Live Well with Arthritis

Episode 37: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast#37 Why Reiki Helps: Emily's Honest Account in a Time of GriefThis is a personal one, host Emily Johnson opens up about losing her dear friend and mentor, Heather Rosa, and the Reiki session that held her through one of the hardest weeks she's had. If you're in a raw place yourself, please look after yourself as you listen, pause it, come back to it, or skip it entirely.Reiki is a divisive subject, so Emily handles it the way she always does: honestly. She provides the evidence, the way it's approached in her programme with the rheumatologists, then shares her own experience and lets you make up your own mind. Reiki sits alongside your medical care, never instead of it.At the heart of the episode is the truth that grief doesn't just live in your mind, it lives in your body. Tight chest, broken sleep, and if living with arthritis it can result in a flare. Emily shares how Reiki let her nervous system finally exhale, and let her grief move through her instead of staying locked in her body, to avoid a flare-up.Topics covered:What Reiki Actually Is and why 'you don't have to do anything' is the whole point for those of us used to pushing throughWhat the Evidence Really Says how Reiki helps by shifting the nervous system from fight-or-flight into rest-and-repairCalm, Not Cure why Reiki is a soothing complement, not a treatment for the diseaseGrief, the Body and the Flare and why tending your nervous system in a hard season is protection, not distractionEmily's Week the honest, tender account of Tuesday's sessionLearning to Receive and why letting yourself be nourished is not weaknessAbout the podcast:With a focus on reducing inflammation and improving daily life, this podcast features expert interviews, science-backed strategies, and real stories from people living with all types of arthritis.Emily combines her 12+ years of lived experience and insights from healthcare professionals to offer practical, encouraging steps that help you feel healthier, happier, and less alone when living with arthritis.Emily (Arthritis Foodie) is a bestselling author, certified coach, and founder of Live Well with Arthritis.Episode Links:Applications for the Live Well with Arthritis 12-week programme are open, Apply now: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/waitlistFREE Heatwave Tips Guide: https://arthritisfoodie.mykajabi.com/sign-up-for-free-download-from-arthritis-foodie-1Emily Johnson @ArthritisFoodie:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthritisfoodie/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arthritisfoodie/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arthritisfoodieFurther Resources: https://linktr.ee/arthritisfoodie

Episode 35: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast#35 Dismissed to Determined: Advocacy, Confidence and Community with Bailey JaneEver been told your pain is 'all in your head'? Host Emily Johnson welcomes Bailey Jane, policy advocate for the Arthritis Foundation, confidence coach, and Miss America competitor who grew up with juvenile arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.After 10 doctors and years of dismissal, Bailey finally got her diagnosis, despite having symptoms from when she was 5 years old. In this episode, she opens up about medical gaslighting, learning to advocate for herself, and turning pain into purpose. Whether you live with arthritis, an invisible illness, or you’re waiting on answers, this episode reminds you that your voice matters and your diagnosis does not define you.Topics covered:Living with an Invisible ConditionDismissal to Diagnosis Medical gaslighting by 10 doctors'You Don’t Look Sick' Navigating an invisible autoimmune diseaseHealth Autonomy Become your own advocateManaging Body and MindTreatment Difficulties Why she had to turn to holistic methodsAnti-Inflammatory Living Diet, triggers, CBD, and rest as productivityRationing Your Energy Pitcher analogy and knowing your bodyTurning Pain into PowerThe Joint Impact Advocacy, policy reform, and sharing your storyCommunity Feeling seen with the Arthritis FoundationConfidence Coaching The alter ego hack and moreAbout the podcast:With a focus on reducing inflammation and improving daily life, this podcast features expert interviews, science-backed strategies, and real stories from people living with all types of arthritis.Emily combines her 12+ years of lived experience and insights from healthcare professionals to offer practical, encouraging steps that help you feel healthier, happier, and less alone when living with arthritis.Emily is a bestselling author, certified coach, and founder of Live Well with Arthritis.Episode Links:Live Well with Arthritis Programme Waitlist: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/waitlistFREE Workbook: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/signup-free-downloadBailey Jane @baileyjstaffInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/baileyjstaff/Website: https://www.baileyjanecoaching.com/Emily Johnson @ArthritisFoodieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthritisfoodie/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arthritisfoodieFurther Resources: https://linktr.ee/arthritisfoodie

