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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Is Your Eye Pain Actually an IBD Flare?
About IBD
Did you know that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) isn't only a digestive condition? It can also attack your vision. Your host, Amber J Tresca, breaks down some of the most common eye-related extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs) of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Learn how to identify the warning signs of episcleritis, uveitis, and scleritis, and find out when you need to see an ophthalmologist right away to protect your eyesight. Episode transcript and more information at: Key Chapters & Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction: Protecting your vision with IBD 02:07 - What are...
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How to Fuel Athletic Performance In Chronic Illness Featuring T.L. Wright (The IBD Athlete)
About IBD
T.L. Wright, known as The IBD Athlete and author of The SCD Athlete Cookbook, tells Amber about her frustrating decades-long journey to a Crohn's disease diagnosis. She explains the health reasons behind her pivot from triathlons and Ironman races to competitive bodybuilding. You'll leave this episode with a better understanding of how to fuel for your sport or workout while managing an immune-mediated condition. Episode transcript and more information at: The SCD Athlete Cookbook: and Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to the IBD Athlete 02:39 - A Lifetime of Unexplained Symptoms 04:18 - The...
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Epidemiology, Big Data, and Biologics in Pregnancy
About IBD
Episode transcript and more information at: What does a pregnant woman do when they need a biologic medication, but pregnancy isn't included in drug trials? Dr. Sonia Grandi and Dr. Christina Longo talk to Amber Tresca about the BIONIC study, a groundbreaking project using decades of real-world data to understand how biologics affect a pregnant woman and her baby. The BIONIC study is designed to empower patients to make confident, evidence-based decisions about their own health and their children's future. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Dr. Sonia Grandi and Dr. Christina Longo. ...
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The Insidious Reasons Why IBD Destroys Sleep
About IBD
Everyone needs sleep, but so many of us struggle to get enough. People living with IBD know that a good night’s sleep can feel like a distant dream, whether it’s pain, urgent bathroom trips, or racing thoughts keeping you up. But why exactly does IBD disrupt our sleep even during remission? And what is your sleep telling you about the risks of a flare-up? Episode transcript and more information at: Chapters: 00:04 Introduction and Host Background 01:32 IBD and Sleep: The Problem 03:00 Why Sleep Matters for IBD 04:14 Defining Sleep Disturbance in IBD 05:23 Inflammation’s Role in Sleep...
info_outlineLooking for your next great read? Host of About IBD, Amber Tresca, gives her year-end roundup of books, with brief summaries and her reflections on each. The selections cover a mix of genres, from speculative fiction and psychological thrillers to memoir and dark fantasy, often touching on themes of trauma, community, self-acceptance, and chronic illness. Amber shares how the stories resonated with her experience as a GenX mom living with a chronic illness, offering both recommendations and caveats. She also discusses practical tips for accessing books affordably through libraries and apps, and encourages exploring local bookstores or thrift shops to boost your reading journey and sense of community.
Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD192
Find Amber's 2025 books at Bookshop.org
Chapters:
- 00:05 — Introduction and Episode Overview — Amber introduces herself, the podcast, and the year-end book review episode.
- 01:08 — Book 1: Beautyland by Marie Helene Bertino — Summary, themes, and reflections on the coming-of-age story of an alien observing human life.
- 03:35 Book 2: The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult — Summary, dual timelines, ancient Egypt, and personal frustrations with the main character.
- 06:10 — Book 3: Doctor Sleep by Stephen King — Summary, differences between book and movie, trauma, and post-Shining life for Danny Torrance.
- 09:57 — Book 4: We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer — Summary, psychological horror, reality distortion, and the challenges of ambiguous endings.
- 12:23 — Book 5: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig — Summary, alternate lives, regret, self-acceptance, and critique of the book’s premise.
- 16:07 — Library Resources and Digital Media Tips — Amber shares how she accesses books via library apps and encourages listeners to use library resources.
- 17:36 — Book 6: A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher — Summary, dark fantasy, abuse, coming of age, and resilience in a retelling of Goose Girl.
- 20:40 — Book 7: Death Valley by Melissa Broder — Summary, magical realism, chronic illness depiction, and reflections on escapism and coping.
- 24:21 — Book 8: One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole — Summary, dissociative identity disorder, pandemic context, and a unique take on the locked-room thriller.
- 27:07— Book 9: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman — Summary, community, connection, and critique of the book’s tone and humor.
- 31:06 — Book 10: A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost — Summary, comedic memoir, personal anecdotes, and recommendation of the audiobook version.
- 33:44 — Book Shopping, Thrifting, and Community Reflections — Amber discusses supporting bookstores, thrifting, and the importance of reading for community and personal growth.
- 36:07 — Closing Remarks and Call to Action — Amber wraps up, encourages listener engagement, and provides information about show notes and future book clubs.
Books Amber Contributed to in 2025:
- Living with Fire: A Patient’s Guide to Thriving with Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases
- Wellness Through Words: A Multivocal Anthology on Healthcare, Patient Safety, and Wellness
Library apps mentioned in this episode:
Find Amber J Tresca at:
- AboutIBD.com: About IBD
- Verywell Health: Verywell Health
- Facebook: @aboutIBD
- Twitter: @aboutIBD
- Pinterest: @aboutibd
- Instagram: @about_IBD
- YouTube: @AboutIBD
- Threads: @AboutIBD
Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at:
- Facebook: @maccooneycomposer
- Instagram: @maccooneycomposer
- YouTube: @MacCooneyComposer
- Web: Cooney Studio
- Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.
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