Long Covid Podcast

A deep look at why true rest often feels out of reach for people recovering from long-term illness. The episode outlines seven kinds of rest and reframes fatigue as a protective signal. Practical downshifting tools are given, from soft exhales and micro rests to safety cues and co-regulation. It closes with a short grounding practice and gentle affirmations to help relearn restorative rest.

A mother recounts her son’s viral‑triggered crash at 13 and the winding path back to full activity. They cover pacing with colour‑coded diaries, autonomic nervous system retraining, and Mickel Therapy. Emotional links, play and joy as nervous‑system tools get attention. The story touches on NHS limits, caregiver strain, boundary setting, relapse at university, and life regained with work, travel and climbing.

Dr Nathan Keiser, a chiropractic neurologist who treats autonomic dysfunction and neuroplastic rehab, explains a mechanism-first way to approach post-viral illness. He highlights cerebral perfusion, autoregulation, structural vascular traps, and how concussion rehab lessons translate. Short, targeted micro-dosing, breathing/CO2 tests, and using sleep for recovery are featured as practical paths to rebuild capacity.

We share Ashley’s journey from bedbound to rebuilding a joyful life, showing how belief, somatic work, and gentle pacing opened a path out of long COVID. The body is not the enemy; safety, connection, and consistent practice turn symptoms from threat to guidance.• fast pre‑illness life and early warning signs• collapse after pushing through infection and isolation• lack of medical answers and disbelief from clinicians• finding recovery stories and protecting hope• moving from trigger‑hunting to nervous system healing• brain retraining, visualisations, somatic practices and EFT• pacing within a true window of tolerance• progress through consistency and self‑compassion• redefining recovery, processing trauma and shifting limits• life rebuilt with nature, community, creativity and workLinks:Connect with Ashley: www.embodimentwithashley.co.ukMessage the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costsTranscripts available on individual episodes herewww.LongCovidPodcast.comFacebook Instagram  Twitter Facebook Creativity GroupSubscribe to mailing listI love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

We look squarely at the invisible load of caring for people with Long Covid and ME/CFS, why carers’ nervous systems shape recovery, and how boundaries and communication protect both sides. We share clear, humane steps that reduce burnout and build co‑regulation at home.• Defining the carer role across partners, parents and adult children• Why caring is invisible, isolating and exhausting• Boundaries that prevent “fixing” and conflict• Fluctuating illness, hypervigilance and control• Co‑regulation and why a calm carer accelerates recovery• Practical resets that aren’t a self‑care to‑do list• Sharing the care, advocacy and admin load• Vicarious trauma in carers and how to spot it• Simple communication that honours both sets of needs• Giving and receiving grace while recovery unfoldsLinks: Connect with Nadyne: https://nadynemckie.co.uk/how-I-can-help-you Our previous episodes: "Embracing Kindness" https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/15968082"Empowering through Compassion & Play" https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/16104655Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costsTranscripts available on individual episodes herewww.LongCovidPodcast.comFacebook Instagram  Twitter Facebook Creativity GroupSubscribe to mailing listI love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

I talk with author Simon Harrison about losing an active life to ME, finding a diagnosis, and rebuilding health through pacing, meditation, and a bold year seeking light in Portugal. The story is honest about setbacks and fierce about hope, with practical lessons you can apply today.• early denial and sudden onset symptoms • shrinking life, sensory overload, fear • self-experimentation with meditation, breathwork, gentle movement • diagnosis of ME/CFS and reframing recovery • pacing, window of tolerance, damage limitation • why more light and a change of scene helped • recalibrating normal tiredness vs post-exertional malaise • progress through small wins, mistakes, and self-kindness • support from family and the cost of care • hope as a practice and incremental gainsConnect with Simon at https://thrivemindfulness.co.uk/ where he also works with those with fatigue-related conditions. "Leaving ME Behind" can be found hereMessage the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costsTranscripts available on individual episodes herewww.LongCovidPodcast.comFacebook Instagram  Twitter Facebook Creativity GroupSubscribe to mailing listI love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

Carissa Conrad, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and coach focused on long COVID and chronic fatigue recovery. She discusses the vagus nerve’s role across heart, gut, immune and inflammation. Conversations cover sympathetic overdrive, non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation methods, paced breathing and humming, timing and safety, practical setups, and avoiding common mistakes while rebuilding nervous-system resilience.

