#AerieREAL Changemakers are known for doing amazing things, and our 2020 Changemakers Chelsea Murray and Cassie DaLuzVieira-Manion have kicked off their latest venture! The Spoonies Unite founders have launched their podcast, The Real Life Show: Living with a Chronic Illness, which seeks to continue their mission of spreading awareness about chronic illnesses and sharing REAL stories and advice.
We caught up with Chelsea and Cassie to find out more about the podcast, what they love about being #AerieREAL Changemakers and what’s in store for the future of Spoonies Unite. Read on below to learn more!
What was the turning point in your career that inspired you both to create The Real Life Show: Living with a Chronic Illness Podcast and MyWellnessHub.co?
Cassie: We were sitting next to each other in a staff meeting at the Pilates studio we worked at. When I wanted to start a chronic illness support group, Chelsea expressed she really wanted to be part of it because she also has a passion for working with those with a chronic illness or disability.
During our meetings for the support group, Chelsea and I were having conversations that we felt more people needed to hear, so they can feel less alone and know that there are others in the world going through what they are. I told Chelsea we should start a podcast! After she freaked out for a few minutes in fear, she agreed with terrified excitement!
And we haven’t looked back since, we absolutely love our podcast and sharing people’s stories and real life, unfiltered experiences, and were thrilled to expand our community online at MyWellnessHub.co.
What services does MyWellnessHub.co and the podcast offer for those living with a chronic illness/disability?
Chelsea: The podcast is a fantastic free resource for tips and tricks from experts in the health and wellness field, as well as a place where people feel a sense of connection because they hear experiences and stories just like their own, and they know they’re not alone.
And while we love what the podcast does, we still felt like there was missing in the chronic illness community. So, we created MyWellnessHub.co, which is a resource hub offering community curated recommendations for products and services that actually work. We also have a growing online community, we wanted to create a safe uplifting space for people to come together and be themselves, feel heard, and understood.
What do you love most about being an #AerieREAL Changemaker?
Spoonies Unite: One of the best parts of being an #AerieREAL Changemaker has been connecting with the other Changemakers! We have a group message going on Instagram which has been so incredible to chat with each other, a group of women who are ambitious and passionate, and actively making a difference in their communities too.
Another giant part we love about being a Changemaker is having the support of a big brand whose values we align with to bring more awareness to our cause and open more discussions about what it’s like to live life with a chronic illness or disability.
What do you hope to accomplish in the next year @TheRealSpooniesUnite?
Spoonies Unite: We’ve got big goals for the next year! We’re launching a series of books, called The Wellness Book Series, which will be focused on teaching people with and without chronic illnesses how to practice self-care, go after their dreams and more!
We’re also thrilled to announce we have launched our nonprofit SpooniesUniteNonprofit.com, an organization offering financial assistance for wellness treatments to help the chronically ill population feel their best. We’re hoping to raise $150,000 this year!
We’ll of course be growing our community at MyWellnessHub.co and our podcast audience. And continuing to have open and honest conversations about all the things!
We are so excited about what’s to come for #AerieREAL Changemakers Cassie, Chelsea and their Spoonies Unite organization! Will you be tuning in, Aerie fam? Share your thoughts in the comments.
If you want to be an #AerieREAL Changemaker, share your voice with us by submitting your 2021 application!