The Survival Project

Jonathan Healy
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  • MENTAL HEALTH
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The Survival Project is a podcast about health, resilience, and the power of shared experience. We all face battles; for our health, for our wellbeing, for survival itself. This podcast is a space to explore those battles honestly, whether you’re living with chronic illness yourself or supporting someone you love. “Your story can be someone else’s survival guide” - The Survival Project exists to do just that: turn lived experience into a guide for others.

  1. 1D AGO

    030 - “I Turned My Chronic Illness Into A Career”, Turning Pain Into Purpose - Oliver Achard Ravn

    In Episode 30 I sit down with Oliver for a powerful and honest conversation about chronic illness, identity, isolation, and purpose. Oliver shares his journey of first developing psoriasis as a teenager before later being diagnosed with IBD during the chaos of 2020. He speaks openly about the long and frustrating road to diagnosis, the fear and trauma of hospitalisation, and the mental strain of trying to make sense of a body that suddenly feels unpredictable. We also go deep into the ripple effect of chronic illness, not just on the person living with it, but on parents, partners, friends, and the people trying their best to understand what they cannot fully see. A major part of this episode is Oliver’s work with Chronicare, a platform he created to help people living with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and IBD feel less alone, track symptoms more clearly, and take more control in the time between hospital appointments. It is a brilliant example of turning pain into purpose. This episode touches on: Psoriasis and IBD Crohn’s disease vs ulcerative colitis Delayed diagnosis and medical frustration Hospital trauma and mental health Communication with family and loved ones Living with flare-ups and uncertainty Building purpose through chronic illness Creating a better support system for people with IBD This is a conversation about patience, perspective, and slowly learning how to build a life around something you never asked for. If this episode resonates with you, please share it with someone who might need it. Search "Chronicare" in the app store or google play.

    50 min

  2. APR 14

    029 - Relearning To Walk At 23: Double Hip Replacement Due To Perthes Disease - Jack Brennan

    At 23 years old, Jack Brennan was forced to relearn how to walk. After a childhood diagnosis of Perthes disease, Jack spent years living with chronic pain, navigating a system that told him he was “too young” for the surgery he desperately needed. While his condition worsened, he was left trying to hold his life together physically, mentally, and emotionally. In this conversation, Jack opens up about what it’s really like to grow up in pain, the impact it had on his identity and confidence, and the frustration of knowing there was a solution… but being denied access to it. We explore the mental battle of chronic pain, the importance of self-advocacy, and what it takes to keep going when your body feels like it’s working against you. After fighting for years, Jack eventually underwent a double hip replacement. What followed was one of the toughest periods of his life… learning to walk again from scratch. Now, he’s rebuilding. Physically. Mentally. And emotionally. This episode is about resilience, perspective, and the reality that recovery isn’t always a clean finish line… sometimes it’s learning to live, rebuild, and push forward anyway. If this episode resonates with you, please share it with someone who might need to hear it. You can find Jack on socials: TikTok - @jack__brennan IG - @jack__brennan_

    59 min

  3. APR 7

    028 - Ignored By The HSE, Forced Abroad For Treatment: Karin’s Fight Against Lyme Disease - Karin O'Shea

    In Episode 28 of The Survival Project, Jonathan sits down with Karin O'Shea for a deeply moving conversation about living with chronic Lyme disease, years of misdiagnosis, neurological symptoms, medical gaslighting, and the fight to access life-saving treatment abroad after being failed by the healthcare system in Ireland. Karin shares how her symptoms began in childhood, how she was initially diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and how her condition deteriorated into something far more severe, including vertigo, chronic migraines, memory issues, loss of motor function, inability to walk, and seizure-like episodes. After being told to simply “get comfortable” with a worsening condition, she took matters into her own hands, sent her bloods to Germany, and eventually travelled abroad for intensive chronic Lyme treatment that saved her life. This episode explores the emotional and physical toll of long-term illness, the trauma of not being believed, the reality of living with invisible symptoms, and the strength it takes to rebuild a life after survival. Karen also speaks powerfully about: chronic Lyme disease in Ireland neurological Lyme symptoms misdiagnosis and medical gaslighting fundraising for treatment abroad living with long-term nerve pain and fatigue pacing, rest, and invisible illness sleep struggles and nervous system healing finding purpose through yoga and chronic illness recovery This is a raw, honest, and inspiring conversation about resilience, grief, identity, healing, and learning how to hold both joy and suffering in the same breath. If this episode resonated with you, please follow, rate, and share The Survival Project.

    52 min

  4. MAR 31

    027 - Olympic Dreams Vs. Ulcerative Colitis: Diegos Comeback - Diego Alejandro Zárate

    In this episode of The Survival Project, I’m joined by Diego for one of the most powerful and honest conversations we’ve had on the podcast. Diego shares his journey from competing at a high level in college and chasing Olympic dreams, to facing relentless injuries, severe gut issues, and a period where everything began to fall apart. From bleeding before races to living out of an attic with no income, this is the reality behind the scenes of elite sport that very few people ever see. We dive into: the pressure of high performance sport losing your identity as an athlete navigating chronic illness and uncertainty the mental toll of setbacks and repeated obstacles letting go of outcomes and finding freedom again rebuilding your life with a new perspective This episode is a reminder that sometimes the path we’re forcing isn’t the one meant for us… and that stepping away can be the very thing that brings us back stronger. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow, rate, and share it with someone who might need to hear it.

