It’s A Podcast: Living With Chronic Illness

Jessica Brown
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Living with a chronic illness means figuring out how to function, work, and show up for the people who need you... all while your body has its own agenda. I'm Jess, and on this podcast I share honest conversations about making income and impact without sacrificing your health and wellbeing. Real strategies for real days.

  1. 08/07/2025

    Meet My AI Team: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Sustainable Business Support

    Ever wish you had someone to bounce ideas off of, especially on those brain fog days when everything feels like too much? What if you could get that support... without needing a full human team? In this special episode, I'm introducing you to two of the most reliable members of my business, my AI team. That’s right. I’m pulling back the curtain to show you exactly how I use AI (like ChatGPT and Claude) to run a sustainable, spoon-friendly business. And for the first time, you’ll hear directly from them, as we talk about how AI became my collaborative support system, not just another tech tool.   💡 In this episode, we'll talk about: What it’s really like to build a business with the support of AI, even when your energy is unpredictable How I trained my AI team to sound like me (and how I knew when it stopped sounding like me) The surprising ways AI helps with content, strategy, and even decision-making during flare days The truth about AI “flaws” and how I keep my systems grounded in authentic voice Simple ways to start using AI today without needing to be techy or overwhelmed If you’ve ever felt alone in your business… this episode is proof you don’t have to do it all yourself.   🛠️ Resources & Links ➡️ Follow my journey on YouTube for behind-the-scenes insights. (@chronicillnessceo) ➡️ Need personalized support? Book a Sustainable CEO Strategy Day and let’s design a business that works with your body, not against it. ➡️ Learn more about the Sustainable Success Framework at ChronicIllnessCEO.com to start building your energy-conscious business today.   And if this message resonates with you, please leave a rating and review—it helps other entrepreneurs with chronic illness find this podcast and join our cozy community.   📬 Stay Cozy & Connected Want weekly encouragement in your inbox? Subscribe to the CICEO Newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories, podcast insights, and business strategy, served cozy, not corporate.   Wishing you a gentle day, Jessica

  2. 07/02/2025

    Why I Went Quiet on the Podcast and What Helped Me Find My Voice Again

    Ever feel like your content is technically “working” but something just feels... off? In this episode, I’m sharing what really happened during my two-month podcast pause—and spoiler: it wasn’t burnout, it was misalignment.   💡 In this episode, we'll talk about: Why your systems (even smart ones) can drift away from your true voice How I noticed my content no longer sounded like me The role AI played in that disconnection—and how I reset it to serve me, not replace me What I did to rebuild my system in a more sustainable, spoon-friendly way If you've ever felt like you're running a business that looks good on paper but doesn’t sit right in your spirit or your body... this one’s for you.   🛠️ Resources & Links ➡️ Follow my journey on YouTube for behind-the-scenes insights. (@chronicillnessceo) ➡️ Need personalized support? Book a Sustainable CEO Strategy Day and let’s design a business that works with your body, not against it. ➡️ Learn more about the Sustainable Success Framework at ChronicIllnessCEO.com to start building your energy-conscious business today.   And if this message resonates with you, please leave a rating and review—it helps other entrepreneurs with chronic illness find this podcast and join our cozy community.   📬 Stay Cozy & Connected Want weekly encouragement in your inbox? Subscribe to the CICEO Newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories, podcast insights, and business strategy—served cozy, not corporate.   Wishing you a gentle day, Jessica

  3. 06/25/2025

    What Stage Is Your Business In? A Chronic Illness-Friendly Way to Map Your Business Season

