Radical honest media for the chronically ill. Essays and conversations that didn't fit anywhere else. The antidote to inspiration theater and toxic positivity.
105 pieces, 31 Mar 2016 – 6 Apr 2026.
I spent seven years in bed before I was diagnosed. I spent the next ten years in and out of it. During those years, I tried every online course platform built for education.
There is a specific kind of grief that comes from watching your career dissolve while you're too sick to stop it.
Ten years. That's how long it took doctors to find my diagnosis.
There's a pattern in digital health that I've watched repeat itself for a decade.
Policy is where good intentions go to become actionable, or where they go to die. There's no middle ground.
There's a moment every entrepreneur with a chronic illness knows intimately. You're in the middle of a pitch, adrenaline masking the pain, performing confidence while your body ...
Hey everyone,
Picture this: A first-year medical student walks into a hospital room, sees beyond the diagnosis on the chart, and genuinely connects with the human being lying in that bed. Not...
Healthcare collects enormous amounts of data. Lab values. Medication adherence. Hospital readmission rates. Quality of life scores. But almost none of it captures what actually ...
MedTech is a strange world.
Healthcare has discovered patient engagement.
I want to name something that chronically ill people do every day and never put on a CV.
Here's a thing that happens to chronically ill people that nobody talks about clearly enough:
It took me almost a decade to get diagnosed.
There's a question that haunts the corridors of chronic suffering, one that we rarely whisper even to ourselves: Do we truly want to get better? The very suggestion feels like s...
I live with a 100% disability, challenges the audience's perception of disability, arguing that my experiences have equipped him with unique "superpowers" that make him a valuab...
Last night, during a yoga class meant to be inclusive, I found myself reliving years of medical dismissal. You see, I have an invisible illness, and the teacher, like so many do...
A new force is emerging in healthcare: patient influencers. These individuals are using their personal health journeys and social media savvy to empower others and drive real ch...
Life is a theater and we become performers without choosing the stage. The script is unwritten yet somehow universally understood: pain is private, suffering is silent, and well...
When a woman enters a doctor's office, she hopes to be seen as a human being.
For nine years, I ran toward emergencies.
There's a tax you pay when you're chronically ill. It's not on your payslip. It's not deductible. And nobody who doesn't pay it knows it exists.
Every morning, I open my laptop and willingly walk into a minefield of triggers. My notifications are filled with stories of medical trauma, systemic failures, and chronic pain ...
You know what? I've been thinking a lot lately about this crazy race we're all supposedly running. The one where we're chasing after fancy titles, magazine covers, and those "30...
Thirty-three doctors.
My newborn daughter's cries pierce through the familiar haze of pain, a sound both beautiful and challenging. Here I am, a new father, my body waging its daily war while this ti...
A doctor told me to buy a nice mattress and grow old with dignity.
Hey Friends! 🎤
Iv’e been getting a lot of emails, DM’s and shoutouts asking me to share my public speaking techniques , so here you go!
Here's to another incredible year!
Hey there, it's Roi! Yeah, the chronically one. I battled my own health struggles, and let me tell you, the healthcare system can be a maze. But guess what? I found my way out, ...
My path to recovery began not with confident strides, but with rubber bands and unwavering determination. After being bedridden and facing a healthcare system that had given up ...
Yesterday was World Mental Health Day, and we're about to rip off the Band-Aid and dive into the messy, uncomfortable truth about our collective psyche.
The journey to wellness often begins with a dizzying array of options, each promising a path to better health. As I stand at this crossroads, I'm faced with a web of possibiliti...
Business leaders constantly seek fresh perspectives and insights to share with our teams and customers. The conventional route is to invite renowned academics, CEOs, and success...
The day my life collapsed, I had a choice. I could continue believing that cruel fate had robbed me of my health, dreams and future. Or I could take responsibility for my situat...
Hey! people tend to take for granted to be able to manage a full day of activity while millions of us can barely do a couple of hours. in this episode I will share some things I...
Hey everyone,
I am notoriously famous for revolutionising my life from bed but did I?
So, for those of you who don't know me, I'm Roi.
So I had a choice to make. Hundreds of threads to pull, and yet I knew each one would tighten the knot on another.
Hey, I’m Roi and I will use this podcast to help me expand on the my healing journey experiences.
