A Friend for the Long Haul: A Long Covid Podcast

Welcome to season 3, episode 10 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long COVID Podcast! I got the chance to chat with Angeliska Polacheck for this episode. Angeliska is the beautiful soul behind Sister Temperance Tarot. They have been voted best tarot/psychic in Austin, Texas for 11 years in a row! I found Angeliska on social media about 13 years ago, (via the great Austin connector, Spike Gillespie - whose work you should absolutely read) and as time passed we discovered that we have so much in common, including eerily similar astrological charts and health diagnoses.

Angel...

Hey, friends! Welcome to season 3, episode 9 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid podcast. This is a conversation I needed to have, and I'm so glad Lissy Donovan (my friend and a coach for people with busy brains) was here for it. I dive into my recent discovery of a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) I’d been pretending wasn't a thing for years, as well as our later-in-life ADHD diagnoses. Lissy was diagnosed in her mid-30s, and I got diagnosed post-COVID. If you've been listening for a while, you know I don't know how to...

I’m having surgery TOMORROW, September 22nd, and could use some support. I have a gift registry set up if you’d like to help me out. It’s truly deeply appreciated. 

Welcome to season 3, episode 8 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast. This time, I got to gab with Paul Hennessy, who you know as @mixpaulogy on Instagram and @paulypandemic on TikTok. We talked about Paul’s Long Covid advocacy work, including what led him to get involved in 2021, and his work with organizations like Clean Air LA and Mask Together America...

Welcome to Season 3, Episode 7 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! In this week's conversation, I am joined by Steph Fowler, LCPC, CADC, who you may remember from Season 1, Episode 11. I love this description from the bio on Steph's website: "Other things to know: among my many identities, I am multiply-neurodivergent, chronically ill and disabled (Long COVID ‘20), an INFJ, ex-vangelical, and recovering perfectionist. In The Before Times, I enjoyed kickboxing, running, cosplay, karaoke, travel, cat cafes, and live lit/storytelling. Nowadays I enjoy gardening, nature, writing, photography, LEGO, subversion, and all things macabre." Steph is...

Welcome to this bonus episode of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! Season 3, Episode 6 features Claire Jones and Amaranthia Sepia, the mother/daughter duo behind Sista Creatives Rising. The mission of Sista Creatives Rising is "To help creative marginalized women and marginalized genders gain accessibility and visibility in the arts to facilitate personal healing."

In this episode, we discuss:

Welcome to season 3, episode 5 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! In this episode, I talk to our friend, Chuck, known as @whatexactlyisupchuck on social media. We dive into the politics of protection, the power of community care, and how Chuck planned a Covid-safer wedding in a world that often forgets the chronically ill. Chuck shares her experience navigating disability justice and mask advocacy in Texas. From confronting anti-mask legislation to celebrating love safely, this conversation is a heartfelt reminder that accessibility is love in action

Topics include:

This episode could also be titled, "A Capricorn & a Pisces Walk Into a Podcast." In season 3, episode 4 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast, I welcome back my friend and pacing buddy, Katrina Dreamer. Katrina was a guest on season 2, where we discussed how they kicked off Covid Safe Colorado, our local mask bloc. This is a very different conversation! In this episode, we discuss:

If you'd like to support this one-disabled-woman-produced podcast, check out my ⁠Bonfire site for silly long covid apparel⁠. Items bought in the shop support the renewal of my Zoom license for recording. Many items co-support other chronically ill friends. I also have an ⁠Amazon wishlist ⁠and ⁠Storefront⁠. I'll get a few pennies if you purchase your everyday items through the links in my storefront. You can also Venmo me @afriend4thelonghaul.

Welcome to another episode of A Friend for the Long Haul: A Long Covid Podcast! This is part 2 of my conversation with Nina Storey. In this episode, we talk...

If you'd like to support this one-woman-produced podcast, check out my ⁠Bonfire site for silly long covid apparel⁠. Items bought in the shop support the renewal of my Zoom license for recording. Many items co-support other chronically ill friends. I also have an ⁠Amazon wishlist ⁠and ⁠Storefront⁠. I'll get a few pennies if you purchase your everyday items through the links in my storefront. You can also Venmo me @afriend4thelonghaul. ---Welcome to Season 3, Episode 3 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long COVID Podcast! I got to sit down and talk with my dear friend, Grammy-nominated artist, and inc...

