Flared Up & Unfiltered is the podcast where chronic illness meets real life — and nothing is sugar-coated.
Hosted by people who actually live it, this show dives headfirst into the messy, frustrating, hilarious, and brutally honest realities of chronic illness and disability. From symptom flares and hospital appointments to the ridiculous things people say (“but you don’t look sick…”) — we talk about it all.
But we don’t stop there.
Because life doesn’t only happen in waiting rooms.
We also get into friendships, relationships, parenting, work, mental health, social media, navigating a world that isn’t built for you, and the everyday chaos that everyone deals with — whether they’re chronically ill or not.
Some episodes are raw.
Some are funny.
Some might make you feel deeply seen.
All of them are unfiltered.
Expect dark humour, honest conversations, real experiences, occasional swearing, and zero toxic positivity. We believe you can hold grief and laughter in the same breath. We believe disabled voices deserve space without being softened or sanitised. And we believe that sometimes the best medicine is saying the quiet part out loud.
If you live with chronic illness, love someone who does, work in healthcare, or just want real conversations about real life without the polished Instagram filter — this podcast is for you.
No pretending.
No inspirational clichés.
Just real talk from people who get it.
Welcome to Flared Up & Unfiltered — where the symptoms might flare, but so do the opinions.
The podcast episode explores the celebration of neurodivergency, personal experiences and diagnoses, as well as the challenges and misconceptions surrounding neurodivergency. The hosts share their insights and experiences, shedding light on the diverse aspects of this topic. The conversation covers topics such as vaccine misinformation and myths, the use of fidgets and sensory aids, the benefits of weighted blankets and sensory input, the challenges of sitting still and the importance of inclusivity, the recognition of neurodivergent individuals, and the significance of access cards and carer passports.
Takeaways
Neurodivergency celebration
Personal experiences and diagnoses
Challenges and misconceptions Misinformation and myths surrounding vaccines and autism
The importance of access cards and carer passports
Chapters
00:00 Challenges and Misconceptions
28:40 Vaccine Misinformation and Myths
35:08 Weighted Blankets and Sensory Input
41:50 Access Cards and Carer Passports
9 Mar 2026
Flared Up & Unfiltered - Ep4
The conversation explores the themes of setting boundaries and asserting rights in interpersonal interactions, as well as the balance between honesty and kindness in communication. It delves into scenarios where individuals confront situations that challenge their personal boundaries and the importance of honest communication while considering the impact of one's words on others. The conversation covers the challenges of dealing with family expectations and understanding when managing chronic illness, specifically fibromyalgia. It also highlights the importance of prioritizing health over social events and the need for community engagement and feedback for future podcast episodes.
Takeaways
Setting Boundaries
Honesty vs Kindness Family understanding of chronic illness
Choosing health over social events
Chapters
00:00 Setting Boundaries and Asserting Rights
08:27 Honesty vs Kindness in Communication
25:06 Sister's Birthday Drama
35:23 Community Engagement and Feedback
26 Feb 2026
Flared Up & Unfiltered - Ep 3
The episode begins with an introduction and discussion of the episode's structure. The conversation then delves into the invisible nature of chronic illness, the invalidating nature of comparing illnesses, the misunderstanding of chronic fatigue syndrome, and misconceptions about age and illness. The takeaways include the invisible nature of chronic illness and the invalidating nature of comparing illnesses. The conversation delves into the challenges of living with chronic pain, the impact of misconceptions and ignorance surrounding chronic illness, and the pressure and expectations faced during active treatment. It also highlights the importance of community engagement and feedback in creating a supportive environment for those with chronic illness.
Takeaways
Invisible nature of chronic illness
Comparing illnesses is invalidating Chronic pain and its impact on daily life
Misconceptions and ignorance surrounding chronic illness
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Episode Structure
07:28 "You're Probably Just Tired" - Misunderstanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
16:30 "You're So Young" - Misconceptions About Age and Illness
24:18 The Overload of Chronic Pain
32:36 Pressure and Expectations in Active Treatment
43:24 Medication Misconceptions
26 Feb 2026
Flared Up & Unfiltered - Ep 2
The conversation delves into various aspects of mental health, including the distinction between mental health and mental illness, the impact of sleep on mental and emotional well-being, the influence of childhood experiences on mental health, the treatment of mental health vs. physical health in society, and the influence of social media on self-esteem and emotional health. The conversation delves into the impact of social media on mental health, highlighting both the negative and positive effects. It also explores the role of friends in providing mental health support and the importance of normalizing mental health days as part of overall well-being.
Takeaways
Mental Health vs. Mental Illness
Impact of Sleep on Mental and Emotional Well-being
Childhood Experiences and Mental Health
Treatment of Mental Health vs. Physical Health in Society
Influence of Social Media on Self-esteem and Emotional Health Impact of social media on mental health
Importance of mental health days
Chapters
00:00 Influence of Social Media on Self-esteem and Emotional Health
35:18 Role of Friends in Mental Health Support
43:41 Normalizing Mental Health Days
26 Feb 2026
Flared Up & Unfiltered - Ep 1
The podcast introduces the hosts and their focus on chronic illness and disability. They discuss the themes and topics of the podcast, define the meaning of 'Flared Up & Unfiltered,' explore the F.L.A.R.E.D. Up acronym, and delve into the unseen and persistent challenges of chronic illness. The hosts share their personal introductions, experiences with recurring struggles, and discuss their diagnosis experiences, highlighting the challenges of navigating the healthcare system. The conversation delves into the challenges of medical diagnosis, misinterpretation of symptoms, and the impact of misdiagnosis on the individual's health journey. It also highlights the importance of support systems, coping mechanisms, and the role of humor in dealing with health challenges.
Takeaways
Chronic illness and disability impact daily life
Navigating the healthcare system can be challenging Challenges with medical diagnosis
Support and coping mechanisms
Chapters
00:00 Navigating the Healthcare System
28:24 Misdiagnosis and Weight Stigma
34:06 Challenges with Diagnosis and Treatment Decisions
39:13 Impact of Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Journey
44:20 Coping with Grief and Illness
50:02 Coping with Medical Procedures and Treatment
Contact Flared Up & Unfiltered
Guest appearances
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