Empathy is a profound human experience that connects us to others. When we feel empathy, we step into another's shoes and see the world through their eyes. We share in their suf...
So I had a choice to make. Hundreds of threads to pull, and yet I knew each one would tighten the knot on another.
It's a harsh realization: you pull through life with chronic illness, trying to survive day by day, but you are not living.
It's a harsh realization: you pull through life with chronic illness, trying to survive day by day, but you are not living.
Let's face it, the current state of healthcare IT is a hot mess. The people on the front lines – nurses swamped with data entry, Doctors spending half of their time logging and ...
There exists a shared narrative amongst us – a chronicle etched in the resilience of the chronically ill and the unwavering commitment of their advocates. We are united by an un...
When we talk about chronic illness, the focus is often on the physical symptoms and challenges. The pain, the fatigue, the mobility issues, the doctor's appointments, the treatm...
Imagine yourself lost in the medical labyrinth once more. Dead ends of jargon mock you, every turn a fresh challenge. But wait! A glimmer of light pierces the confusion. A figur...
Imagine a world where the healthcare system is missing a vital pillar, an army of unseen champions silently holding it aloft. This, my friends, is the reality when we fail to re...
Imagine yourself trapped in a medical maze. Every twist and turn throws confusing medical jargon your way. You crave a map, a guide, or anything to navigate this labyrinth. But ...
There's a constant tension simmering beneath the surface for those of us living with chronic illness. Societal whispers urge us to simply "get over it," a dismissive notion that...
Remember the crushing isolation, the suffocating silence that swallowed me whole for years? Chronic illness stole my voice, leaving me a warrior trapped in a failing body. But f...
This Rare Disease Day, I want to shift the focus from access to therapies and specialist care, which are undeniably crucial, to something rarely discussed: the profound social a...
The desert of chronic illness is vast and unforgiving. We navigate its sands, consumed by the relentless thirst for survival – symptom management, doctor visits, and the constan...
Alright, folks, gather 'round the virtual campfire, because it's time to dissect this "health tech" craze with a healthy dose of skepticism. Don't get me wrong, shiny gadgets an...
I once beheld doctors as angels in white coats, their stethoscopes draped around their necks like sacred talismans. But my rose-tinted glasses shattered when I found myself on t...
By Roi Shternin
I'll never forget the darkness that engulfed my world. For three long years, I was bedridden, my body ravaged by an enigmatic chronic illness. Pain and exhaustion were my consta...
Roi Shternin
In the age of rapid technological transformation, devices once relegated to science fiction are now commonplace fixtures of our daily lives. The R1 phone, recently unveiled by t...
More often than not, we patients feel so detached from the medical processes taking place around us, above our heads, that we crave a tiny bit of control. I would argue that wha...
As we bid farewell to 2023, it's time to reflect on the remarkable strides made in patient empowerment and chart a course for further progress in the coming year.
We’ve all seen it - the patient sitting silent in the exam room, passively receiving instructions without understanding or engagement. Care happens to patients, not with them. B...
As patients, we are not clients. We don't buy anything from you, Doctor, because our health and well-being can never be bought or sold. We're not consumers looking to get the be...
Roi Shternin
Roi Shternin
I built eight organisations from my bed.
By Roi Shternin
By Roi Shternin
Roi Shternin
By Roi Shternin
by Roi Shternin
Roi Shternin
Since the dawn of civilization, the horrors of war have haunted humanity. For the people of Israel, conflict and trauma have become an intimate companion. With every siren's cry...
Ableism refers to systemic discrimination and prejudice in favor of able-bodied people. It is based on the harmful belief that people with disabilities are inferior or defective...
Business leaders constantly seek fresh perspectives and insights to share with our teams and customers. The conventional route is to invite renowned academics, CEOs, and success...
By Roi Shternin
By Roi Shternin
As someone living with an invisible illness that comes with significant yet mostly invisible disabilities, I see firsthand the judging looks on people's faces when I engage them...
Healthcare organizations exist to serve patients, yet the patient experience and patient advocacy are often an afterthought. As healthcare focuses intensely on revenues, regulat...
Mental health is still considered the "black sheep" of medicine in many circles. But in an age of better understanding of the neural pathways and pathophysiology of illnesses, a...
