dSavannah joins us from Georgia in the US to share her life with ME and chronic illness. She shares her history, the grief over the things she has lost to ME and practical ways of managing grief on a daily basis, such as channelling anger and utilising gratitude. pempodcast23@gmail.com www.pempod.com

Ash lives in Sheffield in the UK. He has been living with POTs and ME for a number of years. In this episode he shares the challenges of spending the majority of his time in bed and the grief that comes with that. We discuss long distance relationships, and the benefits of having a good therapist. www.pempod.com pempodcast23@gmail.com

In this episode we talk to Jennie Jacques who played Queen Judith in the History Channel Vikings series. Jennie talks about her experience of becoming ill with ME/CFS in 2018 and her passion for the science around the illness. Jennie asserts that this is not a mystery illness and stresses a desire to make a difference for the ME community. We also hear about her famous missing ear and related zebra print knickers! Jennie organises the Bake4MECFS initiative to raise money for ME charities. You can also purchase mugs through the website! https://bake4mecfs.com/ Contact the podcast via e-mail at: pempodcast23@gmail.com Visit our website: www.pempod.com

Dov returns and we discuss the project so far and our own reflections on grief. We read three written contributions from Lydia, Kirstie and Pamela. We have five more Grief Stories episodes to come in the following weeks. www.pempod.com Email us at pempodcast23@gmail.com

Colleen has been living with ME/CFS since 1989, as she says 'it's been a while'. Colleen oversees two facebook groups: ME-ICC & Other marginalised diseases (public group) ME-ICC Info (Private group) She also writes a substack: View from the Trenches of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis which you can find here: https://colleensteckelmeiccinfo.substack.com/ Contact the podcast: pempodcast23@gmail.com https://www.pempod.com/

Patricia Fortlage is an award-winning photographic long-form storyteller and fine art photographer. In this episode we talk about her project 'Lemonade' which uses dramatic, personal and sometimes comical images to express her 'love letter to the chronic illness community'. If you have the energy, we'd recommend visiting Patricia's website while you listen so that you can view her lemonade project and see the images we're discussing. You can find Patricia's portfolio on her website: https://www.patriciafortlage.com/ Contact us at: pempodcast23@gmail.com https://www.pempod.com/

Tamara shares her experience of becoming ill with ME/CFS and her attempts to adjust to life "as a jailed Tiger". https://www.pempod.com/ pempodcast23@gmail.com

Sally Doherty is a children's author living with ME/CFS in England. Sally has two books published in the Toby trilogy with further work to come in the year ahead. Here Sally talks to us about her ME journey, the importance of writing characters with ME into her work and how she manages her writing alongside living with ME. Sally's books can be found on Amazon here: https://amzn.eu/d/6GF2Sql Or through all good book sellers. Contact the podcast via e-mail: pempodcast23@gmail.com Or via our website: www.pempod.com

Rachel Horton is a Health Coach living in Michigan USA. She shares from her own experience of CFS as well as reflecting on her work in the health profession. Rachel referred to the writing of Victor Frankl, who's work can be found here: https://amzn.eu/d/966D42Q www.pempod.com pempodcast23@gmail.com

We meet Christina Baltais who uses her art to express her experiences of life with ME/CFS. Christina's art and writing can be found through her website: https://www.wordsasmedicine.com/ and https://seemeexpo.com/christina-baltais. You can learn more about bake4ME/CFS here: https://bake4mecfs.com/ Post-Exertional Mayonnaise: https://www.pempod.com/ E-mail us at pempodcast23@gmail.com

In this episode Rachel aka Squiggle shares her own personal CFS/ME journey and the impact of grieving through this process. You can join Rachel's online communities through discord and twitch here: Discord: https://t.co/1wZGDoAo4B Twitch: https://t.co/uSsk1Hgyy4 Contact the podcast at: pempodcast23@gmail.com Website: pempod.com

In this episode we hear six unique voices of individuals living with Chronic Illness: Laura, Steph, Katie, Jo, Joy and Paul. Each reflects on the topic of grief and how Chronic Illness has impacted them in different way with regard to living grief. The song, 'Nobody Knows', used throughout, is by Laura Vitale (who shares her own experience). Her music can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCbS9EGciD8gKmMNCYzg7aKQ Please e-mail us with any weird symptoms or ideas for Exhaustion Enterprises you'd like to share! We're also accepting poetry submissions. Also, let us know what item you love that really helps you live with chronic illness! Email us about anything you'd like to share at pempodcast23@gmail.com Twitter: @pempodcast23 Website: pempod.com Dov can be found on Instagram: dovshlomo Art logo design by Lu Baker: www.lubakerart.com Lu's Instagram: lubakerart Intro music by Dan. You can find his music at @thelowside6867 on youtube. Dov's books can be accessed on amazon kindle or via the podcast e-mail/instagram for a hard copy.

