InvisiYouth Chat Sessions

InvisiYouth Chat Sessions

Download on the App Store

InvisiYouth Chat Sessions episodes

  • Episode 26: InvisiYouth Chat Sessions with CEO and founder of Award-Winning Social Enterprise Diversability, and Miss California Amazing Queen, Tiffany Yu
    Challenge the exclusion so many with chronic illness/disability face and reshape everyone’s perception (including your own person mindset). That’s what has driven the ultimate female founder warrior, Tiffany Yu. After a car accident as a child resulted in her personal experience living with brachial plexus palsy (nerve damage in her right arm), Tiffany had to grow up within the framework of others’ opinions on her disability. And as she found her voice, and realized the stereotypes society has thrust upon her solely because of her disability, Tiffany became motivated to challenge these barriers. Diversability is a social enterprise that works to rebrand disability through the power of community, storytelling, and working with the non-disabled community to show ways inclusivity is a successful choice to make.  Along with Diversability, Tiffany has used her stellar social media platform to also become a public speaker, founder of Awesome Foundation Disability Chapter which awards micro-grants to disability projects, and this year winning California Miss Amazing Queen to use her platform for women/girls with disabilities. Talk about having disability royalty on InvisiYouth Chat Sessions podcast! This episode, Dominique and Tiffany list off lots of Tiffany’s lasts—like the last Instagram follow, public speaking event, and home cooked meal (but Tiffany jokes she’ll focus more about being home than her cooking skills), break all the pillars down that hold up our chronic illness/disability “glass ceiling,” give tips to silence the “inner monologue hater” that makes us self-conscious of our chronic illness/disability, remind everyone that success and joy are NOT exclusive to healthy/non-disabled people, and gets super real on why perpetuating the negative stigmas on chronic illness/disability need to be dissolved on two levels—our personal journey and how the media/brands see it. When we get to our intermission story time, it’s about to get super freaking because we discover not only the story behind Tiffany’s stunning split artwork that embodies how Tiffany “embraces the elephant in the room” that is her disability, but also how BOTH Dominique and Tiffany have carry images of a little girl hugging an elephant. How super kismet is that! And the second half this episode is even better than the first! Dominique and Tiffany discuss how leading life with vulnerability breathes strength on the daily, encourage the power of DMs to all those activist idols you follow, talk about the power of language, advise us ways to erase the plague of being a burden from our mindsets so we can embrace the power of YES, talk how-to’s when it comes to needing help when you’re an introvert that has a chronic illness/disability, ways our healthy/non-disabled counterparts can ask questions about our health struggles while being okay with us saying NO, establish the winning strategy of ally-ship which is a pillar for both Diversability and InvisiYouth as they demand the outside chronic illness/disability community be at the table when discussing accessibility and accurate representation, and create a guidebook on feeling comfortable discussing disability between friends and public or guide to feeling confident in our own skin. Tiffany is proof that we must liberate ourselves from the false perceptions of chronic illness/disability, and that diversity is always a strength. Want that self-growth and conversation-opener…listen to this podcast!

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Wanna support our nonprofit?

