Arthur's Heroes

In this 13th episode of Arthur’s Heroes, Jess meets Ellen, whose latest Instagram project @flareupandcumming offers the chronic illness community a platform to explore sex and intimacy.

As a YouTuber and blogger, Ellen has shared her life as a young adult with psoriatic arthritis, alopecia areata and uveitis for 10 years. It’s given her a remarkable ability to embrace her body’s differences and a passion for challenging perceptions of beauty by looking past disability. 

Now, she’s daring to ask the personal questions you might not want to discuss with your doctor, so you don’t have to. Tune in to hear more:

About Arthur’s Heroes

Arthur’s Heroes shines a light on inspirational young adults cracking on with life despite a diagnosis of arthritis. It’s brought to you by Arthur's Place, the award-winning magazine website, social network and online events host.

Useful links

• For free access to Arthur’s Place’s huge range of friendly advice and lifestyle information, visit Arthursplace.co.uk.

• Give and get support from other lovely folk, aged 18-35, with arthritis at Arthur’s Place Social in Facebook Groups.

• Support our campaign to encourage mask use in crowded places, even when the law changes. Search #thanksformasking on Instagram.

In this 12th episode of Arthur's Heroes, Jess talks to Kate, founder of the Wren Project, which provides free one-to-one listening support to people newly diagnosed with autoimmune diseases.

Despite still coming to terms with her own diagnoses - including RA and Lupus, Kate's relentless commitment to making the world a better place through human connection is inspirational.

Driven in part by her previous work in getting people through emotional experiences, Kate explains the charity's origins, its aim to empower people to feel less lonely, and tells listeners how to get involved. Kate also shares what she's learned about herself along the way. To hear why she finds comfort in selflessly helping others, listen now.

About Arthur’s Heroes

Arthur’s Heroes shines a light on inspirational young adults cracking on with life despite a diagnosis of arthritis. It’s brought to you by Arthur's Place, the award-winning magazine website, social network and online events host.

Useful links

• For free access to Arthur’s Place’s huge range of friendly advice and lifestyle information, visit Arthursplace.co.uk.

• Give and get support from other lovely folk, aged 18-35, with arthritis at Arthur’s Place Social in Facebook Groups.

• Support our campaign to encourage mask use in crowded places, even when the law changes. Search #thanksformasking on Instagram.

In this 11th episode of Arthur’s Heroes, Jess meets Jack, a 24-year-old blogger, poet and former competitive trampolinist, who was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis aged 19.

Jack recently blogged for Arthur’s Place about his participation in a drug trial which changed his life dramatically for the better, but which ended abruptly when the pandemic hit, leaving him despondent and despairing. Jack shares the ups and downs of his trial experience with Jess, including how his sheer determination led to a positive outcome.

A self-confessed child of musical theatre, who to this day still bursts into random song, Jack loves the theatre, listens to loads of podcasts and joined our book club with The House at Pooh Corner as his happy book.

About Arthur’s Heroes

Arthur’s Heroes shines a light on inspirational young adults cracking on with life despite a diagnosis of arthritis. It’s brought to you by Arthur's Place, the award-winning magazine website, social network and online events host.

Useful links

• For free access to Arthur’s Place’s huge range of friendly advice and lifestyle information, visit Arthursplace.co.uk.

• Give and get support from other lovely folk, aged 18-35, with arthritis at Arthur’s Place Social in Facebook Groups.

• Support our campaign to encourage mask use in crowded places, even when the law changes. Search #thanksformasking on Instagram.

• No Introductions Needed is Jack’s personal blog

• Find Jack on Instagram at @Jackposnett, and for poetry at @jackchats

Episode 10 – Molly

In this tenth episode of Arthur’s Heroes, Jess meets self-described “crafter, nerd and adrenaline junkie” Molly, who was diagnosed with JIA aged 13.

Molly’s pursuits include bungee jumping and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest freestanding mountain. “I like to try to prove people wrong in life,” she says. “Anything that people think someone with arthritis wouldn’t, couldn’t or shouldn’t do, I think, ‘hmm really?’”

More recently, as a trainee nurse, Molly witnessed an ankle fusion surgery performed by the same surgeon that carried out an ankle fusion operation on her. This is one courageous woman.

Arthur’s Heroes shines a light on inspirational young adults cracking on with life despite a diagnosis of arthritis. It’s brought to you by Arthur's Place, the award-winning magazine website, social network and online events host.

• For free access to Arthur’s Place’s huge range of friendly advice and lifestyle information, visit Arthursplace.co.uk.

• Give and get support from other lovely folk, aged 18-35, with arthritis. Search for Arthur’s Place Social in Facebook Groups.

• Support our campaign to encourage mask use in crowded places, even when the law changes. Search #thanksformasking on Instagram.

In Episode 9, host Jess discovers 25-year-old English teacher Zoë’s secret to managing a high-pressure career, alongside fibromyalgia and joint hypermobility syndrome. From what and when to tell your boss, to asking for support, Zoë talks about how she handles those tricky situations that inevitably crop up when you combine a chronic illness and a demanding job. For tips on coping at work or career inspiration, listen now.

If you would you like to be a guest on Arthur’s Heroes or tell your story in words, email us at [email protected].

