Alex McFadden

Okay, your life is different now – you’ve accepted that. But the question remains: who do I complain to? Do you take this to Twitter? Talk to your family? Say 'fibromyalgia' really loud in a public place, and see who turns around?

Alex McFadden is a writer and performer living with fibromyalgia. We had a chat with them about support networks: where to find them, how to make them, and how to support (and how not to support) your chronically ill friends.

Content warning: this episode includes discussions of severe physical and mental illness, hospitals, medical trauma.

Further reading Alex McFadden's blog
Get in touch

We want to hear from our listeners! Tweet us your stories of chronic illness support at @PillPopCast, or send us an email at pillpoppodcast@gmail.com.

In this episode

Hosted, produced and edited by Silvi Vann-Wall and Izzie Austin. Writer and performer Alex McFadden is our guest.

Recorded at Studio 757, Melbourne. This series is produced in partnership with the Wheeler Centre's Signal Boost programme. Mentorship and production support from Bec Fary.

Music: 'Dip Dop' by Barrie Gledden; 'Sad Marimba Planet' and 'More on That Later' by Lee Rosevere.

Sound effects sourced from SoundSnap.

Transcript

A transcript of this episode will be available soon.

Ferris Knight

So, your chronic illness has been (correctly) diagnosed. You’ve memorised your mile-long prescription list. But, you’ve started to notice something – everything around you is exactly the same. There’s no extra seat on the tram for young-people-who-are-sick-but-don’t-actually-look-it. And no amount of smiling is turning the stairs at your job into a ramp. How do you go about asking for the help you need?

Ferris Knight is a writer, producer and performer living with chronic illness and disabilities – bipolar 1 and hypertensive peristalsis, to name but two. She’s had more than a few run-ins with frustrating social barriers, and has gone to great – and painful – lengths to show everyone else just what it’s like to live in her body. Even so, she finds herself tempted to deny that anything is wrong. Asking for help can feel weirdly humiliating … but, as we’ll discover, it’s an absolute imperative to living with chronic illness.

Content warning: this episode includes discussions of severe physical and mental illness, hospitals and medical trauma.

Further reading 'My Bipolar Story' by Ferris Knight, Ramona, published 6 August 2018 Get in touch

We want to hear from our listeners. Tweet us your stories of denial at @PillPopCast, or send us an email at pillpoppodcast@gmail.com.

In this episode

Hosted, produced and edited by Silvi Vann-Wall and Izzie Austin. Writer, producer and performer Ferris Knight is our guest.

Recorded at Studio 757, Melbourne. This series is produced in partnership with the Wheeler Centre's Signal Boost programme. Mentorship and production support from Bec Fary.

Music: 'Dip Dop' by Barrie Gledden; 'Sad Marimba Planet' and 'More on That Later' by Lee Rosevere.

Sound effects sourced from SoundSnap.

Transcript

Download a transcript of this episode here (Adobe PDF format).

Charlie Park

Ah, medication – can't live without it, can't … well, that's pretty much the extent of it. In this episode of Pill Pop, Charlie Park talks to Silvi and Izzie about the trials and tribulations of meds.

What do you say to people if your medication drawer resembles the backroom of a well-stocked pharmacy? How do you cope if even one slip up with a pill threatens your life? And why can't you eat during yoga class?

Charlie Park is a blogger and disability advocate living with Addison's Disease, a rare autoimmune disease of the adrenal glands.

Content warning: Discussions of severe illness, hospitals, medical trauma.

Sensory warning: Screaming sound effects have been used.

Get in touch

We want to hear from our listeners. Tweet us your medication story at @PillPopCast, or send us an email at pillpoppodcast@gmail.com.

In this episode

Hosted, produced and edited by Silvi Vann-Wall and Izzie Austin. Blogger and disability advocate Charlie Park is our guest.

Recorded at Studio 757, Melbourne. This series is produced in partnership with the Wheeler Centre's Signal Boost programme. Mentorship and production support from Bec Fary.

Music: 'Dip Dop' by Barrie Gledden; 'Sad Marimba Planet' and 'More on That Later' by Lee Rosevere.

Sound effects sourced from SoundSnap.

Transcript

Download a transcript of this episode here (Adobe PDF format).

Cristina Spizzica

Moses supposes his toeses are roses … but does Moses have endometriosis? Who knowses! In this episode of Pill Pop, we’re talking all about diagnoses with improv comedian Cristina Spizzica. We also take a [literal] deep dive into the endo-affected reproductive system. Wait. What does that mean?

For many chronically ill people, the diagnostic process is long, finicky and frustrating. From denying your own pain, to not being believed by doctors, getting diagnosed properly is one of the hardest aspects of chronic illness … then, you have to live with it. Forever.

ps. Check out this endometriosis vs attractiveness study (yes, it's real!): https://www.physiciansweekly.com/women-with-endometriosis-more-attractive/

Content warning: discussions of severe physical and mental illness, hospitals and medical trauma.

Sensory warning: some scenes (halfway through) contain loud crashing, splashing and droning sounds.

Get in touch

We want to hear from our listeners. Tweet us your diagnosis story at @PillPopCast, or send us an email at pillpoppodcast@gmail.com.

In this episode

Hosted, produced and edited by Silvi Vann-Wall and Izzie Austin. Improv comedian and marketer Cristina Spizzica is our guest.

Recorded at Studio 757, Melbourne. This series is produced in partnership with the Wheeler Centre's Signal Boost programme. Mentorship and production support from Bec Fary.

Music: 'Dip Dop' by Barrie Gledden; 'Sad Marimba Planet' and 'More on That Later' by Lee Rosevere; 'Shades of Spring' by Kevin Macleod (CC-BY-4.0).

Sound effects sourced from SoundSnap.

Transcript

A PDF transcript of this episode is available; download it here.

Ambu-Lance Armstrong

Izzie has type 1 diabetes. Silvi has ulcerative colitis. Only one of them can drive. And they’re making a podcast.

What business do two chronically ill millennials have in touring the country in a beat-up old ambulance? Subscribe to find out  – and join these fully-sick friends as they go on the road to find other chronic illness-havers just like them.

Pill Pop is for anyone with a chronic illness who just wishes they had some mates who understood what it’s like … and for everyone else to dip into a world they potentially never knew existed.

Content warning: Discussions of severe illness, hospitals, medical trauma.

Sensory warning: Some scenes at the beginning contain loud ambulance sirens.

Get in touch

We want to hear from our listeners. Tweet us your diagnosis story at @PillPopCast, or send us an email at pillpoppodcast@gmail.com.

In this episode

Hosted, produced and edited by Silvi Vann-Wall and Izzie Austin. Mentorship and production support from Bec Fary.

Additional voices by Bec Fary and Ben Volchok.

Music: 'Dip Dop' by Barrie Gledden; 'Sad Marimba Planet', 'Where Was I' and 'Vaping in L.A.' by Lee Rosevere; 'Glitter Blast' by Kevin Macleod (CC-BY-4.0).

Sound effects sourced from SoundSnap.

Transcript

Download a transcript of this episode in PDF format.