Strong Mind Society with Amy Cohen

Lyme disease can hijack your energy, your diet, and your identity, but Sophie Sargent found a way to fight back. From a senior-year diagnosis and brutal fatigue to national advocacy with HHS, she shares the practical, surprising, and deeply personal strategies that helped her reclaim her life. In this episode, Sophie breaks down what Lyme actually looks like beyond the textbook symptoms, including brain fog, food sensitivities, and the emotional toll of trying to keep up with life while your body is struggling. Sophie opens up about the moment she realized her “healthy” diet was making her sicker, the food sensitivity testing that changed everything, and why there is no one-size-fits-all treatment path for chronic illness.

 Sophie also shares the real-world advocacy work happening now, from Project Lyme to plans for children’s education, prevention, and even a potential book to help kids understand what to do when they see a tick. If you’ve ever felt dismissed by doctors, frustrated by confusing symptoms, or overwhelmed by chronic illness choices, this conversation will feel both validating and empowering.

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In this episode, I'm joined by chronic illness advocate and content creator Aria for an honest conversation about what it really means to live with invisible illnesses. Together, we share our experiences navigating diagnoses, advocating for ourselves in the healthcare system, and finding strength through some of life's most challenging moments.

Aria opens up about her journey living with endometriosis, adenomyosis, interstitial cystitis, alopecia, and POTS, and how she's used her story to build a community of more than 12,000 people while reaching over 10 million people worldwide. We discuss the importance of self-advocacy, breaking the stigma surrounding women's health, and creating spaces where people with chronic illnesses feel seen, heard, and supported.

Whether you're living with a chronic illness yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply want to better understand the invisible battles so many people face, this conversation is filled with honesty, hope, and encouragement. You're not alone, and your story matters.

Follow Aria's journey here 💌

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In this episode, I'm joined by Alice Derrig, a lupus advocate from England who is using her voice to raise awareness and support others living with chronic illness. This was such an important episode for me. Being diagnosed at 16, I was not able to connect with others around me who may be living with lupus as well. Meeting Alice has given me a new sense of community, and I am so thankful. 

Alice shares her personal journey of being diagnosed with lupus, the challenges of navigating life with an invisible illness, and how she's learned to adapt while continuing to inspire others. We also talk about the importance of community, self-advocacy, and finding hope through the ups and downs of living with a lifelong condition.

Alice is the creator of the social media platform A Girl's Guide to Lupus, where she shares honest insights, practical advice, and encouragement for people living with lupus and other autoimmune conditions. She was also featured in a BBC documentary, helping bring greater awareness to the realities of living with lupus. Alice is the definition of "Lupus Warrior" and I am so glad that we were able to connect and share our stories.

Whether you're living with lupus yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply want to better understand autoimmune disease, this conversation is filled with c valuable information. I hope you enjoy the episode and take a moment to truly reflect and think about what it may be like to live with a chronic illness.

To the lupus community - you are never alone. I see you, I hear you, and I am here for you💜

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I am so excited to share this conversation with the world. Olivia and I have been planning this for a while now, and we were finally able to make it happen. I have been lucky enough to get to know Olivia through our involvement with the Miss America Opportunity, and I knew that she would be the perfect guest for this episode. 

Olivia Parzick is a neuroscience graduate, healthcare professional, Alzheimer's advocate, speaker, and former collegiate athlete. Her work focuses on the intersection of brain health, resilience, and personal growth, drawing from her experiences in healthcare, scientific research, caregiving, and leadership. Passionate about empowering others to reach their full potential, Olivia shares insights on mindset, discipline, and purpose-driven living while advocating for greater awareness of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive wellness.

I hope you enjoy the episode and gain some insight as to how to keep your brain healthy🧠💜

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In this episode, I sit down with Madison Palisi to talk all things skincare—from building a routine that actually works to the importance of confidence and self-care beyond the surface. We break down common skincare myths, must-have products, and how to listen to your skin instead of following every trend on your feed.

Madison shares her personal skincare journey, tips for maintaining healthy, glowing skin, and how taking care of your skin can be a powerful form of self-love. Whether you’re just starting your skincare journey or looking to elevate your routine, this conversation is filled with practical advice and empowering reminders that beauty truly starts from within.

Tune in for a fresh, honest, and uplifting conversation that will leave you feeling confident in your own skin 💜

Be sure to check out Madison’s social media 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/madisonpalisiesthetics?igsh=ZmQyMWIxNnpzbm0y

Booking Site - https://mysite.vagaro.com/madisonpalisiesthetics

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In this powerful episode, I sit down with Sarah Stockham to talk about resilience, purpose, and what it truly means to rise through life’s challenges. Sarah shares her journey—opening up about the moments that tested her strength and the mindset shifts that helped her move forward with intention.

We dive into the realities of navigating adversity, finding your voice, and using your story to make an impact. This conversation is a reminder that even in the toughest seasons, there is growth, strength, and purpose waiting on the other side.

Whether you’re facing your own challenges or looking for inspiration to keep pushing forward, this episode will leave you feeling empowered and grounded in your “why.”

✨ Tune in for an honest, motivating conversation about perseverance, passion, and turning setbacks into stepping stones

Make sure to connect with Sarah via the links below! 

http://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahstockham

https://instagram.com/sarahstockham

https://www.facebook.com/sarah.stockham.2025/

https://www.youtube.com/SarahStockham

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Happy Thursday! With everything going on in the world, I wanted to take a second to reflect and talk about some strategies to manage performance anxiety and ground yourself. These strategies are not just for performance anxiety, they are for any situation! 

I am also including an opening section with a little life update. There are definitely some exciting things coming… stay tuned✨

In the meantime, please let me know what you want to hear and be sure to check out my socials to write a question for me to answer in next weeks episode💌

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Welcome to my podcast! I’ve been wanting to take this leap for a while and I finally decided to do it! Instead of doing multiple episodes on Instagram reels, I thought a podcast would be easier to access and share across platforms. 

Strong Mind Society is a podcast to share my story, my work with mental performance coaching, my lifestyle, and my journey with pageants and sports. This first episode aims to give a glimpse of my story and share some of the inspiration behind this podcast. I hope you all enjoy🩷

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