『The Chronic Fighter』のカバーアート

The Chronic Fighter

The Chronic Fighter

著者： Liv Winkler
無料で聴く

The Chronic Fighter is a podcast for teens and young adults living with chronic illness, invisible illness, and unexplained symptoms who are ready to take their lives back.


Hosted by Liv Winkler, a health and nutrition coach with a lifetime of lived experience with chronic illness, this podcast is the space she wishes she had growing up. For years, she always felt so different, going through things no one could explain. Yet she learned how to live a meaningful life: going to school, playing competitive soccer through college, and staying connected to life by learning how to make intentional lifestyle choices.


Each episode shares empowering stories and science-backed tools to feel safe in your own body, build mental resilience, regulate your nervous system, navigate the healthcare system, advocate for yourself when you feel dismissed, and rediscover your purpose beyond your illness. We have honest conversations about the realities of chronic illness — the kind that are hard to fully understand unless you’ve lived it.


No matter where you are in your health journey, you can start building a life you are excited about now.

© 2026 The Chronic Fighter 代替医療・補完医療 衛生・健康的な生活
エピソード
  • Episode 4 - Navigating Athletics and Friendships with Chronic Illness

    Episode 4 - Navigating Athletics and Friendships with Chronic Illness
    2026/09/01

    What is it really like to navigate chronic illness while being a college athlete, and what is it like to support a friend through it?

    In Episode 4 of The Chronic Fighter, I sit down with two of my best friends and former college soccer teammates, Carly and Syd. They saw firsthand how much my health changed throughout college, from playing collegiate soccer to becoming bedridden.

    We talk about the realities of balancing athletics and chronic illness, learning when to listen to your body, the power of opening up and letting others support you, the fear of being a burden, and what it really looks like to be there for a friend through different seasons.

    This conversation is a reminder that good friends see the person, not just the illness.

    What You'll Hear in This Episode

    • 00:00 – Welcome and introducing my friends, Carly and Syd
    • 03:45 – How my health changed from freshman to sophomore year of college
    • 10:50 – Opening up to my friends about my health
    • 16:29 – The impact of sharing my story online
    • 21:15 – How my torn labrum impacted my soccer career and health
    • 31:34 – How I had to fuel my body to play soccer
    • 35:56 – Behind the scenes of an athlete with chronic illness
    • 44:20 – What soccer meant to me
    • 49:34 – How my friends really felt about my health
    • 53:00 – Advice on how to support a friend with chronic illness
    • 1:04:44– What chronic illness has taught us
    • 1:06:42 – Looking back on our college experiences


    Biggest Takeaways
    ✔ Chronic illness can change from season to season. Your health, abilities, and needs can look completely different at different points in your life.

    ✔ You don’t always know what someone is going through. So much of what it takes to manage chronic illness happens behind the scenes, even when someone looks okay from the outside.

    ✔ Needing support doesn’t make you a burden. You don't have to hide what you're going through because you’re afraid of holding others back. Opening up about your health can help the people closest to you understand and support you better.

    ✔ Wins can look different with chronic illness. On a difficult health day, getting to the kitchen, eating a good meal, making dinner, or finding one small thing that brings you joy can be a win.

    ✔ Supporting a friend doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes the most meaningful support is simply reaching out, listening, and letting someone decide how much they want to share.

    ✔ It’s okay for your passions to evolve. What gives you a sense of purpose may look different throughout each stage of life, but finding something you care about can bring joy and direction, especially when other parts of life feel uncertain.


    Resources Mentioned:
    The Chronic Fighter: Health coaching, membership, and additional resources:     https://thechronicfighter.com


    Business & Coaching Socials:
    TikTok:     https://www.tiktok.com/@thechronicfighterco
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechronicfighterco
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechronicfighterco
    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thechronicfighterco


    Podcast Socials:
    TikTok:     https://www.tiktok.com/@thechronicfighterpod
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechronicfighterpod
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechronicfighterpod

    If You Enjoyed This Episode

    I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

    Whether you’re navigating chronic illness yourself or supporting someone through it, I hope this episode is a reminder of how much connection, understanding, and support matter.

    Thank you for listening, and I'll see you in the next episode.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 時間 11 分
  • Episode 3 - Understanding PNES: From 3 Seizures a Day to Reclaiming My Life

