Your Story Our Fight by Lupus LA

Season THREE Episode FOURTEEN of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Tiffany Peterson. Tiffany is a New York City-based patient advocate whose inspiration arose from her battles within the healthcare system following her diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus in 2010. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LupusChat, a patient/caregiver-driven online community established in 2012 designed to educate all entities in the healthcare sector sparking innovative discussions and breaking restrictive barriers between patients and various healthcare stakeholders.

Season THREE Episode THIRTEEN of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Donna Jordan. Born in the vibrant city of Newark, NJ in 1956, Donna emerged as an artist nurtured by the rich tapestry of culture and creativity surrounding her. From an early age, her parents encouraged her artistic freedom, leading her to immerse herself in every art program Newark had to offer. Donna's journey began with humble yet impactful beginnings, as she adorned church walls with thematic murals and painted holiday scenes on local storefronts, igniting a passion for visual storytelling. High school beckoned her to the prestigious Arts High, the first visual and performing arts institution in the nation, where she honed her craft in painting, photography, and design. Venturing further, she pursued formal training at the Philadelphia College of Art, delving deep into the realm of abstract expressionism, a genre that resonated with her soul. Philadelphia became her canvas, where she showcased her work in exhibitions and contributed to urban revitalization through mural commissions. California's allure drew Donna westward, where she immersed herself in the vibrant artist community while honing her skills as a designer and production manager. In 1984, serendipity intervened as she met her husband Michael, ushering in a new chapter of family and creativity. Several years later she was diagnosed with Lupus, which changed her life and her family's life forever. Amidst the joys of parenthood and the challenges of living with Lupus, Donna's art became not only her refuge but also a catalyst for collaboration. Establishing the Jordan Design Network allowed her to transcend physical limitations and unite with fellow artists in collective expression. Today, as Donna continues her artistic journey in the embrace of her beloved family and the ever-inspiring landscapes of New Jersey, she invites you to join her on a podcast where we explore the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of art.

Season THREE Episode TWELVE of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Seda Bryant. Seda Bryant is an overcomer, mother, graphic designer, storyteller & influencer. She’s using her gifts to turn pain into purpose. She created the first digital stickers for all social media platforms for stories, video reels, Tik Toks & Snaps for Lupus Awareness Month, World Lupus Day and to spread lupus awareness every day. They have amassed 2 million uses and views in less than a year. On Instagram @OvercomeLupus, her insightful posts provoke conversation and community for Lupus Warriors, by sharing stories while elevating awareness and promoting self-advocacy & discovery to thrive and overcome lupus.

Season THREE Episode ELEVEN of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Kim Peacock. Realtor, Salon Owner, Philanthropist, wife, and mother of four amazingly beautiful children. Kim was diagnosed with Lupus in 2008, Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2019, just to name a few life altering chronic illnesses. Kim, age 53, was born and raised in Santa Monica CA and currently resides in the Phoenix AZ metro area.

Season THREE Episode TEN of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Genny Mack. Genny Mack’s mission is to empower women to redefine what ‘eating good’ means and to thrive by prioritizing the whole self. Genny transformed her overall well-being, after being diagnosed with lupus and kidney nephritis, by transitioning to eating whole nourishing foods from mother mature and by practicing mindfulness, and now has more mental clarity, energy and purpose than ever before. This led her to become a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Autoimmune Nutrition Specialist, Fitness Coach and Forager and has changed many lives through clean eating, movement, and mindfulness. Genny's hope is to empower 10K+ BIPOC women and communities by 2024 to live healthier lives, reverse generational traumas and to thrive.

Season THREE Episode NINE of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Samantha Gehrls. Samantha Gehrls is a Lupus fighter and advocate who resides in Phoenix, Arizona. Sam is 27 years old and was diagnosed with Lupus when she was 25, but has been sick since she was 20. Sam is passionate about helping others get through difficult times and diagnosis, as she wants to spread the word to not give up! Through eastern and western medicine, Sam has regained so much of her life back and now is on a journey of healing and helping. She has had numerous surgeries and treatments for her 4 autoimmune diseases, but she doesn’t let anything stop her. In her free time, you can find Sam cuddled up on the couch with her 4 dogs, kindle, and watching reality tv or traveling around the country!

Season THREE Episode EIGHT of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Amanda and Ahnna Chay. Amanda Chay is a lupus warrior and author of “The Girlfriend’s Guide to Lupus”. Her book serves as a beacon of hope for women grappling with lupus, providing practical, health-focused steps that empower them to prioritize their well-being. Amanda's oldest daughter, Ahnna, also navigates life with lupus while working in professional sports management. Together, as this dynamic mother-daughter lupus duo, they prove that no battle is faced in isolation. Their shared medical journey not only offers strength but also has a remarkable way of bringing light to even the darkest of days.

Season THREE Episode SEVEN of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Eve and Margi McAusland. Eve is a 15 year old sophomore at Notre Dame Academy who has had lupus sense she was 13. Her mom, Margi, is a CPA and has had Sjogrens since 2019. Eve has been working through her diagnosis by finding ways to take care of herself through her web of support including her family, friends, doctors and lupus LA. While her journey has been hard she looks forward to being able to share it with others to raise awareness and let people know they’re not alone in their fight.

