Welcome to season 2 episode 9 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! This week's guest is Dr. David Putrino, Professor of Rehabilitation and Human Performance at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Director of Rehabilitation Innovation for the Mount Sinai Health System was appointed the Nash Family Director of the CoRE - and so many other things. Dr. Putrino and I discussed the onset of the pandemic, its impacts on him and his team (we feel like we’ve aged about 10 years since March 2020), and how the work they did early on influenced their response when patients weren’t getting better. We also talked about how he and his team care for their own mental health, impediments to research, upcoming studies they have planned, and he answered listener questions like “will you adopt me” and my question which was, “how do I set up a PO Box in New York so I can come to the clinic?” 🤣 We also get into ableism, gaslighting, ways we can all best work together, and he answered the same questions I ask everyone at the end of each episode. Thanks, again, to Dr. Putrino for joining me! About an hour after we met, I tested positive for the vid again, which kind of made me feel like I was living in Alanis Morrisette’s “Ironic” video or Bizarro World.

I also want to add - yes, we talk about medical stuff, trauma, and meds and supplements. Just because you hear about those things on this podcast, doesn't mean you should start them. Always discuss everything with your doctor!

Find out more about the Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illnesses (CoRE) here: https://reports.mountsinai.org/article/rehab2024-02-core-center-opens

Follow them on Twitter here (yes, I thrive on spite and still call it Twitter): https://x.com/coresinai The team is putting out amazingly helpful videos on their YouTube channel and you should check it out, because a lot of questions listeners had can be answered by that content: https://www.youtube.com/@coresinai

And, of course, they're on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/coresinai/

You can follow Dr. Putrino on Twitter: https://x.com/PutrinoLab and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/putrino_lab/

Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share A Friend for the Long Haul if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes.
You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7948dbf2222c4392

If you'd like to support this low budget/high love podcast, you can check out my Bonfire shirt for silly long covid apparel: https://www.bonfire.com/store/a-friend-for-the-long-haul/

or my Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MYBB5G0P7YUD?ref_=wl_share

Thank you for listening!

Welcome to season 2 episode 8 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! This week I chat with Jaydo, who you probably know from TikTok and Instagram. Jaydo creates videos focused on "Things You Should Know About Covid," and they've been incredibly successful.

In this episode we discuss:

• The Power of Community: Learn how Jaydo's COVID-conscious community is making a difference, including more about the CC Circle, his 0% lending circle for expensive Covid safety gear
• The Unexpected Influencer: what it's like to become a source of news for thousands
• Navigating a Divided World: We explore the challenges of being COVID-conscious in a society that often dismisses safety measures - including what it's like to date
• Listener-submitted questions: Jaydo and I answer questions about to handle difficult social situations, finding love while being cautious, and raising COVID-conscious kids (special mentions to @decolonize__ https://www.instagram.com/decolonize__/ and ShiShi Rose https://www.instagram.com/shishi.rose/ who both post wonderful round-ups of books and resources for children)
• A Deeper Dive: Delve into the socio-political implications of the pandemic and the importance of critical thinking

A friendly reminder: This episode is a bit longer than usual at about an hour and a half. Feel free to listen in chunks to preserve your spoons.

You can find Jaydo on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@JaydoCovid

and on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/jaydocovid/

Here is his linktree

and his YouTube channels: https://www.youtube.com/@JaydoCovid

https://www.youtube.com/@jaydomusic

Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share A Friend for the Long Haul if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes.

You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7948dbf2222c4392

If you'd like to support this low budget/high love podcast, you can check out my Bonfire shirt for silly long covid apparel: https://www.bonfire.com/store/a-friend-for-the-long-haul/

or my Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MYBB5G0P7YUD?ref_=wl_share

Thanks again for listening!

Welcome to season 2 episode 6 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! This episode features my friend, Laura Thomas. Laura and I met in an Austin, Texas-based long covid support group, and started talking when she found out that I had moved from Texas because I discovered that my MCAS symptoms improved out of state.