We map a clear path from medical leave to meaningful work, sharing the five-stage Career and Chronic framework and the skills that turn lived experience into authentic leadership. Practical scripts, capacity tools, and boundary strategies make work humane and sustainable.• What career means when health reshapes life• The five stages: off-ramp, on-ramp, the new, test and redesign, authentic leadership• Emotional skills for the bed-based phase• Boundaries without apology or battle• Baseline versus optimal capacity and how to communicate both• Reducing emotional labour at work and home• Why these skills create trusted, empathetic leaders• The chronic economy and the future of human capacity at workLinks:Our previous episode - the emotional map: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/13541520Connect with Michelle:http://careerandchronicillness.com/ https://www.chronicillnessatwork.com/Career and Chronic Map: https://www.careerandchronic.com/career-mapThe Cocoon (when not working): https://www.careerandchronic.com/the-cocoonWork & Leadership Series  https://www.careerandchronic.com/chronicleadership (Feb 2026)Ambition Program (discussed in episode) https://www.careerandchronic.com/ambitionMessage the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costsTranscripts available on individual episodes herewww.LongCovidPodcast.comFacebook Instagram  Twitter Facebook Creativity GroupSubscribe to mailing listI love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

Lily Spechler, a registered dietitian and long-hauler, shares her journey into long COVID nutritional care. She emphasizes that weight changes are more about metabolism than willpower. Lily discusses the importance of stabilizing blood sugar before making dietary adjustments. She highlights the risks of calorie restriction in worsening symptoms and provides practical tips, like adding 10–15% above BMR and using high-calorie, low-volume foods. Her insights on managing glucose spikes and prioritizing protein offer a fresh approach to long COVID care.

Welcome to a milestone episode! In the 200th episode of the Long Covid Podcast, Jackie Baxter rings in 2026 by sharing personal reflections on the journey so far and the evolution of the podcast from its origins during her own recovery from Long Covid.Jackie explores:Lessons learned from recovery, including resilience, adapting to life’s unpredictability, and the importance of grace in setbacks.The difference between goals and intentions, with practical, science-backed advice on setting gentle, adaptable intentions to support healing and emotional well-being.A guided exercise to help you set your own intention for the day, with tips on grounding your intention and celebrating even small shifts.Gratitude for the vibrant community of listeners, guests, and supporters who have accompanied the podcast on this journey.Plus:Jackie discusses the science behind intentions—how they can help filter what matters, regulate emotions, and encourage sustainable habits.She encourages listeners to reflect on and share their own intentions for the new year.Action Items:Be sure to check the links below for free Insight Timer tracks for intention setting.Stay tuned for more inspiring guests and stories in upcoming episodes.Thank you for being part of this journey! I wish you all a gentle January and a joyful 2026.Connect:Share your intentions or feedback by commenting on social media, sending fan mail, or emailing via the links below.Links:Setting an Intention for Healing (nature sounds): https://insig.ht/HtxqFUsWTZbSetting an Intention for Healing - shorter version with music): https://insig.ht/fcqF48xWTZbQuick intention setting (with gentle music): https://insig.ht/dPxkBUlWTZb Subscribe for weekly episodes and join our community of support, learning, and shared humanity.Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :) Support the show~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Long Covid Podcast is self-produced & self funded. If you enjoy what you hear and are able to, please Buy me a coffee or purchase a mug to help cover costsTranscripts available on individual episodes herewww.LongCovidPodcast.comFacebook Instagram  Twitter Facebook Creativity GroupSubscribe to mailing listI love to hear from you, via socials or LongCovidPodcast@gmail.com**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**