Imagine everyone had a backpack on their back. Some carry a kilo, some 5, some 10. How can you tell?
Roi Shternin
Roi Shternin
In the realm of chronic illness management, three concepts stand out as significant game-changers: Patient Experience Data (PED), Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs), and Patient E...
Health literacy, defined as the degree to which individuals can obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions...
Dear Readers,
Roi Shternin
Hi everyone,
Empathy Training Package Shows Promise in Increasing Empathy Skills
Roi Shternin
Chronically Empowered
Chronically Empowered - June 2, 2023, Edition
Chronically Empowered: Your Weekly Dose of Inspiration!
The Evolution of Healthcare - From Paternalism to Patient-Centered Care 🚀
The Healing Chronicles
🌟 Welcome to this week's issue of "Chronically Empowered"! 🌟
🌟 Welcome to this week's issue of "Chronically Empowered"! 🌟
In our last episode of season 3 of the "Revolution from your bed" podcast, I discussed managing our expectations from ourselves, our loved ones, care, and healthcare professionals.
Every day, my heart was filled with the echoes of my dreams – dreams of standing on stages, inspiring others, and changing the world. Instead, I lay there, a shadow of myself, a...
I'm a professional public speaking. In fact, While trying to build a startup and support a charity, I have made my living out of keynotes, talks, and workshops in the past four ...
I've always wanted to be a Doctor, I didn't know exactly what it entails, but I really wanted to help people, save them and give them hope.
1. I will never go to University
Conversations about chronic illness, patient advocacy, and what it really costs to keep showing up.
This episode was recorded a while ago. Right after, I had a huge relapse. Podcasting stopped — not by choice, my body made that call. I'm back. Here's that episode.Dr. Hector Rodriguez is an integrative psychiatrist based in Miami. We talk about trauma, complex PTSD, why the ment…
Trigger warning: Trauma, War themes.Surprise! We’ve got an extra episode for you! In this special episode, I am joined by Samah Atout, a Belgian Palestinian advocate and Managing Partner at BIB Partners, to reflect on the incredible insights and experiences shared during the Glob…
In this episode, Roi Shternin and Dr. Margret Jaeger delve into the critical role of medical anthropology in addressing contemporary healthcare challenges. They explore the shortcomings of the modern healthcare system, including its lack of a holistic approach, overspecialization…
In this episode, taken from a keynote at the Digital Health Ljubljana conference, we address the invisible crisis at the heart of the modern healthcare system: the gap between technological innovation and the lived reality of those it’s meant to serve.For too long, digital health…
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Aileen Rice Jones, Head of Public Affairs within Mental Health at Boehringer Ingelheim.This will be Aileen’s first time attending the Global Mental Health Community Summit! With deep expertise in corporate and public affairs, Aileen shares fresh …
This is a special series where I explore my journey as a co-host of Boehringer’s Global Mental Health Community SummitIn Episode 2, I sat down with the incredible Falk Schuster, a dedicated advocate who brings a vital lived experience perspective as someone living with Major Depr…
New podcast series alert.As you all know I’m co-hosting the Global Mental Health Community Summit (GMCS25) this year again, and I’m so excited about it.This year’s event is focused on #RedefiningMentalHealthcareTogether. Boehringer Ingelheim has invited 60 of the most inspiring a…
We often feel like subjects in our own lives—navigated, tested, and surveyed. We all know that email that arrives after a medical appointment: "How did we do?" We fill out the survey, wondering if our patient feedback truly matters.Today, let's reframe that question…
We dive into the critical gap between medical device development and the lived experience of patients. We Need More Patient Voices in MedTech is the essential podcast for innovators, clinicians, patients, and advocates dedicated to ensuring that technology is truly patient-centri…
In this profound reflection, I welcome Linda, a kindred spirit who transformed her own invisible battle with a debilitating chronic migraine. For years, Linda, like many Reflective Wounded Achievers, was defined by struggle, often left bedridden.This conversation maps the critica…
In this one we dive deeper into the state of chronic illness, role of inflammation and the power of patient communities with the founder of InflamMed, A community dedicated to raise awarded and support for chronic conditions caused by inflammation.learn more about their work: htt…
Tired of waiting for someone to go to the movies with? Don't! Discover the unexpected joy and freedom of going to the cinema alone. It's not lonely, it's liberating. Find out why a solo movie date might just be your new favorite thing.Follow my Journey at roishternin.com This is …
Living with a chronic illness is tough enough, but what about the invisible battles you're fighting up top? This podcast dives into the often-overlooked connection between chronic physical conditions and your mental well-being. We're talking real talk about how managing a…
