Real Talk with Melody

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of abuse, suicide, trauma and mental health issues.

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Episode 15 of Real Talk with @butyoudontlooksickofficial and @arizonalindseymusic

On this weeks episode of Unfiltered Friday’s, Arizona and I dive into the depths of our brains. Arizona, a mental health advocate, and I discuss the lives of mental illness patients, she and myself included. The struggles are daily constants: not being able to sleep, pain, fatigue, lack of concentration and focus, mental fog… and the tendency to blame ourselves for our symptoms. We discuss this difficult cycle of mental health symptoms and the self-blaming response. We think its’ partially accredited to the heavy stigmas on mental illness which is at the point even patients invalidate their own conditions. While the burden of symptoms are not our faults, Arizona and I talk about our realizations that individuals do have control over our persons, even when our body and brains are telling the opposite. We discuss how we just wanted our suffering to end, and how we got to a point where we could cope with our conditions and advocate for others.

We hope that by sharing this honest episode, it helps others who deal with these symptoms and illnesses realize they are not alone.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please reach out to someone you trust. 

Help is available. 

USA National Suicide Hotline 800-273-8255

About the Guest:

Fearlessly open and raw, Arizona Lindsey exposes her own story of trauma and rebirth from the ashes through her music and mission. From homelessness to winning the Gold Coast Arts Center’s 'Your Big Break' Competition, Arizona represents resilience and tenacity as she uses her platform to de-stigmatize mental health. She shatters the expectations of the world with an unconventional approach to life as she survives on self-expression and encourages others to embrace their uniqueness. Empowering through a pop-country sound and vulnerable fraught lyrics, Arizona Lindsey leaves nothing unsaid in her new album The Process; now available on all music platforms.

You can follow Arizona on instagram @arizonalindseymusic or visit www.arizonalindsey.com/

About the host:

Melody is a social media influencer and founder of the non-profit "But You Don't Look Sick."

After battling a rare neurological disorder for 7 years, she decided to show the realities of what it's like to live with an invisible illness and advocate for the better treatment of patients. She has successfully created a program centered on assisting both those who are diagnosed and going through the diagnostic process.

You can follow Melody on instagram @butyoudontlooksickofficial or visit our website at www.butudontlooksick.com

Edited by: Kristen @birdbearhealth

Final Listen: Taylor @plottwistparenting

Podcast Manager: Bella @itsbellawhit

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of "But You Don't Look Sick." the staff, or other contributors. The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely on information on this website as a basis for making decisions. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your current medical routine.

Episode 12 of Real Talk with @butyoudontlooksickofficial and @findyourrare

On this week’s episode, Kristine and I, both individuals with internet-reliant businesses, discuss what the reality of being chronically ill and online is. Our discussion focused on the online communities and the issue of competition between individuals with both chronic illness/disability/etc and a platform. Oftentimes, we’ve found in our efforts to collaborate with those individuals that there is an uncomfortable amount of a sense of competition, rather than comradery and support. We don’t quite understand that mentality! We both agree that anyone’s success in our community is a success for us as well. Kristine and I talk about our diagnostic journeys and how in medicine, every process is a circle. In our businesses, both she and I’s goal is to be able to change the shape of the medical process for patients- to one more centered on the patient. After all, who is the medical business helping, if not for the patients?

About Our Guest:

Dealing with the diagnostic journey for several years to find an answer, two years later found her believed diagnosis is actually a misdiagnosis, and back through the process she goes! Kristine’s passion was found in the most difficult stage of any chronic patient, when one has the illness but doesn't know the diagnosis. Looking for answers to her illness and finding none, she decided to create the resource she needed for herself: RARE. Now, RARE is a popular retail company for chronically ill individuals to have both representation, community, and a resource. Inclusive to all ailments: chronic, disabling, degenerative, mental, invisible- RARE is a collective company for all patients.

