What happens when culture, bias, trauma, and chronic illness intersect?

In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite, Sam sits down with patient advocate and non profit leader Tina Aswani-Omprakash to chat about her journey living with Crohn’s disease, gastroparesis, and other GI conditions. Tina shares how cultural expectations, healthcare biases, and how unfortunate medical trauma shaped her experiences as a South Asian woman navigating the healthcare system.

Together, they talk about the importance of shared decision-making, culturally sensitive care, and the need to create safe spaces where patients feel seen, heard, and supported. They also talk about the stigma surrounding GI conditions, the role of intergenerational trauma, and why trust between patients and providers is essential for healing.

The conversation dives into food and cultural identity, the challenges of restrictive diets, and the importance of finding dietitians and healthcare professionals who understand diverse backgrounds. Sam and Tina highlight the power of community, vulnerability, and advocacy in breaking down stigma and empowering patients living with chronic digestive diseases.

Whether you're living with Crohn’s disease, gastroparesis, IBD, or another chronic illness, this episode offers hope, validation, and practical insights on navigating healthcare while honoring your identity and lived experience.

Links mentioned in the podcast episode:

https://ownyourcrohns.com/

https://saia-gi.org/

How can patients use artificial intelligence to better understand their health, and should they trust it?

In Part 1 of this conversation, Sam chats with Erika Warren, founder of InsightfulMed, to discuss AI literacy in healthcare and how technology can help patients become more informed advocates for their own care.

Many patients struggle to understand medical records, test results, research studies, and complex healthcare information. Erika shares how InsightfulMed was designed to help bridge that gap by making health information more accessible, understandable, and actionable for patients navigating chronic illness, rare disease, and complex medical conditions.

Together, Sam and Erika talk about the growing role of AI in healthcare, how patients can use technology to ask better questions, and why health literacy is one of the most important tools for improving healthcare outcomes. They also discuss healthcare data privacy, user control, and the importance of transparency when using digital health tools.

Whether you're living with a chronic illness, caring for a loved one, or simply interested in the future of healthcare technology, this episode offers practical insights into how AI can empower patients while protecting trust and privacy.

More info on Inciteful Med: https://incitefulmed.com/

In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite, Sam chats with Amber Tresca of AboutIBD to discuss the realities of living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gastroparesis, and other chronic health challenges. Amber shares her personal journey with J-pouch surgery, navigating life after major medical interventions, and learning how to balance work, health, and personal growth.Sam and Amber talk about the emotional and practical aspects of chronic illness, including managing unpredictability, building supportive communities, protecting mental health, and finding resilience during difficult seasons. They discuss the importance of flexibility, radical acceptance, and creating a life that works with your condition rather than constantly fighting against it.Whether you're living with IBD, gastroparesis, a chronic illness, or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers honest insights, encouragement, and practical wisdom for navigating the ups and downs of long-term health challenges.Where to find more from Amber? IG: @aboutIBDYT: @aboutIBDWeb: www.aboutIBD.comEmail: [email protected]

In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite, Sam sits down with Dr. Sarah Cohen Solomon for a deeply honest conversation about chronic illness, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and what it really takes to build a more humane healthcare system.

Dr. Solomon brings a unique dual perspective as both a physician and a patient, offering insight into the lived reality of navigating chronic illness while practicing medicine. They talk about the complexities of individualized care, the importance of listening to patient concerns, and why curiosity, not assumptions, should guide clinical decision-making.

This episode is about shifting healthcare toward collaboration, where patients are not dismissed, but believed, supported, and involved in their own care decisions. It’s a call for a more compassionate, responsive, and patient-centered medical system.

If you’re living with chronic illness, supporting someone who is, or working in healthcare, this conversation offers grounded insight into how care can be improved through empathy, advocacy, and listening.

In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite, Sam sits down with Maddie, the voice behind Eosinophilic Chick, to talk about what it’s really like living with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE).

Maddie shares her personal journey; from early symptoms and diagnosis to navigating strict dietary restrictions and the reality of starting medication injections. This conversation dives into the physical challenges of managing EOE, as well as the emotional and mental toll that comes with chronic illness.