Season THREE Episode SIX of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Sharan Singh. Sharan is a twenty-three year old UC Irvine graduate, a current healthcare worker, Content Creator on TikTok, Lupus Advocate/Warrior and a future Physician Assistant. Sharan is passionate about working in the field of Rheumatology in the future as a healthcare provider. She has implemented holistic healing into her own health journey and is an advocate for holistic healing for Lupus patients as it has helped her achieve optimal health despite her physical battles. She has perserveared through multiple joint replacements/surgeries and is passionate about giving back to the healthcare system that treated her.

Season THREE Episode FIVE of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Cara Dellaverson. Cara Dellaverson joined NBC in 2015 as Senior Vice President of Drama Development and was promoted to Executive Vice President for the network in 2018. In 2020 she was elevated to EVP of Drama Series across all platforms including NBC, Peacock, USA and SYFY. In this role she currently oversees development and current programming across all platforms and manages both teams of executives alongside co-department head Alex Sepiol. Together they are responsible for over 100 development projects and 20 current series in various stages of production and have been part of the leadership team crafting the strategy for both Peacock and NBC. Since joining the company she has helped develop hit series This Is Us, as well as The Irrational, Found, Quantum Leap, La Brea, Good Girls, New Amsterdam, Manifest, and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist for NBC and Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol, Mrs. Davis and upcoming series Long Bright River for Peacock. Before her time at NBC, Dellaverson worked in current series and development at Lionsgate from 2008-2015 ultimately rising to Senior Vice President. During her time at the studio she was creatively involved in several series including Mad Men, Nurse Jackie, Nashville, Manhattan, and Orange is the New Black and was featured in The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Generation 35 under 35 issue as one to watch in Television.

Season THREE Episode FOUR of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Kay Daniels. Kay is a 25 year old independent model & actress, Lupus patient and advocate. At the age of 14, Kay was diagnosed with Lupus SLE. It has always been an aspiration of Kay's to have the opportunity of sharing my story with the world, to better relate with other young girls like herself. Kay wants to show them that all things are possible, and that Lupus does not define them, no matter how much it may feel that way.

Season THREE Episode THREE of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Victoria Gibbs. Victoria began practicing yoga ten years ago and from the first time that she stepped onto her mat, her passion was evident; shaping her into the woman she is today. Victoria is a Dartmouth College graduate, a former financier turned health and wellness entrepreneur, she is also a full time yoga athlete, instructor, model, influencer, digital content creator, and lupus warrior. Victoria genuinely believes in the mind-body benefits of yoga and has found that it has helped her to overcome mental and emotional struggles and supports her in maintaining optimal physical health while managing lupus. Today, she lives to share her journey through teaching, education, and content.

Season THREE Episode TWO of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Ashley Greene. Ashley Greene is the Founder and CEO of Bare Bodhi. Growing up in a salon with a hairdresser mother, Ashley developed a passion for beauty early on. While assisting one of the biggest names in the industry, Ashley was diagnosed with lupus, which prompted her to embark on a mission to promote both internal and external wellness. Her love for long nails and soft skin led her to create a patented flagship product, the fingerless exfoliating bath glove, designed specifically for women with long nails. This product enables clients to achieve supple, smooth skin without compromising their manicures. Ashley believes that washing your body with your own hands has a spiritual approach, and her products enable users to connect with and awaken their light within. With a focus on a holistic approach to beauty, Bare Bodhi is committed to promoting self-awareness and enabling individuals to serve their highest good. Ashley continues to innovate and develop products that empower and uplift, all while inspiring individuals to embrace their inner beauty.

Season THREE Episode ONE of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Shamekka Marty. In 2012, Shamekka was diagnosed with Lupus, Scleroderma, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Reynaud’s, and Sjogren’s Syndrome. Shamekka seeks to motivate others who are in the same boat as her. She speaks on various public platforms, has a blog, a vlog , provides career counseling, and more to help Lupus patients in their journey. She currently resides in the Bay Area in California with her husband and three children.

Season TWO Episode TWENTY-FOUR of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Emmitt Henderson III. Emmitt Henderson III was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus and Lupus Nephritis in 1995 but had symptoms going back to 1980. Through the years, he has endured major complications from heart, liver, kidney and lung failures, avascular necrosis that led to a shoulder and knee replacement. He had a clinical trial, bone marrow stem cell transplant; he was on oxygen due to his lung failure and had a kidney transplant due to kidney failure. He was also diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogrens Syndrome, MTCD as well as he suffered from having a stroke, shingles, gout, chronic fevers, diabetes and hypertension. In 2019, Emmitt was diagnosed with a brain disease, that medically retired him from his career. He decided to advocate for the same disease that debilitated him since 1995 and to talk about how his mental health got him through it all. He created his organization called Male Lupus Warriors Corp to spread Lupus and Mental Health awareness. He holds a safe space for men to meet and talk about their hardships in life, he encourages everyone to not be a victim to their illness. Emmitt did an advocacy campaign in Tanzania Africa in 2022 which included climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. During his climb, he suffered high altitude pulmonary edema and ended up going into kidney failure for the second time in his life. He is now currently doing dialysis and on the transplant list for another kidney. During this time, he still maintains his advocacy by being active on social media and facilitating support groups.