Check Kristine and RARE out @findyourrare

About The Host: 

Melody is a social media influencer and founder of the non-profit "But You Don't Look Sick." After battling a rare neurological disorder for over 7 years, she decided to show the realities of what it's like to live with an invisible illness and advocate for the better treatment of patients. You can follow Melody on instagram @butyoudontlooksickofficial or visit our website www.butudontlooksick.com

Edited by: IZ @iz_indelicato

Final Edit: Taylor @plottwistparenting

Podcast Manager: Bella @itsbellawhit

--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/melody-olander/support

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of "But You Don't Look Sick." the staff, or other contributors. The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely on information on this website as a basis for making decisions. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your current medical routine.

Episode 11 of Real Talk with @butyoudontlooksickofficial and @autieselfcare

In this week’s episode, Izzy and I discuss what it was like for Izzy to not be diagnosed with autism until she was 18 years old and why women are less likely to be diagnosed. Izzy shares her personal experience of struggling without a diagnosis throughout her life and all the times she felt isolated. Izzy shares how all the pieces finally started making sense when she was diagnosed at 18. We discuss what the signs were that made Izzy look into a diagnosis and how different life might’ve been if she was diagnosed earlier. Listen to this weeks episode to learn more about autism, masking, and how you can be more supportive to your loved ones with autism.

About our guests:

Izzy is an advocate and social media influencer sharing the realities of what it’s like to have autism while living in a neurotypical world. Izzy shares insightful tips and advice while covering topics such as, mental health & autism, sleep & autism, things to know if dating an nautistic person, book recommendations and more! You can follow Izzy on instagram @autieself

About the host:

Melody is a social media influencer and founder of the non-profit "But You Don't Look Sick." After battling a rare neurological disorder for 7 years, she decided to show the realities of what it's like to live with an invisible illness and advocate for the better treatment of patients. She has successfully created a program centered on assisting both those who are diagnosed and going through the diagnostic process.

You can follow Melody on instagram @butyoudontlooksickofficial or visit our website at www.butudontlooksick.com

Podcast Manager: Bella @itsbellawhit

Audio Editor: Kristen @birdbearhealth

Final Listen/Edits: Taylor @plottwistparenting

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of "But You Don't Look Sick." the staff, or other contributors. The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely on information on this website as a basis for making decisions. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your current medical routine.

Episode 10 of Real Talk with @butyoudontlooksickofficial @sofia.supichaya and @kace_face1

On this weeks episode we discuss what it's like being business women while juggling multiple invisible conditions. 

Friends in business and illness. This weeks’ guests Sofia and Kacie are connected in both. All three of us are businesswomen with a combination of chronic illnesses that affect our daily lives.  With entrepreneurship, it’s oftentimes working five jobs while having the title of one; the three of us couldn’t agree more! We shared some collective experiences of being a disabled woman in an able-bodied field, from total lack of accessibility to the difficulty of peers not understanding how we perform our jobs if we are “actually” sick.

The three of us discuss the importance of the understanding that disabled people are full people too. We are performers, people who are passionate about their careers, artists, business owners, and continue to do this work DESPITE the illness at hand. Even on symptomatic days, the painful days, the unfathomable days, we continue to be full people who seek fulfillment from our careers. Navigating the healthy career world is not easy, and the three of us are not shy talking about the reality of it.

Life with a chronic illness is a balance. Kacie, Sofia and I talk about how oftentimes we are feeling punished for doing work we are proud of, and what the “right way” to be in pain is. We conclude that the truth is: the way you are in pain is the right way. Sofia, Kacie, and I all share experiences trying to translate what illness is actually like to those who have never experienced it themselves, and how much more could be done if the healthy world took the time to learn about chronic illness and disability.

About the Guests:

Sofia is a business owner for a swimwear line called IMME swimwear along with a marketing agency and photography business

You can find Sofia through the correlated links above or on Instagram: @sofia.supichaya

Kacie is a fashion model, artist, writer, and marketing consultant

You can find more information about Kacie through her website or on Instagram: @Kace_face1 or Tiktok: @Kace_face1

About the host:

Melody is a social media influencer and founder of the non-profit "But You Don't Look Sick."