Episode 34: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast#34 Go to the Gig: Emily's Before, During and After Plan for Concerts with ArthritisLast weekend, Emily was at the Take That concert in a crowd of thousands, mid-heatwave, singing loudly with her mum. In the photos, with her red lipstick on, she looks fine, but what you can't see is her pain. This episode is the honest version of that night, and the plan that made it possible.Living with arthritis doesn't mean giving up festivals, gigs, travel, or brilliant experiences that make life worth living. It just means going with a plan, and some self-compassion for afterwards. Arthritis does not mean you stop showing up for your life, but you do show up differently.Heat, crowds, standing for hours, and barely any sleep, is a perfect storm for a flare, so Emily walks through the whole thing: the biology of why heat and bad sleep hit our joints so hard, and what shes does about it.Topics covered:Biology of the Flare Why heat, dehydration, exertion and lost sleep aren't four small things, but one absoltely compounding thingKnowing Your Triggers Naming your own triggers (for Emily - stress, travel, lost routine, and lots of walking) so you can plan around themThe Before Banking your rest, planning an air-conditioned route and seating/accessibility, and exactly what was in Emily's Take That flare-up/pain kitThe During Hydrating relentlessly, forgiving an imperfect meal, micro-resting without guilt, managing the heat actively, staying ahead of the pain, and letting joy be medicineThe After Handling the flare without guilt or panic, with rest as a non-negotiable, soothing swollen joints, and remembering a flare is a temporary cost for a permanent memoryTravel More Widely How the same before/during/after system carries over to flights, hotels and getaways, and why protecting your sleep matters is vitalAbout the podcast:With a focus on reducing inflammation and improving daily life, this podcast features expert interviews, science-backed strategies, and real stories from people living with all types of arthritis.Emily combines her 12+ years of lived experience and insights from healthcare professionals to offer practical, encouraging steps that help you feel healthier, happier, and less alone when living with arthritis.Emily (Arthritis Foodie) is a bestselling author, certified coach, and founder of Live Well with Arthritis.Episode Links:Applications for the Live Well with Arthritis 12-week programme are open, Apply now: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/waitlistEmily Johnson @ArthritisFoodie:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthritisfoodie/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arthritisfoodie/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arthritisfoodieFurther Resources: https://linktr.ee/arthritisfoodie

Episode 33: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast#33 Hype or Helpful? Nutritionist Eli Brecher on Matcha, Fibremaxxing, Protein Water and moreFed up of navigating all of the wellness trends in the media and online? The wellness world can be overwhelming to navigate, so what is actually helpful? Especially if you live with a chronic health condition? In this episode, host Emily Johnson welcomes back Registered Associate Nutritionist Eli Brecher to sort the hype from the helpful.Eli is the creator of The Mind, Body, Gut Method™ and host of The Gut 360 Podcast. Living with Crohn's disease since the age of eight, she specialises in gut health, women's health, and fertility nutrition, and is a contributor to the Live Well with Arthritis programme. Eli celebrates the trends genuinely worth your time, and debunks the ones that aren't.Topics covered:Trends Worth the HypeMatcha Calm Sustained energy, L-theanine, and the dairy caveatFibremaxxing Why fibre is a hero nutrient, and how to add it to your dietAdding In, Not Restricting Positive shift towards plant diversity and 30+ plants a weekDebatable TrendsProtein-Washing Why seeing 'high protein' may just be marketingGut Health Myth of the magic powder, and where to startBiohacking Red light, cold plunges and moreThoughts on Other TrendsCGMs (Continuous Glucose Monitors) Whether the average person really needs oneGLP-1s (like Ozempic) What they actually do, and who they're helpful forAbout the podcast:With a focus on reducing inflammation and improving daily life, this podcast features expert interviews, science-backed strategies, and real stories from people living with all types of arthritis.Emily combines her 12+ years of lived experience and insights from healthcare professionals to offer practical, encouraging steps that help you feel healthier, happier, and less alone when living with arthritis.Emily is a bestselling author, certified coach, and founder of Live Well with Arthritis.Episode Links:Live Well with Arthritis Programme Waitlist: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/waitlistFREE Workbook: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/signup-free-downloadEli Brecher @elibrechernutritionInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elibrechernutrition/Website: https://www.elibrecher.co.ukEmily Johnson @ArthritisFoodieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthritisfoodie/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arthritisfoodieFurther Resources: https://linktr.ee/arthritisfoodie

