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What happens when chronic illness forces you to prioritize your life’s passions? In this conversation, Rachel Katz interviews Erica Vipond, a fiction writer diagnosed with a nerve-affecting autoimmune condition, to explore how these challenges reshaped her creative priorities. Erica shares how her chronic pain led her to let go of less vital pursuits, like a magazine she created, to focus solely on writing—her lifelong passion. Us type A-s know how hard it is to let go of a goal, right? Sometimes it’s just what we need to do to adjust to a new reality. This is the story of how Erica did just that.

Erica's info:

• Website: EricaVipond.com
• Instagram: @EricaVipondAuthor_
• Substack newsletter: https://ericavipondauthor.substack.com/
• Her book, Starling Darling, will officially publish in October but pre-order announcements will be shared through my Substack in September.

🔥 Rachel's Substack, Inner Workings: https://raekatz.substack.com/

✨ Ladies Illness Library written interviews: https://raekatz.substack.com/s/ladies-illness-library

🎶Music "Upbeat Defiant Challenge Funky Groove" by Uroboros Music, licensed through Audio Jungle

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If you're sick of the one-size-fits-all approach to managing illness, Emma Simpson's story will resonate with you. This conversation encourages us to reject the pressure to adhere to conventional wellness practices and instead personalize our routines–a huge relief when there are so many “shoulds” around.

Emma has always been a remarkably ambitious woman but she had to leave her career as an Air Traffic Controller due to chronic illness. During this drastic life shift, Emma turned to open water swimming and writing. Host Rachel Katz and Emma talk about how she was able to do this all while being the primary breadwinner and raising young children. As she says in the conversation, slowing down wasn’t the path for her but finding balance was.

Emma’s info:

• Substack: Lemon Soul
• Book: Breaking Waves
• Instagram: @emmasimpsonauthor

🔥 Rachel's Substack, Inner Workings: https://raekatz.substack.com/

✨ Ladies Illness Library written interviews: https://raekatz.substack.com/s/ladies-illness-library

🎶Music "Upbeat Defiant Challenge Funky Groove" by Uroboros Music, licensed through Audio Jungle

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Ever feel like you're battling some kind of weird, unexplainable health issue that even doctors can't seem to get a grip on? Writer and influencer Sara Tasker gets refreshingly honest about her decades-long journey with chronic fatigue, narcolepsy, dysautonomia, and a whole mess of other “invisible illnesses.” She also opens up about having to completely redefine her idea of success and fulfillment. Despite all the difficulties, Sara shares with us her delightful humor and a new type of hope for the future.

Sara’s info:

• Substack: https://meandorla.substack.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/me_and_orla/
• Book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40537617-hashtag-authentic
• Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gc2VaQoB1vfJn3VN2rudj
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SaraTaskerme

🔥 Rachel's Substack, Inner Workings: https://raekatz.substack.com/

✨ Ladies Illness Library written interviews: https://raekatz.substack.com/s/ladies-illness-library

🎶Music "Upbeat Defiant Challenge Funky Groove" by Uroboros Music, licensed through Audio Jungle