In this episode, Sam sits down with Maisy to unpack what it means to build a life around chronic illness without losing yourself in it. Maisy shares her personal journey through shifting identity, relationships, and the search for community when you exist between able-bodied and chronically ill spaces.

Together, they dive into the emotional and practical realities of asking for accommodations, navigating social media as both connection and comparison, and holding onto self-worth when your body changes the rules. This conversation is an honest look at belonging, resilience, and the power of supportive relationships in the chronic illness world.

In this solo episode, Sam opens up about what it’s like to navigate food-centered holidays while living with gastroparesis. From gatherings built around meals she couldn’t eat to the years when not a single dish felt safe, she shares the emotional weight, the isolation, and the small wins that helped her get through it.

Sam talks candidly about the pressure to “just try a bite,” the guilt of saying no, and the exhaustion of constantly explaining your body to others. She offers real strategies for advocating for yourself with family and friends, setting boundaries without shame, and redefining what participation in the holidays can look like, even when food is off the table.

Whether you’re in a flare, newly diagnosed, or years into your journey, this episode is a reminder that you’re not alone and you don’t owe anyone a bite to belong.

Support Group Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1WJRQIbkRImHKC-p5sEibA

Cookbooks: https://g-pact.org/resources/cookbooks/

In this episode, Sam sits down with Izzy; a chronic illness warrior, marathon runner, and fierce self-advocate. Izzy opens up about navigating multiple chronic illnesses while training for endurance events, and what it took to reframe her mindset from limitation to possibility.

She shares the real challenges behind long-distance running with a complex health journey, how she built a supportive network, and why self-advocacy became non-negotiable. Together, Sam and Izzy explore the power of focusing on what is possible, rather than what isn’t, and how determination and mindset can redefine what strength looks like in a chronically ill body.

Izzy’s story is equal parts honest and hopeful; offering inspiration for anyone living with health limitations and reminding us that goals don’t disappear just because the path looks different.

In this episode, Sam sits down with CarmenRose Fiallo to explore the complexities of living with invisible disabilities, with a focus on chronic migraines. They discuss the pressure to appear “normal,” the stigma that often accompanies hidden conditions, and the emotional toll of being misunderstood or dismissed.

The conversation emphasizes the importance of finding a supportive community, leveraging social media for advocacy and connection, and validating both the good and bad days of life with chronic illness. From communication strategies with friends and partners to the mental health impact of invisible disabilities, this episode highlights the need for understanding, connection, and real conversations about the challenges often hidden from view.

Disclaimer: This episode includes open and honest conversations about sex and intimacy. Listener discretion is advised, and we encourage you to tune in when you feel comfortable engaging with this topic.

Intimacy is about so much more than sex; but living with a chronic illness can make every part of it complicated. In this episode, Samantha chats with Ali DiGiacomo, where they dive into the unspoken realities of intimacy and chronic illness; from navigating medical challenges that affect sexual health to building confidence, self-love, and connection.

They explore why open communication with partners matters, how self-care practices can help reignite desire, and the importance of normalizing conversations about intimacy in the chronic illness community. Whether it’s emotional closeness, physical intimacy, or self-pleasure, this conversation encourages listeners to see sexual well-being as a vital part of overall health.

Because intimacy isn’t just about what happens in the bedroom; it’s about reclaiming confidence, connection, and joy in every form.

Ali's IG: @anotherdaywithra

In this episode, Samantha Cook opens up about her 15-year journey with gastroparesis and the lessons she’s learned along the way. As both a patient and a psychologist, Samantha offers a unique perspective on the importance of mindset, emotional processing, and self-care in navigating chronic illness. She reflects on the role of community support, evolving medical care, and the impact of illness on identity.

Her story is one of resilience, growth, and finding fulfillment despite the challenges of gastroparesis—reminding us that life with chronic illness is not just about survival, but about creating space for joy, connection, and meaning.

website: www.transformative-psych.com

email: [email protected]

Facebook/Instagram: Living Well Pod

Substack: [email protected]

In this episode, Sam and Kristen share an honest conversation about what it means to run with chronic illness and disability. For Kristen, running became a lifeline during a particularly tough health season. Together, they explore the emotional and physical realities of adaptive athletics, from the trial-and-error process of figuring out what works, to the deep mental health benefits that running can offer. Kristen introduces her unique “flag system” for assessing daily readiness, emphasizing how listening to your body is essential in protecting both health and joy.

They also dive into the nuances of language around disability, how the running community can uplift or isolate, and what true inclusion looks like on the course. With insights on nutrition, hydration, gear prep, and pacing, this episode offers practical tips and powerful reminders that healing doesn’t mean returning to your old life—it means building something new, one step at a time.

In this episode, Sam sits down with Dr. Zachary Spiritos, a neurogastroenterologist, to dive into the complex and often overlooked challenges of treating gastroparesis and other GI motility disorders. Dr. Spiritos shares valuable insights on the crucial brain-gut connection and highlights why a holistic, patient-centered approach is essential for managing these conditions effectively.

We get real about the emotional and physical weight gastroparesis drags along; how food anxiety creeps into every meal, the daily juggling act of medications, and how crucial it is to find a doctor you can actually trust. Dr. Spiritos reminds us that no two journeys are the same, and that true healing comes from care that’s tailored to you, not a one-size-fits-all checklist.

The conversation also addresses gaps in current research and clinical guidelines, emphasizing the urgent need for more collaborative and empathetic care models that truly listen to and empower patients.

What happens when chronic gut issues meet the fast pace of the ER? Dr. Rick Pescatore, an emergency physician, joins us to discuss the rising number of patients facing digestive health challenges and the unique barriers they encounter in acute care. We talk about why patient stories matter just as much as test results, and how digital health tools like BellyMD are giving patients the power to track their symptoms, advocate for themselves, and improve communication with doctors. This episode dives into the future of healthcare—where technology, empathy, and patient empowerment come together to create better outcomes.

https://belly-md.com/

In this week’s episode, Sam sits down with Crystal Saltrelli to explore the complexities of living with gastroparesis; moving beyond symptoms to talk about survival mode, identity, and what it means to truly live with chronic illness. They reflect on the emotional toll of daily symptom management, the mental fog of constant stress, and those quiet turning points where surviving turns into self-discovery.

Together, they explore how chronic illness forces a redefinition of self-worth beyond productivity, goals, or who you used to be—and what it takes to embrace the version of yourself that exists with illness, not in spite of it. From journaling and rest to mindset shifts and community connection, Crystal offers insight into the tools and truths that helped her move from surviving to becoming.

This episode highlights the need for open conversations about the emotional and psychological weight of gastroparesis, and advocates for a more holistic, compassionate approach to care—one that recognizes the full scope of the patient experience.If you’re tired, discouraged, or feeling stuck in survival mode, this conversation is a reminder: there’s more to your story, and you are allowed to become someone new in the process.

https://www.livingwellwithgastroparesis.com/about

https://livingwellpod.substack.com/podcast

IG: @csaltrelli