Long Covid Hope Podcast

In this episode, Sarah speaks to Eden Bryne about her experience as a young person with Long Covid and how that has not held her back from considerable advocacy and campaigning activities. Despite having Long Covid with Chronic Fatigue presentation, Eden has won a national award and co-authored an article in the Lancet journal! Eden describes her experience getting ill while at school and how that affected her GCSE and A Levels, and led to taking a year out of her studies for her health. She explains how much Long Covid Kids has helped her and how she has supported the charity's activities and given talks about Long Covid in children and teenagers. Eden is now beginning a new online degree with the Open University, we discuss reasonable adjustments to ensure her success with her course, as well as comparing in-person studies to online for people with disabilities. Eden is such an inspiration and we wish her the best with her course!

Would you like to share your hopeful story of Long Covid? Do you have anyone in mind who has a great recovery journey to share? ⁠Then get in touch!⁠

Become a Patreon member to support the Long Covid Hope Podcast's advocacy and support efforts. All Patreon members get early access and get lots of perks such as full video episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope

Links:

Eden in the Lancet Journal: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(23)00348-6/abstract

Eden's National Award for Philanthropy: https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/belfast-woman-honoured-national-award-30469149

Eden's Podcast Sports for All: https://www.bethechangemedianetwork.com/our-podcasts/sports-for-all/

Sarah's Healing and Wellness Mentorship Programme:

www.sarahevans.co/wellness-coaching

Long Covid Hope Podcast webpage: ⁠www.sarahevans.co/podcast⁠

Long Covid Hope Podcast on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope⁠

Yoga Sanctuary Space Membership - designed and suitable for people with Long Covid, POTS, ME/CFS and more: ⁠www.sarahevans.co/online-yoga-membership⁠

Disclaimer: please note that Sarah or any of the guests speaking on this podcast are not health professionals and this does not constitute medical advice. Always speak to your doctor before starting any new treatment or exercise programme.

Thanks for listening to the Long Covid Hope Podcast, the podcast that tells the more hopeful stories of those with Long Covid. In this unmissable episode, Sarah is joined by Chimére L. Sweeney, commonly known as Chimmy, a first waver who is an outspoken advocate, phenomenal writer and speaker, and is the self proclaimed 'OG of Black Long Covid advocacy'. Featured on CNN. PBS, ABC, NBC and many more news outlets, and a prolific writer who has a chapter in the Long covid Survival Guide, edited by Fiona Lowenstein, Chimmy now has her own podcast and Substack blog: The Blackest Side of Long Covid. Chimmy and Sarah have quite a freewheeling conversation on many important topics - she is brilliant to listen to and we are delighted to have her - so enjoy!

Would you like to share your hopeful story of Long Covid? Do you have anyone in mind who has a great recovery journey to share? ⁠⁠⁠Then get in touch!⁠⁠⁠

Become a Patreon member to support the Long Covid Hope Podcast's advocacy and support efforts. All Patreon members get early access and get lots of perks such as full video episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope

Links:

Chimmy's website: https://www.chimereladawn.com/about

Chimmy's Substack: https://theblackestsidelc.substack.com/

Chimmy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chimereladawn/

Long Covid Hope Podcast webpage: ⁠⁠⁠www.sarahevans.co/podcast⁠⁠⁠

Long Covid Hope Podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope⁠⁠⁠

Yoga OnDemand Membership - designed and suitable for people with Long Covid, POTS, ME/CFS and more: ⁠⁠⁠www.sarahevans.co/online-yoga-membership⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: please note that Sarah or any of the guests speaking on this podcast are not health professionals and this does not constitute medical advice. Always speak to your doctor before starting any new treatment or exercise programme.

Thanks for following the Long Covid Hope Podcast, the podcast that tells the more hopeful stories of those with Long Covid. In this episode, Sarah is joined by Leela O'Brien, a NASA scientist and AI engineer, who was floored by severe LC that that significantly impaired her gross motor and cognitive function. After a grueling start to her illness, Leela describes how she found that seeking her joy no matter what, and viewing being in nature as a sanctuary was essential to her healing. She describes the importance of meditation and how Joe Dispenza's guided meditations in particular were a lifeline to her. Fortunately, whilst not fully recovered as she still has a few lingering tremors etc, Leela has recovered to the capacity that she now assists others with their healing journeys. She articulates the explorer mindset she uses with her clients and her Four C's concept of Curiosity, Creativity, Courage and Connection.

Would you like to share your hopeful story of Long Covid? Do you have anyone in mind who has a great recovery journey to share? ⁠⁠Then get in touch!⁠⁠

Become a Patreon member to support the Long Covid Hope Podcast's advocacy and support efforts. All Patreon members get early access and get lots of perks such as full video episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope

Links:

Leela's Coaching Service website: https://www.leelaobrien.com/coaching

Leela's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leelaeobrien

Long Covid Hope Podcast webpage: ⁠⁠www.sarahevans.co/podcast⁠⁠

Long Covid Hope Podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope⁠⁠

Yoga OnDemand Membership - designed and suitable for people with Long Covid, POTS, ME/CFS and more: ⁠⁠www.sarahevans.co/online-yoga-membership⁠⁠

Disclaimer: please note that Sarah or any of the guests speaking on this podcast are not health professionals and this does not constitute medical advice. Always speak to your doctor before starting any new treatment or exercise programme.

