Alopecia Connection

Episode 34- Teen Talks: Mackenzie and Mom Lisa Embrace Alopecia

"When I look back at pictures of me with hair, I use it as an example saying that was me and I was happy with who I was then, and I'm happy with who I am now.  And whether you make a small change or a big change to yourself, I think no matter what the right people around you will be happy about it, and I think that's all that really matters.  Be...

33. Hitting the Road with Jeff Woytovich & the Children’s Alopecia Project

"Maybe you have a little boy that does not want to go to school without his baseball cap on, but he gets to camp and he starts hanging out with these other kids his own age.  They're not wearing a hat, so now he has a decision, do I keep my hat on and keep on playing, or do I take it off because they all have alopecia too?  Who cares? ...

32. "Whatever Trevor" with Author Caroline Ward (Part 2)

On this episode of Alopecia Connection, Frank and Tommy speak with author Caroline Ward (@caroline__ward) about her alopecia journey and how it led to the creation of "Whatever Trevor," a children's book about living with alopecia. 

Alopecia Connection has purchased several copies of "Whatever Trevor" and would love to sen...

Episode 31- "Whatever Trevor" with Author Caroline Ward (Part 1)

"Throughout all of lockdown I hadn't had a haircut, and my hair likes to grow really quickly, so I had really long hair.   I saw it one morning and I was like 'what!?' I just saw this thing, and it was a perfect little circle, and because it was a perfect circle, I was like 'that's not just a wide parting, there's ...

Alopecia Connection Short: Alopecia UK Social Event

On this  Alopecia Connection Short, Tommy discusses attending the Alopecia UK Social held in London on February 3, 2023!  Tommy had the pleasure of meeting Laura Mathias (IG: @relightalopecia) among other incredible members of the UK alopecia community!

Connect with Alopecia UK!

Website: www.alopecia.org.uk
Facebook: Alopecia UK
Instagram: @alope...

Episode 30- Get Ready for a Gut Health Masterclass with Lisa Taylor!

"We need to learn to become the CEO of our own health, because the truth is we have way more power and way more agency in the trajectory of our  health than we are being led to believe."

Lisa Taylor returns to Alopecia Connection to discuss her new masterclass, all about improving your gut health! 

Register for Lisa's mas...

FIRST JAK INHIBITOR SPECIFICALLY FOR ALOPECIA AREATA APPROVED IN THE UK!!

Tommy and Frank discuss the breaking news that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has made the decision to recommend the JAK inhibitor medicine ritlecitinib (Litfulo) for routine commissioning from the NHS.  This recommendation is for treatment of severe alopecia areata in patients aged 12 and over.

Tommy shares his...

Episode 29- Unveiling Purpose: Journeying Through Crohn's, Alopecia, and Self-Love with James Morrell

*This episode contains significant mental health discussions and topics*

"A few people, a few messages from a few guys here and there, everyday, it's been like 'you know what lad, you've made me realize that I can cry in front of my girlfriend.  I can talk, I can reach out.  I'm losin...

Episode 28- Samuel Picou, Using his "Voice" for Positive Change

"Yeah, we can't forget about the power we have to choose.  We have a power and a choice to choose everyday, and we can make a good decision, we can make a bad decision.  It's hard at first, but when you start making those right choices, stick your chin up... push through the obstacle.  You're going to get the right results, and yo...

Episode 27- With A Little Help From Her Friends, Erika M.

"Where you are now isn't where you will always be, and where you were yesterday isn't where you need to be tomorrow.  Knowing that you have the ability to change things if you want is so powerful.  In a disease that can really make you feel so powerless that is so important, because even though the situation won't change, tomorrow you're goi...

Episode 26- Texas, Football, and Alopecia with Austin K.

"It was never emotionally hard on me, because I never really saw it in the aspect of 'this is bad or this isn't good...'  I always just saw it as 'this is me."

The first episode of Alopecia Connection in 2024 features Austin, a young man from Texas, who developed alopecia at 6 months old.  Interestingly, Austin has an identical ...

Episode 25- Alopecia Connection Year in Review!

On this year-end episode of Alopecia Connection, Frank & Tommy take a look back on 2023 and reflect on the positive developments that have occurred for the show.  They discuss the most popular episodes of the year, their meetups, advocacy work, and what they would like to see for the podcast in the new year!

Alopecia Connection would love to thank all the listene...

Episode 24- Giving Back with Rodney Eldik

"...so now  if I have my family, I have my friends, I can tackle this (alopecia).  And that was a big moment for me, that's when I was really able to push through.  You know, as I got older, I stopped even wearing hats.  Now even sharing our story,... I'm very proud to be in a position where I feel like I'm comfortable to talk about that.  Help other people whil...

Episode 23- Living in the Moment with Author George Jreije

"I find that folks that I meet who have alopecia or similar conditions tend to look at the world with a different perspective.  I sure do.  So it was ultimately for the benefit I think.  Folks always ask me today, they're like 'if you could take a pill that eliminates this condition and you regrow everything, would you?' and I say absolutely not...

Episode 22- Alison Mann,  Coaching and Therapy for Hair Loss

"I feel like I have a much fuller view of what body image mental health looks like, and it's not just your stomach, your legs, your arms; it's also your hair, your facial hair, your eyebrows, your eyelashes.  And that was something clearly not a lot of professionals knew about, because when you get diagnosed with alopecia it's never part of th...

Episode 21- Bald Villains in Pop Culture (Halloween Special)

On this episode of Alopecia Connection, Frank & Tommy discuss the prevalence of bald villains in pop culture, whether in movies, television, or literature.  This topic was inspired by a recent journal article that qualitatively examined the prominence of hairless villains compared to their protagonist counterparts.  Why does this trend exist?

Frank &...

Episode 20- John, Clinical Trials & the Power of Positivity

On this episode of Alopecia Connection meet an amazing man named John.   A native of New York City, John  discusses developing alopecia later in life, and how that impacted his life.  Despite trying to remain positive through his diagnosis and progressing alopecia, John sought support through the Alopecia Areata Facebook Group, and eventually found regrowth th...

Episode 19- Actor Anthony Carrigan, Alopecia Awareness Month (Part 2)

"This experience that can feel so alienating, so much that you feel like no one really understands what it's like to be seen in this way, (and) no one understands what it's like to have this sudden drastic change.  There are, so many people have gone through it, and are going through it, but so many people have got to the other side of it,...

Episode 18- Actor Anthony Carrigan, Alopecia Awareness Month (Part 1)

"... when I first got onstage, I actually felt like I could be anyone and I could actually just express this part of myself that had been kind of... too timid to actually be seen in the world.  When I got onstage it was like I had this freedom to be whoever, to do whatever..."

On this special Alopecia Awareness Month edition of Alopeci...