Live Well with Arthritis

Episode 20: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#20 Remission Roadmap: Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition with The Lupus Dietitian, Tanya Freirich

In this episode, host Emily Johnson welcomes Tanya Freirich (MS, RD, CDN, CDCES), a registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of The Lupus Dietitian.

Tanya is both a clinical dietician and a patient who has lived with autoimmune disease for over 20 years. Maintaining her own remission for over a decade, she shares a science-backed roadmap to reducing inflammation Whether you are dealing with lupus, arthritis, or chronic inflammation, this episode offers practical strategies for recovery.

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Episode 19: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#19 Mind Matters: Transformative Self-Care for the Nervous System with Suzy Reading

In this deeply nurturing episode, host Emily Johnson welcomes chartered psychologist, leading self-care expert, coach and author Suzy Reading, to explore the vital connection between the mind and the body.

Suzy shares her journey with arthritis and what led her to reclaiming the word 'selfish'. She also introduces her '7 Steps to Peace and Power' framework, and somatic practices designed to move the nervous system from a state of high alert, into one of safety...

Episode 18: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#18 Life on the Road: How @anotherdaywithra Navigates Travelling with Arthritis

For this conversational episode, host Emily Johnson welcomes back the incredible Ali DiGiacomo. Ali is a personal trainer, digital writer, and the voice behind @anotherdaywithra, known for her unfiltered and humorous take on life with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Ali opens up about her most ambitious year yet, moving into a 16-foot Airstream trailer and traveling across Europe. Ali shares the 'un-sugarcoated' truth and reality of travelling with arthritis, as well as her essential travel tips.

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Episode 17: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#17 Mind-Body-Gut: Mastering Inflammation with Nutritionist Eli Brecher

In this episode, host Emily Johnson welcomes Eli Brecher (ANutr), a registered associate nutritionist specialising in gut health, immunity, and inflammatory conditions.

Eli has lived with Crohn’s Disease since the age of 8 and brings a deeply empathetic and personal perspective to autoimmunity. She explains the impact of the Mind-Body-Gut Method, and her expertise in clinical nutrition offers a practical bridge between science-backed principles and everyday living.

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Lived Experience

Episode 16: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#16 Breathwork for Pain: Mastering Inflammation with Tim van der Vliet

In this high-energy episode, host Emily Johnson sits down with Tim van der Vliet, a former Amsterdam stock trader turned world-leading breathwork and cold exposure expert. After years in the high-adrenaline world of the trading floor, Tim discovered how to master his body’s stress response using ancient wisdom and modern science.

Tim shares his journey from burnout to becoming a breathwork nerd explaining how his TT Method (Tim’s Techniques) serves as a '£500 pill' for a...

Episode 15: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#15 Social Inflammation: How Relationships Impact Arthritis and Why

Are your relationships inflaming your joints? This week, host Emily Johnson explores the powerful, often invisible connection between your social environment and chronic pain.

Drawing on the latest research in psychoneuroimmunology, Emily explains why 'Social Inflammation' is more than just a feeling, it is a biological reality. From the way chronic conflict triggers pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, to the physical 'heat' of shame and the metabolic cost of self-censoring, this episode reveals how your immune system responds to...

Episode 14: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#14 Root Causes & Remission: A Rheumatologist's Guide to Healing with Dr. Micah Yu

In this enlightening episode, host Emily Johnson welcomes Dr. Micah Yu (MD), a quadruple board-certified integrative rheumatologist specialising in rheumatology, integrative, and functional medicine.

As both a doctor and a patient living with arthritis, Dr. Micah brings a rare, personal perspective to autoimmunity. He explains how to bridge the gap between traditional symptom suppression and a root-cause approach to achieve true, whole-person healing. Dr Micah also wrote the foreword for Emily's first book Beat...

Episode 13: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#13 Movement as Medicine: How Kerrie-Anne’s Methods Relieve Chronic Pain

In this transformational episode, host Emily Johnson welcomes movement expert, author and creator of Move At Your Desk method, Kerrie-Anne Bradley.

Drawing on her personal journey with pain, as well as helping clients with arthritis and spinal injuries, she explains how movement can reduce the inflammatory load and chronic pain. This episode provides a compassionate, evidence-based toolkit for anyone who finds traditional exercise intimidating or painful during an arthritis flare.

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Episode 12: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#12 Winter Arthritis Pain Relief: How to Stay Flare-Free in Cold Weather

Struggling with joint stiffness in cold weather? This is your ultimate survival guide for managing arthritis in winter. Host Emily Johnson dives deep into why cold weather impacts joint pain, explaining the biological reasons why dropping temperatures lead to stiff joints and increased inflammation.

Emily shares her personal success story of staying flare-up free and healthy all season (so far!). With the science behind that 'treacle' feeling in your joints to the vital role of...

Episode 11: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#11 Hormones and Arthritis: Emily’s Period Pain Strategies and More

In this 20-minute episode of The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast, host Emily Johnson navigates the complex relationship between your hormones and joint pain... with a particular attention on periods. Drawing from her current nutritional therapy studies and her own lived experience, Emily shares how hormonal shifts can 'add fuel to the fire' of arthritis inflammation. Discover the science behind why your pain levels change, Emily's personal toolkit for managing period flares, and the surprising role testosterone plays in...

