The Chronic Brew

What happens when a top-tier heart surgeon decides that "fixing the plumbing" isn't enough? In this episode of The Chronic, we sit down with Dr. Bilal Ahmed, an interventional and structural cardiologist and the co-founder/CSO of Lylah Health.

Dr. Ahmed pulls back the curtain on the "invisible" gaps in our healthcare system—from the 20-year window where preventative care fails to the "Wild West" of the supplement industry. We discu...

How do you navigate a "perfect storm" of health challenges for over 50 years? Today, we are joined by Beverly Meyer, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist who has been a "medical detective" since the 1970s.

Managing her own diagnoses of Celiac, Hashimoto’s, and CVID, Beverly shares her unique perspective on using precision nutrition to handle complex conditions like CKD, MS, and POTS. We dive into the evolution of the Paleo diet, preve...

What happens when your relationship with food becomes a medical battlefield?

For many in the chronic illness community, "normal" eating is complicated by more than just willpower—it’s tangled up in medical restrictions, clinical stereotypes, and a healthcare system that doesn't always see the full picture. In this episode of The Chronic Brew, we sit down with Jessica Setnick, MS, RD, CEDSS, an international leader in the eating dis...

When chronic illness enters a relationship, it often feels like an uninvited guest that takes up all the space at the table. But does a diagnosis have to mean the end of intimacy, joy, and connection?

In this episode of The Chronic Brew, we’re sitting down with Lisa Gray, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and author of the groundbreaking book, Thriving in a Relationship When You Have Chronic Illness. Lisa brings a unique "do...

Are you tired of being told your labs are "normal" while you’re struggling to get out of bed? In Episode 17 of The Chronic Brew, Mr. Cool Beans welcomes Beth Mielbrecht, a specialized Health Detective who helps brilliant, intuitive people stop the guessing game.

Beth doesn't just look at symptoms; she investigates the "cold cases" of chronic illness using Digital Muscle Testing to find hidden imbalances. In this deep dive, we discu...

Peeps, what do you do when your body feels like a courtroom where you’re constantly losing the case?

In this episode of The Chronic Brew, we sit down with a powerful advocate, known to the chronic illness community as The Thriving Zebra. As a former paralegal and recovering gym addict, our guest was used to "powering through"—until a complex web of diagnoses including POTS, MCAS, EDS, and ME/CFS changed the rules of her life foreve...

Grab your favorite drink and settle in for a raw, honest conversation at The Chronic Brew. Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on a topic that hits close to home for so many in the chronic illness community: medical malpractice and "bad doctors." I’m joined by my amazing co-host for the day, Pretty Rude JJ, as we dive into why the medical system feels like it’s failing us. We’re moving past the "medical gaslighting" and getting i...

What happens when the medical emergency ends, and the silence begins?

After weeks of non-stop work, teaching, battling the meteoropathy, and enduring a major renal stent exchange, Mr. Cool Beans took a necessary break. Now, they're back to share a raw look at the quiet period that follows an acute medical crisis.

In this deep solo reflection, we explore the truth about recovery: the hardest work isn't always the procedure itself—it...

"I'm Not Rude, I'm Disabled": The Fierce Advocacy of Pretty Rude JJ

What happens when a chronic illness forces you to stop working and you lose the identity you spent your life building?

This week on The Chronic Brew, we sit down with Jessie Myers, known online as "Pretty Rude JJ," to explore the raw emotional cost of sudden disability. Jessie shares the intense personal journey from managing an illness to becoming unable to work, ...

On the Road to Resilience: A Farmer's Fight with Dialysis (ft. Jarod Palmer)

In this special episode, host Mr. Cool Beans took the microphone on the road (right after a doctor's appointment!) to capture an incredible conversation. Jarod Palmer is living a life defined by intense commitment: carrying forward his family's generational legacy of hard work and farming tradition while navigating the life-long demands of dialysis.

This s...

We established that our energy is a finite resource. Now, we're forging the armor to protect it. This episode dives deep into the uncomfortable truth that for those with chronic illness, boundaries aren't rude—they are non-negotiable acts of survival.

We tackle the biggest barriers to energy management: the guilt that comes with...

Welcome to a new chapter of The Chronic Brew! In this pivotal episode, we’re expanding our focus beyond Chronic Kidney Disease to embrace the entire chronic illness community.

Join us as I share the personal story behind this rebrand and reveal why this is so much bigger than my own journey. We dive into the staggering global impact and economic burden of non-communicable diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Th...

Join us on this episode of The Chronic Brew as we sit down with the amazing Michelle, the creator behind Hobbies for Broken Bodies. Michelle's journey with multiple chronic illnesses—including Chiari Malformation, POTS, EDS, and gastroparesis—has taught her the incredible power of finding purpose through creativity. We'll explore how she’s blended humor and advocacy to build a vibrant online community, the unexpected lessons she's ...

If you love someone battling a chronic illness, this episode is for you. In Part 2 of our series, we shift our focus to the other side of the battle: the caregivers, family, and friends who provide an essential lifeline.

This episode is your compass, a guide to helping without getting lost yourself. We'll share actionable advice on:

• How to Validate: Learn the difference between comforting words and truly validating your loved...

You've heard about the mental and emotional weight of chronic illness—now, let's talk about the tools you can use to carry it. In Part 1 of this special two-part series, we're building a practical toolbox for your mind and spirit.

This episode is all about empowering you. We'll dive into simple yet powerful coping strategies, including:

• Mindful Moments: Discover how a 60-second reset can calm your nervous system.

• Creative E...

In this powerful episode of The Brew with Mr. Cool Beans, we honor Suicide Prevention Month by pulling back the curtain on a silent battle. We've all seen the sobering statistics on chronic illness, but what do those numbers truly feel like? Join us as we go beyond the data and listen to the raw, honest voices of those on the front lines.

Hear the story of CKD patients who face a daily fight with a body held together by a re...

How do you find the strength to fight a battle you've already seen someone lose? In "From Battle to Breakthrough," we sit down with the remarkable Ruth Toutoute, who candidly shares her experience with CKD—a journey that began with the tragic passing of her father from the very same disease. She takes us through the darkest moments of her life, from the emotional weight of a family history with CKD to the grueling reality of dialys...