The Autoimmune Campfire Podcast

About The Autoimmune Campfire Podcast

Stories matter. Stories heal. Stories inspire. Welcome to The Autoimmune Campfire: Honest Conversations on Thriving with Chronic Conditions. A podcast by coaches Nona Jordan and Helen Samson Mullen who talk about living well with chronic conditions. theautoimmunecampfire.substack.com (https://theautoimmunecampfire.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Honest Conversations on Thriving with Chronic Conditions

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Oct 2024

Latest episode

1 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

22 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Sept 2026

   Episode 22: Living Your Values

   In Episode 22 of The Autoimmune Campfire, coaches Helen and Nona discuss core values as deeply held principles that guide decisions, help people with chronic conditions conserve limited energy, and respond intentionally. They share the free, research-based VIA Character Strengths assessment (https://www.viacharacter.org/), which ranks 24 morally valued strengths, and Helen notes that our values can, and do, shift over time. They explore how values cluster into pillars (humanity, wisdom, temperance, transcendence, justice, courage), how strengths can work together or create friction, and what it means to “operationalize” values through observable behaviors, including directing values inward as self-kindness and self-love. Nona shares her top strengths and how perspective and spirituality support her diagnosis narrative, while Helen explains how kindness, love, learning, judgment, and prudence guide her RA self-care and boundaries; they invite listeners to take the assessment and share insights. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Campfire 00:19 Episode Topic Core Values 01:29 Why Values Matter 02:46 What Values Are 03:24 VIA Strengths Test 04:48 Do Values Change 07:47 Beauty as Strength 09:42 Seven Pillars Explained 11:35 Operationalize Values 12:22 Kindness Inward Too 14:31 Values Overdrive Trap 17:02 Nona Top Five 19:03 Values in Relationships 22:42 Helen Autoimmune Support 27:16 Nona Autoimmune Journey 31:35 Spirituality Defined 32:22 Key Takeaways Wrap 33:35 Next Episode Teaser 33:58 Outro and Disclaimer Let’s Connect We would love to hear from you. You can leave a voicemail for us (https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/472722/1/0q3wcnvej1ec1erq) or a comment below - tell us your insights and ahas about YOUR values and autoimmunity. Curious about us? Learn more: https://www.nonajordan.com/ (https://www.nonajordan.com/) https://www.helensamsonmullen.com (https://www.helensamsonmullen.com) We are delighted to work with our wonderful producer, Richard Wilmore at https://www.makeyourdayricher.com/ (https://www.makeyourdayricher.com/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theautoimmunecampfire.substack.com (https://theautoimmunecampfire.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   3 Aug 2026

   Episode 21: Meeting the Moment

   Coaches Helen and Nona discuss “meeting the moment,” defined as being present with current capabilities and context rather than comparing yourself to the past, and how this applies across diagnosis and ongoing life with chronic illness. Helen shares about weighing the risks of attending her future daughter-in-law’s bridal shower a week after an infusion with low white cell counts, including whether to mask while avoiding drawing attention, highlighting the invisible workload of an invisible condition. Nona describes bowing out of a community workday after right-side numbness and word-finding issues, and both explore the identity and cultural factors that make asking for support difficult. They reference tools from their coach training, including “bag it, barter it, better it” and the body compass. Nona shares one of her favorite quotes from Pixie Lighthorse, “Say what you mean and ask for what you need.” Helen draws on Brene Brown’s concepts of vulnerability and trust (“Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind”), emphasizing discernment, circling back after reactivity, and rewriting old stories. 00:00 Welcome to Campfire 00:19 Catching Up Today 02:15 Meeting the Moment 07:03 Knowing When to Stop 09:31 Identity and Support 11:57 Asking for What You Need 14:14 Three Bs Tool 17:59 Rewrite Your Story 21:55 Boundaries and Trust 25:01 Space to Respond 27:38 Next Episode and Wrap 29:16 Disclaimer and Credits Let’s Connect We would love to hear from you. You can leave a voicemail for us (https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/472722/1/0q3wcnvej1ec1erq) or a comment below - tell us your insights and ahas about YOUR values and autoimmunity. Curious about us? Learn more: https://www.nonajordan.com/ https://www.helensamsonmullen.com We are delighted to work with our wonderful producer, Richard Wilmore at https://www.makeyourdayricher.com/ Thanks for listening! Subscribe to receive new posts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theautoimmunecampfire.substack.com (https://theautoimmunecampfire.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   19 Jun 2026

   Adventure on Your Terms

   Coaches Helen and Nona discuss redefining adventure while living with chronic illness, emphasizing choosing joy, courage, and “responsible discernment” rather than shrinking life through heightened risk awareness. Nona shares returning to indoor sport climbing with her daughter after an MS diagnosis—climbing less than before but finding community and accomplishment—and reflects on learning to surf in Hawaii as an example of risk, play, and growth. Helen describes pushing her edges through travel, volunteering, gardening, strength training, and re-entering community despite concerns about illness exposure around infusions. They explore fear versus freedom, managing uncertainty, listening beneath anxious “spinning,” and how anxiety and excitement can feel similar. They highlight tolerating discomfort as essential for bravery, and adapting adventures to the “body you are arriving in today,” ending with invitations for listeners to pursue meaningful “hell yes” adventures.The Show Timeline 00:00 Welcome to Campfire 00:21 Why Adventure Matters 02:03 Climbing Again with MS 05:34 Risk Awareness vs Joy 08:05 Helen’s Everyday Adventures 13:32 Fear Versus Freedom 15:11 Planning and Managing Risk 18:20 Anxiety or Excitement 21:03 Redefining Adventure Today 23:41 Summer Adventure Plans 26:39 Get the Sand in Car 27:00 Listener Challenge and Wrap 27:32 Podcast Disclaimer Credits Thanks for listening! Subscribe for free to receive new posts straight to your inbox. PS: We would love to connect beyond the Campfire. If you want to learn more about who we are and what we do or to work with us, check our respective websites: https://www.nonajordan.com/ (https://www.nonajordan.com/) https://www.helensamsonmullen.com (https://www.helensamsonmullen.com) Nona’s book referenced in this episode is here (https://www.amazon.com/surf-lessons-exploring-nature-abundance/dp/1543151299/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3SL1ZR3Y3MIQN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qmTVAR6stjUHSit5SJ6DPg.GYQI_rb_M8UZzrbvhT_ut4T8sCAnIA5vi1mOY_CQh7c&dib_tag=se&keywords=surf%2Blessons%2Bnona%2Bjordan&qid=1781818205&sprefix=surf%2Blessons%2Bnona%2Bjordan%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1): surf lessons: exploring the power of nature to awaken your abundance. We are delighted to work with our wonderful producer, Richard Wilmore at https://www.makeyourdayricher.com/ (https://www.makeyourdayricher.com/) Thank you for joining us - we’d love to hear from you! What are your best travel tips? What are you taking away from this episode? Have questions? Leave a comment below. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theautoimmunecampfire.substack.com (https://theautoimmunecampfire.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

54

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact The Autoimmune Campfire Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

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