AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show

International Foundation for Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Arthritis
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Education
  • Updated Monthly

On Sunday, join International Foundation for AiArthritis and fellow patient cohosts as they lead discussions in the patient community as well as consult with stakeholders worldwide to solve the problems that matter most in the AiArthritis community.

  1. 2h ago

    Episode 126

    AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show

  2. Sep 6

    Ep 125: When Pain Becomes Your Normal: Pain Isn’t Just One Thing

    Chronic pain can become such a regular part of life with an AiArthritis disease that it changes your understanding of what "normal" feels like. But pain isn't always tied to active inflammation or a disease flare, and even one person can experience many different types of pain. In recognition of Pain Awareness Month, host Leila is joined by patient advocates Deb and Kerry for a candid conversation about what living with chronic pain really looks like. Drawing from their own experiences and lived experience data from the AiArthritis community, they explore the many factors that can influence pain, including fatigue, activity, joint damage, sleep, stress, and more. They also discuss how learning to recognize and describe different types of pain can help patients better communicate what they're experiencing with their healthcare team. From navigating changing pain levels to the trial and error of finding relief, this episode explores the realities of chronic pain that a number on a pain scale can't always capture. Episode Highlights Why chronic pain can change a person's perception of what "normal" pain feels like How pain can persist even when an AiArthritis disease appears well controlled What lived experience data reveals about the factors patients say influence their pain Why understanding the location, sensation, and patterns of pain can improve conversations with healthcare providers The challenges of balancing helpful movement with overexertion and recognizing when your limits have changed What years of trial and error can teach patients about managing chronic pain Why lived experiences are helping shape future AiArthritis Voices 360 conversations and resources

  3. Aug 2

    Ep 124: Finding the Movement That’s Right for YOU

    Exercise is one of the most recommended ways to manage AiArthritis diseases, yet for many patients, staying active can feel overwhelming. Pain, fatigue, disease flares, and mental health challenges often make the advice to "just exercise more" unrealistic. In this episode, Leila P.L. Valete and Eileen Davidson explore what research and lived experience reveal about movement, physical activity, and exercise for people living with AiArthritis diseases. Drawing from research presented at EULAR 2026, patient lived experience data, and their own personal journeys, Leila and Eileen discuss the barriers that prevent people from staying active and why movement looks different for everyone. They also explore the connection between physical activity and mental health, highlighting how anxiety, depression, and chronic pain can affect motivation while sharing practical strategies that make movement more accessible. Whether you're just getting started or adapting your routine during a flare, this episode offers realistic guidance, trusted resources, and encouragement to help you find movement that works for your body.   Episode Highlights: What EULAR 2026 research revealed about exercise and non-pharmacological care Common barriers that make physical activity difficult for people living with AiArthritis diseases The connection between movement, mental health, and long-term disease management Patient experiences with adapting exercise during flares and changing symptoms Practical movement ideas and trusted resources to help you stay active safely   Links & Resources Just One Move - https://justonemove.ca/ Arthritis Research Canada Education Series - https://www.arthritisresearch.ca/education-series/strong-with-arthritis/  Arthritis Foundation - https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/physical-activity/getting-started/your-exercise-solution  Have questions about this episode or topics you want to hear us bring to the table? Email us at podcast@aiarthritis.org  Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate   Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE Connect with our Co-Hosts:   Leila is the Health Education Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus and Sjögren’s disease. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them.    Connect with Leila: Tiktok: @Lupuslifestyle.lei   Eileen Davidson is a rheumatoid arthritis patient advocate from Vancouver Canada. She volunteers with the Arthritis Research Canada patient advisory board and the Canadian Institute of Health Research - Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis patient engagement research ambassador, among others. When not advocating she is writing about her experience with arthritis through Creaky Joints, Healthline, Chronic Eileen or can be found being a mom to her son Jacob.   Connect with Eileen: Twitter: @ChronicEileen

