Chronically Healing Podcast

We're all slammed with diet culture every single day, whether we're consciously connecting it or not. But did you know that food choices are about biology, not willpower?

That's why we're excited to bring on Sarah Stites, CEO and co-founder of Wavelength. Wavelength is a modern program for healthy eating that combines personalized nutrition with mental health tools. Sarah knows first-hand the shame that comes with eating and weight-related issues — she was diagnosed with PCOS and prediabetes as a teen, gaining 100lbs in a year. While diet programs relied on guilt and body shame, her mom — a PhD with a masters degree in nutrition science — helped her take a more compassionate approach. By using principles from behavioral neuroscience, addiction, nutrition, and mindfulness, Sarah was able to understand the root cause of her habits, reverse her prediabetes, and lose 150lbs. That was over ten years ago. Now, Sarah leads the Wavelength team to scale her mom's holistic solution to millions of people. She is a fierce advocate for "more science, less blame," and pleasure as an important part of health. She believes it's time to move beyond the concept of body perfection, and start focusing on helping people have a better time in their bodies instead.

In today's episode we really dive into the messages we're getting around food and how that impacts the way we lose weight (if we even can.) I know you're going to love it, so let's dive in!

In today's episode we chat about:

• Sarah's story and why she started Wavelength with her mom.
• Food choices are about biology, not willpower.
• 92-98% of dieters don't reach their weight loss goal… and most gain it back if they do!
• Marketing and food: What's actually happening to get you to buy something?
• Why Wavelength is different from other platforms and how it will help you make better eating choices for you.
• Shame and how it relates to weight loss.

Links and things:

• Wavelength's website
• Chronically Healing Instagram
• Chronically Healing Facebook Group

Wow - this episode is truly one of our favorites! Today's episode is with Elisabeth Kristof of Brian-Based Wellness, a virtual platform that puts training the nervous system at the center of everything from movement practice, to behavior change, trauma resolution and pain reduction. Elisabeth has been an entrepreneur and mover her whole life. She experienced her own nervous system dysregualtion -- chronic pain, fatigue, migraines, binge eating. She began to understand that applied neurology could be used for so much more than just pain reduction and athletic performance, and that our nervous system drives our behavior and experience of the world.

During this episode, Elisabeth takes us through what nervous system regulation even is and how dysregulation can cause things like chronic pain, fatigue, migraines and binge eating. She also gives us "quick win" tools to start to listen to our nervous system so we can start to change our response overtime. There's so many amazing nuggets in this episode, so make sure not to miss this one!

In today's episode we chat about:

• Elisabeth's story with the techniques that she now teaches in her own life (movement and applied neurology.)
• Big T vs. Little T trauma: What is trauma and nervous system regulation?
• Jessie & Christina's stories and how we've seen nervous system dysregulation in our own lives and healing.
• Where to get started if you feel like you have a nervous system that's a bit out of whack (plus a few "quick win" techniques you can try out right now!)
• Binge and emotional eating behaviors (aka protective outputs) and what's happening in our nervous system when that happens.
• What is somatic therapy and healing and why is it important to acknowledge?
• Weight gain, emotional eating and binge-behavior, and how that is connected to our emotional healing.
• Minimum effective dose: what does that mean and why is it important to remember in our healing work.

Links and things:

• Elisabeth's Website
• Elisabeth's Instagram
• Get a 2-week free membership on Elisabeth's site
• Free video series to reduce stress and heal nervous system
• Chronically Healing Instagram
• Chronically Healing Facebook Group

Today's episode is with Mandy Podlesny, an empowered eating coach. Christina and I loved talking with Mandy about all things diet culture and becoming a victor and empowered member of your life. I really loved our deep dive into nutrition and dieting because it's something I struggle with a lot. We also talked about finding the right practitioner for you that will listen to what you say and work with your bio-individuality.

We loved getting to know Mandy and she was so much fun to talk to! Listen in and learn how to live your best, empowered life with chronic illness.

In today's episode we chat about:

• Mandy's past (and current) experience with chronic and mysterious illness

• The grit that comes along with living with chronic illness or pain - how to be a victor, not a victim

• Go from surviving to thriving mode and get out of that victim state

• Mandy's 5 pillars that she teaches on

• A simple morning ritual that Mandy recommends to set yourself up for success

• Where diet and nutrition can be damaging to those of us with chronic illness

• Gut health and how it's the foundation to our overall health

• Taking off the labels and just doing what feels best for YOU

• How Mandy helps people and why she needs to know you're ready first

• What biohacking is and why is it such a buzzword right now

Links and things:

• Mandy's Website

• Mandy's Facebook

• Mandy's Instagram

• Mandy's LinkedIn

• Chronically Healing Instagram

• Chronically Healing Facebook Group

Today's episode is with Karina Sturm! Karina is a German native who is now in San Francisco. She's a research associate turned journalist living with several chronic illnesses and an invisible disability. Her main health condition is called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a rare connective tissue disorder that leads to many co-morbid conditions. She's had around a dozen diagnoses, including dysautonomia, mast cell activation, small fiber neuropathy, a rare bleeding disorder called factor VII deficiency and much more.

