We look squarely at the invisible load of caring for people with Long Covid and ME/CFS, why carers’ nervous systems shape recovery, and how boundaries and communication protect both sides. We share clear, humane steps that reduce burnout and build co‑regulation at home.

• Defining the carer role across partners, parents and adult children
• Why caring is invisible, isolating and exhausting
• Boundaries that prevent “fixing” and conflict
• Fluctuating illness, hypervigilance and control
• Co‑regulation and why a calm carer accelerates recovery
• Practical resets that aren’t a self‑care to‑do list
• Sharing the care, advocacy and admin load
• Vicarious trauma in carers and how to spot it
• Simple communication that honours both sets of needs
• Giving and receiving grace while recovery unfolds

Links:

Connect with Nadyne: https://nadynemckie.co.uk/how-I-can-help-you

Our previous episodes:

"Embracing Kindness" https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/15968082

"Empowering through Compassion & Play" https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/16104655

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

www.LongCovidPodcast.com
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Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

I talk with author Simon Harrison about losing an active life to ME, finding a diagnosis, and rebuilding health through pacing, meditation, and a bold year seeking light in Portugal. The story is honest about setbacks and fierce about hope, with practical lessons you can apply today.

• early denial and sudden onset symptoms
• shrinking life, sensory overload, fear
• self-experimentation with meditation, breathwork, gentle movement
• diagnosis of ME/CFS and reframing recovery
• pacing, window of tolerance, damage limitation
• why more light and a change of scene helped
• recalibrating normal tiredness vs post-exertional malaise
• progress through small wins, mistakes, and self-kindness
• support from family and the cost of care
• hope as a practice and incremental gains

Connect with Simon at https://thrivemindfulness.co.uk/ where he also works with those with fatigue-related conditions.

"Leaving ME Behind" can be found here

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook Instagram Twitter
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

We explore how the vagus nerve shapes recovery from Long Covid and chronic fatigue, and why building parasympathetic tone changes sleep, digestion, pain, and mood. Carissa Conrad shares clear guidance on non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation, safe pacing, and common mistakes to avoid.

• what the vagus nerve does across heart, gut, immune and inflammation
• why sympathetic overdrive feels normal and how to spot it
• paced breathing, humming and gentle tools to build vagal tone
• what vagus nerve stimulation means and how it works
• TENS versus ultrasound, ear and neck targets, parameter basics
• passive stimulation to support busy days and low energy
• go slow: dosage, safety, and early warning signs
• using polyvagal maps to time stimulation and pacing
• avoiding boom‑and‑bust while expanding activity
• cost‑effective access, kits, and practical set‑up
• the mindset shift: nervous system literacy for life

Links:

Carissa's website: carissaconraddpt.com

YouTube: @theVagusnervePT

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook Instagram Twitter
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

We map a clear path from medical leave to meaningful work, sharing the five-stage Career and Chronic framework and the skills that turn lived experience into authentic leadership. Practical scripts, capacity tools, and boundary strategies make work humane and sustainable.

• What career means when health reshapes life
• The five stages: off-ramp, on-ramp, the new, test and redesign, authentic leadership
• Emotional skills for the bed-based phase
• Boundaries without apology or battle
• Baseline versus optimal capacity and how to communicate both
• Reducing emotional labour at work and home
• Why these skills create trusted, empathetic leaders
• The chronic economy and the future of human capacity at work

Links:

Our previous episode - the emotional map: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/13541520

Connect with Michelle:

http://careerandchronicillness.com/

https://www.chronicillnessatwork.com/

Career and Chronic Map: https://www.careerandchronic.com/career-map

The Cocoon (when not working): https://www.careerandchronic.com/the-cocoon

Work & Leadership Series https://www.careerandchronic.com/chronicleadership (Feb 2026)

Ambition Program (discussed in episode) https://www.careerandchronic.com/ambition

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook Instagram Twitter
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

I sit down with Lily Spechler, a registered dietitian and long hauler, to unpack why weight change in Long Covid is a metabolic story, not a willpower issue. We map a safer path: fuel first, stabilise blood sugar and blood flow, then make tiny adjustments that your body can tolerate.

