Just A Spoonful

May 12th is the International Day of Awareness for ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome), a gravely misunderstood neurological disease. Up to 598,000 Australians live with ME/CFS, yet there is very little research funding or specialist healthcare available for them. How is such a devastating disease so overlooked? Kaitlyn Plyley investigates in this special episode of Just A Spoonful, 'May The 12th Be With You'. For anyone who ever asked, "Where's the Serial about why I'm still sick?"

First published on 12 May 2016.

Become a patron of Kaitlyn's: http://patreon.com/blythebyname

Educate yourself further about ME/CFS in Australia:

http://emerge.org.au

http://meaustralia.net

Just A Spoonful's first international guest! Jill Pantozzi is a US-based pop culture journalist and former Editor-In-Chief of The Mary Sue, known online by her moniker The Nerdy Bird. Jill talks to me ahead of her appearance at Contact2016 in Brisbane, where she is the International Fan Guest of Honour. We talk Batman V Superman, depictions of disability in the Marvel and DC universes, and what it means to have a disabled character in comics where anything - including magical cures and superpowers - is possible.

Jill is a Goodwill Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and tells me about the role the Association has played in her life since she was diagnosed with MD at the age of two.

If you like Just A Spoonful, consider becoming a patron! http://patreon.com/jaspodcast

Podcast artwork by Erin Michelle Art

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Released 24 March 2016

If you would like to support this podcast, check out patreon.com/blythebyname

"It was a weird superpower." This is how Leah Musch describes obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) to me, but only in certain contexts. It helped her retain an astounding amount of detail as the owner of The Happy Cabin clothing store in Brisbane. It also led indirectly to serious injury. While recuperating from her injury, Leah had an epiphany that would change her relationship to fashion. She sold The Happy Cabin, and then everything changed.

The host of web series The Unmaterial Girl talks to me about slow fashion, OCD guilt, and learning sustainable business methods in Brazil's 'favelas'.

Portrait of Leah Musch by Erin Michelle for Just A Spoonful.

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Released 28 February 2016

If you would like to support this podcast, check out patreon.com/blythebyname

"If you think we're brave, ask yourself why we have to be brave." My guest this episode is Miranda Sparks - comedian, radio personality, transgender advocate, and author of the superhero web serial Shimmerverse.

Miranda talks to me about growing up as a tomboy trans girl, why "show, don't tell" is problematic for a writer with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and accessibility in highbrow literature. We also talk about comic book movies, how to avoid ableist slang, and Miranda's surprising revelation of how she would handle a zombie apocalypse.

Portrait of Miranda Sparks by Erin Michelle for Just A Spoonful.

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Released 24 December 2015

If you would like to support this podcast, check out patreon.com/blythebyname

Priscilla Sutton is a right leg amputee, but in 2010 she found she had too many legs. Obsolete prosthetic legs, cluttering up her storage spaces. So, she came up with a unique way of honouring her pre-loved appendages. Priscilla is the founder of Spare Parts, an initiative that united pre-owned prosthetic limbs with artists and exhibited the result. (Also, my first guest to have been once nominated for Australian of the Year!) Priscilla tells me about how she became "the crazy leg lady," touring her exhibition to London for the Paralympics, and where her passion for recycling is taking her next.

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Released 27 October 2015

If you would like to support this podcast, check out patreon.com/blythebyname

"I couldn't get comfortable and was like, something's not right." Amy Dallas, founder and CEO of Brisbane fashion label Chronic Youth, has been living with chronic pain for seven years. She talks about the difficulty in getting a diagnosis, how living with her condition has made her question our culture of always being busy, and the creativity with which she has overcome challenges. For instance, she wanted to be a fashion designer, but once she got to Tafe, her pain prevented her from being able to stoop over sewing assignments. So, Amy has found an innovative way of getting her fashion designs out there. Now she's found work that she is passionate about and happy to spend her spoons on. We also talk fashion, living out of home, and why jeggings are a feminist issue (I insist that they are).

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Released 30 April 2015

If you would like to support this podcast, check out patreon.com/blythebyname

Thousands of people read Thomas Violence's tweets every day - funny, cutting, and sometimes a live feed into the hectic mind of someone with rapid-cycling Bipolar Type 1 Disorder. The man behind the Twitter account is Benjamin McLeay: web developer by day, member of Brisbane bands The Keepaways and Dogbauu by night, and tweeting at all times. We talk about making plans when you can't plan your moods, ideal jobs, and how depressive periods would be luxurious and restful if only you weren't depressed. Ben (or, Thomas?) tells me how Twitter has helped him find people who understand his bipolar, and how live gigs suit mania. Also: hot takes on The Interview, Lost, the Japanese flag, and other assorted nonsense. If you've never understood Twitter, this episode may help you out.

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Released 29 January 2015

If you would like to support this podcast, check out patreon.com/blythebyname

"Mania is seductive." Mike Day is the drummer for Brisbane band Mega Ogre, as well as the winner of the SLQ Young Writer Award 2014. He lives with Bipolar Type 2 Disorder and anxiety, and also a cat. Mike tells me about losing friends during manic stages, writing tips, Paddington Dads(TM), and why he wouldn't get rid of Bipolar. We also talk about weird movies you watch during insomnia, holding on to your personality amid your illness, and what Hobbits actually do. I mean, what do they do? Does Bilbo have a job? Featuring music by Mega Ogre: 'Hikikomori'. If you have iTunes, you can subscribe and a new episode will hit your account every two weeks: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/just-a-spoonful/id92786969?mt=2

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Released 6 November 2014

If you would like to support this podcast, check out patreon.com/blythebyname

Recorded at the 2014 National Young Writers Festival. My guest this episode is writer, editor, Creative Producer of Express Media and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome haver, Lefa Singleton Norton. We push through our festival brain fog to talk women in comedy, why there's no shame in watching Midsomer Murders, explaining your illness to your boss, and fading out of your own life. Lefa tells me how she got started in the creative industries, and how she had to drastically change her career when Chronic Fatigue Syndrome hit.

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Released 23 October 2014

If you would like to support this podcast, check out patreon.com/blythebyname

Is The Truman Show real? We go deep. My guest this episode is Brisbane writer Samuel Maguire, whose work has been published in Stilts, The Lifted Brow, and Scum Mag. Sam is living with Bipolar Type 1 Disorder and an anxiety disorder and uses The Lord of The Rings instead of sleep medication. We talk psychotic breaks, The Hunger Games, why Michelle Law is great, and mums reading your sad blog posts.

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Released 9 October 2014

If you would like to support this podcast, check out patreon.com/blythebyname