Abbott Elementary actress and SELF cover star Sheryl Lee Ralph gives advice to her younger self at key moments in her life: when she was a young woman, during the early days of the AIDS crisis, when she became a mom, the day before she won her Emmy, and when she was about to turn 40. 

This podcast was produced by Hayley Fager, Rachel Miller, and Westry Green, and edited by Hayley Fager. Peyton Hayes is our audio production coordinator, Jake Loomis is our audio engineer, and Caitlin Brody and Sergio Kletnoy are our talent bookers.

In our inaugural episode, soccer star Ali Krieger gives advice to her younger self at four key moments: as a kid, when she was coming out, when she didn’t make the women’s national team, and when she became a mom. 

This podcast was produced by Hayley Fager and Rachel Miller, and edited by Hayley Fager. Peyton Hayes is our audio production coordinator, Jake Lummus is our audio engineer, and Caitlin Brody and Sergio Kletnoy are our talent bookers. 

In this bonus episode, Dr. Mariel Buquè is back, sitting down with Zahra to talk about how to stay more relaxed throughout our workdays. Dr. Buquè talks about why reducing stress can be such a challenge, offering tips and techniques for staying grounded. She then takes us through a guided mindfulness exercise.

In this bonus episode, we’re continuing our coverage of the COVID-19 vaccines. We revisit a panel that Zahra hosted with David Kaufman, digital director at Architectural Digest, about myths and myth-busting around the vaccines and Black and Latinx communities. Along with experts Dr. Leon McDougle, Dr. Gbenga Ogedegbe, and registered nurse Sandra Lindsay, they discuss how to address inequitable vaccine access, the valid questions many people may have about these vaccines, and much more. 

In our last episode of the season, we hear from Victoria, an archivist who was forced to find answers on her own about her endometriosis. Like many others diagnosed with a chronic illness, she’s faced multiple hurdles while navigating the medical system. Even though she’s learned a lot along the way, she wants to know how to continue to advocate for herself to her doctor—and how she can advocate for others in similar positions as well. Zahra consults Lauren Selfridge, L.M.F.T., a psychotherapist with multiple sclerosis and the host of This Is Not What I Ordered, a podcast about “full-hearted” living with chronic illness. Lauren shares her experience with multiple sclerosis, and how to find empathetic medical professionals who take you seriously, and the power of a good second opinion.

You can learn more about Lauren’s work at her website (https://laurenselfridge.com) and you can follow her on Instagram @laurenselfridgeofficical (https://www.instagram.com/laurenselfridgeofficial/?hl=en). 

You can listen to her podcast This Is Not What I Ordered wherever you get your podcasts. 

Here are some SELF resources and articles about navigating life when you have a chronic illness:

Opening Up About Your Chronic Illness

(https://www.self.com/story/checking-in-podcast-multiple-sclerosis) 

Writing A Chronic Illness Elevator Pitch Has Made My Doctor’s Appointments So Much Easier

(https://www.self.com/story/chronic-illness-elevator-pitch)

Let’s Talk About Dating and Relationships When You Have a Chronic Illness

(https://www.self.com/story/checking-in-podcast-sex-love-sleep-apnea) 

For People with Chronic Illness, Social Isolation Is Nothing New

(https://www.self.com/story/chronic-illness-social-isolation-coronavirus) 

I’m Furious That It Took Almost a Decade to Diagnose My Chronic Pain

(https://www.self.com/story/chronic-pain-ankylosing-spondylitis) 

If It Isn’t Chronic Lyme, What Is It?

(https://www.self.com/story/chronic-lyme)

How to Support a Friend Who’s Just Been Diagnosed With a Chronic Illness

(https://www.self.com/story/support-friend-chronic-illness)

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