👻 Have you ever experienced something you couldn't explain... but never forgot?

In this episode of Bend, Snap and Chat: Z-Files, Cristie and Drake explore ghost stories, haunted places, paranormal experiences, and the mysterious signs that many people report after losing someone they love.

Rather than trying to prove or disprove the paranormal, they share personal experiences that challenged how they understand reality, while also exploring the psychological, scientific, and spiritual explanations that might exist alongside them.

Together they discuss:

👻 Haunted houses and unexplained encounters

💜 Signs from loved ones after death

✨ Reiki experiences and sensing a loved one's presence

🏚️ Haunted places, historic buildings, and whether locations can hold energy

🪞 Drake's haunted mirror experience

👶 Cristie's childhood encounter in a house with unexplained activity

🧠 Skepticism, critical thinking, grief, memory, and why extraordinary experiences can feel so real

🌙 Whether the meaning of an experience matters more than finding the perfect explanation

Whether you're a skeptic, a believer, or simply curious about the mysteries we can't fully explain, this episode invites you into a respectful conversation about the unknown.

We'd love to hear your stories. Have you ever experienced a ghost, felt the presence of someone you've lost, witnessed unexplained activity, or visited a place that felt different? Share your experiences in the comments or join the conversation in our community.

Because life bends us all... sometimes reality does too.

Michael Jackson remains one of the most influential, celebrated, and debated figures in modern history. But beyond the music, the performances, and the headlines was a human being shaped by childhood trauma, extraordinary talent, relentless fame, public scrutiny, and a lifelong search for connection.

In this episode of Bend, Snap and Chat, Cristie and Drake explore the life and legacy of Michael Jackson through a compassionate and balanced lens. Rather than trying to prove innocence or guilt, they examine the bigger questions his story raises about childhood trauma, identity, body image, creativity, media narratives, fame, spirituality, and what happens when someone becomes larger than life.

Together they discuss:
• Michael Jackson's childhood and the lasting effects of early trauma
• The psychological cost of global fame and isolation
• Body image, vitiligo, identity, and self-perception
• Public opinion, media influence, and how narratives are formed
• Creativity, purpose, spirituality, and the healing power of art
• Why Michael Jackson's story continues to resonate decades later
• Synchronicity, intuition, and the lessons we can still learn from his life

Whether you're a lifelong fan, a skeptic, or simply curious about one of history's most complex public figures, this conversation invites you to look beyond the headlines and explore the humanity behind the legend.

Because sometimes the most meaningful conversations aren't about finding certainty. They're about asking better questions.

#MichaelJackson #ChildhoodTrauma #Fame #Legacy #MentalHealth #BodyImage #Creativity #Spirituality #Psychology #PersonalGrowth #Healing #Podcast

Healing isn't always a straight line.

In this candid life update, Cristie and Drake share why they've been quieter lately and what they've both been navigating behind the scenes. Drake opens up about his recent prolotherapy treatment, the unexpected nervous system response that followed, and the emotional and physical roller coaster that left him struggling for days. Together, they discuss how acupuncture helped calm his system and why living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) often means responding differently to treatments than expected.

Cristie shares her own health update, including managing HyperPOTS, perimenopause, and the uncertainty of investigating a possible new autoimmune condition. She also talks about preparing for her upcoming atlas adjustment treatment, balancing hope with the understandable fear that comes from never knowing how a body with chronic illness will respond.

Together, they explore the emotional side of healing, medical uncertainty, nervous system dysregulation, and why progress often includes setbacks.

In this episode, we discuss:
🦓 Drake's experience with prolotherapy and recovery
🧠 Nervous system dysregulation and chronic illness flares
💙 Acupuncture and supporting the body's healing response
🩺 Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and HyperPOTS
🌸 Perimenopause, autoimmune investigations, and navigating uncertainty
💛 Hope, fear, and trying new treatments when you've been medically traumatized
🤝 Why healing is rarely linear and the importance of giving yourself grace

Whether you're living with EDS, POTS, chronic pain, autoimmune disease, or simply navigating an unpredictable health journey, this episode is a reminder that setbacks don't erase progress. Sometimes healing asks us to move more slowly, listen more closely, and trust ourselves through the uncertainty.

Because life bends us all.

As Pride Month is celebrated around the world, Cristie and Drake explore the surprising and often-discussed overlap between the LGBTQ+ and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) communities.

While researchers are only beginning to study these connections, many people living with EDS, POTS, MCAS, and other chronic illnesses have noticed a strong presence of LGBTQ+ identities within disability and chronic illness spaces. In this episode, we move beyond statistics to talk about the lived experience of identity, belonging, self-expression, visibility, and learning to be yourself in a world that often expects conformity.