The Wild West of Wellness Data: Why Patient Ownership is the Next RevolutionReturning from a major healthcare conference, Roi Shternin, The Human Advocate1, cuts through the noise of AI promises to tackle an urgent ethical crisis: patient data ownership.This episode is a critical…
Tired of feeling like you have to choose between your chronic illness and your career dreams? You don't have to. As a fellow professional who's navigated this exact path for 18 years, I get the overwhelming challenge. This episode is your guide to creating a fulfilling ca…
What happens when a cancer researcher becomes a patient? Find out in this powerful conversation with Dr. Natasha Punia, a former startup executive who channeled her health journey into founding her own patient community, Inflammed.This episode is a deeply personal dive into the r…
I had the absolute pleasure to host Ursula Mann, a dear friend and colleague who served in senior patient engagement positions in big pharma for many years, to discuss bringing the voice of patients into industry decision-making, technology assessment, and more.Nowadays, Ursula i…
From a Flawed Hero to a Healing Soul: A New Journey BeginsFirst, a heartfelt thank you. Your support throughout my initial journey has been a source of immense strength. You listened as I battled a mysterious illness, cheering me on as I faced the healthcare system.However, that …
Struggling with chronic illness and want to pursue higher education? This week's bite-sized episode tackles the challenges of online learning for those with chronic conditions.We explore the limitations of traditional online programs and discuss a potential solution:Hybrid m…
In this one I share my personal insights from speaking gin 27 countries despite debilitating illness. how I started and how can you utilize your story to move others and change the world.My public speaking course: https://subscribepage.io/ABC-of-Public-Speaking
This week, the Revolution hits close to home.I am beyond thrilled to welcome my sister, Chen, to the mic. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to truly bet on yourself, look no further.Chen’s journey is a masterclass in pivoting. She’s gone from mastering the art of pastry …
You know that specific, suffocating feeling?The one where you’re moving at a hundred miles an hour, exhausting yourself every single day, but when you look around, you realize you haven’t actually gone anywhere. It’s not just tiredness; it’s the feeling of being stuck in a loop, …
The new season of Revolution From Your Bed is here, and we are not easing into it. 🔥If you feel like you’ve been living a life pre-approved by someone else—society, your past, the expectations of others—this episode is your cue to burn the old script.I sat down with my long-time…
Are you overlooking the most resilient, innovative talent available? This episode challenges the misconception that disability limits professional performance. We argue that individuals who are disabled or chronically ill possess a unique set of skills forged by years of navigati…
Why is managing expectations the most important skill for a chronically ill patient? Because unmet expectations—from ourselves, our family, or our work—are the fastest route to stress, shame, and a health crash.In this practical and honest episode, we provide a complete guide to …
Are patients just giving feedback, or are they shaping the system? Join us for a deep dive into the Patient in Residence concept—a revolutionary role designed to place the patient's voice directly at the center of healthcare organizational strategy.This episode explores how a…
It’s a painful truth: We know the healthcare system is broken because we live in the rubble of its collapse. As chronically ill patients, we have the lived expertise, the raw data, and the frustration to prove it.But knowing it's broken and knowing how to fix it are two diffe…
There is a silent, profound sting that comes with long-term separation from the world outside your windows.As someone who has spent nearly ten years primarily confined to my home, I know that struggle isn't just physical—it's the constant, quiet battle against solitude.By…
Welcome back to the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast," where we continue our profound conversation with Kharina Kharran. In the previous episode, we began to unravel the complexities of living with and moving beyond trauma. Today, we delve deeper into the vital topic o…
**Trigger Warning: This episode discusses the impact and healing of trauma. Please listen with care.Have you lost the basic, primal feeling of safety in your own life or even your own body?Healing from trauma is the hardest, most necessary revolution any of us can undertake. In t…
This is a conversation that hits incredibly close to home, and it’s one I’ve been excited to share.How do you redefine life when your body is actively fighting you?For many of us in the Dysautonomia/POTS community, the illness often translates to life lived largely horizontally. …
Welcome back! Season 3 is officially underway! Join me as I chat with the brilliant Lisa Grum, a Growth Mindset Coach dedicated to helping clients turn obstacles into stepping stones.This episode is about radical self-improvement. We explore how professional coaching combined wit…