    Feeling behind in your business—or like you’re trying to do all the things with zero spoons? In this episode, I walk you through the 5 stages of the Sustainable CEO Pathway and help you figure out what season you're really in (and why that matters more than hitting 6 figures fast). We’ll unpack what sustainable success actually looks like for entrepreneurs with chronic illness and unpredictable energy—and how to stop trying to leap ahead to passive income before you're ready.   💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The #1 reason so many of us stall out (and why it's not laziness) How to shift from guilt to grace when progress feels slow Four common mindset traps that keep you stuck A practical way to assess what your business actually needs next   Whether you're in Survive or heading toward Thrive, this episode will help you honor your capacity and build something that lasts.   🛠️ Resources & Links ➡️ Follow my journey on YouTube for behind-the-scenes insights. (@chronicillnessceo) ➡️ Need personalized support? Book a Sustainable CEO Strategy Day and let’s design a business that works with your body, not against it. ➡️ Learn more about the Sustainable Success Framework at ChronicIllnessCEO.com to start building your energy-conscious business today.   And if this message resonates with you, please leave a rating and review—it helps other entrepreneurs with chronic illness find this podcast and join our cozy community.   📬 Stay Cozy & Connected Want weekly encouragement in your inbox? Subscribe to the CICEO Newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories, podcast insights, and business strategy—served cozy, not corporate.   Wishing you a gentle day, Jessica

  4. 05/07/2025

    The Wrong Business Model Will Drain You—Here’s How to Pick the Right One

    Have you ever felt stuck in a business model that everyone else seems to love—but it's slowly draining you? In this episode, Jessica gets real about why popular income strategies often fail entrepreneurs with chronic illness. You'll learn the three most sustainable revenue models for unpredictable energy, how to align your income with your health needs, and why the best business model is the one that honors your body right now.   💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why some business models feel like a trap when you're managing chronic illness The top 3 sustainable revenue models for fluctuating energy How to apply the Right Strategy, Right Time™ framework to your business model Why “passive income” is often a myth—and how to make it truly sustainable How to transition (or combine) models as your health and goals evolve   ✍️ Gentle Reflection Prompt Wondering which business model actually fits your life? Try this: Do a "Model Match Assessment. Create 3 columns—one for each model: List how it aligns with your current energy What support systems you'd need How it emotionally feels to picture working in that model. Let your body guide you before your brain kicks in.   You don’t need the ‘best’ business model—you need the right one for you, in this season, with this body.   🔗 Mentioned Episodes Episode 5: Tired of Just Surviving? How to Build a Business That Lets You Thrive Episode 6: How to Know If You’re Making the Right Business Decision—Especially When You Have Chronic Illness   🛠️ Resources & Links ➡️ Follow my journey on YouTube for behind-the-scenes insights. (@chronicillnessceo) ➡️ Need personalized support? Book a Sustainable CEO Strategy Day and let’s design a business that works with your body, not against it. ➡️ Learn more about the Sustainable Success Framework at ChronicIllnessCEO.com to start building your energy-conscious business today.   And if this message resonates with you, please leave a rating and review—it helps other entrepreneurs with chronic illness find this podcast and join our cozy community.   📬 Stay Cozy & Connected Want weekly encouragement in your inbox? Subscribe to the CICEO Newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories, podcast insights, and business strategy—served cozy, not corporate.   Wishing you a gentle day, Jessica