Together, we discuss:

🌈 The growing overlap between LGBTQ+ and EDS communities

🦓 Living with EDS, chronic illness, disability, and feeling different

🎭 Masking, authenticity, and the pressure to fit in

💜 Body image, body dysmorphia, and learning to reconnect with yourself

👑 The unexpected lessons queer art and drag culture can teach us about confidence, self-love,

and self-expression

🤝 Chosen family, community, and the healing power of belonging

✨ Pride, disability pride, and embracing who you are without apology

Whether you identify as LGBTQ+, live with chronic illness, support someone who does, or have ever struggled to feel like you belong, this conversation offers an honest, thoughtful, and compassionate exploration of identity, resilience, and self-acceptance.

Because sometimes the journey isn't about becoming someone new.

It's about finding the courage to be who you already are.

#PrideMonth #LGBTQ #EDS #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #ChronicIllness #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityPride #POTS #InvisibleIllness #SelfAcceptance #ChosenFamily #BendSnapAndChat

Ever just have one of those days? Maybe one of those weeks? Oh hell we've all been having a couple of years of this insane chaos haven't we? We know it's not just us.

Welcome to the new world disorder!

This week, join us as we have a real BITCHFEST!! Between world issues, EDS, aches, pains and everything in between we hash it out raw and rough in true Bend Snap and Chat style!

In this episode of Bend, Snap and Chat, we explore unexplained experiences, intuition, near-death experiences, spirituality, and the mysteries that challenge how we understand reality. Cristie and Drake share personal stories and reflections about moments that changed the way they see the world, while approaching the conversation with curiosity, groundedness, and openness rather than certainty.

Together, they discuss intuition, synchronicity, sensitivity, spiritual experiences, and why so many people quietly carry experiences they’ve never fully been able to explain.

We discuss:

• Intuition, gut feelings, and unexplained experiences
• Why people often dismiss the unknown
• Near-death experiences and spiritual encounters
• Psychic experiences, synchronicity, and perception
• Sensitivity, nervous systems, and patterns within the EDS community
• Finding meaning without needing all the answers
• Staying grounded while exploring spirituality and mystery

This episode is for anyone interested in spirituality, consciousness, intuition, near-death experiences, personal growth, or the mysteries of human experience. Whether you’re skeptical, curious, or someone who has experienced something difficult to explain, this conversation creates space for exploration without judgment.

In this episode of Bend, Snap and Chat, we explore the beliefs that quietly shape our lives, identities, relationships, and resilience. Cristie and Drake have an open conversation about conditioning, mindset, spirituality, self-worth, and what happens when we begin questioning the stories we inherited from family, society, culture, and past experiences.

Together, they discuss how beliefs influence the way we see ourselves, navigate hardship, and interpret the world around us - and why choosing new beliefs can become part of healing and personal growth.

We discuss:

• Where beliefs and conditioning come from
• Fear-based thinking and inherited narratives
• Self-worth, identity, and limiting beliefs
• Why beliefs shape resilience and emotional wellbeing
• Spirituality, intuition, energy, and connection
• Mindset, perception, and the power of perspective
• Choosing beliefs that support healing and growth
• Learning to question the stories we’ve always accepted

This episode is for anyone navigating personal growth, identity shifts, chronic illness, emotional healing, spirituality, or mindset work. If you’ve ever wondered whether the beliefs guiding your life are truly yours, this conversation offers a thoughtful and grounded exploration of what it means to rewrite your story.

In this episode of Bend, Snap and Chat, we explore the emotional reality of setting boundaries, protecting your energy, and learning how to exist without constantly over giving. Cristie and Drake have an honest conversation about people pleasing, burnout, chronic illness, emotional exhaustion, and why boundaries are often misunderstood as selfishness instead of self-respect.

Together, they discuss how survival mode, conditioning, and fear of rejection can make boundaries feel uncomfortable, especially for caregivers, empathetic people, and those living with chronic illness or trauma.

We discuss:

• What healthy boundaries actually are
• People pleasing, over giving, and burnout
• Why boundaries feel difficult or uncomfortable
• Energy-draining relationships and emotional exhaustion
• Family dynamics, guilt, and obligation
• Medical boundaries and self-advocacy
• Rest, pacing, and boundaries with yourself
• Practical ways to start protecting your energy

This episode is for anyone struggling with burnout, emotional overwhelm, chronic illness, anxiety, or the pressure to constantly put others first. If you’ve ever felt guilty for needing rest, space, or support, this conversation offers a grounded reminder that protecting your wellbeing is not selfish - it’s necessary.