The Chronic Truth

Maryanne Peng was six weeks old when she was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare condition where the bile ducts are absent or blocked from birth. She had a Kasai surgery, a procedure that works in roughly 20–25% of cases. Hers worked. Her liver is still her own, still functioning. But surviving the surgery is only the start of what Maryanne has navigated: childhood spent in and out of hospitals, medications that affected her mental health, the transition from pediatric to adult care with no real infrastructure, and years of personal struggle before finding her way back.

Today Maryanne lives in Napa, California, is in recovery, and advocates for living organ donation. She talks with Kim Nash about what biliary atresia actually is, how the Kasai procedure works, the physical experience of living with liver disease, and why she believes the living donor conversation needs to happen far more often than it does.

CHAPTERS/TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to Chronic Illness and Personal Stories

03:11 Understanding Biliary Atresia and Its Impact

05:54 Navigating Childhood with Chronic Illness

09:08 Mental Health Struggles and Drug Addiction

11:54 The Importance of Mental Health Support

15:11 Diet and Lifestyle Choices for Liver Health

17:55 The Journey to Recovery and Advocacy

21:13 Organ Donation and Living Donors

23:53 The Role of Community in Chronic Illness

26:55 Conclusion and Call to Action

CONNECT & RESOURCES

📱 Instagram: @taiwanesewonderwoman
💼 LinkedIn: Maryanne Peng Rodriguez
🌐 Website: Living Donor Registry
 

The Chronic Truth Podcast:
 
🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com
📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast
📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast
💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials
📋 Community Survey: Survey

Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Most patients decline the pharmacy consultation. Dr. Melissa Durham wants you to stop doing that. On this episode of The Chronic Truth, clinical pharmacist and USC Pain Center professor Dr. Melissa Durham talks with Kim about the pharmacist's role in chronic pain management, de-escalating meds, catching dangerous interactions, identifying drugs that have been forgotten about for years, and advocating for patients when the system creates roadblocks. She covers the opioid epidemic's three waves, the unintended consequences of the CDC guidelines, and what you can do right now to get more out of your healthcare team. Find her at @thepainpharmacist on Instagram and thepainpharmacist.com.
 
CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 

00:00 Introduction to Chronic Pain Management

02:54 The Role of Pharmacists in Pain Management

05:48 Navigating the Opioid Epidemic

09:02 The Evolution of Pain Relief Strategies

11:51 The Importance of Medication Management

15:12 Building Relationships with Pharmacists

18:01 Integrating Technology in Healthcare

21:00 The Patient's Role in Their Care

24:05 Conclusion and Resources

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Instagram: @thepainpharmacist
LinkedIn: Dr. Melissa Durham
Website: thepainpharmacist.com
Clinic: USC Pain Center, Los Angeles, CA (Keck Medicine)
 

The Chronic Truth Podcast:
 
🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com
📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast
📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast
💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials
📋 Community Survey: Survey

Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Dr. Malaysia Harrell built her life on achievement Air Force, U.S. Public Health Service, working with the Surgeon General until a 2020 near-death experience left her with sepsis, Bell's palsy, oral chemo, and no idea who she was without her career. On Episode 100 of The Chronic Truth, Dr. Harrell talks with Kim about why high-achieving women burn out behind a mask of success, how trauma collects in the body until the closet gets full, and what surrender actually looks like when you've spent a lifetime in control. Plus: Kim's most personal disclosure yet and the reframe that might change how you see your own story. Find Dr. Harrell at MalaysiaHarrell.com and Blissful Life Consulting at blissfullifeconsulting.com.
 
CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 

00:00 The Burden of Trauma

01:45 Dr. Harrell's Journey to Healing

05:57 Rebuilding Identity After Crisis

09:43 The Impact of Social Media on Success

13:30 Understanding Trauma's Effects on the Body

17:47 Perfectionism and Its Consequences

21:29 Finding Purpose Beyond Perfection

25:33 Empowering the Patient's Voice

29:39 The Importance of Community and Support

CONNECT & RESOURCES

📱 Instagram: @malaysiahharrell
💼 LinkedIn: Dr. Malaysia Harrell
📘 Facebook: Dr. Malaysia Harrell
🌐 Website: MalaysiaHarrell.com
🌐 Business: blissfullifeconsulting.com
🌻 Hidden Disabilities Sunflower: hdsunflower.com
 

The Chronic Truth Podcast:
 
🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com
📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast
📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast
💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials
📋 Community Survey: Survey

Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Nancy Deyo was a Silicon Valley CEO who climbed Kilimanjaro to prove she was still worthy after selling her startup and came down unable to move her legs. What followed was fifteen years of chronic pain, misdiagnosis, three spinal surgeries, fentanyl dependence, and a one-year taper back to life. On this episode of The Chronic Truth, Nancy and Kim talk about what opioid withdrawal actually feels like, why women in pain get referred to psych while men get the painkillers, and what it means to rebuild resilience from the ground up. Nancy's memoir Perilous Ascent is forthcoming. Find her on Substack.
 
CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 

00:00 Introduction to Chronic Pain and Resilience
06:08 The Journey of Climbing Kilimanjaro
11:59 The Struggles with Opioid Dependence
18:09 Gender Bias in Pain Treatment
24:00 Impact on Relationships and Support Systems
30:01 Writing the Memoir and Sharing the Story

CONNECT & RESOURCES

🌐 Website: https://nancydeyo.com
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nsdeyo
🔗 Substack: https://nancydeyo.substack.com
📚 Perilous Ascent — Forthcoming; publisher being finalized at time of recording
 

The Chronic Truth Podcast:
 
🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com
📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast
📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast
💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials
📋 Community Survey: Survey

Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Deanna Steinle was diagnosed with Generalized Myasthenia Gravis at thirty a neuromuscular disease with no cure that can affect every voluntary muscle in the body, including the ability to breathe. Today she's a rare disease advocate, speaker, and the face of the Rare Connections: GMG film produced by Alexion. Deanna and Kim talk about the crisis that led to her diagnosis, the grief of losing the life you planned, and why the people standing next to us matter as much as any treatment. A powerful conversation for every chronic illness community.   
CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 

00:00 Meet Deanna Steinle: Advocating for the GMG Community
02:35 A Late Diagnosis: Deanna's Journey to Understanding Her Symptoms
05:00 Accepting a Life Forever Changed
06:55 What Rare Disease Communities Have in Common
09:05 Inside the Rare Connections GMG Film
12:52 Tools Every Chronic Illness Community Can Use
14:55 Loving on Our Caregivers: The Forgotten Side of Diagnosis
19:34 Where to Watch and Connect with Deanna

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Deanna Steinle:

🔗 Instagram: Resilience is Beautiful
🔗 Facebook: Deanna Steinle
🔗 LinkedIn: Deanna Steinle
🎬 Rare Connections: GMG
 

The Chronic Truth Podcast:
 
🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com
📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast
📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast
💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials
📋 Community Survey: Survey

Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Jan Rothney was a psychology lecturer in health and social care when her body finally shut down completely leaving her bedbound and asleep for nearly a month. Because she already understood the science of what was happening, she knew exactly what to do: stop pushing, celebrate tiny wins, and send safety signals to a brain that had been running on overdrive for a decade. More than 20 years later, she's the author of Breaking Free and founder of Reset to Thrive. In this conversation with Kim Nash, she explains exactly how the brain creates chronic symptoms and what it takes to change that.     

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 

00:00 Introduction to Chronic Illness and Personal Journey

01:55 The Build-Up to Chronic Fatigue

08:48 The Turning Point: Realizing Recovery is Possible

18:59 Practical Strategies for Healing

27:04 The Importance of Support and Community

37:58 Setting Boundaries and Self-Care

47:53 Conclusion and Encouragement for Listeners

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Jan Rothney:

 🌐 Website: resettothrive.co.uk
📱 Facebook: Breaking Free
📱 Instagram: @BreakingFree_recovery
📚 Breaking Free (2nd edition) 
 

The Chronic Truth Podcast:
 
🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com
📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast
📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast
💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials
📋 Community Survey: Survey

Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Erika Conrad-Wess has lived with trigeminal neuralgia since 2004 more than two decades of invisible, relentless facial pain, multiple brain surgeries, and a healthcare system that didn't always believe her. Now the author of Nerve, a memoir of chronic pain, medical trauma, and surviving the healthcare system, she joins Kim Nash on The Chronic Truth to talk about what invisible pain really costs, why you have to become the project manager of your own healthcare, and how she redefined hope when a cure stopped being the goal. Pain doesn't have to be the whole story. But first, you have to be believed.     

