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Kristen Renee Appleby is an author, speaker, and transformational coach who spent 15 years navigating rheumatoid arthritis, corporate burnout, and the radical life changes that ultimately healed her: selling her house, moving states, and learning to listen to her body instead of fearing it. Her books The Elements of Healing and Healing the Money Wound distill that journey into a practical framework for rebuilding from the inside out. Kristen and Kim cover the body-communicating concept, why healing requires addressing all parts of your life at once, the self-acceptance and forgiveness work that underlies everything, and why the same mindset shift that helped Kristen heal physically also transformed her finances. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 01:26 Kristen's Story: Keeping Up the Perfect Exterior 02:50 The RA Diagnosis 08:17 Selling Everything and Starting Over 10:17 Why Your Whole Life Is the Protocol 17:16 Your Body Is Communicating — Not Attacking 18:33 Physical Health and Financial Health: The Same Mindset 24:56 Processing the Yuck: The Only Way Through Is Through 27:45 The Books: The Elements of Healing + Healing the Money Wound CONNECT & RESOURCES 🌐 Website: kristenrenerebuilding.com 📘 Book: The Elements of Healing 📘 Book: Healing the Money Wound The Chronic Truth Podcast: 🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Bob Bekian is a Hollywood producer and director with 25 years of credits alongside Shirley MacLaine, Snoop Dogg, and dozens of sports and political figures. After a perfect storm of setbacks, COVID shutdowns, family loss, and two close friends who died from self-destructive choices, Bob built a research-backed system for getting back to yourself. His book, 10 Ways to Feel Better, is the result. Bob and Kim cover self-acceptance, forgiveness, gratitude, the nine-month personal commitment that changed Bob's relationships, and the Golden Triangle of nutrition, sleep, and exercise behind lasting mental and physical health. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 01:37 Bob Bekian: 25 Years in Hollywood 02:05 A Perfect Storm of Setbacks 03:32 Happiness Is a Choice 05:26 Self-Acceptance & Forgiveness: Start Where You Are 09:08 Small Promises and Grow Forward 12:17 Developing an Attitude of Gratitude 16:17 Stop Taking Things Personally 20:39 The Golden Triangle: Nutrition, Sleep & Exercise 31:06 Connect with Bob / 10 Ways to Feel Better CONNECT & RESOURCES 🌐 Website: Bob Bekian 📚 10 Ways to Feel Better — bobbekian.com (signed copies) & Amazon ($0.99 download) The Chronic Truth Podcast:   🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Maryanne Peng was six weeks old when she was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare condition where the bile ducts are absent or blocked from birth. She had a Kasai surgery, a procedure that works in roughly 20–25% of cases. Hers worked. Her liver is still her own, still functioning. But surviving the surgery is only the start of what Maryanne has navigated: childhood spent in and out of hospitals, medications that affected her mental health, the transition from pediatric to adult care with no real infrastructure, and years of personal struggle before finding her way back. Today Maryanne lives in Napa, California, is in recovery, and advocates for living organ donation. She talks with Kim Nash about what biliary atresia actually is, how the Kasai procedure works, the physical experience of living with liver disease, and why she believes the living donor conversation needs to happen far more often than it does. CHAPTERS/TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction to Chronic Illness and Personal Stories 03:11 Understanding Biliary Atresia and Its Impact 05:54 Navigating Childhood with Chronic Illness 09:08 Mental Health Struggles and Drug Addiction 11:54 The Importance of Mental Health Support 15:11 Diet and Lifestyle Choices for Liver Health 17:55 The Journey to Recovery and Advocacy 21:13 Organ Donation and Living Donors 23:53 The Role of Community in Chronic Illness 26:55 Conclusion and Call to Action CONNECT & RESOURCES 📱 Instagram: @taiwanesewonderwoman 💼 LinkedIn: Maryanne Peng Rodriguez 🌐 Website: Living Donor Registry   The Chronic Truth Podcast:   🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Most patients decline the pharmacy consultation. Dr. Melissa Durham wants you to stop doing that. On this episode of The Chronic Truth, clinical pharmacist and USC Pain Center professor Dr. Melissa Durham talks with Kim about the pharmacist's role in chronic pain management, de-escalating meds, catching dangerous interactions, identifying drugs that have been forgotten about for years, and advocating for patients when the system creates roadblocks. She covers the opioid epidemic's three waves, the unintended consequences of the CDC guidelines, and what you can do right now to get more out of your healthcare team. Find her at @thepainpharmacist on Instagram and thepainpharmacist.com.   CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS  00:00 Introduction to Chronic Pain Management 02:54 The Role of Pharmacists in Pain Management 05:48 Navigating the Opioid Epidemic 09:02 The Evolution of Pain Relief Strategies 11:51 The Importance of Medication Management 15:12 Building Relationships with Pharmacists 18:01 Integrating Technology in Healthcare 21:00 The Patient's Role in Their Care 24:05 Conclusion and Resources CONNECT & RESOURCES Instagram: @thepainpharmacist LinkedIn: Dr. Melissa Durham Website: thepainpharmacist.com Clinic: USC Pain Center, Los Angeles, CA (Keck Medicine)   The Chronic Truth Podcast:   🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Dr. Malaysia Harrell built her life on achievement Air Force, U.S. Public Health Service, working with the Surgeon General until a 2020 near-death experience left her with sepsis, Bell's palsy, oral chemo, and no idea who she was without her career. On Episode 100 of The Chronic Truth, Dr. Harrell talks with Kim about why high-achieving women burn out behind a mask of success, how trauma collects in the body until the closet gets full, and what surrender actually looks like when you've spent a lifetime in control. Plus: Kim's most personal disclosure yet and the reframe that might change how you see your own story. Find Dr. Harrell at MalaysiaHarrell.com and Blissful Life Consulting at blissfullifeconsulting.com.   CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS  00:00 The Burden of Trauma 01:45 Dr. Harrell's Journey to Healing 05:57 Rebuilding Identity After Crisis 09:43 The Impact of Social Media on Success 13:30 Understanding Trauma's Effects on the Body 17:47 Perfectionism and Its Consequences 21:29 Finding Purpose Beyond Perfection 25:33 Empowering the Patient's Voice 29:39 The Importance of Community and Support CONNECT & RESOURCES 📱 Instagram: @malaysiahharrell 💼 LinkedIn: Dr. Malaysia Harrell 📘 Facebook: Dr. Malaysia Harrell 🌐 Website: MalaysiaHarrell.com 🌐 Business: blissfullifeconsulting.com 🌻 Hidden Disabilities Sunflower: hdsunflower.com   The Chronic Truth Podcast:   🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Nancy Deyo was a Silicon Valley CEO who climbed Kilimanjaro to prove she was still worthy after selling her startup and came down unable to move her legs. What followed was fifteen years of chronic pain, misdiagnosis, three spinal surgeries, fentanyl dependence, and a one-year taper back to life. On this episode of The Chronic Truth, Nancy and Kim talk about what opioid withdrawal actually feels like, why women in pain get referred to psych while men get the painkillers, and what it means to rebuild resilience from the ground up. Nancy's memoir Perilous Ascent is forthcoming. Find her on Substack.   CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS  00:00 Introduction to Chronic Pain and Resilience 06:08 The Journey of Climbing Kilimanjaro 11:59 The Struggles with Opioid Dependence 18:09 Gender Bias in Pain Treatment 24:00 Impact on Relationships and Support Systems 30:01 Writing the Memoir and Sharing the Story CONNECT & RESOURCES 🌐 Website: https://nancydeyo.com 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nsdeyo 🔗 Substack: https://nancydeyo.substack.com 📚 Perilous Ascent — Forthcoming; publisher being finalized at time of recording   The Chronic Truth Podcast:   🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Deanna Steinle was diagnosed with Generalized Myasthenia Gravis at thirty a neuromuscular disease with no cure that can affect every voluntary muscle in the body, including the ability to breathe. Today she's a rare disease advocate, speaker, and the face of the Rare Connections: GMG film produced by Alexion. Deanna and Kim talk about the crisis that led to her diagnosis, the grief of losing the life you planned, and why the people standing next to us matter as much as any treatment. A powerful conversation for every chronic illness community.    CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS  00:00 Meet Deanna Steinle: Advocating for the GMG Community 02:35 A Late Diagnosis: Deanna's Journey to Understanding Her Symptoms 05:00 Accepting a Life Forever Changed 06:55 What Rare Disease Communities Have in Common 09:05 Inside the Rare Connections GMG Film 12:52 Tools Every Chronic Illness Community Can Use 14:55 Loving on Our Caregivers: The Forgotten Side of Diagnosis 19:34 Where to Watch and Connect with Deanna CONNECT & RESOURCES Deanna Steinle: 🔗 Instagram: Resilience is Beautiful 🔗 Facebook: Deanna Steinle 🔗 LinkedIn: Deanna Steinle 🎬 Rare Connections: GMG   The Chronic Truth Podcast:   🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Jan Rothney was a psychology lecturer in health and social care when her body finally shut down completely leaving her bedbound and asleep for nearly a month. Because she already understood the science of what was happening, she knew exactly what to do: stop pushing, celebrate tiny wins, and send safety signals to a brain that had been running on overdrive for a decade. More than 20 years later, she's the author of Breaking Free and founder of Reset to Thrive. In this conversation with Kim Nash, she explains exactly how the brain creates chronic symptoms and what it takes to change that.      CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS  00:00 Introduction to Chronic Illness and Personal Journey 01:55 The Build-Up to Chronic Fatigue 08:48 The Turning Point: Realizing Recovery is Possible 18:59 Practical Strategies for Healing 27:04 The Importance of Support and Community 37:58 Setting Boundaries and Self-Care 47:53 Conclusion and Encouragement for Listeners CONNECT & RESOURCES Jan Rothney:  🌐 Website: resettothrive.co.uk 📱 Facebook: Breaking Free 📱 Instagram: @BreakingFree_recovery 📚 Breaking Free (2nd edition)    The Chronic Truth Podcast:   🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Erika Conrad-Wess has lived with trigeminal neuralgia since 2004 more than two decades of invisible, relentless facial pain, multiple brain surgeries, and a healthcare system that didn't always believe her. Now the author of Nerve, a memoir of chronic pain, medical trauma, and surviving the healthcare system, she joins Kim Nash on The Chronic Truth to talk about what invisible pain really costs, why you have to become the project manager of your own healthcare, and how she redefined hope when a cure stopped being the goal. Pain doesn't have to be the whole story. But first, you have to be believed.      CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS  00:00 Understanding Chronic Pain and Invisible Illnesses 07:07 The Importance of Empathy in Healthcare 13:51 Navigating the Healthcare System: Advocacy and Self-Care 20:58 Writing as Healing: Erica's Memoir Journey 26:52 Building Support Communities for Chronic Pain Patients CONNECT & RESOURCES Erika Conrad-Wess:  📚 Nerve — Amazon, Barnes & Noble, erikaconradwess.com ⚠️ Verify URL 📱 Facebook: MVD Patient Support | Post MVD Support Group    The Chronic Truth Podcast:   🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Cancer biologist and TEDx speaker Rebecca Maff, known as the Healthy Biologist, joins Kim Nash on The Chronic Truth to explain the science of how stress feeds chronic disease and what we can do to get ahead of it. From the amygdala's role in immune suppression to AI-powered cancer screening, Rebecca brings real clinical depth to the conversation and keeps it grounded in tools anyone can use today. If you've ever wondered why stress makes you sick, why cancer is hitting younger people faster, or whether AI in healthcare is something to trust, this episode is for you.    CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS  00:00 Introduction to Chronic Illness and Advocacy 01:24 Rebecca's Journey: From Burnout to Wellness 04:46 The Impact of Stress on Health 09:31 Managing Stress: Techniques and Strategies 12:49 Alarming Trends in Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases 16:58 The Role of Data and AI in Healthcare 20:42 Building a Healthier Society 24:44 The Importance of Community and Support CONNECT & RESOURCES Rebecca Maff:  📱 @rebeccamaff on Facebook & Instagram   The Chronic Truth Podcast:   🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Davis Bain sustained a concussion during a soccer game in his senior year of college. Nine prior concussions had healed. This one didn't. Nearly four years later, he still lives with post-concussion syndrome, and he's turned that experience into Chronic Pain Warrior, a compassionate and practical guide for anyone facing chronic pain, illness, or invisible disability. In this episode, Davis joins Kim Nash to talk about what it's really like to live inside an invisible condition, what medical dismissal costs a patient emotionally, and why asking for help specifically and without apology might be the most important thing anyone struggling can do.    CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS  00:00 Introduction to Chronic Illness and Advocacy 02:16 Davis Bain's Journey with Chronic Pain 05:30 Understanding Invisible Disabilities 11:07 The Impact of Medical Dismissal 16:23 Navigating Support and Advice 22:32 Writing 'Chronic Pain Warrior' and Its Purpose 25:55 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement CONNECT & RESOURCES Davis Bain: 🌐 chronicpainwarrior.com   The Chronic Truth Podcast:   🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Epilepsy advocate and founder of The Epilepsy Network, Tiffany Kairos, shares her journey through nearly 18 years of living with epilepsy, from an unexpected diagnosis to becoming a beacon of hope for thousands. She and Kim Nash have an honest conversation about seizures, stigma, self-advocacy, and the power of community. A moving reminder that a diagnosis doesn't get to own your life.  CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS  00:00 Living with Epilepsy: A Journey of Resilience 10:01 Community and Advocacy in Epilepsy 20:07 Misconceptions and Stigmas Surrounding Epilepsy 23:23 Empowerment Through Education and Support CONNECT & RESOURCES Adison Woods: 📱 @tiffanykairos |  🌐 riseaboveepilepsy   The Chronic Truth Podcast:   🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Adison Woods has been navigating chronic illness since childhood: fainting, migraines, back surgeries, and a tick bite at summer camp that nobody connected to anything for 25 years. When her mother finally said, "You have Lyme disease," Adison rolled her eyes. Then the labs came back positive. An infectious disease doctor told her the test was wrong because she'd never been to the Northeast. She got treatment anyway, built a community called Sick and Shining, and is writing a book. She joins Kim Nash for a deeply personal conversation about late-stage Lyme, Babesiosis, the chronic illness pain scale, and why you are not your diagnosis. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS   00:00 Introducing Addison Woods: Chronic Illness Advocate and Writer  01:41 A 25-Year Mystery: Addison's Childhood Symptoms and POTS Diagnosis  04:50 The Lyme Disease Discovery: Testing, Co-Infections, and Medical Dismissal  09:26 Late-Stage Lyme: Treatment, Antibiotics, and Tick Prevention Tips  14:25 Why Addison Started Sick and Shining  17:38 What Invisible Illness Really Looks Like Day to Day  22:15 The Pain Scale Problem and Growing Awareness Around Chronic Illness  23:47 Writing Her Book and Advice for Reclaiming Identity CONNECT & RESOURCES Adison Woods: 📱 @sickandshining | 📧 [email protected]   The Chronic Truth Podcast:   🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Dr. Tommy Rhee spent years watching elite athletes at UCLA and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers survive injuries instead of heal them, numbing the pain to play through the season and saving surgery for the off-season. He developed Regen, a needle-free topical that delivers stem cell signaling through the skin to reduce inflammation and trigger regeneration without injections, downtime, or immune response risk. He joins Kim Nash to break down the science in plain language: what regenerative medicine actually is, why it's not about the cells themselves, and where this technology is headed for everyday chronic pain patients. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS  00:00 Introduction to Chronic Truth Podcast and Guest 00:57 Dr. Tommy Rhee's Background and Expertise 02:54 Innovations in Regenerative Medicine 05:47 Challenges in Athlete Recovery and Pain Management 09:05 The Role of Inflammation in Chronic Pain 11:57 Future of Regenerative Medicine and Accessibility 15:11 Understanding Neuropathy and Circulation 18:02 The Impact of Inflammation on Chronic Conditions 20:49 Dr. Rhee's Book and Future Insights 23:08 Conclusion and Listener Engagement CONNECT & RESOURCES Dr. Hendrickson: 🌐 Website: rheegen.com 📚 Book: The Future of Regenerative Medicine — available on Amazon (two formats in one: science edition + Jeff's Journey plain-language summary)     The Chronic Truth Podcast:   🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic

Dr. Debra Hendrickson is a pediatrician in Reno, the fastest-warming city in the U.S., and the author of The Air They Breathe. She joins Kim Nash to talk about something most chronic illness patients and caregivers aren't warned about: how common medications impair your body's ability to cope with heat, and how rising temperatures and wildfire smoke are quietly compounding the health burden for anyone already managing a chronic condition. Practical, urgent, and packed with information you can act on today.              CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS   00:00 Meet Dr. Debra Hendrickson: A Pediatrician in America's Fastest-Warming City  03:27 Wildfire Smoke, Asthma, and Why Children Are Especially Vulnerable  06:51 The Story Behind The Air They Breathe  08:59 Guidance for Physicians: Proximal vs. Distal Climate Health Risks  10:53 Practical Adaptations: Air Filters, Masks, AQI, and Heat Safety for Kids  14:08 Medications That Affect the Body's Ability to Handle Heat  17:18 Protecting Kids in Car Seats and Pregnant Moms from Heat Risk  19:38 Where to Find Dr. Hendrickson and The Air They Breathe  CONNECT & RESOURCES Dr. Hendrickson:   🌐 Website: debrahendrickson.com (free downloadable handout on heat and wildfire smoke adaptations; contact form) 📚 Book: The Air They Breathe — available on Amazon    The Chronic Truth Podcast:   🌐 Website: chronictruthpodcast.com 📱 Instagram: @ChronicTruthPodcast 📘 TikTok: @chronictruthpodcast 💬 Share Your Story: Testimonials 📋 Community Survey: Survey Production Partner: Podcast Mechanic