The SpoonFull Show- A Chronic Illness Podcast by SpoonFull of Strength

Rachel
  • 5.0 (4)
  • HEALTH & FITNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The SpoonFull Show (formerly SpoonFull of Strength) is hosted by Rachel, who has lived with Multiple Sclerosis for 10 years and Type 1 Diabetes for more than 25. Each episode blends heartfelt Spoonie conversations with insightful expert interviews, exploring what it really means to live with chronic illness. From the struggles of diagnosis and the mental load of daily symptoms, to the victories of advocacy, resilience, and finding joy, this podcast offers community, encouragement, and the reminder that even a spoonful of strength can carry you through.

  1. Ep 83: Living Alongside Uncertainty

    4D AGO

    Ep 83: Living Alongside Uncertainty

    Uncertainty is one of the most challenging parts of living with chronic illness. The unpredictability of flares. The shifting baseline. The progressive questions about the future. The quiet grief that shows up in waves. In this episode of The Spoonful Show, Rachel is joined by Karen Wagner and Chris Burton from the Invisible Strength Podcast to explore what it really means to live alongside uncertainty. Together they discuss: Navigating flares and shifting capacityProgressive illness and “kissing the line” of future changesThe tension between hope and realismGrief that builds in wavesRebuilding self-trustFinding joy in small, intentional momentsWhy you don’t have to do this aloneThis conversation is honest, reflective, and deeply encouraging for anyone learning to live fully without guarantees. Connect with Karin & Chris here: Websites: Invigorate your Journey: https://invigorateyourjourney.com/ Join their support group meeting 3/9/26: https://calendly.com/invigorateyourjourney/new-meeting?month=2026-03 Guidance & Coaching: https://invigorateyourjourney.com/invigorate-coaching/ Invisible Strength Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnb3P3J1K9u_OtofTSO7VDgSocial Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unseenyetunstoppable/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unseenyetunstoppable YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnb3P3J1K9u_OtofTSO7VDg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Invigorate-Your-Journey/100091620060815/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/invigorate-your-journey/ Follow SpoonFull of Strength for podcast clips and updates at https://www.instagram.com/spoonfullofstrength/ And on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@spoonfull.of.strength Looking for chronic illness merch? Visit SpoonFull of Strength’s Etsy shop at www.spoonfullofstrength.etsy.com Use code PODCAST for 25% off your entire order.

    37 min
  2. Ep. 82: How to Feel in Control of Your Health with Dr. Amy Behimer

    FEB 25

    Ep. 82: How to Feel in Control of Your Health with Dr. Amy Behimer

    When you’re diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, it can feel like your sense of control disappears overnight. In this episode, Rachel is joined by Amy Behimer—Doctor of Pharmacy, nationally board-certified health and wellness coach, and someone living with multiple sclerosis—to talk about how to reclaim agency over your health, even when you can’t control your diagnosis. Together, they explore the difference between managing disease and creating health, why small, supportive habits matter more than perfection, and how redefining health as energy, purpose, and peace can change how you live with chronic illness. This conversation is empowering, compassionate, and a reminder that feeling better can start today—without pressure or overwhelm. Follow Dr. Amy on: Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/amybehimercoaching/ Her Podcast: https://podfollow.com/autoimmune-health-secrets For coaching, take this quiz to get started!  https://amybehimercoaching.com/quiz Join her Club Habit!: https://amybehimercoaching.com/join And, enter the March challenge at: https://amybehimercoaching.com/challenge Follow SpoonFull of Strength for podcast clips and updates at https://www.instagram.com/spoonfullofstrength/ And on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@spoonfull.of.strength Looking for chronic illness merch? Visit SpoonFull of Strength’s Etsy shop at www.spoonfullofstrength.etsy.com Use code PODCAST for 25% off your entire order.

    40 min
  3. Ep 81: Meaningful Activities for Rediscovering Who You Are After Illness

    FEB 18

    Ep 81: Meaningful Activities for Rediscovering Who You Are After Illness

    When chronic illness changes your body, it can also change how you see yourself. In this episode of The SpoonFull of Strength Podcast, Rachel and Kait talk about losing identity after diagnosis — and how meaningful activities can help rebuild purpose, joy, and connection to who you are now.Kait shares how running once defined her identity, how her MMS diagnosis shifted everything, and the grief that came with losing what once brought meaning to her days. Together, they explore what meaningful activities really are (hint: it’s not about productivity), how to modify activities to meet your body where it is, and why finding joy in small, accessible moments can be life-giving. Follow Kait on Instagram at  https://www.instagram.com/alignedk8/ Follow SpoonFull of Strength for podcast clips and updates at https://www.instagram.com/spoonfullofstrength/ And on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@spoonfull.of.strength Looking for chronic illness merch? Visit SpoonFull of Strength’s Etsy shop at www.spoonfullofstrength.etsy.com Use code PODCAST for 25% off your entire order.

