In which I inaugurate a podcast

[rachelmanija]

I was interviewed for the first episode of a new podcast, Reasons Not to Quit, by the brilliant Hanne Blank. The podcast interviews people who had reasons to quit and didn't; she's got some amazing guests lined up for future episodes.

Here's my interview. I discuss my horrific medical ordeal of 2015-2017, the kindness of friends including several of you reading this, and namedrop Jeff Vandermeer, Michael Swanwick, and George MacDonald. There's both a podcast and a transcript.

Content notes: Medical gaslighting, suicidal thoughts, climate change. But there's jokes too. I think it's more uplifting than depressing.

If nothing else you should click the link to see a delightful portrait of Alex, wrapped around the neck of a typically unflattering selfie of myself. (I take the worst selfies. A 13-year-old friend said I always make a face like a grumpy old man.)

Comments

[mildred_of_midgard]

This was a great interview. I can't say how glad I am that you came out on the other side and can write,

my life is actually pretty good right now. You know, it's, it's full of I have interesting things. I have clients. I have writing. I have cats. I have chickens. I have a forest. I have hobbies that I'm learning, like hang gliding and pottery making, and I have books.

<3

Or, you know, getting your friends to do research for you, things like that. You know, do it. Because if the system doesn't help you, there are other systems.

Like I said at the time, you really wrote your way out. It wasn't just the Bulgarian tests, it was the full year and a half's worth of detailed data from tests, treatments, symptoms, and side effects, with precise dates, that allowed me to do that kind of research.