Our relationships don't exist in a vacuum — and for men with cystic fibrosis, mental health is often the missing piece of the conversation. This, despite the fact that patients with CF are 22.2% more likely to be depressed, and 42.4% more likely to have anxiety compared with the general population. Depression impacts not just our treatment adherence and quality of life, but also our relationships and sexual health. This episode, we sit down with Pete Proimos of the Filotimo Foundation and Tyler Byrd, LIMHP, to talk candidly about how mental health shapes everything from day-to-day wellbeing to parenting and connection. We dig into how modulator therapies have shifted the landscape for people with CF, what the road to parenthood looks like, and why emotional health deserves just as much attention as physical health. Bold Enough to Ask tackles the sexual and reproductive health questions people with CF don't always get to ask out loud — with Season 1 centering the experiences of men living with CF. Bold Enough to Ask is brought to you by BreatheStrong CF. Produced by Katherine Russell and Georgia Brown. If you are concerned about your mental health, you can reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 9-8-8. Host: Chad Bautch Chad was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 3 years old. When Chad was diagnosed, the doctors told his parents that the average life of a CF patient was 14. Chad had a normal childhood; he played many sports, was involved in high school clubs, and even spent two summers working outdoors. In college, Chad met Heidi and fell head over heels in love. They got married young; Chad was 21 and Heidi was 20. In 2002, Chad and Heidi welcomed their first child, Carter, into the family. In 2009, twins Landon and Millie were born. In January of 2014, the physicians at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Fairview accepted Chad into the transplant program, and in mid-2016, Chad received a life-changing lung transplant. He has been a speaker at the CFF BreatheCon. Guest: Pete Proimos Pete Proimos is an entrepreneur, advocate, and the founder of the Filotimo Foundation. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth, Pete has transformed his lived experience into a mission to break down barriers for others navigating chronic illness, infertility, and adoption. With a background in sales and philanthropy, he leads the Foundation’s strategic vision and national expansion efforts, ensuring families facing hardship can access the support they deserve. Guest: Tyler Byrd Tyler Byrd, LIMHP is a licensed mental health practitioner, speaker, and co-creator of the Edge of Enough framework. As co-founder of Complete Wellness, he specializes in translating evidence-based psychological concepts into practical tools that help individuals build resilience, confidence, and sustainable growth.
