The Chronic Truth

When chronic illness enters a relationship, it doesn't ask permission, and no one gives you a manual for what comes next. Lisa Gray is a licensed marriage and family therapist, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patient, and author of Thriving in a Relationship When You Have a Chronic Illness. She joins Kim Nash to talk about why both partners are grieving (just differently), how to stop fighting each other and start fighting the illness together, and what to do when your partner won't accept your diagnosis. Packed with practical tools for newly diagnosed patients, caregivers, and couples at every stage.

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Navigating Chronic Illness and Relationships
07:14 Grief and Acceptance in Chronic Illness
14:06 Communication Strategies for Couples
20:57 Tools for Thriving in Relationships
26:23 Finding the Right Therapist

CONNECT & RESOURCES

🌐 Website: LisaGrayAuthor.com (both books available)
📚 Books: Available on Amazon, independent bookstores, and LisaGrayAuthor.com
📱 Instagram: @LisaGrayMFT (chronic illness content)
🗂️ Find a chronic illness therapist: chronicillnesstherapists.com

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

Production: Podcast Mechanic

Dr. Bruce Gillis spent over a decade proving what too many doctors still refuse to accept: fibromyalgia is a real, diagnosable immune deficiency — not a made-up condition affecting neurotic women. His FM1 blood test, covered by Medicare and most major insurers, gives patients a definitive rule-in diagnosis. His supplement Imbix targets the gut-brain axis and has helped people off wheelchairs, off anti-psychotics, and out of decades of suffering — with zero confirmed adverse effects. This conversation covers fibromyalgia, long COVID, interstitial cystitis, the dangerous drugs the FDA did approve, and why 65 million Americans are still suffering when they don't have to be.

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Understanding Fibromyalgia and Its Prevalence
02:50 The Science Behind Fibromyalgia Diagnosis
06:03 Innovative Blood Tests and Their Impact
08:59 The Role of Immune System in Chronic Pain
12:01 Treatment Options and Patient Experiences
15:01 Challenges with Traditional Medical Approaches
17:58 The Future of Fibromyalgia Treatment
19:26 Understanding Interstitial Cystitis and Diagnosis Challenges
21:56 The Importance of Accurate Testing and Lab Accreditation
23:59 The Mental Health Impact of Chronic Pain
26:59 The Role of Big Pharma in Patient Care
29:56 Empowering Patients with Information and Resources
32:08 Connecting with Dr. Gillis and His Work

CONNECT & RESOURCES

🌐 fm1test.com

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

Production: Podcast Mechanic

Eileen Flynn Wagner survived five Hep C treatments, a near-fatal liver failure, and a transplant she almost didn't live to receive, and eight years later, she's still navigating the aftermath. Her kidneys are now at 20% function, she gets stents replaced every three months, and she carries a partially collapsed lung she's never once felt. She joins Kim Nash to speak candidly about why a combined kidney-liver transplant should have been done from the start, the anti-rejection medications patients aren't fully warned about, and why waking up from surgery turned her into a lifelong voice for organ and tissue donation. 

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Eileen's Journey with Hepatitis C and Transplantation
07:25 The Impact of Interferon Treatment
08:29 The Need for Simultaneous Kidney and Liver Transplants
12:21 Current Health Status and Ongoing Challenges
15:44 Advocacy for Organ Donation
19:31 Life After Transplant: Lessons Learned

CONNECT & RESOURCES

🌐 Organ Donation: organdonor.gov

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

Production: Podcast Mechanic

At 14, Allany Muniz had her first seizure right before freshman year of high school. During basketball tryouts, she had another—and became known as "the seizure girl" for the rest of high school. Years of severe depression, suppressed trauma, and silence followed until a fractured ankle in November 2020 left her bedridden with visions in her head that wouldn't stop. She started filming videos (still under anesthesia) and created Diary of an Epileptic—a platform breaking the stigma around epilepsy's physical and mental toll. She's not a perfect role model, and that's exactly why her story matters.     

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to Epilepsy Awareness
02:00 Alani's Journey with Epilepsy
05:57 The Impact of Epilepsy on Mental Health
10:03 Content Creation as a Healing Tool
11:50 Understanding Treatment and Individual Experiences
16:12 Advocacy and Community Engagement

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Connect with Allany Muniz:

 📺 YouTube: Diary of an Epileptic
📱 TikTok: @DiaryofanEpilepti (without the C at the end)
📷 Instagram: @DiaryofanEpileptic
📧 Email: [email protected] (for those uncomfortable with social media)
💬 DMs Open: Allany responds to direct messages for advice, support, and questions

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

Production: Podcast Mechanic

Your treatment plan is decided before you walk into the doctor's office by an insurance actuary in another city who limits your doctor to 12 drugs. Dr. Kevin Smith, founder of Chronic Condition Center, has spent 25 years proving functional medicine works differently: asking why instead of chasing symptoms, testing 10 thyroid markers instead of just TSH, and investigating toxic load, hormone imbalances, and the 27 anemia patterns traditional medicine ignores. If you've tried all the drugs and you're still stuck, this episode is your roadmap to something different.    

