<![CDATA[Flared Up & Unfiltered]]>Flared Up & Unfiltered is the podcast where chronic illness meets real life — and nothing is sugar-coated.
Hosted by people who actually live it, this show dives headfirst into the messy, frustrating, hilarious, and brutally honest realities of chronic illness and disability. From symptom flares and hospital appointments to the ridiculous things people say (“but you don’t look sick…”) — we talk about it all.
But we don’t stop there.
Because life doesn’t only happen in waiting rooms.
We also get into friendships, relationships, parenting, work, mental health, social media, navigating a world that isn’t built for you, and the everyday chaos that everyone deals with — whether they’re chronically ill or not.
Some episodes are raw.
Some are funny.
Some might make you feel deeply seen.
All of them are unfiltered.
Expect dark humour, honest conversations, real experiences, occasional swearing, and zero toxic positivity. We believe you can hold grief and laughter in the same breath. We believe disabled voices deserve space without being softened or sanitised. And we believe that sometimes the best medicine is saying the quiet part out loud.
If you live with chronic illness, love someone who does, work in healthcare, or just want real conversations about real life without the polished Instagram filter — this podcast is for you.
No pretending.
No inspirational clichés.
Just real talk from people who get it.
Welcome to Flared Up & Unfiltered — where the symptoms might flare, but so do the opinions.

]]>https://www.tiktok.com/@flared.up.unfiltered?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pcRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Thu, 11 Jun 2026 03:03:16 GMTThu, 26 Feb 2026 15:20:10 GMT60Flared Up & Unfiltered<p>Flared Up &amp; Unfiltered is the podcast where chronic illness meets real life — and nothing is sugar-coated.<br />Hosted by people who actually live it, this show dives headfirst into the messy, frustrating, hilarious, and brutally honest realities of chronic illness and disability. From symptom flares and hospital appointments to the ridiculous things people say (“but you don’t look sick…”) — we talk about it all.<br />But we don’t stop there.<br />Because life doesn’t only happen in waiting rooms.<br />We also get into friendships, relationships, parenting, work, mental health, social media, navigating a world that isn’t built for you, and the everyday chaos that everyone deals with — whether they’re chronically ill or not.<br />Some episodes are raw.<br />Some are funny.<br />Some might make you feel deeply seen.<br />All of them are unfiltered.<br />Expect dark humour, honest conversations, real experiences, occasional swearing, and zero toxic positivity. We believe you can hold grief and laughter in the same breath. We believe disabled voices deserve space without being softened or sanitised. And we believe that sometimes the best medicine is saying the quiet part out loud.<br />If you live with chronic illness, love someone who does, work in healthcare, or just want real conversations about real life without the polished Instagram filter — this podcast is for you.<br />No pretending.<br />No inspirational clichés.<br />Just real talk from people who get it.<br />Welcome to Flared Up &amp; Unfiltered — where the symptoms might flare, but so do the opinions.</p>episodicFlared Up & Unfilteredflared.up.unfiltered@gmail.comyes<![CDATA[Flared Up & Unfiltered - Ep 5]]>The podcast episode explores the celebration of neurodivergency, personal experiences and diagnoses, as well as the challenges and misconceptions surrounding neurodivergency. The hosts share their insights and experiences, shedding light on the diverse aspects of this topic. The conversation covers topics such as vaccine misinformation and myths, the use of fidgets and sensory aids, the benefits of weighted blankets and sensory input, the challenges of sitting still and the importance of inclusivity, the recognition of neurodivergent individuals, and the significance of access cards and carer passports.

Takeaways

  • Neurodivergency celebration
  • Personal experiences and diagnoses
  • Challenges and misconceptions Misinformation and myths surrounding vaccines and autism
  • The importance of access cards and carer passports

Chapters

  • 00:00 Challenges and Misconceptions
  • 28:40 Vaccine Misinformation and Myths
  • 35:08 Weighted Blankets and Sensory Input
  • 41:50 Access Cards and Carer Passports
]]>0ff156f0-c3ad-407c-912d-2b457ec725d4Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:39:10 GMT<p>The podcast episode explores the celebration of neurodivergency, personal experiences and diagnoses, as well as the challenges and misconceptions surrounding neurodivergency. The hosts share their insights and experiences, shedding light on the diverse aspects of this topic. The conversation covers topics such as vaccine misinformation and myths, the use of fidgets and sensory aids, the benefits of weighted blankets and sensory input, the challenges of sitting still and the importance of inclusivity, the recognition of neurodivergent individuals, and the significance of access cards and carer passports.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Neurodivergency celebration</li><li>Personal experiences and diagnoses</li><li>Challenges and misconceptions Misinformation and myths surrounding vaccines and autism</li><li>The importance of access cards and carer passports</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Challenges and Misconceptions</li><li>28:40 Vaccine Misinformation and Myths</li><li>35:08 Weighted Blankets and Sensory Input</li><li>41:50 Access Cards and Carer Passports</li></ul>yes00:39:5615Flared Up & Unfiltered - Ep 5full<![CDATA[Flared Up & Unfiltered - Ep4]]>The conversation explores the themes of setting boundaries and asserting rights in interpersonal interactions, as well as the balance between honesty and kindness in communication. It delves into scenarios where individuals confront situations that challenge their personal boundaries and the importance of honest communication while considering the impact of one's words on others. The conversation covers the challenges of dealing with family expectations and understanding when managing chronic illness, specifically fibromyalgia. It also highlights the importance of prioritizing health over social events and the need for community engagement and feedback for future podcast episodes.

