Welcome back to season two, everyone! We hope you are happy, healthy and as excited as we are to launch this next chapter of our podcast! To kick off season two, Nicole and Alanna are joined by Andrea Lausell – a Los Angeles-based actress, influencer and social activist who was born with Spina Bifida. In this episode, Andrea discusses the role Agent Orange played in her disability and how she has used her platform on social media to create videos featuring tips and tricks to thrive despite the challenges stacked against her – (hint: check out her YouTube & Instagram/TikTok…she is incredible!)

Andrea reveals to us the challenges of being an influencer for the disabled community and the pressures that coincide, as well as how she has made it her mission to dismantle ableism.

She also touches on how she was told at an early age she won’t make it to 30 – something she talks about openly and jokingly.

This is an episode that will shed new light on being born with a disability and will pull at your heartstrings – Happy Season 2, everyone!

If you want to learn more about the podcast and the hosts, visit our website at www.girlswithgutspodcast.com.

 

Follow us on social media!

Instagram: @girlswithgutspodcast

Twitter: @girlsWgutspod

Facebook: www.facebook.com/girlswithgutspodcast

Alanna’s Instagram: @alannamartella

Nicole’s Instagram: @thenikkidee

 

Andrea’s Socials:

Instagram: @andrealausell

TikTok: @andrealausell

Website: www.andrealausell.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/andrealausell

Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/andrealausell

This week on the podcast, Alanna and Nicole are joined by Alanna’s friend and certified badass Stevi Gable Carr, who is Founder & CEO of WISe Wellness Guild, a platform that works to advance women through whole-self wellness. This woman is the definition of a queen that fixes other people's crowns.

What many people don't know about Stevi is that she is a cervical cancer survivor and thriver. In this episode, Stevi discusses her rare form of cervical cancer, how it shifted her outlook on parenthood, how it shifted her mindset when it comes to life and living, and SO much more. This is the episode we ALL need if we need inspiration to not dwell and wallow in illness, but rather change the narrative and write our own stories.

Instagram: @girlswithgutspodcast

Twitter: @girlswithgutspodcast

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/girlswithgutspodcast

Alanna’s Instagram: @alannamartella

Nicole’s Instagram: @thenikkidee

Stevi’s Instagram: @stevi_pix

WISe Website: https://www.wisewellnessguild.com/

WISe Shop: https://shop.wisewellnessguild.com/

WISe Instagram: @wisewellnessguild

This week on the podcast, Alanna and Nicole are joined by Endometriosis Warrior Sam Abel, who is taking initiative and sharing her journey with this debilitating disease on Instagram and TikTok. Sam tells us about her symptoms – which severely impacted her life, notably during her menstrual cycle – and how she had to deal with these symptoms for SIX YEARS before one doctor finally took her seriously. She talks about her various surgeries, the importance of advocating for yourself and how she is now inspiring others to speak up and speak out. She also discusses what helps her manage her disease – she tries to go the natural route verses the medication route – and a new discovery by doctors of two different groups of people who are now getting endometriosis.

If you want to learn more about the podcast and the hosts, visit our website at www.girlswithgutspodcast.com!

 

Follow us on social media!

Instagram: @girlswithgutspodcast

Twitter: @girlswithgutspodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/girlswithgutspodcast

Alanna’s Instagram: @alannamartella

Nicole’s Instagram: @thenikkidee

 

Sam’s Socials:

Instagram: @sam.endo

TikTok: samxendo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ6CRI95PvZk_Nj8cuZsJmA

Blog: https://samxendo.wixsite.com/mysite

EndoMarch at UCLA: https://community.ucla.edu/studentorg/3845

This week on the podcast, we have an EXCLUSIVE! Nicole and Alanna are joined by Alanna’s friend Brittany Baldi – a Boston-area native, social media influencer, podcast host & former reality TV star who lives a nomad lifestyle with her professional baseball player boyfriend.

Alanna was recently interviewed for Britt’s podcast, The BosBabes, and while on the show, Britt shared something she has never shared to the public: that she suffers from severe allergies. We're talkin' allergies that are so severe that she has been hospitalized multiple times throughout her life, uses a NETI Pot nightly (ew!) and even has to boil her pillows consistently to avoid dust mites!

She shares with us how it has made life harder – she had to give herself shots all the time growing up and even had to remain ostracized from other kids when it came to early schooling (she was even home schooled for a period of time), and how she believes sports saved her lungs.