    • Watch on YouTube
    • Shop
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Donate
    1 hr 29 min
  • Episode 25: InvisiYouth Chat Sessions with Philanthropist, Children’s Book Author, Executive Producer and Cystic Fibrosis Activist, Travis Flores
    Reunited and it is truly video podcast ear candy! We are bringing back one of our favorite guests from Season One, and a dear friend of Dominique’s to the Chat Sessions and they have upped their game to make this a highlight episode yet again! We are talking about philanthropist, award-winning children’s book author, executive producer and cystic fibrosis activist Travis Flores! 2019 has been a year of many major life moments for Travis. It’s the 15th anniversary of his children’s book, he’s featured in Season Four of The CW’s MY LAST DAYS (created by Jane the Virgin actor and Five Feet Apart director Justin Baldoni), opened up about his coming out story and amazing husband, and now, Travis has been so open about his fight for a life-saving third double lung transplant. Travis’ super empowered and super honest way of life impacts so many of his fans, the #YellowHeartSquad, and we’re honored to call him a friend and supporter of InvisiYouth. In this episode, Dominique and Travis catch up on all that they’ve had going on this year and how Travis’ episode on MY LAST DAYS led to a viral outpouring of love for his love and life story, examine the stereotypes around masculinity and chronic illness and discuss why it seems there’s such a struggle for the public to identify strength within those that have chronic illnesses, develop tactics to staying authentic when you’re sharing your story—whether on social media or when you’re talking with family and friends, throw down some amazing reasons why they believe vulnerability and strength are synonymous, and give ways we can all slowly become more confident in our lives that include our chronic illness/disability. Plus, Travis tells a story for the first time on camera that gets Dominique laughing so hard. Spoiler: it is a story from Travis’ teen years at a children’s hospital which includes nighttime strolls and morgues…but trust us when we say it’s definitely a part of the episode you don’t want to miss. In the second half of the episode, Travis and Dominique are developing a path to self-empowerment that includes the ways we can rewire that inner monologue of self-doubt when we think our health limits any goal, try to understand why people feel afraid to talk about chronic illness with any sort of joy, humor and power (and why there’s an assumption that chronic illness can only be shown in a melancholy light), suggest ways young people can build a life for themselves within their chronic illness/disability and build relationships with friends/colleagues that become your allies for success, talk candidly about the politically correct—or PC culture—of how media and even our inner circle are scared to discuss youth and chronic illness/disability together, and how that fear of saying the wrong thing actually makes our community more invisible than it needs to be, and talk about what Dominique and Travis feel are the best ways to feel fulfilled during our health setbacks and disassociate weakness from our self-description. These friends bring together a podcast episode jam-packed with major moments of power, moments of laughter, moments of reflection, moments of hones advice, and moments of joy. This is an episode anyone can relate to because it will feel like you’re sitting down with two that are super grateful to fight for all their tomorrows while appreciating the now.

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Wanna support our nonprofit?

    • Watch on YouTube
    • Shop
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Donate
    1 hr 4 min
  • Episode 24: InvisiYouth Chat Sessions with Couple Goals Duo, People Hope Org Founder/Executive Director Anna Kowlessar and her husband, Hello Randy owner and small business advocate, Randy Kowlessar
    #RelationshipGoals! We see that hashtag on social media and we get to see those love-fest posts about all that bonds two people together. But as someone in the chronic illness/disability community, these happy posts can bring about a lot of different questions. Even more so, when it’s a partnership between a chronically ill/disabled person and a ‘healthy/able-bodied’ person. Mainly…how does this kind of relationship have such success? In the second installment of Season Two’s relationship series, we have brought two guest experts that exemplify the relationship goals we all dream of…those romantic relationships. We have the Kowlessars on the show; Anna Kowlessar who is the founder and executive director of People Hope Org, and her husband Randy Kowlessar, the owner of the small business strategist and advocate company, Hello Randy! Anna and Randy bring just as much life, joy, faith, hard work and love into their work as they do their marriage! They embody so much of what People Hope stands for as a web-based organization providing people living with chronic illnesses and their support networks the tools, resources, spiritual connection and community to combat all the challenges of life with health struggles. We had to get the ultimate couple on the show that blends chronic illness from Anna’s health journey with the ‘healthy/able-bodied’ partner from Randy’s supportive ways. In this episode, Dominique, Anna and Randy, reveal the most common questions they’re asked as a couple and what are the main keys to some relationship success—as a ‘healthy’ partner or a ‘chronically ill’ partner— (and you’ll love their tips here), reveal why adventure challenge TV shows and Connect Four are key components in the Kowlessar home, and partake in our new segment TOP SEARCH where Anna and Randy tell us their auto-answers for “how can I support someone I’m dating if they have a chronic illness?” and “what answers can I give if someone ask about my health in a relationship?” And these two also give us the best story time segment when Randy and Anna tell us about their first date, which includes Randy giving the best ‘drop the mic’ response when Anna tells him about her chronic illness. In the second half of the episode, Anna tells us all about People Hope’s new program, Focus Fix—a monthly program that supports chronic illness warriors have tools to dive into self-growth (and you know at InvisiYouth we are all about cultivating a vibrant life for you medically adult-ish© people), and explains how finding love is a two-part project; you must find love for yourself before finding love with another person. Also, Dominique, Anna and Randy give advice on how to boost your inner confidence for all those introverts that might take time to thaw out their feelings/questions/needs, layout game-changing tips to communication with your partner, examine how having a supportive inner circle of friends and family can be your sounding board in the best way to vent frustrations and worries, divulge the secret Anna and Dominique prepare when needing to bring up serious topics with your partner, empower you with how they feel confident and valuable when those health setbacks days occur—and how early prep conversations are key, and end the show with advice they’d give the single versions of themselves. It’s a podcast that will have you feeling empowered, get lots of laughs, have faith in your journey, and feel the love for not only the people in your life, but a love for yourself!

