Iconically Ill
Welcome to Iconically Ill, I'm your host Laura Lyons, where I interview other disabled and chronically ill people with humor and heart over the clinical part.
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Season 5 Annoucement
11/21/2025
Season 5 Annoucement
We're back January 6, 2026! See you there.
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We Talk LGMD 2i and Podcasting
11/04/2025
We Talk LGMD 2i and Podcasting
We talk LGMD 2i and podcasting with Cerys Davage. Cerys is a 24 year old podcaster and content creator from Cardiff, Wales. Through her podcast, ‘Unbalanced’, she has created a community of young disabled adults, showing them that they’re not alone and that life can still be great regardless of any life barriers. She has Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy 2i, and discusses the reality of life with this condition whilst also raising awareness of other conditions through a range of interviews. Follow Cerys at @cerysdavage and @unbalancedpodcast on instagram Show transcript
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We Talk Lyme Disease
10/28/2025
We Talk Lyme Disease
We talk Lyme Disease with Ilana. Ilana has been healing from Lyme Disease and its co-infections since 2016. Undiagnosed for nearly two years after the onset of symptoms, she explored nearly every medical, psychiatric, holistic, and even spiritual intervention available. Along the way, she became deeply engaged in the Lyme patient and provider community, founding a Facebook support group in 2022 that has since grown to nearly 1,600 members worldwide. A professor, writer, and business owner, she is slowly reclaiming a full and meaningful life. Deeply humbled by the experience of chronic illness, she is committed not only to her own healing, but also to empowering others as they navigate their own journeys. Show transcript
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We Talk Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy with Keisha Greaves
10/21/2025
We Talk Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy with Keisha Greaves
Keisha is the Founder & CEO of Girls Chronically Rock, which is adaptive and non-adaptive clothing options with inspiring phrases on them. She is a Board Member at Disability Law Center and Chairperson of Cambridge Comission for Persons with Disabilities. She's also a public speaker and disability advocate. Follow Keisha at on Instagram. Show transcript:
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We Talk ME/CFS
10/14/2025
We Talk ME/CFS
We talk ME/CFS with Dani Hanks. Dani is a disabled writer/director based in New York City. As a kid, Dani grew up elbow-deep in human organs at their mom’s pathology lab in Porterville, California. A direct result of inhaling too much formaldehyde in their formative years, they dove headfirst into the entertainment industry. After receiving their BFA in Drama at NYU Tisch, they directed the Banff-nominated comedy web series “Fake News Writer,” which was optioned after winning the Webby Award for Video Entertainment in 2019. Most recently, Dani was named one of I.S.A.’s Top 25 Screenwriters to Watch in 2025 after winning the 2024 Austin Film Festival. Drawing from their experience as the only purple-haired snowflake in a deeply conservative family, Dani promotes empathy for underrepresented identities through offbeat stories centering diverse found families. They approach the taboo with both levity and nuance, and love finding humor in the mundane. Dani has worked on projects in development at FilmRise, RKO, and Josephson Entertainment, and is a fellow of Stowe, Disability Belongs, and the WGAE SSTP. They are a full-time meme connoisseur, part-time AD, former member of Mensa, and have 10 years of experience cutting animal tissue for medical research (much to the dismay of their pet rats). Follow Dani at @dani_hanks on Instagram Show transcript
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We Talk Partial Blindess
10/07/2025
We Talk Partial Blindess
We talk partial blindness with Matthew Thomas. Matt is a British TV writer and children's author, based in LA. He won Best Drama Pilot in the 2018 Fresh Voices competition and Best One Hour in the 2021 Screencraft TV Pilot. You can see his work in the upcoming TV drama ‘Joker’s Downfall’. Follow Matthew on X @mrmattthomas Show transcript
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We Talk Dating While Disabled
10/03/2025
We Talk Dating While Disabled
We talk dating while disabled with Jacqueline and Alexa Child Jacqueline and Alexa are sisters and founders of Dateability, the only dating app for disabled and chronically ill people. After becoming disabled as a teenager, Jacqueline experienced a great deal of ableism, particularly in the dating space. Together, Jacqueline and Alexa collaborated on creating a safe and inclusive platform for the world’s largest minority. When they’re not working together, they still spend all their time side by side, watching TV, checking out vintage shops, and grabbing coffee. Follow Jacqueline at @jacquelinechild Alexa at @alexabchild and Dateability at @dateabilityapp on instagram Show transcript
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We Talk Fibromyalgia
09/23/2025
We Talk Fibromyalgia
