When Headlines Reveal Something Deeper
In our Headlines to Hospitals episode, we talked about how a celebrity’s death from liver rejection wasn’t just another story on the news, it hit close to home. It stirred up every fear, every memory, and every hard-earned truth about what it takes to fight for another chance at life.
We’re sharing this article, New Stories, Same Stigma, because it shines a light on something we lived firsthand: the stigma surrounding alcohol-related liver disease and transplants. It explores how media stories shape public perception, often framing people with alcohol-related conditions as “less deserving” and turning life-and-death medical care into a zero-sum game.
This research matters to us because behind every headline is a real person, a family, and a fight for survival. Sharing this piece is our way of continuing the conversation; about compassion, about the reality of transplant, and about changing the story around addiction and second chances.
Why We’re Sharing “SuperBetter”
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned on this journey is that mindset matters. The way you frame the fight can change everything.
That’s why we love Jane McGonigal’s TED Talk, SuperBetter. In it, she shares how “gamifying” your life; using the mechanics of games to approach challenges, can build resilience, spark hope, and help you heal.
When you’re in the middle of something hard, it can feel impossible to keep going. But what if you could collect “power-ups” every day, see setbacks as quests, and remind yourself that you are the hero of your own story? We also talk about Mindset, Drive and Grit, which we will revisit in future podcasts, but Positive Psychology has an actionable impact on your successes.
For us, this isn’t just theory. It’s survival. Turning recovery into small wins, celebrating progress like levels unlocked, and reframing obstacles as part of the adventure helped us get through some of the darkest days.
We’re sharing this talk because it’s a powerful reminder: even in life’s hardest chapters, you can play, you can build strength, and you can become super better.
Why Empathy Matters in Our Journey
On our podcast, we talk about a short video from Brené Brown where she illustrates the difference between sympathy and empathy. Sympathy looks down into the hole and says, “Wow, that’s bad. At least…” while empathy climbs down into the darkness with you and says, “I’m here. I get it. You’re not alone.”
That difference has been everything for us.
When Stacey was battling addiction, waiting for a liver transplant, and later facing breast cancer, what she needed most wasn’t someone to “fix” it or tell her to look on the bright side. What she needed was connection.
As the big sister and health advocate, Julee had to learn this the hard way. Her instinct was to solve every problem and fight every battle. But what often mattered more was simply being there—sitting in the hard moments, listening without judgment, and letting Stacey know she wasn’t alone.
We share Brené Brown’s short because it explains, in a few minutes, what took us years to live: empathy builds bridges, heals relationships, and carries you through the darkest seasons. It’s not about answers. It’s about connection.