She talks about how having allergies and numerous close calls has changed her outlook on life and really puts things in perspective as to what truly matters: relationships with others and adventure over making a ton of money. This is an episode full of layers and you’ll want to keep listening to pull them all back!

 

If you want to learn more about the podcast and the hosts, visit our website at www.girlswithgutspodcast.com.

 

Follow us on Social Media!

Instagram: @girlswithgutspodcast

Twitter: @girlswithgutspodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/girlswithgutspodcast

Alanna’s Instagram: @alannamartella

Nicole’s Instagram: @thenikkidee

 

Britt’s Socials:

Instagram: @brittanybaldi

Twitter: @brittany_baldi

Podcast: The BosBabes

The BosBabes IG: @thebosbabes

This week on the podcast, Nicole and Alanna are joined by Alanna’s friend Cody O’Connor who is having a rest day at the time of recording – while embarking on a journey WALKING ACROSS THE COUNTRY to raise money for cancer research. (Yes, you read that correctly!)

In this conversation, Cody shares with us his story of being diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, at age 14. He tells us how he was told he would never walk normally again and shares not only the physical turmoil he was going through at the time, but also the mental anguish he dealt with while going through his battle.

He talks about how he has now made it his mission to help other kids battling illness and their families through the non-profit he founded (called Champions Do Overcome), He takes a deep dive into the reason behind his Walk for Hope and how it was his faith that made him surpass the odds stacked against him of being able to walk normally – and hopes he can inspire others battling illness to persevere.

This is an absolute can’t-miss episode, y’all!

 

If you want to learn more about the podcast and the hosts, visit our website at www.girlswithgutspodcast.com

 

Follow us on social media!

Instagram: @girlswithgutspodcast

Twitter: @girlswithgutspodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/girlswithgutspodcast

Alanna’s Instagram: @alannamartella

Nicole’s Instagram: @thenikkidee

 

Cody’s Socials:

Instagram: @overcomerteam

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/championsdoovercome

Website: https://www.championsdoovercome.org

A news story Alanna did on Cody: https://www.wlwt.com/article/told-he-would-never-walk-again-west-chester-cancer-survivor-walking-across-country/37301810

In this episode, Nicole and Alanna are joined by Lauren Berberich, a mental health professional in Alaska, about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). We discuss how this form of therapy can help people with issues as "small" as getting over feelings of low self-esteem, to healing "massive" issues such as PTSD and the severe physical/emotional symptoms that come along with a intensely triggering experience. 

Listen as Lauren discusses how EMDR therapy works, how many sessions are typically needed, and her real-life examples of cases in which this form of therapy has worked (note: Not all cases are human!) Also, Alanna brainstorms on some examples she feels this therapy could be helpful with! Do you have any more to add?

As you listen through this episode, you can actually hear the excitement and intrigue from Nicole and Alanna – who now both want to try this form of therapy to help them process their chronic illness and medical trauma. Who can relate?!

 

Want to join in on the conversation? Follow us on social media!

Instagram: @girlswithgutspodcast

Twitter: @girlswithgutspod

Facebook: www.facebook.com/girlswithgutspodcast

Alanna’s Instagram: @alannamartella

Nicole’s Instagram: @thenikkidee

 

Lauren’s Socials:

Instagram: @flourishtherapyak

Website: https://www.flourishtherapy.llc

 

Some Suggested EMDR Resources!

Books: "Getting Past Your Past" by Dr. Francine Shapiro

Find a Specialist: www.emdria.org

More Specialist Help: www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists

(It's important to note, there are certification levels to EMDR. The first level of training makes you a specialist. The second level, which requires further education and consultation, is Certified. The highest level of someone who is the most qualified to practice EMDR is referred to as a Master. It's important to know for when you're seeking out different levels of help!)

To learn more about the podcast and the hosts, visit our website at https://www.girlswithgutspodcast.com.

This week on the podcast, the Gutsy Gals chat with Alanna’s Friend/News Reporter/Celiac Warrior Meredith Barack(well, Nicole does most of the talking since Alanna lost her voice!) If you have ever dealt with mysterious bloating after eating, you will ABSOLUTELY want to give this one a listen...

In this episode, Meredith shares with us a piece of her past – reflecting on how her childhood behaviors revealed major clues to her eventual celiac disease diagnosis. She chronicles how she and her parents constantly missed the distress signals, which finally reached a pinnacle with the stress and challenges of college life. 

She tells us of the process of her diagnosis, how she finally created a healthy relationship with food again, and SO much more.

If you have/suspect you may have Celiac Disease, you're not going to want to miss this episode - this one is a doozy!

