Lupus in Community

About Lupus in Community

The Lupus in Community Podcast is a supportive space for people living with lupus, caregivers, advocates, and anyone walking alongside the lupus community. Through honest conversations, real-life stories, and simple health education, we explore what it truly means to navigate lupus day by day. Each episode covers topics like flares, symptoms, mental health, wellness, relationships, faith, advocacy, navigating healthcare, and caring for the whole person — mind, body, and spirit. You’ll hear from people living with lupus, caregivers, health professionals, and community voices sharing practical insight, encouragement, and hope. This podcast exists to help you feel seen, supported, informed, and stronger — because no one should navigate lupus alone.

Publisher

Fatimah B. Ali

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 May 2026

Latest episode

26 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Oct 2026

   More Than the Eyes Can See: Lupus, Stroke, and the Need to Be Believed

   More Than What You Can See: Lupus, Stroke, and the Need to Be Believed Description Lupus can look quiet. Someone can be showing up, smiling, getting through the day, with a history behind it that no one sees. This week, Dr. Fatimah Ali talks with Harmonie about the gap between how lupus looks and what it has risked. Harmonie lives with lupus at a low disease activity level and with a disability from a stroke. She shares what life looked like before her diagnosis at 34, what happened when lupus cerebritis affected her central nervous system, and what changed afterward: her career, her marriage, and how strangers read her. She also talks about finding Stroke Buddies, a support group for stroke survivors, and what she wishes people understood without having to ask. This episode is part of our October theme, Invisible Does Not Equal Mild. Read the companion essay and join the conversation on Substack: https://substack.com/@lupusincommunity (https://substack.com/@lupusincommunity) Learn more about Stroke Buddies: https://www.strokebuddies.org/ (https://www.strokebuddies.org/) Content note: this episode includes discussion of stroke, pregnancy loss, and divorce. This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult your healthcare team before making changes to your treatment, lifestyle, or self-care routine.

2. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Diagnosed and Overwhelmed

   Diagnosed and Overwhelmed: LaShawnda's Story Months of fatigue, joint pain, and hair loss, and no answers. LaShawnda, a mother of four and a dental assistant, had always been the one who never got sick, so when her body changed, she knew something was wrong. In this episode, Fatimah talks with LaShawnda about what it takes to be heard when doctors can't find the cause. She shares how she researched her own symptoms, brought her findings to her care team, and kept pushing until she got a diagnosis. She talks about the mix of relief and "why now?" that came with it, and what it's like to take medication every day when you never had to before. If you're in the stretch before a diagnosis, or just after one, this conversation is for you. You can find LaShawnda Bowman on Instagram and Facebook as LaShawnda Bowman.

3. 