Episode 10: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#10 Route to Recovery: Navigating Chronic Fatigue with Lauren Windas

In this episode, host Emily Johnson is joined by registered nutritionist, naturopath, and author Lauren Windas to tackle one of the most misunderstood symptoms of living with arthritis: chronic fatigue. As the co-founder of Ardere, Lauren brings both professional expertise and personal insight into how we can reclaim our energy.

Drawing on her own journey, Lauren explains the complex science behind Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME) and its significant overlap with inflammatory conditions. She explains why fatigue...

Episode 9: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#9 Yoga for Every Body: Dr. Steffany Moonaz on Reducing Arthritis Pain

In this transformative episode, host Emily Johnson sits down with Dr. Steffany Moonaz, the founder of Yoga for Arthritis and a leading research director and professor at the Southern California University of Health Sciences. Dr. Moonaz bridges the gap between ancient mindfulness and modern neuroscience to explain how yoga can be a powerful clinical tool for managing arthritis.

Drawing on decades of research, her own personal journey with arthritis, and her book Yoga Therapy for...

Episode 8: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#8 Food, Fibre & Inflammation: How Diet Shapes Arthritis with Dr Michael Greger

In this expert-led episode, host Emily Johnson is joined by world renowned physician, author, and nutrition researcher Dr Michael Greger, bestselling author of How Not to Die, How Not to Age, and How to Survive a Pandemic, and founder of science-based nonprofit charity NutritionFacts.org.

Together, they explore the role nutrition plays arthritis, unpacking common misconceptions about genetics, inflammation, and how lifestyle choices can influence joint health.

Drawing on decades of research and...

Episode 7: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#7 A Rheumatologist’s Guide to Arthritis with Dr Julekha Wajed

In this informative episode, host Emily Johnson sits down with NHS consultant rheumatologist Dr Julekha Wajed (also known as Dr Julie) to unpack what arthritis really is, why early diagnosis matters, and how modern treatment approaches support people to live full, active lives with arthritis.

Drawing on 10+ years of clinical experience, Dr Julie explains how arthritis is diagnosed, and why a personalised, whole-person approach (medication, lifestyle strategies, and shared decision-making) leads to the best long-term outcomes. Th...

Episode 6: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#6 Cheryl Crow on Thriving with Arthritis: Mental Wellbeing, Life Hacks & Tools

In this episode, host Emily Johnson welcomes Cheryl Crow, Occupational Therapist (OT), the founder of Arthritis Life, and host of the Arthritis Life Podcast. Cheryl shares her journey living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for over two decades, from her confusing diagnosis at 21 to becoming an OT.

Cheryl brings a unique perspective as both a patient and an expert, combining lived experience with professional knowledge. She highlights the importance of mental wellbeing, self-management, and practical adaptations...

Episode 5: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#5 Inside Emily’s Worst Arthritis Flare-Ups: The Triggers and Lessons Learned

In this episode of The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast, host Emily Johnson walks you through her 5 most challenging arthritis flare-ups and the lessons each one taught her. From seasonal colds and stress to alcohol and trigger foods, Emily shares the real-life experiences that tested her resilience. Discover how she navigated intense pain, learned to recover effectively, and developed strategies to prevent future flare-ups.

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Episode 4: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#4 Anti-Inflammatory Eating: How Gut Health Impacts Arthritis with VJ Hamilton

In this episode, host Emily Johnson welcomes registered nutritionist and autoimmune expert VJ Hamilton to explore the critical role of nutrition and gut health in managing arthritis. With a background in biochemistry, immunology, and nutritional therapy, VJ shares practical, evidence-based strategies to help reduce inflammation for happier joints.

Exploring her own journey with autoimmune disease and those of her clients, VJ details how dietary choices, nutrient density, and gut microbiome balance influence inflammation, fatigue, and joint...

Episode 3: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#3 Understanding Modern Pain Science: From Nociception to Self-Management

In this insightful episode, host Emily Johnson sits down with NHS chronic pain consultant and lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr Deepak Ravindran to explore the evolving science of chronic pain, and what it means for people living with arthritis today.

Drawing from the latest pain research and real-life case studies, Deepak explains how our understanding of pain has evolved — it’s not just a physical signal, but a complex, brain-generated protective experience that can be influenced through a whole-person, life...

Episode 2: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#2 From Flares to Fitness: How @anotherdaywithra Moves with RA

For the second episode of The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast, host Emily Johnson sits down with Ali DiGiacomo, certified personal trainer, advocate, and influencer known as @anotherdaywithra, who lives with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Ali shares how she went from limited mobility to coaching others with chronic illness. From living, training, and traveling with RA, to breaking medication stigma and finding strength through movement. Her inspiring story proves that arthritis doesn’t mean the end of activity, bu...

Episode 1: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

#1 Emily's Arthritis Journey & Favourite Pain Relief Tips

For the first official episode of The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast, host Emily Johnson shares her diagnosis journey with arthritis. Plus, how Arthritis Foodie came about, her books and some of her favourite types of pain relief.

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Teaser and Trailer: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast

In this introductory episode of The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast, host Emily Johnson shares a summary of what's to come in the series.

With a focus on reducing inflammation and improving daily life, this podcast features expert interviews, science-backed strategies, and real stories from people living with all types of arthritis.

Emily combines her 12+ years of lived experience and insights from healthcare professionals to offer practical, encouraging steps that help you feel healthier, happier, and less alone when living with arthritis.

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