What happens when your education and your intuition tell you one thing, but the medical system tells you another? Today on Chronic Brew, we’re sitting down with Amanda Hewitt—a trauma survivor, advocate, and the force behind the Chronic Illness Crew.

Amanda lives with a complex "alphabet soup" of conditions, including MCAS, PTSD, endometriosis, and chronic pain. But instead of letting medical gaslighting dim her fire, she leaned into what she calls her "audacity" to reclaim her narrative.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Audacity" Factor: How to trust your gut when doctors second-guess your reality.

• Mastering the Pivot: Why shifting your outlook isn't "giving up"—it's an essential survival skill.

• Community as Medicine: How Amanda’s virtual book club, Chronic Illness Crew, creates a sanctuary where nobody has to explain their symptoms.

• Finding Peace: Practical ways to protect your energy while advocating for yourself and others.

Whether you’re listening from bed, a waiting room, or your favorite cozy corner, this conversation is a reminder that you are the expert on your own body. Grab your favorite brew and join us!

• Join the Crew: @chronic.illness.crew.bookclub

• Follow Amanda on Instagram: @little.miss.undiagnosed

• Website: linktr.ee/little.miss.undiagnosed

• Follow us on Instagram: @mrcoolbeans2889

• Support the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mrcoolbean2

• Subscribe: Don’t forget to rate and review us on your favorite podcast app!

In honor of National Kidney Month and World Kidney Day, The Chronic Brew is proud to present a conversation that defines the very heart of kidney advocacy. While the world turns its attention to the statistics of CKD this March, we are zooming in on the human spirit with our guest, LaVise McCray.

LaVise is a retired Special Education teacher and Sociology scholar who navigated a staggering 7.5-year marathon on dialysis. Her journey is a testament to the "long game" of kidney health. In this intimate "coffee table" session, she shares the raw reality of navigating the dialysis chair while grieving the loss of her husband three years prior to receiving her life-saving transplant in March 2023.

In this special Kidney Month feature, we discuss:

• Advocacy in Action: How LaVise uses her background in Psychology and Sociology to change the patient experience.

• The Power of Compliance: Finding the "inner grit" to stay on track during a 7.5-year wait.

• Grief and the Kidney Warrior: Navigating a health crisis after the passing of a spouse.

• Breaking the Silence on CBS: Bringing vital awareness to Charles Bonnet Syndrome (visual hallucinations) and its impact on those with vision loss.

• The Global Mission: Why LaVise’s work with the NJ Sharing Network and KidneyLyfe is essential for the future of transplant equity.

Whether you are listening during our March awareness events or discovering this years later, LaVise’s message is universal: Even when things feel impossible, hope is a practice.

Connect with our Guest:

• Mentor/Community Work: NJ Sharing Network, Quality Insights, & Lyfebulb.

• Follow LaVise: Instagram: @LDYBUG97 Facebook: @LaVise Ldybug McCray LinkedIn: @LaVise McCray

Celebrate National Kidney Month with us: If LaVise’s story inspired you, please help us spread awareness. Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share this episode to help a fellow kidney warrior find their voice.

#WorldKidneyDay #NationalKidneyMonth #KidneyTransplant #DialysisWarrior #TheChronicBrew #OrganDonation #CKDAdvocacy #CharlesBonnetSyndrome #KidneyAction

What happens when the athlete’s body you’ve always relied on suddenly changes the rules?”

In today’s episode of Chronic Brew, we’re pulling up a chair with Tamie Gangloff—a therapist, educator, and author who navigates life with a unique "double-lens." Tamie joins us to share her powerful journey from competitive athlete to chronic illness patient, and her hard-won recovery from eating disorders, alcoholism, and mental health challenges.

We dive deep into the messy middle of healing, discussing:

• The Identity Shift: How to grieve your "former self" when chronic illness takes the lead.

• Rebuilding Body Trust: Making peace with a body that feels like it’s "glitching."

• The Wounded Healer: How lived experience transforms the way Tamie sits across from her clients.

• Redefining the Win: Why a "successful day" looks different when you're playing the long game of chronic recovery.

Whether you're in the thick of your own "wreckage" or looking for a spark of resilience, this conversation is the perfect brew of clinical expertise and raw human heart.

• Instagram: @authortamiegangloff
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamiegangloff/

• Website: TamieGangloff.com

• Resources & Books: Browse Tamie’s resilience-focused tools and recovery guides.

☕️ SPECIAL OFFER: Tamie is generously offering our listeners a discount on her resources! Use code COOL BEANS at checkout to save on your purchase.

Enjoyed this brew? Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on social media for more honest conversations about life with chronic conditions. One sip at a time.