Season TWO Episode TWENTY-THREE of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Samantha Boothe. Samantha was diagnosed with lupus at the age of 14, and she has been sharing her journey with lupus online since 2010. Her main goal is to create relatable and informative content to empower anyone navigating life with chronic illness. When Samantha was diagnosed with lupus, she searched the internet for someone to relate to but had trouble finding any resources. This realization pushed Samantha to start sharing her story on YouTube. As time passed, Samantha's YouTube channel grew, and she was surrounded by others who had similar experiences. Today, Samantha runs a blog and Instagram page called Heal With Samantha, where she shares the ups and downs of living with chronic illness. She hopes that through her content, she can help others feel less alone and provide them with the support and resources they need to thrive in their own life.

Season TWO Episode TWENTY-TWO of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Olga Lucia Torres. A few years after law school, Olga was diagnosed with lupus and eventually the doctors found she had 4 other autoimmune diseases. Olga's health has never stopped her from following her dreams and attending Cornell University and Georgetown University Law School on scholarships. In August of 2000, Olga went to the hospital for routine medical care. She was supposed to be discharged in 2 to 3 days. Instead Olga ended up in a coma and with an iatrogenic brain injury. It took six years of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, but Olga managed to volunteer again doing health care law. Olga was inspired to return to school in 2012 where she found the Narrative Medicine program at Columbia University and in 2014, received a Master’s in Science. She now teaches narrative medicine at the CUNY School of Medicine.

Season TWO Episode TWENTY-ONE of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Melissa Walker. Melissa is a Medical Writer, with a biomedical research background focusing on traumatic spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. She earned her Ph.D. in Medical Neuroscience from Indiana University School of Medicine before returning to UCLA department of Neurosurgery, for postdoctoral research. She was diagnosed with Graves’ thyroid disease in 2002, and has had Hashimoto’s since 2003, after radioiodine ablation therapy. She was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2005, and Sjogren’s in 2016.

Season TWO Episode TWENTY of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Stacey Uberstine. Stacey graduated from California State University Northridge in 1990 with a bachelor of science degree in Health Administration with a computer science minor. One of her most notable jobs was helping to establish the Industrial Care Center which is operational at San Pedro Hospital. In 1993 Stacey transitioned into the insurance industry where she owned and operated her own State farm Agency for over a decade. Stacey was diagnosed with lupus in 1994. She stays abreast of the disease and all related medical breakthroughs and advances in research. Stacey has been an active donor and Board member of Lupus LA. She has a passion for patient advocacy within the lupus and breast cancer communities. Stacey is an avid sports fan, and actually met her husband through her work at State Farm. Sports seems to be a family affair, as her husband is a prominent sports attorney who has represented some of the most iconic figures in professional sports. Her passion for sports was passed on to her twin boys, Grant and Tyler. Grant was an avid athlete in high school, participating in lacrosse, baseball and swimming. Tyler’s passion for baseball took him to Northwestern University, where he earned a spot in the team’s starting rotation. He was later drafted by the Boston Red Sox. Stacey resides in Manhattan Beach, where she can be seen taking strolls along the beach. She is an avid reader and spends a considerable amount of time supporting philanthropic causes close to her heart related to lupus and breast cancer.

Season TWO Episode NINETEEN of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Kellie Martin. Kellie began acting at the age of seven. She is most fondly remembered for playing Becca Thacher on the groundbreaking ABC family drama Life Goes On, for which she received an Emmy nomination. And, her portrayal of Lucy Knight, a precocious med student who met an untimely demise after two seasons on NBC’s ER, haunts viewers to this day. Kellie has been a been a regular on numerous series including, The Guest Book, Army Wives, Mystery Woman, and on Hallmark’s Hailey Dean, where she served as Executive Producer. Her television and feature film highlights include Troop Beverly Hills, A Goofy Movie, Malibu’s Most Wanted, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, and Mad Men. She also served as leading lady for Hallmark’s beloved holiday movies, The Christmas Ornament and Christmas in Montana as well as rom-com favorites, Smooch, I Married Who?, and Hello It’s Me. In 1999, Kellie lost her nineteen year old sister, Heather, to lupus. So, Kellie took on a new role, one that she continues passionately to this day: national spokesperson for the Autoimmune Association. She works to raise awareness, lobbies Congress, speaks, and meets personally with patients and their families. Kellie is a Yale graduate with a degree in Art History. She co-authored a novel, Madam, which was published by Penguin in 2014. She’s currently writing on a new novel. Most recently, Kellie has been working with her Life Goes On co-star, Chad Lowe and All American show runner, Nkechi Okoro Carroll to reboot Life Goes On with Warner Brothers. She just directed Mistletoe in Montana for Lifetime and has been recording a new podcast with Chad Lowe entitled The Big Break. She lives on a suburban farm in California with her husband, Keith, daughters, Maggie (15), Olivia (5) and a bunch of goats, pigs, and horses.