asexuality, check out the Asexuality Visibility and Education Network at www.asexuality.org
The tables are turned in this episode of Identity Tales where Kate talks about the experience of growing up as an asexual woman, and what it's like to be part of the largely invisible A in the LGBTQIA mix. Melissa Bergstrom steps in as interviewer while Kate reflects on the incredible power of learning you aren't the only one of something. Together they unpack the burden and joy of trying to imagine a future for yourself that isn’t reflected anywhere in culture...pop or otherwise.Editor's Note: While it's not discussed specifically in this episode, there is a difference between someone's sexual and romantic orientations, and they shouldn't be conflated or confused. People who identify as asexual, can also identify as aromantic, homoromatic, biromantic, or heteroromantic. In other words, it's a spectrum! For resources and information on asexuality, check out the Asexuality Visibility and Education Network at www.asexuality.org