In this episode of Chronic, host Lucy Pasha-Robinson is joined by Ali Gaspar, AKA A Star, a rapper and grime artist who lives with sickle cell anaemia.

We dive headfirst into why we know so little about this cripplingly painful disease – could it be because it predominantly affects Black and Asian communities?

We also talk dating etiquette when you live with a hereditary illness, masculinity and learning how to show vulnerability when living in chronic pain, music as a form of self-expression, religion and the role of faith in feeling hopeful, and the life-changing importance of good therapy.

Follow Ali @AStarMusicUK

Stay tuned for more on all things Chronic by following host @LucyPasha on Twitter.

Want to reach the team? Drop us a line at chronic@huffpost.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re serving you a bumper episode of Chronic, with not just one incredible guest, but two. 

Host Lucy Pasha-Robinson is joined by Chloe Elliot, AKA Chloe In Curve – a plus sized fashion blogger who lives with psoriatic arthritis.

Also on the line is Sukhjeen Kaur, founder of Chronically Brown – a platform that focuses on South Asian experiences of chronic illness that she set up after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. 

For both these women, smashing stigma is all in a day’s work. We talk about what it’s like to be young, living with an “old person’s” disease, the dangers of not being believed when you’re plus-sized and in pain, and the complex attitudes towards illness in certain South Asian communities.

Follow Sukhjeen @ChronicallyBrown and Chloe @chloeincurve_

Stay tuned for more on all things Chronic by following host @LucyPasha on Twitter.

Want to reach the team? Drop us a line at chronic@huffpost.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.