"I'm Not Rude, I'm Disabled": The Fierce Advocacy of Pretty Rude JJ

What happens when a chronic illness forces you to stop working and you lose the identity you spent your life building?

This week on The Chronic Brew, we sit down with Jessie Myers, known online as "Pretty Rude JJ," to explore the raw emotional cost of sudden disability. Jessie shares the intense personal journey from managing an illness to becoming unable to work, a pivotal shift that forced her to redefine her entire future.

We dive deep into:

• The profound grief and emotional toll of losing your career and professional self-worth.

• The exhausting fight for validation when dealing with an invisible illness—from doctors, friends, and family.

• The moment she chose to turn her struggle into fierce advocacy and education for others.

If you've ever felt unseen, unheard, or like you were a burden because of your health, Jessie’s story offers validation and a powerful blueprint for finding your voice.

Social Media:

• "prettyrudejj" on IG, TikTok, and Threads
• PrettyRudeJJ.square.site

Keywords: Chronic Illness, Disability Advocacy, Invisible Illness, Validation, Grief, Loss of Identity, Pretty Rude JJ, Chronic Pain, Disability Support.

On the Road to Resilience: A Farmer's Fight with Dialysis (ft. Jarod Palmer)

In this special episode, host Mr. Cool Beans took the microphone on the road (right after a doctor's appointment!) to capture an incredible conversation. Jarod Palmer is living a life defined by intense commitment: carrying forward his family's generational legacy of hard work and farming tradition while navigating the life-long demands of dialysis.

This session is a raw and powerful masterclass in resilience. Jarod shares his deeply personal story of how he learned to cope with a chronic illness diagnosis, the mental shifts required to schedule treatments around a sun-up-to-sundown job, and where he finds the motivation to uphold his heritage on the days he feels most drained.

• How Jarod balances the physical demands of farming with the exhaustion of dialysis.

• The small, meaningful coping mechanisms he uses to feel productive on his hardest days.

• The unexpected way the rhythm of the seasons helped him accept the rhythm of treatment.

Connect with Jerod Palmer: Check out his journey and show him some support! Tiktok: Jarodpalmer8 Facebook: Jarod Palmer (Photo with Blue shirt)

Find all links mentioned in this episode in the show notes below!

Next Week: We switch gears but keep the theme, talking to a guest who had to completely pivot their career after a chronic illness diagnosis. Subscribe so you don't miss it!

We established that our energy is a finite resource. Now, we're forging the armor to protect it. This episode dives deep into the uncomfortable truth that for those with chronic illness, boundaries aren't rude—they are non-negotiable acts of survival.

We tackle the biggest barriers to energy management: the guilt that comes with saying "no" and the fear of being a "burden" when you need to ask for help.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The Time and Activity Boundaries: Concrete scripts for saying "no" to loved ones and protecting your physical energy.

• Silencing the Internal Critic: The most vital boundary against the voice that tells you you're "lazy" or "should be able to do more."

• Reframing the Narrative: Why asking for help is an act of courage, not a sign of failure.

• The Specific Ask Strategy: How to use small, manageable requests to make receiving help easy and guilt-free.

I share my personal reflection as a CKD patient (GFR 24-30) on why defending your peace is the most critical element of chronic management.

Bonus: Get a powerful tease for our next episode where we talk to an incredible guest: a working farmer who manages his demanding schedule around his dialysis treatments!

#DefendingYourSpoons #SpoonTheory #Boundaries #ChronicFatigue #CKD #AskForHelp #SelfAdvocacy #ChronicLife