 

If you want to learn more about the podcast and the hosts, visit our website at www.girlswithgutspodcast.com.

 

Follow us on social media!

Instagram: @girlswithgutspodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/girlswithgutspodcast

Alanna’s Instagram: @alannamartella

Nicole’s Instagram: @thenikkidee

 

Meredith’s Socials:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MeredithBarackTV

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeredithBarack

This week, the Gutsy Gals chat with Alanna’s friend Conor Daly, an Indianapolis-based professional INDYCAR driver who lives life full-throttle - despite living with Type 1 Diabetes. We chat about his diagnosis, how he manages a high-intensity sport with his condition, his discipline with diet and exercise, how he doesn’t let his condition get in the way of living a normal life, and so much more! And Conor is hilarious, so you won’t leave this one without cracking up! 

 

If you want to learn more about the podcast and the hosts, visit our website at https://www.girlswithgutspodcast.com.

 

Follow us on social media!

Instagram: @girlswithgutspodcast

Twitter: @girlswithgutspodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/girlswithgutspodcast

Conor’s Instagram: @conordaly22

Alanna’s Instagram: @alannamartella

Nicole’s Instagram: @thenikkidee

 

More ways to connect with Conor:

twitter.com/conordaly22

twitch.tv/conordaly22

http://conordaly.net

 

Other Resources:

Mannkind Corporation

Dexcom G6 CGM System

INDYCAR Website

Conor on The Amazing Race

Originally, when we booked Nicole's friend Tamara for this conversation, we planned on discussing her battle with Stage 4 HER2 Neu Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer  - and the success she's found in beating it with Gerson Therapy. What we ended up discovering was so much more...

Tamara reveals to us that she had kept the cancer a secret from her friends (Nicole included!) and planned to make it to one more big bash before she kicked the bucket -- but as her "death day" approached, something unexpected happened that reignited her will to live -- and caused her to seek care through organic raw food and therapy at the Gerson Institute. 

If you're looking for a spiritual and educational uplift, join us in this episode. We'll chat about the Gerson lifestyle, the profound effects of organic and raw alkaline diet, the benefits of coffee enemas (she says not to knock them until you try them!) and SO MUCH MORE!

 

If you want to learn more about the podcast and the hosts, visit our website at www.girlswithgutspodcast.com.

 

Follow us on social media!

Instagram: @girlswithgutspodcast

Twitter: @girlswithgutspodcast

Facebook: www.facebook.com/girlswithgutspodcast

Tamara’s Instagram: @tamarapaquette

Alanna’s Instagram: @alannamartella

Nicole’s Instagram: @thenikkidee

 

Tamara’s Personal Websites:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0660743/

https://www.facebook.com/tamara.paquette

 

Tamara's Gerson Links:

Healing: The Gerson Way by Charlotte Gerson (Audible Book)

Healing: The Gerson Way by Charlotte Gerson (Paperback)

The Gerson Institute

Natural Awakenings Magazine

The Beautiful Truth Movie Trailer (2008)

 

Bonus:

One of Alanna's Favorite TED Talks: The Best Gift I Ever Survived

 

This one is longer, but TOTALLY WORTH EVERY MINUTE!

If you need some inspiration (and let’s be real, who doesn’t?!), this week's episode is PERFECT for you. Today, we chat with Nicole’s pal Danny Gomez, a Los Angeles-based actor, model and disability advocate – who is paralyzed from the waist down. We chat about his life before the accident, the actual accident (wow this story is WILD), and his life after. Danny also reveals how the accident has impacted his life, surprisingly, for the better. Listen along as we discover the struggles of dating while paralyzed in LA, inspiring stories of his acting and modeling career, and the incredible power of YES. You won’t want to miss it!

 

If you want to learn more about the podcast and the hosts, visit our website at https://www.girlswithgutspodcast.com

 

Follow us on social media!

Instagram: @girlswithgutspodcast

Twitter: @girlswithgutspodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/girlswithgutspodcast

Danny’s Instagram: @dgstyle

Alanna’s Instagram: @alannamartella

Nicole’s Instagram: @thenikkidee

 

Danny's Links:

https://dannyjgomez.com

Chaos Controlled Podcast

Triumph Foundation

Angel City Sports

Easter Seals Disability Film Challenge

JAM Abilities Rehabilitation Center

Wheels2Walking - Richard Corbett

Runway of Dreams

Social Surge Adaptive Clothing - Kickstarter

Christopher Reeve Acting Scholarship Recipient 2020