In this episode of Messy Liberation, Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive deep into the complexities of the US healthcare system, sharing their personal experiences with chronic illness, denied insurance claims, and the frustrations of navigating healthcare in America. They also discuss the Luigi Mangione case and its implications for healthcare reform and inequality. With honesty and wit, Becky and Taina explore what it means to fight for health equity while balancing the personal and political challenges of living with disability.

From sharing practical tips like refusing unnecessary weigh-ins at the doctor to reflecting on the intersectionality of healthcare access, this hodgepodge episode is as informative as it is engaging. Tune in to hear how they bring their unique perspectives to a conversation that impacts us all.

Discussed in This Episode

• The struggles of living with chronic illness in the US healthcare system
• Why you can and should refuse unnecessary weigh-ins at the doctor
• Luigi Mangione, the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting, and healthcare reform politics
• Intersectionality and disability: The shared vulnerabilities we all face
• The impact of denied insurance claims and inaccessible care
• Chronic pain experiences and the emotional toll of healthcare discrimination
• The importance of reclaiming agency in healthcare and firing bad providers
• What may come next for Messy Liberation in 2025

Resources Mentioned

• “On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder
• Feminist Instagram account by Blair Imani
• BRB Crying podcast
• Pod Save America podcast
• You Made it Weird podcast
• Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers podcast
• Lonely Island and Seth Meyers podcast