We talk Fibromyalgia with Anna Hamilton. Anna is a writer and comedian based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their hobbies include watching bad movies with their partner, reading, and spending time with their very spoiled Yorkie mix, Sushi. Anna’s essays have appeared in the Disability Visibility Project, Welcome to Hell World, and many other publications. They also publish a humor newsletter called Citizen Cane. You can learn more about their work via their website () Follow Anna on Instagram at @annaham_stagram and Bluesky @annaham Show transcript
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We Talk Acromegaly
09/16/2025
We Talk Acromegaly
We talk acromegaly with Ellen Ko. Ellen Ko was diagnosed at age 26 with acromegaly due to a pituitary tumor. Acromegaly is a growth hormone condition which affects every aspect of the body - it causes changes inside and out, and both physical and mental. She underwent surgery and is on a medical regimen which has stabilized and controlled her hormone levels. Over two decades after her diagnosis, Ellen continues to be an active acromegaly community member and patient advocate. For patients or caregivers dealing with acromegaly, Ellen recommends visiting acromegalycommunity.org/ and reaching out to others for support. Despite her health condition, Ellen enjoys being involved in theater as an actor, artistic director, and professor. She lives with her husband and two chihuahuas in New York City. Follow Ellen at @ellenkogram on Instagram Show transcript
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We Talk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
09/09/2025
We Talk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
We talk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with Natalia Surin. In the spring of 2018, at the age of 21, Natalia was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) during her senior year at UMass Amherst studying hospitality & business management. Born and raised in Boston with only a couple months left until graduation, her life was turned upside down sending her down a grueling treatment plan. For the next 2+ years, cancer monopolized her life. Now at 28 years old, she’s still somehow chronically a patient—but never a victim. With humor as her sidekick, Natalia cracks jokes about IV poles, getting probed, and everything in between, proving that even when life isn’t funny, you can still laugh your way through it. Update: Natalia relapsed after this recording. She’s currently in the middle of CAR T-Cell Therapy and is aiming to be back in remission by November 2025. Until then, consider this podcast her laugh track through treatment. Show transcript
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We Talk Intestinal Autoimmune Disease
09/02/2025
We Talk Intestinal Autoimmune Disease
We talk Intestinal Autoimmune Disease with Katerina Vrana Katerina is one of Greece‘s top stand-up comedians, performing stand-up in both Greek and English all over the world, her shows selling out in Athens and London and at the Edinburgh Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festivals. CNN included her in its list of “Female Comedians To Watch“ and in 2016 she came third in the Laugh Factory’s international competition “Funniest Person in the World“. In April 2017, while on tour in Malaysia, Katerina fell seriously ill and nearly died. Her survival came at the cost of multiple physical impairments and she now moves around mainly in a wheelchair. She got back on stage in 2019 with her solo show "Staying Alive (I nearly died, you know)" which became the best selling stand-up comedy show of the year in Greece, selling out the entire run before it even opened. Post Covid, Katerina was finally able to take “Staying Alive” on a European tour, in English, in 2023, selling out all 12 cities of the tour. Katerina has spent the last two years doing her new show "Derbederissa" to sold out theatres in Greece, recording two comedy specials, one in English and one in Greek, and going on another sold out European tour. Katerina spends most of her time between performing and rehabilitation, as she has difficulties with her balance, movement, eyesight, and speech. Follow Katerina at @katerinavrana on Instagram Show transcript
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We Talk Limb Differences
07/22/2025
We Talk Limb Differences
We talk limb differences Madeleine Stewart Disability advocate and award-winning comedian Madeleine Stewart charms audiences everywhere with a sweet demeanour, veiling razor-sharp wit. With over a decade of experience in standup comedy, you may have seen Madeleine perform with the likes of Adam Hills, Rove McManus, & Reuben Kaye. Creator of the viral video on Marriage Equality for ABC Iview (reaching 2.4mil views in 2 days) earned her the 2024 Story Teller Scholarship. Madeleine continues to work with ABC creating viral videos on employment, period care and various other disability issues… all with a healthy dose of humour. Practicing what she preaches, Madeleine won the Stella Young Award (2024) and the AMP Tomorrowmaker award (2019) for her advocacy and production of inclusive, accessible comedy shows- specifically Crips & Creeps. Her satirical short film 'Inspire Me' which explores inspiration porn, won Best Documentary at the Australian Independent Film Festival (AIFF). Currently, Madeleine is touring her comedy show “Are You Pulling my Leg?” across Australia- celebrating disabled comedians and heavily advocating for more accessible creative spaces. Follow Maddy at @Its_madeleine_stewart on Instagram Show transcript
