Every Body (With Kristen Erekson)

In this episode, Mariita Carter shares her son’s journey with a relatively rare childhood cancer: Ph+ B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ B-ALL). Both the diagnosis and the aggressive treatments that followed were incredibly difficult, sometimes becoming a matter of life and death. Mariita walks us through those harrowing moments, sharing how the experience ultimately softened her, and how she found the strength to carry on through her faith in God and the support of her community.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition many women experience, yet the stigma surrounding maternal mental health often causes women to suffer in isolation. In this episode, Whitney Bassett courageously and candidly shares her experience with PPD following the birth of her second child.

Whitney’s journey took her through a deep depression that required hospitalization and intensive medical intervention. By sharing the intimate details of her recovery, she offers a bridge of understanding for those who may be navigating similar paths.

Highlights:

• ​ The Clinical Reality: Understanding severe PPD and the necessity of professional intervention.
• ​ The Path to Healing: An inside look at the recovery process through therapy, hospitalization, and pharmacological treatment.
• ​ Mental & Spiritual Intersection: How Whitney navigated her spiritual well-being while managing a mental health crisis.
• ​ Advocacy through Vulnerability: Why sharing these stories is essential to de-stigmatizing mental health.

Whitney’s perspective is a powerful testament to resilience, reminding us that seeking help is a sign of strength, not a failure of character.

What happens when your world suddenly loses its light? In this episode, Rock Erekson recounts his harrowing experience with temporary vision loss caused by retinal tears. Beyond the clinical reality, Rock relates how this brief season of darkness deepened his appreciation for the daily miracle of sight. He also shares his profound hope in Christ for ultimate restoration and his practical wisdom for the "now"—not fearing the future but simply facing today’s realities.

In this episode, Anisa Guy shares her journey from the first signs of tinnitus to a life-changing diagnosis of a vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma, or a benign tumor of the hearing nerve). As a professional trained in American Sign Language interpretation, Anisa offers a unique, full-circle perspective on hearing loss. Join us for an inspiring conversation on advocating for your health and finding deep appreciation for the sense of hearing.

In 2022, Stephanie Ollerton experienced a dramatic and painful medical emergency which was later diagnosed as a perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage (brain bleed). In this episode Stephanie shares insights she has gained from this experience, including an increased love and appreciation for her body.

In this episode, Annette Perkins vulnerably shares her journey with eating disorders and disordered eating. She describes her internal transformation—from feeling pressured to earn her worth through performance and achievement to experiencing a deep sense of being loved, accepted, and inherently valuable simply for existing. Annette also reflects on how her relationship with food and exercise has shifted—from using physical activity as punishment for eating to discovering the joy of embodied movement, and from struggling with food to recognizing it as essential fuel. She now works as a fitness trainer and hopes to help others feel loved, empowered, and both physically and emotionally strong.

In this episode, Zachary Lifferth shares about his journey with polymyositis—a rare autoimmune disease that causes muscle inflammation and weakness. He recounts the relatively long path to diagnosis and discusses some of the physical challenges he has learned to navigate. He also reflects on some of the meaningful insights he’s gained along the way.

In this episode, Kristin Sokol shares her journey with Celiac Disease and the profound impact it had on her daily life. She talks about the initial diagnosis, the challenges of adapting to a gluten-free lifestyle, and some of the hurdles in managing the disease. Kristin also relates the unexpected toll it took on her mental health. She vulnerably reflects on the darkest moments of her journey—and how she has found healing and also discovered resilience, purpose, and the ability to support others facing similar struggles.

In this episode, Bethany and Jojo share their experience navigating Legg-Calve-Perthes, an orthopedic condition that causes avascular necrosis of the hip. Their faith has been a guiding influence throughout the process, reinforcing their beliefs and making them stronger individuals.

In this episode, Alicia shares some of the experiences she and her husband have had navigating their children’s food allergies, relating some intense and frightening moments along the way. She emphasizes the importance of doing our best while trusting God for guidance, extending grace to one another, and finding gratitude.