Made Visible
170 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 months ago - ★★★★★ - 105 ratingsMade Visible is a podcast that gives a voice to people with invisible illnesses. This podcast aims to change the conversation around invisible illnesses, helping those who experience them —whether as patients, caregivers, or friends or family members — feel more seen and heard.
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Episodes
20. Sah D’Simone, Seeking (and Giving) Compassion while Managing Depression
November 20, 2018 05:00 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBIn his mid-twenties, Sah D’Simone’s life as he knew it changed in an instant, and he entered the darkest episode of depression he’d ever had. Realizing that his mindset had to shift, Sah embarked on a journey of self-healing and compassion-seeking that led to his career as a meditation teacher, author, coach, and speaker. On today’s episode, Sah and I talk about the moment he realized meditation had opened a door, and why he’s passionate about making his practices accessible to marginalized ...
19. Jan Wiese, Caregiving with Grace and Intention for a Daughter with Job’s Syndrome
November 13, 2018 05:00 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MBWhen Lucy Wiese was three years old, she was diagnosed with a rare disease called Job’s Syndrome (or Hyper IgE Syndrome). For Jan Wiese, Lucy’s mom, that was the beginning of her journey as a full-time caregiver. On today’s episode, Jan and I talk about the trajectory of her daughter’s serious illness and the experimental treatment Lucy received at the NIH, how she and her husband have navigated caregiving for Lucy while also parenting their son Joel, and her hopes for Lucy’s future and her ...
18. Emily Sause, Embracing Curiosity and Awareness while Living with Narcolepsy
November 06, 2018 05:00 - 48 minutes - 43.5 MBWhen Emily Sause first started experiencing symptoms of narcolepsy in college, she wasn’t even sure what was happening. It wasn’t until she asked students and professors, who confirmed that she had been sleeping in class, that she realized something wasn’t right. She was officially diagnosed with narcolepsy, and since then, has sought both self-awareness and acceptance of her condition. On today’s episode, we talk about why she has embraced her curiosity about her condition, mysterious quali...
17. Joe Dinardo, Navigating Brain Surgery and Caregiving Through His Meditation Practice
October 30, 2018 04:00 - 57 minutes - 45.1 MBWhen Joe DiNardo discovered he’d been living with a brain tumor for almost two decades, he relied on his meditation practice to help him face his own mortality. Several years later, when his wife Marcia was diagnosed for Stage IV pancreatic cancer, he relied on that practice once again to help him find his way as a loving caregiver. On today’s episode, Joe and I discuss why brain surgery was life-changing, and how a feeling of unconditional love was at the core of his experience as a caregiv...
16. Jen Pastiloff, Listening Fiercely with Profound Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
October 23, 2018 04:00 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MBJen Pastiloff has built her identity and career around connecting with people. She also has profound hearing loss and tinnitus and is deaf without her hearing aids. As a result, she’s had to cultivate other ways of understanding and hearing. On today’s episode, Jen and I talk about the specific challenges that come with tinnitus and hearing loss, the assumptions people make if they don’t know that she’s hard of hearing, and how a sense of courageousness helped her carve out a space to truly ...
15. Lauren Chiarello, Cultivating Community as a Two-Time Cancer Survivor
October 16, 2018 04:00 - 39 minutes - 36.7 MBWhen Lauren Chiarello was 23 years old, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Now over nine years in remission, Lauren is deeply involved in cancer advocacy at Memorial Sloan Kettering. From speaking at nurse orientations to being a resource for patients, one thing is clear: Lauren believes that by sharing our stories, we cultivate community. On this episode, Lauren and I talk about her journey with cancer, her recent experience with an ectopic pregnancy, and how she stays optimistic th...
14. Jodie Cariss, Challenging Therapy’s Status Quo with Self Space
October 09, 2018 04:00 - 32 minutes - 28.1 MBWhen you picture a therapy office, you might imagine something tucked away in an office building. Self Space, founded by Jodie Cariss, is just the opposite. With its storefront location, the modern therapy practice is like nothing you’ve encountered before. And that’s 100% intentional, because Jodie wants to normalize the idea that it’s okay to talk about how we feel. On today’s episode, Jodie and I discuss how Self Space seeks to change the status quo in the mental health service world. L...
13. Anthony Piccione, Using Theater to Break Down Stigma around Autism and Anxiety
October 02, 2018 04:00 - 37 minutes - 26.4 MBWhen Anthony Piccione was just a year-and-a-half old, he was diagnosed with autism. In his teenage years, he was also diagnosed with anxiety and mood disorder not otherwise specified. Now, Anthony is a playwright and actor, and uses art to bring awareness to the situations he’s experienced. On this episode, Anthony and I talk about the role writing plays in his life, why he’s committed to breaking down stigmas, and why he wants the arts to elevate the voices of people who experience the issu...
12. Amy Grantham, Chronicling Her Experience with Cancer through Art
September 25, 2018 04:00 - 52 minutes - 40.3 MBFor artist Amy Grantham, being diagnosed with breast cancer at 31 was life-changing in every sense of the word. It wasn’t just that she underwent two lumpectomy surgeries and had to make hard decisions about fertility. Having cancer also rearranged her priorities. She chronicled her experience through her blog, “Boo Cancer, You Suck,” and a feature film, Lily. On today’s episode, Amy and I talk about her journey with cancer as well as depression, and why art and writing play critical roles i...
