Hey friends,

This is a quick note to let you know that I'm taking a short pause with the podcast and my newsletter. In this brief episode, I let you know why and what I'll be up to in the mean time.

While I'm on this pause, I would love to hear from you to know what information you want me to cover here and how I can best help you move forward to a happier and healthier life. Drop me a comment here or email me at talktome@joymuckclub.com. You can also hit me up on Instagram, Threads, or TikTok. And you can sign up for my Substack. It's 100% and has an archive of my past podcast episodes and newsletters full of loads of info and guidance.

And if you'd like to work with me one-on-one to get some help navigating this chronic illness life with more ease and joy, fill out this form.

I hope you have a joyful month and I'll see you in August!

Living with chronic illness can feel isolating, but you don't have to go it alone. In this episode, I talk about building your resilience circle: the people, resources, and relationships that support you through the tough days and help you hold on to hope. From chosen family to online communities, from professionals to quiet supporters behind the scenes – your circle matters. Because resilience isn't just a personal quality, it's also about who is holding your hand when things get hard.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why resilience doesn't mean doing it alone
• The different types of support your circle can include
• How to identify who's already in your resilience circle and where there may be gaps
• Ways to call in more support, even if it feels vulnerable
• Reassurance that you're not a burden and that everyone needs help

Whether you're just starting to build your support system or you're reevaluating who's in your corner, this episode is a reminder that you deserve support that sees you, respects you, and holds space for the fullness of your experience.

Key Info:

The resilience support circle roles:

1. The listener: The person who holds space without trying to fix it. They say, "That sounds really hard, I'm here".
2. The problem-solver: The one who helps research treatments, track symptoms, or plan logistics when you ask them to.
3. The grounder: A calming presence. They help you feel steady during upheaval.
4. The joy-bringer: Someone who brings laughter, lightness, or distraction when you need a break from being "the sick one".
5. The peer: Someone with shared lived experience who "gets it" without explanation.
6. The professional: Therapist, coach, doctor, or healer. Paid help counts as part of your resilience circle, especially if they respect your reality.

Send me an email with any questions or comments

Subscribe to my Substack for an archive of all my podcast episodes and newsletters

Subscribe to the Joy Muck Club newsletter for even more great info on how to lead your healthiest and most joyful life

If you'd like to join in the community, connect with us on Instagram, Threads, or TikTok.

In this episode, I'm getting real about why the body positivity movement, while helpful for some, just didn't fit once chronic illness came into the picture. The pressure to love a body that constantly hurts, lets you down, or limits your life? Yeah, that felt like a whole new kind of shame.

That's where body neutrality comes in.

I'm sharing:

• Why body positivity can feel toxic or performative when you're chronically ill
• What body neutrality actually means (it's not just a buzzword!)
• Simple, realistic ways to start practicing body neutrality in your everyday life
• How this mindset shift has helped me feel less shame and more compassion

This one's especially for you if:

• You've felt like a failure for not loving your body enough
• You're tired of pretending everything's okay when your body is falling apart
• You want a more sustainable, compassionate way to exist in your body

Send me an email with any questions or comments

Subscribe to my Substack for an archive of all my podcast episodes and newsletters

Subscribe to the Joy Muck Club newsletter for even more great info on how to lead your healthiest and most joyful life

If you'd like to join in the community, connect with us on Instagram, Threads, or TikTok.

If the word routine makes you roll your eyes or cringe a little, you're not alone. Most traditional advice around routines assumes a body that works the same way every day, and that's just not the reality for those of us living with chronic illness. In this episode, we're breaking down why rigid routines often don't work for us and how to reimagine routines as adaptive rhythms that can flex with your fluctuating energy, symptoms, and needs.

You'll learn:

• Why the mainstream "rise and grind" routine culture often fails people with chronic illness
• What it looks like to build flexible routines that actually support you, not stress you out
• How to create routines with built-in choices and backup plans for flare days
• How adaptive routines can help you feel more grounded, even when your body throws a curveball

Whether you're brand new to routines or trying to rebuild after a burnout spiral, this episode will help you redefine routine on your terms and maybe even make peace with the idea of structure.

