A Friend for the Long Haul A Friend for the Long Haul

Episode 7: Tips for Traveling with Long Covid During an Active Panini

HI I USE SOME ADULT LANGUAGE IN THIS EPISODE OK

There is no additional guest for this episode because I was traveling for work! I needed to pull something together pretty quickly upon my return, so I asked my Instagram friends what I should talk about and the feedback was overwhelmingly about travel tips. I've done a lot of road trips and a few flights now and (knock on wood) have escaped all past trips Covid-free, so I talk about my experiences and give some tips. The reference to a bucket for the long haul will, um, make sense by the end. This was recorded over the course of a couple of days and I'm still reeling from travel (I forgot to say - schedule rest after any travel. Give yourself a good week. I didn't.) so I repeat myself and there's a lot of good old fashioned word finding going on. Enjoy.

This episode covers:


How gross people are
Traveling with kids
Advantages of road tripping
A mini rant about cruises
Tips on traveling intentionally - considering climates, allergens, humidity, screen time, mcas, time required for travel, spoons
Communicating your needs
POTS and travel - vestibular chaos
Potties
Mobility aids at the airport and internalized ableism
You can't eat at everybody's house
Work travel
The Job Accommodation Network website and asking for reasonable accommodations at work
Tempo the dog is featured heavily in this episode because I don't have the spoons for profesh editing ok thanks

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Job Accommodations Network website: https://askjan.org

The Roadside America website: https://www.roadsideamerica.com

Covid Safe Colorado

https://sites.google.com/view/covidsafecolorado/

It's also important for me to make sure you know that the fact that I mention like 500 brands in this episode does not mean that any of them sponsor me so they are not ads, but I'm going to put links to them because honestly if they want to, I'm game:

https://www.estherslv.com/

https://us.loopearplugs.com/

https://drinklmnt.com/

https://www.liquid-iv.com/

https://www.neosporin.com/

https://www.qtips.com/

https://www.lumifyeyes.com/

https://www.rei.com/

https://koa.com/

https://www.airbnb.com/

Also: I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AND NONE OF THIS IS MEDICAL ADVICE TAKE WHAT I SAY WITH A GRAIN OF SALT I AM JUST A LADY WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS AND A BIG MOUTH

I'd like to acknowledge that this was recorded on Ute, Arapahoe, Cheyenne, and Apache land.

Episode 6: Rest is Medicine

Join us in our latest episode of A Friend for the Long Haul, where we dive deep into the world of chronic illness and movement with the incredible Julie Hunter!

Julie is an endurance athlete and health & fitness coach with over a decade of experience. After battling her own health problems, including ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, MCAS, POTS, and multiple TBIs, Julie turned her journey into a beacon of hope for others facing similar struggles and used her experience not only to help herself cope with Long Covid, but to help others with her coaching business, Movement with ME.

In this episode, Julie opens up about:

Top Trends with Long Covid Clients: Discover the latest insights and trends Julie has observed while working with Long Covid sufferers.

Julie's Personal Journey: Get inspired by Julie's courageous battle against chronic illness and how it fueled her passion to help others reclaim their lives.

Personalized Movement Plans vs. Graded Exercise Therapy: Ever wondered about the difference? Julie breaks it down for us.

Whether you're looking for personalized strategies to incorporate movement into your routine or seeking solace in shared experiences, this episode is a must-listen! 🎧

Tune in Monday, May 6th on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. #PodcastHealing #WellnessJourney #COVIDRecovery #EmpowermentPodcast
#LongCovid #ChronicIllness #PainManagement #HealthCoaching #FitnessJourney #MECFS #Fibromyalgia #MCAS #POTS #TBIs #EnduranceCoaching #InvisibleIllness

You can find out more about Julie's approach to coaching on her website: www.movementwithme.com

or, find Julie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movement_with_me

Don't forget to check out the podcast playlist on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=867eb9ca16b94ac4

Episode 5: Memes are Tiny Prayers

In this episode, I'm joined by the incredible Lior Ocean, an intuitive medium, fine artist, and beacon of light. Lior shares their story of navigating long covid, chronic illness, and disability while finding solace in art and spirituality. Lior speaks from a very unique perspective - they worked on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2016 and 2017. Just before the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, they obtained a Master's Degree in Infectious Diseases.

We delve into the philosophy of non-duality, and Lior shares insights on its intersection with chronic illness and how spirituality influences their approach to life's challenges. Recording this episode was honestly very healing for me, as Lior and I discuss how to start learning to trust your intuition when you feel like you can't trust your body. I cried about 4 times editing this conversation!

