The Sick Gaze

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In the kickoff episode of Season 3 of the Sick Gaze, I sit down with Tayler Goectau.

Tayler (she/her) is a young, thin, white woman with medium-length brown hair who is in her 20s and navigating life as a Deaf, Disabled, and Autistic woman. After experiencing neglect, medical gaslighting, and lack of access to quality healthcare and accessibility growing up, she is now a Disability and Accessibility Advocate through her online platform, @distaaybled. She is passionate about raising awareness for conditions such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and comorbidities, rare diseases, and endometriosis while living with a permanent ostomy bag and learning how to thrive in a world not made for disabled and neurodivergent people. Tayler is always striving to break the stigma surrounding disabilities and expand conversations about accessibility. 

In today’s conversation, we explore Tayler’s journey of self-advocacy in healthcare and the power of claiming space. We discuss the challenges of navigating a world that deems her “not disabled enough” for certain accommodations while simultaneously making it impossible to meet the relentless demands of hustle culture. Tayler shares the unseen responsibilities of managing a chronic illness, the emotional and logistical toll of self-care, and the resilience required to push back against a healthcare system that often dismisses women’s pain. We also dive into the importance of speaking up—even when it’s uncomfortable—and the strategies she’s developed to ensure her voice is heard. 

Take care of your spoons! 
If you're interested in being interviewed for this podcast or want to let me know your thoughts on this episode, email me at [email protected] and follow @thesickgazepod on Instagram and Tiktok! 

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In this episode of The Sick Gaze, Amy Weintraub shares how hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) has shaped much of her young adult life. She opens up about the difficulty of surgery after surgery as a young person, the emotional weight of adjusting expectations for both herself and those around her, and the challenges of navigating a healthcare system that often fails to listen to young women. From college struggles to self-advocacy, Amy’s story is one of resilience, adaptation, and the pursuit of a life that honors both ambition and limitation.

Follow Amy as she shares her chronic illness journey on Instagram @amyrosaliee

Take care of your spoons! 
If you're interested in being interviewed for this podcast or want to let me know your thoughts on this episode, email me at [email protected] and follow @thesickgazepod on Instagram and Tiktok! 

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Why is women’s pain so often dismissed, downplayed, or outright ignored? In this special episode of The Sick Gaze, I’m sharing an episode I co-hosted with Emily Currey for WHAT IFF: Intersectional Feminist Futures, where we dive into the long and troubling history of how women’s pain has been misunderstood and mistreated in medicine. The special guest of today's episode is Dr. Sandra Slater, a professor of history and sexuality studies at the College of Charleston. You'll remember her from her previous episode on the podcast, S2 E2: Hard Truths about Chronic Illness, Vulnerability, and Escaping the Victim Mindset.

From the ancient concept of the “wandering womb” to modern-day medical gaslighting, we explore how gender bias, hysteria diagnoses, and systemic failures have shaped the experiences of women and people assigned female at birth seeking care. We also discuss the real-world consequences of this dismissal—delayed diagnoses, inadequate treatment, and the ongoing fight to be believed.

If you’ve ever had a doctor brush off your symptoms or felt like you had to prove your pain was real, this episode is for you. Let’s break down the history, challenge the narratives, and push for a future where all pain is taken seriously.

Take care of your spoons! 
If you're interested in being interviewed for this podcast or want to let me know your thoughts on this episode, email me at [email protected] and follow @thesickgazepod on Instagram and Tiktok! 

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In this episode of The Sick Gaze, we sit down with Bek Meyers, a resilient nonbinary advocate navigating life with cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), scoliosis, and frequent joint dislocations that Bek believes may be Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Bek shares their deeply personal journey, from the trauma of being dismissed during their first ER visit to the lasting impact of medical distrust and their avoidance of healthcare.

We dive into the realities of living with a rare and under-researched illness like CVS, highlighting the systemic gaps that leave patients feeling overlooked and unsupported. Bek candidly discusses the immense pressure to meet school, work, and friendship obligations while managing chronic pain and unpredictable symptoms.

Listeners will gain insights into how Bek copes during CVS episodes and practical ways to support those living with chronic illness. We also explore broader themes of healthcare reform and the urgent need to prioritize the experiences of people with rare and invisible disabilities.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to better understand chronic illness, build empathy, and advocate for a more inclusive healthcare system.

Take care of your spoons! 
If you're interested in being interviewed for this podcast or want to let me know your thoughts on this episode, email me at [email protected] and follow @thesickgazepod on Instagram and Tiktok! 

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In this episode of The Sick Gaze, we talk with Alexis Bennett, a biracial woman living with lupus in the South. Alexis shares her journey of navigating the complexities of chronic illness while advocating for herself in a healthcare system that often overlooks women of color and young people. From recognizing red flags in medical settings to finding her voice during appointments, Alexis offers insights on how she champions her own care. Together, we explore the intersections of identity, geography, and chronic illness, and how Alexis transforms these challenges into strategies for self-advocacy. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on resilience, representation, and reclaiming agency in healthcare.

Take care of your spoons! 
If you're interested in being interviewed for this podcast or want to let me know your thoughts on this episode, email me at [email protected] and follow @thesickgazepod on Instagram and Tiktok! 