Laura hosts a podcast called Rescued By A Dog, which features stories of dogs saving their people. In this episode, Laura and I discuss:

• How we met and our long covid experiences
• Moving out of state in an attempt to see any improvement in our symptoms
• Acknowledging the privilege we both had to be able to move
• Low dose Naltrexone, Paxlovid, anesthesia, and ketamine therapy (none of this is medical advice!)
• What we call "zero dignity moments" with chronic illness
• EMDR, brain retraining, staying present
• "Resentment rebellion"
• Lymphatic massage
• The story behind Rescued by a Dog

Find Rescued by a Dog on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0t6XikdERybsS3wwwaJb6j?si=c1654161e4504d1e

And Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rescued-by-a-dog/id1648960693 Support the podcast via Laura's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RescuedbyaDogPodcast

Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share A Friend for the Long Haul if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes.

You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7948dbf2222c4392

If you'd like to support this low budget/high love podcast, you can check out my Bonfire shirt for silly long covid apparel where I'm raising money for a pro license of Zoom (as of right now, I can only record 30-40 minutes at a time and then we have to hang up and come back. Not great for conversational flow!): https://www.bonfire.com/store/a-friend-for-the-long-haul/

or my Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MYBB5G0P7YUD?ref_=wl_share

Thanks again for listening!

Welcome to season 2 episode 5 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast. This episode features Lola Germs, a self-described "pandemic communicator + disabled guy w AuDHD + a funky rare genetic disease." We met on Instagram and once we got to talking we realized we share a lot of weird funky health stuff and our life and work trajectories have been similar in a lot of ways. Lola shares information about the pandemic in a way that's inclusive, creative, and accessible - which is not an easy thing to do, especially with such complex information! We talk about what led her to creating her YouTube channel, important things like the warmest socks you can get, the fact that I didn't sweat for almost two years, how illness impacts self-identity, how gratitude can be weird, the confidence required to care for yourself in modern society, and then we venture on to righting the wrongs of the medical industrial complex, her hopes for the future, climate change, the need for popular science communicators, and the future of space travel. I'm an old lady and I was ready to adopt LG by the end of this episode. Truly. I love smart people with hearts like this, and it's a privilege to get to have these conversations!

Find Lola Germs on social media:

Lola's YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@LolaGerms

Instagram - instagram.com/lola.germs

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lolagerms and LinkTree with resources - https://linktr.ee/lolagerms

Support Lola's work on ko-fi ko-fi.com/lolagerms or by simply subscribing on YouTube and interacting in the comments.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share A Friend for the Long Haul if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes.

You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7948dbf2222c4392

If you'd like to support this low budget/high love podcast, you can check out my Bonfire shirt for silly long covid apparel where I'm raising money for a pro license of Zoom (as of right now, I can only record 30-40 minutes at a time and then we have to hang up and come back. Not great for conversational flow!): https://www.bonfire.com/store/a-friend-for-the-long-haul/

or my Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MYBB5G0P7YUD?ref_=wl_share

Thanks again for listening!

Welcome to season 2 episode 4 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! Join me for a conversation with Merel and JC. Merel leads the Long Covid Choir, and JC is a member. Discover how this unique community has brought joy and support to those living with the debilitating effects of Long Covid. In this episode, we delve into the origins of the choir, how to join, and what to expect from the weekly sessions. Learn about some support group events and Merel's work with Long Covid Kids groups, and the things that bring us joy. We also discuss our experiences navigating healthcare systems in the US, England, and Norway.

Whether you're living with Long Covid or simply curious about this inspiring community, this episode offers hope, connection, and a glimpse into the power of music.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes.