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Wanna support our nonprofit?

    • Watch on YouTube
    • Shop
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Donate
    1 hr 19 min
  • Episode 23: InvisiYouth Chat Sessions with Type 1 Diabetes Activist, Outreach and Volunteer Manager for JDRF, and new mom, Rachel Mayo
    Long-term goals can become one of the most stressful parts of young adult life. People want to know about your plans for university or work, if you want to get married, whether you want to travel or settle down, and if a family and kids are in the cards. And these questions can be pretty intense without the added layer of figuring out your future with a chronic illness/disability. Health issues can make planning for the future a bit challenging, because it’s unknown what the next month will look like, let alone the next ten years. So how do those of us with health struggles plan our future? That’s what our guest, Rachel Mayo, helps us with on Episode 23. As a Type One Diabetic since her diagnosis at 18, Rachel has spent almost 15 years growing up and creating a life for herself with chronic illness. She has developed a positivity activism style all her own through blogging, public speaking, being a guest writer on numerous articles for nonprofits like Beyond Type One, Nick Jonas’ young adult diabetes activism nonprofit and podcasts, and fundraising for charities like the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. For Rachel, she wanted to advocate with humor and kindness on what has been her life journey of growing up while balancing T1D, and the role her chronic and invisible illness has played in her decisions. Rachel has documented her career from being a leadership and conference consultant with Paradigm Shift to currently working for JDRF as a volunteer engagement and outreach manager with Middle and East Tennessee, to her IVF and fertility and pregnancy journey through her hyper-active social media platform. It is her transparency on career-building, fertility struggles, pregnancy and first-time momma life with her son Noah, that makes Rachel the perfect guest on the show. In this episode, Rachel and Dominique examine the big topics older youth with chronic illness/disability should ask about their futures NOW, discover Rachel’s ideal celebrity mom playdates for her and Noah, give the best answers on how to handle those ‘adulting’ topics when you need to plan ahead (like fertility, having children, or traveling for work), lay out the best tips for how to bring these talks and questions to your doctors/support network—with the realization that asking questions is not only okay, but encouraged, motivate us to discover that being assertive for yourself can be in both verbal and written formats (hello email/texting services with doctors!), laugh lots when it’s discovered that Rachel and Dominique both have an Elmo-related nickname (and it’s DEFINITELY a couple stories you need to hear), create the life playlist for all your future adulating needs like the best sleep tools, scheduler apps, medication reminder apps, diet/snack tricks to be on-the-go, must-have parenting tools (like Rachel’s key baby apps for all first-time moms that work the best for spoonie moms), and Rachel’s key tips for hashtags that divide her posts between being a T1D/invisible illness mom AND a T1D activist, get super heartfelt as Rachel talks about her fertility journey, pregnancy and post-baby Noah life that had to blend with her T1D life she was accustomed to and all Rachel’s advice for fellow women with chronic illnesses/disabilities that want to have children as part of their future plans, and advise a seriously dynamic toolkit for handling any negative comments in the social media world about your life choices (from career, travel, or future family plans) that coexist with your chronic illness/disability. It’s so true that planning a future—whether that be jobs, marriage, children, or travel—can be quite multifaceted when you also have a chronic illness/disability, but Rachel’s epic special guest appearance shines a bright light into how full adulthood with health struggles can be pretty damn sweet!

