Real Talk with Melody Melody Olander

Episode 17 of Real Talk with @butyoudontlooksickofficial and @shegotthepink
On this weeks episode we discuss how most people don't realize you get out of social media what you put into it. We talk about the importance of creating a social media community that vibes with your views and restrict posts that cause negative emotions. We also discuss our experiences with therapy and all the different kinds of therapies available to try. Therapy isn't a one size fits all approach, and it can take a while to find the right therapist/technique for you.
About the Guest:
Taylor Steinbeck is a content creator and digital illustrator based in the Bay Area who enjoys creating feminist illustrations with the aim of empowering others to cultivate a practice of radical self-compassion. Her passions lie in the intersection of social justice, mental health awareness, and the femme aesthetic.
You can find more information about Taylor on Instagram @shegotthepink
About the host:
Melody is a social media influencer and founder of the non-profit "But You Don't Look Sick."
After battling a rare neurological disorder for 7 years, she decided to show the realities of what it's like to live with an invisible illness and advocate for the better treatment of patients. She has successfully created a program centered on assisting both those who are diagnosed and going through the diagnostic process.
You can follow Melody on instagram @butyoudontlooksickofficial or visit our website at www.butudontlooksick.com
Edited by: Kristen @birdbearhealth
Final Listen: Taylor @plottwistparenting
Podcast Manager: Bella @itsbellawhit
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of "But You Don't Look Sick." the staff, or other contributors. The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely on information on this website as a basis for making decisions. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your current medical routine.

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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/melody-olander/support

Episode 16 of Real Talk with @butyoudontlooksickofficial and @tee_spoonie
Neither myself or this week’s guest, Tee, saw what was headed our way in public advocacy. On the search for a community, Tee in one tweet started the creation of their own community. Now boasting over 18,000 followers, Tee has broadened and improved the people surrounding their platform. Tee and I relay our experiences that started simply expressing ourselves online, and in turn were able to create a space for people like us.
However, as I know well through But You Don’t Look Sick, that is often no easy task. From ableism to “life coaches” and trolls, Tee and I have dealt with every sort of person online. While the impact our spaces provide for other chronically ill individuals is invaluable, we agree it doesn’t make handling the harshness of public advocacy any easier. We discuss how we balance our mental health and the platforms, and how seldomly a feed will reflect a person’s true situation.
About the Guest:
Teona Studemire is a queer multi-disabled content creator. They specialize in writing different topics surrounding disability, sex education, positivity, neurodivergency, mental health and their intersections with Blackness. They became disabled in 2017 upon the development of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis alongside their Autism and ADHD.
In 2020, they found their voice and rekindled their love for writing and thus her website, TeeSpoonie was born. Through this website, Teona writes on various topics in the hopes of helping others find their voice, educating those on their misconceptions about disability, neurodivergence, etc. In their freetime, Teona streams video games on Twitch with the goal of creating a cozy and accessible space where everyone is safe to be themselves.
You can find more information about Tee at https://teespoonie.com/ or on Instagram & Twitter @tee_spoonie
About the host:
Melody is a social media influencer and founder of the non-profit "But You Don't Look Sick."
After battling a rare neurological disorder for 7 years, she decided to show the realities of what it's like to live with an invisible illness and advocate for the better treatment of patients. She has successfully created a program centered on assisting both those who are diagnosed and going through the diagnostic process.
You can follow Melody on instagram @butyoudontlooksickofficial or visit our website at www.butudontlooksick.com
Edited by: Kristen @birdbearhealth
Final Listen: Taylor @plottwistparenting
Podcast Manager: Bella @itsbellawhit
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of "But You Don't Look Sick." the staff, or other contributors. The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely on information on this website as a basis for making decisions. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your current medical routine.

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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/melody-olander/support

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of abuse, suicide, trauma and mental health issues.

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Episode 15 of Real Talk with @butyoudontlooksickofficial and @arizonalindseymusic

On this weeks episode of Unfiltered Friday’s, Arizona and I dive into the depths of our brains. Arizona, a mental health advocate, and I discuss the lives of mental illness patients, she and myself included. The struggles are daily constants: not being able to sleep, pain, fatigue, lack of concentration and focus, mental fog… and the tendency to blame ourselves for our symptoms. We discuss this difficult cycle of mental health symptoms and the self-blaming response. We think its’ partially accredited to the heavy stigmas on mental illness which is at the point even patients invalidate their own conditions. While the burden of symptoms are not our faults, Arizona and I talk about our realizations that individuals do have control over our persons, even when our body and brains are telling the opposite. We discuss how we just wanted our suffering to end, and how we got to a point where we could cope with our conditions and advocate for others.

We hope that by sharing this honest episode, it helps others who deal with these symptoms and illnesses realize they are not alone.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please reach out to someone you trust. 

Help is available. 

USA National Suicide Hotline 800-273-8255



About the Guest:

Fearlessly open and raw, Arizona Lindsey exposes her own story of trauma and rebirth from the ashes through her music and mission. From homelessness to winning the Gold Coast Arts Center’s 'Your Big Break' Competition, Arizona represents resilience and tenacity as she uses her platform to de-stigmatize mental health. She shatters the expectations of the world with an unconventional approach to life as she survives on self-expression and encourages others to embrace their uniqueness. Empowering through a pop-country sound and vulnerable fraught lyrics, Arizona Lindsey leaves nothing unsaid in her new album The Process; now available on all music platforms.

You can follow Arizona on instagram @arizonalindseymusic or visit www.arizonalindsey.com/



About the host:

Melody is a social media influencer and founder of the non-profit "But You Don't Look Sick."

