loader from loading.io

Powerful Ways Art Can Help Us Heal from Trauma Featuring Daniel Leighton

About IBD

Release Date: 09/17/2025

How to Eat Well When Chronic Fatigue Makes Cooking Impossible With Nicholas Kelly MS, RD show art How to Eat Well When Chronic Fatigue Makes Cooking Impossible With Nicholas Kelly MS, RD

About IBD

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is thought of as a lung disease, but it affects the entire body. Amber Tresca speaks with Nicholas Kelly, MS, RD—a registered dietitian, public speaker, and cystic fibrosis advocate. His diagnosis is a result of his mother’s advocacy and research. Nick describes how he balances wanting to fit in with his determination to stand out, how he navigates chronic illness disclosure in the workplace, and his "triple minority" experience within the CF community. Plus, Nick shares practical nutrition tips to help you rethink your relationship with food.   Chapters: 00:00...

info_outline Why Your Symptoms Get Dismissed (and How to Be Heard) — With Morgan Check, NP show art Why Your Symptoms Get Dismissed (and How to Be Heard) — With Morgan Check, NP

About IBD

Pediatric GI Nurse Practitioner Morgan Check shares her journey living with Crohn’s disease, navigating a diagnosis change, emergency surgery, and motherhood. She uncovers the challenges facing women with IBD, from bone density and fertility to dismissal in clinical settings, and gives actionable tips for effective self-advocacy. Transcript, video, and more at: This episode is sponsored by . What you’ll learn: The challenges faced during the path to motherhood, including fertility issues and pregnancy complications. The impact of IBD on women's health, including fertility, bone density,...

info_outline The Truth About How IBD Affects Families With Adam and Brandon Sikes show art The Truth About How IBD Affects Families With Adam and Brandon Sikes

About IBD

Adam Sikes was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 18 and later with stage 1 colon cancer. Along with his son Brandon, Adam shares how his family supported him through decades of illness, surgery, and recovery with a J-pouch. Adam and Brandon highlight how IBD affects families, the importance of screening, and the power of community support through groups such as Connecting to Cure. Transcript and more information available at: Chapters: [00:02:12] —  Adam discusses his diagnosis of ulcerative colitis at age 18. [00:04:05] — Adam describes his colon resection surgery after a...

info_outline Powerful Lessons: How Women Experience Life With IBD Featuring Alicia Aiello of Girls With Guts show art Powerful Lessons: How Women Experience Life With IBD Featuring Alicia Aiello of Girls With Guts

About IBD

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD207 Alicia Aiello, president of Girls With Guts, shares her journey with IBD, which began in childhood. She discusses major surgeries, including a proctectomy that resulted in an unexpected loss of her fallopian tubes and an ovary, and the early onset of perimenopause. Alicia opens up about navigating rectovaginal fistulas, feeling dismissed, and the importance of knowing when to switch providers. What you’ll learn: The impact of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on women’s health. Why proctectomy surgery might be used, how it...

info_outline Hidden Ways IBD Affects You Over a Lifetime With Puja Khanna, MD show art Hidden Ways IBD Affects You Over a Lifetime With Puja Khanna, MD

About IBD

The truth about inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is that it goes beyond the gut. In this first ever live recording of About IBD, Amber talks with Dr. Puja Khanna from Cedars-Sinai to explore the extra-intestinal impacts of IBD, from skin conditions and eye inflammation to debilitating fatigue. Learn how sex-specific factors affect women and why building a multi-disciplinary care team is the best strategy for long-term health. Episode transcript and more information at: Chapters: (00:01): Amber introduces the first-ever live recording of the "About IBD" podcast, recorded at an event in Los...

info_outline How to Navigate ER Visits and Avoid Fragmented Care With Dr Stephen Lupe show art How to Navigate ER Visits and Avoid Fragmented Care With Dr Stephen Lupe

About IBD

Emergency room visits are a source of stress and can lead to fragmented care. Amber speaks with psychologist Dr Stephen Lupe to learn why inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients avoid the ER, the reality of medical trauma, and how a multi-disciplinary approach like the IBD Medical Home can revolutionize patient care.   Transcript and more information at:   Sponsored by: Johnson & Johnson:   Find Stephen Lupe, PsyD at: Cleveland Clinic:  Twitter: LinkedIn: Resources mentioned: Cleveland Clinic's Digestive Disease & Surgery Institute: Explore the...

info_outline Brown Note: Helping People with IBD Find Hope and Support With Andrew Giffin show art Brown Note: Helping People with IBD Find Hope and Support With Andrew Giffin

About IBD

Amber Tresca talks with Andrew Giffin, a product manager in Toronto who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at 19 after years of symptoms in high school. Andrew shares his experience navigating three major surgeries, adjusting his career path away from law enforcement, and learning to manage stress as part of living with a chronic illness. He also discusses developing apps, including Brown Note, a free, anonymous peer-support app for people with digestive diseases. Brown Note was inspired by his own feelings of isolation while preparing for his third surgery and is available on Apple, Android,...

