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Calling In Sick

Calling In Sick

Written by: Just Media
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 Welcome to the Calling in Sick, hosted by Alex Wildeson and produced by Just Media. On this podcast, Alex shares her unfiltered personal journey battling several autoimmune and chronic conditions including Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) Vasculitis, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) / Lupus, Endometriosis, and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). She also provides practical “how-to” guides, explores hot topics, and welcomes other warriors, medical professionals, advocates and creators on the show to shed light on the latest healing modalities, promising treatments, and myth bust popular misconceptions and trendy health hacks. Tune in for some laughs, tears, and growth… but stay for the camaraderie and community. You can engage with Alex and the community through social media @callinginsickpod. We promise, you don’t need a doctor’s note for this one! Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • How Chronic Illness Redefines What Actually Matters, with Tara Rule

    How Chronic Illness Redefines What Actually Matters, with Tara Rule
    Jan 12 2026
    This week on Calling in Sick, I’m joined by actor, content creator, and disability rights advocate Tara Rule for an honest, existential conversation about what happens when you come face-to-face with your own mortality… and decide to stop waiting for permission to live. Tara and I talk about how chronic illness forces so many of us to grow up early, reckon with uncertainty, and hit emotional rock bottom. And that from those experiences and downward spirals, you can come to realize that we have nothing to lose by finally chasing the lives and creative careers we want. From content creation to acting, we explore why so many chronically ill people end up in creative spaces, and how “rock bottom” often becomes a strange kind of launch point. We also unpack the full spectrum of chronic illness content… from crash-out creators to toxic positivity… and why all of it matters. Because the chronic illness journey isn’t linear, and neither is healing, ambition, or success. This episode is about holding gratitude for simply being here today and allowing yourself to want more. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s something you’re no longer waiting for permission to want? Substack EXCLUSIVES! This week, only our Substack subscribers will hear our two cents on what we would have changed in our early diagnosis days, when we knew it was time to quit our 9-5 jobs, and how I’m preparing to make motherhood more sustainable and accessible with chronic illness. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:01:01 Alex Catch Up 00:04:17 Episode Sneak Peak Housekeeping, and Substack Info 00:06:17 Alex’s Picks (Sacheu Lip Liner & Thrive Causemetics) Tara Rule is Calling in Sick: 00:08:27 Intro to Tara 00:15:45 Tara’s career shifts (mortuary school, content creating, acting) 00:17:27 How a near death experience changed EVERYTHING 00:32:09 Why it’s important to have different voices that paint the full picture of chronic illness 00:37:45 How Tara handles masking (or not masking) chronic illness for her career 00:42:40 Why is there SUCH a pipeline for chronic illness fighters to the creative space 00: 45:35 The fear of flaring versus the fear of disappointing others 00:47:16 How powerful our brains are 00:50:07 Navigating redefining success with a chronic illness Conclusion: 00:58:13 One Brain Cell Show (Stranger Things (Netflix), Telepathy Tapes (Spotify); Haunted Hotel (Netflix) and Heated Rivalry (Prime)) 01:03:16 Thank you for listening!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Stay connected and follow us on socials for more! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568 • Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: My go to passive wellness picks, in food form!! ✨Sacheu Lip Liner — https://go.shopmy.us/p-38126238 —> ALEXANDRA15 for 15% off ✨Thrive Causemetic’s Plumping Lip gloss — https://go.shopmy.us/p-38126276 Connect with Tara Rule • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tara_rule_/?hl=en\ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@tara_rule #ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #DisabilityAwareness #ChronicPain #RedefiningSuccess #LifeAfterDiagnosis #WorkingWithChronicIllness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #SickGirlSoftLiving #SoftLiving #tararule #neardeathexperience #rockbottom #lifepivots Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Ask Alex: The Chronic Illness Questions Everyone is Afraid to Ask