11. Aaron Curtis, Finding Answers with Cutaneous Polyarteritis Nodosa
September 18, 2018 04:00 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBAaron Curtis was diagnosed with cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (CPAN) in 2015. Like many people with rare diseases, his path to a diagnosis wasn’t routine. Once he finally had a diagnosis, he was left with the task of managing his painful flare-ups while working full-time and also pursuing a writing career. On this episode, Aaron and I talk about the adjustments he has made to help manage his illness, what prompted him to start writing about CPAN, and why the spoon theory resonates with him....
10. Mallory Gothelf, Giving Her Depression and Anxiety a Purpose
September 11, 2018 04:00 - 41 minutes - 38.8 MBMallory Gothelf was diagnosed with general anxiety and major depressive disorder when she was 15. At that age, Mallory didn’t realize that recovery would be a long road or that it would ignite her passion for giving back and being a voice for others. On this episode, Mallory and I talk about her journey with depression and anxiety, the moment during college when she took her first real steps towards recovery, and why being an advocate for others is such an important part of her identity. L...
9. Margie Strauss, Finding Her Team with Multiple Sclerosis
September 04, 2018 04:00 - 33 minutes - 25.8 MBMargie Strauss felt a strange, electric pain in her body while on vacation with her family in the summer of 2001. After being admitted to the hospital, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) that very same day. Quickly, the nuisance that had disrupted her vacation became a new reality. On this episode, Margie and I talk about why she snapped into action to find her team, why her diagnosis was a wake-up call, and how she now acts as a resource to others with MS. Learn more about...
8. Matt Glazer, Finding His Rhythm with Bipolar Disorder
August 28, 2018 04:00 - 35 minutes - 28.5 MBWhen Matt Glazer calls his bipolar disorder his superpower, it’s not just a catchphrase. He genuinely means it. From using his experience to deepen his communication skills, produce creative work, or reframe the idea of “failure,” Matt is serious about using his superpower for good. On this episode, Matt and I talk about how his journey with bipolar disorder has intersected with his life and work, and why more conversation, above all else, is what we need to remove the stigma of mental illne...
7. Tiffany Dyba, Navigating Breast Cancer In Her 30s
August 21, 2018 04:00 - 46 minutes - 37.8 MBTiffany Dyba first felt a lump in her left breast while on vacation with her husband in Iceland. When she returned home, she went for a mammogram and ultimately discovered that she had Stage 1 breast cancer. On this episode, Tiffany and I talk about the importance of patients advocating for themselves, how she keeps her cancer in perspective, and why she started C.D.R.E.A.M. (an acronym for “Cancer doesn’t rule everything around me”), a blog that chronicles her journey with cancer as she’s...
6. *Bonus Episode* Behind Closed Doors with Danielle Diamond
August 16, 2018 12:53 - 8 minutes - 8.49 MBIn this bonus episode, Danielle Diamond shares a powerful essay, Behind Closed Doors, about an early memory of her mom, who had bipolar disorder and depression. This essay is poignant, honest, and punctuated with humor. It provides a window into the challenging role that loved ones navigate when caring for those with invisible illness, as well as the realities experienced by those who have them. To read the story word for word, check out the show notes here. To learn more about Daniell...
5. Danielle Diamond, Speaking Up about Her Mom’s Mental Illness
August 14, 2018 04:00 - 44 minutes - 44.9 MBFor Danielle Diamond’s entire childhood, her mom struggled with bipolar disorder and depression. As she grew older, and especially after her mom died by suicide when Danielle was just 21, she grew to better understand the reality of her mom’s experience. On this episode, Danielle and I talk about her relationship to her mom, how yoga and meditation have helped her manage trauma, stress, and grief, and why she’s an advocate for people who have mental illness and the loved ones who are affecte...
4. Phoebe Lapine, Finding Healthy Hedonism with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
August 07, 2018 04:00 - 35 minutes - 34.2 MBWhen Phoebe Lapine was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, she didn’t want to hear it. As time went by, she eventually came to terms with her diagnosis and discovered she could use her skills as a chef and recipe developer to heal her body. Phoebe and I talk about her journey to “healthy hedonism,” the challenge of balancing the extremism of some holistic health solutions, and why just being herself is at the core of her choices about food, her book, and her business. To learn m...
3. Carly Alterman, Caregiving for Lyme Disease
July 31, 2018 10:19 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBGrowing up, Carly Alterman loved that she was able to spend a lot of time with her dad, Harvey, who had retired from his dentistry practice due to chronic Lyme disease. Starting in third grade, Carly, along with her mother and brother, acted as a primary caregiver for her dad, whose disease was progressing. Even while Carly was taking on adult responsibilities, she didn’t fully realize how different her life was from her peers until she was older. In this episode, Carly talks about the stron...
2. Christina Blacken, Living with Pre-Diabetes
July 24, 2018 16:00 - 45 minutes - 38.5 MBFor Christina Blacken, an early pre-diabetes diagnosis was the wake-up call she needed to take control of her health and her life. Not taking “no” for an answer, she did whatever it took to get the answers she needed for her health, eventually venturing outside of conventional medicine to learn about the impact of food and nutrition. From the social struggles of restrictive eating (and how to handle them) to Christina’s thoughts about how to make nutrition changes realistic and sustainable, ...
1. Introduction with Harper Spero
July 17, 2018 16:00 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBI’m so excited to launch the first episode of Made Visible, an idea which has been a long time in the making. I didn’t always know that I wanted to launch a podcast, but I did know that I needed to do something to make people with invisible illnesses feel less alone and more supported. I only came to that realization once I started talking about my own illness, which I hid for many years. Talking about my story was so freeing. I wanted others to have that experience too. To learn more abou...