Send me an email with any questions or comments

Subscribe to my Substack for an archive of all my podcast episodes and newsletters

Subscribe to the Joy Muck Club newsletter for even more great info on how to lead your healthiest and most joyful life

If you'd like to join in the community, connect with us on Instagram, Threads, or TikTok.

There's a big difference between using mindset tools to support your well-being and expecting them to magically cure you. In this episode, we're calling out the toxic side of "mind over matter" culture and the harmful idea that your thoughts alone are responsible for your health.

If you've ever felt guilty for not "thinking positively enough" or been told to just visualize your way out of a flare-up, this one's for you. We'll explore the real overlap between mindset and chronic illness, what resilience can look like without constant pushing, and a simple way to start seeing and building more resilience in your life.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Why "mindset work" is helpful—but not a cure
• How toxic positivity gaslights people with chronic illness
• The truth about resilience (it's not about pushing through)
• What real, sustainable resilience can look like in a sick body

DON'T FORGET: Not mastering mindset tools isn't a failure of willpower. You're doing the best you can and that is perfect.

Send me an email with any questions or comments

Subscribe to my Substack for an archive of all my podcast episodes and newsletters

Subscribe to the Joy Muck Club newsletter for even more great info on how to lead your healthiest and most joyful life

If you'd like to join in the community, connect with us on Instagram, Threads, or TikTok.

On the hard days when pain, fatigue, or overwhelm take over, peace can feel out of reach. In this episode, I explore creative and gentle ways to invite peace in, especially during flare days or emotional lows. You'll learn how creativity can be a healing tool, not just a hobby, and how even the tiniest act of self-expression can create a sense of calm and grounding

I'll also talk through some accessible, low-energy activities designed with chronic illness in mind—things you can try even when you're stuck in bed or navigating brain fog. This episode is packed with supportive ideas to help you build your own Flare Day Toolkit.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• What a "Flare Day Toolkit" is and how to make one that actually helps

• The role of creativity in healing, processing emotion, and building resilience

• Ways to make art without any pressure or skill

• Simple, spoonie-friendly activities that foster calm (even if you have no energy)

Loved this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow spoonie or soul in need of some peace.

Interested in working with an arts therapist? Click here to find one near you

Send me an email with any questions or comments

Subscribe to my Substack for an archive of all my podcast episodes and newsletters

Subscribe to the Joy Muck Club newsletter for even more great info on how to lead your healthiest and most joyful life

If you'd like to join in the community, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Living with chronic illness is already exhausting — physically, emotionally, and mentally. But what happens when your own brain starts piling on with a steady stream of unhelpful, critical, or downright rude thoughts? That's where ANTs come in — Automatic Negative Thoughts — and they're sneaky little jerks.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• What ANTs actually are (no, not the bug kind)
• How they impact your physical and emotional health, especially with chronic illness
• How to start noticing, questioning, and gently shifting those thoughts — without toxic positivity or shame

You'll walk away with practical ways to start quieting your inner critic, reclaim a little mental space, and give yourself the compassion you actually deserve.

Because your brain doesn't have to be one more thing you're fighting against.

Send me an email with any questions or comments

Subscribe to my Substack for an archive of all my podcast episodes and newsletters

Subscribe to the Joy Muck Club newsletter for even more great info on how to lead your healthiest and most joyful life

If you'd like to join in the community, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

In this episode, I talk about what acceptance really means for those living with chronic illness and why it's not the same as giving up. I talk about how making peace with your limitations can open the door to new choices, greater empowerment, and even unexpected joy. I walk you through the simple and powerful steps to practicing acceptance no matter the situation. Acceptance isn't resignation – it's a courageous, compassionate step that allows you to stop fighting yourself and start living in alignment with your truth.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• What acceptance really means (and what it doesn't)
• How resisting your reality can keep you stuck
• Why making peace with limitations is a form of empowerment
• How acceptance helps you see options you couldn't see before
• Ways to embrace acceptance without letting go of hope for healing, change, or joy

Acceptance is the foundation for making aligned choices that support your well-being, your worth, and your joy.

Send me an email with any questions or comments

Subscribe to my Substack for an archive of all my podcast episodes and newsletters

Subscribe to the Joy Muck Club newsletter for even more great info on how to lead your healthiest and most joyful life

If you'd like to join in the community, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook