Just Talking Podcast

Casual conversations with purpose featuring interesting, inspiring, and innovative people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and industries. Everyone has a story to share, and every story is worth sharing. There's no pressure, we're just talking.

Episode 490 - With Stacey Simms 03/05/2019

Episode 490 - With Stacey Simms Stacey Simms returns to the podcast to recap Diabetes Podcast Week, discuss the opportunities for new podcasters to engage in the medium, and her perspective on the hybrid closed loop technology for people with diabetes, and their caregivers. Keep up with Stacey's podcast, Diabetes Connections, at . Run Time - 35:32 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/8905889

Episode 489 - With Kerri Sparling 02/26/2019

Episode 489 - With Kerri Sparling Kerri Sparling returns to the podcast to talk about the end of her blogging adventure, the exciting future of hybrid closed loop technology, mourning her cat Siah, and the wonderful rabbit hole of random top level domains. While it's still a thing, you can read Kerri's diabetes musings at , and follow Kerri on Twitter . Run Time - 43:01 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/8805740

Episode 488 - With Pamela Jessen 02/19/2019

Episode 488 - With Pamela Jessen This week I'm joined by Pamela Jessen for a conversation about her life with multiple chronic conditions including trigeminal neuralgia, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue. We also discuss her perspective on the ongoing stigma surrounding patients living with an invisible illness. Keep up with Pamela's advocacy efforts at . Run Time - 31:02 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/8739479

Episode 487 - With Katie DiSimone 02/12/2019

Episode 487 - With Katie DiSimone It's Diabetes Podcast Week! Katie DiSimone joins me for a chat about working together at Tidepool, finding an opportunity to give back to the diabetes community with Loop Docs, and navigating the tricky balance of parenting a teen with diabetes. Keep up with Katie's work and writing at . For more information about DIY Loop, visit and . As part of , listeners are encouraged to visit to make a donation to a child with diabetes in need. A $5 donation can provide 1 month of life for a child with diabetes. Thanks for your generosity. Run Time - 51:29 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/8630318

Episode 486 - With MarlaJan Wexler 02/05/2019

Episode 486 - With MarlaJan Wexler This week I'm joined by MarlaJan Wexler for a conversation about her life with multiple chronic illnesses including a heart defect that resulted in low oxygen for years and lupus. We also discuss the evolution of her patient advocacy platform, her decision to become a registered nurse, and liberal use of humor to connect with others and cope with medical shenanigans. Keep up with MarlaJan's advocacy efforts at and on Instagram . Run Time - 26:00 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/8528792

Episode 485 - With Barby Ingle 01/29/2019

Episode 485 - With Barby Ingle Barby Ingle joins me this week for a conversation about living with endomitriosis and reflex sympathy disorder, the ongoing stigma facing women with chronic pain, creating the International Pain Foundation, and preparing for the upcoming International Pain Summit. Learn more about the International Pain Foundation at . Run Time - 37:15 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/8528180

Episode 484 - With Megan Elizabeth Lewellyn 01/22/2019

Episode 484 - With Megan Elizabeth Lewellyn This week I'm joined by Megan Elizabeth Lewellyn for a conversation about life with multiple sclerosis, battling the stigma of perception around medical marijuana, becoming an advocate for cannabis as a valid treatment option, and her book, "Segway into my new life". Follow Meg's advocacy efforts at . Run Time - 37:20 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/8527922

Episode 483 - With Bonita Shelby 01/15/2019

Episode 483 - With Bonita Shelby Bonita Shelby joins me for a conversation about facing threatening health challenges, battling breast cancer, finding a balance between traditional and conventional therapies, and the value in humor in the face of adversity. Keep up with Bonita at . Run Time - 29:54 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/8527778

Episode 482 - With Christalle Bodiford 01/09/2019

Episode 482 - With Christalle Bodiford This week I'm joined by Christalle Bodiford for a conversation about living with epilepsy, the challenges of a misdiagnosis, the relief when a proper diagnosis is received, battling stigma, and creating a nonprofit organization in Life Elektrik to promote epilepsy support, education, and advocacy. Learn more about Life Elektrik at and follow Christalle on Instagram at . Run Time - 42:44 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/8185337