Together, Sam and Maddie also open up about the fear and frustration surrounding food, and what it looks like to slowly reintroduce foods after periods of restriction. They discuss how these moments can be both physically and emotionally overwhelming, and incredibly meaningful.

Beyond EOE, this episode highlights the importance of advocacy, community, and connection when living with chronic conditions like EOE and gastroparesis. Because no one should have to navigate this alone.

Want to connect with Maddie? Follow her on IG @eosinophilic.chick 

In this episode, Sam sat down with Ruth O’Driscoll to have the kind of conversation most people avoid, but absolutely shouldn’t.They dive into the reality of living with digestive issues, why we need to normalize talking about gut health (yes, even the awkward parts), and how self-tracking can be a powerful tool for understanding your body.Ruthie shares her personal journey with digestive health challenges and how it led her to develop an innovative app, Tuut, designed to make symptom and bowel movement tracking easier, more intuitive, and far less overwhelming than traditional methods. Together, they explore how removing shame and simplifying tracking can help people feel more in control of their health.This conversation also goes deeper, touching on the importance of sleep, self-care, and building a supportive community when navigating chronic digestive conditions. Because managing your health isn’t just about data, it’s about feeling seen, supported, and understood.Meet tuut: the first digestive health app that fits lifestyle tracking into your busy life while providing actionable insights. Log data in seconds and let clinically-informed AI algorithms uncover patterns so you can finally identify triggers and feel better. https://www.tuutapp.net/

In this episode, Casey shares her personal journey living with celiac disease, from diagnosis to the ongoing realities of managing a strict gluten-free diet. She opens up about the challenges of navigating hidden gluten in unexpected foods, the learning curve that comes with dietary restrictions, and the emotional impact that can follow a life-changing diagnosis.

Together, Sam and Casey explore what it really means to live with celiac disease in everyday life; highlighting coping strategies, symptom management, and the importance of self-compassion along the way. They also discuss the emotional weight of food-related guilt, the evolving landscape of gluten-free options, and how access to better products has helped improve quality of life for many in the gluten-free community.

This conversation also emphasizes the power of community support, strong relationships, and self-advocacy when navigating chronic dietary restrictions. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, supporting someone with celiac disease, or simply wanting to better understand gluten-free living, this episode offers validation, education, and hope.

Instagram & TikTok: @collegeceliackc https://www.glutenfreewithcasey.com 

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Sam and Sarah dive deeper into Sarah’s story and how she refused to let gastroparesis define her life.

From the challenges of diagnosis to the daily realities of living with a chronic digestive condition, she opens up about what it truly means to navigate life with gastroparesis. This is not just a story about illness, it’s about resilience, identity, and choosing to keep going even when your body makes it incredibly hard.

We talk about the physical and emotional toll of chronic illness, the isolation that can come with invisible diseases, and how she found strength in the midst of it all. Her journey is a reminder that you are more than your diagnosis.

If you or someone you love is living with gastroparesis, chronic illness, or an invisible disease, this conversation will resonate deeply.

Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is more than just managing symptoms, it’s navigating a healthcare system that often doesn’t understand you.

In this episode of Surviving Out of Spite, Sam sits down with Lara Bloom of the EDS Society to talk about what it really takes to live with and advocate for EDS.

From the long road to diagnosis to the validation that comes with finally being heard, Lara shares her personal journey and the realities so many patients face.

This conversation is honest, unfiltered, and a reminder that patient voices are not just important, they’re necessary.

If you or someone you love is living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare disease, or navigating chronic illness, this episode will make you feel seen, and remind you that you’re not alone.

https://www.ehlers-danlos.com

Ty Gipson has been through more than most; juvenile diabetes, multiple organ transplants, and years of fighting just to stay alive. In this episode, Sam and Ty talk about what it actually looks like to keep going when your body keeps throwing the worst at you.

This isn’t a sugarcoated story. It’s about resilience on the hard days, the mental battles no one sees, and the moments where giving up feels easier, but you don’t. Ty shares how he’s learned to hold onto hope, lean on the people around him, and turn everything he’s been through into something that helps others.

They get into the real stuff: choosing growth when life falls apart, letting yourself feel everything, and why being honest about your story matters, especially in the chronic illness community.

If you’re dealing with chronic illness, transplant recovery, or just trying to survive something really heavy, this one is for you.