Episode 32: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast#32 Trust Your Gut: Dr Camilla Stokholm on Microbiomes, Inflammation and ArthritisWhat if half of you wasn't actually you? In this episode, host Emily Johnson welcomes Dr Camilla Stokholm, a gut microbiome specialist, lifestyle medicine doctor, and best-selling author of What Your Doctor Eats, named after her hugely popular Instagram account.A former NHS GP, Camilla now runs Mosaic Medical, using metagenomic testing to get to the root cause of her patients' symptoms. Her approach grew out of her own health journey, such as debilitating IBS. Whether you live with arthritis, fibromyalgia, or an inflammatory condition, get practical, science-backed strategies to feed your gut, calm inflammation, and take back control of your health.Topics covered:The Gut MicrobiomeMini Pharmacy How gut bugs produce chemicals that act like medicineImmunity 70% of your immune system lives one cell away from your microbiomeLeaky Gut How dysbiosis can trigger autoimmunity, inflammation and joint painSigns and TestingHidden Signs Fatigue, brain fog, bloating, and bowel changesBeyond Bloodwork Why a normal test doesn't always mean it's finePersonalisation Food first, plus targeted prescriptionsFeeding a Healthier LifeMicrobiome Party Variety is key and 30 plants a weekProbiotics? Lessons from the Hadza tribe on cheap, diverse eatingFasting & Arthritis What the research revealsAbout the podcast:With a focus on reducing inflammation and improving daily life, this podcast features expert interviews, science-backed strategies, and real stories from people living with all types of arthritis.Emily combines her 12+ years of lived experience and insights from healthcare professionals to offer practical, encouraging steps that help you feel healthier, happier, and less alone when living with arthritis.Emily is a bestselling author, certified coach, and founder of Live Well with Arthritis.Episode Links:Live Well with Arthritis Programme Waitlist: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/waitlistFREE Workbook: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/signup-free-downloadDr Camilla Stokholm @whatyourdoctoreatsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatyourdoctoreats/Website: https://www.whatyourdoctoreats.comEmily Johnson @ArthritisFoodieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthritisfoodie/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arthritisfoodieFurther Resources: https://linktr.ee/arthritisfoodie

Episode 31: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast#31 Gratitude Over Toxic Positivity: Emily on Holding Pain and Joy at OnceWhen you're mid-flare and someone tells you to 'look on the bright side', this episode is for you. Host Emily Johnson has a confession the word 'gratitude' used to grate on her too, and this episode is not about good-vibing your way out of pain.Drawing on the science and her own lived experience, Emily unpacks what real, evidence-based gratitude actually is, dual processing, and the human capacity to hold a heavy truth in one hand and something beautiful in the other. Gratitude does not wipe away your pain, your anger, or your grief. It simply sends your nervous system a second, different signal alongside the first, which is that safety, warmth, and kindness also exist, right here, right now.This is for anyone who is grieving the body or the life they expected to have, and who is tired of being made to choose between their hard feelings and their good ones.Topics covered:Biology of 'Both/And' Why your brain isn't broken, it's biased, how negativity bias and central sensitisation turn up the volume on pain, and what gratitude actually does to your nervous systemMyth of Emotional Monogamy Why you don't have to be committed to one emotion, and how the phrase 'and yet' lets grief, fear, anger, and gratitude coexist without one erasing the otherGrief, Joy, and Post-Traumatic Growth Why grief for your health is not a failure of gratitude, plus a tender personal reflection on lossMicrogratitude Toolkit Practical, flare-friendly tools you can actually reach for when everything feels heavy, the micro-hunt, the 'and yet' journal, somatic gratitude with the physiological sigh, and finding awe in small thingsSuffering Olympics Why there's no threshold you have to cross before your feelings count, and your invitation to try the 'and yet' practice this weekAbout the podcast:With a focus on reducing inflammation and improving daily life, this podcast features expert interviews, science-backed strategies, and real stories from people living with all types of arthritis.Emily combines her 12+ years of lived experience and insights from healthcare professionals to offer practical, encouraging steps that help you feel healthier, happier, and less alone when living with arthritis.Emily (Arthritis Foodie) is a bestselling author, certified coach, and founder of Live Well with Arthritis.Episode Links:Applications for the Live Well with Arthritis 12-week programme are open, Apply now: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/waitlistEmily Johnson @ArthritisFoodie:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthritisfoodie/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arthritisfoodie/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arthritisfoodieFurther Resources: https://linktr.ee/arthritisfoodie

