How to Harness AI for Good Featuring Michael Tresca
About IBD
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being utilized in healthcare for many purposes. Patients are wondering how they can safely and effectively use AI tools to educate themselves and to manage their health. Amber and guest Michael Tresca discuss what AI is, how it works, and why skepticism and source verification are essential. They highlight practical, lower-risk ways patients might use AI, such as organizing personal health data, drafting appointment questions, and explaining medical terms. The emphasis is on ongoing education, privacy concerns, responsible use, and the importance of "trust but...
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How You Can Improve Intimacy When Living With IBD Featuring Dr Stacy Friedman
About IBD
The bedroom can be a place of anxiety for people of all genders living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). How can you boost your confidence and deepen your connection with your partner while living with IBD? Dr. Stacy Friedman is a clinical sexologist and intimacy coach living with ulcerative colitis. She explains how IBD affects intimacy, body image, dating, and relationships. Dr. Stacy shares her personal experiences and professional advice, with a focus on communication, trust, and how to know if a partner will be supportive. In this episode, we talk about why intimacy is more than sex...
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How to Protect Yourself in the Age of AI
About IBD
Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay. How can we approach AI with both curiosity and caution, especially as it becomes more integrated into daily life? If we’re not aware of it and looking for it, AI could become inserted into spaces where we aren’t comfortable with it. Amber talks with her son Brenden, a computer science student, about recognizing AI-generated content, the importance of media literacy, and the ethical challenges technology brings. This conversation offers some practical uses for AI, such as learning new skills or automating mundane tasks, while pointing out that...
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How to Bring an Intention to Your 2026
About IBD
We explore the idea of setting intentions instead of resolutions in the new year, which are more adaptable for people living with IBD. Amber shares clips from guests who explain their intentions, such as prosper, discipline, generosity, consistency, and the importance of taking breaks. Each guest highlights how intentions guide actions and mindset, emphasizing personal growth, resilience, and kindness, despite unpredictability. Episode transcript and more information at: Chapters: 00:05 — Introduction to Intentions Clip Show 01:14 — Why Intentions Over Resolutions 02:31 — Lisa: Prosper...
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Amber's Year in Books 2025
About IBD
Looking 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,...
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How To Build Resilience and Manage Life With IBD Featuring Kinsey Beagley
About IBD
Episode transcript and more information at: Kinsey Beagley, a pediatric medical assistant diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 15, shares about her experiences with IBD, including struggling with symptoms, multiple medication failures, and eventually having J-pouch surgery. Kinsey shares how reframing difficult experiences and adopting a positive mindset—her mantra is “I can do hard things”—has helped her cope. Chapters 00:04 Introduction and Guest Introduction 02:05 Kinsey’s Diagnosis Story 04:42 Initial Treatments and Medication Journey 06:06 Decision for Surgery 07:09 Emotional...
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The Truth About Surviving IBD and Incontinence
About IBD
Katryna Loewen, a registered nurse diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2020, shares her journey through severe flare-ups, incontinence, and her decision to have a colectomy and ileostomy in 2024. She discusses the emotional and physical challenges of living with IBD, the stigma of ostomies, and how these experiences shaped her life, relationships, and career. Katryna also describes managing her mental health, planning her wedding, and preparing for motherhood, offering hope and practical advice to others with IBD. Episode transcript and more information at: Chapters: 00:04 Introduction and...
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What You Need to Know About IBD and Gastroparesis Featuring Samantha Sauer, BCPA of G-PACT
About IBD
Samantha Sauer, BCPA, president of Gastroparesis Patient Association for Cures and Treatments (G-PACT), uncovers the challenges of living with gastroparesis and how it can overlap with IBD or other conditions. Sam shares her personal journey with gastroparesis and gives insights on symptoms, diagnosis, misconceptions, and the daily impact on patients' lives. Topics include the difficulties in getting the right diagnosis, the emotional toll of dietary restriction, and the importance of support communities. Sam also highlights resources offered by G-PACT, including support groups and educational...
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The Truth About Stigma and Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy Featuring Mariah Leach, JD, MS
About IBD
Amber and Mariah discuss how women with chronic illnesses cope with advice on medication use in pregnancy—especially in light of the confusion around acetaminophen. Mariah shares her experiences with rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy, focusing on changes in medication safety data. They talk about the pressure, stigma, and lack of support for pregnant women, the need for nuanced guidance, and provide resources. Episode transcript and more information at: This episode sponsored by Fathom Care! Fathom is an AI-powered wellness companion made for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Over...
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How To Stay Active With IBD Featuring Sean Lochran
About IBD
Sean Lochran, who lives with IBD and an ileostomy, describes his IBD journey, including complications such as blood clots and adrenal insufficiency. Sean shares advice for staying active on difficult days, including the importance of personalization, hydration, and tracking health data. He debunks misconceptions about exercise with IBD or an ostomy and describes his client-centered approach to fitness coaching, grounded in empathy and lived experience. Episode transcript and more information at: This episode sponsored by Fathom Care! Fathom is an AI-powered wellness companion made for...
info_outlineArtificial intelligence (AI) is being utilized in healthcare for many purposes. Patients are wondering how they can safely and effectively use AI tools to educate themselves and to manage their health. Amber and guest Michael Tresca discuss what AI is, how it works, and why skepticism and source verification are essential. They highlight practical, lower-risk ways patients might use AI, such as organizing personal health data, drafting appointment questions, and explaining medical terms. The emphasis is on ongoing education, privacy concerns, responsible use, and the importance of "trust but verify" when using AI for critical health decisions without professional input.
Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD196
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Timestamps:
- 00:05 — Introduction and Guest Welcome
- 01:20 — Recap of Previous Episode and Relationship Disclosure
- 02:16 — Defining AI and Common Misconceptions
- 04:14 — AI in Clinical and Patient Use
- 05:11 — AI in Everyday Search and Unintentional Use
- 06:39 — AI Hallucinations: What They Are and Why They Happen
- 10:13 — Importance of AI Showing Its Work and Sources
- 10:58 — Challenges in Understanding AI's Reasoning
- 14:33 — AI Training Data and Source Reliability
- 15:31 — Risks of Outdated or Inaccurate Health Information
- 21:35 — AI's Responsibility in Providing Answers
- 23:13 — Tolerance for Error and Regulation in AI
- 24:02 — Transition to Patient Use Cases
- 24:19 — Using AI to Organize Medical Information
- 26:23 — Drafting Questions for Appointments with AI
- 27:19 — Tracking Symptoms or Diet with AI
- 28:22 — AI for Coping with Brain Fog or Fatigue
- 31:10 — Listener Feedback: Avoiding AI
- 32:31 — Listener Feedback: Privacy, Data Breaches, and Environmental Concerns
- 34:45 — Listener Feedback: Worry About Errors
- 36:29 — Listener Feedback: Using AI for Definitions and Basic Research
- 37:24 — Listener Feedback: Using AI to Explain Test Results
- 40:31 — Listener Feedback: Healthcare Providers Using AI for Notetaking
- 43:30 — Ethics of Recording Medical Visits
- 44:42 — Conclusion and Final Thoughts
- 46:25 — Outro and Credits
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