    Ask Alex: The Chronic Illness Questions Everyone is Afraid to Ask
    Jan 5 2026
    Happy New Year my lovies!!! In honor of the new year, I’m officially launching a new podcast segment… Ask Alex! Every week (yes, even during guest episodes!), we’ll post the upcoming podcast topic (and guest) to our Substack and ask our subscribers to submit questions. I’ll answer a handful of these on the podcast each week, and the rest of the Q&A will live exclusively on Substack. For this first Ask Alex episode, I’m tackling some of most requested questions… like what are my actual routines like, how I make medication decisions, what to do about medical finances and debt, and how to communicate boundaries and symptoms to those that *just don’t get it*. Substack EXCLUSIVES! This week, only our Substack subscribers will hear my two cents on micro-dosing and how to know when it might be time to consider long-term disability. I’ve been so excited to bring this segment to life. It’s my little way of saying thank you… for your support, your vulnerability, your questions, and for trusting me with your stories this past year. This community means everything to me, and I can’t wait to keep building this space together in 2026. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: So have you subscribed to our Substack now!? Subscribe to our Substack here: ⁠https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?⁠ TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:02:58 My REALLY BIG life update!!!! 00:07:52 Alex’s Picks (AG1 and Ella’s Flats) Ask Alex Q&A: 00:09:09 Tips on being the best caregiver 00:11:52 Are we doing an IRL meet up?! 00:12:38 GLP-1s and peptides for inflammation 00:13:21 How to stay on track with routines when you’re homebound 00:15:12 My low spoon, under 10-minute skincare, makeup and haircare routine 00:16:40 The things I grieved the most after my diagnosis 00:19:17 Finances & communicating budgets to our loved ones 00:21:18 Explaining boundaries and symptoms to those that do NOT understand 00:23:06 When to use disability aids (parking placard, cane, walker, etc.) 00:24:14 New Years guilt & feeling stuck in the same place as last year 00:26:30 How I *actually* motivate myself to physically get out of bed in the morning 00:28:24 How I decide to take (or not take) medications 00:29:41 My top tips for advocating at the ER (especially when we have trauma!!) Conclusion: 00:31:27 One Brain Cell Show 00:33:18 Thank you for listening!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Stay connected and follow us on socials for more! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568 • Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: My go to passive wellness picks, in food form!! ✨AG1 — https://go.shopmy.us/p-37437789 ✨Ella’s Flats — https://go.shopmy.us/p-37437898 —> ALEXANDRAWILDESON15 for 15% off #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicPain #HealthJourney #DisabilityAwareness #flareup #ChronicIllnessSupport #WorkingWithChronicIllness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #SoftLiving #NewYearDifferentRules #AskAlex #QuestionandAnswer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • Making Invisible Illness Visible: Sara Levitt Walks the Runway with an Ostomy Bag

    Making Invisible Illness Visible: Sara Levitt Walks the Runway with an Ostomy Bag
    Dec 29 2025
    This week on Calling in Sick, we’re talking about the terrifying and liberating shift from hiding your illness to letting the world see it. I’m joined by the incredible Sara Levitt, a Crohn’s warrior, Ostomy advocate, model, and creator who lived privately with her Ostomy for 15 years… before deciding that invisibility wasn’t serving her anymore. Today, she takes up space… in fashion shows, brand campaigns, magazines, and online, challenging stigma by simply existing visibly, confidently, and honestly. We dive into: ✨ What going public with your illness REALLY feels like ✨ Imposter syndrome & identity shifts when sickness becomes visible ✨ The critics, misconceptions, and assumptions we all endure ✨ Why storytelling is activism, even when it’s hard If you’ve ever worried about being “too sick” or “not sick enough” to be believed… this episode will encourage you to shop up however you want, however you are. xx, Alex Comment: What’s one part of your illness that feels hardest to make visible? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:02:13 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Mayfair & Tilt) Get to know Sara Levitt: 00:03:03 Intro to Sara Levitt (Crohn’s warrior, Ostomy advocate, model, and creator ) 00:12:43 Why we went into content creation and chronic illness advocacy work 00:23:40 What it’s like to work with brands that work to amplify voices with chronic illness 00:26:26 Finding confidence while working as a model with chronic illness 00:33:33 Navigating the pressure of advocacy work within the chronic illness community 00:44:24 Finding confidence, a sense of self-worth, positivity and hope despite chronic illness Conclusion: 00:51:30 One Brain Cell Show: Gossip Girl!!! 00:57:06 Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Stay connected and follow us on socials for more! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568 • Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: This week, I’m picking brands that help make the invisible, visible by celebrating disability, chronic illness and mental health, instead of showcasing. ✨Mayfair — https://go.shopmy.us/p-31914468 Use code ALEXANDRA15 for 15% off! ✨Tilt — https://go.shopmy.us/p-30221469 Use code ALEXANDRA20 for 20% off! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with our Guest, Sara Levitt: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/saralevs/?hl=en • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@saralevitt?lang=en #ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #OstomyLife #CrohnsDisease #IBDWarrior #DynamicDisability #MedicalGaslighting #BodyNeutrality #DisabilityAdvocate #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #ChronicPain #SpoonieSupport #HealthJourney #SelfAdvocacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 4 mins
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