    See

    Wanna support our nonprofit?

    • Watch on YouTube
    • Shop
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Donate
    1 hr 3 min
  • Episode 22: InvisiYouth Chat Sessions with Aerie Model, Wheelchair Racer, and Chronic illness/Disability Advocate, Abby Sams
    When loungewear clothing brand Aerie dropped their #AerieReal campaign, the world got a severe case of inclusive diversity. There were models with insulin pumps, canes and ostomy bags but one model in particular got top news coverage: 21-year-old Georgia native, Abby Sams, who rocked her wheelchair in her shots.  Seeing a young woman in a well-recognized campaign that was being celebrated in their clothes AND her wheelchair/walking crutches brought the conversation of diversity and disability representation to mainstream media.  We got messages, tweets and DMs all freaking out over how excited they were to see girls like themselves on TV, in magazines and in commercials. But Abby’s not just a model representing chronic illness (like her own experiences with RSD, EDS and POTS), she’s also now using her massively growing Instagram following to document her latest passion project in her life: wheelchair racing. Abby is using her fresh advocacy style to make the public comfortably open-minded on topics like travel accessibility, inclusivity and the power of adaptive sports. In this stylish episode, Abby and Dominique talk about Abby’s journey to becoming one of Aerie’s models and what makes her favorite things like top Aerie clothes in her closet that are most accessible to wear, her top activism slogan shirts—which you can see all over her Instagram—and dream name for her racing wheelchair, develops the main issues brands run into when they ignore bringing products that are diverse AND functional, list off all the ways every young person can take the first few steps into becoming their own advocate, name the how-to’s when it comes to breaking stigmas on being young with health struggles, give insider tips on how you can talk accessibility without ‘scaring off’ the healthy-able-bodied community, get super real about Abby’s journey to bringing wheelchair racing into her life—and how anyone with any level of sporting experience can get into adaptive sports, regardless of chronic illness/disability, advise how people get find adaptive sporting opportunities in your area of the world. And during this episode, Abby and Dominique empower your face off as they talk about how they brought athleticism into their chronic illness lives while understanding the stigma of ‘Paralympian-level only’ for adaptive sports does not apply when you want to just have some fun, get to hear some truly funny and unfortunate stories of Abby’s experience around cities like Brooklyn when the public see ambulatory wheelchair users like Abby for the first time, lay out the best tools, apps and advice for everyone looking to see if places like restaurants, stores, concert venues and universities are accessible (and you MUST take notes), and we create the medically adult-ish© guidebook to finding some stigma-breaking clothing brands, hashtags to boost your disability awareness following, and the must-have mobility aids for life and sports.  With Abby Sams, you get to have a jam-packed episode that you’ll have on repeat when you want to be motivated, inspired and have some major laughs to boost any week of the year!

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Wanna support our nonprofit?

    • Watch on YouTube
    • Shop
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Donate
    1 hr 14 min
  • Episode 21: InvisiYouth Chat Sessions with Tourette Syndrome Activist, Disability and Anti-Bullying Advocate, Publicist and Social Media Influencer, Hayley Gripp
    To be an influencer, or not to be an influencer? That is the question! In today’s world, the idea of making a career with your social media savvy and your Instagram account is super appealing. Add in the fact that it is a predominately virtual-led career path and it seems overtly-tantalizing for the chronic illness and disability community. Hell, even our programming is virtually-focused and relies on social media to reach our network! So we're a charity based in social media activism for work! But how does someone not fall into the pitfalls or stereotypes of a “social media influencer?” How can you still be an activist for chronic illness/disability rights while making your social media platform matter? What do you need to do to take your social media and turn it into a financial income? Well, we’ve got the golden ticket episode for you with our special guest giving all the top-secret info that’ll take you from subtle activist to bonafide influencer game-changer. Tourette Syndrome activist, Disability and Anti-Bullying advocate, Publicist and Social Media Influencer Hayley Gripp is the hybrid of chronic illness activist with brand supporter which fuels her growing Instagram of 115k followers! She bounces between LA and NYC for work projects and charity events (now living in NYC), and has even played an integral part in revising some hefty disability legislation like the I.D.E.A. Act on Capital Hill. Hayley wants to show the world that social media should be about #PostingWithIntegrity (the name of her soon-to-be released advocacy campaign). And living with a motto that those living with chronic illness/disability have some of the most empowering and platform-worthy stories that can positively impact society. In this episode, Hayley and Dominique talk about what makes social media influencing a bit controversial and how Hayley has defined her space as “social activist” media influencer which fuels success, examine the best places to use your platform for good and sharing your story with integrity to make positive change in your community and beyond, get super deep as they explore how to find self-love and self-worth when you’re feel self-conscious, hysterically laugh about Hayley's dog needing his own "Instagram-boyfriend" while also being an emotional support for her, lay out the best steps to boosting your mood when health setbacks collide with some work/personal life goals, and deliver the biggest list of insider secrets and tools for everyone that wants the influencer life. We’re serious…this is a full peak behind the curtain of brand supporter and social media influencer lives! This podcast episode lets Hayley and Dominique give some major tips and tricks that’ll not only let you boost your following, but how to approach the companies that have the best philanthropic heart and support inclusivity and diversity.