   1 Sept 2026

   Building Strong Bones Through Chronic Illness

   In this special livestream replay, Fatimah Ali of Lupus in Community joins bone health educator Candy Price to discuss building strong bones while living with lupus and other chronic illnesses. They explore prednisone and bone-loss risk, vitamin D and sun safety, fatigue and rest, plus accessible strength, balance, and fall-prevention strategies. transcript_2026-08-31T19_17_36.961Z.txt (https://ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/web/direct-files/attachments/93605510/bf7116dd-63c3-4c32-b443-c2942c6cec5f/transcript_2026-08-31T19_17_36.961Z.txt?AWSAccessKeyId=ASIA2F3EMEYEYCP4TCWI&Signature=gdxxt%2F344J6oX%2BjsdI6Advuf%2BlY%3D&x-amz-security-token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjENf%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJHMEUCIQDyLymg6XcJLVYby%2BAoJ2VKi68weIOoH%2Fv3FuYhsV4WnQIgAnuuLW8rS4rAZjeVEprurknK5EqsysJ9Y22CkBjCXqoq%2FAQIn%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARABGgw2OTk3NTMzMDk3MDUiDHkaal%2BAfYHtuZ%2F1ICrQBJKb62sO984guomFbCpGTeB4ujR1BfzKU4207FR1tRNVK6UtOu4YKmgsg9H4lVBopT2B3chZggFMD1yq%2FdkXiT2Qd%2BN8fOrc3xRt4kR0sejLSV9cKPxZwxg%2BJGPc4eLFNgrEZhlyptGXXMP4JnhIZOTZX9ztvn48Cg8CRBsdNSA0i69YGS%2Br8ol0AdQE%2B229b457iyeCUD0QEpiUXXLRmCSkeze98ly%2F1dhGjNb5p825n0OEZC8VSqTTzM9lX2ggRRc1o5ujNXbEv5XBD0tcxu6JrRM6dqnxI%2FushTDzVGqizG%2Bng91%2F5%2F%2BpnloXqS4V7peXBhth6cLv4ZETzB6xzj1HcG6s%2FErEMjSB%2BjVo5k5hVnAilN%2BhB13Typg5uz9kIodshMZkbbVbeUI5QydIwOsLG0z6kMzxF3cnwXLXxEzwqj6%2FZfM9l4lR3ocODVhgsqwRQ42vUmTO%2Fei2IMslGrYMkuD2WC3FlbU8pPi7h7Xd65Wnv11%2F0ooI%2Bo9lBa2W8k8SHTRmGieNyFOoOAEOtyu0YOtcbTD4g8KOr%2BxVdE73uDKEL70nyC2m4vux%2Bnvi5OCzRnjtzJPsNyK9c7tMZanv9ebKs7VxKGoNMgEGpgItT8tIjUV4wc2LZ%2FeN8TPX9R0fVy%2FoqGaC3EALdIqNYXyCKRcpYHoZebV9q9n8VQe0Xi6y%2Bk9jOT4DuhSMHbS5FBNvIdYSiThdKeI3NRJ%2BNpQUWFK669axAN%2BJWTfM2nsGJkaDP4YA7KJLTUQqN3QgK%2B8MnNsfT9J1CcI%2BuoH7lXQwwY3Y1AY6mAFi26dcy2wU1HDJv62BpLlo%2F2%2Fvb8AjnLpuG1%2BtqgTShVoGtCec%2FvqGzZRWpYklRejZZzMPNdjrSlGip3RI5LIfq%2Fo9InTEXJvByB6LEr%2FKLO91KQIWWgmMUOjpp%2FNw9KOYs06WSP5kXEqdZWZs1IjSMdatk5mEg0GqKj7ozY1odCuXdC03OeyYWdMZU0r65lNvmZCRyCsI9w%3D%3D&Expires=1788220564) For educational only; not individualized medical advice.

4. 

   16 Aug 2026

   Identity and Self-ConfidenceL What Happened after the Body Changed

   Episode description What happens to identity and self-confidence when illness changes the body? In this episode, Fatimah Ali is joined by Dr. Harriette Richard—psychologist, researcher, and three-time breast cancer survivor—for an honest conversation about illness, body changes, grief, visibility, and rebuilding a sense of self. Although their health journeys are different, Fatimah and Harriette share a familiar experience: learning how to navigate life when symptoms, scars, fatigue, mobility changes, treatment, or recovery affect how you see yourself—and how you believe others see you. Together, they explore: The grief of the “old you” Living with visible and invisible illness Self-confidence after scars, body changes, and altered ability Isolation, uncertainty, and feeling disconnected from former roles Faith, grounding, and emotional resilience Creativity and self-expression during recovery Post-traumatic growth without minimizing pain Hope and purpose while living with lupus, cancer survivorship, or chronic illness This episode is for anyone living with lupus, breast cancer, autoimmune disease, chronic illness, disability, or a health condition that has changed their relationship with their body and identity. Illness may change the body, but it does not erase your worth, voice, purpose, or capacity to become.

5. 