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS

00:00 The Essence of Health and Functional Medicine
09:10 Exploring the Chronic Condition Center
17:00 Understanding Thyroid Health and Testing
22:23 Alternative Approaches to Health and Wellness

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Connect with Dr. Kevin Smith:

🌐 Website: MetabolicSolutions.net 
📋 Free Health Quiz: 2-minute assessment with personalized action plan sent via email (categorizes issues as severe, moderate, or minor) 

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

Production: Podcast Mechanic

Kim Nash was the first baby born to a kidney transplant recipient in the United States and unknowingly contracted Hepatitis C at birth. Diagnosed at 37 with young kids, she faced end-stage liver disease, treatment failure, and crushing depression before a 2014 clinical trial cured her and changed her purpose. Now navigating dystonia, neuropathy, and MS diagnosis while her liver regenerates, Kim shares the raw truth about surviving chronic illness: seeking therapy, starting a gratitude journal with just "a cup of coffee," and discovering that the first battle is in your mind. 

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to the Chronic Truth Podcast
00:47 Kimberly Nash's Personal Journey with Chronic Illness
04:02 Resilience and Hope in the Face of Adversity
05:54 The Power of Positive Thinking and Gratitude

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Connect with Rare Patient Voice:

🎙️ Website: Chronic Truth Podcast
📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast
📘 TikTok: @ChronicTruthPodcast
💬 Share Your Testimony: Testimonials
🎗️ Bonnie Morgan Foundation: Patient advocacy organization (Kim serves as President)

The Chronic Truth Podcast:
 
🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com
📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast
📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast
💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials
📋 Community Survey: Survey
📧 Sign Up: Rare Patient Voice ($120 per hour for participation)

Production Inquiries: Podcast Mechanic

Seven to ten years, that's how long most people wait for an accurate rare disease diagnosis, cycling through treatments that don't work and doctors who've never seen their condition. Pam Cusick, VP of Rare Patient Voice, has built a community of 200,000 patients across 1,500 conditions who get paid $120/hour to shape clinical trials, test medical devices, and ensure research reflects real patient experiences. With over $18 million paid to participants and 300+ active studies, this is how patient voices drive medical progress and get compensated for it.

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Understanding Rare Patient Voice
09:46 The Importance of Rare Disease Day
11:56 The Zebra Symbol and Its Significance

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Connect with Rare Patient Voice:

🌐 Website: Rare Patient Voice (https://rarepatientvoice.com/rp/chronictruthpodcast)
📧 Sign Up: Free registration for patients and family caregivers (all conditions welcome)
📰 Active Studies: View 90+ studies needing participants under "Patients" → "Newsletters" on website
💰 Compensation: $120 per hour for participation
💳 Payment Options: Check (first-time participants), direct deposit, or PayPal (returning participants)
📊 Community Stats: 200,000+ patients and caregivers, 9 countries, 1,500+ conditions
📈 Milestone: Over $18 million paid to participants (as of the end of 2023)   

Resources Mentioned:

• National Institutes of Health (NIH): Rare Disease Day celebration in Bethesda, MD (February 28th) 
• Rare Disease Day Global Awareness: Monument lighting (Empire State Building and landmarks worldwide) 
• Zebra Symbol: "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses—but don't forget the zebras" (rare disease awareness) 
• Previous Episode: CEO Wes interview on Rare Patient Voice (listen for full organizational overview) 

The Chronic Truth Podcast:
 
🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com
📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast
📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast
💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials
📋 Community Survey: Survey
📧 Sign Up: Rare Patient Voice ($120 per hour for participation)

Production Inquiries: Podcast Mechanic

Nine out of ten people with eating disorders never receive specialty care. They're sitting right next to you, walking wounded in a diet culture designed to keep them that way. Eating disorder dietitian Jessica Setnick has spent 28 years uncovering the intergenerational food stories, unconscious childhood rules, and emotional programming that drive disordered eating long before anyone thinks to ask for help. From the language to use when a friend is struggling to the childhood circle exercise that reveals exactly why you eat the way you do, this conversation brings eating issues out of the shadows and into the light, where healing can actually begin.   

