EpiccaTalks

Cassie
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Health & Fitness

EpiccaTalks is the podcast for anyone and everyone living with an invisible illness. With your host, Cassie, we'll explore practical frameworks, actionable strategies, and personal stories that help you navigate the difficulties of day-to-day life; everything from sharpening your inner mindset, communicating with friends and family, dealing with burnout, making treatment suck just a bit less, and more. Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been living with a chronic condition for years, you'll leave each episode empowered with new tools and strategies to put into action. Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences, perspectives, and practical strategies for navigating life with an invisible illness. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your circumstances. The host and guests are not responsible for actions taken based off of information shared in this podcast.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    #6: Deborah Bircham on Living Well with Lyme, MCAS & Chronic Illness

    Send us Fan Mail EpiccaTalks #6: Deborah Bircham In this episode, Cassie sits down with Deborah Bircham, a registered health coach and mindfulness teacher, to discuss her decades-long journey with invisible illness. From an early age, Deborah grappled with unexplained pain and fatigue, and experienced a catastrophic collapse at age 40 that led to a diagnosis of Lyme disease and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). Deborah shares how she navigated healthcare after being dismissed by doctors, the role of tick-borne co-infections, and how her health crisis led her to become a mindfulness teacher and health coach. Topics Covered: Why a missing bullseye rash doesn't mean you're in the clear for Lyme diseaseThe hidden co-infections (Bartonella, Babesia, Rickettsia) that hitch a ride with tick bites — and why they get missedHow chronic illness can be misdiagnosed as a mental health conditionThe real science behind mindfulness: what it does to your amygdala and prefrontal cortexWhy your nervous system can get "stuck" — and how that's a physical issue, not a personal failingGrieving the identity and life you thought you'd have, and what "acceptance" actually meansFinding a new sense of self when illness strips away who you thought you wereA Note On Lyme Not all ticks in the UK carry Lyme, but if you get bitten by a tick, it's important to seek healthcare from a qualified source promptly. Check out resources from Lyme Disease UK https://lymediseaseuk.com/help-ive-been-bitten-by-a-tick/ or the American Lyme Disease Foundation https://aldf.com/tick-identification-and-information/#prevent. Connect with Deborah Check out Deborah's work at https://livewellwithchronicillness.co.uk/, shoot her an email at livewellwithchronicillness@outlook.com, or on social media at Live Well With Chronic Illness. Want More EpiccaTalks? Connect with us @epiccatalks on Instagram! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

  2. Sep 10

    #5: Joe Lenton on Living with MS, Personal Authenticity Coaching and Positive Psychology

    Send us Fan Mail EpiccaTalks #5: Joe Lenton  In this episode, Cassie sits down with Joe Lenton, a personal authenticity coach from Norfolk. Joe was a linguist and professional musician before a multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis reshaped his life and career. He shares how invisible illness led him through music, photography, and eventually coaching. Topics covered: Joe's six-month journey to an MS diagnosis and his early symptomsThe difference between being "tired" and being "fatigued" — including his and his wife's "tea and coffee" vs. "shoelaces" fatigue scaleHow losing guitar-playing ability due to MS impacted his mental health and identityTransitioning from music to photography as a therapeutic, pacing-friendly creative outletBurning out as a commercial photographer and discovering he's autisticWhat positive psychology actually is (and isn't) — debunking "toxic positivity"Finding meaning through values and strengths, not just "what you're good at"Practical strategies for managing fatigue and energy as a coach to neurodivergent clients and small business ownersThe science of nature and how time outdoors (even passively) helps regulate stressRediscovering authentic passions by reconnecting with childhood curiosity and playAdvice for people who don't know where to start finding their passionsThe "out-of-pocket question of the day": horse-sized duck vs. 20 duck-sized horsesLearn more about Joe's work: Go check out Joe's coaching at joelenton.coach or @joelenton.coach on Instagram! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

  3. Sep 4

    #4: The Power Of A Piano + How Music Can Act As A Lifeline When Living With Invisible Illness

    Send us Fan Mail EpiccaTalks Episode 4: The Power Of A Piano + How Music Can Act As A Lifeline When Living With Invisible Illness In this solo episode, host Cassie explores the often-overlooked role music can play in coping with invisible illness and chronic conditions. In this episode: Cassie shares the story of her two-week hospital stay for Lyme disease treatment in summer 2023, and how a piano in the hospital lobby became an unexpected source of comfortHow music offers an identity beyond being a "patient" — becoming a musician, creator, or fan insteadWhy music can be a physical emotional release when workouts aren't an option due to fatigue or painPractical ways to bring more music into your life, whether or not you consider yourself a musician:Playing solo or joining a music-making group (choir, band, jazz/folk group)Learning an instrument on a budget — free YouTube resources, secondhand instruments, apps like Yousician and Simply PianoThe ukulele as a joint-pain-friendly alternative to guitarEnjoying music without playing it — curated playlists, local live music at coffee shops and small venuesStudies on the physiological benefits of music: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17437199.2020.1846580https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26142566/https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/178400/Connect: Follow on Instagram: @epiccatalks for guest announcements and bonus contentGo check out our guest announcement for next week on Instagram!Challenge: what what music has gotten you through a tough time? Go comment on our Instagram or DM Cassie directly @epiccatalks.Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

  4. Aug 28

    #3: Stephen Walters on Happiness, Forward Momentum, and the Relationship Between Positivity and Vulnerability

