Discomfort Zone

Discomfort Zone

Discomfort Zone is a podcast about living with chronic illness and disability. Through interviews, conversations, and stories, each episode uncovers what it means to be chronically ill and disabled. Jason helps listeners understand that the best way to cope with the discomfort of illness is to turn towards it and laugh at it. Jason is an engineering graduate who reinvented himself as a podcaster and chronic illness/disability advocate after developing fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

Episodes

October 15, 2020 30 mins

I was too sick to attend my sister’s wedding, so she wasn’t expecting me to deliver a speech.

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A transcript is available in the show notes.
Read the definition of marriage on dictionary.com

Written, Produced, and Sound Designed by: Jason Herterich

Audio Engineering by: Jus...

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My gym teacher ridicules me in front of my peers, prompting the question: was my child-acting career a fluke? If so, what does that say about my legacy? What does free pizza have to do with any of this?

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A transcript is available in the show notes.

Written, Hosted, Produced, and Sound Designed by: Jason Herterich
Audio Engineer: Justin Maradin

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About Keith

Keith McArthur is an author, speaker, kidney transplant survivor, and rare disease dad. He is the host of the CBC Podcast Unlocking Bryson’s Brain, an 8-part documentary-style podcast about his son Bryson, his rare disease, and his family’s search for a cure. Keith is also the CEO and Head of Science for CureGRIN, an organization dedicated to finding cures and therapies for people around the w...

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Keith’s son Bryson is a charming and outgoing 13-year old who loves his family, friends, and school. But he faces tremendous challenges. He lives with a rare genetic disease that has his brain locked at the developmental level of a 1-year old. The closure of schools has been especially hard on Bryson as he no longer has access to many of the tools he uses for therapy.

Keith, host of the CBC Podcast ‘Unlocking...

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Lindsay is no stranger to adversity. While most 11-year olds were out playing with their friends, she was at home caring for her mom. Now a front-line healthcare worker in the midst of a pandemic, she is faced with unprecedented challenges. Lindsay shares her insights on how the government could ensure the safety of personal support workers and their clients.

About Lindsay

Lindsay Couture has been ...

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Early in the pandemic, Melissa spent all day on the phone with disabled people living in fear of COVID-19. Their fears echoed many of her own. Melissa shares her recommendations on how the government can better meet the needs of the disability community.

About Melissa
Melissa Graham is an advocate for social justice, public speaker, writer, researcher, and community organizer. Melissa is also the founder o...

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July 26, 2020 12 mins

Meditating at a jungle monastery in Thailand brought me inner stillness. Then Rob showed up.

A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes

Links:

Short Video Documentary of Wat Tam Wua

Wat Tam Wua Website

Social Media

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Resources

Substance Abuse and Suicide: A Guide to Unders...

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July 24, 2020 17 mins

Award-winning filmmaker and journalist Karina Sturm joins the show to talk about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare connective tissue disorder she lives with. She opens up about the medical gaslighting she experienced during her long path to diagnosis and how she transitioned from laboratory technician to chronically ill patient to journalist and filmmaker. Karina then talks about her feature-length film, We Are Visible, th...

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My parents returned from their vacation in Cuba on March 7th. A few days later, my dad developed a cough and fever. His symptoms rapidly progressed. Could it be COVID-19?

A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes

Links:

Produced by: Jason Herterich

Sound design by: Jason Herterich

Audio Engineering by: Justin Maradin

Social Media

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Checking in from quarantine with a special message. This one is for you, Missy Elliot!

YouTube Video

Show Notes

Produced by: Jason Herterich with help from Djevon Earle

Audio engineering by: Justin Maradin

Music: Streetwise by Vodovoz Music Productions

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July 6, 2020 1 min

Big News for Discomfort Zone - I'm joining Invisible Not Broken Podcast Network!

Podcasts
Invisible Not Broken
The Humancare Podcast
Discomfort Zone

Social Media
Follow Invisible Not Broken on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Follow Wellacopia on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Follow Discomfort Zone on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Hello everyone, Jason here. I’ll be releasing...

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June 23, 2020 18 mins

Chronic pain tore my life apart and brought me and my sister closer together.

A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes

Links:

Lisa Purzner’s website

Social media

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Depression resources

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255 (1800-273-TALK)

The Cr...

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June 23, 2020 27 mins

I was getting better! I left the house to meet women. It didn’t go well.

I was getting better! I left the house to meet women. It didn’t go well.

A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes

Produced by: Jason Herterich

Sound design by: Jason Herterich

Audio Engineering by: Justin Maradin

External Consulting by: Dan Samosh

Follo...

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June 22, 2020 25 mins

I was in constant, excruciating pain and spent 22 hours a day in bed. I never could've imagined that someone else's life would fall into my hands. In the second half of the episode, my mom and dad talk about the struggles they've had as parents of a chronically ill son.

A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes

Social media

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...

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June 22, 2020 3 mins

Introducing Discomfort Zone: immersive stories on chronic illness and disability that showcase our vulnerability, wellness, and resilience. My guests and I find comfort by turning towards discomfort, welcoming it, and laughing at it.

A full transcript with photos is available in the show notes

Social media

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Produced by: Jason Herter...

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