  5. 04/30/2025

    When You Feel Like Giving Up: How to Rebuild Your Business After a Setback

    What happens when your body says “no” to your best-laid business plans? In this raw and reflective episode, Jessica shares the story of having to cancel her biggest event due to illness—and how it became the catalyst for building a more sustainable business. If you’ve ever felt like a setback derailed everything, this episode will help you redefine success and rebuild with your health at the center.   💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How to navigate the grief and guilt of canceling a major business event due to chronic illness The four key phases of rebuilding after a setback (Reality Check, Reset, Rebuild, and Resilience) How to apply the 4Ps Framework (Prioritize, Pace, Pivot, Peace) to recover and rebuild Why traditional business models often fail those with unpredictable energy—and what to do instead A simple, powerful journaling exercise to clarify your next sustainable steps   ✍️ Gentle Reflection Prompt Rebuilding after a setback? Try this: Create a “Sustainable Rebuild Snapshot” by dividing a page into four parts: Prioritize: List your current health non-negotiables Pace: Define your honest energy rhythm right now Pivot: Identify one unsustainable part of your old business model and a possible alternative Peace: Write a new success definition that aligns with both your ambition and your health   Your setback isn’t the end of your story—it might be the beginning of a more sustainable, aligned chapter.   🔗 Mentioned Episodes Episode 5: Tired of Just Surviving? How to Build a Business That Lets You Thrive Episode 6: How to Know If You’re Making the Right Business Decision—Especially When You Have Chronic Illness Episode 7: You’re Not Broken: Why Your Body Is the Blueprint for a Sustainable Business Episode 8: AGILE for Chronic Illness: A No-Hustle Productivity Framework  Episode 9: Business Planning with Chronic Illness: A Sustainable Approach   🛠️ Resources & Links ➡️ Follow my journey on YouTube for behind-the-scenes insights. (@chronicillnessceo) ➡️ Need personalized support? Book a Sustainable CEO Strategy Day and let’s design a business that works with your body, not against it. ➡️ Learn more about the Sustainable Success Framework at ChronicIllnessCEO.com to start building your energy-conscious business today.   And if this message resonates with you, please leave a rating and review—it helps other entrepreneurs with chronic illness find this podcast and join our cozy community.   📬 Stay Cozy & Connected Want weekly encouragement in your inbox? Subscribe to the CICEO Newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories, podcast insights, and business strategy—served cozy, not corporate.   Wishing you a gentle day, Jessica

  6. 04/16/2025

    Business Planning with Chronic Illness: A Sustainable Approach

    If you’ve ever bought a planner with big hopes—only to abandon it after a few weeks (or months) when your health shifted—this episode is for you. Jessica shares how she reimagined business planning through a gentle, garden-inspired approach that honors energy variability, not rigid timelines. It’s a beautifully sustainable alternative to traditional planning, crafted for chronic illness entrepreneurs who are tired of feeling behind.   💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why traditional planning methods often fail entrepreneurs with chronic illness How to apply a garden-inspired approach to business planning The power of flexible objectives instead of rigid SMART goals How to track your energy and wins using a two-planner system A practical way to design monthly sprints that support your body, not fight it   ✍️ Gentle Reflection Prompt Ready to cultivate a new approach to business planning? Try this: Create a “Garden Dream Page” with three columns: How I Want to Feel What Drains Me What Energizes Me Just observe. No pressure to fix—just notice the patterns your body is already showing you.   Your planner shouldn’t be a weapon of shame—it should be a mirror of what matters most to you and a map that adjusts as your seasons shift.   🔗 Mentioned Episodes Episode 5: Tired of Just Surviving? How to Build a Business That Lets You Thrive Episode 6: How to Know If You’re Making the Right Business Decision—Especially When You Have Chronic Illness Episode 7: You’re Not Broken: Why Your Body Is the Blueprint for a Sustainable Business Episode 8: AGILE for Chronic Illness: A No-Hustle Productivity Framework    🛠️ Resources & Links ➡️ Follow my journey on YouTube for behind-the-scenes insights. (@chronicillnessceo) ➡️ Need personalized support? Book a Sustainable CEO Strategy Day and let’s design a business that works with your body, not against it. ➡️ Learn more about the Sustainable Success Framework at ChronicIllnessCEO.com to start building your energy-conscious business today.   And if this message resonates with you, please leave a rating and review—it helps other entrepreneurs with chronic illness find this podcast and join our cozy community.   📬 Stay Cozy & Connected Want weekly encouragement in your inbox? Subscribe to the CICEO Newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories, podcast insights, and business strategy—served cozy, not corporate.   Wishing you a gentle day, Jessica