It's the Season Finale of Revolution From Your Bed! In this special episode, recorded live on Clubhouse, we dive deep into the strategies for turning plans into meaningful action—even when confined by COVID-19 isolation or chronic illness.If you've felt stuck, this is the…
Welcome to an insightful and empowering episode of the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast." Today, we're addressing a challenging topic that many individuals face, particularly those living with chronic illness: the tendency to end up in toxic or co-dependent relatio…
Patients are being held from their own data and information. In this power-play of medical paternalism, we all lose; what can we do to change it?Amazing Music by Spirante Beathttps://youtu.be/qiiTdrVNNOUGet My book here: https://books2read.com/ap/nOkrbo/Roi-ShterninSupport this p…
Welcome to a thought-provoking episode of the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast," where we question the fundamental approach of Western medicine to chronic illness and its impact on our lives. Today, we're diving into the complex relationship between patients, the h…
On this episode of the Revolution From Your Bed Podcast, we're tackling a question of sustainability: How can we find a path to physical fitness that supports, rather than strains, our bodies?The answer is simple: Walking. It's a gentle yet effective alternative for those…
In this episode of the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast," we're shifting gears to the heart-pumping world of entrepreneurship and startups. The landscape is littered with tales of both meteoric rises and spectacular crashes. Yet amidst this volatile arena, one questi…
On this transformative episode of the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast," we're diving into the life-saving power of storytelling. The ability to effectively communicate your narrative is not just a skill for writers and public speakers—it can be a critical tool in he…
On the latest installment of the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast," we're diving into the pervasive message that bombards us daily: the notion that we must do it all. The pressure to juggle studying, working, creating, and succeeding all at once can be overwhelming. …
Should you invest in college, or save the money for your unpredictable health needs? This is one of the most stressful financial dilemmas facing the chronically ill community, and this reflective episode tackles it head-on.For those of us dealing with unexpected, high-cost medica…
On the latest installment of the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast," we delve into the ethereal world of dreams and their role as a powerful motivator in our lives. Dreams fuel our passions, give us direction, and inspire us to reach for the stars. But the big question …
On the latest installment of the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast," we're tackling the timely subject of New Year's resolutions—a tradition that sparks a mix of hope, determination, and, let's be honest, a bit of skepticism. We've all been there: fired up…
On the latest installment of the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast," we're peeling back the layers on a topic that's both timely and timeless: the paradox of the creative process. This week, we're not just talking about any story; we're talking about my st…
On the latest installment of the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast," we're addressing a very emotional and relatable topic that touches many of us: managing expectations from our surroundings while dealing with illness, burnout, or the times when we just need a break.…
On the latest installment of the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast," we're honored to welcome Dr. Ivana Kostic, a distinguished figure in the health tech community and co-founder of the esteemed Health Tech Lab in Belgrade, Serbia. An MIT alumnus, Dr. Kostic brings a …
In this week's episode of the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast," we confront the often isolating journey of chronic illness, challenging the dismissive phrase "it's all in your head." Acknowledging the deep loneliness that patients frequently endure, we s…
Miscommunication is one of the biggest problems in our society, Breaking up couples, starting wars, and causing patients pain, suffering, and poor treatment. how can we act instead of reacting, and engage with authentic instead of automatic responses?In today’s episode of the …
Welcome to a profoundly personal episode of the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast." Today, we delve into a story of transformation—a night that marked the lowest point in my life and the book that became a beacon of hope during that time: "Man's Search for Meaning…
How comfort are our comfort zones? And do we rally need to hit rock bottom in order to start living?In this contemplative episode of the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast," I take a deep dive into the concept of comfort zones, especially through the lens of chronic illnes…
Welcome to an inspiring episode of the "Revolution From Your Bed Podcast." Today's show is a deeply personal narrative of transformation, resilience, and empowerment. It's about my journey from spending nearly a third of my life in bed due to chronic illness, to r…