    Episode 3 - Understanding PNES: From 3 Seizures a Day to Reclaiming My Life
    2026/08/19
    PNES can be confusing, overwhelming, and scary, especially when you're experiencing symptoms for the first time.In this episode of The Chronic Fighter, I'm sharing my personal experience with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), from experiencing three or more seizures a day to rarely experiencing episodes today. I'll break down what PNES is, how it differs from epilepsy, what was happening in my body during episodes, and the tools and support that played a major role in both my short and long-term recovery. I'll also share what I've learned about navigating unpredictable symptoms without letting them take over my life. While this episode focuses on my experience with PNES, you don't have to have PNES to take something away from this conversation. Many of the concepts I share around nervous system regulation can apply beyond PNES to experiences like dysautonomia (POTS), anxiety, panic attacks, chronic stress, overstimulation, or feeling constantly on edge. This episode is everything I wish I had known when I first developed PNES. I hope it helps you better understand what's happening in your body, gives you practical tools to move forward, and reminds you that you are not alone in this.PNES is real, your symptoms are valid, and there is hope for moving forward.What You'll Hear in This Episode01:26 – What PNES is, the different terms used to describe it, and how it relates to FND03:41 – My first PNES episode and what it was like experiencing multiple long-lasting seizures05:53 – Getting evaluated, EEG testing, and understanding the difference between PNES and epilepsy07:00 – Why PNES is real, valid, and not simply "all in your head"07:44 – Recognizing my symptoms, auras, and early warning signs08:45 – Understanding how both physical and mental stressors can trigger PNES09:37 – Why excitement and positive changes can also overwhelm the nervous system10:40 – What happens in the body during a PNES episode and the role of survival mode11:53 – Why physical regulation can be more helpful than simply trying to "think positive"12:37 – Cold exposure, vagus nerve stimulation, distraction, and other tools I use15:55 – Breathing exercises, staying calm, and changing how we respond to episodes17:05 – Long-term recovery and finding a provider who understands PNES18:52 – Resources for finding PNES specialists19:21 – Addressing underlying health issues, lifestyle habits, and overall stress21:36 – The "stress bucket" analogy and why symptoms aren't always caused by one trigger22:28 – Learning to live my life without letting PNES dictate what I can do24:09 – My experience having PNES in public, while traveling, and at the airport25:31 – Practical safety tips and creating a behavioral response plan26:22 – Final thoughts and encouragementBiggest Takeaways✔ Your symptoms are real. PNES is a Functional Neurological Disorder. Unlike epilepsy, it isn't caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, but there is a problem with how the brain and nervous system are functioning. ✔ Think of your nervous system like a "stress bucket." Physical and/or emotional stressors can build up over time, and often it’s multiple things adding up until your nervous system reaches its limit and an episode occurs. ✔ How you respond to symptoms matters. Staying as calm as possible and having people around you do the same can help avoid adding more stress to an already overwhelmed nervous system. ✔ Regulation tools can help both in the moment and over time. Tools like cold exposure, breathing, and vagus nerve stimulation can help when symptoms arise and support regulation between episodes. ✔ Find the right support. A provider who understands PNES can help you make sense of your symptoms and create an individualized plan for recovery. ✔ PNES doesn't have to dictate your life. Learning how to safely navigate symptoms while continuing to get out of the house and do the things you love can be a huge part of taking back control. Resources Mentioned:The Chronic Fighter - Health coaching, membership, and additional resources: https://thechronicfighter.comNon-Epileptic Seizures - Find PNES providers by state: https://nonepilepticseizures.comFND Hope - Support and resources for Functional Neurological Disorder (FND): https://fndhope.orgNational Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) – Find specialized epilepsy centers for further evaluation and care: https://naec-epilepsy.orgBusiness & Coaching Socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechronicfightercoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechronicfightercoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechronicfightercoThreads: https://www.threads.net/@thechronicfightercoPodcast Socials:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechronicfighterpodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechronicfighterpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechronicfighterpodIf You Enjoyed This EpisodeI'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with ...
    続きを読む 一部表示
    28 分
  • Episode 2 - Raising a Child with Chronic Illness

    Episode 2 - Raising a Child with Chronic Illness
    2026/08/15

    Living with chronic illness doesn't just affect the person who's sick. It affects the entire family.

    In this episode of The Chronic Fighter, I'm joined by my parents, Dan and Missy, to share our family's story from all three perspectives.

    For more than 20 years, they walked beside me through unanswered questions, countless doctor's appointments, hospital visits, and years of being told my symptoms were "just anxiety." We reflect on what it was really like navigating a healthcare system that couldn't see the full picture, the lessons we learned along the way, and why our journey inspired us to create The Chronic Fighter.

    We'll also talk about why purpose became such an important part of my healing, how we learned to navigate uncertainty, and the advice we'd give to both families and young people living with chronic illness today.

    If chronic illness has impacted your life, or the life of someone you love, this episode is for you.

    What You'll Hear in This Episode
    01:26 – Welcome and introducing my parents, Missy and Dan
    03:08 – My health journey and how my diagnoses finally connected
    06:57 – Navigating the healthcare system, functional medicine, and becoming my own advocate
    22:39 – The biggest misconceptions about my health, PNES, and nervous system tools
    28:13 – Why soccer and maintaining normalcy became such an important part of my healing
    30:35 – What my parents were going through behind the scenes and the emotional toll
    36:00 – Overcoming isolation, finding support, and building a community
    42:31 – Living with uncertainty, taking things one step at a time, and focusing on what we can control
    45:53 – Why my anxiety was misunderstood, handling academic pressure, and removing the "Type A" label
    49:49 – Managing missed school, accommodations, and communication with teachers
    54:45 – What changed when I finally stopped hiding my chronic illness and embraced my story
    59:56 – Advice for parents, caregivers, and young people living with chronic illness
    1:03:59 – Why we created The Chronic Fighter and our shared mission to help others

    Biggest Takeaways
    ✔ Chronic illness impacts the entire family. It’s just as important for caregivers to have a support system, as it is for the child.
    ✔ Trust yourself when advocating for your health or your child’s health. You know your situation and needs better than anyone else.
    ✔ Helping your child find their passion is vital for building an identity beyond their illness, and having a reason to get out of bed every day.
    ✔ Healing isn't linear. Flares and setbacks are part of the journey, and learning to respond to them without panic can keep one hard day from feeling like you’re starting over.

    Resources Mentioned:
    The Chronic Fighter: https://thechronicfighter.com

    Business & Coaching Socials:
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechronicfighterco
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechronicfighterco
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechronicfighterco
    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thechronicfighterco

    Podcast Socials:
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechronicfighterpod
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechronicfighterpod
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechronicfighterpod

    If You Enjoyed This Episode
    I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

    Whether you're living with chronic illness yourself or walking alongside someone who is, I hope this episode reminds you that you don't have to navigate this journey alone.

    Thank you for listening, and I'll see you in the next episode.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 時間 11 分
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
まだレビューはありません