   17 Jul 2026

   Living Well, Not Perfectly With Autoimmune and Chronic Illness

   Living Well, Not Perfectly with Autoimmune and Chronic Illness | Featuring Simla Somturk What does it really mean to live well when your body doesn’t always cooperate? In this episode of the Lupus in Community Podcast, Dr. Fatimah Ali speaks with holistic nutrition and health coach Simla Somturk about redefining wellness while living with autoimmune disease and chronic illness. Together, they explore why wellness is not a fixed destination, but an evolving relationship with your body. They share personal experiences with lupus, autoimmune conditions, chronic fatigue, food sensitivities, and recovery, along with practical ways to support healing without chasing perfection. In this conversation, you’ll hear about: Why “living well” looks different in every season of chronic illness How to recognize progress beyond symptom-free days The role of nutrition, elimination diets, and bio-individuality The difference between nourishing your body and pursuing food perfection Orthorexia and the pressure to “do everything right” Managing stress, protecting sleep, and building sustainable habits Why comparison can undermine healing—and how listening to your body can restore confidence Whether you’re living with lupus, another autoimmune disease, or supporting someone who is, this episode offers encouragement grounded in lived experience and science. Healing is rarely linear, but meaningful wellness is still possible. Guest: Simla Somturk, Holistic Health & Nutrition Coach Subscribe to Lupus in Community for more conversations that connect research, lived experience, and practical strategies for living well with chronic illness.

6. 

   26 Jun 2026

   After the Declutter — What Fills the Space?

   After a month of redefining strength — through adaptation, boundaries, rhythm, and nourishment — we close June with a conversation about what fills the space when you finally stop overgiving. Fatimah Ali is joined by Samantha Gregory, Self-Care Alchemist, for an honest conversation about breaking up with burnout, the connection between stress and autoimmune disease, and what it means to choose yourself — not someday, but now. This episode is for every woman who has been extracted from for too long and is ready to come home to herself. Find Lupus In Community on Substack, Instagram and YouTube & Samantha at Self Care Oasis on Substack and @MsSamanthaGregory on TikTok.  

7. 

   22 Jun 2026

   Adaptation You Can Eat

   Adaptation You Can Eat | Wellness Wednesday Cabbage doesn't transform in the light where everyone watches. It adapts sealed, dark, cut off from oxygen — and emerges as something living and nourishing. Fatimah Ali sits down with chef and self-taught fermenter Clare Heal (@sauerpuss, In Good Taste) to make sauerkraut from scratch and unpack what fermentation teaches us about adapting through chronic illness. Clare breaks down the science of wild fermentation, gut health basics for the lupus community, and a global tour of fermented staples — from sauerkraut and kimchi to West African dadawa and nono. Part of June's Redefining Strength arc: adaptation as a skill we learn, not a weakness we endure. Clare Heal — claireheal.substack.com (http://claireheal.substack.com) | @sauerpuss Lupus in Community™ — Substack, YouTube, Instagram

8. 

   14 Jun 2026

   Come As You Are -A Chair Yoga Live on Substack

   Join Fatimah Ali, PhD and Sara Neufeld for a compassionate Chair Yoga Live focused on gentle movement, nervous system support, and honoring your body's needs. Created with the chronic illness community in mind, this conversation reminds us that wellness isn't about perfection—it's about presence. Come exactly as you are.

9. 

   29 May 2026

   Guided Nervous System Reset with Paul

   In today’s guided workshop, we explore how chronic illness and stress can hijack our nervous system, keeping us in a constant state of fight or flight. With simple movements and breathwork, we can activate our parasympathetic system, promoting relaxation and healing. Remember, it’s about connecting the body and mind—your wellness journey starts with small, mindful practices. Disclaimer: This episode is for education and information only not medical advise. It does not replace your medical advise so talk to your clinician before starting any new movement or exercise.

10. 

    13 May 2026

    Lupus and Pregnancy

    Lupus, pregnancy, and family is discussed in this episode with our guest Lakesha Moore-Calvin who graciously shared her journey—from early symptoms and diagnosis to navigating pregnancy with lupus.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Contact Lupus in Community

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.