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Wanna support our nonprofit?

    • Watch on YouTube
    • Shop
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Donate
    1 hr 10 min
  • Episode 20: InvisiYouth Chat Sessions with Creator of the Mental Health and Wellness Blog, Adventures and Anxiety, Lisa Gallo
    Mental Health Awareness Month may have ended, but we’re keeping this conversation going since mental health is an all-year thing!  There are still so many misconceptions, stigmas and social norms that make the “mental health chatter” seem challenging. To say that first sentence, to yourself or a loved one, sometimes we really don’t know how to begin, or how to help ourselves. So what better way to develop a stellar mental wellness episode than to bring a special guest that’s fused two of our biggest platforms: social media with activism for young adults! Creator of the mental health and wellness blog, Adventures and Anxiety, Lisa Gallo, is passionate marketer and public relations specialist while also being a zealous mental health blogger. Using her experiences with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder, Lisa has developed her own light, humorous and heartfelt style of activism that’s become a fast-growing resource for so many young adults. In this episode, Lisa and Dominique open the conversation about the biggest fears young adults have when it comes to mental health talk, discuss the reasons people forget that mental wellness is a spectrum where every level deserves its own support and recognition, talk about the benefits of therapy—not just professional talk therapy but sports, writing, art, music, and meditation—and how it can evolve for everyone, and create the perfect (and affordable!) toolkit that’ll strengthen your mind with everything from the perks of free university counseling, apps for meditation, self-care, and therapists, to the pros to a blend of western and holistic measures like essential oils, acupuncture, medication, therapy or diet/exercise styles.  Also, you’ll want to stick around for Lisa’s life story of the first time she had a panic attack as a teen—and while that doesn’t sound like an uplifting story, Lisa and her friends/family have used that experience to grow, support and strengthen their health and relationships (plus, it’s a story that involves a tailgate—Go Gators!—a drive across a bridge, and some skydiving talk…so you’ll need to tune in to learn how that all comes together). And it wouldn’t be an InvisiYouth Chat Sessions episode unless we got to drop some major motivation and life tips! With a guidebook for social media while maintaining your mental strength, Lisa and Dominique talk about ways to avoid those social media pitfalls, suggestions of social media activism and blogs that are epic mental health activism tools, tips to use social media healthily, how to unfollow/mute those accounts that only breed envy or self-consciousness, and the best advice to keep your mind and body on a positive note that’ll make you ready to win at life.  This episode is going to be the one you put on repeat to bring some self-love, some empowerment, some sassy humor and lots of knowledge that’ll make your mental wellness strengthen more and more!

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Wanna support our nonprofit?

