The so-called “Blatant BS Bill” is being marketed as reform, but in reality, it chips away at the rights, protections, and dignity of disabled and marginalized communities. In this episode of Butterfly Chats, we sit down with advocate and author Alison Hayes to unpack what’s really inside this bill, why it matters, and how it could affect thrivers in their daily lives—from healthcare access to housing and beyond.

More importantly, we shift the conversation from fear to power: what can we do as disabled and marginalized communities to resist, organize, and protect one another? Alison breaks down practical, spoon-saving steps anyone can take to fight back and shares how solidarity can be our strongest defense.

Stay until the end for Alison’s message of hope and strength for thrivers navigating these challenges.

Follow Alison’s work and grab a copy of her book (links in show notes).
Follow Butterfly Chats on YouTube, and head to the links in our bio for advocacy support and resources.

We’re stronger when we build together.

In this empowering episode of Butterfly Chats, we sit down with Kierstan—a proud Blind Mom, newly licensed social worker, and bold voice in the disability community. Kierstan shares her journey from aspiring teacher to advocate, how she navigated her diagnosis, and what it truly means to live a life rooted in joy, advocacy, and accessibility.

We talk real-life spoon-saving strategies, the emotional labor of visibility, managing motherhood with limited sight, and the mindset shifts that helped her turn obstacles into purpose. This conversation is full of warmth, wisdom, and clarity for any thriver navigating chronic illness, disability, or major life pivots.

Whether you're building your brand from bed, parenting through pain, or finding your voice as a professional with lived experience—this episode reminds you that joy isn't a luxury. It's part of the work.

In this episode, we explore:

• Kierstan’s diagnosis journey and what it taught her

• How she manages daily life and energy as a Blind Mom

• Why she pivoted into social work and how she plans to create change

• Her approach to mental health and protecting joy

• The power of representation for disabled women in motherhood and advocacy

Follow Kierstan on TikTok


Follow @butterflychats for more stories like this

What happens when healing is interrupted by heartbreak?

In this powerful episode of Butterfly Chats, author Kim Powell joins Latoya for a raw and revealing conversation about her newest book, Say I Do. Known for crafting layered characters and emotionally rich storylines, Kim opens up about Ivy — a woman who was holding it together… until one betrayal made her snap.

We dive into:

• The personal growth behind Kim’s latest novel

• How betrayal shaped Ivy’s journey

• Writing boundaries, grief, and emotional triggers

• Real talk for writers with chronic illness

• Why your story still matters — even after life rewrites your script

This episode is full of truth, healing, and a few unhinged confessions that’ll make you laugh, reflect, and maybe even see your own story a little differently.

Order your Now!

Follow and see the full collection here!

🎧 Listen in, share with a fellow thriver, and remember:
You still have a story to write.

Fibromyalgia Roundtable – Part Two: Creative Healing & Spiritual Strength

In Part Two of our Fibromyalgia Awareness Month roundtable, we’re diving deeper into the spiritual, emotional, and creative layers of living with chronic pain.

Hosted by Latoya Clark, this episode brings the wisdom and voices of two powerhouse women:
✨ Yvette Salinas – Minister, Mentor, and founder of Juicy Fruits Ministry and Spiritual Medicine Support Group. Yvette shares her spiritual approach to healing and offers soul-nourishing reminders for those carrying both invisible pain and heavy purpose.
Find her here

Follow here on Ig @Faithleadstheway

🎨 Mesha – The Creative Warrior. A talented artist and advocate navigating multiple chronic illnesses, Mesha brings insight into how creativity can be both a coping mechanism and a call to courage.

This episode is about what grounds us. What lifts us. And how we continue to show up—despite flare-ups, fatigue, and frustration.

You'll hear:

• How spirituality, art, and advocacy intersect with healing

• The emotional weight of “pushing through”

• Why our stories are sacred—and how sharing them becomes medicine

• A heartfelt word of encouragement to close out this year’s roundtable

Note: You’ll hear a shorter segment from Yvette due to a technical issue during our original recording. But trust—her message still lands with power.

📅 Air Date: May 20
🔗 Tune in on YouTube visit www.butterflychats.com, or support this work by becoming a sponsor. Your support helps us keep creating spaces like this.

