The Chronic Illness Playbook Chronic Illness Playbook

It's a "Direct-to-Spoonie" episode, where we're talking to successful Spoonie business owners about their hustles and side-hustles that benefit the larger chronic illness community.

And today we're talking to Michelle, owner of the wildly successful Spoonie Sister Shop (store link and exclusive promo code below)!

Learn how to turn your passion into a thriving business from the shop with thousands of 5-star reviews and almost 28,000 Instagram followers. You won't want to miss Michelle share how she keeps this business thriving while also juggling everything chronic illnesses and rare diseases throw her way. What's her secret?

So order some "Pumpkin spice & no unsolicited medical advice" and check out Michelle's winning gameplan on this week's episode of The Chronic Illness Playbook.

To hear more from Michelle and the Spoonie Sister Shop...
Etsy: etsy.com/shop/SpoonieSisterShop
Use Promo Code "playbookten" for 10% off your order
Instagram: www.instagram.com/spooniesistershop

To hear more from Joe and The Chronic Illness Playbook podcast...
Podcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/chronicillnessplaybook
Website: www.chronicillnessplaybook.com
Support the show

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnessplaybook.substack.com

How does someone juggle a chronic illness and the demands of being a two-sport college athlete, all while attending class full time? You’re about to find out. 

Meet Becca: Becca first got sick in 2014 and has been battling multiple health issues ever since, notably POTS. But this past year, after a long time of not playing because of her illnesses, she stepped onto the basketball court as a college walk-on!
I had to know how she did it, and Becca and I go into some great detail as she outlines how she went from a sedentary life to running up and down the court. Spoiler alert: it did not happen overnight.

Becca also has some battle-tested advice on how to navigate chronic illnesses while in high school. If you have a young Spoonie in your life, this interview is for them.

So take a timeout and huddle up, because Becca has the playbook for how she went from the hospital to the hardwood on this week's The Chronic Illness Playbook.

P.S. Go Lady Wolfpack!

To hear more from Becca:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/becca.joy.m

To hear more from Joe and The Chronic Illness Playbook podcast...
Podcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/chronicillnessplaybook
Website: www.chronicillnessplaybook.com
Support the show

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnessplaybook.substack.com

This is for those days that seem hopeless, the moments that feel insurmountable, the challenges that never stop. This is a story of not just surviving, but thriving. 
And this is Brandon Mouw. 
At 3-years-old Brandon was diagnosed as a Juvenile Type 1 Diabetic. Later in life, he grew to be a brittle diabetic, underwent 9 surgeries, lost a kidney, told that death was imminent, and raised over $250,000 to pay out-of-pocket for a life-saving pancreas-only transplant. 
And after all that, he’s here on this podcast to tell us how he overcame the odds. 
If you’re looking for hope, keep listening. If you want to learn how to be a better advocate for yourself, this is your guy. 
And if you want to be inspired, look no further as Brandon tells us all that and so much more on this week’s The Chronic Illness Playbook.

To hear more from Brandon Mouw:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/brandonmouwofficial/
Website: https://brandonmouw.com/

To hear more from Joe and The Chronic Illness Playbook podcast...
Podcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/chronicillnessplaybook
Website: www.chronicillnessplaybook.com


Support the show

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnessplaybook.substack.com

Is it too much of a tease to say I'm going to have to have Rachel back on for a Part 2?

Meet Rachel Vala, a 25-year veteran of chronic illness, many of which were spent undiagnosed. We tried to fit everything she learned during her long tenure of being undiagnosed and the wealth of knowledge she's amassed since her diagnosis into one podcast, but there are only so many hours in the day! 

You won't want to miss her harrowing journey of searching for a diagnosis; at the time she first got sick, her syndrome didn't even have a proper name. Which makes it kinda hard to diagnose and treat, right?

Come be inspired by her resilience as she uncovers her diet, exercise, and compression wear regimens and take note of her wonderful tips about finding the right support group for you.

All that, and oh so much more on this week's The Chronic Illness Playbook!


Follow Rachel on Instagram: www.instagram.com/rachelvala
Her store where I bought my "Fauci" shirt (it's my new favorite): https://tadgarish.com/

Links Referenced in the Podcast
Center For Chronic Illness: https://instagram.com/centerforchronicillness
https://www.thecenterforchronicillness.org/
Support Group Central: www.supportgroupscentral.com 
Words As Medicine on Instagram: @wordsasmedicine https://www.instagram.com/wordsasmedicine
https://www.wordsasmedicine.com/
Support the show

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnessplaybook.substack.com

Have you ever met someone who, in order to receive a life-saving treatment, had to appeal to one of the highest elected officials in the United States? I have, and her story is inspiring, but all too indicative of the state of healthcare around the world.

This week, we welcome Chronic Jen to the program, as she shares this harrowing tale of advocacy, as well as her journey with Primary Immunodeficiency and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

You won't want to miss when she lets us know the #1 must-have item she brings with her to every ER visit and doctor's appointment. It's something I hadn't even thought to do before talking with her, and will change how I approach meeting new physicians forever.

So listen along as we talk about Jen's holistic approach to her chronic illnesses, debate which of the Seven Dwarfs has PI, and explore the intricacies of her Monday night infusion routine.

All that, and so much more, on this week’s The Chronic Illness Playbook!


For more information on plasma donations, please visit https://www.donatingplasma.org/

To hear more from Chronic Jen...
@ChronicJen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicjen/
Chronic Jen's Blog: https://chronicjen.com/

To hear more from Joe and The Chronic Illness Playbook podcast...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessplaybook  
Support the show

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnessplaybook.substack.com

How do you manage a chronic illness in the Arctic? We’re about to find out with Laura from RA Life Hacks. She runs a fascinating Instagram page focusing on the small changes that can make living with Rheumatoid Arthritis so much easier.

So what are those small changes that have changed Laura’s life? This episode is packed to the gills with Spoonie-tested practical tools, sage advice, and delicious recipes that can only come from a fellow chronic illness warrior.

Listen as @RALifeHacks goes deep into her supplement regimen, explains the biggest misconceptions about RA, and raves about the one product that goes with her almost everywhere. (Hint: it involves a lot of extension cords.)

All that, and so much more, on this week’s The Chronic Illness Playbook!

Links Laura and Joe mentioned on the podcast...
Home Sauna: https://amzn.to/3aevxu1
The Legendary Heating Pad: Thermotex.com
Use code RALIFEHACKS30: $30.50 off the bestselling Platinum unit +free shipping
Voxx Socks: http://spooniesocks.com/
Fitness Trampoline/Rebounder: https://amzn.to/3mca9b7

To hear more from RA Life Hacks and Laura...
RALifeHacks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ralifehacks/
Laura's Etsy Shop, Polar Pen Pal: http://polarpenpal.com

To hear more from Joe and The Chronic Illness Playbook podcast...
Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessplaybook
Joe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessresources 

If you made it this far in the description, please send me a DM on Instagram to let me know! Really interested to see who reads to the bottom of these... :) 
Support the show

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chronicillnessplaybook.substack.com