In this episode we talk to Jessica Taylor-Bearman who spent her teenage and young adult years living with very severe ME/CFS. We talk about her life as portrayed through her first two autobiographical books and look forward to the release of her third book, A Girl Beyond Closed Doors. A Girl Beyond Closed Doors is released on the 19th October 2023 and can be ordered here along with Jessica's previous books: https://amzn.eu/d/iAFoU9K Please e-mail us with any weird symptoms or ideas for Exhaustion Enterprises you'd like to share! We're also accepting poetry submissions. Also, let us know what item you love that really helps you live with chronic illness! Email us about anything you'd like to share at pempodcast23@gmail.com Twitter: @pempodcast23 Website: pempod.com Dov can be found on Instagram: dovshlomo Art logo design by Lu Baker: www.lubakerart.com Lu's Instagram: lubakerart Intro music by Dan. You can find his music at @thelowside6867 on youtube. Dov's books can be accessed on amazon kindle or via the podcast e-mail/instagram for a hard copy.

In this episode Dov and Dan catch up and 'chew the cud' over a range of issues relating to life with ME. We review recent interview episodes, chat about how we can involve people with severe ME in the podcast, navigating hospital visits, talk about decision-making and how this impacts quality of life, and go where the conversation takes us! Memes/articles mentioned by Dov: https://www.tumblr.com/ididit-allofit-foryou/720266316884426752 https://www.tumblr.com/mortallycrispygardener/724773725806952448/wow-this-is-great-i-think-ive-been UK government consultation: interim delivery plan: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-the-experiences-of-people-with-mecfs-interim-delivery-plan/consultation-document-the-interim-delivery-plan-on-mecfs#:~:text=The%20consultation%20will%20run%20for,available%20on%20the%20consultation%20page. Please e-mail us with any weird symptoms or ideas for Exhaustion Enterprises you'd like to share! We're also accepting poetry submissions. Also, let us know what item you love that really helps you live with chronic illness! Email us about anything you'd like to share at pempodcast23@gmail.com Twitter: @pempodcast23 Website: pempod.com Dov can be found on Instagram: dovshlomo Art logo design by Lu Baker: www.lubakerart.com Lu's Instagram: lubakerart Intro music by Dan. You can find his music at @thelowside6867 on youtube. Dov's books can be accessed on amazon kindle or via the podcast e-mail/instagram for a hard copy.

In this episode Sarah Boothby reads from the unpublished novel of her daughter, Maeve Owen who died from ME in 2021. The novel is titled (as yet unpublished): The Alchemists; or Economic Consequences of the Peace. Character list and excerpts are available for viewing from www.pempod.com. If you haven't read part 1, we'd suggest you start there! Artwork for the thumbnail by Amy Koller Anderson. Please e-mail us with any weird symptoms or ideas for Exhaustion Enterprises you'd like to share! We're also accepting poetry submissions. Also, let us know what item you love that really helps you live with chronic illness! Email us at pempodcast23@gmail.com Twitter: @pempodcast23 Website: pempod.com Dov can be found on Instagram: dovshlomo Art logo design by Lu Baker: www.lubakerart.com Lu's Instagram: lubakerart Intro music by Dan. You can find his music at @thelowside6867 on youtube. Dov's books can be accessed on amazon kindle or via the podcast e-mail/instagram for a hard copy.