    Send us Fan Mail About This Episode In the third episode of EpiccaTalks, Cassie sits down with Stephen Walters — entrepreneur, lecturer, mentor, and coach — for a deeply honest conversation about mindset, vulnerability, and the power of human connection. Stephen shares the formative childhood experience that shaped his life's mission, and unpacks why true positivity starts not with toxic optimism, but with radical honesty and vulnerability. What We Cover How a traumatic night at age eight led Stephen to make three life-defining promises to himselfStephen's journey from the shop floor to the boardroom — and why he considers those 12 years his real apprenticeshipThe concept of your "internal pharmacy" — what it is, why everyone has one, and how to start accessing itThe unexpected link between vulnerability and positivity — and why you can't have one without the other"Story sharing" vs. telling — a reframe that changes how you open up to othersBaby steps into vulnerability: how sharing small things builds trust and confidence over timeThe power of replacing "I have to" with "I get to"Stephen's grandmother's advice that changed how he moves through the worldConnect Connect with Stephen at https://www.askstephen.co.uk/, and check out his app Ask Stephen on the app store! For more EpiccaTalks, follow us @epiccatalks on Instagram. We would love to hear your story; shoot us a DM or comment here.  Disclaimer The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, mental health, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

  5. Aug 21

    #2: Finbarr Carter on Resilience, Compassion, and Finding Balance with Bipolar Disorder

    Send us Fan Mail EpiccaTalks — Episode #2: Finbarr Carter on Resilience, Compassion, and Finding Balance with Bipolar Disorder UPDATE: New episodes of EpiccaTalks will now be dropping every week! Thank you to our listeners for your support. About our guest Finbarr is a qualified teacher, NLP business practitioner, and CTI co-active coach with additional training in process-oriented psychology and non-violent communication. He works as a Student Enterprise Officer at the University of East Anglia, has been part of his family's business Rebel Lion Sound System since age 18, and founded Roots Arena to support UK roots and culture artists. Above all, the role he values most is being a father of four. What we cover What it's really like living with bipolar — the long depressive periods vs. the "touched by God" highs, and how each affects work, sleep, parenting, and relationshipsDaily wellbeing practices that help: nature walks, swimming, yoga, intermittent fasting, hydration, and staying socially connectedThe power of self-talk and self-compassion — and how years of therapy helped Finbarr drop self-degrading language for goodWhy "living with" bipolar (rather than "suffering from" it) reframes the relationship to illnessThe New Economics Foundation's Five Ways to Wellbeing: Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Give, and Take Notice (learn more about this framework by visiting the New Economic Foundation website, or by reading this report: https://new-economicsf.files.svdcdn.com/production/files/five-ways-to-wellbeing-1.pdf?dm=1584709195)The fear of stigma when disclosing an invisible illness — at work, with family, and in relationships — and why openness tends to build connection rather than break itHow to reach out for support (and how to encourage loved ones to "reach in") using tools from non-violent communicationGrief, guilt, and healing after his father's suicide, and how self-compassion work helped him process itFinbar's new project, Eulogies for the Living, celebrating people's lives while they're still here to hear it. Check out one of Finbarr's Eulogies for the Living here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/finbarrcarter_eulogy-for-the-living-part-three-this-one-activity-7488838881547669504-cmTC and follow him on LinkedIn to see more. Or, share your own eulogy to the living and tag him!A lighthearted close with our new segment, the Out-of-Pocket QuestionContent note: This episode includes discussion of suicide, depression, and mental illness. Please take care while listening. Connect: Follow @epiccatalks on Instagram for guest announcements, and share your own story via DM or comment. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

  6. Aug 14

    #1: What Is An Invisible Illness? + What I Learned When My Invisible Illness Was Made Visible

    Send us Fan Mail EpiccaTalks — Episode #1: What Is An Invisible Illness? + What I Learned When My Invisible Illness Was Made Visible Welcome to the very first episode of the EpiccaTalks podcast, a show for anyone navigating daily life with an invisible illness. In this episode, host Cassie introduces herself, the podcast's mission, and lays the foundation for Season 1. In this episode: The host of EpiccaTalks, Cassie, introduces herself and shares her personal journey with Lyme diseaseWhat exactly is an "invisible illness"? A breakdown of the definition and examples; from chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, lupus, and Lyme, to chronic migraines, POTS, MCAS, Crohn's, endometriosis, and long COVID, as well as mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD (and how these conditions often overlap)A personal story from summer 2023: after a two-week hospital treatment for Lyme disease, Cassie began walking with a cane as a precaution, and experienced firsthand how people's treatment of her changed once her illness became visibleReflections on why invisible illnesses deserve their own conversation, and what people with these conditions wish others understoodRelease schedule: New episodes every other week on Fridays, 5:00 PM GMT / 9:00 AM PST Connect: Follow @epiccatalks on Instagram for guest announcements, and share your own story via DM or comment. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual circumstances.

  • 6 Episodes

About

EpiccaTalks is the podcast for anyone and everyone living with an invisible illness. With your host, Cassie, we'll explore practical frameworks, actionable strategies, and personal stories that help you navigate the difficulties of day-to-day life; everything from sharpening your inner mindset, communicating with friends and family, dealing with burnout, making treatment suck just a bit less, and more. Whether you're newly diagnosed or have been living with a chronic condition for years, you'll leave each episode empowered with new tools and strategies to put into action. Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences, perspectives, and practical strategies for navigating life with an invisible illness. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your circumstances. The host and guests are not responsible for actions taken based off of information shared in this podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Cassie
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 EpiccaTalks
  • Show Website
    EpiccaTalks