    1h 22m

  5. MAR 24

    026 - Ayahuasca & A Crohn’s Diagnosis While Pregnant: Tanikas Journey - Tanika Gomes

    In this episode of The Survival Project, I am joined by Tanika for an honest conversation about Crohn’s disease, pregnancy, stress, trauma, flares, and motherhood. Tanika shares how she went from having no major stomach issues to repeated hospital visits, months of uncertainty, and eventually receiving a Crohn’s diagnosis while pregnant. She opens up about the emotional toll of living with chronic illness, the fear that comes with flares, postpartum setbacks, medication worries, and the reality of trying to care for a child while also trying to care for yourself. This episode explores: getting diagnosed with Crohn’s during pregnancy the possible link between stress, trauma, and gut health what Crohn’s flares really feel like the mental burden of chronic illness medication fears and learning what works for your body fasting, movement, self-care, and staying present the importance of support, patience, and speaking kindly to yourself A very real episode for anyone living with Crohn’s disease, colitis, chronic illness, gut health issues, or pregnancy-related health fears. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow, rate, and share the podcast.

    35 min

  6. MAR 17

    025 - Why You Can’t Sleep (And How to Fix It). Advice From A S.L.E.E.P Expert - Tom Coleman

    In this episode of The Survival Project, I am joined by Tom Coleman, health scientist and sleep specialist, for a deep conversation on sleep, stress, circadian rhythm, recovery, and modern life. Tom shares why so many people are struggling with sleep, the biggest misconceptions around insomnia, why light sleep is just as important as deep sleep, and how stress, screens, caffeine, supplements, and daily habits all influence the quality of our rest. We also discuss: why sleep problems often start long before bedtime the connection between stress, hypervigilance, chronic illness, and poor sleep how circadian rhythm really works whether magnesium, melatonin, and sleeping tablets actually help why shift workers and parents have such a tough time with sleep simple practical tools to start improving sleep naturally This episode is full of grounded, practical advice for anyone dealing with insomnia, broken sleep, racing thoughts, stress, chronic fatigue, or nervous system overload. If sleep has been a struggle for you, this conversation is for you. To contact Tom or learn more about his work you can do so at https://www.tomcoleman.ie

    57 min

  7. MAR 10

    024 - The Healing Power Of Breath: “Its Called Breath-work. There’s Work Involved”. - Joe Forde

    In this episode of The Survival Project, I am joined by Joe Forde for a deep conversation on breath-work, hypnotherapy, anxiety, trauma, and nervous system regulation. Joe shares how breath-work can help us move out of fight-or-flight, why so many people feel wired but tired, and how small daily resets can support better sleep, less stress, and greater emotional balance. The conversation explores how trauma can be held in the body, how hypnotherapy helps shift old patterns, and why learning to regulate the nervous system can be life-changing. A grounded and practical episode for anyone interested in mental health, healing, emotional regulation, chronic stress, and the mind-body connection. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow, rate, and share the podcast. Thank you all for your support! Joe's details are below: Phone number: 087 94 54 546Email: info@joeforde.comWebsites:www.joeforde.com and www.powerofbreath.ieSocials: www.facebook.com/Joevfordewww.instagram.com/joevfordeLink to Your Workday Reset Pdf https://learn.joeforde.com/f/your-workday-reset

    50 min

  8. MAR 3

    023 - “No Ostomy Bags, So They Use Plastic Bags”: The Dark Reality Of Life With A Stoma In Africa - Sam Yiollaris

    In this episode of The Survival Project, Jonathan Healy speaks with Sam Yiollaris, founder of Footprints to Africa, a UK charity redistributing surplus stoma supplies to under-resourced hospitals across Africa. After her colorectal cancer diagnosis and a year living with a stoma, Sam discovered a devastating reality: while life-saving stoma surgery exists in many African countries, access to basic ostomy supplies often does not. The result? Isolation, preventable suffering, and loss of dignity. Footprints to Africa now works to collect and redistribute bowel and bladder medical supplies, support hospitals, reduce medical waste, and restore dignity to ostomates across multiple African nations. This conversation explores:• Life with a stoma• Colorectal cancer and IBD• Global inequality in ostomy care• Chronic illness and isolation• Sustainability and medical waste• The emotional toll of advocacy• How to donate stoma supplies or fundraise If you live with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, colorectal cancer, or an ostomy, this episode will resonate deeply. Listen now and learn how you can support the mission. If this episode moves you, follow the podcast and share it. Donate: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jonathan-footprints2africa?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=020 Contact: sam@footprints2africa.org.uk

    30 min
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About

The Survival Project is a podcast about health, resilience, and the power of shared experience. We all face battles; for our health, for our wellbeing, for survival itself. This podcast is a space to explore those battles honestly, whether you’re living with chronic illness yourself or supporting someone you love. “Your story can be someone else’s survival guide” - The Survival Project exists to do just that: turn lived experience into a guide for others.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonathan Healy
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jonathan Healy
  • Show Website
    The Survival Project

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