#FibromyalgiaAwareness
#ButterflyChatsCommunity
#SpoonieSupport

In Part One of our special roundtable for Fibromyalgia Awareness Month, host Latoya Clark sits down with two powerful voices from our community:
Ja’Nina – The Encourager, bringing heart and honesty from the lens of motherhood, mindset, and faith.
Jen Uschold, a nurse and chronic illness warrior, is with iriseforme The Medical Expert, offering clarity on the medical side of fibro and what patients really need to feel seen.

Together, we open up about what it means to live with invisible pain while still showing up, parenting, working, and healing. This episode gets real—sharing what we’ve learned, what surprised us, and the emotional weight of navigating care systems that weren’t designed for us.

You’ll hear:

• The stories we don’t often get to tell

• What we wish we knew sooner

• How we’re building community while managing pain

• Why this conversation is more urgent than ever

🦋 This isn’t just an episode—it’s a space of support, truth, and sisterhood.

🎙️ Tune in to be reminded: you’re not alone, and your story deserves to be heard.
🔗 Listen on Spotify, visit www.butterflychats.com, and support the movement by becoming a monthly sponsor.

Prepare for a bold, truth-filled conversation with Minnie St. Claire—a proud Black disabled femme entrepreneur, digital content creator, and fierce advocate dismantling myths around disability and financial freedom.

In this episode, Minnie opens up about her 22-year journey in professional webcam modeling and how it became her Golden Fleece—a source of independence, power, and income while living with multiple sclerosis and bipolar disorder.

We explore how she navigates the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), why digital income is a lifeline for many disabled creatives, and the biggest misconceptions people have about the Canadian disability system.

Minnie doesn’t just survive the system—she outsmarts it. Her work is liberation in action, and this conversation is a masterclass in claiming financial sovereignty on your own terms.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can build a life that honors your body and your brilliance, this is your permission slip.

Listen in, share with your community, and follow Minnie on YouTube and social to support her work.

What if the pain you’re feeling isn’t just about injury, but about how your nervous system is responding to stress, fear, and life itself?

In this empowering episode, we sit down with Jen Uschold, a physical therapist with over 34 years of experience, to unpack the science behind pain and healing.

Jen explains why pain doesn’t always mean damage, how "yellow flags" like anxiety and trauma increase nervous system sensitivity, and why leading with compassion—not fear—is the key to long-term relief.

We cover how to use pacing, movement, and goal-setting without triggering a flare, the powerful role of language in recovery, and how you can start using Positive Intelligence tools to better understand your own patterns.

Jen also shares how her approach—rooted in pain science, lifestyle medicine, and compassion—can support thrivers living with fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and other invisible illnesses.

Plus, don’t miss her free Saboteur Assessment that helps you uncover mindset blocks that may be making your pain louder.

Perfect for:

• Anyone living with chronic illness or persistent pain

• Providers who want to lead with compassion

• Thrivers ready to take their healing into their own hands

Share this episode with a fellow spoonie, follow for more expert-led conversations, and leave a comment if this episode shifted your view of pain.
Let’s build your brand together.Jen Uschold
PT CFMT TPS NBC-HWC FPS CPQC
180 Therapy and Wellness
https://180therapyandwellness.com/
iRiseForMe.com
https://www.iriseforme.com/

Care to chat? Grab a time that works for you:https://calendly.com/jen-irise⁠
Licensed Physical Therapist
Certified Functional Manual Therapist
Therapeutic Pain Specialist
National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach
Fellow of Pain Sciences
Certified Lifestyle Medicine Coach
Program Director Lifestyle Medicine
https://evidenceinmotion.com/program/certification-in-lifestyle-medicine/
Certified Positive Intelligence Coach
703-859-3415 Ph
703-842-8566 Fax
"promoting a shift within you...."

we sit down with Allison Hayes, the founder of Thriving While Disabled, to explore her journey of navigating the healthcare system and empowering others to do the same. Allison shares the personal challenges that led her to create a platform dedicated to helping disabled individuals advocate for themselves, access resources, and take control of their medical care.

We’ll dive into practical steps for self-advocacy, how to find the right support, and the common pitfalls to avoid when managing healthcare and disability benefits. Plus, Allison gives us an exclusive look at her upcoming book—why she wrote it, who it’s for, and how it can be a game-changer for those struggling to get the care they need.

Tune in for an inspiring and informative conversation that will leave you feeling empowered, prepared, and ready to take charge of your healthcare journey.

Learn more about Allison’s work at the Thriving While Disabled website or Socials
📅 Pre-order Allison’s book and take the next step in advocating for your health!