Gin and Chronic, The Podcast

Part One of our Valentine's Series: Operation Interrogate Claire. (See how much she can procrastine this conversation!)

Claire shares a bill that just passed through the senate in Massachusetts: An Act relative to pharmaceutical access, costs and transparency (S.2651) that will create more transparency and management of drug prices. Check out Massachusetts T1 International if you want to get involved. Alaina is hoping to get involved in a bill in Colorado that will mandate inclusion of fertility treatments in insurance policies. Both talk about how to get involved in advocacy efforts.

Claire gives an update on her NLD and experience with steroid injections. She shares the results of an Instagram poll about what G&C means to you and two stories from you about some truly apalling acts against people with chronic illness and disability. They remind us to not get too comfortable -- we still have more to do!

Finally Claire gets into her conversation around dating. She talks about the temptation to change yourself to fit someone else's ideal and about when to compormise and when to know your worth. Alaina talks about clarifying what you're attracted to and what you want to demonstrate yourself. Claire talks about her ideal partner and waiting for her soul mate. Alaina encourages everyone to date yourself and to stop shaming single people.

Meet Emily: friend, nurse, cancer warrior, and all around wonderful individual! Emily shares the story of her diagnosis with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and talks about the importance of healthcare providers trusting their patients. She and Alaina talk about Googling their symptoms, chemo-brain, identities after cancer, and facing decisions about IVF. Emily walks through her treatment process and side effects. She talks about the importance of a support system and encourages people to normalize conversations around cancer and death. Together, they talk about the mind games that come with life-changing diagnoses. Most importantly: If you want to do something to help, DONATE BLOOD. There is a shortage right now and many people need your help! Check out resources below:

• FAQs about Blood Types
• African American Blood Donors
• Find a Blood Drive

Welcome Jackie Wiley to G&C! She joins the pod to talk about her organization, Sportsmen's Tennis & Enrichment Center, which is a non-profit community-based organization dedicated to bringing health and wellness, academic excellence, and tennis to the Blue Hill Corridor of Boston. They offer health chats, after school programs, wellness activities, and currently are offering the vaccine for community members. Bonus: Jackie's mom Toni Wiley is the CEO. (Yes, you read that right: a Black woman running an amazing company inspiring her community!) Along the way, Jackie talks about the inequities that exist for people of color in education and healthcare. Pay attention to ways you can give to Sportsmen's Tennis so we can continue to support kids and families in our community.

Please also see below for information about donating blood:

• https://www.massgeneral.org/blood-donor/faq/
• https://www.massgeneral.org/blood-donor/eligibility-guidelines/
• https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html

You knew it had to happen... Alaina and Claire broach the dreaded topic of COVID-19. They talk about the risk-benefit calculations that now happen constantly as people try to find balance while also keeping themselves and others safe. They admit feeling hypocritical and tired of being so careful, but they are concerned for public health and those at higher risk than them. Alaina talks about the mental health impacts of isolation and everyone's personal decision-making scales. Claire expresses frustration at those who aren't taking the extra steps to care for themselves and others and shares a story about a friend who felt dismissed because of her illness. Alaina discusses differences in social psychology and its impact on public health. She also talks about how industries measure the "burden of disability" with the DALY, which she feels unsure about. They end with some light-hearted questions and more teasers for what's to come after EPISODE 50!

• See Caroline J Sumlin for more inspiration and insight: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYrDg4ThL2D/
• For information about DALYs: https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/158
• To see 'Diabetes Looks Like Me': https://jdrf.org.uk/news-and-media/campaigns/t1d-looks-like/

Alaina and Claire start out with some of your "hot takes" and questions, and you'll hear from our rudest accidental guest! They end with a conversation about how to respond to someone who has recently received a life-changing diagnosis.

Claire fills everyone in on her program and celebrates some wins (as she should!). She is working on self-care and acknowledging her growth. Alaina explains the concept of 'moral injury.' Both talk about the idea of trusting the path that you're on. They also discuss what intentions they're taking into the year and how hard it is not to judge yourself on productivity. They reflect on the pandemic and the continuing strain, globally. Alaina ends with some speed-round questions for Claire as her welcome back (again) celebration.

After a quick health update, Alaina moves to the topic of the dreaded topic of resolutions. Love them or hate them, we're about to be flooded with pressure to set them, so how can we combat that and go into the year with our own intentions set? Alaina talks about what resolutions can look like, how to set meaningful ones, how to create new routines, and how to accept and learn from "failure." If you still hate resolutions, stay til the end for some other options!

She reminds everyone about communication: it should be collaborative between people, respectful, and beneficial to all involved. Establish prefered communication channels with your cloest relationships. Set expectations and boundaries around your communication. Acknowledge compromises and adapt to communication styles.

Lastly, Alaina reminds everyone that cancel culture can be detrimental not only in society and in relationships, but to our own mindsets. We're allowed to change -- in fact, we need to adapt. Give yourself permission to change and to explore those changes with others.

Before heading to the airport, Alaina shares some exciting news — and her subsequent over-analysis of it. It's good to keep learning, but it's important to also celebrate and feel happiness.

• Why is it so hard for us, in general, to feel happiness?
• What relationships in our lives might hold us back from happiness and how can we shake their control?
• What societal expectations are we still holding on to that prevent us from feeling happiness?
• When does the self-doubt and imposter syndrome end? Love and happiness are not an ending or a cure!

Alaina admits she was feeling pretty tired this week and so shares about her own fatigue category system and recovery steps:

Step 1: Identify your fatigue (physical, mental, emotional, social, spatial, spiritual).

Step 2: Share you fatigue in specific language to your trusted circle

Step 3: Recover/Rest

Step 4: Reflect.

The holidays are an exciting and exaughsting time. You do not need to earn rest! Set your boundaries and know your limits!