You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7948dbf2222c4392

If you'd like to support this low budget/high love podcast, you can check out my Bonfire shirt for silly long covid apparel where I'm raising money for a pro license of Zoom (as of right now, I can only record 30-40 minutes at a time and then we have to hang up and come back. Not great for conversational flow!): https://www.bonfire.com/store/a-friend-for-the-long-haul/ or my Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MYBB5G0P7YUD?ref_=wl_share

Welcome to season 2 episode 3 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! In this episode I chat with Jess London. Jess created an app called TurnTo, which curates the latest research, lived experiences, tips, and insights - so you can find new answers in what's called your "daily drop." It is currently live in Cerebral Palsy, Long Covid, ME/CFS, and Parkinson’s. I was on the early release team for the Long Covid/ME app, and Jess and I got on so well from the start, I wanted to chat with her to learn more about her intention for the app. The app is totally free so this isn't some sort of paid promotion - I'm always so curious about how people manage to pull off these endeavors and I genuinely find TurnTo very helpful. I was also very curious about how they could build something like this and offer it at no cost. Jess had ME/CFS and her children have Cerebral Palsy, so this app is a true passion project for her. We discuss the creation of the app, their plans for the future, my amazing ability to name things, Jess's ME/CFS experience, and how the development team works to safeguard the app from those charlatans who work in cahoots (or creepy links, trolls, bullies, false info, and shameless self promotion for profit.)

Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes. You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7948dbf2222c4392

If you'd like to support this low budget/high love podcast, you can check out my Bonfire shirt for silly long covid apparel where I'm raising money for a pro license of Zoom (as of right now, I can only record 30-40 minutes at a time and then we have to hang up and come back. Not great for conversational flow!): https://www.bonfire.com/store/a-friend-for-the-long-haul/ or my amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MYBB5G0P7YUD?ref_=wl_share

As always, thanks for listening!

Welcome to season 2 episode 2 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! Thank you for being here! Join me as I chat with Joe Glasgow, who you may know from his Instagram or TikTok. You may also be subscribed to his Substack, Chronically Creating. If you're not, you should be. Each week, Joe offers a prompt and a quote to those of us who may feel we've lost our creative spark due to chronic illness. Joe and I discuss his Covid "journey," his history in comedy, travel, and podcasting, and how that led to him creating such relatable reels and content about long Covid. I also have a huge MCAS reaction in the middle of recording, which is always fun. I had a great time talking with Joe, and and I'm going to admit that I was nervous about recording because I don't always feel like my brain can keep up and he's so funny and quick, but I managed to make him laugh which left me feeling very pleased with myself lol. Usually, I have a hard time listening back to episodes but I genuinely enjoyed hearing this one, so I hope you enjoy it. Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes.

Update for season 2! From this episode, the end of pod questions change! But not question 2, which will always remain, and you can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7948dbf2222c4392

If you'd like to support this low budget/high love podcast, you can check out my Bonfire shirt for silly long covid apparel where I'm raising money for a pro license of Zoom (as of right now, I can only record 30-40 minutes at a time and then we have to hang up and come back. Not great for conversational flow!): https://www.bonfire.com/store/a-friend-for-the-long-haul/ or my amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3MYBB5G0P7YUD?ref_=wl_share As always, thanks for listening!

Welcome to season two of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! Thank you for being here! For episode one, join me as I sit down with Katrina and Corey, the founders of Covid Safe Colorado. Covid Safe Colorado is a grassroots organization dedicated to providing high-quality masks to vulnerable communities in the state. Learn about their journey from starting a mask bloc to building a supportive network of volunteers.

In this episode, we delve into the challenges and triumphs of pandemic activism, the importance of community-led initiatives, and the personal impact of long Covid. Katrina and I also share our experiences as "pacing buddies," exploring how mutual support can help navigate the complexities of chronic illness. If you're considering starting a mask bloc on your own, Corey and Katrina share their lessons learned and offer advice and resources to help you get started. Don't miss this conversation about compassion and the power of collective community care. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share for more episodes. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps me keep bringing you episodes.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

How to Start a Mask Bloc, a collaborative zine by Fight COVID NOLA, Mask Up Pittsburgh, Mask Bloc ATX, World Wide Mask Map, Masks for London, Mask Block UCD, Mask Bloc LA, and Charlotte Mask Bloc, found at Worldwide Mask Bloc Directory – Find your local Mask Bloc Covid Safe Colorado's website and Instagram

Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha Katrina's podcast, Dreaming Back to the Earth

Don't forget to check out the podcast's playlist. Each guest is asked to share their long covid theme song: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3n0GXLFRWqDJyifglNNM4K?si=7399eb50bf8a4a9d