In this powerful episode of Love, Hope, Lyme, Fred Diamond sits down with singer-songwriter and Lyme advocate Jesse Ruben for a deep, honest, and emotional breakdown of his song "Monster."

Jesse opens up about the terrifying return of his Lyme and Babesiosis, the years of misdiagnosis, the isolation, the brain fog, the burning pain, and the desperate search for answers that so many Lyme survivors know all too well.

For the first time, Jesse walks through Monster line by line — how the lyrics came to him during the darkest hours of his illness, why he nearly kept the song off the album, and why he ultimately decided the Lyme community needed to hear it.

We talk about:

• How Lyme changed Jesse's life, relationships, identity, and career

• The emotional toll of not being believed by doctors, family, and friends

• The fear of losing the "young and healthy" version of yourself

• Why Monster resonates so deeply with people living with chronic illness

• Jesse's new album, his return to performing, and what comes next

If you've ever felt dismissed, misunderstood, or alone in your Lyme journey, this conversation will speak directly to you.

🎵 Get Jesse's album (vinyl or CD): jesseruben.com 🎧 Follow Jesse Ruben: @jesseruben 💚 Learn more about Generation Lyme: generationlyme.org

If this episode moves you, please like, subscribe, and share. It helps more Lyme survivors find the support they deserve.