Episode 07: Scars Beneath the Surface: The trauma they don't warn you about

Episode 07: Scars Beneath the Surface: The trauma they don't warn you about

Author: G-PACT non profit June 11, 2025 Duration: 37:11

In this deeply personal episode, Sam & Levi open up about the hidden wounds that come with chronic illness—medical trauma and PTSD. From emergency room flashbacks to the emotional toll of repeated hospitalizations and gaslighting by healthcare professionals, they share raw, unfiltered stories from both sides of the hospital bed. With vulnerability and resilience, they explore how trauma shapes trust, mental health, and even their daily decisions. Whether you’ve been dismissed in a doctor’s office or felt the lingering anxiety of past procedures, this episode is for you. You're not alone—and you're not imagining it.


Hosted by two people navigating life with gastroparesis, Surviving out of Spite is a raw and real conversation from the G-PACT non-profit. This isn't a clinical lecture; it's the sound of two friends unpacking the daily reality of a chronic condition, finding humor in the absurd moments and solidarity in the shared struggles. You'll hear candid personal stories that range from frustrating to triumphant, alongside practical tips forged from lived experience. The dialogue covers everything from managing health and relationships to simply preserving your identity beyond a diagnosis. Tuning into this podcast feels like pulling up a chair to a kitchen table conversation where no topic is off-limits and laughter is considered essential medicine. It builds a community through audio, reminding anyone facing a similar journey that they are understood. Each episode explores the complex patient experience with honesty, aiming to inform, connect, and affirm that navigating life with gastroparesis is a story of resilience, often fueled by a bit of defiant spirit.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 44

Surviving out of Spite
Podcast Episodes
What Doctors Miss: HCM, Women’s Health, and Patient Voices [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:30
What does it mean to be diagnosed with a serious heart condition at a young age, and then have to fight to be believed?In this powerful conversation, Hannah shares her journey as a heart patient diagnosed with HCM and th…
Gut-Immune Connection Explained [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:55
#ChronicIllness #GutHealth #DigestiveHealth #gastroparesis In this week’s episode, Sam sits down with Dahlia and James Marin, co-founders of Married to Health, where they unpack the gut-immune connection and why food is…
Episode 29: Hope in a Broken Digestive System [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:07
Gastroparesis isn’t just about digestion — it’s about identity, grief, resilience, and learning how to fight for yourself. In this episode, Sam and Dr. Eva Alsheik unpack the science behind gastroparesis, the mental heal…
Episode 28: When Voices Become a Movement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:10
In this final episode of the year, Sam pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to grow a chronic illness community. From the early days of G-PACT to the powerful network it’s become today, she reflects on the wins…
Episode 27: The Missing Piece in GI Treatment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:16
In this week's episode, Megan Riehl joins the show to break down the brain–gut connection and why it’s a physiological process, not a dismissal. We explore how stress and nervous system dysregulation directly affect GI f…
Episode 26: When Fitness isn't Built for Us [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:31
In this episode, Sam sits down with Kate Bochnewetch, a physical therapist and running/strength coach, for a conversation about living, moving and thriving with chronic illness. Drawing from her own journey with hEDS syn…
Episode 25: Empowering Patients through Nutrition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:23
In this episode, we’re joined by Jennifer Akimoto. She’s a registered dietitian with 20 years of clinical nutrition experience, and today, we are talking about the world of blended tube feeding. Inspired by a patient’s d…