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Understanding Eating Disorders and Self-Perception
02:50 The Role of Upbringing in Eating Habits
05:47 The Impact of Diet Culture on Eating Behaviors
09:11 Healing Your Inner Eater: A New Approach
12:03 Intergenerational Patterns and Food Relationships
15:10 Navigating Crisis in Eating Disorders
17:56 Supporting Loved Ones with Eating Issues
21:46 The Importance of Professional Help

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Connect with Jessica Setnick:

🌐 Website: JessicaSetnick.com (newsletter signup available on homepage) 🌐 Program: HealingYourInnerEater.com (workbook + online program waitlist) 📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Instagram: @UnderstandingNutrition
📘 Facebook: Jessica Setnick
📚 Healing Your Inner Eater Workbook: $15 with code PODCAST at HealingYourInnerEater.com (instant eBook download, printable)  

Resources Mentioned:

• Healing Your Inner Eater Workbook: HealingYourInnerEater.com — Use code PODCAST for $15 digital download
• Eating Disorders Bootcamp: Jessica's professional development training for hospital staff and healthcare providers
• Key Statistic: Only 1 in 10 people with eating disorders ever receive specialty eating disorder care — 9 in 10 go undiagnosed and untreated
• Finding Help: Ask your primary care doctor for an eating disorder dietitian or counselor referral; telehealth options are also available

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

Production: Podcast Mechanic

After healing her multiple sclerosis naturally over 20 years, Christine Ruch discovered the missing piece that no diet, supplement, or lifestyle change could address: nervous system dysregulation. Her journey from Boulder holistic chef to transformation guide reveals why emotional capacity matters as much as nutrition, how unconscious patterns keep us sick, and the radical difference between forcing healing through rules versus trusting your body's innate wisdom. For anyone managing MS, autoimmune disease, or compounding chronic conditions, this conversation offers hope beyond the pill bottle.  

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS

00:00 The Journey of Self-Healing
03:11 Awakening to Deeper Healing
10:50 Understanding the Nervous System's Role
15:05 Transforming Emotional Landscapes
20:17 Building Trust with Your Body
25:07 The Non-Linear Path of Healing
30:04 Creating a Safe Space for Healing

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Connect with Christine Ruch:
🌐 Website: ChristineRuch.com
📝 Substack: Writing on the healing path and holistic transformation (linked from website)
📱 Instagram: @christineruch.ms (podcast links, articles, and select content)
📞 Book a Call: Free discovery calls available at ChristineRuch.com
💬 WhatsApp Mentorship: 3, 6, and 9-month immersions with 24/7 nervous system support 

Resources Mentioned:

• McDonald's Criteria for MS: Diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis (referenced by host Kim Nash)
• Costa Rica Healing Experience: Transformational nervous system work with two healers (2022)
• Holistic Nutrition & Celiac Disease: Christine's entry point to natural healing (2006)
• Nervous System Regulation: Vagus nerve work and dysregulation patterns in autoimmune conditions

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

The day Maye Jepson's son called from a psychiatric hospital in California with a schizophrenia diagnosis, everything changed. Over 20 years later, she's transformed that fear into fierce advocacy—co-presenting Crisis Intervention Team training with Jason, founding Parenting Through Mental Illness, and giving parents the hope and practical tools they desperately need. From becoming a "trust partner" to knowing when to call the police, Maye shares what actually works when serious mental illness enters your family. 

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Navigating Mental Health Challenges
06:28 The Journey Begins: Diagnosis and Initial Reactions
12:41 Building a Support System
18:38 Crisis Intervention and Law Enforcement Training
20:10 Managing Schizophrenia: Treatment and Recovery
26:15 The Importance of Community and Education
32:00 Finding Hope and Moving Forward

CONNECT & RESOURCES

Connect with Maye Jepson:
Maye Jepson - Licensed Counselor (Master's Degree in Counseling), National Mental Health Advocate, NAMI Co-Presenter
📘 Facebook: Parenting Thru Mental Illness
📝 Jason Jepson's Writing: Amazon

Resources Mentioned:

• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): NAMI.org - Parent support groups, educational programs, family-to-family courses, CIT training for law enforcement 
• Mental Health America: mhanational.org - National organization providing mental health resources, screening tools, and advocacy 
• Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training: Week-long specialized training for police officers on de-escalating mental health crises and working with individuals experiencing psychiatric emergencies 
• NAMI South Carolina: namisc.org - State affiliate offering local programs and police department training
  
  

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