In this episode of the Long Covid Hope Podcast, the podcast that tells the more hopeful stories of those with Long Covid, we have on Dr Carissa Conrad, Doctor of Physical Therapy Therapeutic Pain Specialist, and Health & Wellness Coach. 

Carissa describes her own recovery journey from Long Covid, from severe fatigue and being bedbound and housebound. We discuss how challenging that is as a parent and how her parents assisted in providing childcare support. Carissa goes on to tell us all about the parasympathetic nervous system and how the vagus nerve is so crucial to recovery. As a trained PT and doctor, she provides invaluable insights and demonstrates her own recovery due to using a tens machine. We discuss how listeners can also seek assistance from this.

Would you like to share your hopeful story of Long Covid? Do you have anyone in mind who has a great recovery journey to share? ⁠⁠Then get in touch!⁠⁠

Become a Patreon member to support the Long Covid Hope Podcast's advocacy and support efforts. All Patreon members get early access and get lots of perks such as full video episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope

Links:

Dr Carissa Conrad's website: https://carissaconraddpt.com/

Carissa's TENS machine: https://carissaconraddpt.com/product/vagus-nerve-stimulation-kit/

Carissa on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTvO_UwJ0WMv26s1L099Hig

Long Covid Hope Podcast webpage: ⁠⁠www.sarahevans.co/podcast⁠⁠

Long Covid Hope Podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope⁠⁠

Yoga OnDemand Membership - designed and suitable for people with Long Covid, POTS, ME/CFS and more: ⁠⁠www.sarahevans.co/online-yoga-membership⁠⁠

Disclaimer: please note that Sarah or any of the guests speaking on this podcast are not health professionals and this does not constitute medical advice. Always speak to your doctor before starting any new treatment or exercise programme.

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Alisha Braswell to hear about her full recovery story from Long Covid. From three years' sick to now helping others with Long Covid - this is an unmissable episode! Alisha describes her journey from getting sick in 2021, to a re-infection making the Long Covid worse the following year. We discuss various interventions that were not too helpful, before Alisha describes her turning point was when she discovered the TMS mind-body work of Dr. Sarno, Dr. Howard Schubiner and Rebecca Tolin, and a book by Louise Hay. Alisha and Sarah also get into how they both found Reiki through the Long Covid journey and how it has helped them.

Would you like to share your hopeful story of Long Covid? Do you have anyone in mind who has a great recovery journey to share? Then get in touch!

Become a Patreon member to support the Long Covid Hope Podcast's advocacy and support efforts. All Patreon members get early access and get lots of perks such as full video episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope

Links:

Alisha's website: https://alishabraswell.com

Long Covid Hope Podcast webpage: www.sarahevans.co/podcast

Long Covid Hope Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope

Yoga OnDemand Membership - designed and suitable for people with Long Covid, POTS, ME/CFS and more: www.sarahevans.co/online-yoga-membership

Disclaimer: please note that Sarah or any of the guests speaking on this podcast are not health professionals and this does not constitute medical advice. Always speak to your doctor before starting any new treatment or exercise programme.

Welcome to Season 4 of the Long Covid Hope Podcast. We are back with a bang, with a truly incredible interview with George Brill, a first waver who recently experienced full recovery from Long Covid after 4-5 years. In this episode, George describes his personal experience with Long Covid, from a place of very high fitness and activity to full bed rest. He describes his research-focussed way of approaching the illness, and how he has eased back into his PhD studies and later physical activity through data and analysis. And then, we discuss his absolutely incredible return to full health, with his sponsored 'End to End' walk for the Long Covid Support charity. Not for mere mortals - this walk is 2,650km long (1,646 miles) and obviously Sarah asks him quite a few questions on how he accomplished this insane feat! Truly this story is an incredible one - and clear to all that full recovery is possible at any stage. Keep the hope alive.

Would you like to share your hopeful story of Long Covid? Do you have anyone in mind who has a great recovery journey to share? ⁠Then get in touch!⁠

Become a Patreon member to support the Long Covid Hope Podcast's advocacy and support efforts. All Patreon members get early access and get lots of perks such as full video episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope

Links:

George's 2021 Article about going from Ultra running to Ultra of chronic illness: https://run-ultra.com/news/long-covid-when-the-game-of-ultra-becomes-real-life/

George's Just Giving Website for the End to End walk for Long Covid Support: https://www.justgiving.com/page/george-brill-1?

George's Instagram with spectacular walk photos: https://www.instagram.com/georgebrill_/

George's Long Covid Recovery Resources pdf: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13ZRktVD6uKETYrwzGHobqujRgtrkiO2F/view?usp=drive_link

Long Covid Hope Podcast webpage: ⁠www.sarahevans.co/podcast⁠

Long Covid Hope Podcast on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope⁠

Yoga OnDemand Membership - designed and suitable for people with Long Covid, POTS, ME/CFS and more: ⁠www.sarahevans.co/online-yoga-membership⁠

Disclaimer: please note that Sarah or any of the guests speaking on this podcast are not health professionals and this does not constitute medical advice. Always speak to your doctor before starting any new treatment or exercise programme.

