Our Skin: A Personal Discovery Podcast

Alisha Bridges was seven years old when a bout of chicken pox triggered psoriasis across 90% of her body — and she spent the next decade hiding it, until a beauty pageant, a department-store makeup counter, and a grandmother who refused to let her quit changed everything. In this episode, Alisha talks about turning shame into a platform, taking her story to Capitol Hill, and why mental health and diversity in research sit at ...

If you've ever felt like no one in the room really gets what you're going through — this season is for you. Holly Frey of Stuff You Missed in History Class returns with Season 3 of Our Skin, expanding the conversation to include psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and the full, complicated reality of living in a body that others don't always see clearly.

Each episode, we pull up a seat for people who've been there &...

Model, actress, and stunt driver Ivy Smith first noticed psoriasis after the birth of her second child, but it took years, another pregnancy, and mounting pain before she finally got a diagnosis. In this episode, she opens up about battling stigma on set, the slow journey to show her skin with pride, and how adrenaline-fueled stunt driving became a surprising outlet. Plus, we rewind to the 1960s to uncover how a single classified a...

Victoria Voos was in college when her psoriasis “went full rampage,” setting off a cascade of diagnoses—from psoriatic arthritis to insulin resistance—that could have been overwhelming. Instead, she built online communities, mastered the art of the clap back, and became a fierce advocate for herself and others. In this episode, she shares how clinical trials gave her both hope and hard data, the boundaries t...

Diagnosed with psoriasis at age five, Lianne Hunter grew up learning to explain, defend, and sometimes hide her skin. Today, she’s built an online community, FixMyPsoriasis, and co-leads the Get Your Skin Out campaign, turning personal vulnerability into collective strength. Lianne opens up about raising her son with honesty and empathy, navigating tough moments in public, and why community is the key to living openly with ps...

When Allison Sowle showed up to a model casting with oozing eczema and no makeup, she didn’t expect to be chosen out of 30,000 people. But her message was clear: “I’m proud to be myself.” In this episode, Allison talks about claiming space in the modeling world, surviving without insurance, and the beauty of showing up as you are. Plus, we look back at some of the most bizarre and misguided psoriasis treatme...

Jess Tran was 24, thriving in her career, and training as a powerlifter when a mysterious rash changed everything. It turned out to be guttate psoriasis—and it forced her to rethink everything from ambition to self-image. In this episode, Jess shares how she learned to listen to her body, why visibility can be both empowering and exhausting, and what she wants to change about the wellness industry. Plus, a scientific journey ...

India Bolton was first diagnosed with guttate psoriasis in college. Years later, that diagnosis expanded—through two pregnancies, psoriatic arthritis, and months-long flare-ups that covered her body. In this episode, India opens up about parenting through chronic illness, how she found strength in community, and why her children are part of her motivation to keep showing up. Plus, we dive into the science and history behind o...

We’re back! Welcome to Season 2 of Our Skin: A Personal Discovery Podcast with Holly Frey.

This season, we’re continuing the conversation about what it really means to live with psoriasis—through powerful, personal stories of resilience, self-advocacy, and finding freedom in the skin you’re in.

But we’re also zooming out. Each episode, we connect those lived experiences to the wild, weird, and sometime...

After being diagnosed with psoriasis as a teen, Joni Kazantzis has tried just about every treatment one can to get comfortable in her skin. Her blog, Just a Girl with Spots, became a platform for Joni to shed light on the struggles, triumphs, and everything in between. Listen in as we explore her dedication to helping others find their path to treating their own chronic illness, and strength in the support of others who get it. In ...

Andrea Wool is the founder of Autoimmune Strong, a community for those with autoimmune disorders seeking exercise that heals rather than harms. Andrea shares her experience with chronic pain, fatigue, and her quest to find a sustainable, gentle approach to fitness. Diagnosed with fibromyalgia and multiple autoimmune diseases, she turned her struggles into a mission, helping others transform their relationship with exercise and heal...

Reena Ruparelia has lived with psoriasis since she was in high school. But she didn’t start sharing about her experience until 20 years later. Stigma played a role in her hesitancy to speak out, but a major factor was the difficulty in finding a doctor who really listened, and a treatment that worked. Until patients find treatment, it can feel like their life is on hold–but Reena has a message of hope for anyone still l...

When Jen Weaver was diagnosed with psoriasis in 2017 (after five years handling rheumatoid arthritis), she was 36 years old and had three busy kids. Her plaques were very visible–she said they covered her “from head to toe”--and very painful. Psoriasis meant a step into a world where people noticed her auto-immune condition for the first time, and the reaction was far from comforting. So Jen found her people, and ...

Activist and Hollywood producer Holly Dillon was diagnosed with psoriasis when she was just 14 years old and, at 20, was told by a doctor that there was no help for her–that her body had “failed.” Devastated but not deterred, Holly launched Get Your Skin Out, a visual campaign and online community of people sharing about their skin disorders, and looking beautiful doing it. As we step back in skin history, we exam...

In this episode of Our Skin, we're joined by world-class athlete Mandy Marquardt of the USA Cycling National Team to discuss her experience as an Olympic hopeful living with psoriasis.

Mandy shares how being diagnosed with psoriasis threw her for a loop, even as she continued to train at an elite level. Mandy also opens up about the importance of her support network and the role it played in helping her navigate this unexpected ch...

Welcome to Our Skin, a Personal Discovery Podcast. Each week, host Holly Frey showcases a personal story from someone who lives–and thrives!--while managing psoriasis. Being diagnosed with a chronic skin condition can throw anyone off track, but Our Skin guests have a message of hope: a diagnosis can be an opportunity to discover new things about ourselves, our grit, and our power. 

In addition to these tales of hope, F...