How To Build Resilience and Manage Life With IBD Featuring Kinsey Beagley

About IBD

12/02/25

•

29m

About

Comments

Featured In

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD191

Kinsey Beagley, a pediatric medical assistant diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 15, shares about her experiences with IBD, including struggling with symptoms, multiple medication failures, and eventually having J-pouch surgery. Kinsey shares how reframing difficult experiences and adopting a positive mindset—her mantra is "I can do hard things"—has helped her cope.

Chapters

00:04 Introduction and Guest Introduction
02:05 Kinsey's Diagnosis Story
04:42 Initial Treatments and Medication Journey
06:06 Decision for Surgery
07:09 Emotional Impact of Taking a Gap Year
09:05 How and When Surgery Was Discussed
10:12 Life After J-Pouch Surgery
12:30 Reframing Difficult Experiences
14:04 Advice on Positive Mindset
15:35 Inspiration for a Healthcare Career
17:38 Applying Patient Experience to Her Work
18:52 Hiking and Bathroom Anxiety
21:19 Managing Hydration and Pouch Function
22:29 Coping with Bathroom Anxiety in Daily Life
26:24 Practicing Pouch Control and Mental Adjustment
27:26 Where to Find Kinsey Online
28:07 Closing Remarks and Outro

Some of the topics discussed include:

Personal journey of living with ulcerative colitis from diagnosis to treatment.
Decision-making process regarding surgical options and the emotional impact of surgery.
Experiences and challenges of living with a J-pouch post-surgery.
Importance of maintaining a positive mindset and reframing difficult experiences.
Strategies for managing anxiety in social situations and daily activities.
Tips for outdoor activities and managing bathroom access while hiking.
The significance of community support and patient-centered care in chronic illness management.

Find Kinsey Beagley at:

TikTok: @unifyinguc
Instagram: @unifyinguc

Find Amber J Tresca at:

AboutIBD.com: About IBD
Verywell Health: Verywell Health
Facebook: @aboutIBD
Twitter: @aboutIBD
Pinterest: @aboutibd
Instagram: @about_IBD
YouTube: @AboutIBD
Threads: @about_IBD

Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at:

Facebook: @maccooneycomposer
Instagram: @maccooneycomposer
YouTube: @MacCooneyComposer
Web: Cooney Studio
Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.

These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Previous Episode

The Truth About Surviving IBD and Incontinence

November 18, 2025

•

45m

Katryna Loewen, a registered nurse diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2020, shares her journey through severe flare-ups, incontinence, and her decision to have a colectomy and ileostomy in 2024. She discusses the emotional and physical challenges of living with IBD, the stigma of ostomies, and how these experiences shaped her life, relationships, and career. Katryna also describes managing her mental health, planning her wedding, and preparing for motherhood, offering hope and practical advice to others with IBD.

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD190

Chapters:

00:04 Introduction and Guest Background
02:09 Katrina's Nursing Career
03:08 Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosis
04:48 Remission and Flare-Ups
05:09 Severe Flare in 2023
07:08 Decision for Surgery
10:36 Facing Ostomy Surgery
14:08 Acceptance and Life with an Ostomy
16:08 Impact of IBD on Mental Health
17:18 Incontinence Experiences
23:31 Tracking Symptoms and Advocacy
26:23 Wedding with IBD
28:45 Therapy and Emotional Recovery
32:06 Pregnancy After Ostomy Surgery
37:50 Preparing Pets for Baby
41:54 Support Networks and Advice
43:32 Where to Find Katrina
43:38 Closing Remarks

Find Katryna Loewen at:

Instagram: @goingpains88

Find Amber J Tresca at:

AboutIBD.com: About IBD
Verywell Health: Verywell Health
Facebook: @aboutIBD
Twitter: @aboutIBD
Pinterest: @aboutibd
Instagram: @about_IBD
YouTube: @AboutIBD
https://www.threads.net/@about_ibd

Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at:

Facebook: @maccooneycomposer
Instagram: @maccooneycomposer
YouTube: @MacCooneyComposer
Web: Cooney Studio
Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.

These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Next Episode

Amber's Year in Books 2025

December 16, 2025

•

37m

Looking for your next great read? Host of About IBD, Amber Tresca, gives her year-end roundup of books, with brief summaries and her reflections on each. The selections cover a mix of genres, from speculative fiction and psychological thrillers to memoir and dark fantasy, often touching on themes of trauma, community, self-acceptance, and chronic illness. Amber shares how the stories resonated with her experience as a GenX mom living with a chronic illness, offering both recommendations and caveats. She also discusses practical tips for accessing books affordably through libraries and apps, and encourages exploring local bookstores or thrift shops to boost your reading journey and sense of community.

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD192

Find Amber's 2025 books at Bookshop.org

Chapters:

00:05 — Introduction and Episode Overview — Amber introduces herself, the podcast, and the year-end book review episode.
01:08 — Book 1: Beautyland by Marie Helene Bertino — Summary, themes, and reflections on the coming-of-age story of an alien observing human life.
03:35 Book 2: The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult — Summary, dual timelines, ancient Egypt, and personal frustrations with the main character.
06:10 — Book 3: Doctor Sleep by Stephen King — Summary, differences between book and movie, trauma, and post-Shining life for Danny Torrance.
09:57 — Book 4: We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer — Summary, psychological horror, reality distortion, and the challenges of ambiguous endings.
12:23 — Book 5: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig — Summary, alternate lives, regret, self-acceptance, and critique of the book's premise.
16:07 — Library Resources and Digital Media Tips — Amber shares how she accesses books via library apps and encourages listeners to use library resources.
17:36 — Book 6: A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher — Summary, dark fantasy, abuse, coming of age, and resilience in a retelling of Goose Girl.
20:40 — Book 7: Death Valley by Melissa Broder — Summary, magical realism, chronic illness depiction, and reflections on escapism and coping.
24:21 — Book 8: One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole — Summary, dissociative identity disorder, pandemic context, and a unique take on the locked-room thriller.
27:07— Book 9: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman — Summary, community, connection, and critique of the book's tone and humor.
31:06 — Book 10: A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost — Summary, comedic memoir, personal anecdotes, and recommendation of the audiobook version.
33:44 — Book Shopping, Thrifting, and Community Reflections — Amber discusses supporting bookstores, thrifting, and the importance of reading for community and personal growth.
36:07 — Closing Remarks and Call to Action — Amber wraps up, encourages listener engagement, and provides information about show notes and future book clubs.