Monica Michelle is joined by writer and entrepreneur Micaela Hoo.

Micaela lives with Lyme disease, bartonella, babesia, mold toxicity, parasite overgrowth, candida overgrowth, Hashimoto's disease, and Morgellons disease.

In this episode, Monica and Micaela discuss: 

• Micaela's diagnosis story
• Healthcare insurance

TIMESTAMPS

00:24 - The start of Micaela’s diagnosis journey

14:42 - Gastroparesis & Micaela’s research

16:52 - Healthcare insurance, wait times, and bad docs

21:52 - Micaela’s research pays off

25:52 - Medical closure

29:33 - Micaela’s businesses

The full transcript and all links mentioned can be found on the episode page on invisiblenotbroken.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monica Michelle is joined by physical therapist Rita White.

Rita lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Mast Cell Activation syndrome, and POTS.

In this episode, Monica and Rita discuss: 

• Rita’s work as a physical therapist
• Toxic productivity mentality
• Happiness from self-understanding and patience

TIMESTAMPS

00:38 - Rita’s diagnosis and job

04:58 - “pushing through the pain”

14:10 - handling bad days & Rita’s business

19:28 - productivity and patience

26:16 - favorite purchases under $100 & closing remarks

The full transcript and all links mentioned can be found on the episode page on invisiblenotbroken.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monica Michelle is joined by author Sara Staggs.

Sara lives with epilepsy.

In this episode, Monica and Sara discuss: 

• Being a full-time creative with a disability
• Pregnancy & parenting
• Disability disclosure
• Chronic illness in media

TIMESTAMPS

00:30 - Sara’s writing process

06:03 - Sara’s diagnosis & college

09:44 - Pregnancy & parenting

13:37 - Disability disclosure in dating and parenting

19:17 - Characters with chronic illness

24:36 - Seizure first aid and life with epilepsy

27:37 - Favorite purchases under $100

The full transcript and all links mentioned can be found on the episode page on invisiblenotbroken.com

#epilepsy #epilepsyawareness #author #UncontrollableBook #SaraStaggs

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monica Michelle is once again joined by musician, chef, and activist Dione Bullard.

Dione lives with End Stage Renal Disease.

In this episode, Monica and Dione discuss: 

• Favorite TV shows
• Favorite books
• Moments of delight
• Parenting

TIMESTAMPS

02:20 - Platonic

11:42 - Somewhere Boy

14:09 - More favorite shows

21:38 - Favorite books

26:17 - Appreciating moments of delight

30:42 - Parenting through guided experience

Series mentioned in this episode

Available on Apple TV+

• Platonic
• Silo
• Foundation
• Dickinson

Available on Hulu

• Somewhere Boy
• The Righteous Gemstones
• Bewitched

Available on Netflix

• Bridgerton
• Glamorous
• DAHMER

Other

• I Am a Virgo - Available on Prime Video
• Our Flag Means Death - Available on (HBO) Max
• The Life and Times of Total Made Grace

The full transcript and all links mentioned can be found on the episode page on invisiblenotbroken.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monica Michelle is joined by activist Cosmo C.

Cosmo lives with porphyria, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and fibromyalgia.

In this episode, Monica and Cosmo discuss: 

• Pets
• LARPing
• Disability income and surviving on it
• Privilege and Prejudice

TIMESTAMPS

00:33 - Cats and LARPing

12:05 - Adulting on disability income

22:01 - Privilege and prejudice

31:19 - Deadlines, speech, and steroids

The full transcript and all links mentioned can be found on the episode page on invisiblenotbroken.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monica Michelle is joined by musician, chef, and activist Dione Bullard.

Dione lives with End Stage Renal Disease.

In this episode, Monica and Dione discuss: 

• End Stage Renal Disease
• Self Advocacy as a Patient
• Dion’s Music & Cooking

TIMESTAMPS

06:17 - Dion’s diagnosis

14:44 - Music career & food

21:42 - Self advocacy

26:05 - Disparities in care of dialysis centers

31:27 - How to speak with healthcare professionals

35:22 - Distilling down our purpose in life

37:11 - Favorite apps and culinary tools

The full transcript and all links mentioned can be found on the episode page on invisiblenotbroken.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monica Michelle is joined by activist Kim Luke.

Kim lives with multilevel spondylosis, POTS, and fibromyalgia.

In this episode, Monica and Kim discuss: 

• Kim’s story
• Pain clinic negligence
• Disability tech & advocacy

TIMESTAMPS

00:51 - How Kim started

10:54 - Kim’s work

16:03 - Pain clinic negligence

19:33 - Healthcare in politics

27:08 - Recommendations for teaching and advocacy

31:47 - Disability Tech Business Idea

36:04 - The flat effect

40:12 - Pillows!

The full transcript and all links mentioned can be found on the episode page on invisiblenotbroken.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monica Michelle is joined by lawyer, author, comedian, and activist Julia Irzyk.

Julia lives with Lupus, Osteoarthritis, Degenerative Disk Disease, and Fibromyalgia.

In this episode, Monica and Julia discuss: 

• The state of COVID-19 in 2023
• Julia's new book, "Disabilities and the Law, 4th Edition"
• The entertainment industry
• Access to pain medication

TIMESTAMPS

00:56 - COVID-19

09:10 - Masks in healthcare environments

16:31 - Wheelchairs, flipping them, and HIPPA

18:21 - Julia’s new book

23:03 - COVID-19 in the entertainment industry

24:57 - Access to pain medicine

33:26 - Final Thoughts

The full transcript and all links mentioned can be found on the episode page on invisiblenotbroken.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monica Michelle is joined by activist Lisa Weiner.

Lisa lives with Charcot Marie Tooth Disease and Scoliosis.

In this episode, Monica and Lisa discuss: 

• Growing up with CMT and Scoliosis
• Dealing with braces
• Living and moving around San Francisco with a chronic illness
• Finding community resources
• Discovering simple tools that can help with daily activities

TIMESTAMPS

0:37 - What is Charcot Marie Tooth Disease?

4:42 - Lisa’s experience growing up with CMT

19:07 - Braces are no fun

24:47 - Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities

20:30 - CMT Association Awareness Month

31:55 - Final Thoughts

The full transcript and all links mentioned can be found on the episode page on invisiblenotbroken.com Thank you and enjoy!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monica Michelle is joined by award-winning author Alyssa Graybeal.

Alyssa lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

In this episode, Monica and Alyssa discuss: 

• Alyssa’s new book
• Monica and Alyssa discuss being a sick kid with creativity
• Pacing your work in a hustle-driven culture
• Emergency rooms & technology
• The benefits of talking about your story

TIMESTAMPS

1:10 - Floppy – Tales of a Genetic Freak of Nature at the End of the World

4:40 - Alyssa talks about being a creative sick kid

8:21 - Pacing, hustle culture, and self-gaslighting

14:25 - Building the confidence to come back home to your body

16:55 - Finding your career

20:02 - Alyssa’s art space

22:23 - Emergency rooms

26:22 - Technology

32:43 - The benefits of talking about your story

36:55 - Alyssa’s cats

40:25 - Favorite books

The full transcript and all links mentioned can be found on the episode page on invisiblenotbroken.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.