    • Watch on YouTube
    • Shop
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Donate
    1 hr 17 min
  • Episode 19: InvisiYouth Chat Sessions with filmmaker and disability activist, Ashley Eakin
    When we see ourselves in films, in the characters on the silver screen, you not only feel represented, but you can widen our dreamscape. And it’s no wonder that when we talk self-confidence, when we talk dating, when we talk relationships, we never so rarely have a movie or TV show to relate to. Today’s guest is bringing the knowledge on the worlds of dating and films with chronic illness/disability, it’s LA filmmaker and disability activist Ashley Eakin. Making her viral fame debut in 2017 with her SoulPancake video where she discusses the role her rare bone condition, Ollier's disease and Maffucci syndrome in her life, Ashley had 44 MILLION views and a new path for disability activism in the arts. She’s made her first short film BLUE and recently finalized funding for her new short SINGLE which will be filmed in late 2019, all focusing on the complexities of modern dating as a young person with a disability. And no big deal…but Ashley has also been behind the camera on projects like America’s Top Model and working for director Jon Chu of CRAZY RICH ASIANS! Ashley uses the power of vulnerability to prove not only how to empower yourself, but how to share an authentic story and relationship with others! In this episode, Ashley explains the last time she went on an epic trip to Singapore and Malaysia for Crazy Rich Asians filming and her last piece of good advice she wants to share, lay out the best start-up phrases to use when you feel self-conscious about someone who asks questions about your illness/disability or how to ask for help when you’re at work or the boss while making everyone think it’s their idea to support, develop the medically adult-ish guidebook to dating with chronic illness/disability through the lens of Ashley’s upcoming short SINGLE and promo testimonials which includes the following—our tips on bouncing back from bad dates and rude judgment, meeting people outside of apps, advice on having that awkward first conversation about your health struggles while dating, all the pros and cons of relationships where both people have health struggles, examines how creating films has been a vessel for positive change in Ashley’s life and her massive social media network, have some laughs as Ashley recounts her first at a SheLift retreat where her wilderness skills were tested, and dive into our top tips for using your vulnerability as a tool for confidence, building relationships, sharpening your work ethic, and becoming a game-changer in not just advocating for your needs but your dreams and goals too. Join us for this episode of humor, lots of life stories, some much-needed dating tips, and listen to chat about films and disability/illness representation! 

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Wanna support our nonprofit?

    • Watch on YouTube
    • Shop
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Donate
    1 hr 25 min
  • Episode 18: InvisiYouth Chat Sessions with Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Activists and Powerhouse Mother-Daughter Duo, Madi and Beth Vanstone
    One of the biggest questions we get in “how do I handle my relationships while living with a chronic illness or disability?”  And there are all types of relationships—romantic, familial, parents, siblings, caregivers, friends, doctors—that we experience every day. There’s so many complexities in how our relationships can thrive, so throughout Season Two, our podcast will bring you guest experts that exemplify the best of these relationship…starting with the first relationship we experience: parental dynamic. We’ve enlisted a mother-daughter duo from Canada, and one of our Global Brand Leader-All Stars, 17-year-old Madi Vanstone and her mom Beth. Not only does Madi use her large social media platform as a teen with cystic fibrosis to empower others to live beautiful well-rounded lives, but her and Beth also fights to improve medical necessities for other CF fighters, like going to Canadian Parliament to gain expensive medications like Kalydeco to have government coverage. Now they are powerhouses in the CF activism realm, having raised funds for CF Canada and InvisiYouth, along with being featured activists in CF books and movie reviews like the recent FIVE FEET APART.  In this episode, Dominique, Beth and Madi discuss the best ways parents and their young adult kin can interact both within the medical questions and in our non-medical lives, the top ways to talk to your parents when you’re feeling every sort of emotion about your health, give advice on how to boost your self-esteem in advocating with your doctors, family or public activism, tells us stories about why the entire Vanstone family has matching tattoos and their love of ice hockey, chats up pop culture headlines on our love fest for Justin Baldoni and his directorial debut of FIVE FEET APART and while chronic illness representation in cinema is not only vital to make our stories more visible, but they need to be told with as much passion as Baldoni brought to the film in tribute of the wonderful Claire Wineland’s legacy, talk about the ways we can grow from a shy activist to a public speaker like Madi as she’s grown up with CF, divulge the best tips when you and your parents may disagree, laugh endlessly on how being an advocate IS COOL even as a teen—especially when you’ve got your family supporting you, and the best advice on how to maintain the ‘normal non-medical’ side of your family dynamic like setting aside specific time to NOT talk about your chronic illness/disability journey. And...introduce a new segment about a teeniatrics® way of life! This is the first of many episodes reflecting on the relationships that take up our lives, and the dynamic duo of Beth and Madi showcase the full-range of how to thrive in a relationship with our parents in our full lives, both medically and personally. Take notes people, this episode is filled with lots of nuggets of knowledge!