We absolutely loved hearing from other spoonies out there and we got INTO IT with Karina today. We chatted about her experience with multiple chronic illnesses, we ranted about hustle culture and how it's negatively affected the chronically ill for many years.

In today's episode we chat about:

• Karina's story with invisible and multiple chronic illness

• Some specific symptoms Karina deals with with EDS and MCAS

• The three of us went on a rant about hustle culture and working with chronic illness

• Companies shifting to remote work because of the pandemic, but wishing that companies would've thought of this for those of us who have been living with chronic illness or disabilities for awhile

• What came up for Karina or were amplified because of the pandemic

• Coping techniques that Karina uses

• Being a voice in the community for chronic illness and how Karina got into it

• Dogma and the problem with social media and chronic illness Facebook groups

Links and things:

• Karina's website

• Karina's blog

• We are Visible Documentary

• Karina's Facebook

• Karina's Instagram

• Karina's Twitter

• Chronically Healing Instagram

• Chronically Healing Facebook Group

Christina and Dafne chatted about how healing comes in different forms, the importance of gut health and skin exposure and maintaining a sense of self as a mom with chronic illness. One of the great quotes from the podcast is "when we're imagining the future with fear, we're partnering with the wrong thing." We can't wait for you to listen in to this episode!

In today's episode we chat about:

• Dafne's journey with multiple chronic and autoimmune illnesses and where she's at now.

• What goals and "success" really mean and why core values might be more helpful.

• Dafne's top affirmations that she uses for both herself and her clients.

• A conversation that changed her life and pushed her in the direction of chronic illness coaching.

• The importance of sleep, especially with those with chronic illness. Are you sleeping well?

• Diving deep into low stomach acid and gut issues.

• Being sun-phobic and how to get safe sun exposure (it's so important!) ☀️

• Maintaining a sense of self as a mom with chronic illness.

• What Dafne would tell someone who just found out they have a chronic illness and they're feeling scared.

Links and things:

• Dafne's Medicine Cabinet Makeover Cheat Sheet

• Dafne's Website

• Dafne's Facebook Page

• Dafne's Instagram

• Chronically Healing Instagram

• Chronically Healing Facebook Group

Today we're so excited to share with you our interview with my friend Alissa Boyer, a mentor for Highly Sensitive People (HSPs.) Christina wasn't able to make the episode today, so my husband, Ben Fritz (who is also an HSP and coaches a lot of HSPs) stepped in to be my cohost!

Alissa's experience with chronic gut issues and SIBO brought her to the HSP world and now she's helping others out there just like us! I've always been interested in interviewing Alissa because I've always seen the correlation between some of us who are highly sensitive and have a chronic condition. For those of you out there a that think you might be an HSP (take the test here), this episode is for you!

In today's episode we chat about:

• What is a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) and how do you know if you are one?

• Sensitivity is not a "weakness" and how it actually tends to impact those of us who are high achievers

• How chronic stomach issues and SIBO led Alissa to finding out she is an HSP

• How the phrase "just stop being stressed!" from our doctors is extremely unhelpful and how we can learn to manage that stress

• Sometimes we subconsciously don't want to heal OR don't think we can (ouch!)

• How being out of alignment as an HSP affects our health

• If you are an HSP, finding ways to take care of your self is key in our healing

• The correlation between being highly sensitive and having chronic illness (for some!)

Links and things:

• How to find out if you're an HSP

• Alissa's Instagram

• Alissa's Website

• Alissa's Podcast

• Chronically Healing Instagram

• Chronically Healing Facebook Group

Today's episode is with Lyn Delmastro-Thomson. Lyn was misdiagnosed with leukemia at age 25 , but she kept questioning why she wasn't improving despite doctors saying that her labs looked good. So, like many of us, her questions were dismissed. She took her health into her own hands.

That's when she learned how to listen to her body and its wisdom, understanding how it communicates and working together with it. She now helps other people do this and take charge of their health. We also dive into HOW to listen to your body and move past hating it. Jessie also shares some personal experiences regarding body love and how hard it can be to listen to your body.

Lyn's story is so special and she shares some tangible tips that we can start doing today that will help us listen to our bodies and forgive them. We're so excited for you to hear it!

In today's episode we chat about:

• Getting the phone call you never want to get and getting a diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia…

• … and then finding out she was misdiagnosed and treated incorrectly for three years

• How to move forward after such a horrific misdiagnosis and finding someone to listen to her

• Treating symptoms as messengers in the body and learning to listen to your body (with tangible tips on how to actually do this!)

• How easy it is to fall into just treating your symptoms

• Why using the word "too busy" when it comes to your health just doesn't work anymore and Lyn's recommendations around that

• Talking to our bodies in terrible ways and how that's programming our bodies to believe that (and how hard that can be to change)

• How to forgive your body and get on the path where you can trust it again (and it can trust you!)

• Some of Lyn's favorite nervous system healing modalities

• Christina's experience with body talk and why Lyn loves it, too!

Links and things:

• Lyn's Website

• Lyn's Instagram

• Free gift from Lyn!

