Falling asleep is easy—until it becomes the hardest part of your day. Recorded live in Toronto, this episode dives into the unpredictable world of narcolepsy type 1 with Heather, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner living with both narcolepsy and cataplexy. From sleep-deprived misdiagnoses to lucid hallucinations and arms that give out mid-laugh, Heather walks us through the reality behind the disorder’s misunderstood pop culture image. She opens up about losing her spontaneity, finding community, and redefining rest, all while navigating a healthcare system still catching up. It’s funny, eye-opening, and more than a little dreamlike.

When the map doesn’t match the terrain, sometimes you just make your own path. Natalia Bartlomowicz was born with a rare congenital condition so unique it doesn’t even have a name—just a stack of medical files and a body doctors still can’t quite predict. In this episode, she opens up about navigating childhood surgeries, a 16-hour operation in Boston, and the emotional toll of being called a “medical mystery.” From discovering she has two uteri to building a safe space for youth with chronic illness, Natalia’s story is one of resilience, radical self-advocacy, and finding strength in the unexpected. She talks dating, dignity, and how the healthcare system can better treat patients as people. It’s a heartfelt ride through one woman’s no-name diagnosis—and the superpower she’s made of it.

Links:

together-we-thrive.ca

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You can’t outgrow puberty—but maybe we can outlearn how we teach it. This week, Jer and Tay explore a topic often overlooked: puberty education for youth with disabilities. Social worker and doctoral student Jennalyn Suda breaks down how trauma-informed frameworks can radically reshape how we approach this formative stage, especially for students who face additional barriers. From the sensory challenges of menstruation to the cultural and cognitive complexities that shape understanding, Jennalyn sheds light on the gaps in traditional education. The boys dive into awkward memories, laugh about the lessons they never learned, and highlight how shifting the conversation from shame to empowerment might just be the change we need.

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When you go in for testicular cancer surgery, do they offer you a scrotal facelift while they're down there? We ask the important questions. This week is a wild ride through Taaha's diagnosis in grade 12. Taha talks about the pressure to be strong for his family, how the other testicle "kicks up into overdrive" to pick up the slack, and the incredible nurses who inspired him to change his life's path. Now a registered nurse and a fierce advocate for the Canadian Cancer Society, Taaha is using his experience to help others and expose the staggering out-of-pocket costs that come with our "free" healthcare system.

You can watch this entire episode over on YouTube.

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When the cost of survival outweighs the cost of death, something has gone deeply wrong. In this sobering and eye-opening episode, Mitch, living with cerebral palsy and chronic pain, shares his harrowing journey through a Canadian healthcare and social system that he argues is failing its disabled citizens. From the challenges of inadequate education and inaccessible post-secondary programs, to the emotional toll of societal stigma and the bureaucratic obstacles in pursuing intimacy, Mitch exposes the gaps that leave many disabled individuals isolated, under-resourced, and overlooked. He bravely discusses everything from systemic failures and addiction to sex work and survival strategies — reminding us how much dignity and independence are shaped by equity, not charity.

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Some people get nine lives. Others get nine surgeries and still walk taller. This week, Ray shares a gripping story that starts with a motorcycle crash at 19 and unfolds into a series of life-altering events: a traumatic brain injury, a delayed cancer diagnosis, and the unexpected grief of infertility. Through it all, Ray finds his way—first back to school, then into the world of horseshoeing and prosthetics, and eventually into the complex terrain of emotional healing. Buckle up folks. This is a raw and thoughtful conversation about masculinity, resilience, and what it means to keep showing up, even when life keeps changing the map.

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American men are in a friendship recession. Compared to a few decades ago, five times as many men have no close friends. So what’s going on? In this episode of Embodied, host Anita Rao talks with Mark Pagán, creator and host of the podcast “Other Men Need Help,” about what makes close friendships among men so fraught — and what we can do about it. They talk about everything from why Mark loves secret handshakes to his ongoing journey of making himself say the hard stuff out loud.

Meet the guest: Mark Pagán is the creator and host of the podcast "Other Men Need Help" and writes the substack "Other Men" Read the transcript. More episodes of Embodied are available here: https://www.wunc.org/show/embodied