Today we’re talking about Christmas movies. The comforting ones. The nostalgic ones. The ones you put on when it’s cold outside, when your body hurts, when your brain is tired, and when you just want something familiar and safe playing in the background.

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Today’s episode is going to be a very personal one. Usually, I connect my love of movies and TV to my life with chronic pain, but today I want to talk about something that’s been just as much a part of my journey: weight, food, and the role they’ve played in how I’ve coped with pain.

For a long time, eating was one of my main coping mechanisms, besides watching movies and TV shows. It gave me comfort when nothing else could. But it also led to changes in my body that were hard to carry, both physically and emotionally. Gaining weight became a part of my chronic pain story, and eventually, so did my decision to start using Ozempic.

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Today’s episode is all about connection. You know that moment when you’re watching a movie or a TV show, and a character says something, does something, or reacts in a certain way—and you feel it in your bones? Like, “Yes. That’s me. That’s exactly how I feel.”

For me, those moments are pure magic. They’re little reminders that even if your exact life experience hasn’t been portrayed on screen, parts of you—your emotions, your fears, your dreams—are still out there in the world, being reflected back.

So today, I’m sharing some of the most relatable characters I’ve ever encountered in film and TV—some from my personal favorites, and some that seem to be universally beloved for the way they mirror our lives.

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Today’s episode is another essay. It’s not about a film or a TV show—at least not directly. Today, I want to share an essay I wrote titled ‘Between Noise and Silence: Communicating Pain in a World That Doesn’t Listen.’ It’s about what it means to live with chronic pain, and more specifically, what it means to communicate that pain in a world that often doesn’t want to hear it—or doesn’t know how to.

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We’re diving into how chronic illness—specifically chronic pain—is portrayed in movies and TV. Sometimes, these stories feel honest and validating. Other times? They’re full of clichés, misinformation, or just plain erasure. So today, we’re going to explore the difference between representation that gets it right and the kind that does more harm than good.

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Today’s episode is a really special one. I’m not alone this time—I’m joined by two amazing women who, like me, live with chronic pain. And together, we’re doing something a little different. 

We’re answering the hard questions. The awkward ones. The uncomfortable ones. The questions that people often want to ask about chronic pain—but don’t know how to. Some of them are taboo. Some of them are unintentionally hurtful. And some are the kind of questions we wish people would ask more often, with empathy and understanding. 

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This episode is based on a personal essay I wrote titled ‘Living Without Pain: My Love for Vampires and the Longing for Something Beyond.’ It’s an exploration of what it means to live with chronic pain, and how the stories we love—especially stories about vampires—can offer escape, comfort, and a kind of imaginative freedom. 

So if you’re someone who’s ever felt trapped in your own body, or if you’ve ever found meaning in the fantastical, I hope this speaks to you." 

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If you love film as much as I do, you’ve probably had this conversation before—someone shrugs off an emotional reaction, a debate about representation, or a discussion about deeper meanings by saying, ‘Relax, it’s just a movie.’ But here’s the thing: movies aren’t just movies. They shape culture, they influence how we see the world, and for some people—like me—they can be a lifeline. So today, we’re diving into why movies matter beyond entertainment and looking at films that have had real-world impact. Let’s get into it!"

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We’re getting personal. We’re talking about the movies that saved me—the ones that helped me through the toughest times, the ones that gave me an escape, the ones that comforted me when nothing else could. If you’ve ever had a movie or TV show feel like a lifeline, this episode is for you. So grab a cozy blanket, get comfortable, and let’s dive in.

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I am back after being gone for almost a year! But I am better than ever and ready to start the next season of my podcast. We have undergone a little rebrand, and I hope you guys still like to listen to my podcast! In this episode, I just explain why I have been gone for such a long time and why movies still matter today. 

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

In this episode, I talk about what kind of effect chronic pain had on my faith, having hope, and asking the question why me? I will be reading an article I wrote about this as well. 

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

In this episode, I am talking about the TV shows and movies I have been watching during the 5 months that I have been gone.  They are of course also recommendations because they are all so good!!

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I have been gone for 5 months. So, in this episode I will be talking about what I have been doing for the past 5 months! 

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In this episode, I will be with my first guest Emma Keeny and we will be talking about our experiences of preparing for studying abroad and also of course give you tips.

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

In this episode, I am giving you an update on how I am doing at the moment. All the updates on my life and there is a lot of truth. 

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

In this episode, I am talking about all my tattoos and what they mean to me. 

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

In this episode, I will be recommending movies and tv shows that have vampires in them! So shine up your teeth and listen to my favorite and best-done vampires. 

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

In this episode, I will read a chapter from my book Chronic Pain: A Collection of Letters, Writings & Poems

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

In this episode, I will talk about my own coping mechanism. What I have been doing to cope with my chronic pain and the rest that comes with it for the past 15 years. The advantages and disadvantages, etc.  

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

In this episode, I will recommend some documentaries that I watch in my film class in America

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In this episode, I am talking about my time in America. It is a very quick summary of how it was and how it went. More episodes on America to come this year! 

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

In this episode, I talk about my fears and worries about studying abroad in America for a semester. Some are pretty common and you might recognize them and the others have to do with my chronic pain. 

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

This is the second episode of my mini-series where I elaborate on quotes that describe my feelings very on point. 

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

In this episode, I will be talking about my time in Primary school after it all happened. How I was feeling and what the things that happened did to me. 

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

In this episode,  I am talking about my favorite TV shows on 10 of them I will talk about what they are about and quotes from that show that stick with me or did something to me!

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

In this episode, I will be walking you through the day that I got my diagnosis, chronic pain. 

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In this episode, I will start a mini-series within my podcast where I talk about a different quote each time that means a lot to me because it explains how I am feeling or how I have felt. I will go into depth with that and talk and talk. 

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I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of streaming services and movie theaters in this episode.  And I will talk about what I find the best to watch a movie on/in for the first time. 

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In this episode I will be talking about my gymnastics, giving up my gymnastics and how I deal with missing it. 

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/

In this episode, I am talking about the day it all started!

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In this episode, I am talking about my favorite movies and trying and I mean really trying to explain why they are my favorite movies. There might be a lot of adjectives rolling around in this one. Hope you enjoy it!

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In this very first episode, I will introduce myself a little bit more and talk about why I have chosen these two specific subjects for my podcast. I hope you enjoy!

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https://www.instagram.com/chronicpainunmasked/