- August 21, 2023
Overview
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Gigi Robinson: if you don’t already know her, then welcome to the party! From making history as a finalist in the Sports Illustrated Swim Search, to her advocacy in the chronic illness and body positivity spheres, all the way to NFT research and navigating life as a small business owner — she truly does it all. With features in Bustle, Business Insider, Forbes, and Vogue Business, Gigi combines beauty and brains as GenZ’s forefront thought leader in the content creation space. Having been diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) at the age of 11 (and more recently diagnosed with endometriosis), Gigi knows how hard it is to be different. However, her lively spirit, positive demeanor, and elevated work ethic have made her and her Spotify Live Podcast “Everything You Need Is Within” an instant hit. Listeners of her podcast have the opportunity to learn how to become their own advocates, challenge the status quo, and dominate in professional settings. When she is not working on her podcast or posing for national campaigns, Gigi can be found working on her newsletter, “The Creator Chronicles.” Her latest project is aimed at documenting life as a young woman with a chronic illness and unlocking behind-the-scenes tips and tricks for rising content creators. With so much more on the horizon including an upcoming speaking tour, creative production for brands, advising brands and a recently-released book, A Kid’s Book About Chronic Illness, Gigi is just getting started.
Key Links
Key links mentioned in this episode:
Takeaway
Tune in as Gigi shares:
- how she was originally diagnosed with EDS, and how it’s shaped her life
- the role that therapy has played in her healing
- how and why she developed disordered eating behaviors
- how her EDS diagnosis dashed her hopes of pursuing a career as a competitive swimmer
- a discussion about the fear that comes up for her around exercise: both because she fears hurting herself (either in the exercise itself, or during recovery), but also because of her history of body dysmorphia
- how body image ties into the diagnosis of a chronic condition — and how it inspired her to get into the public discussion of body positivity
- some of the holistic practices that have soothed her nervous system and helped her reduce stress
- what it means to be an influencer with chronic illness — and what it might mean if remission occurs
- why it takes time to learn how to communicate with your loved ones about what you need for living well with a chronic condition
- how living with a chronic condition directly impacts mental health
- what it’s been like for her to navigate the pressures of being a full-time Master’s student with the realities of living with a chronic condition — and what the accommodations process was like
- what her career path has looked like as a result of her physical needs
- why she loves water aerobics
- what practices she invests in daily for her physical and mental health
- a gut check on evolution and acceptance
- why it’s important to track your symptoms
Transcript
