It's episode 12 of Carrie's Always Talking! At the top of the episode, Carrie discusses the choice to make this 12th episode the last of the season. She thanks her listeners for following along for the last couple of months and encourages anyone who wants to come on the podcast for season 2 to reach out.

In this episode, Carrie chats with Brianna Beasley, who graciously shares her experience with Long Covid. Brianna discusses life before her diagnosis in 2021 and the changes she's been forced to make in her life because of her health concerns that developed in the months after her acute infection. She explores the concept of "pacing" in order to learn one's limitations when living with a chronic illness. Brianna also discusses her doctors and some of their theories around how long covid develops along with the treatments that have been most helpful for her thus far in her bid for recovery. Her story is one of resilience and determination, and the hope is that listeners learn more about this diagnosis and also gain a better understanding of what challenges individuals with disabilities can face in day-today life. Anyone can become disabled at any time, and Brianna does an amazing job at providing useful information while being vulnerable in sharing her story.

Brianna's story is not intended to be medical advice, she encourages those listening to do their own research. She does provide some references that have been helpful for her, and those are included in the notes below.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:
https://www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/what-is-long-covid
https://covidinstitute.org/https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2023/10/12/septad-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-pots-long-covid-kaufman-ruhoy/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8HWt9g4L0k

If you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at carrie.always.talking@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you.

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In episode 11 of Carrie's Always Talking, Courtney Alesandro joins Carrie to discuss the complexities of being child-free by choice, exploring societal norms, personal choices, and the emotional landscape surrounding motherhood. They delve into the value of women beyond their roles as mothers, the impact of patriarchy on women's decisions, and the importance of empathy and understanding in conversations about reproductive choices. The discussion emphasizes the need for curiosity over assumptions and encourages listeners to reflect on their reactions to others' choices.

Carrie highlights the idea that making the choice not to mother or nurture does not make a person less worthwhile, even if it elicits a negative reaction to those around them. Both Carrie and Courtney share some of their experiences as women who have made this choice in their own lives. As always, there are lots of laughs and connection while discussing this topic that has become more politicized in recent months.

If you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at carrie.always.talking@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you.

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It's Episode 10 of Carrie's Always Talking! Can you believe we're in the double digits? This week, Carrie chats with her Aunt, Melissa Watters (Missy) about the sudden death of her husband, Darrin, 14 years ago. Melissa discusses the details of that life changing day and her journey to provide for her daughters while managing her immense grief. Her story is one of learning how to pivot after loss and finding a way to rebuild- It's also a story of finding strength that you never knew you possessed and how we all have that ability within us as well. It's an emotional and inspirational story. If you've been touched by loss, grab your tissues, and tune in. You don't want to miss this one.

National resources for Grief and Loss:
https://www.ogr.org/national-grief-resources


If you have a story you'd like to tell, send me an email at carrie.always.talking@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you.

Facebook group- www.facebook.com/groups/carriesalwaystalking/

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