About Arthur’s Heroes

Arthur’s Heroes shines a light on inspirational young adults cracking on with life despite a diagnosis of arthritis. It’s brought to you by Arthur's Place, the award-winning magazine website, social network and online events host.

Useful links

• For free access to Arthur’s Place’s huge range of friendly advice and lifestyle information, visit Arthursplace.co.uk.

• Give and get support from other young adults with arthritis at Arthur’s Place Social on Facebook

• Shout out to Codeword Pineapple, a fantastic initiative from Arthur’s Heroes host Jess, which aims to help people with invisible illnesses communicate their needs without having to explain.

In Episode 8, host Jess meets Sophie, Jenny, Hannah and Vicky, creators of live events, videos, articles, real life stories and social content for Arthur’s Place, helping us to reach more young people more often.

Sophie and Vicky share their own experiences of life with an arthritis diagnosis, and together the group talks about the power of storytelling and how new ways of connecting people can bring our community together.

If you would you like to be a guest on Arthur’s Heroes or tell your story in words, email us at [email protected].

About Arthur’s Heroes

Arthur’s Heroes shines a light on inspirational young adults cracking on with life despite a diagnosis of arthritis. It’s brought to you by Arthur's Place, the award-winning magazine website, social network and online events host.

Useful links

• For free access to Arthur’s Place’s huge range of friendly advice and lifestyle information, visit Arthursplace.co.uk.

• Give and get support from other young adults with arthritis at Arthur’s Place Social on Facebook

• Shout out to Codeword Pineapple, a fantastic initiative from Arthur’s Heroes host Jess, which aims to help people with invisible illnesses communicate their needs without having to explain.

In Episode 7, host Jess meets Jen, Michelle and Emma - who between them have over 70 years’ experience of life with arthritis - at the start of a brand new chapter for all of them. Members of Arthur’s Place Social, Jen, Michelle and Emma recently answered our call for new talent to join the Arthur’s Place team as we strive to help more young people with arthritis, more often. Listen to their stories now.

If you would you like to be a guest on Arthur’s Heroes or tell your story in words, email us at [email protected].

About Arthur’s Heroes

Arthur’s Heroes shines a light on inspirational young adults cracking on with life despite a diagnosis of arthritis. It’s brought to you by Arthur's Place, the award-winning magazine website, social network and online events host.

Useful links

• For free access to Arthur’s Place’s huge range of friendly advice and lifestyle information, visit Arthursplace.co.uk.

• Give and get support from other young adults with arthritis at Arthur’s Place Social on Facebook

• Shout out to Codeword Pineapple, a fantastic initiative from Arthur’s Heroes host Jess, which aims to help people with invisible illnesses communicate their needs without having to explain.

Arthur’s Heroes is the inspirational new podcast from Arthur’s Place, a vibrant website and online community for young people with arthritis.

This podcast stars your host Jess, a 23-year old Arthur’s Place member, who will shine a light on the lives lived by young people with arthritis – everyday heroes who are living rich and full lives despite their diagnoses.

In this sixth episode, Jess talks to Leigh, who took up archery as a hobby, to meet new people and have some fun – and ended up competing at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

But after the highs of London 2012, there were rule changes and Leigh became declassified as a Para Archer because the authorities were no longer classifying athletes with rheumatoid arthritis. This hasn’t diminished Leigh’s zest for life – and she is now hoping to set up an Arthritis Games one day!

For more information about Arthur’s Place, visit https://arthursplace.co.uk where you can read our blogs, access our YouTube Channel and find a huge range of friendly advice and lifestyle information.

Find out how to contribute your own stories here or access Arthur’s Place social media here. And order your pineapple pin from Codeword Pineapple here!

Arthur’s Heroes is the inspirational new podcast from Arthur’s Place, a vibrant website and online community for young people with arthritis.

This podcast stars your host Jess, a 23-year old Arthur’s Place member, who will shine a light on the lives lived by young people with arthritis – everyday heroes who are living rich and full lives despite their diagnoses.

In this fifth episode, Jess chats to Liam about living with his girlfriend, Lauren, who has arthritis.

Liam talks about what it’s like to live with and love someone with arthritis, and how they face their challenges together. Recently, Liam has been making a film about young people with arthritis, to help raise awareness.

For more information about Arthur’s Place, visit https://arthursplace.co.ukwhere you can read our blogs, access our YouTube Channel and find a huge range of friendly advice and lifestyle information.

Find out how to contribute your own stories here or access Arthur’s Place social media here. And order your pineapple pin from Codeword Pineapple here!

Watch Liam's film here.

Arthur’s Heroes is the inspirational new podcast from Arthur’s Place, a vibrant website and online community for young people with arthritis.

This podcast stars your host Jess, a 23-year old Arthur’s Place member, who will shine a light on the lives lived by young people with arthritis – everyday heroes who are living rich and full lives despite their diagnoses.

In this third episode, Jess chats to Anna about what it’s like to be friends with someone who has arthritis.

Anna has been friends with Jess throughout her battle for a diagnosis, and treatment, and has supported her through it all. She has a great understanding of what friends can do to help – and advice on how to open up to those who are close to you.

For more information about Arthur’s Place, visit https://arthursplace.co.uk where you can read our blogs, access our YouTube Channel and find a huge range of friendly advice and lifestyle information.

Find out how to contribute your own stories here or access Arthur’s Place social media here. And order your pineapple pin from Codeword Pineapple here!