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We Talk Chronic Illness
07/15/2025
We Talk Chronic Illness
We talk chronic illness with Bloom Davis. Bloom is an outdoor educator, facilitator, and artist with a passion for creating inclusive spaces that empower individuals and communities. As someone living with chronic health conditions, Bloom is dedicated to supporting others to get outdoors in ways that are accessible and meaningful. With experience as a backpacking guide in Yellowstone and a JMT and PCT thru-hiker, Bloom combines a love for natural spaces with a commitment to fostering connection, promoting health, and encouraging personal growth through outdoor adventures. You can follow Bloom on Patreon at @bloomsy Show transcript
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We Talk Narcolepsy
07/08/2025
We Talk Narcolepsy
We talk narcolepsy with Kathryn Dunn. Kathryn Dunn has been learning and teaching improv in and around New York for decades. She's studied at renowned New York theaters The People’s Improv Theater (PIT), Upright Citizen’s Brigade (UCB), and The Magnet. She has extensive training in various techniques for long form Improv, short form improv, musical improv, puppet-prov, sketch comedy, coaching improv, and teaching improv. She has taught a wide range of classes, led workshops, and taught date coaching applying improv to real life. She has produced numerous shows including “Yes, Yes, Yes, And!,” ''Moulin Rogue,” “Satanic Bingo,” “The Grass Route,” and her podcast Dunn Sun. Follow Kathryn at @Kathryn Dunn on Facebook and her weekly youtube channel The Kathryn Dunn Show Show transcript
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We Talk Blindness
07/01/2025
We Talk Blindness
We talk blindness with Dustin D'Addato. Dustin is an Emmy Award winning writer, director, producer and performer based in New York City. Despite being legally blind he's been involved in some of the largest events in television and streaming history. Follow Dustin at @ddaddato on Instagram Show transcript
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We Talk Breast Cancer
06/24/2025
We Talk Breast Cancer
We talk breast cancer with Lauren Stripling. Lauren grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, where she was that girl who played the harp at your cousin's wedding. Colder climes called, and she got her B.A. in English from Yale before pursuing a Master's in Education while teaching English in the Bronx. She taught creative writing to thousands of students over a decade of work with Story Pirates and spent years singing as part of Musical Megawatt at the Magnet Theater. Now, Lauren is a script editor by day and a doting Dog Mom to Cookie Dough by always. radioactive playlist: Follow Lauren at @striplingo on Instagram After this recording, Lauren’s father passed away from cancer, we dedicate this episode to him. Show transcript
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We Talk Deafness
06/17/2025
We Talk Deafness
We talk Deafness with Adam Pottle. Adam is a Deaf writer whose works span multiple genres. His books include the prairie gothic novel Apparitions, the dark fantasy musical The Black Drum, and the historical suspense novel The Bus. He was the 2021-22 writer in residence at Sheridan College and was a 2022 Warner Bros Discovery Access screenwriting fellow. He has a PhD in English literature and has taught English, creative writing, and professional communication for nearly twenty years. He lives in a small town just outside Saskatoon. Follow Adam at @adam.pottle on Instagram Show transcript
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We Talk Stroke
06/10/2025
We Talk Stroke
We talk stroke with Sean Chang. Sean is a Brooklyn-based performer and writer originally from California. He is a young stroke survivor, having had a stroke when he was 22, that resulted in invisible disabilities, right sided weakness, and tremors. He started comedy as a way to find joy and make others laugh, and it’s helped him better understand himself and his relationship with his disability. He currently performs on UCB’s Lloyd Night and around the city with his improv team The Lake at Dawn in NYC. Follow Sean at @hahaitssean on Instagram Show transcript
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We Talk Stomach Cancer
06/03/2025
We Talk Stomach Cancer
We talk stomach cancer with Madelein Murphy. With over a decade of experience and a dynamic stage presence, Madelein Murphy has conquered comedy stages around the globe. From headlining at prestigious colleges and comedy clubs to entertaining audiences on cruise ships, Madelein's hilarious performances have garnered international acclaim. Her debut album, "Belle of the Ball," soared to #1 on iTunes Comedy Charts! She also sold a network adult animation pilot! Her second album and debut special, produced by Comedy Dynamics, will premiere in 2025. Follow Madelein at @Madeleinmurphy on Instagram Show transcript
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We Talk Spina Bifida
05/27/2025
We Talk Spina Bifida
We talk Spina Bifida with Jack Freeman. Jack was born with spina bifida, a neurological birth defect, and walks with a leg brace. This past year he’s been touring a solo show called Embrace Me about dating with a disability. He’s performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, IndyFringe, as well as theaters around the country. Jack has also played LaughFest, Plano Comedy Festival, Portland ME Comedy Festival. Follow Jack at @Unrealjackfreeman on Instagram and his Podcast Thought Outhouse on Youtube Show transcript
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We Talk CIPD
05/20/2025
We Talk CIPD
We talk CIPD with Anna DiBlosi At 26, Anna DiBlosi experienced the sudden onset of an undiagnosed autoimmune disorder that completely turned her life upside down. She went from working full-time, having a social life and living her dream in Los Angeles, CA to being fully bed-bound and reliant on her family for care. For years, she was a "medical mystery," struggling to be heard by medical professionals and fighting for answers. She was eventually diagnosed with CIDP, a rare autoimmune disorder that targets the nerves. Her diagnosis allowed her to access the right medical treatment, but her life is still far from what it once was. She now spends her time focused on advocacy and community building. Through her social media channels, Anna raises awareness for invisible illnesses and shares her experience living with CIDP. She also hosts a monthly support group in Los Angeles called the , offering a space for others navigating similar challenges to connect and find support. Follow Anna at @Anna_DiBlosi on Instagram Show transcript
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We Talk EDS and MCAS
04/15/2025
We Talk EDS and MCAS
We talk Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Mast cell activation syndrome with Katie Hutch. Katie Hutch is an NYC-based award-winning performer, writer and director. Hutch stars as Abe Lincoln in the Amazon Prime feature film Lincoln the Musical, a Hamilton parody mockumentary. She has been seen Off-Broadway in Frankenstein the Musical, Off Off-Broadway roles including Super Crazy Fun Times and Hungry, Hungry Games as well as winning Best Singer for NY SummerFest in the US premiere of A Word of Love. Hutch has been featured on resident house teams at major NYC comedy theaters including The PIT and The Tank and in dozens of film shorts including Mashable’s Good Day, Deathstar and U Need to Know This. Hutch’s original one-woman show, Allergic to Being Alive, journeys through the challenges and chuckles of living with chronic illness and invisible disability through stories and songs. She released an EP of the same name featuring catchy tracks from the show about everything from anxiety attacks to masturbation inspiring us all to find the laughs through the struggles of surviving. Allergic to Being Alive is streaming on all platforms. Follow Katie and get an original song written just for you at @katiethehutch and @allergictobeingalive on Instagram Show transcript
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We Talk Stage IV Breast Cancer
04/08/2025
We Talk Stage IV Breast Cancer
We talk Stage IV Breast Cancer with Robin Browne. Robin Browne is a Brooklyn-based writer and artist. She's had cancer twice, and has been living with stage IV breast cancer since 2015. Robin has written a long-standing column for Amy Poehler's Smart Girls website called "What's my Stage Again." She's collaborated with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation on several awareness campaigns, and is on the education committee for The Pink Agenda. In her spare time, she enjoys illustrating, writing poetry, spending time with her cat, and watching Bravo. Follow Robin at @robinmbrowne and @robinmbrowneart on Instagram, @robinmbrowne on Bluesky, and on Substack
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We Talk Lupus
04/01/2025
We Talk Lupus
We talk Lupus with Kristina Stasi. Kristina Stasi is a multiracial actress, singer, certified sound healer, and overall funny girl living in Los Angeles. She previously performed sketch, musical improv, and hip-hop improv at Magnet Theater and Peoples Improv Theater in NYC. She loves playing trivia and has been on numerous game shows including Cash Cab and $100,000 Pyramid. One day, she hopes to be a guest judge (and then secret contestant) on RuPaul's Drag Race. Follow Kristina at @stasi.kristina on instagram Show transcript
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We Talk Jaw Surgeries and Endometriosis
03/25/2025
We Talk Jaw Surgeries and Endometriosis
We talk jaw surgeries and Endometriosis with Shannon Krowicki. Shannon Krowicki is an actor, singer and comedian based in NYC. In her twenties, she had three major jaw surgeries that changed the course of her life and career. She now has titanium jaw joint prosthetics, fibromyalgia and Stage IV endometriosis that went undiagnosed for 25 years. When she's not suffering from her medical ailments, Shannon performs every Thursday night on Magnet Theater’s musical improv house team, “Secret, Secret!” Her performance credits include off-Broadway and regional theater shows, local commercials and TV/Film productions, most notably Nickelodeon, The History Channel, Starz!, Amazon and Investigation Discovery. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband-to-be, Jon, their dog, Wiley and listening to ghost and murder podcasts. Follow Shannon at @krowchickie on Instagram Show transcript
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We Talk 5 Auto-Immune Disorders
03/18/2025
We Talk 5 Auto-Immune Disorders
