Th3 Chronic Lif3

This episode explores nervous system awareness, chronic pain, and emotional health with Dr. Beata Kis. Steve and Dr. Kis discuss grounding, rest, digital overload, and how small habits, laughter, and connection can help us respond to stress with greater self-awareness.This conversation pairs well with practical takeaways and their personal stories, making the topic both useful and relatable.

The system keeps failing people after rehab ends—and Sian Welch’s family built a better one. She shares how her mother turned a gap in spinal cord injury care into a home-like model designed to help people reclaim independence, dignity, and a path forward.

#paratriathlonpioneer #alzheimerscaregiver #alzheimerssucks💜 #dysautonomia #thechroniclife #chronicpain #arachnoiditis #healthadvocate #spoontheory #mindsetshift #dysautonomiasymptoms #mentalclarity #cognitivehealth #HealthAdvocate #brainfog #everydayheroes #flareup #servicedog #alzheimers #caregiver

The system keeps failing people after rehab ends—and Sian Welch’s family built a better one. She shares how her mother turned a gap in spinal cord injury care into a home-like model designed to help people reclaim independence, dignity, and a path forward.

#paratriathlonpioneer #alzheimerscaregiver #alzheimerssucks💜 #dysautonomia #thechroniclife #chronicpain #arachnoiditis #healthadvocate #spoontheory #mindsetshift #dysautonomiasymptoms #mentalclarity #cognitivehealth #HealthAdvocate #brainfog #everydayheroes #flareup #servicedog #alzheimers #caregiver

Toni Will, General Manager of the Kalamazoo Wings, joins Steve Lovelace for a candid conversation about resilience, sobriety, and leadership. Toni shares how triathlon shaped her mindset, how she found her way into professional hockey, and how she’s helping break barriers for women in the sport. They also discuss recovery, the language we use around alcohol, community-focused hockey, and Toni’s six practical leadership pillars. An encouraging conversation about turning challenges into growth and making your own path forward.

Toni Will, General Manager of the Kalamazoo Wings, joins Steve Lovelace for a candid conversation about resilience, sobriety, and leadership. Toni shares how triathlon shaped her mindset, how she found her way into professional hockey, and how she’s helping break barriers for women in the sport. They also discuss recovery, the language we use around alcohol, community-focused hockey, and Toni’s six practical leadership pillars. An encouraging conversation about turning challenges into growth and making your own path forward.

Insurance companies are not on your side and most people find that out too late. Aura Taylor, the founder of Taylor Law Firm and the “Policy Limit Queen,” breaks down how injured people can protect their rights, avoid costly mistakes, and maximize recovery before the insurance company starts steering the conversation.
What makes this conversation stand out is Aura’s personal mission behind the work. She grew Taylor Law Firm from just her and her husband in 2018 to 27 employees across two Georgia offices, built a client-first practice around communication and integrity, and created a model where the firm covers case expenses and never takes more than the client receives. That philosophy was born from watching her father’s catastrophic Firestone tire accident get handled in a way that felt deeply unfair.
You'll discover why you should always speak with an attorney before talking to the insurance company, how adjusters use questions to minimize your injuries, and why even a few weeks of delayed pain can still matter in a claim. Aura also explains the difference between negligence-based claims and true act-of-God situations, what really happens when coverage is too low, and why your policy limits matter more than you think.
We also get into the deeper story behind her success: building a women-led firm, staying grounded while advertising on billboards and radio across Georgia, and balancing a demanding legal career with motherhood, community giving, and a business that keeps growing. Her perspective is sharp, practical, and refreshingly honest - especially if you’ve ever been injured, felt unsure about your rights, or wondered whether hiring a lawyer is really worth it.
Essential listening if you want real-world legal insight without the jargon, and a reminder that the right attorney can make all the difference when your health, finances, and future are on the line.

Takeaways

• Customer service in the legal field
• Empowering women in the workplace Balancing work and home life as an entrepreneur
• The importance of community engagement and philanthropy

Chapters

• 00:00 Establishing Taylor Law Firm
• 01:59 Client-Centered Approach
• 02:56 Ethical Business Practices
• 03:49 Insurance and Legal Advice
• 04:58 Personal Injury Cases
• 06:06 Natural Disasters and Legal Implications
• 07:01 Delayed Onset of Injuries
• 08:09 Seeking Legal Advice
• 08:54 Attorneys and Client Well-Being
• 10:01 Importance of Legal Counsel
• 10:56 Empathy and Legal Action
• 12:11 Legal Responsibility and Accountability
• 13:02 Seeking Medical Attention and Legal Counsel
• 13:52 Understanding Legal Rights
• 14:48 Insurance and Natural Disasters
• 16:00 Delayed Onset of Injuries and Legal Implications
• 17:05 Importance of Legal Counsel
• 18:04 Empathy and Legal Action
• 19:00 Legal Responsibility and Accountability
• 19:58 Seeking Medical Attention and Legal Counsel
• 21:04 Understanding Legal Rights
• 22:01 Insurance and Natural Disasters
• 22:59 Delayed Onset of Injuries and Legal Implications
• 25:27 Balancing Work and Home Life
• 41:23 Community Engagement and Philanthropy

Jason West, a multi-degreed professional, shares his journey from the oil and gas industry to cancer research, focusing on a plant-based cancer drug. He discusses the efficacy of the drug, its clinical trials, and the potential impact on cancer treatment. Additionally, he delves into the nutritional supplement industry and the importance of quality and efficacy in product development. The conversation covers topics such as drug development challenges, innovation, clinical trials, and the impact of drug development on patients. It also delves into the use of natural remedies and the historical context of food and medicine.