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 

00:00 Understanding Chronic Pain and Invisible Illnesses
07:07 The Importance of Empathy in Healthcare
13:51 Navigating the Healthcare System: Advocacy and Self-Care
20:58 Writing as Healing: Erica's Memoir Journey
26:52 Building Support Communities for Chronic Pain Patients

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Erika Conrad-Wess:

 📚 Nerve — Amazon, Barnes & Noble, erikaconradwess.com ⚠️ Verify URL
📱 Facebook: MVD Patient Support | Post MVD Support Group 
 

The Chronic Truth Podcast:
 
🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com
📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast
📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast
💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials
📋 Community Survey: Survey

Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Cancer biologist and TEDx speaker Rebecca Maff, known as the Healthy Biologist, joins Kim Nash on The Chronic Truth to explain the science of how stress feeds chronic disease and what we can do to get ahead of it. From the amygdala's role in immune suppression to AI-powered cancer screening, Rebecca brings real clinical depth to the conversation and keeps it grounded in tools anyone can use today. If you've ever wondered why stress makes you sick, why cancer is hitting younger people faster, or whether AI in healthcare is something to trust, this episode is for you.   

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 

00:00 Introduction to Chronic Illness and Advocacy
01:24 Rebecca's Journey: From Burnout to Wellness
04:46 The Impact of Stress on Health
09:31 Managing Stress: Techniques and Strategies
12:49 Alarming Trends in Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases
16:58 The Role of Data and AI in Healthcare
20:42 Building a Healthier Society
24:44 The Importance of Community and Support

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Rebecca Maff:

 📱 @rebeccamaff on Facebook & Instagram
 

The Chronic Truth Podcast:
 
🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com
📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast
📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast
💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials
📋 Community Survey: Survey

Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Davis Bain sustained a concussion during a soccer game in his senior year of college. Nine prior concussions had healed. This one didn't. Nearly four years later, he still lives with post-concussion syndrome, and he's turned that experience into Chronic Pain Warrior, a compassionate and practical guide for anyone facing chronic pain, illness, or invisible disability. In this episode, Davis joins Kim Nash to talk about what it's really like to live inside an invisible condition, what medical dismissal costs a patient emotionally, and why asking for help specifically and without apology might be the most important thing anyone struggling can do.   

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 

00:00 Introduction to Chronic Illness and Advocacy
02:16 Davis Bain's Journey with Chronic Pain
05:30 Understanding Invisible Disabilities
11:07 The Impact of Medical Dismissal
16:23 Navigating Support and Advice
22:32 Writing 'Chronic Pain Warrior' and Its Purpose
25:55 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Davis Bain:

🌐 chronicpainwarrior.com
 

The Chronic Truth Podcast:
 
🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com
📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast
📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast
💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials
📋 Community Survey: Survey

Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Epilepsy advocate and founder of The Epilepsy Network, Tiffany Kairos, shares her journey through nearly 18 years of living with epilepsy, from an unexpected diagnosis to becoming a beacon of hope for thousands. She and Kim Nash have an honest conversation about seizures, stigma, self-advocacy, and the power of community. A moving reminder that a diagnosis doesn't get to own your life. 

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 

00:00 Living with Epilepsy: A Journey of Resilience
10:01 Community and Advocacy in Epilepsy
20:07 Misconceptions and Stigmas Surrounding Epilepsy
23:23 Empowerment Through Education and Support

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Adison Woods:
📱 @tiffanykairos |  🌐 riseaboveepilepsy
 

The Chronic Truth Podcast:
 
🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com
📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast
📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast
💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials
📋 Community Survey: Survey

Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic