Discomfort Zone: Recent Episodes
Jason Herterich
Discomfort Zone is a podcast about living with chronic illness and disability. Through interviews, conversations, and stories, each episode uncovers what it means to be chronically ill and disabled. Jason helps listeners understand that the best way to cope with the discomfort of illness is to turn towards it and laugh at it.
Jason is an engineering graduate who reinvented himself as a podcaster and chronic illness/disability advocate after developing fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
I was too sick to attend my sister’s wedding, so she wasn’t expecting me to deliver a speech.
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Check out our Official Invisible Not Broken Facebook group
A transcript is available in the show notes.
Read the definition of marriage on dictionary.com
Written, Produced, and Sound Designed by: Jason Herterich
Audio Engineering by: Justin Maradin
Special thanks to: Gordo, Barry, my Mom, Luke, Emily, Hallie, and Lisa
My gym teacher ridicules me in front of my peers, prompting the question: was my child-acting career a fluke? If so, what does that say about my legacy? What does free pizza have to do with any of this?
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A transcript is available in the show notes.
Written, Hosted, Produced, and Sound Designed by: Jason Herterich
Audio Engineer: Justin Maradin
About Keith
Keith McArthur is an author, speaker, kidney transplant survivor, and rare disease dad. He is the host of the CBC Podcast Unlocking Bryson’s Brain, an 8-part documentary-style podcast about his son Bryson, his rare disease, and his family’s search for a cure. Keith is also the CEO and Head of Science for CureGRIN, an organization dedicated to finding cures and therapies for people around the world suffering from GRIN disorders.
Links
Listen to Unlocking Bryson’s Brain on CBC Listen, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen.
To help support research into GRIN disorders, you can donate to: CureGRIN or U of T’s GRIN Disorders Research Fund
Follow Keith on Twitter
Follow CureGRIN on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
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The Humancare Podcast features conversations with health entrepreneurs, care professionals, patient advocates, and industry change-makers all with the mission to humanize healthcare in common. In every episode we offer unique stories paired with education, actionable tips, tricks and takeaways all to help you better navigate healthcare and transform it into Humancare.
This episode features Allyn Amerogen, a wellness coach who specializes in empowering women with chronic illnesses.
Listen and subscribe to Humancare on: INB website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts
Click here for the show notes
Keith’s son Bryson is a charming and outgoing 13-year old who loves his family, friends, and school. But he faces tremendous challenges. He lives with a rare genetic disease that has his brain locked at the developmental level of a 1-year old. The closure of schools has been especially hard on Bryson as he no longer has access to many of the tools he uses for therapy.
Keith, host of the CBC Podcast ‘Unlocking Bryson’s Brain’, talks about life as a rare disease dad, the impact COVID has had on his family, and his search for a cure to Bryson’s brain disease.
About Keith
Keith McArthur is an author, speaker, kidney transplant survivor, and rare disease dad. He is the host of the CBC Podcast Unlocking Bryson’s Brain, an 8-part documentary-style podcast about his son Bryson, his rare disease, and his family’s search for a cure. Keith is also the CEO and Head of Science for CureGRIN, an organization dedicated to finding cures and therapies for people around the world suffering from GRIN disorders.
A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes
Links
Listen to Unlocking Bryson’s Brain on CBC Listen, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen.
To help support research into GRIN disorders, you can donate to: CureGRIN or U of T’s GRIN Disorders Research Fund
Follow Keith on Twitter
Follow CureGRIN on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Follow Discomfort Zone on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Credits
Written, Hosted, Produced, and Sound Designed by: Jason Herterich
Video Editor: Raihan Hussain
Associate Producer: Rahima Mulla
Audio Engineer: Justin Maradin
Lindsay is no stranger to adversity. While most 11-year olds were out playing with their friends, she was at home caring for her mom. Now a front-line healthcare worker in the midst of a pandemic, she is faced with unprecedented challenges. Lindsay shares her insights on how the government could ensure the safety of personal support workers and their clients.
About Lindsay
Lindsay Couture has been a live-in caregiver for her mom since a young age. Supporting her through respiratory issues and 2 double lung transplants. It was while caring for her mom she realized that caregiving was her passion. Lindsay went to school to become a PSW in 2016 and graduated with honors. Since then Lindsay has worked in both the long-term care sector and in the community helping support our most vulnerable. Lindsay got away from corporate work after experiencing burnout and has now taken a different approach in the PSW profession. While no longer working in the corporate world, Lindsay has opened her own homecare company, Oakwood Home Healthcare. Being a PSW herself Lindsay knows the struggles and hardships PSWs go through in their profession. Between working the front-line, and managing a team of compassionate PSWs by herself, Lindsay makes time to advocate for change in the PSW profession.
A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes
LinksOakwood Home Healthcare
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Credits
Written, Hosted, Produced, and Sound Designed by: Jason Herterich
Video Editor: Raihan Hussain
Associate Producer: Rahima Mulla
Audio Engineer: Justin Maradin
Early in the pandemic, Melissa spent all day on the phone with disabled people living in fear of COVID-19. Their fears echoed many of her own. Melissa shares her recommendations on how the government can better meet the needs of the disability community.
About MelissaMelissa Graham is an advocate for social justice, public speaker, writer, researcher, and community organizer. Melissa is also the founder of the Toronto Disability Pride March, an annual event that began during the Occupy movement. As a social worker and an activist, she fights oppression from an intersectional perspective, and by encouraging others to speak from their lived experience. She has written about these experiences in a number of anthologies and articles. Melissa is also about to begin her first year of PhD studies exploring ableism and sanism within the field of Social Work.