After battling a rare neurological disorder for 7 years, she decided to show the realities of what it's like to live with an invisible illness and advocate for the better treatment of patients. She has successfully created a program centered on assisting both those who are diagnosed and going through the diagnostic process.

You can follow Melody on instagram @butyoudontlooksickofficial or visit our website at www.butudontlooksick.com



Edited by: Kristen @birdbearhealth

Final Listen: Taylor @plottwistparenting

Podcast Manager: Bella @itsbellawhit

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of "But You Don't Look Sick." the staff, or other contributors. The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely on information on this website as a basis for making decisions. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your current medical routine.


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/melody-olander/support

Episode 14 of Real Talk with @butyoudontlooksickofficial and @noel_elie
Noel and I both deal with multiple illnesses, as a significant amount of chronic patients do. We talked about the oftentimes complicated balance of life between the conditions, personal advocacy for our healthcare, full schedules, and mental health. The balance is not simple, but we discuss this balance further and how to prioritize your health and self amidst the sea of needs. Noel and I discussed our experiences in constantly having to advocate for belief, medicine, proper care, or even just the bare minimum in the medical system like many patients do. Chatting with Noel we related so much in our experience, and after covering a wide range of topics I'm sure our listeners this week will have something to relate to as well.
About the Guest:
Noel Elie is an Actress, Filmmaker, Wellness Advocate and the CEO of the world renown production and PR company, Noel Elie Productions. Noel is a storyteller and content creator and enjoys partnering alongside wellness brands with a giveback initiative and helping entrepreneurs receive massive exposure through PR, Social Media, and Events. Her company also specializes in book launch campaigns and helping authors become New York Times Best Selling Authors. In the last couple of years she was diagnosed with Lyme Disease, Co-Infections, Mold Toxicity and multiple Fibroid Tumors and is on a mission to heal herself from the inside out and as holistically as possible. 
Stay in touch by following her on instagram @noel_elie or visit her website www.noelelieproductions.com
About the host:
Melody is a social media influencer and founder of the non-profit "But You Don't Look Sick."
After battling a rare neurological disorder for 7 years, she decided to show the realities of what it's like to live with an invisible illness and advocate for the better treatment of patients. She has successfully created a program centered on assisting both those who are diagnosed and going through the diagnostic process.
You can follow Melody on instagram @butyoudontlooksickofficial or visit our website at www.butudontlooksick.com
Edited by: Kristin @birdbearhealth
Final Listen: Taylor @plottwistparenting
Podcast Manager: Bella @itsbellawhit
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of "But You Don't Look Sick." the staff, or other contributors. The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely on information on this website as a basis for making decisions. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your current medical routine.

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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/melody-olander/support

Episode 13 of Real Talk with @butyoudontlooksickofficial and @fabulous.and.fatigued
About the Guest: 
Sara is a writer and runs a page called Fabulous and Fatigued where she talks about life with fibromyalgia, depression, and anxiety. Sara didn't always have these conditions until one day when she was hit by a car in highschool and started experiencing irriversable symptoms. 
About The Host: 
Melody is a social media influencer and founder of the nonprofit "But You Don't Look Sick." After battling a rare neurological disorder for over 7 years, she decided to show the realities of what it's like to live with an invisible illness and advocate for the better treatment of patients. You can follow Melody on instagram @butyoudontlooksickofficial or visit our website www.butudontlooksick.com

Edited by: IZ @iz_indelicato
Final Edit: Taylor @plottwistparenting
Podcast Manager: Bella @itsbellawhit

--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/melody-olander/support

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of "But You Don't Look Sick." the staff, or other contributors. The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely on information on this website as a basis for making decisions. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your current medical routine.

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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/melody-olander/support

Episode 12 of Real Talk with @butyoudontlooksickofficial and @findyourrare

On this week’s episode, Kristine and I, both individuals with internet-reliant businesses, discuss what the reality of being chronically ill and online is. Our discussion focused on the online communities and the issue of competition between individuals with both chronic illness/disability/etc and a platform. Oftentimes, we’ve found in our efforts to collaborate with those individuals that there is an uncomfortable amount of a sense of competition, rather than comradery and support. We don’t quite understand that mentality! We both agree that anyone’s success in our community is a success for us as well. Kristine and I talk about our diagnostic journeys and how in medicine, every process is a circle. In our businesses, both she and I’s goal is to be able to change the shape of the medical process for patients- to one more centered on the patient. After all, who is the medical business helping, if not for the patients?

About Our Guest:

Dealing with the diagnostic journey for several years to find an answer, two years later found her believed diagnosis is actually a misdiagnosis, and back through the process she goes! Kristine’s passion was found in the most difficult stage of any chronic patient, when one has the illness but doesn't know the diagnosis. Looking for answers to her illness and finding none, she decided to create the resource she needed for herself: RARE. Now, RARE is a popular retail company for chronically ill individuals to have both representation, community, and a resource. Inclusive to all ailments: chronic, disabling, degenerative, mental, invisible- RARE is a collective company for all patients.

Check Kristine and RARE out @findyourrare

About The Host: 

Melody is a social media influencer and founder of the non-profit "But You Don't Look Sick." After battling a rare neurological disorder for over 7 years, she decided to show the realities of what it's like to live with an invisible illness and advocate for the better treatment of patients. You can follow Melody on instagram @butyoudontlooksickofficial or visit our website www.butudontlooksick.com

Edited by: IZ @iz_indelicato

Final Edit: Taylor @plottwistparenting

Podcast Manager: Bella @itsbellawhit

--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/melody-olander/support



Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of "But You Don't Look Sick." the staff, or other contributors. The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely on information on this website as a basis for making decisions. Consult with your doctor before making any changes to your current medical routine.


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/melody-olander/support