A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast 100% produced by a disabled Covid long hauler. If you'd like to support my work, please check out the following ways you can do so:

A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast 100% produced by a disabled Covid long hauler. If you'd like to support my work, please check out the following ways you can do so:

Hi! I remain alive! Here’s a special announcement for season 3 (!) of A Friend for the Long Haul! 💜💝

A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast 100% produced by a disabled Covid long hauler. If you'd like to support my work, please check out the following ways you can do so:

A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast 100% produced by a disabled Covid long hauler. If you'd like to support my work, please check out the following ways you can do so:

A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast 100% produced by a disabled Covid long hauler. If you'd like to support my work, please check out the following ways you can do so:

Welcome to a special pre-holidays ep of A Friend for the Long Haul! This is just shy of 2.5 hours but full of good chats. Here’s the guest list!

Caryn Zaner (0:01:01) is a clinical psychologist specializing in helping folks with identity & values alignment, anxiety, & group therapy. Find their professional Instagram account here. My obsession with Caryn started with this post on still Coviding and attachment theory. We discuss the stinky onion of grief, lost friendships, & values alignment. We get into setting boundaries - are we asking permission instead of actually setting them? Is it effective to appeal to...

Welcome to season 2 episode 9 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! This week's guest is Dr. David Putrino, Professor of Rehabilitation and Human Performance at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Director of Rehabilitation Innovation for the Mount Sinai Health System was appointed the Nash Family Director of the CoRE - and so many other things. Dr. Putrino and I discussed the onset of the pandemic, its impacts on him and his team (we feel like we’ve aged about 10 years since March 2020), and how the work they did early on influenced th...

Welcome to season 2 episode 8 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! This week I chat with Jaydo, who you probably know from TikTok and Instagram. Jaydo creates videos focused on "Things You Should Know About Covid," and they've been incredibly successful.

In this episode we discuss:

Welcome to season 2 episode 6 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! This episode features my friend, Laura Thomas. Laura and I met in an Austin, Texas-based long covid support group, and started talking when she found out that I had moved from Texas because I discovered that my MCAS symptoms improved out of state.

Laura hosts a podcast called Rescued By A Dog, which features stories of dogs saving their people. In this episode, Laura and I discuss:

Welcome to season 2 episode 5 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast. This episode features Lola Germs, a self-described "pandemic communicator + disabled guy w AuDHD + a funky rare genetic disease." We met on Instagram and once we got to talking we realized we share a lot of weird funky health stuff and our life and work trajectories have been similar in a lot of ways. Lola shares information about the pandemic in a way that's inclusive, creative, and accessible - which is not an easy thing to do, especially with such complex information! We talk...

Welcome to season 2 episode 4 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! Join me for a conversation with Merel and JC. Merel leads the Long Covid Choir, and JC is a member. Discover how this unique community has brought joy and support to those living with the debilitating effects of Long Covid. In this episode, we delve into the origins of the choir, how to join, and what to expect from the weekly sessions. Learn about some support group events and Merel's work with Long Covid Kids groups, and the things that bring us joy...

Welcome to season 2 episode 3 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! In this episode I chat with Jess London. Jess created an app called TurnTo, which curates the latest research, lived experiences, tips, and insights - so you can find new answers in what's called your "daily drop." It is currently live in Cerebral Palsy, Long Covid, ME/CFS, and Parkinson’s. I was on the early release team for the Long Covid/ME app, and Jess and I got on so well from the start, I wanted to chat with her to learn mo...

Welcome to season 2 episode 2 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! Thank you for being here! Join me as I chat with Joe Glasgow, who you may know from his Instagram or TikTok. You may also be subscribed to his Substack, Chronically Creating. If you're not, you should be. Each week, Joe offers a prompt and a quote to those of us who may feel we've lost our creative spark due to chronic illness. Joe and I discuss his Covid "journey," his history in comedy, travel, and podcasting, and how that led to him...

Welcome to season two of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! Thank you for being here! For episode one, join me as I sit down with Katrina and Corey, the founders of Covid Safe Colorado. Covid Safe Colorado is a grassroots organization dedicated to providing high-quality masks to vulnerable communities in the state. Learn about their journey from starting a mask bloc to building a supportive network of volunteers.

In this episode, we delve into the challenges and triumphs of pandemic activism, the importance of community-led initiatives, and the personal impact of...

Season 1 Episode 17

In this final episode of the podcast for season 1, I got to chat with Sophie, the founder and Creative Director of Berlin Buyers Club. From their website: "Berlin Buyers Club was born in March 2023 with three goals:

1. To spread awareness of Long Covid and adjacent diseases in a way that is relatable and accessible to younger people, as well as anyone else who feels drawn to the vibe.

2. To encourage people to get involved in advocating for Long Covid & ME/CFS research, treatments, preventatives, and cures.