A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes
LinksToronto Disability Pride March
Direct Funding Program
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Credits
Written, Hosted, Produced, and Sound Designed by: Jason Herterich
Video Editor: Raihan Hussain
Associate Producer: Rahima Mulla
Audio Engineer: Justin Maradin
Meditating at a jungle monastery in Thailand brought me inner stillness. Then Rob showed up.
A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes
Links:
Short Video Documentary of Wat Tam Wua
Wat Tam Wua Website
Social Media
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Resources
Substance Abuse and Suicide: A Guide to Understanding the Connection and Reducing Risk
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255 (1800-273-TALK)
The Crisis Text Line
7 Cups of Tea An anonymous, 24-hour chat with trained professionals
Audio:
I’m Letting Go by Josh Woodward
small-group-laughter by ch0cchi
Award-winning filmmaker and journalist Karina Sturm joins the show to talk about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare connective tissue disorder she lives with. She opens up about the medical gaslighting she experienced during her long path to diagnosis and how she transitioned from laboratory technician to chronically ill patient to journalist and filmmaker. Karina then talks about her feature-length film, We Are Visible, the challenges she faced while making it, and the false ‘fabricated or induced illness’ (FII) allegations many of her interview subjects experienced.'
We Are Visible' highlights the challenges people living with invisible illnesses face every day, specifically in the context of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. The film features seven stories including people of all ages (5 - 60 years old), from six different countries with diverse backgrounds, different financial standing who are all differently affected by this invisible condition. They will share their challenges, fights, and fears, but also their achievements, hopes, and triumphs.
A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes
Karina Sturm
Journalistic Website
We Are Visible Website
German Blog
We Are Visible Trailer 2
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Discomfort Zone Podcast
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Produced by: Jason Herterich
Audio Engineering by: Justin Maradin
Editing help provided by: Melanie McPhail
My parents returned from their vacation in Cuba on March 7th. A few days later, my dad developed a cough and fever. His symptoms rapidly progressed. Could it be COVID-19?
A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes
Links:
Produced by: Jason Herterich
Sound design by: Jason Herterich
Audio Engineering by: Justin Maradin
Social Media
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Links
Boston Globe - How Accurate Are Coronavirus Tests?
Checking in from quarantine with a special message. This one is for you, Missy Elliot!
YouTube Video
Show Notes
Produced by: Jason Herterich with help from Djevon Earle
Audio engineering by: Justin Maradin
Music: Streetwise by Vodovoz Music Productions
Big News for Discomfort Zone - I'm joining Invisible Not Broken Podcast Network!
Podcasts
Invisible Not Broken
The Humancare Podcast
Discomfort Zone
Social Media
Follow Invisible Not Broken on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Follow Wellacopia on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Follow Discomfort Zone on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Hello everyone, Jason here. I’ll be releasing 4 new episodes shortly. In the meantime, I want to fill you in on some big news. I am thrilled to let you know that Discomfort Zone is joining the Invisible Not Broken Podcast Network, a podcast network that speaks to people with chronic illness, invisible illness, disability, and chronic pain. It’s a perfect match for Discomfort Zone. The network includes Invisible Not Broken with host Monica Michelle and HumanCare Podcast with host Eva Minkoff.
I was a guest on Monica’s show recently. She and Eva are two of my favourite people. If you like my show, I’m sure you’ll love theirs. I’ve posted links to their shows and social media in the description below.
This change should be seamless for existing subscribers. If you listen off of my website, www.discomfort.fm, I’m transitioning over to www.invisiblenotbroken.com. Thank you for listening and keep an eye on your feed for new episodes.
Chronic pain tore my life apart and brought me and my sister closer together.
A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes
Links:
Lisa Purzner’s website
Social media
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Depression resources
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255 (1800-273-TALK)
The Crisis Text Line
7 Cups of Tea An anonymous, 24-hour chat with trained professionals
Produced by: Jason Herterich
Sound design by: Jason Herterich
Audio Engineering by: Justin Maradin
External Consulting by: Dan Samosh
I was getting better! I left the house to meet women. It didn’t go well.
I was getting better! I left the house to meet women. It didn’t go well.
A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes
Produced by: Jason Herterich
Sound design by: Jason Herterich
Audio Engineering by: Justin Maradin
External Consulting by: Dan Samosh
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This podcast uses many sounds from freesound.org. For the full list, please see the show notes.
I was in constant, excruciating pain and spent 22 hours a day in bed. I never could've imagined that someone else's life would fall into my hands. In the second half of the episode, my mom and dad talk about the struggles they've had as parents of a chronically ill son.
A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes
Social media
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Depression resources
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255 (1800-273-TALK)
The Crisis Text Line
7 Cups of Tea An anonymous, 24-hour chat with trained professionals
Mato Jelic
Website
Youtube
Audio: this podcast uses many sounds from freesound.org. For the full list, please see the show notes
Produced by: Jason Herterich with help from Justin Maradin
Sound design by: Jason Herterich
Introducing Discomfort Zone: immersive stories on chronic illness and disability that showcase our vulnerability, wellness, and resilience. My guests and I find comfort by turning towards discomfort, welcoming it, and laughing at it.
A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes
Social media
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Produced by: Jason Herterich with help from Justin Maradin, Igor Rakic, and Bonita Martens
Sound design by: Jason Herterich