Takeaways

  • Setting Boundaries
  • Honesty vs Kindness Family understanding of chronic illness
  • Choosing health over social events

Chapters

  • 00:00 Setting Boundaries and Asserting Rights
  • 08:27 Honesty vs Kindness in Communication
  • 25:06 Sister's Birthday Drama
  • 35:23 Community Engagement and Feedback
]]>78574a85-d763-4d51-843e-0dc11571ef64Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:19:18 GMT<p>The conversation explores the themes of setting boundaries and asserting rights in interpersonal interactions, as well as the balance between honesty and kindness in communication. It delves into scenarios where individuals confront situations that challenge their personal boundaries and the importance of honest communication while considering the impact of one's words on others. The conversation covers the challenges of dealing with family expectations and understanding when managing chronic illness, specifically fibromyalgia. It also highlights the importance of prioritizing health over social events and the need for community engagement and feedback for future podcast episodes.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Setting Boundaries</li><li>Honesty vs Kindness Family understanding of chronic illness</li><li>Choosing health over social events</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Setting Boundaries and Asserting Rights</li><li>08:27 Honesty vs Kindness in Communication</li><li>25:06 Sister's Birthday Drama</li><li>35:23 Community Engagement and Feedback</li></ul>yes00:39:4114Flared Up & Unfiltered - Ep4full<![CDATA[Flared Up & Unfiltered - Ep 3]]>The episode begins with an introduction and discussion of the episode's structure. The conversation then delves into the invisible nature of chronic illness, the invalidating nature of comparing illnesses, the misunderstanding of chronic fatigue syndrome, and misconceptions about age and illness. The takeaways include the invisible nature of chronic illness and the invalidating nature of comparing illnesses. The conversation delves into the challenges of living with chronic pain, the impact of misconceptions and ignorance surrounding chronic illness, and the pressure and expectations faced during active treatment. It also highlights the importance of community engagement and feedback in creating a supportive environment for those with chronic illness.

Takeaways

  • Invisible nature of chronic illness
  • Comparing illnesses is invalidating Chronic pain and its impact on daily life
  • Misconceptions and ignorance surrounding chronic illness

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction and Episode Structure
  • 07:28 "You're Probably Just Tired" - Misunderstanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • 16:30 "You're So Young" - Misconceptions About Age and Illness
  • 24:18 The Overload of Chronic Pain
  • 32:36 Pressure and Expectations in Active Treatment
  • 43:24 Medication Misconceptions
]]>1edb3718-ec9a-4057-843a-ec854a878cc2Thu, 26 Feb 2026 21:01:14 GMT<p>The episode begins with an introduction and discussion of the episode's structure. The conversation then delves into the invisible nature of chronic illness, the invalidating nature of comparing illnesses, the misunderstanding of chronic fatigue syndrome, and misconceptions about age and illness. The takeaways include the invisible nature of chronic illness and the invalidating nature of comparing illnesses. The conversation delves into the challenges of living with chronic pain, the impact of misconceptions and ignorance surrounding chronic illness, and the pressure and expectations faced during active treatment. It also highlights the importance of community engagement and feedback in creating a supportive environment for those with chronic illness.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Invisible nature of chronic illness</li><li>Comparing illnesses is invalidating Chronic pain and its impact on daily life</li><li>Misconceptions and ignorance surrounding chronic illness</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Introduction and Episode Structure</li><li>07:28 "You're Probably Just Tired" - Misunderstanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome</li><li>16:30 "You're So Young" - Misconceptions About Age and Illness</li><li>24:18 The Overload of Chronic Pain</li><li>32:36 Pressure and Expectations in Active Treatment</li><li>43:24 Medication Misconceptions</li></ul>yes00:40:0113Flared Up & Unfiltered - Ep 3full<![CDATA[Flared Up & Unfiltered - Ep 2]]>The conversation delves into various aspects of mental health, including the distinction between mental health and mental illness, the impact of sleep on mental and emotional well-being, the influence of childhood experiences on mental health, the treatment of mental health vs. physical health in society, and the influence of social media on self-esteem and emotional health. The conversation delves into the impact of social media on mental health, highlighting both the negative and positive effects. It also explores the role of friends in providing mental health support and the importance of normalizing mental health days as part of overall well-being.

