Made Visible

In Fall 2020, when I launched the Made Visible Writing Class, the editors at Health Magazine held a contest for my class participants. At the end of class, they selected one essay to publish on their website. Today's episode features the winner of the contest, Rita Maureen Thompson and her essay, "POTS Is an Illness Causing Fatigue, Rapid Heartbeat, and Nausea—Here's What It's Like to Live With It."

The next Made Visible Writing Class begins on May 4th. Space is limited to keep the group intimate, and a few spots have already filled. To apply and learn more, click here.

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I'm excited to be talking with my dad, Harry Spero, for this final episode of the podcast. We talk about how Job's syndrome has impacted my life from childhood to the present, how he and my mom have supported me in different ways throughout my life, and his impression of me as a person who is resilient and determined. My dad told me between Episode #30 and #40 that he wanted to interview me on Episode #100, and I'm so thrilled to be able to celebrate 100 episodes with him as my guest.

Learn more about my dad, Harry Spero and check out the show notes here.

Apply for the Made Visible Writing Class here

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Support for this episode comes from Lily CBD. Lily CBD's hemp-based CBD oil offers an alternative way to nurture yourself, and can be especially beneficial for relieving anxiety and inflammation. Because Lily CBD focuses on small, single-farm harvests, more nutrients are able to make their way into each bottle. Think of it like a glass of beautiful natural wine from a small family vineyard. Click here to try Lily CBD for yourself and use code madevisible at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.

It was only a couple years after Trish Gauthier's son had been diagnosed with leukemia that she received her own diagnosis: breast cancer. Even though she had just had her physical and everything had looked great, Trish knew that something was off in her body. On today's episode, Trish talks to me about how she's advocated for herself and her son through their journeys with illness, her determination to find a community, and her advocacy for equity in the medical system (and how we can all do our part).

Learn more about Trish and check out the show notes here.

Apply for the Made Visible Writing Class here

Follow Made Visible on Instagram.

We want to learn more about you! Tell us about you and what got you listening to Made Visible here.

Support for this episode comes from Lily CBD. Lily CBD's hemp-based CBD oil offers an alternative way to nurture yourself, and can be especially beneficial for relieving anxiety and inflammation. Because Lily CBD focuses on small, single-farm harvests, more nutrients are able to make their way into each bottle. Think of it like a glass of beautiful natural wine from a small family vineyard. Click here to try Lily CBD for yourself and use code madevisible at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.

As founder of #HalftheStory, Larissa "Larz" May is focused on an invisible struggle we're all facing: our relationship with technology. Larz became aware of her own unhealthy relationship with social media during college, when she was experiencing challenging symptoms of depression and anxiety. On today's episode, Larz and I talk about her mental health journey, why she's passionate about digital wellbeing, and her work with #HalftheStory, which aims to empower the next generation's relationship with technology.

Learn more about Larz and check out the show notes here.

Follow Made Visible on Instagram.

We want to learn more about you! Tell us about you and what got you listening to Made Visible here.

Support for this episode comes from Lily CBD. Lily CBD's hemp-based CBD oil offers an alternative way to nurture yourself, and can be especially beneficial for relieving anxiety and inflammation. Because Lily CBD focuses on small, single-farm harvests, more nutrients are able to make their way into each bottle. Think of it like a glass of beautiful natural wine from a small family vineyard. Click here to try Lily CBD for yourself and use code madevisible at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.

Sign up for the Made Visible Writing Class here: https://harperspero.com/madevisiblewritingclass

When Felicia Stingone talks about her brother, who has bipolar disorder, it's clear how important this relationship is to her. She sees her brother as a person, not as his illness. As she starts to write a book about her experience as a "caring sibling" to her brother, she embraces that her story is both of their stories. On today's episode, we talk about how Felicia is navigating the writing process, what she means by "caring sibling," and her advice to people who have loved ones managing menta

Learn more about Felicia and check out the show notes here.

Follow Made Visible on Instagram.

We want to learn more about you! Tell us about you and what got you listening to Made Visible here.

Read the blog post about my decision to end Made Visible after 100 episodes here.

Support for this episode comes from Betterhelp. Betterhelp is an online counseling service that matches you with a licensed professional therapist. No matter where you are in the world, Betterhelp lets you schedule video and phone sessions with your therapist, or even text them. Plus, they'll work with you to find a counselor you love. It's not self help, it's better help. Take 10% off your first month of Betterhelp by visiting https://betterhelp.com/madevisible

Elizabeth Tikoyan didn't always share her health story the way she does now. Diagnosed with Lyme disease in high school, she was very aware of the stigma around having a health condition. On today's episode, Elizabeth tells me about her journey to get diagnosed, and how misdiagnosis after misdiagnosis led to her symptoms reaching a chronic stage. We talk about how she navigated college, why she founded Riley App (a patient networking app) and her decision to start putting her story out in the world.

Learn more about Elizabeth and check out the show notes here.

Follow Made Visible on Instagram.

We want to learn more about you! Tell us about you and what got you listening to Made Visible here.

Support for this episode comes from Betterhelp. Betterhelp is an online counseling service that matches you with a licensed professional therapist. No matter where you are in the world, Betterhelp lets you schedule video and phone sessions with your therapist, or even text them. Plus, they'll work with you to find a counselor you love. It's not self help, it's better help. Take 10% off your first month of Betterhelp by visiting https://betterhelp.com/madevisible

For creative arts therapist Stephanie Omens, it's all about storytelling--even in the most challenging of circumstances. She works with children who have illnesses or who have parents or siblings who are ill, and it's her job to help them understand what they're experiencing. On today's episode, Stephanie talks about why white lies don't serve kids and why truth telling empowers them, how she uses story and play in her practice, and how she's helping kids and parents understand life during the pandemic.

Learn more about Stephanie and check out the show notes here.

Follow Made Visible on Instagram.

We want to learn more about you! Tell us about you and what got you listening to Made Visible here.

Support for this episode comes from Betterhelp. Betterhelp is an online counseling service that matches you with a licensed professional therapist. No matter where you are in the world, Betterhelp lets you schedule video and phone sessions with your therapist, or even text them. Plus, they'll work with you to find a counselor you love. It's not self help, it's better help. Take 10% off your first month of Betterhelp by visiting https://betterhelp.com/madevisible