• Adding 10–15% above BMR to halt weight gain and calm stress signals
• Glucose spikes from standing and why compression and electrolytes help
• Why cutting calories can worsen dysautonomia and fatigue
• Protein-forward plates with modest carbs to flatten swings
• When weight loss is medically useful in MCAS, hypermobility and sleep apnoea
• Stabilise first, then small deficits from added calories
• Safe strategies for unintentional weight loss using high calorie, low volume foods
• Using CGMs to link symptoms to glucose patterns
• Practical supports: salt, fluids, compression, pacing and low histamine choices

Links:

Connect with Lily: https://www.longcoviddietitian.com/services-5
Our previous episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/14847447

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook Instagram Twitter
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

Welcome to a milestone episode! In the 200th episode of the Long Covid Podcast, Jackie Baxter rings in 2026 by sharing personal reflections on the journey so far and the evolution of the podcast from its origins during her own recovery from Long Covid.

Jackie explores:

• Lessons learned from recovery, including resilience, adapting to life’s unpredictability, and the importance of grace in setbacks.
• The difference between goals and intentions, with practical, science-backed advice on setting gentle, adaptable intentions to support healing and emotional well-being.
• A guided exercise to help you set your own intention for the day, with tips on grounding your intention and celebrating even small shifts.
• Gratitude for the vibrant community of listeners, guests, and supporters who have accompanied the podcast on this journey.

Plus:

• Jackie discusses the science behind intentions—how they can help filter what matters, regulate emotions, and encourage sustainable habits.
• She encourages listeners to reflect on and share their own intentions for the new year.

Action Items:

• Be sure to check the links below for free Insight Timer tracks for intention setting.
• Stay tuned for more inspiring guests and stories in upcoming episodes.

Thank you for being part of this journey! I wish you all a gentle January and a joyful 2026.

Connect:

• Share your intentions or feedback by commenting on social media, sending fan mail, or emailing via the links below.

Links:

• Setting an Intention for Healing (nature sounds): https://insig.ht/HtxqFUsWTZb
• Setting an Intention for Healing - shorter version with music): https://insig.ht/fcqF48xWTZb
• Quick intention setting (with gentle music): https://insig.ht/dPxkBUlWTZb

Subscribe for weekly episodes and join our community of support, learning, and shared humanity.

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook Instagram Twitter
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

Creativity doesn’t just reflect our lives; it reshapes them when everything else feels fixed. I close the year by handing the mic to artists, writers, and makers whose work was forged in the long shadow of Long Covid & ME/CFS —and whose voices light the way forward.

If you’ve been searching for proof that small creative acts matter, this collection is your sign. If a line, chord, or colour stayed with you, let me know which moment moved you most.

If you'd like to be part of next year's episode, get in touch!

Links:

Website Creativity Page

Join "Long Covid & ME/CFS Healing through Creativity" FB group

Kirsten Mallyon Website Substack Insta & FB

Fiona Lehn Website

Mateo - "Covid is Stoopid"

Long Covid Kids Choir Rollercoaster video

Paula Insta

Jasmine Laws Portfolio & Opening Extract

Gerben's documentary about grief & song video

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook Instagram Twitter
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

We go from theory to practice on beliefs and recovery, building a daily framework that protects mindset, reduces flare spirals, and turns small wins into lasting change. Practical tools include proof journaling, identity shifts, nervous system regulation, and curating what you let in.

• building a symptom and activity proof journal
• reframing setbacks as feedback not failure
• identity-based habits to support healing
• managing physiology first with breath
• countering nocebo and fear narratives
• curating social media and inputs
• progress not perfection through tiny choices
• making recovery actions feel good to repeat
• faster bouncebacks and long-term resilience

Part 1 of this discussion is HERE

Links:

CFS Recovery Stories: https://cfsunravelled.com/me-cfs-recovery-stories-patient-me-cfs-stories-with-a-difference/

ANS REWIRE Free Lessons: https://ansrewire.com/info-request/

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

Support the show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costs

Transcripts available on individual episodes here

www.LongCovidPodcast.com
Facebook Instagram Twitter
Facebook Creativity Group
Subscribe to mailing list

I love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com

**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**