Stories, Connection, and the Power of Community In this special between-seasons episode of Life Expectancy, Julee and Stacey travel to the annual UC Health Liver Transplant Picnic – an event that brings together liver recipients, donor families, advocates, and transplant ambassadors. This is their first time attending, and the experience becomes far more emotional, validating, and transformative than either expected. Surrounded by people who truly understand the realities of transplant life, they meet recipients spanning decades of survival – from a brand-new 2024 transplant to a recipient thriving since 1988. The day unfolds into a series of deeply personal, unfiltered […]

In this special companion episode of Life Expectancy: Sisters Surviving and Thriving, Julee and Stacey open up about the music that defined their journey through addiction, illness, and recovery. The Season 1 Spotify Playlist is more than a soundtrack, it’s a reflection of everything they’ve lived and learned together. From anthems of resilience like Wide Open Spaces to raw confessions like She Used to Be Mine, each song marks a chapter in their story. Through laughter, tears, and shared memories, the sisters show how music became their bridge helping them reconnect, heal, and say the things that words alone never […]

In this candid episode of Life Expectancy: Sisters Surviving and Thriving, Stacey and Julee unpack the often-overlooked roles people play during serious illness—from patient and partner to health advocate and caregiver. Drawing from their own journey through hospitalization, hospice decisions, and recovery, they reveal the practical and emotional challenges of navigating medical systems, legal paperwork, and family dynamics. Julee explains how to manage advanced directives, communicate with healthcare teams, and define clear responsibilities, while Stacey offers the patient’s perspective on autonomy, vulnerability, and trust. Together, they provide a grounded, compassionate roadmap for anyone facing the chaos of illness—and the people […]

In this powerful episode of Life Expectancy: Sisters Surviving and Thriving, Stacey and Julee break down the complexity of the UNOS transplant list through both lived experience and medical insight. They explain how the national system works, what MELD and PELD scores mean, and the brutal math behind liver transplant eligibility. Julee shares the advocacy it took to get Stacey accepted after multiple rejections, while Stacey recounts the physical, emotional, and cognitive toll of end-stage liver disease and hepatic encephalopathy. Together, they explore the logistical, ethical, and deeply personal realities of navigating a life-or-death waitlist, culminating in Stacey’s placement on […]

In this episode of Life Expectancy: Sisters Surviving and Thriving, Julee and Stacey reflect on real-world events that struck a personal chord during their transplant and recovery journey. From headlines that triggered painful memories to public narratives that shaped their private fears, the sisters explore how the news intersects with illness, advocacy, and survival. What starts as commentary on the world around them becomes a raw, deeply personal look at trauma, loss, and the fragile hope that comes with second chances. With their signature blend of candor, wit, and vulnerability, they unpack the emotional echoes of current events and invite […]

In this episode of Life Expectancy, the sisters go head-to-head in the best way possible—comparing notes from opposite sides of the hospital bed. Stacey was the patient. Julee was the advocate. But their experiences, emotions, and responsibilities couldn’t have been more different. This episode explores the clash between what it feels like to be sick and what it feels like to watch someone you love nearly die. They unpack: There are sharp moments and soft ones. Laughter and tension. And some truly illuminating insights into how misalignment—even with the best intentions—can create chaos. But most of all, this episode is […]

In this deeply personal episode of Life Expectancy: Sisters Surviving and Thriving, Julee and Stacey take a courageous step backward in order to move forward—by unpacking the complicated history that shaped their relationship, their identities, and their survival. From childhood trauma and family conflict to the long stretches of silence, this conversation doesn’t flinch. Julee opens up about leaving home as a teen to escape a toxic environment, and Stacey recalls growing up in the aftermath, unsure why her big sister suddenly vanished. Together, they navigate early family dynamics, generational clashes, mental health struggles, addiction, and the roles they were […]

Welcome to the very first episode of Life Expectancy – Sisters Surviving and Thriving. Meet Julee and Stacey: two sisters bound not just by blood, but by trauma, resilience, and an unshakeable bond forged through liver transplant, breast cancer, addiction, and advocacy. In this raw and revealing conversation, they introduce the heart behind the podcast: building a space where survivors, caregivers, and families can find solidarity, support, and useful tools for navigating some of life’s most terrifying challenges. You’ll hear what it’s like to be the patient and the health advocate—how their roles differed, collided, and ultimately helped them survive […]