    36 min
  4. Ep. 80: The Ultimate Act of Being Enough with Author Leisa Wallace

    FEB 11

    Ep. 80: The Ultimate Act of Being Enough with Author Leisa Wallace

    What happens to your sense of worth when your body, health, or capacity changes? In this episode, I’m joined by Leisa Wallace, author of The Ultimate Act of Being Enough: Your Guide to Remembering Your Worth When Everything Falls Apart, for a deeply grounding conversation about identity, productivity, and what it means to be enough when life falls apart. After an aggressive-onset multiple sclerosis diagnosis upended her life, Leisa was forced to confront how tightly her worth was tied to achievement and doing — and to reimagine who she was beneath it all. Together, we talk about grief, forced stillness, and the uncomfortable work of separating worth from productivity. Leisa also shares the powerful framework she calls the Value Constellation, a way of understanding identity as made up of intrinsic qualities that remain even when capacity changes. This episode is for anyone navigating chronic illness, burnout, caregiving, or a season where slowing down wasn’t a choice — and for anyone who needs the reminder that worth isn’t something you earn, it’s something you remember. In this episode, we discuss: Living with aggressive-onset multiple sclerosis Grieving the loss of who you thought you’d be Why productivity is so often tied to self-worth The concept of the Value Constellation Learning to be instead of prove Remembering your worth when everything feels like it’s falling apart 🎧 Listen in for a compassionate, honest conversation about identity, resilience, and being enough — exactly as you are. Follow Lisa on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/chronically.thriving.leisa/ Find her book, The Ultimate Act of Being Enough, here:  https://a.co/d/9Juy4Jx Follow SpoonFull of Strength for podcast clips and updates at https://www.instagram.com/spoonfullofstrength/ And on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@spoonfull.of.strength Looking for chronic illness merch? Visit SpoonFull of Strength’s Etsy shop at www.spoonfullofstrength.etsy.com Use code PODCAST for 25% off your entire order.

    40 min
  5. EP. 79: The Cost of Being a Medical Mystery with Author Tilly Rose

    FEB 4

    EP. 79: The Cost of Being a Medical Mystery with Author Tilly Rose

    This is the first episode of a new season of The SpoonFull Show, and Rachel is joined by author and patient advocate Tilly Rose as a special guest co-host for a powerful conversation about the cost of being a medical mystery. Together, they explore what it truly means to spend years searching for answers—being dismissed, misdiagnosed, and medically gaslit while your body continues to break down. Drawing from Tilly’s memoir Be Patient, the episode pulls back the curtain on the healthcare system and the unseen trauma patients carry long after hospital stays end. Rachel and Tilly talk openly about the emotional toll of not being believed, the loss of trust in medical systems, the physical consequences of delayed diagnosis, and how patients are often forced to become their own advocates just to survive. They also discuss the grief and relief that come with finally receiving a diagnosis, the identity shifts that follow, and why patient stories are essential in pushing healthcare toward real change. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt unheard, overlooked, or labeled “too complicated”—and for those who want to better understand what patients endure behind the scenes. Follow Tilly’s journey on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thattillyrose/ Find Tilly’s book wherever books are sold. Purchase through Blackwells and receive FREE international shipping. Purchase here: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9781780726229 Follow SpoonFull of Strength for podcast clips and updates at https://www.instagram.com/spoonfullofstrength/ And on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@spoonfull.of.strength Looking for chronic illness merch? Visit SpoonFull of Strength’s Etsy shop at www.spoonfullofstrength.etsy.com Use code PODCAST for 25% off your entire order.

    54 min
  6. Ep. 78: Trauma, the Nervous System, and Chronic Illness

    12/31/2025

    Ep. 78: Trauma, the Nervous System, and Chronic Illness

    What if your body isn’t broken — but responding exactly as it was designed to? In this episode of The SpoonFull Show, Rachel is joined by Dana Hargis, a trauma-informed therapist and educator who helps people understand the deep connection between trauma, the nervous system, and chronic illness. Together, they explore why so many spoonies feel stuck in survival mode — and why rest, safety, and slowing down can feel so uncomfortable, even when our bodies desperately need it. This conversation dives into how trauma lives in the nervous system, how chronic illness can amplify nervous system dysregulation, and why symptoms are often signals rather than failures. Dana shares compassionate insight into how our bodies are constantly trying to protect us, even when it feels like they’re working against us. In this episode, Rachel and Dana discuss: How trauma impacts the nervous system over time Why rest can feel unsafe for people with chronic illness The link between emotional overwhelm and physical symptoms What nervous system regulation actually looks like (and what it doesn’t) Gentle ways to begin rebuilding trust with your body Dana brings both clinical expertise and deep compassion to this conversation, offering a trauma-informed lens that validates the lived experience of chronic illness without pushing “fixing” or toxic positivity. To learn more about Dana’s work, visit Restore of Ada at RestoreofAda.com. Restore of Ada is a trauma-informed therapy practice dedicated to helping individuals reconnect with their bodies, regulate their nervous systems, and heal in a way that feels safe, compassionate, and sustainable. If you’ve ever felt frustrated with your body, confused by your symptoms, or guilty for needing rest — this episode is for you. Healing doesn’t mean pushing harder. Sometimes, it starts with understanding what your nervous system has been carrying all along. You can find this podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, IHeart Radio and YouTube Follow SpoonFull of Strength at: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/spoonfullofstrength/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@spoonfull.of.strength⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shop SpoonFull's Etsy shop at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SpoonFullofStrength.etsy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code PODCAST for 25% off your entire order