Takeaways

• Plant-based cancer drug
• Nutritional supplements and their efficacy Drug development faces challenges with regulatory red tape and high costs
• Innovation in drug development requires a forward-looking approach

Chapters

• 00:00 The Journey to Cancer Research
• 02:44 The Plant-Based Cancer Drug
• 13:26 Nutritional Supplements and Efficacy
• 26:31 Challenges in Drug Development
• 28:08 Innovation and Forward-Looking Approach
• 29:34 Clinical Trials and Patient Impact
• 41:33 Natural Remedies and Historical Context

The conversation covers the shared experiences of living with chronic illness, particularly MS and arachnoiditis, and the resilience and positivity exhibited by the individuals. It also delves into the challenges, coping mechanisms, and the impact of these conditions on daily life. The conversation transitions into a discussion about the book 'Just F'ing Get On With It' and the message it conveys about overcoming adversity and living life on one's own terms. The conversation covers themes of resilience, physical activity, and the impact of chronic illness on daily life. It also delves into the importance of support and the role of pets in providing comfort and companionship. The conversation highlights the need to embrace life despite the challenges of chronic illness and the significance of finding purpose and identity beyond the diagnosis.

Takeaways

• Resilience
• Shared Experiences Resilience
• Physical Activity
• Impact of Chronic Illness
• Support and Companionship
• Embracing Life

Chapters

• 00:00 Shared Experiences of Chronic Illness
• 07:36 The Book 'Just Fucking Get On With It'
• 38:01 Embracing Physical Activity
• 40:10 Finding Purpose and Identity
• 44:26 The Role of Support and Companionship
• 50:43 Navigating Daily Life with Chronic Illness
• 52:24 The Importance of Resilience
• 59:10 Embracing Life Beyond the Diagnosis

Cystic fibrosis does not have to mean giving up your life, your voice, or your future. Nick Kelly - registered dietitian, CF ambassador, speaker, and author, shares the mindset, systems, and hard-won perspective that help him thrive while living with a chronic illness.
Nick and host Steve Lovelace unpack what it really takes to manage CF day to day, from a medication routine that once reached 56 pills a day to the practical habits that keep life moving when your body has other plans. They also get into the deeper story behind Nick's diagnosis, including the family detective work that revealed symptoms doctors missed, the racial bias that delayed answers, and why his experience now drives his advocacy.
You'll discover how Nick bridges the gap between clinicians and patients, why palliative care can be a game changer for chronic illness, and how his framework of passion, purpose, and productivity turns adversity into action. Steve brings his own lived experience as a chronic patient and former clinician, creating a conversation that feels honest, useful, and deeply human.
We break down the reality of CF beyond the textbook definition, including the lung, GI, and nutritional challenges that affect the entire body, the importance of thick skin and adaptability, and why hope is still the most powerful tool for newly diagnosed patients in the era of triple modulator therapies. Nick also shares how he uses books, public speaking, and minority health advocacy to push for better understanding and better care.
If you or someone you love is living with cystic fibrosis, another chronic condition, or the daily burden of being underestimated, this conversation offers both practical insight and a serious boost of perspective. Essential listening for anyone who needs proof that resilience is not just survival, but a way forward.

In this episode of "the chronic life" presented by Arachnoiditis Unfiltered, Steve Lovelace sits down with Axay Shah, the “raw food guru,” to explore how nutrition, energy, and self-awareness can shape health outcomes for people living with chronic illness and inflammatory disease. Axay shares how a personal experiment with raw food in 2009 changed his life, helping him move from low energy and brain fog to feeling stronger, lighter, and more energized. He explains his belief that the human body thrives on plant-based raw foods, and he uses everyday analogies to describe inflammation, energy system dysfunction, and the importance of giving your body the fuel it actually needs.Steve brings his own perspective as a former athlete and someone living with chronic illness, creating a candid, practical conversation about performance, recovery, mindset, and the small daily choices that can either support or sabotage long-term health.

Key topics covered

• Why nutrition matters so much in chronic illness
• How Axay transitioned to raw food
• The role of mindset and self-discipline in lifestyle change
• Inflammation, acidity, and “unhappy cells”
• Energy system dysfunction and ATP
• Why listening to your body matters more than following trends
• Fueling for endurance and marathon training
• Practical raw-food habits, including nuts, fruit, vegetables, and condiments

• Notable takeaways

• Change works best when it comes from self-conviction, not outside pressure.
• The body gives signals: fatigue, cravings, pain, thirst, sleepiness, and those signals matter.
• Energy, not just calories, is central to how the body repairs and functions.
• Even small changes in food choices can shift your relationship with health and wellness.

• Guest

Axay Shah: author of In Nature We Trust, marathoner, public speaker, and advocate for natural health and longevity.

Mentioned in this episode

• In Nature We Trust by Axay Shah
• Kirkus Review recognition
• Publisher’s Weekly / BookLife review
• Dr. Michael Greger
• Dr. Dean Ornish

Axay Shah’s book In Nature We Trust is available on Amazon in digital, paperback, and hardcover formats.