hi hello hey, grab your emotional support item of choice and cuddle up with us!

Life is challenging, period. Inspired by the podcast A Beautiful Mess by sisters Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman, we’re diving into the little things that bring us comfort. We all have go-to comforts in stressful times or when we just need a boost, whether it’s a nostalgic movie, an immersive hobby, a favorite album, or grounding ourselves in faith. We’ve shared plenty of favorites and things that make us happy before, but this time we’re talking about our true lifelines.

And with all this talk of hard times, we’ve got a big (and exciting!) update: Cass will be training with her successor guide dog when this episode comes out!! That means we’ll be taking a short hiatus until she and her brand-new partner in crime are ready to share their training story with the podience. Stay tuned on our socials to know when we’ll be back on the reg.

Until then, learn more about guide dogs and keep us in your rotation as your comfort podcast (we hope!).

Sending you all the comfort vibes until we’re back.

hi hello hey: let’s get fit!!

In over 125 episodes across five years, we’ve somehow never devoted a full episode to fitness… until now! In the past few years, we’ve truly found a love for moving our bodies, and today we’re sharing our fitness journeys from childhood sports to the workouts keeping us active now.

We might not be the sportiest girlies, but we like to think we’re athletic at heart. We’ll talk about what motivates us, how our routines have evolved, and why fitness has taken on new meaning in our lives. So grab your AirPods and walk, jog, lift, or stretch along with us!

Got thoughts, questions, or suggestions? Our inbox is always open at [email protected] and we’d love to hear from you!

hi hello hey, happy FIVE YEARS of Rare with Flair!

As wild as it feels to say, it’s true: we’ve changed in the five years since we started this podcast. To celebrate our fifth podaversary (!!!), we’re reflecting on the ways we’ve grown. Some shifts are small, and others are in how we approach big things like disclosing, advocating, and accepting help.

We truly wouldn’t be here without you, our amazing listeners. Whether you just found us or have been with us since our pandemic origins, thank you for being part of this journey. We’d be yapping into the void without you!

Have thoughts, questions, or feedback? Drop us a line at [email protected]; we just might answer on the pod!

And while you’re at it, check out our past podaversary episodes, including our very first episode from July 2020!

hi, hello, hey, we’re talking all about guide dogs today! 🦮

Over the years, we’ve gotten lots of requests to make an episode all about guide dogs. Whether you’re seriously considering one or just curious about what it takes to get a working dog, this episode is for you!

We’ve talked about canes plenty, and even compared pet dogs and guide dogs before, but we never dedicated a full episode to the topic, mostly because Cass is the one with experience, having worked with a guide dog for about eight years (now retired!), while Case hasn’t.

So in this slightly atypical episode, Cass takes the lead and shares everything from how to know if a guide dog is right for you, to how to choose from the nearly 15 guide dog schools in the U.S.—each with their own unique approach and vibe. She also walks through the application process at Guide Dogs for the Blind and gives a peek into the incredible training that goes into preparing a dog to become a guide.

Got more guide dog (or non-guide dog) questions? Send them our way at [email protected] and we just might answer them in a future episode!

Want more cane or dog talk? Check these episodes out!

hi hello hey, ready to get cozy with us??

Longtime listeners know that personality quizzes hate to see us coming. We’ve always loved them, even as kids! So when Cass recently stumbled upon her old American Girl quiz books, we knew we had to bring them to the pod.

In this episode, we each take a quiz from one of the three vintage books and find out just how well these throwback quizzes really know us. Spoiler: some results are spot on!

And! The day this episode drops (June 24th) is Cass’ 28th birthday! Want to wish her a happy one or send us a question for a future episode? We’d love to hear from you at [email protected].

Check out our other personality quiz related episodes:

hi hello hey, ready for some representation?

A few years ago, we did an episode all about disability representation in media (with one of the greatest episode titles in Rare with Flair history), focusing specifically on blind characters in animated and live-action shows and movies. Since then, we’ve come across even more disabled characters (not just with vision impairments!) that we’re excited to talk about and rank for authenticity.

