April 07, 2025

Pushing Back: Chronic Illness, Healthcare Advocacy, and the Power of Agency with Dr. Jacob Kendall

52 minutes

What happens when you’ve had two open-heart surgeries before the age of 40, and you’re still fighting the healthcare system—every single day?

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, I’m joined by Dr. Jacob Kendall, healthcare advocate and metagerontologist, to talk about what it means to advocate like hell—for yourself, your loved ones, and the millions of people navigating chronic illness and a broken healthcare system.

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We explore:

- Jacob’s personal experience of having multiple heart surgeries and becoming a caregiver

- How his life led him to multi-dimensional healthcare advocacy

- The harms and complexity of the U.S. healthcare and insurance system

- The internal debate among mental health professionals about whether to accept insurance

- The debate between private and socialized medicine

- The importance of honest conversations with providers and why doctors don’t always have all the answers

- Why Jacob believes self-advocacy, assertiveness, and agency are the most essential tools we have

Jacob speaks with radical clarity and lived experience about the intentional confusion of insurance, the need to normalize chronic disease, and how healing isn’t just medical—it’s emotional, systemic, and deeply personal.

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About Dr. Jacob Kendall

Dr. Jacob Kendall advocates like hell for people living with chronic illness, pain, and disability. Having undergone two open-heart surgeries and served as a caregiver for multiple family members, Jacob brings deep insight into the realities of the U.S. healthcare system.

A metagerontologist with a broad background in biology, social work, public health, and theology, he blends science and soul in his work. Jacob is also the founder of TheSmartPatient.com, where he supports patients in navigating complex health systems and reclaiming their power.

He currently lives on Mobile Bay in Alabama with his wife, son, and daughter.

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Connect with Jacob & Learn More:

🌐 TheSmartPatient.com

💼 Jacob on LinkedIn

Tune in now for a conversation that’s honest, courageous, and full of clarity on what it means to show up for your health—and push back when the system fails you!

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Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below

Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/

Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact

Instagram: @nataliedeering

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By Natalie Deering

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