info_outline Insider Secrets to Fearless Travel with IBD show art Insider Secrets to Fearless Travel with IBD

About IBD

Certified travel advisor, business owner, and ulcerative colitis patient Sarah McGovern joins Amber to give tips and tricks on traveling with IBD. Sarah relates her IBD journey, including a rare medication side effect that landed her in the hospital. Now in remission, Sarah breaks down her blueprint for traveling with an invisible illness. On this episode, you'll learn concrete, practical strategies for traveling with IBD and how a travel advisor can help you relax on your next trip.   Transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD203   Chapters: 00:04 — Introduction to...

info_outline The Powerful Impact of the IBD Community Featuring Katie Neu show art The Powerful Impact of the IBD Community Featuring Katie Neu

About IBD

Episode transcript and more information at: Katie Neu and Amber Tresca talk over the results of the IBD Social Circle white paper, "The Power of Community in Inflammatory Bowel Disease." A survey of more than 500 patients puts a spotlight on the ways IBD affects body image, relationships, intimacy, and mental health. Amber and Katie discuss masking symptoms, the difficulties of working a corporate job, and why having community is critical.   Chapters 00:05 — Host Amber Tresca introduces the podcast and her guest, Katie Neu, who lives with Crohn's disease. 01:25 — Amber and Katie...

info_outline Yoga Therapy for IBD: Why Acceptance is the Best Teacher With Bari Gratton show art Yoga Therapy for IBD: Why Acceptance is the Best Teacher With Bari Gratton

About IBD

After a devastating Crohn’s disease flare, marketing executive Bari Gratton traded a high-stress career for the healing path of yoga therapy in California. Bari joins Amber Tresca to discuss the "Five Layers of Being," the toxicity of "pushing through," and how she is building community for the next generation of IBD patients. Episode transcript and more information at: Key Chapters & Timestamps: [00:00:00] – Welcome to About IBD with Amber Tresca [00:04:40] – Diagnosis in the late 90s: Life as a teen with Crohn’s [00:12:35] – The 2017 Crisis: Three surgeries and a temporary...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Amber interviews artist Daniel Leighton, who shares his journey living with Crohn's disease from childhood. Daniel tells us how he didn't think of himself as an artist, but painting became a vital tool for expressing emotions and coping with complex PTSD related to chronic illness. He offers some advice for those intimidated by starting a journey into creativity and describes how art validates the experiences of people with chronic illness. Daniel's artwork, inspired by his medical journey, helps others with IBD feel seen and less alone, highlighting the role of art in emotional healing and community connection.

This episode contains a discussion of medical trauma and complex PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), so please take care when listening. Check the show notes for a description and time stamps, in case you want to skip certain sections.

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD185

Chapters:
  • 00:01 Intro & Content Warning
  • 2:40 Daniel’s IBD Journey & Surgeries
  • 5:15 Early J-Pouch Surgery
  • 6:24 Discovering Art as an Outlet
  • 11:24 Art for Processing Trauma
  • 15:21 Getting Started with Art
  • 17:23 Art, PTSD & Chronic Illness
  • 18:43 Connecting to Cure
  • 19:57 Evolution of Artwork
  • 21:30 Depicting Pain in Art
  • 22:39 Trying New Things
  • 23:44 Specific Artworks & Meanings
  • 29:24 First Surgery & Trauma
  • 33:12 Evolving Trauma Over Time
  • 34:22 Art as a Bridge
  • 38:08 Medical Restraint Trauma
  • 40:52 Power of Not Feeling Alone
  • 42:15 Lessons Learned the Hard Way
  • 43:56 “Here Comes the Flood”
  • 46:49 Self-Compassion & Healing Timelines
  • 47:55 Ballroom Dancing & New Experiences
  • 50:38 Where to Find Daniel’s Art
  • 51:44 Closing & Credits
Topics discussed on this episode:
  • The role of art as an outlet for expressing emotions related to living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
  • Personal experiences of living with Crohn's disease, including diagnosis and surgeries.
  • The therapeutic benefits of using art to process trauma and cope with chronic illness.
  • Practical advice for using art as a form of emotional expression, regardless of artistic skill level.
  • The importance of self-compassion and recognizing individual healing timelines.
  • The impact of trauma on emotional expression and the need for safe spaces to feel emotions.
  • The evolution of personal artwork and its connection to experiences with IBD.
  • Encouragement to embrace intimidating activities as a means of personal growth and healing.
  • The significance of creating visual representations of emotions, such as "pain charts."
  • The importance of community and connection in the journey of living with chronic illness.
Links to information mentioned in this episode:

Find Daniel Leighton at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at:

These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.