Welcome to the Take a Pain Check podcast, a community founded and hosted by the one and only Natasha Trehan. Our podcast is all about diving into the nitty-gritty conversations about health, relationships and everything in between when it comes to living with a chronic illness. With personal experiences from guests, we aim to create an engaging space for anyone looking for support, inspiration, and a good laugh. And we don't just stop there. By bringing together a diverse and amazing lineup of healthcare professionals and patients, we're modeling a wide variety of perspectives. This is especia
Growing Up with a Rheumatic Disease: Lessons, Challenges, and Perspectives from Adulthood | Ep. 127
What does it mean to grow up and grow older with a rheumatic disease?Andrea Ou-Hingwan and Cristina Montoya share their experiences navigating chronic illness from adolescence into adulthood.Andrea was diagnosed with lupus at 16 and founded TLC (Taking Life as a Challenge), a support group for youth living with chronic illness. She continues to advocate for people with invisible disabilities through education, storytelling, and volunteer work.Cristina is a registered dietitian and the founder of Arthritis Dietitian. Having lived with rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s disease for over 20 years, she supports people with inflammatory arthritis through practical, nonrestrictive approaches to nutrition.Together, they discuss:• Their diagnoses and early healthcare experiences• Unexpected challenges in adulthood• Careers, workplace accommodations, and self-advocacy• Family planning and parenting with chronic illness• Mental health, grief, and coping strategies• Social support and invisible disabilities• Advice for young people and familiesWatch now to hear their honest lessons, challenges, and perspectives on building a meaningful life with rheumatic disease.Read more about our in person event from last year: https://www.takeapaincheck.com/in-per... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUZZTVljR3Rxei1NYlQ3Z1RNYzV4NnRKekc1eXxBTl9pYzRjaXJ1WERwdHNoWnRCbG81ekd3Z1pYa1g4QVItbXlDYVUxSXVZSVNxWF95cHhaTnFzdXdiLVd5UjJRclF1MW5fM0d1bjlfM0tpOGU5WTFBb0pGTmJKcjU0ZWlZbnNW&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.takeapaincheck.com%2Fin-person-event&v=9B-mfS6A1YE) !Our socials:
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19 Aug 2026
From Athlete to Wheelchair at 14 | Ep. 126
Lisa Wang went from being an athlete to being in a wheelchair at the age of 14. Now, she's the winner of take a pain check's 2026 STEM Without Limits Scholarship. What happens when a life-changing chronic illness diagnosis at age 14 inspires a lifelong mission to find a cure?In this episode of the Take a Pain Check Podcast, Lisa Wang shares her journey navigating juvenile ankylosing spondylitis from enduring severe diagnostic delays, debilitating pain, and mobility loss to becoming an award-winning student researcher fighting for the future of pediatric rheumatology.We discuss:- What it is like being diagnosed with a severe rheumatic disease in high school- Overcoming mobility challenges, crutches, and the stigma of an "old person's disease"- Navigating the fear of biologics, injections, and complex treatment plans- How Lisa turned her personal health struggle into academic and research excellence- Her work in the lab studying cellular biomarkers to discover new treatments- Winning top scholarships and paving the path toward becoming a clinician-scientist- The power of patient story-sharing in driving scientific research forwardHow do you transform your greatest physical pain into your biggest life achievement?Watch the full conversation to learn how resilience, patient advocacy, and scientific curiosity can turn a diagnosis into a groundbreaking career.Don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share this episode.Take a Pain Check's Socials:https://www.takeapaincheck.com/https://www.instagram.com/takeapaincheck_/ https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck / take-a-pain-check https://www.linkedin.com/company/take-a-pain-check/?originalSubdomain=ca / thttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRF07SYaN-9fbatNCKhL08ghttps://www.x.com/takeapaincheckDonate today: https://www.gofundme.com/f/takeapainc...#JuvenileArthritis #ArthritisAwareness #PediatricRheumatology#Rheumatology #scholarships #ChronicIllness
19 Jul 2026
One Clinician. An Entire State. A Healthcare Crisis. | Ep. 125
He’s the ONLY Full-Time Pediatric Rheumatology Provider in an Entire StateWhat happens when one clinician is responsible for providing pediatric rheumatology care across an entire state?In this episode of the Take a Pain Check Podcast, Brandon Ko shares the realities of serving children and families throughout New Mexico—many of whom must overcome long travel distances, workforce shortages, financial barriers, and delayed access to specialized care.We discuss:* What it is like to be New Mexico’s sole full-time pediatric rheumatology provider* How delayed care affects children with rheumatic diseases* The challenges facing rural and underserved communities* How advanced practice providers can help address workforce shortages* Brandon’s regional partnership with Children’s Hospital Colorado* Burnout, advocacy, mentorship, and sustainable healthcare models* What policymakers and healthcare institutions must do nextHow far should a family have to travel to access essential care and what happens when only one provider is available to help?Watch the full conversation to learn how collaboration, advocacy, and innovative care models can help close the gap.Don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share this episode.Instagram: unm_pediatric_rheumatology, unmchildrens, rheumappLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/brandon-ko-pnpRhAPP organization: www.rhapp.orgTake a Pain Check's Socials:https://www.takeapaincheck.com/https://www.instagram.com/takeapaincheck_/ https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheckhttps://ca.linkedin.com/company/take-a-pain-checkhttps://www.youtube.com/@takeapaincheckhttps://www.facebook.com/TakeaPainCheckhttps://www.x.com/takeapaincheckDonate today: https://www.gofundme.com/f/takeapaincheck
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
202,844
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Spotify
4.8 / 5
13 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 81 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
91
Social presence
94
YouTube
82
Engagement
51
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