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Wanna support our nonprofit?

    • Watch on YouTube
    • Shop
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Donate
    1 hr 10 min
  • Episode 17: InvisiYouth Chat Sessions with Chef and YouTube Creator of Stump Kitchen, Alexis Hillyard
    We’ve all seen these Instagram-worthy photos of mouthwatering meals, and oftentimes wonder if we could ever cook something that looks that delicious. And when you have a chronic illness or disability, entering the kitchen can feel more like a survivor challenge with lots of rules instead of a fun and freeing time to cook. But one woman has not only brought the fun, humor and tastiness to cooking, but also some much-needed diversity…and she’d our special guest on this episode, Canadian chef and YouTube creator of Stump Kitchen, Alexis Hillyard. Born without her left hand, Alexis, fell in love with cooking vegan/vegetarian meals and share her creative ways of cooking through her fast-growing YouTube show. Alexis’ activism for limb difference and culinary love is infused within an amazing sense of humor that makes Episode 17 must-watch content. In this episode, Alexis and Dominique talk about the best reactions—especially from kids—to Stump Kitchen and her limb difference, dive into the discussion of how cooking is not just food for the soul but also a great form of mental therapy, lay out the importance of diversity in the cooking world to show that physical difference or chronic illness DOES NOT mean you can’t do something, give mega-motivation tips on how to gain confidence or humor when faced with those ignorant comments, laugh out loud when Alexis shares a childhood story that consists of a ball pin and a missing prosthetic battery, swipe left and right in our Life Tinder on things like clapping back at social media trolls or using the term disability when people want to define others, and create the best toolkit for video editing, tools to have in your kitchen, best vegan recipes like chicken and waffles, and the best cooking show to watch.  Just like a 5-Star restaurant, this episode is filled with delicious life tips, funny stories, bites of motivation and the best empowerment that’ll make you feel like you can tackle life with any chronic illness/disability!   

    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Wanna support our nonprofit?

    • Watch on YouTube
    • Shop
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Donate
    1 hr 12 min

About InvisiYouth Chat Sessions

From the publisher's feed

Check in for a dose of stigma-break, humor-filling, empowerment building life hacks and motivation for all the “medically-adult-ish” young people. The InvisiYouth Chat Sessions, is part of…

More shows like InvisiYouth Chat Sessions

Put Some Ghee On It by Subee Syed

Put Some Ghee On It

36 Listeners

Off The Gram by Off The Gram

Off The Gram

114 Listeners

An Actor Despairs by Ryan M. Perez

An Actor Despairs

112 Listeners

The Black Box Podcast by The Black Box Podcast

The Black Box Podcast

15 Listeners

The SHNAP by Jesse Condon

The SHNAP

10 Listeners

We Might Be Drunk by Sam Morril and Mark Normand

We Might Be Drunk

2,898 Listeners

The Clearbirth Podcast by Annette Perel

The Clearbirth Podcast

14 Listeners

The Latest Version with Betsy Bush by Betsy Bush

The Latest Version with Betsy Bush

18 Listeners

Uncensored Saints with Victoria Fuller by Gotham Production Studios

Uncensored Saints with Victoria Fuller

205 Listeners

The Known Zone by Gotham Production Studios

The Known Zone

15 Listeners

Demystify Beauty with McKenzie Westmore and Dr. Paul Nassif by Gotham Production Studios

Demystify Beauty with McKenzie Westmore and Dr. Paul Nassif

11 Listeners

ZAG SZN by Gotham Production Studios

ZAG SZN

8 Listeners

That Sounds Right by The Gotham Network

That Sounds Right

15 Listeners

Gotham Summer Movie Club by Gotham Summer Movie Club

Gotham Summer Movie Club

0 Listeners