We talk 5 auto-immune disorders with Dena Paduano. Dena Paduano is a radiant soul, born and raised in Orange County and Los Angeles, California. After years of pursuing her passion for acting, life took an unexpected turn when chronic pain and illness entered her story. Diagnosed with five advanced autoimmune diseases and enduring 34 surgeries, Dena faced immense challenges. But through it all, she started to develop her profound gift within herself—her intuition. Today, Dena is an intuitive coach and psychic, using her abilities to help others navigate their own struggles. Through psychometry and her deep empathetic connection, she taps into the emotional and physical pain others carry, guiding them to release it before it manifests into chronic conditions. Dena has a special heart for working with young people, helping them reframe their mindset and build a strong foundation to avoid the pitfalls of chronic pain and autoimmune issues. Her journey is one of transformation—mind, body, and spirit. It's about resilience, self-love, and the power of rewriting your narrative. Dena is living proof that even in the face of chronic illness, at 55 you can become “ionically un-ill" and thrive. Through her platforms, she shares daily inspiration, tools, and mindset shifts to help you navigate your own journey—whether it’s chronic pain, depression, mental health challenges, or simply finding your way back to yourself. Dena offers psychic readings and intuitive coaching sessions, where she connects with you on a deep level to provide clarity, direction, and inspiration. Whether it’s once or twice a month, her coaching helps you pivot, reframe, and conquer whatever stands in your way. Dena’s mission is to help you see yourself not as a victim of your circumstances, but as the empowered creator of your life. To receive $50 off your first session with Dena you can use the special code offer Queen! Follow Dena at @Denapaduano on Instagram and Intuitive Coach Dena on YouTube, and TikTok Show transcript
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We Talk Wheelchairs and Acting
03/11/2025
We Talk Wheelchairs and Acting
We talk wheelchairs and acting with Shannon DeVido. Shannon DeVido is an actress seen on Difficult People, Cross on Prime Video and Lucky Hank on AMC+. She has won the Elliot Norton Award, BAFTA Breathrough Award, The VIacomCBS Showcase 2021 Award and Casting Society of America Top 20 Award Follow Shannon at @shannondevido on instagram Show transcript
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We talk ADHD
03/04/2025
We talk ADHD
We talk ADHD with Kento Morita. NYC-based actor & comedian Kento Morita has lit up stages at SketchFest Seattle, Toronto Sketchfest, SF Sketchfest & the Asian Comedy Festival. He starred as Shintaro Nakaoka in Rise of the Ronin, and appears in an upcoming Warner Bros Animation, as well as does improv for kids with The Story Pirates. He's also a one of the producers and creator of shows, Duty Free Live! and Cyberpunk Live With Kento. Follow Kento at @ on Instagram and TikTok Show transcript
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We Talk PMDD
02/25/2025
We Talk PMDD
We talk PMDD with Lauren Brickman. Lauren Brickman is a NY-Based performer, creator, and educator. As a performer Lauren has been featured in such projects as FBI: Most Wanted, Ghost: Book of Power, Bull, Gloria Bell, and more! She performs monthly in the Pop-Culture Comedy show, We Stan Together, at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre in NYC. When not living her artist life she can be found in academia! She's an adjunct lecturer for both City Tech and QCC in CUNY System as well as part of the Brooklyn College Future Ready/College Now support team. Somehow she's also the associate chair of liberal arts & sciences/Director of the Center of Excellence in Teaching & Learning at the NY Film Academy. Follow Lauren at @LaurenABrickman on Instagram and check out WeStanTogether.com for updates Show transcript
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We Talk Locked-In Syndrome
02/18/2025
We Talk Locked-In Syndrome
We talk Locked-In Syndrome with Jake Haendel. Jake Haendel, the “miracle man,” is the only documented person to survive stage four Acute Toxic Progressive Leukoencephalopathy, a rare brain disease that left him locked in. While he couldn’t move, speak, or breathe on his own, Jake remained fully aware and retained all feeling in his body. His covert consciousness and eventual recovery have fascinated Boston’s top medical doctors, who continue to study his case to better understand this disease and others like it. For the last four years, Jake has dedicated himself to his recovery while prioritizing helping others along the way. When he finally moved out of the hospital in 2020, he was met with a series of accessibility challenges. He quickly realized that “accessible” doesn’t always mean truly accessible. Thinking back to the many patients he met during his years in the hospital, he saw an opportunity to improve the lives of millions navigating similar obstacles. Jake is the co-creator of Blink: The Jake Haendel Story and the inspiration behind Ahoi, a startup dedicated to making the world more accessible. Ahoi’s app helps users find locations that best fit their accessibility needs—whatever they may be. Follow Jake at @miraclman31 and @blinkthepodcast on Instagram, Youtube, and TikTok Show transcript
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