You can find Lior at https://www.liorocean.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/liorocean/

Books mentioned in this episode:


Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski


When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron


Loving Our Own Bones: Disability Wisdom and the Spiritual Subversiveness of Knowing Ourselves Whole by Julia Watts Belser

Episode 4: Oat-my-goodness, Chef!

In this episode of "A Friend for the Long Haul," I invite you to pull up a chair and join a warm, inviting conversation with Chef Taryn Marquez.

Through her incredible journey battling severe COVID-19, Taryn emerged not only as a survivor but as a beacon for many. Join us as we delve into her courageous story, sharing laughs, tears, and a delicious recipes along the way.



On the Menu: Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Get ready to tantalize your tastebuds as we whip up one of Chef Taryn's signature treats! These delectable snacks aren't just about flavor – they're full of nutrition.


1/2 cup maple syrup 
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons peanut butter 
3/4 cup GF rolled oats 
3 tablespoons mini vegan chocolate chips
1 tablespoon Zivolife functional food powder (or chia or flax seeds)
3 tablespoons cocoa powder

Mix all ingredients thoroughly, form into balls or any shape that suits you on parchment and refrigerate overnight. 

In our friendly kitchen chat, we'll explore:

Taryn's COVID Experience: From her challenging stay in the hospital to her remarkable road to recovery, hear firsthand how she overcame the odds with unwavering determination and a sprinkle of culinary magic.

Bloom-19: Spreading Awareness and Deliciousness: Discover the story behind Taryn's initiative, Bloom-19, and how she's using her platform to share recipes tailored for fellow long Covid sufferers.

Looking Forward with Hope: Taryn has big dreams for the future and we discuss the silver linings she's discovered amidst the storm. Through her optimism, we're reminded of the importance of savoring (food pun!) each moment.

The Importance of Family: At the heart of Taryn's journey lies a profound appreciation for the love and support of family. We'll explore the role of connection, compassion, and community in navigating life's toughest challenges, including caring for her father with the help of her sister, Cindy.

So grab your apron, pour yourself a cup of comfort, and join us for an episode filled with warmth, wisdom, and of course, a sprinkle of culinary delight. Oh, and there are some bloopers in there, too.

Taryn's website and store can be found at https://www.bloom-19.com/ 

and you can find her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bloom19official/

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and give me and the guest some stars. :)

Episode 3: A Developing Friendship


In this episode of A Friend for the Long Haul, I chat with John Zeising about his career as an EMT and firefighter, his passion for photography, and the unexpected turn his life took after getting COVID-19 on his Christmas Eve shift in 2020. Discover the profound impact of disability advocacy on his life and how he remains committed to serving his community.



This episode was recorded later in the day on a Friday, during a week when I had traveled out of town for the first time in a long time. I was dealing with post-exertional malaise as a result. You may find that I'm a little slower than usual to compute and there may be some rambling, but it's real life with long Covid, so I'm just going to roll with it.



You can find out more about John by going to his website, 4th Dimension Photography LLC (johnzeising.com)


John's podcast is called Long Covid - Sharing the Journey and you can find it on Spotify.



Follow the A Friend for the Long Haul podcast playlist on Spotify! Each guest shares a song that relates to their experience with Long Covid.



John is also on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/colorado_sky/



Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and give me and the guest some stars. :)

Episode 2: That Time Megan Bit into an Onion

In the second episode of A Friend for the Long Haul, join host Beth and her darling friend Megan as they delve into the depths of online girl friendship. Remember in the intro episode of this podcast, when Beth said that her brand is dark humor as a coping mechanism? If you thought the intro was relatable, wait until she starts chatting with Megan. Despite a significant age gap and never having met face-to-face, Beth and Megan share a bond that transcends time and distance. Megan is the powerhouse behind Fancy Free Nursery in Tampa, Florida (we'll give some credit to her husband Robby, too) and she opens up about her battle with long Covid since November 2020.

Tune in as Megan chats about her pre-illness dedication to fitness, the challenges of running a small business while chronically ill, covid-conscious family dynamics, and raising awareness of Covid's impact on children. Plus, don't miss Megan's ingenious STEM project idea for school kids.

Important Links:

Megan's business website, Fancy Free Nursery: https://www.fancyfreenursery.com/

Fancy Free's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancyfreenursery/


Follow the A Friend for the Long Haul ⁠podcast playlist on Spotify!⁠ Each guest shares a song that relates to their experience with Long Covid.



Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and give me and the guest some stars.