3. To offer a...

Season 1 Episode 16: Damn it, Amy!

Join me as I chat with Amy, a writer, social worker, long covid & ME/CFS advocate, and the brilliant mind behind The Tonic (https://amythetonic.substack.com/) – a refreshing blend of wellness resources and stories for those battling chronic illness.

In this episode, we discuss:

...

Episode 15: The Five Gifts - Discovering Hope, Healing and Strength When Disaster Strikes

This week on A Friend for the Long Haul, I welcome a fellow traveler on the path of chronic illness! Dr. Laurie Nadel, a renowned journalist and therapist, joins us to share her incredible journey.

Dr. Nadel has battled chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and COPD, and understands the physical and emotional toll of long-term illness. We'll delve into her amazing career, her own struggles with chronic illness, trauma, and loss - and her dedication to helping Long Haulers. Some history from Dr...

Episode 14: I Got Bit by the Zombie and I'm not Telling You

This week's episode of A Friend for the Long Haul - a Podcast for Long Covid Friends features Jacob. Listening to the very beginning, I realized that I refer to Jacob as "him." Their pronouns are they/them, and I'd like to acknowledge that and apologize for making assumptions. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ASSUME.

I'm just gonna add a list of where you can find them now, because they are lovely and I am an old lady and if my...

Mark Your Calendars! The Teal Reveal is Almost Here! ✨

Calling all #chronic illness and #longcovid warriors! Join me and Chimere on this bonus episode of A Friend for the Long Haul as we chat about her upcoming virtual prom, The Teal Reveal, happening in just TWO WEEKS!

The Teal Reveal is more than just a party – it's a celebration of resilience and community. This inclusive event supports a fantastic cause:

Episode 13: An Emotion Soup

Ever feel like you get the "you look great!" when you definitely don't feel great? Join me and Amy (https://www.instagram.com/longcovidrockstar/) on this episode of A Friend for the Long Haul as we tackle the frustrating things people say to those with chronic illness and long covid. We get real about the pressure to perform and the emotional toll of "have you tried X?"

But this episode isn't all venting! Amy's a total rockstar when it comes to mindset and pacing, and she shares how she reclaimed enjoyment...

Episode 12: Born to be Horizontal, Forced to be Vertical

Navigating Long Covid in Your Early 20s on A Friend for the Long Haul

This week on A Friend for the Long Haul, I'm joined by Ally, who got hit with covid right before her college graduation, which developed into long covid. We explore the unique challenges of starting a new chapter in your twenties after acquiring a chronic illness.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Episode 11: “It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” - Jiddu Krishnamurti Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of A Friend for the Long Haul. I’m incredibly excited about this week's guest, Steph Fowler, the fantastic brain behind Misfit Mental Health. Steph is a therapist with a unique and powerful story that will resonate deeply with the many of us who have felt like we just don’t fit in. In this episode, Steph and I discuss: Steph’s "Misfit" Experience: We start with Steph’s personal story, where she shares the challeng...

Episode 10: The 11th Recording and 10th Release

Welcome back to another episode of A Friend for the Long Haul! I’m happy to have Wanda Belisle join me for this episode. Wanda is a Registered Health Coach who’s aim is to help people with ME/CFS and Long Covid.

In this episode, Wanda and I dive deep into her story and the work she’s doing:

Wanda's Prior History with Post-Viral Illness and ME/CFS: We kick things off by exploring Wanda’s own battle with post-viral illness and ME/CFS, which started...

Welcome back to A Friend for the Long Haul with me, your host, Beth. This week, I am joined by Alysia Dagrosa, a board-certified patient advocate, full-spectrum doula, certified lactation counselor, Endometriosis advocate, and first wave long hauler.

In this deeply personal episode, Alysia recounts the early days of the pandemic, contracting COVID-19 in March 2020, and the challenges she faced living with and caring for her family during lockdown. From her father’s cabin fever-induced escapades THAT WILL INFURIATE YOU to the severe health complications that followed, Alysia's story is both harrowing and heartfelt. She opens up ab...

Season 1 Episode 8: We Really Went off Script Join me, Beth, on this week’s episode of A Friend for the Long Haul, as I have a heartfelt conversation with my dear friend Katy. Katy (a first wave Covid long hauler from Canada) and I have known each other online since 2020. When I announced that Katy was going to be on the podcast, I said that I couldn't remember my Covid life without her. Our experience through the trials of long covid has brought us closer together and we’re sharing our stories with you. In this episode, we reflect on t...

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...

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...

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...

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 w...

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...