After battling a rare neurological disorder for 7 years, she decided to show the realities of what it's like to live with an invisible illness and advocate for the better treatment of patients. She has successfully created a program centered on assisting both those who are diagnosed and going through the diagnostic process.

You can follow Melody on instagram @butyoudontlooksickofficial or visit our website at www.butudontlooksick.com

Edited by: IZ @iz_indelicato

Final Listen: Taylor @plottwistparenting

Podcast Manager: Bella @itsbellawhit

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of "But You Don't Look Sick." the staff, or other contributors. The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely on information on this website as a basis for making decisions. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your current medical routine.

Episode 9 of Real Talk with @butyoudontlooksickofficial, @Sticksy617, and @itsbellawhit

In this week’s episode, Sticksy, Bella, and I, all public advocates and influencers, have a discussion about our experiences working within our communities- and the reality that comes with public advocacy. When discussing chronic illness and mental health regularly in our work, all three of us have shared experience dealing with the turbulence as individuals who speak very candidly on our experiences. From algorithmic censorship to abled-bodied audiences critiquing our advocacy, we’ve dealt with it all, and are here to laugh about it all. Speaking with Sticksy and Bella, it was a refreshing perspective to take a moment to look at the problems within the space. Most conversations surrounding disability and illness, whether it be mental or physical, has been primarily centered on the translation in-between the healthy world and disability. But, the reality is there is a broad spectrum of issues, from micro to macro.

About our guests:

Sticksy is a massively successful influencer, boasting over 750,000 followers on TikTok. Diagnosed with Asperberger’s, BPD, EDS, and symptoms of Marfan’s, Sticks takes a fresh approach to advocacy. Both blunt and hysterical, he has contributed greatly, providing a needed perspective in the constantly developing world of chronic illness. With platforms full of honest content, opinions, commentary, and humor, Sticksy is not afraid to say what needs to be said.

You can find Sticksy on TikTok and Instagram at @Sticksy617

You may recognize Bella Whit from episode 6, “You’re Not Immune to Dying”. Now also our podcast manager, Bella is a social media influencer who focuses on raising awareness on EDS and the process of being undiagnosed and undertreated after taking years to be diagnosed herself. She uses and plays on her own experiences to share her often humorous, messy, life since her onset of symptoms. Bella’s content focuses on connecting the world of the chronic and the healthy, making the processes that come with disability accessible to everyone.

You can follow Bella on Youtube, TikTok and Instagram @itsbellawhit

About the host:

Melody is a social media influencer and founder of the non-profit "But You Don't Look Sick."

After battling a rare neurological disorder for 6 years, she decided to show the realities of what it's like to live with an invisible illness and advocate for the better treatment of patients. She has successfully created a program centered on assisting both those who are diagnosed and going through the diagnostic process.

You can follow Melody on instagram @butyoudontlooksickofficial or visit our website at www.butudontlooksick.com

Edited by: Kristen @birdbearhealth

Final Edit: Taylor @plottwistparenting

Podcast Manager: Bella @itsbellawhit

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of "But You Don't Look Sick." the staff, or other contributors. The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely on information on this website as a basis for making decisions. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your current medical routine.

Episode 8 of Real talk with Diana G. and @butyoudontlooksickofficial

In this Mother's Day episode I talk with my mom about her perspective of my medical journey. We discuss how scary it is when you first become sick and the learning curve that comes with a chronic illness. 

About The Host: 

Melody is a social media influencer and founder of the nonprofit "But You Don't Look Sick." After battling a rare neurological disorder for over 6 years, she decided to show the realities of what it's like to live with an invisible illness and advocate for the better treatment of patients. You can follow Melody on instagram @butyoudontlooksickofficial or visit our website www.butudontlooksick.com 

Edited by: Kristen @birdbearhealth

Final Edit: Taylor @plottwistparenting

Podcast Manager: Bella @itsbellawhit

--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/melody-olander/support

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of "But You Don't Look Sick." the staff, or other contributors. The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely on information on this website as a basis for making decisions. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your current medical routine.