Living with chronic illness can feel isolating, but you don’t have to go it alone. In this episode, I talk about building your resilience circle: the people, resources, and relationships that support you through the tough days and help you hold on to hope. From chosen family to online communities, from professionals to quiet supporters behind the scenes – your circle matters. Because resilience isn’t just a personal quality, it’s also about who is holding your hand when things get hard.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why resilience doesn’t mean doing it alone
• The different types of support your circle can include
• How to identify who’s already in your resilience circle and where there may be gaps
• Ways to call in more support, even if it feels vulnerable
• Reassurance that you’re not a burden and that everyone needs help

Whether you’re just starting to build your support system or you’re reevaluating who’s in your corner, this episode is a reminder that you deserve support that sees you, respects you, and holds space for the fullness of your experience.

Key Info:

The resilience support circle roles:

1. The listener: The person who holds space without trying to fix it. They say, "That sounds really hard, I'm here".
2. The problem-solver: The one who helps research treatments, track symptoms, or plan logistics when you ask them to.
3. The grounder: A calming presence. They help you feel steady during upheaval.
4. The joy-bringer: Someone who brings laughter, lightness, or distraction when you need a break from being “the sick one”.
5. The peer: Someone with shared lived experience who “gets it” without explanation.
6. The professional: Therapist, coach, doctor, or healer. Paid help counts as part of your resilience circle, especially if they respect your reality.

Send me an email with any questions or comments

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In this episode, I’m getting real about why the body positivity movement, while helpful for some, just didn’t fit once chronic illness came into the picture. The pressure to love a body that constantly hurts, lets you down, or limits your life? Yeah, that felt like a whole new kind of shame.

That’s where body neutrality comes in.

I’m sharing:

• Why body positivity can feel toxic or performative when you're chronically ill
• What body neutrality actually means (it’s not just a buzzword!)
• Simple, realistic ways to start practicing body neutrality in your everyday life
• How this mindset shift has helped me feel less shame and more compassion

This one’s especially for you if:

• You’ve felt like a failure for not loving your body enough
• You’re tired of pretending everything’s okay when your body is falling apart
• You want a more sustainable, compassionate way to exist in your body

Send me an email with any questions or comments

Subscribe to my Substack for an archive of all my podcast episodes and newsletters

Subscribe to the Joy Muck Club newsletter for even more great info on how to lead your healthiest and most joyful life

If you’d like to join in the community, connect with us on Instagram, Threads, or TikTok.

If the word routine makes you roll your eyes or cringe a little, you’re not alone. Most traditional advice around routines assumes a body that works the same way every day, and that’s just not the reality for those of us living with chronic illness. In this episode, we’re breaking down why rigid routines often don’t work for us and how to reimagine routines as adaptive rhythms that can flex with your fluctuating energy, symptoms, and needs.

You’ll learn:

• Why the mainstream “rise and grind” routine culture often fails people with chronic illness
• What it looks like to build flexible routines that actually support you, not stress you out
• How to create routines with built-in choices and backup plans for flare days
• How adaptive routines can help you feel more grounded, even when your body throws a curveball

Whether you’re brand new to routines or trying to rebuild after a burnout spiral, this episode will help you redefine routine on your terms and maybe even make peace with the idea of structure.

Send me an email with any questions or comments

Subscribe to my Substack for an archive of all my podcast episodes and newsletters

Subscribe to the Joy Muck Club newsletter for even more great info on how to lead your healthiest and most joyful life

If you’d like to join in the community, connect with us on Instagram, Threads, or TikTok.