In this episode we talk to Sarah Boothby, who's daughter Maeve Owen died from ME in 2021. Sarah and Dan talk about Maeve and her writing. In part 2, Sarah reads from Maeve's novel: The Alchemists; or Economic Consequences of the Peace. Artwork for thumbnail by Amy Koller Anderson. Please e-mail us with any weird symptoms or ideas for Exhaustion Enterprises you'd like to share! We're also accepting poetry submissions. Also, let us know what item you love that really helps you live with chronic illness! Email us at pempodcast23@gmail.com Twitter: @pempodcast23 Website: pempod.com Dov can be found on Instagram: dovshlomo Art logo design by Lu Baker: www.lubakerart.com Lu's Instagram: lubakerart Intro music by Dan. You can find his music at @thelowside6867 on youtube. Dov's books can be accessed on amazon kindle or via the podcast e-mail/instagram for a hard copy.

In this episode we talk to Alison Larkman, an artist living with ME in Bristol, UK. Alison is planning a significant roaming art installation project next summer called I Would Be Here If I Could. You can learn more and take part at: https://www.iwouldbehereificould.com/ Alison's other work can be seen at: www.Alisonlarkman.com To listen to Michael Brooks' podcast on Decode ME, search for Chat with M.E. podcast with your podcast provider. The Decode ME episode is number 7. Dov will be back with us soon! Please e-mail us with any weird symptoms or ideas for Exhaustion Enterprises you'd like to share! We're also accepting poetry submissions. Also, let us know what item you love that really helps you live with chronic illness! Email us at pempodcast23@gmail.com Twitter: @pempodcast23 Website: pempod.com Dov can be found on Instagram: dovshlomo Art logo design by Lu Baker: www.lubakerart.com Lu's Instagram: lubakerart Intro music by Dan. You can find his music at @thelowside6867 on youtube. Dov's books can be accessed on amazon kindle or via the podcast e-mail/instagram for a hard copy.

In this episode, we talk to Sally Callow who is organising a significant music event in the summer of 2024 to raise awareness of ME and to fund ME research. You can learn more and get involved at: redefininggravity.co.uk Follow ME Foggy Dog at: www.mefoggydog.org Please e-mail us with any weird symptoms you'd like to share! We're also accepting poetry submissions. Also, let us know what item you love that really helps you live with chronic illness! Email us at pempodcast23@gmail.com Twitter: @pempodcast23 Website: pempod.com Dov can be found on Instagram: dovshlomo Art logo design by Lu Baker: www.lubakerart.com Lu's Instagram: lubakerart Intro music by Dan. You can find his music at @thelowside6867 on youtube. Dov's books can be accessed on amazon kindle or via the podcast e-mail/instagram for a hard copy.

In this episode Dov and Dan talk about trying to find a sense of self whilst living with ME and chronic illness. Apologies for the background noise. Will try and sort for next time! Poems are provided by Lizzy Horn and Maija Haavisto. You can listen to Maija reading her poem and talking about chronic illness here: https://poets.org/poem/shipplum You can listen to more of Ramy's music on twitter @ramyisback Please e-mail us with any weird symptoms you'd like to share! We're also accepting poetry submissions. Also, let us know what item you love that really helps you live with chronic illness! Email us at pempodcast23@gmail.com Twitter: @pempodcast23 Website: pempod.com Dov can be found on Instagram: dovshlomo Art logo design by Lu Baker: www.lubakerart.com Lu's Instagram: lubakerart Intro music by Dan. You can find his music at @thelowside6867 on youtube. Dov's books can be accessed on amazon kindle or via the podcast e-mail/instagram for a hard copy.

In this long form discussion, Dan meets Vlad Vexler, philosopher in politics and musical aesthetics to discuss his ME journey and his successful YouTube career. We talk about challenging persisting psychologisation narratives around ME, as well as Beethoven, and transhumanism. You can find Vlad's YouTube Channels here: ME diary:    / @ucf3qsb15b2_wzbx...   Main channel:    / @vladvexler   Chat channel:    / @ucn7xhziw6eugsux...   Philosophy channel:    / @ucl2ddwc5glhezu2...   Vlad's favourite Beethoven piece via Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5BZui2... Please e-mail us with any weird symptoms you'd like to share! We're also accepting poetry submissions. Also, let us know what item you love that really helps you live with chronic illness! Email us at pempodcast23@gmail.com Twitter: @pempodcast23 Website: pempod.com Dov can be found on Instagram: dovshlomo Art logo design by Lu Baker: www.lubakerart.com Lu's Instagram: lubakerart Intro music by Dan. You can find his music at @thelowside6867 on youtube. Dov's books can be accessed on amazon kindle or via the podcast e-mail/instagram for a hard copy.