    45 min
  7. Ep. 77: Healing Together: Navigating Illness as a Family

    12/17/2025

    Ep. 77: Healing Together: Navigating Illness as a Family

    Living with chronic or mental illness can feel incredibly isolating — but the truth is, illness doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed. It impacts families, relationships, and the people who love us, often in ways no one is prepared for. In this episode, Rachel is joined by Michelle Sherman, licensed clinical psychologist and expert in family systems and mental illness, for an honest and compassionate conversation about the shared experience of illness. Together, they explore what it’s like to live with mental illness while also navigating the emotional responses, misunderstandings, and challenges that arise within families. This conversation bridges both perspectives — the person living with illness and the loved ones trying to support them — offering insight, validation, and practical tools for better communication, healthier boundaries, and deeper empathy on all sides. Whether you’re managing illness yourself or struggling to feel understood by the people closest to you, this episode is a reminder that healing doesn’t have to happen alone. In this episode, we discuss: Why illness creates emotional ripple effects within families What to do when loved ones don’t understand or believe your illness How guilt, frustration, and grief show up on both sides Setting boundaries while maintaining connection Finding compassion — for others and for yourself This episode is for anyone navigating the complicated space between loving someone and being the one who needs love. Follow Michelle at https://www.instagram.com/michelle_sherm/ Her website: https://www.seedsofhopebooks.com/ You can find her books and great resources for families. Follow SpoonFull of Strength at: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/spoonfullofstrength/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@spoonfull.of.strength⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shop SpoonFull's Etsy shop at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SpoonFullofStrength.etsy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code PODCAST for 25% off your entire order

    40 min
  8. Ep. 76: The Body Remembers: Chronic Illness, Disordered Eating, Medical PTSD, and Healing

    12/10/2025

    Ep. 76: The Body Remembers: Chronic Illness, Disordered Eating, Medical PTSD, and Healing

    In this episode, Rachel sits down with therapist, educator, and author Tammy Gangloff, whose work bridges chronic illness, trauma, eating disorders, and lived experience. Tammy shares her personal story of growing up with scoliosis, undergoing multiple spine surgeries, and navigating years of recovery from an eating disorder, alcoholism, and PTSD. What began as a simple survey on social media became meaningful research, professional training presentations, and ultimately her new book—highlighting the mental and emotional layers of chronic illness that are so often overlooked. Their conversation explores the turning points in Tammy’s mental health journey, including her decision to seek inpatient treatment when PTSD became unmanageable. She opens up about the role of talk therapy, EMDR, safe relationships, and the rare but life-changing impact of seeing someone fully recovered. Together, they unpack the struggle between independence and needing help, redefining interdependence as a healthy, human way of surviving the unpredictable reality of chronic illness. Tammy also shares vital insight into medical PTSD—why it’s so common, why it’s so misunderstood, and what she wishes doctors and medical professionals knew about the patients who walk into their rooms already carrying fear, exhaustion, and past trauma. A powerful, validating conversation for anyone living with chronic illness, supporting someone who is, or working in healthcare. Follow Tamie on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/authortamiegangloff/ Find Tamie's book, Chronic Illness and Eating Disorders: Assessment, Clinical Skills, and Lived Experiences, here: https://a.co/d/0wV7XCa Follow SpoonFull of Strength at: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/spoonfullofstrength/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@spoonfull.of.strength⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shop SpoonFull's Etsy shop at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SpoonFullofStrength.etsy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code PODCAST for 25% off your entire order

    40 min
See All (86)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The SpoonFull Show (formerly SpoonFull of Strength) is hosted by Rachel, who has lived with Multiple Sclerosis for 10 years and Type 1 Diabetes for more than 25. Each episode blends heartfelt Spoonie conversations with insightful expert interviews, exploring what it really means to live with chronic illness. From the struggles of diagnosis and the mental load of daily symptoms, to the victories of advocacy, resilience, and finding joy, this podcast offers community, encouragement, and the reminder that even a spoonful of strength can carry you through.

Information