  4. Jul 5

    Ep 123: What We Learned at EULAR 2026

    Every year, the AiArthritis team returns from EULAR with new research, expert interviews, and important conversations. This year, they also gathered lived experience data from the community to better understand how the topics discussed at the conference compare with what patients experience every day. In this episode, host Leila P.L. Valete is joined by patient representative James Hollen to revisit the biggest themes from EULAR 2026, including fatigue, pain, mental health, and the impact of disease on work and daily life. They share what the community told us through lived experience surveys, reflect on James' first EULAR conference as a patient representative, and explore why patient voices are becoming an essential part of research conversations. Whether you followed our Go With Us! coverage or are hearing about EULAR for the first time, this episode highlights how lived experiences help shape better research, more meaningful conversations, and a stronger future for patient care.   Episode Highlights: What lived experience surveys revealed about fatigue, pain, mental health, and quality of life How patient perspectives aligned with key research presented at EULAR 2026 James' reflections from attending his first EULAR conference as a patient representative Why patient voices are becoming an essential part of research and healthcare innovation How community feedback will help shape future AiArthritis Voices 360 conversations   Links & Resources: Fatigue Survey: https://bit.ly/fatigueLED Fatigue EULAR: https://youtu.be/0e57fykYImc Mental Health & Exercise Survey: https://bit.ly/mentalhealthLED Mental Health & Exercise EULAR: https://youtu.be/Akc5So6ePd0 Pain Survey: https://bit.ly/painLED Pain EULAR: https://youtu.be/Y7vFImtSfBw Work & School Survey: https://bit.ly/workandschoolLED Work & School EULAR: https://youtu.be/fzygxv1CewU Cell Therapy (CAR-T) Survey: https://bit.ly/celltherapyLED Cell Therapy (CAR-T) EULAR: https://youtu.be/f7fkAK_u94o AiArthritis Talk Show Community Response Form: https://bit.ly/AiArthritisVoices360Response Playlist to All Videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZW5ZyvNnYl1_ZCVQQCw2ucGik3rrICMP&si=pkUFTjGGA29RjbSU Have questions about this episode or topics you want to hear us bring to the table? Email us at podcast@aiarthritis.org  Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate   Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE   Connect with our Co-Hosts:   Leila is the Health Education Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus and Sjögren’s disease. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them.    Connect with Leila: Tiktok: @Lupuslifestyle.lei

  5. Jun 7

    Ep 122 - Turning Patient Experiences into Real-World Impact

    AiArthritis was built by listening to patients. For more than 15 years, conversations within the community have shaped programs, resources, research initiatives, and advocacy efforts designed to improve the patient journey. In this episode, Leila and Tiffany discuss AiArthritis' next chapter and how the organization is expanding its commitment to collecting, analyzing, and acting on lived experience data. The conversation explores what lived experience data is and why it matters. Patient stories can help identify unmet needs, improve healthcare conversations, influence research priorities, and drive meaningful change. Leila and Tiffany also share how AiArthritis is creating new opportunities for patients, care partners, and advocates to contribute their experiences and ensure every voice is counted. Whether you have participated in an AiArthritis program before or are just discovering the organization, this episode offers a behind the scenes look at how patient experiences become real world impact. It also highlights new ways to get involved and help shape future programs, resources, and advocacy efforts.   Episode Highlights: How sharing your experience can help improve care for future patients Why AiArthritis is expanding its focus on lived experience data Real examples of patient feedback leading to new resources and solutions New ways to participate in research and community driven initiatives What's coming next for AiArthritis Voices and patient engagement   Links & Resources Mystery Patient Guide: https://www.aiarthritis.org/undiagnosed JHA/HCP Communication Toolkit: https://www.aiarthritis.org/JIACommunication Submit Your Rant: https://www.aiarthritis.org/rant WTHellth Website: https://wthellth.org/ Have questions about this episode or topics you want to hear us bring to the table? Email us at podcast@aiarthritis.org  Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate   Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE   Connect with our Co-Hosts: Tiffany is the CEO at International Foundation for AiArthritis and uses her professional expertise in mind-mapping and problem solving to help others, like her, who live with AiArthritis diseases work in unison to identify and solve unresolved community issues. Connect with Tiffany: Facebook: @tiffanyAiArthritis Twitter: @TiffWRobertson LinkedIn: @TiffanyWestrichRobertson   Leila is the Health Education Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus and Sjögren’s disease. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them.  Connect with Leila: Tiktok: @Lupuslifestyle.lei

  6. May 3

    Ep 121 - Vagus Nerve Stimulation - Alternative Treatment?