Takeaways

  • Mental Health vs. Mental Illness
  • Impact of Sleep on Mental and Emotional Well-being
  • Childhood Experiences and Mental Health
  • Treatment of Mental Health vs. Physical Health in Society
  • Influence of Social Media on Self-esteem and Emotional Health Impact of social media on mental health
  • Importance of mental health days

Chapters

  • 00:00 Influence of Social Media on Self-esteem and Emotional Health
  • 35:18 Role of Friends in Mental Health Support
  • 43:41 Normalizing Mental Health Days
]]>f92bd146-ddef-41a3-a420-0b295d66a052Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:23:38 GMT<p>The conversation delves into various aspects of mental health, including the distinction between mental health and mental illness, the impact of sleep on mental and emotional well-being, the influence of childhood experiences on mental health, the treatment of mental health vs. physical health in society, and the influence of social media on self-esteem and emotional health. The conversation delves into the impact of social media on mental health, highlighting both the negative and positive effects. It also explores the role of friends in providing mental health support and the importance of normalizing mental health days as part of overall well-being.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Mental Health vs. Mental Illness</li><li>Impact of Sleep on Mental and Emotional Well-being</li><li>Childhood Experiences and Mental Health</li><li>Treatment of Mental Health vs. Physical Health in Society</li><li>Influence of Social Media on Self-esteem and Emotional Health Impact of social media on mental health</li><li>Importance of mental health days</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Influence of Social Media on Self-esteem and Emotional Health</li><li>35:18 Role of Friends in Mental Health Support</li><li>43:41 Normalizing Mental Health Days</li></ul>yes00:43:2412Flared Up & Unfiltered - Ep 2full<![CDATA[Flared Up & Unfiltered - Ep 1]]>The podcast introduces the hosts and their focus on chronic illness and disability. They discuss the themes and topics of the podcast, define the meaning of 'Flared Up & Unfiltered,' explore the F.L.A.R.E.D. Up acronym, and delve into the unseen and persistent challenges of chronic illness. The hosts share their personal introductions, experiences with recurring struggles, and discuss their diagnosis experiences, highlighting the challenges of navigating the healthcare system. The conversation delves into the challenges of medical diagnosis, misinterpretation of symptoms, and the impact of misdiagnosis on the individual's health journey. It also highlights the importance of support systems, coping mechanisms, and the role of humor in dealing with health challenges.

Takeaways

  • Chronic illness and disability impact daily life
  • Navigating the healthcare system can be challenging Challenges with medical diagnosis
  • Support and coping mechanisms

Chapters

  • 00:00 Navigating the Healthcare System
  • 28:24 Misdiagnosis and Weight Stigma
  • 34:06 Challenges with Diagnosis and Treatment Decisions
  • 39:13 Impact of Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Journey
  • 44:20 Coping with Grief and Illness
  • 50:02 Coping with Medical Procedures and Treatment
]]>152b7bae-3226-49e9-b5f1-54815184de16Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:22:51 GMT<p>The podcast introduces the hosts and their focus on chronic illness and disability. They discuss the themes and topics of the podcast, define the meaning of 'Flared Up &amp; Unfiltered,' explore the F.L.A.R.E.D. Up acronym, and delve into the unseen and persistent challenges of chronic illness. The hosts share their personal introductions, experiences with recurring struggles, and discuss their diagnosis experiences, highlighting the challenges of navigating the healthcare system. The conversation delves into the challenges of medical diagnosis, misinterpretation of symptoms, and the impact of misdiagnosis on the individual's health journey. It also highlights the importance of support systems, coping mechanisms, and the role of humor in dealing with health challenges.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Chronic illness and disability impact daily life</li><li>Navigating the healthcare system can be challenging Challenges with medical diagnosis</li><li>Support and coping mechanisms</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Navigating the Healthcare System</li><li>28:24 Misdiagnosis and Weight Stigma</li><li>34:06 Challenges with Diagnosis and Treatment Decisions</li><li>39:13 Impact of Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Journey</li><li>44:20 Coping with Grief and Illness</li><li>50:02 Coping with Medical Procedures and Treatment</li></ul>yes00:52:5911Flared Up & Unfiltered - Ep 1full