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In this episode of The Sick Gaze, Caitlin Edahl shares her journey of living with Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease and how it’s reshaped her understanding of health and self-care. Caitlin reflects on how when she was growing up, she internalized societal stigmas around needing help and viewed illness as something that happened to “other” people. Growing up with a home-remedy, Christian background where conversations about sickness weren't common and the belief in self-reliance was deeply rooted, she found herself hesitant to acknowledge her own health challenges. Since her recent diagnosis of these two conditions, she’s had to navigate the emotional weight of challenging stigmas and learning to prioritize her needs.

Caitlin talks about the physical and mental health effects of her conditions, from managing panic attacks to working through feelings of being a burden. She opens up about the journey of embracing herself as she is—food accommodations, medications, and all—and unlearning the idea that speaking up about her health means being “too much.”

This is a warm, thoughtful conversation about breaking free from internalized shame, embracing your truth, and finding strength in the process of healing.

Take care of your spoons! 
If you're interested in being interviewed for this podcast or want to let me know your thoughts on this episode, email me at [email protected] and follow @thesickgazepod on Instagram and Tiktok! 

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In this episode, we sit down with MM Kibby, a non-binary college student navigating life with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) in Charleston, SC. MM shares the unique challenges they face on campus as someone who uses mobility aids, exploring the concept of dynamic disability.

Dynamic disability refers to a condition that can fluctuate in visibility and impact, meaning that some days may require the use of mobility aids, while others may not. MM opens up about the noticeable shift in how people perceive them based on whether they are seen with or without a mobility aid, highlighting the complex social dynamics and misunderstandings that often accompany invisible disabilities.

We also discuss MM’s relationships and how they navigate expectations—both from others and themselves—as they adapt to life with chronic illness. They share insights into mindset shifts and the self-acceptance journey, illustrating what it means to live authentically while facing ongoing health challenges. This episode offers a powerful reflection on resilience, self-advocacy, and the nuanced realities of dynamic disability.

Take care of your spoons! 
If you're interested in being interviewed for this podcast or want to let me know your thoughts on this episode, email me at [email protected] and follow @thesickgazepod on Instagram and Tiktok! 

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In this episode of The Sick Gaze Podcast, I sit down with Shyla Hernandez, a 21-year-old Hispanic woman navigating life with an undiagnosed neuromuscular condition that brings stroke-like symptoms: mobility challenges, gastrointestinal issues, cognitive difficulties, and more. Shyla shares her journey through the healthcare system in Florence, where she faces repeated dismissal, often seen as just a "young, anxious woman." Together, we explore the challenges she faces not only due to her age and appearance but also because of racial biases that impact her credibility as a patient. Shyla opens up about the painful reality of needing accessibility devices despite not "looking sick" and the gaslighting she endures that makes her doubt her own experiences.

We discuss the exhausting balance of looking “well enough” to be presentable but not so well that her illness is discredited, and the frustration of feeling she can’t express emotion in appointments without it being used against her. Join us for an honest, compassionate conversation about the intersections of gender, race, and invisible illness in a healthcare system that too often overlooks marginalized voices.

Take care of your spoons! 
If you're interested in being interviewed for this podcast or want to let me know your thoughts on this episode, email me at [email protected] and follow @thesickgazepod on Instagram and Tiktok! 

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In this episode of The Sick Gaze, I sit down with Lindsay Wasserman, a resilient 19-year-old navigating life with erythromelalgia and hypermobility. Lindsay shares her experiences as a college student managing chronic pain and physical limitations, all while striving for the “normal” college experience. She highlights the power of meaningful friendships, discussing how friends, even if they don’t fully understand her pain, can learn to recognize and respond to her needs in challenging moments. Lindsay’s story offers a profound perspective on the importance of empathy, patience, and adaptability in supporting loved ones with chronic illness.

Take care of your spoons! 
If you're interested in being interviewed for this podcast or want to let me know your thoughts on this episode, email me at [email protected] and follow @thesickgazepod on Instagram and Tiktok! 

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YOUR CHRONIC ILLNESS FAIRY GODMOTHER HAS ARRIVED!!!!! In one of the most REAL episodes yet, I sit down with Dr. Sandra Slater, a professor of history and sexuality studies at the College of Charleston living with a variety of genetic chronic illnesses that have affected her throughout her whole life. Sandra shares her deeply personal story with many painful conditions, outlining her diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome as a teenager when she showed up to the doctors office with a full chest of hair. The stigma of gender nonconformity left her in shame spirals until she broke free of this mindset and has since embraced the beauty and unique nuances of her body and self. Reframing her sense of self from a "sick person" to a "person with sickness", she reveals how she has managed to break free of what she felt was a limiting mindset to embrace the true diversity of her life. In todays discussion, Sandra skillfully walks us along the line between vulnerability and individual responsibility, as well as grieving the old self versus living in self-pity. She takes us on her journey of acceptance for life's challenges and hardships, letting go of the common "martyr complex", and learning the self-validation that leads to empowerment. 

Thank you to Sandy for a great episode. This is SO relatable for us chronically ill folks, and I wish you were around as my chronic illness fairy godmother when I was first diagnosed!

NOTE: We do speak about female sexuality in this episode! ahhh scary! (Age warning: not for children's ears!) 

Take care of your spoons! 
If you're interested in being interviewed for this podcast or want to let me know your thoughts on this episode, email me at [email protected] and follow @thesickgazepod on Instagram and Tiktok!