Loose Joints, Tight Deadlines

Positivity isn’t about pretending everything’s fine—it’s about finding the strength to keep going when it isn’t. In this episode, we talk about what positivity looks like in the messy world of student life and invisible challenges like hypermobility. From mindset shifts to little moments of joy, this one’s a soft pep talk wrapped in practices that help me stay optimistic. So grab your sketchbook or settle in for a pause—you deserve a little light today.

What’s better than some unhinged feedback on your existence? In this episode, I’m sharing some of the wildest and weirdest things professors and peers have said to me, including the now-iconic “It looks like you got hit in the head with a shovel.” We’ll enjoy time fueled by the crazy things that I have had people say to me over the years.

What’s in your studio bag? From paint pens to palette savers, ribbon to wrist braces, this episode dives into the sheer chaos of making art with joint instability. Aisy walks through the highs and hurdles of setting up a college studio through working from bed and in the costume shop, optimizing a shared living room, and dreaming of a future studio with natural light, accessible storage, and, of course, tea. Whether you’re a fellow spoonie artist or just nosy about studio set-ups, this episode shares it all.

Traveling while bendy? Aisy shares the chaotic, hilarious, and often painful truth about traveling with hypermobility—plus hacks for packing, pacing, and protecting your joints from airport floors and European stairs.

In this episode of Loose Joints, Tight Deadlines, we’re taking a deep dive into the world of hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)—two conditions that affect the connective tissues in the body and, for many, every part of daily life. Whether you're newly diagnosed, still searching for answers, or just curious about what it means to live with a body that’s a little too bendy, this one's for you.

We’ll cover:

• What hypermobility and HSD actually are (spoiler: it’s not just “being flexible”)

• How EDS affects everything from joints to digestion

• The wild world of comorbidities like POTS, MCAS, and chronic fatigue

• The frustrating diagnostic process and tips for self-advocacy

• How to manage symptoms and find support

Tune in for real talk, lived experience, and a bit of humor about life in a body that feels like it skipped the stability update.

This week on Loose Joints, Tight Deadlines, we're tackling the ever-complicated question of balancing ambition with actual, physical limitations—spoiler alert: rest wins. Join me as I unpack the pressure to “do it all,” especially as a student with hypermobility, and the consequences of pushing too hard for too long (hello, flare-ups).

I’ll share my experience juggling too many activities during winter term, how drawing and weight training became a perfect storm for burnout, and what I wish I’d done differently. We’ll talk strategies for pacing, what to consider when building a sustainable schedule, and why guilt-free rest isn’t just self-care—it’s survival.

If you’ve ever felt bad for canceling plans, skipping a workout, or taking a nap instead of being “productive,” this one’s for you. Grab some tea, get cozy, and let’s normalize rest like our joints depend on it—because they literally do.

In this very first episode of Loose Joints, Tight Deadlines, I’m taking you through my journey as a student artist with hypermobility. From falling in love with oil painting to pushing my body past its limits, I share how an art competition led to an unexpected injury, a months-long recovery, and ultimately, my hypermobility diagnosis. I'll talk about the highs and lows of working through chronic pain, the moment I realized I could still create, and why I’m no longer afraid to embrace my mobility aids. If you’ve ever had to adapt your passion to your body’s needs, this one’s for you.