  7. 04/09/2025

    AGILE for Chronic Illness: A No-Hustle Productivity Framework

    Ever felt like your to-do list is a personal failure report? In this episode, Jessica shares a powerful mindset shift that transformed how she thinks about productivity. Inspired by AGILE project management and filtered through the lens of chronic illness, this episode explores how redefining “effort” can help you plan, pace, and thrive—without guilt. If you’re tired of pushing through and ready for a more sustainable way of working, this one's for you.   💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How redefining productivity through effort (not just hours or output) can support your energy reality Four factors to assess effort: knowledge, experience, time, and energy How to apply AGILE’s sprint mindset to your chronic illness business Why traditional SOPs and systems often fail us—and how to personalize your workflow How Jessica used this method to plan and launch the CICEO podcast sustainably   ✍️ Gentle Reflection Prompt Jessica shares an "Effort Audit" exercise. For a few days, track your tasks using these four questions: Do I already know how to do this? Have I done this before? How long will this realistically take, including recovery? What’s the energy cost—was it draining or energizing? Look for patterns. What might you shift next week based on this intel?   Remember you're not failing when you rest and recover. You're managing your energy like a strategist—and that’s a strength, not a shortcoming.   🔗 Mentioned Episodes Episode 5: Tired of Just Surviving? How to Build a Business That Lets You Thrive Episode 6: How to Know If You’re Making the Right Business Decision—Especially When You Have Chronic Illness Episode 7: You’re Not Broken: Why Your Body Is the Blueprint for a Sustainable Business   🛠️ Resources & Links ➡️ Follow my journey on YouTube for behind-the-scenes insights. (@chronicillnessceo) ➡️ Need personalized support? Book a Sustainable CEO Strategy Day and let’s design a business that works with your body, not against it. ➡️ Learn more about the Sustainable Success Framework at ChronicIllnessCEO.com to start building your energy-conscious business today.   And if this message resonates with you, please leave a rating and review—it helps other entrepreneurs with chronic illness find this podcast and join our cozy community.   📬 Stay Cozy & Connected Want weekly encouragement in your inbox? Subscribe to the CICEO Newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories, podcast insights, and business strategy—served cozy, not corporate.   Wishing you a gentle day, Jessica

  8. 04/02/2025

    You’re Not Broken: Why Your Body Is the Blueprint for a Sustainable Business

    If you’ve ever looked at your body and thought, “Why can’t you just cooperate?”—this episode is for you. Jessica shares how she went from battling her chronic illness to building a business because of it. You’ll learn how listening to your body’s signals can help you design a business that’s sustainable, aligned, and surprisingly effective. Because maybe... you're not broken at all.   💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why productivity frameworks often fail people with chronic illness The game-changing shift from seeing your body as an enemy to a business partner How Jessica redesigned her systems, schedule, and goals around her natural energy patterns Practical ways to identify what fuels you vs. what drains you   ✍️ Gentle Reflection Prompt This week, Jess invites you to keep a Body Business Log by noticing when you feel most energized, what drains you, and what fuels you. This isn’t about fixing anything, yet. It’s about listening.   When you’re at war with your body, nobody wins. But when you build with it? That’s where thriving begins.   🔗 Mentioned Episodes Episode 5: Tired of Just Surviving? How to Build a Business That Lets You Thrive Episode 6: How to Know If You’re Making the Right Business Decision—Especially When You Have Chronic Illness Episode 8: AGILE for Chronic Illness: A No-Hustle Productivity Framework   🛠️ Resources & Links ➡️ Follow my journey on YouTube for behind-the-scenes insights. (@chronicillnessceo) ➡️ Need personalized support? Book a Sustainable CEO Strategy Day and let’s design a business that works with your body, not against it. ➡️ Learn more about the Sustainable Success Framework at ChronicIllnessCEO.com to start building your energy-conscious business today.   And if this message resonates with you, please leave a rating and review—it helps other entrepreneurs with chronic illness find this podcast and join our cozy community.   📬 Stay Cozy & Connected Want weekly encouragement in your inbox? Subscribe to the CICEO Newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories, podcast insights, and business strategy—served cozy, not corporate.   Wishing you a gentle day, Jessica

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Living with a chronic illness means figuring out how to function, work, and show up for the people who need you... all while your body has its own agenda. I'm Jess, and on this podcast I share honest conversations about making income and impact without sacrificing your health and wellbeing. Real strategies for real days.

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