Welcome to Season 4!

This is the Season 4 opening episode, featuring a dedication in honour of Ondine Sherwood, a shining light in the Long Covid community and founder of Long Covid SOS charity, who sadly passed away earlier in 2025.

In this brief episode, Sarah describes who is coming on the podcast this Season and the main themes that arise. The first interview episode comes out Friday 14th November with Charlie Brill.

Keep the hope alive!

Become a Patreon member to support the Long Covid Hope Podcast's advocacy and support efforts. All Patreon members get early access and get lots of perks such as full video episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope

Links:

Ondine Sherwood's obituary: ⁠https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/18/ondine-sherwood-obituary⁠

Long Covid SOS Charity: ⁠https://www.longcovidsos.org/⁠

Long Covid Hope Podcast webpage: ⁠⁠www.sarahevans.co/podcast⁠⁠

Long Covid Hope Podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope⁠⁠

Yoga OnDemand Membership - designed and suitable for people with Long Covid, POTS, ME/CFS and more: ⁠⁠www.sarahevans.co/online-yoga-membership⁠⁠

Disclaimer: please note that Sarah or any of the guests speaking on this podcast are not health professionals and this does not constitute medical advice. Always speak to your doctor before starting any new treatment or exercise programme.

In this special bonus episode, Sarah explains what's been happening with her and her decision to move away from Long Haul Yogi as a brand name, to use her own name: Sarah Evans.

Sarah is now recruiting and actively recording for Season 4 of the Long Covid Hope Podcast! Would you like to share your story? Do you have anyone in mind who has a great recovery journey to share? Then get in touch at www.sarahevans.co/contact-me

Become a Patreon member to support these advocacy efforts and get lots of perks such as full video episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope

Links:

Long Covid Hope Podcast webpage: www.sarahevans.co/podcast

Long Covid Hope Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope

Sarah's new website: www.sarahevans.co

Yoga OnDemand Membership - designed and suitable for people with Long Covid, POTS, ME/CFS and more: www.sarahevans.co/online-yoga-membership

Disclaimer: please note that Sarah or any of the guests speaking on this podcast are not health professionals and this does not constitute medical advice. Always speak to your doctor before starting any new treatment or exercise programme.

Welcome to the final episode of Season 3 of the Long Covid Hope Podcast! In this episode, we are joined by Giorgia Lupi, an award winning Italian information designer and partner at a NYC design firm Pentagram. Giorgia caught Covid in March 2020 and developed Long Covid, which worsened after vaccinations and also a reinfection in 2022.

Giorgia has painstaking recorded all of the data around her symptoms and recovery journey, which formed the basis of the incredible Op Ed for the New York Times she did, 'My Life with Long Covid' covering 1374 days of Long Covid - and becoming a celebrity in long hauler circles in the same moment! She has since recovered a great deal and is sharing her recovery story with me in this episode. You can also find her discussing this in her recent TED Talk 'What Long Covid Taught me about Life (And Data)'.

This episode is also infused with Reiki from Sarah. If you are interested and would like to accept the healing, simply state out loud that you welcome the healing energy. If not, never mind!

Links:

Giorgia Lupi's Op Ed 'My Life with Long Covid' in New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/12/14/opinion/my-life-with-long-covid.html
Giorgia's 1374 Days of Long Covid: https://giorgialupi.com/1374-days-nyt-visual-oped
Giorgia's Moleskin Foundation Piece: https://giorgialupi.com/moleskine-foundation
TED Talk 'What Long Covid Taught me about Life (And Data)' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFl9kFms7nA&ab_channel=TED

Disclaimer: please note that Sarah or any of the guests speaking on this podcast are not health professionals and this does not constitute medical advice. Always speak to your doctor before starting any new treatment or exercise programme.

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Jon, a railroad professional located in Northern England. Jon caught Covid quite dramatically at a friend's wedding in late 2020 and he developed fatigue, POTS, myocarditis, cognitive impairment and exercise intolerance as part of his Long Covid condition. Jon caught Sarah's eye as he was sharing online how he was returning to exercise with long hikes in the Peak District and had recovered 90-95% of his pre-Covid baseline. In this episode, Jon explains how he has reached this point in his recovery and what he looks forward to in future.

Did you know that the full video episode is available for our Patreon Members? Patreon members receive the full episode without any ads a whole week in advance, alongside many other member benefits including the Long Covid Hope Support monthly Zoom call. Check it out: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/LongCovidHope⁠⁠

This episode is also infused with Reiki from Sarah. If you are interested and would like to accept the healing, simply state out loud that you welcome the healing energy. If not, never mind!

Links:

Jon on Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/Wright1983Jon/⁠

Disclaimer: please note that Sarah or any of the guests speaking on this podcast are not health professionals and this does not constitute medical advice. Always speak to your doctor before starting any new treatment or exercise programme.