This time around, we’re expanding our scope, and with that comes the understanding that many of these characters represent disability communities we’re not part of, like the Deaf community. While we can’t speak for those experiences, we’ll still share our perspectives as members of the broader disability community and approach each portrayal with curiosity and care.

We had lots of fun talking about animated and live-action characters, but even included a book and toy, too! Did we miss any characters you love (or hate)? Send us an email at [email protected] and we’ll talk about it on a future episode!

hi hello hey, we’re exhausted but invigorated!

We know we say “this is a special episode” a lot (because, honestly, every episode is special to us). But this one really is: it’s only the third time in Rare with Flair history that we’ve recorded almost entirely in the same room!

If you’re new here, you might’ve thought we always record together, but nope! With Case in Tennessee and Cass in Ohio, we’re usually recording from separate states. This time, against all odds (and at the cost of some sleep), we managed to capture a semi-thorough recap of our time at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) conference in San Francisco!

This was Cass’s third ATS conference with the Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS) Network, but it was Case’s first. The conference is a huge opportunity to connect with researchers, biotech and pharma reps, and organizations who can help us push toward a cure for the pulmonary fibrosis many people with HPS develop.

There’s a lot of advocacy, booth-running, and behind-the-scenes hustle, and we’re pulling back the curtain to let you in on all of it. We hope you enjoy our chaotic, sleep-deprived, heart-filled recap of this fulfilling, jam-packed week!

hi hello hey, it’s time for a little catch up on what we’re into lately!

Once or twice a year, we like to take a minute (or an hour) to catch you guys up on what we’ve been up to aside from going to the Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome conference and talking all things disability.

On this edition of “What Are We Into Lately?,” we talk about the books, music, TV shows, hobbies, and lifestyle changes that have occupied our year thus far. Spoiler alert: we’re each other’s biggest influencers, and we fill you in on all the things one of us recommended that the other one has tried and loved.

Have an idea for a future episode or want to comment on something we’re into? You can always send us an email at [email protected], and we’ll answer it on the next episode (if you want us to, of course!).

hi hello hey, let’s go to the doctor!

It’s been a hot minute since we did an episode on chronic health, but we’re BACK and ready for action!

On this episode, we’re diving into what it really means to be your own advocate in the healthcare system, especially when you have a rare disease and a vision impairment.

From the constant parade of specialist appointments to the exhausting task of explaining your condition to every new doctor (yes, we’ll gladly spell it… again), we’re sharing our lived experiences navigating medical systems that often aren’t built with us in mind.

This episode pairs perfectly with a couple of others from our archive:

hi, hello, hey—grab your popcorn, because it’s conference time!

As many of you know, we’re two best friends with the same rare disease, living our best lives. We truly wouldn’t be friends without Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome—or without this incredible conference. It’s where our friendship began, and where we reconnect with our amazing community year after year.

We love soaking up the latest research from rising stars in science, catching up with familiar faces, and yes… there’s always some singing involved. Since we (Case & Cass) live in different states, this conference is also one of the rare times we get to hang out in person, making it extra meaningful.

This year’s conference had a different vibe from previous ones, but it was still special in its own way. Come along as we recap the highlights!

P.S. Don’t miss our episodes from past conference years, too!

We love getting mail from our listeners! This week, we’re sharing an excerpt from an email we received from Jeff L., a professor of cello at Texas Tech University who has low vision. He included a link to his YouTube channel, and we were especially wowed by his performance of Bach’s 5th Cello Suite where you can see him using assistive tech glasses to read his sheet music, and his talent truly blew us away.

We’re so grateful to Jeff for sharing not only his music but also what the podcast has meant to him. It really means the world to us!

Got a story to share, a topic to suggest, or just something cool you want to tell us? Email us anytime at [email protected], and if you’re cool with it, we might read it on the show!