Colitis Unfiltered

In this episode of the Talking Sh*t podcast, I sit down with Dr. Kelli DuBois, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 22, following months of hidden bleeding, escalating pain and one humiliating ER visit. Newly married and caring for a one-year-old, she had to navigate a disease she’d never heard of and a medical system that didn’t prepare her for what life with IBD would really mean.Kelli opens up about the emotional fallout that followed. She talks through the years of failed medications, cycles of hope and disappointment, the guilt of parenting through illness, and the deeply isolating instinct to suffer in silence. She shares how exercise, education and a brutally honest look at her own coping patterns finally pushed her toward small, sustainable changes that rebuilt her confidence and helped her reclaim parts of her life she thought were gone for good.Now in long-term remission, Kelli reflects on the fear of losing it, the compassion her illness carved into her, and the pressure of rebuilding identity after trauma. She also explains the turning point that led her to speak openly about her disease, pursue a PhD focused on IBD self-management, and ultimately devote her work to coaching others who feel lost in the space between doctor’s appointments.For more on ulcerative colitis, IBD and chronic illness, check out colitisunfiltered.com

In this episode of the Talking Sh*t podcast, I speak with Yasmin, who didn’t expect her gut to become the biggest disruptor when she relocated to Los Angeles. We dive into her powerful and personal journey from the lab to the hospital.Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease on her 31st birthday, Yasmin opens up about the rapid unraveling of her health, the emotional toll of living with an invisible illness, and the road to reclaiming her life with clarity and purpose.Yasmin is a passionate immunologist, and we also dive deeper into biologics, autoimmunity, the future of IBD treatments, and the hope for a potential cure. This is an episode you definitely do not want to miss.For more on colitis, IBD and chronic illness, check out colitisunfiltered.com

In episode 3 of the Talking Sh*t podcast, I speak with Nadia, who shares her journey of living with ulcerative colitis since age 15.Years after managing her disease, Nadia got diagnosed with colorectal cancer, which led to an inevitable surgery. Nadia and I dive into what life is like with an ostomy.Nadia also discusses the emotional and physical challenges of managing IBD, the importance of patient advocacy, and the support she found through online communities. She emphasizes the need for awareness and understanding of IBD, the misconceptions surrounding it, and her hope for a future cure.

In this first episode of the Talking Sh*t podcast, we speak with Melissa, who shares her personal journey with ulcerative colitis, from her diagnosis at age 46 to her current state of remission.Doctors wanted to remove her colon. Melissa refused. We discuss the challenges of navigating the healthcare system, the importance of finding the right specialist, and the various treatments Melissa underwent.The conversation also touches on the mental and emotional aspects of living with IBD, the impact on relationships, and the significance of lifestyle changes in managing the disease.