Episode 481 - With Rebecca Pine 01/01/2019

Episode 481 - With Rebecca Pine Happy New Year! Rebecca Pine joins me this week to talk about her breast cancer diagnosis, weighing the social and personal implications of breast reconstruction surgery, and co-founding The Breast and the Sea, a written and photographic project empowering breast cancer survivors. Keep up with Rebecca at and . Run Time - 30:43 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/8111135

Episode 480 - With Lydia Beier 12/25/2018

Episode 480 - With Lydia Beier Lydia Beier joins me for a conversation about living with depression and bipolar disorder, the challenges and opportunities that come with battling mental health stigma, and the value of starting a conversation to make a difference in people's lives. Keep up with Lydia at and . Run Time - 26:58 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/8109017

Episode 479 - With Jen Loving 12/18/2018

Episode 479 - With Jen Loving Jen Loving joins me for a conversation about raising multiple children with diabetes, navigating a hemophilia diagnosis, exhibiting self care through creative hair styles, and the positive impact you can make on the world by sharing your story. Follow Jen on Twitter at and . Run Time - 31:29 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/8051774

Episode 478 - With Peggy Stephens 12/11/2018

Episode 478 - With Peggy Stephens This week I'm joined by Peggy Stephens for a conversation about inflammatory breast cancer, the challenge of rapidly understanding urgent treatment options, working with the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation, and creating strong and effective advocacy and awareness campaigns for IBC. Learn more about the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation at . Erase IBC was featured in the Fall 2018 issue of Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine, read the feature at . Run Time - 34:05 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/8046821

Episode 477 - With Angela Cohen 12/04/2018

Episode 477 - With Angela Cohen Angela Cohen joins me this week to talk about her life with multiple chronic conditions, finding time for self care, defining a unique voice in patient advocacy, and the importance of empathy and shared experiences. Follow Angela on Twitter . Run Time - 41:47 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/8010812

Episode 476 - With Carin Anderson 11/27/2018

Episode 476 - With Carin Anderson Carin Anderson joins me this week for a conversation about aortic disease, navigating a complicated world of terminology and treatment options and outcomes, growing a small outreach initiative into a widely respected and recognized nonprofit organization, and the complexity of invisible illness and disability. Learn more about Aortic Hope at and follow Chrisa on Twitter . Run Time - 36:10 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/7750598

Episode 475 - With Chrisa Hickey 11/20/2018

Episode 475 - With Chrisa Hickey This week I'm joined by Chrisa Hickey for a conversation about childhood mental illness, fighting mental health stigma, navigating the Special Education system, sibling issues, and parental self-care. Trigger Warning: Suicide. Learn more about Chrisa's story and advocacy efforts at and follow Chrisa on Twitter . Run Time - 33:32 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/7644938

Episode 474 - With Becky Brandt 11/13/2018

Episode 474 - With Becky Brandt Becky Brandt joins me this week for a conversation about central pain syndrome, battling stigma, creating an online resource for world in the Central Pain Nerve Center, and carving a unique path in patient advocacy on behalf of people living with central pain syndrome. Learn more about central pain nerve syndrome at and follow Becky on Twitter . Run Time - 31:12 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/7579181

Episode 473 - With Michele Hillman 11/07/2018

Episode 473 - With Michele Hillman This week I'm joined by Michele Hillman for a conversation about her son's multiple misdiagnosis adventures, understanding the impact of strabismus eye surgery for a 22-month old child, gaining an appreciation for how vision impacts development, the value of vision therapy, and channeling a path for empathy and patient advocacy through story-sharing. Michele's advocacy efforts are best followed on her . Learn more about vision therapy at . Run Time - 43:41 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/7465724

Episode 472 - With Kathy Young 10/30/2018

Episode 472 - With Kathy Young Kathy Young joins me for a lively discussion about her life with multiple sclerosis, finding her voice in patient advocacy through her blog and podcast, and advocating for patient advocates to get fairly compensated for their time. Learn more about Kathy's advocacy efforts and . Run Time - 36:37 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/7405172

Episode 471 - With Kelly Crabb 10/23/2018

Episode 471 - With Kelly Crabb This week I'm joined by Kelly Crabb for a conversation about her life with Crohn's Disease, finding her voice as a patient advocate, her stamina as a runner, and her community through the Purple Project. Follow Kelly's advocacy efforts on Twitter and Facebook . Run Time - 35:03 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/7290818