• Chronically Healing Instagram

• Chronically Healing Facebook Group

Welcome back to Season 2 of the Chronically Healing Podcast! If you haven't heard already, listen to our first episode of Season 2 where we introduce our new cohost, Christina Sanghera!

Today's episode is with Renée Nicholson. Renée takes us through her journey of growing up a dancer, but having that stripped away by Rheumatoid Arthritis. In that journey, Renée found ways to create a new identity for herself that wasn't just a "chronic illness patient." We talk about the amount of grit we need to get through the hard times, but how joyous it can make our ordinary life. We also dive into narrative medicine and how that brought Renée to writing her book, "Fierce and Delicate."

In today's episode we chat about:

• Renée's story of having her dancing life cut short because of rheumatoid arthritis

• The parallels between being a dancer and being a patient with chronic illness

• What rheumatoid arthritis is and the telltale signs to look for

• Dealing with the death of your identity and then a rebirth of sorts when you get a diagnosis

• The dangers of "symptom chasing" and how that can really affect your outlook on how you're feeling

• The push and pull of chaos and control

• The idea of narrative medicine: "The care of the sick unfolds in stories"

• How writing for patients reminded Renée that ordinary lives are so beautiful

• More about her book, "Fierce and Delicate"

Links and things:

• Renee's Website

• Renee's Twitter

• Buy Renee's book, "Fierce and Delicate"

• Chronically Healing Instagram

• Chronically Healing Facebook Group

Today's episode is a special one - we're finally announcing that Chronically Healing will now have a cohost, Christina Sanghera! Listen in to this episode to learn more about Christina, what changes will be coming to the show and what you can expect moving forward in the Chronically Healing Community!

Instagram: @chronicallyhealingpodcast

Jessie's Instagram: @jessie__fritz

Christina's Instagram: @christinasanghera

Chronically Healing Facebook Group

Full shownotes: www.jessiefritz.com/blog/samantha-lander

Today's podcast is with the wonderful Samantha Lander! Samantha is a Functional Diagnostics practitioner, certified personal trainer, and holistic lifestyle coach who got into the field to take control of her own health. After years of struggling with how she was feeling, a few misdiagnosis and slipping into the world of drugs, Samantha's story is so interesting to hear - not only on how she's changed her own life and health, but how she's helping others.

I hope you enjoy this episode with Samantha!

In today's episode we chat about:

• Samantha's story growing up with chronic symptoms and misdiagnosis of IBS

• Finding out she was dealing with anxiety and hypothyroidism in college

• Junior year of college and entering into the music world as a DJ, she started partying and using drugs like meth to self medicate for how she was feeling

• She got into selling drugs after college and her life started falling apart where she ended up in prison for a few years

• Changing her life and becoming a personal trainer after prison, but she was feeling like crap all the time

• Finding out she had parasites, mold, candida and heavy metals (along with hypothyroidism)

• She got into the FDN world to help herself and also to help her clients

• Finding the right practitioners who will help you on your journey

• Both Jessie and Samantha understanding and working through body dysmorphia and eating disorders

• Struggling with strict, extreme elimination diets and how those can affect our healing

• The REAL difference in working with someone in functional medicine vs. western medicine

Links and things:

• Samantha's Website

• Sick & Tired of Feeling Sick & Tired?

• Samantha's Instagram

• Samantha's LinkedIn

• Jessie's Instagram

• Chronically Healing Facebook Group

More about Samantha Lander:

Samantha Lander found her way into the health industry through years of working on her own health. She first set personal goals for herself as a young athlete who participated in team sports such as synchronized swimming, water polo and field hockey. In college, she continued with athletics since her experience working in the fitness field was so positive that she decided to major in sports management. In 2003 Samantha graduated with a degree in kinesiology from the University of Michigan with a major in sports management.

Following graduation she moved to Los Angeles where she found success working in the music industry as a club dj and producer where her life took a turn with drugs and even prison. After several years she became disenchanted with her work and began to realize that she missed having athletics in her life. Always one to tackle a dilemma head on, she decided to take a spinning class and immediately wanted to get back into the fitness industry. She began recording fitness cds and marketing them to a record labels.

In 2006 Samantha moved back to St. Louis to pursue her personal training certification. Her certifications include NASM, Functional Diagnostics Nutrition, NESTA and CHEK Level 2 Holistic Lifestyle Coach. Samantha's desire to do functional Diagnostics came from her own health problems she discovered when she learned she suffered from Adrenal Fatigue, Food sensitivities, Pathogens, Leaky gut and lots of hidden stressors. She spent a good portion of her life struggling with weight despite working out and eating a perfect diet and knew it had to be something more. With the right coaching she slowly began to rebuild her health and realize that she didn't have to settle for feeling horrible the rest of her life. The long hard road to get better has given her the drive to help others who are suffering with the same.

Through her passionate love of health and wellness and natural ability to partner with her clients to tailor their individual workout plans and Holistic protocols, Samantha has found her professional calling as Functional Diagnostics practitioner. In this role she has a genuine desire to help her clients achieve their goals they believed were never attainable. Currently she works with a diverse range of clients in terms of age, gender and ability.