Episode 30: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast#30 Hiking with Autoimmunity: Mija Dropulić on Travelling with Lupus and Learning to Love Yourself (Volim Sebe)Wondering if you will ever hike again? Host Emily Johnson welcomes Mija Dropulić, Croatian journalist, editor, and storyteller with 20 years' experience in media/travel/lifestyle and the founder of Under Dream Skies.Mija lives with two autoimmune diseases, Sjögren's syndrome and lupus, and shares her journey of navigating chronic illness while figuring out how to hike, travel, and explore the outdoors. From a flare-up in Scotland, to rebuilding her strength, Mija opens up about diagnosis, daily reality, and the lifestyle shifts that have helped her. Whether you live with arthritis, lupus, or autoimmunity, this episode reminds you to love yourself again.Topics covered:Living with Invisible IllnessTwo Diagnoses Navigating Sjögren's and lupus'Box of Chocolates' Different flare-upsYou Don't Look Sick How to navigate thisRebuilding the Body and MindComing Back to Self From her lowest point to a multi-day hikeAnti-Inflammatory Living Diet, sleep, movement, finding triggersTrusting Your Body But knowing rest is not failureFinding Connection and JoyCommunity Feeling less alone via social mediaHealing Outdoors Forests, fresh air, and feeling humanVolim Sebe Putting yourself first as an act of careAbout the podcast:With a focus on reducing inflammation and improving daily life, this podcast features expert interviews, science-backed strategies, and real stories from people living with all types of arthritis.Emily combines her 12+ years of lived experience and insights from healthcare professionals to offer practical, encouraging steps that help you feel healthier, happier, and less alone when living with arthritis.Emily is a bestselling author, certified coach, and founder of Live Well with Arthritis.Episode Links:Live Well with Arthritis Programme Waitlist: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/waitlistFREE Workbook: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/signup-free-downloadMija Dropulić @mijadInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mijadWebsite: https://www.underdreamskies.comEmily Johnson @ArthritisFoodieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthritisfoodie/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arthritisfoodieFurther Resources: https://linktr.ee/arthritisfoodie

Episode 29: The Live Well with Arthritis Podcast#29 Your Body Isn't Your Enemy: Lily Earle on Rewiring Chronic PainEver felt like you are at war with your body? This episode is for you. Host Emily Johnson welcomes Lily Earle, a life and chronic pain coach, creator of the Regrow podcast, and Making Sense of Chronic Pain masterclass.Lily works with those who have been uprooted by chronic pain, helping them to trust their bodies again and build a life bigger than their symptoms. Drawing on the latest pain neuroscience alongside her own lived experience of navigating a chronic migraine and six diagnoses, Lily shares the brain training and nervous system tools that drove her recovery. Whether you live with arthritis, fibromyalgia, or any persistent pain condition, this episode offers practical, science-backed strategies to break the fear-pain cycle and rebuild your relationship with your body.Topics covered:Rethinking Chronic PainAcute vs Chronic Why they need different approachesNeuroplastic Pain Brain producing pain in absence of damageFear-Pain Cycle How this can fuel symptomsThe Brain Training ToolkitThe Safety Stack Lily’s signature regulation toolsInner Cheerleader Rewriting the way you talk to yourselfMindfulness in Flares Calming the nervous systemBuilding a Bigger LifeRebuilding Trust with your bodyUprooted to Regrown Lily’s own storyWhole-Person Healing Why it mattersAbout the podcast:With a focus on reducing inflammation and improving daily life, this podcast features expert interviews, science-backed strategies, and real stories from people living with all types of arthritis.Emily combines her 12+ years of lived experience and insights from healthcare professionals to offer practical, encouraging steps that help you feel healthier, happier, and less alone when living with arthritis.Emily is a bestselling author, certified coach, and founder of Live Well with Arthritis.Episode Links:Live Well with Arthritis Programme Waitlist: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/waitlistFREE Workbook: https://www.livewellwitharthritis.com/signup-free-downloadLily Earle @lilyearleofficialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilyearleofficial/Website: https://www.lilyearle.comEmily Johnson @ArthritisFoodie:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthritisfoodie/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arthritisfoodieFurther Resources: https://linktr.ee/arthritisfoodie