Episode 470 - With Joan Mueller 10/16/2018

Episode 470 - With Joan Mueller Patient advocate Joan Mueller joins me this week for a conversation about her life with arthritis, its impact on her work as an Assistant Hospital Director, the challenges that come with physical therapy and relearning motor functions, and how to create more empathy in health care. Run Time - 38:44 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/7204070

Episode 469 - With Kristal Kent 10/09/2018

Episode 469 - With Kristal Kent This week I'm joined by Kristal Kent for a conversation about fibromyalgia, the widespread pain index, challenges that come with an invisible illness, and the positivity and empathy that an online patient community can generate. Learn more about Kristal's advocacy efforts at . Run Time - 47:17 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/7148203

Episode 468 - With Maria Thomas 10/02/2018

Episode 468 - With Maria Thomas Maria Thomas joins me this week to talk about her life with hyperhidrosis, share her perspective on defining chronic diseases as disabilities, empowerment and validation that is received from peers and providers, and navigating social cues most people take for granted. There's also a lot of my new puppy, Miles Davis, trying to participate in the interview. I did what I could to minimize his contribution. My apologies in advance. Learn more about Maria's advocacy efforts at . Run Time - 35:08 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/7125985

Episode 467 - With Justin Birckbichler 09/25/2018

Episode 467 - With Justin Birckbichler This week I'm joined by Justin Birckbichler for a conversation about his testicular cancer diagnosis, identifying an opportunity to educate through humor, really clever puns, and creative opportunities for testicular cancer advocacy. Learn more about Justin's advocacy efforts at . Run Time - 33:24 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/7091167

Episode 466 - With Erin Smith 09/18/2018

Episode 466 - With Erin Smith Erin Smith joins me this week to talk about her life with celiac disease, traveling the world in search of great gluten free food, challenges that arise when your medical necessity becomes a culinary fad, and New York accents. Learn more about Erin's advocacy efforts at and . Follow Erin on Twitter . Run Time - 32:55 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/7064776

Episode 465 - With Frank Rivera 09/12/2018

Episode 465 - With Frank Rivera This week I'm joined by Frank Rivera for a conversation about his sarcoidosis diagnosis, the challenges and opportunities that come with living with a rare disease, living with multiple other chronic illnesses, and how patient advocacy efforts can create lasting relationships. Learn more about Frank's advocacy efforts at and . Run Time - 39:03 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/7035171

Episode 464 - With Robert Joyce 09/04/2018

Episode 464 - With Robert Joyce Robert Joyce joins me this week to talk about his life with multiple sclerosis, life in a small Irish town, making the most of the good days, the value in online patient communities, and Robert takes a few minutes to explain the different types of multiple sclerosis. Learn more about Robert's advocacy efforts at . Run Time - 33:43 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/7006372

Episode 463 - With Derek Canas 08/28/2018

Episode 463 - With Derek Canas This week, I'm joined by Derek Canas for a conversation about having open heart surgery at 3 months old, have five pacemakers installed over his life to date, using positivity and humor through his patient advocacy efforts, the ongoing stigma for people living with AIDS, and the art of a perfect pre-surgery playlist. Learn more about Derek's advocacy efforts at . Run Time - 32:28 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/6979167

Episode 462 - With Erin Akers 08/22/2018

Episode 462 - With Erin Akers Content warning: eating disorders. Erin Akers, Founder and Executive Director of Diabulimia Helpline joins me this week to talk about her personal experience with diabulimia, building a community and growing resources for people with diabetes and eating disorders, the constant hustle of running a nonprofit organization, and the First International Conference on Diabetes and Eating Disorders. Learn more about Diabulimia Helpline, including the upcoming International Conference at . Run Time - 33:03 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/6954175

Episode 461 - With Rodney Miller 08/15/2018

Episode 461 - With Rodney Miller This week I'm joined by Rodney Miller for a conversation about his diabetes diagnosis, his passion for power lifting and Strongman competitions, unique opportunities for patient advocacy and community building, and his nonprofit organization, Bolus and Barbells. Follow Rodney , , and . Run Time - 32:18 Send your feedback to . /episode/index/show/iamspartacus/id/6926875

Just Talking Podcast

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