Is it Tara or Tara? Well, if you can't answer that then good luck pronouncing Myasthenia Gravis or Enneagram. Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of it!

This week, Tara (you'll find out) joins us to unravel her intricate journey with Myasthenia Gravis, or MG if that's easier. Diagnosed in 2017, MG did a number on her, snatching away her voice and sapping her muscles—all while remaining an 'invisible' illness to the untrained eye.

Don't count Tara out, though. After an odyssey of treatments, surgeries, and a whole lot of grit, she's up and kicking. She's also taken her voice back in a big way, co-hosting her own podcast, Unpacked, which dives into the messiness of life, from vulnerability to failure, and the things we all need to talk about more.

This episode is a crash course in how to ask for help, set boundaries, and how to find balance amidst trauma, grief, and acceptance. We get into it all—and of course, share some hearty laughs along the way. It's a mouthful of an episode, so hit play and let's trip over some words together!

Join the post-episode conversation over on Discord! https://discord.gg/expeUDN

Myasthenia Gravis: Can You Say That Three Times Fast?!

Sickboy is determined to break down the stigma associated with illness and disease. Join Jeremie, Brian and Taylor as they tackle health taboos with people who have experienced them firsthand. Taking the lead from Jeremie's life long battle with Cystic Fibrosis, the three best friends help us understand that sometimes the best way to deal with illness, disease and life is simply to laugh. 
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Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

This week is all about 4 things. Ambition, Resiliency, Adventure and Poop! Our guest Bradley lives with Crohn's disease and despite facing huge health challenges (including a horrific and lengthy hospital admission) he’s done some wildly impressive things. Bradley crossed the Sahara Desert, swam the English Channel, and even raced 14 dogs in the Iditarod across Alaska. And if that isn’t enough to make you feel like you’ve done nothing with your life, his latest goal is to become an astronaut. Stick around for the wrap up as Jer takes the fellas through one of the most gag inducing medical papers they have come across yet! 
 Catch the full video version of this episode on YouTube! 
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From Daring Dreams to Digestive Drama - Crohn's Disease

Humor isn't just medicine for the soul; it's also a scalpel that dissects the complex anatomy of our mental and physical health. This week Jer and Tay are joined by best-selling author and psychiatrist, Dr. Damon Tweedy.  
 From discussing the stigmas that shadow mental health in marginalized communities to the transformative power of integrating mental health care into everyday medical practice, the conversation covers significant ground. Dr. Tweedy shares his evolution from cardiology to psychiatry, emphasizing the critical role of mental health in medical education and the larger healthcare ecosystem. Stick around for the wrap up, as we continue the mental health talk where Jer shares a real life nightmare where he may or may not have had a psychotic break. Was it intrusive cognitions? Was it a complete psychotic break? Tune in to the end to find out!  Catch the full video version of this episode on YouTube! 
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Black Man in a White Coat Fighting For Mental Health

When the game ends but the battle just begins, former NHL player Daniel Carcillo lays bare the hard-hitting truth about sports concussions and the healing journey beyond the rink. Carcillo joins the fellas for a compelling chat surrounding his intense struggle with mental health following repetitive head trauma and the lack of proactive education and support from the NHL and its Players' Association (NHLPA). Delving deeper, he underscores the necessity of informed consent and advocates for the continuation of physical aspects of hockey, albeit with greater transparency about their risks. Carcillo's personal recovery story transitions into an exploration of unconventional therapies, highlighting his transformative experiences with psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, and their integration with talk therapy. 
 Catch the full video version of this episode on YouTube! 
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The NHL Has A Head Trauma Problem

In a dance designed for two, what happens when the music stops for one? This week Jer and Tay go OG FGF mode. After introducing the newest member of the team, Haeley, Jer delves into the complex world of conjoined twins, particularly focusing on the rare and heartbreaking scenario where one twin dies but the other lives. We explore the various types of conjoined twins and the medical intricacies involved, from shared organs to separate sensations. Modern medicine offers some the possibility of separation, yet for others, like the famed Abby and Brittany Hensel, separation is not a viable option. To cap it all off, a small exploration of the meaning of Glass Child Syndrome. Not a kid that’s fragile, but a kid who feels like people see right through them.  
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What Happens When One Conjoined Twin Dies?

Sometimes, the world we see isn't just defined by light and shadows, but by the stories we tell and the voices we hear. Mara Hutchinson offers the fellas a candid glimpse into her life with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a rare eye disease that affects the retina. She’s lived a journey marked not just by challenges but also by profound resilience. Mara delves into how navigating the world with a white cane (or white stick, depending who you ask) is more than an exercise in mobility—it's a statement of independence and identity. In the wrap, the boys keep the visual disorders going with prosopometamorphopsia. If Picasso was a sociopathic god who designed people, he might have envisioned something like “propsy” as Jer puts it. 
 Catch the full video version of this episode on YouTube. 
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Myasthenia Gravis: Can You Say That Three Times Fast?!

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