    Vagus nerve stimulation has been a hot topic in the AiArthritis community, and for good reason. In this episode, host Tiffany sits down with Dr. Vibeke Strand, Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Division of Immunology/Rheumatology at Stanford University, to explore what VNS actually is, what the research shows, and why it could be a game changing option for people who have not found success with traditional treatments.   Whether you have struggled to find a treatment that works or are simply curious about what is emerging in the rheumatology space, this episode shares useful information you can bring to your next doctor's appointment.   NOTE: As of April 2026 this device is only available in the United States. We will keep you updated as it becomes available elsewhere!     Episode Highlights: What VNS is and how it connects to inflammation in AiArthritis diseases How VNS differs from traditional biologics/DMARDs and whether it can be used alongside them What the research says about its effectiveness beyond just pain relief Who might be a good candidate and how to start the conversation with your care team   Links & Resources Have questions about this episode or topics you want to hear us bring to the table? Email us at podcast@aiarthritis.org  Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate   Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE   Connect with our Co-Hosts: Tiffany is the CEO at International Foundation for AiArthritis and uses her professional expertise in mind-mapping and problem solving to help others, like her, who live with AiArthritis diseases work in unison to identify and solve unresolved community issues. Connect with Tiffany: Facebook: @tiffanyAiArthritis Twitter: @TiffWRobertson LinkedIn: @TiffanyWestrichRobertson   Dr. Vibeke Strand is an Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Division of Immunology/Rheumatology at Stanford University, where she has taught since 1993, and previously at University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Strand has also served as a consultant in clinical research and regulatory affairs to pharmaceutical and biotech companies since 1991. She has been a clinical rheumatologist for more than 40 years, previously in subspecialty practice in San Francisco, as a clinical investigator, and subsequently senior positions in clinical research at three pharmaceutical/biotech companies before embarking on her consulting practice.   Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Strand has authored over 450 original publications, is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and a Master of the American College of Rheumatology.

  7. Apr 5

    Ep 120: Why Sleep Is So Hard with Autoimmune Disease (and What Actually Helps)

    Sleep problems are one of the most common and most frustrating experiences for people living with AiArthritis diseases. In this episode, Eileen Davidson breaks down why getting a good night's rest can feel nearly impossible when you're living with an AiArthritis disease, and shares what has actually helped her along the way.   Eileen explores the many reasons sleep is so disrupted by AiArthritis diseases, from pain and stiffness to the role that chronic inflammation plays in interfering with the body's natural sleep cycles. She offers an honest, personal reflection on what sleepless nights really look like from a patient's perspective and why this issue deserves more attention in conversations about disease management.   Whether you're lying awake wondering if anyone else understands what you're going through, or you're looking for practical steps to try tonight, this episode offers both validation and real, actionable guidance from someone who lives it every day.     Episode Highlights: Why sleep is uniquely challenging for people living with AiArthritis diseases The connection between inflammation and disrupted sleep A personal reflection on what sleep struggles really feel like Small, realistic habits and strategies that can actually make a difference   Links & Resources Have questions about this episode or topics you want to hear us bring to the table? Email us at podcast@aiarthritis.org  Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate   Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE   Connect with our Co-Hosts: Eileen Davidson is a rheumatoid arthritis patient advocate from Vancouver Canada. She volunteers with the Arthritis Research Canada patient advisory board and the Canadian Institute of Health Research - Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis patient engagement research ambassador, among others. When not advocating she is writing about her experience with arthritis through Creaky Joints, Healthline, Chronic Eileen or can be found being a mom to her son Jacob.   Connect with Eileen: Twitter: @ChronicEileen

  8. Mar 1

    Ep 119: What I Wish I Would’ve Known After Diagnosis

    A new diagnosis can bring relief, fear, and uncertainty all at once. In this episode, Leila and Deb share advice from the AiArthritis community on what they wish they had known right after being diagnosed with an autoimmune or autoinflammatory arthritis disease. Leila and Deb  explore the importance of trusting your body, especially when tests are inconclusive or symptoms are dismissed. This episode highlights how self advocacy, second opinions, and clear communication with your care team can shape your experience. Community members also reflect on the emotional side of diagnosis, including grief, patience, and the mindset shift that comes with learning to live with chronic illness. Whether you are newly diagnosed or supporting someone who is, this episode offers validation and practical guidance for navigating the early stages of the patient journey.   Episode Highlights: Why trusting your body matters, even when tests are unclear How self advocacy and second opinions can change your care experience The emotional impact of diagnosis and the importance of grace and patience Practical tools like symptom tracking, rest, and shared decision making to support long term management   Links & Resources Have questions about this episode or topics you want to hear us bring to the table? Email us at podcast@aiarthritis.org  Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate   Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE   Connect with our Co-Hosts: Leila is the Health Education Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus and Sjögren’s disease. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them.    Connect with Leila: Tiktok: @Lupuslifestyle.lei   Deb Constien is a medically retired Registered Dietitian and a Representative for the AiArthritis with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Deb is also on the Advisory Council for WREN- Wisconsin Research Education Network and a Patient Family Advisor- PFA on an International PCORI research study for ACP- Advanced Care Planning. Connect with Deb: Facebook: @deb.majcherconstien  Instagram: @debconstien Twitter:  @debconstien

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About

On Sunday, join International Foundation for AiArthritis and fellow patient cohosts as they lead discussions in the patient community as well as consult with stakeholders worldwide to solve the problems that matter most in the AiArthritis community.

Information

  • Creator
    International Foundation for Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Arthritis
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2019 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show

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