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Victoria Reese Brathwaite | CEO & NPO Founder

@picturethisvic

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🎙️✨Hosted by @picturethisvic | Exploring Black women’s health & patienthood with real stories. Brought to you by @weareillmatic. #PatientInYou

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Your questions deserve to be heard out loud. 🎙️

Too often, we stay quiet about our health — when talking about it is exactly what can save lives. That’s why we created the Let’s Talk About It segment on @patientinyou, and I want YOUR voice in it.

If you have questions about your health, your diagnosis, navigating the healthcare system, advocating as a caregiver, finding community in your wellness journey, or anything related to being Black and ILL — send it to me.

Record a voice note or write an email and send it to podcast@weareillms.com. Your question could be the one that changes everything for someone who needed to hear it.

Season 2 is coming soon and we have some incredible guests lined up. ▶️ Follow @patientinyou so you don’t miss a single episode. Drop a comment on what you what topics you want us to discuss! by @picturethisvic

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6 months ago

Episode 10 gets real about something we do not talk about enough.

You are allowed to fire your doctor.

When Victoria Reese Brathwaite, (@picturethisvic) MS advocate and founder, talks about building the right care team, she does not sugarcoat it. If a provider feels dismissive, disconnected, or more focused on insurance money than your wellbeing, you do not have to stay.

In this episode, she shares why she let her first neurologist go. He was kind, but he was not the right fit. He was not an MS specialist. She did not feel fully comfortable having the conversations she needed as a woman who wanted children. And she wanted culturally relevant care. Care that felt aligned.

Now, she is under the care of Dr. Mitzi Joi Williams (@thenerdyneurologist) in Atlanta. A doctor who explains disease modifying therapies using rap analogies. Who sketches it out. Who meets her where she is. That is what partnership looks like.

Your healthcare team should feel like a team. You should feel seen, heard, and understood. If you do not, it is okay to advocate. It is okay to switch. It is okay to want more.

Watch Episode 10 on YouTube.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream.

#PatientInYouPodcast #MSAwareness #PatientAdvocacy #BlackInHealthcare #WomensHealth by @picturethisvic

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8 months ago

Episode 10, filmed during Wellness Week(end), @weareillmatic’s signature event, also opens up an honest, needed conversation about dating, disclosure, and chronic illness.

During the recording, an attendee asked something many people quietly wonder: When you are dating and living with MS, when do you tell someone? How do you explain fatigue, stress, or needing space without it being misunderstood as disinterest?

Victoria (@picturethisvic) shares her unfiltered approach. No waiting. No hiding. No shrinking herself to make someone else comfortable. For her, disclosing early was about honesty, self protection, and time. If someone was going to walk away after learning about her MS months later, they were going to walk away at the beginning too. And she refused to invest energy, emotions, or money into relationships that could not hold her whole reality.

This part of the episode is a reminder that disclosure is deeply personal. There is no single right way. But there is power in choosing yourself, honoring your truth, and letting people opt in with full information.

If you are navigating dating with a chronic illness, or supporting someone who is, this conversation matters.

Watch Episode 10 on YouTube. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

#PatientInYouPodcast #MultipleSclerosis #ChronicIllnessCommunity #HealthPodcast #BlackHealthVoices by @picturethisvic

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8 months ago

Filmed during our signature event, Wellness Week(end), episode 10 gives us a chance to hear from our community, as they shared their pressing questions for our host and We Are ILL founder, in a special Ask Victoria Q&A.

In this episode, Victoria (@picturethisvic) reflects on how community was never something she intentionally set out to create. It was something she grew up inside of. Family gatherings, teams, choirs, classrooms, friendships, and even being the “other” in a room all shaped her instinct to find her people. When she did not fit where she was, she learned to go look for where she did.

That instinct is what led to the creation of We Are ILL. Not just a platform, but a space that meets people where they are. Locally, nationally, and globally. A reminder that none of us are meant to do this alone, and that community can start with something as simple as shared experiences, shared curiosity, or shared survival.

If you have ever felt different, out of place, or unsure where you belong, this episode is for you.

Tap in and listen to Episode 10. You might realize you have been building community your whole life too.

#PatientInYouPodcast #PatientAdvocacy #ChronicIllnessCommunity #HealthPodcast #BlackHealthVoices by @picturethisvic

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8 months ago

Being neurodivergent in a world that’s not designed for your brain can be overwhelming, but you’re not alone.

In the call-in segment for the “There Is No Bear” episode, a listener asked how to better advocate for herself as a neurodivergent adult, but especially when facing things like burnout, executive dysfunction, and communication challenges.

Natasha Nelson (@supernovamomma) offered powerful advice:
📌 Focus on your challenges and find tools that specifically support you, whether that’s body doubling, visual scheduling, or sensory breaks.
📌 Build a community of other neurodivergent folks who understand your world and can help you feel seen and supported.
📌 And above all — know that self-advocacy isn’t selfish. It’s survival.

🎧 This is just one of the many important conversations in this episode. Tap the link in bio to listen and share with someone who needs this reminder.

#NeurodivergentVoices #AutisticAdults #ADHDAwareness #NeurodiversityMatters #MentalHealthSupport #PatientInYouPodcast #BlackNeurodivergentVoices #DisabilityAwareness #InvisibleDisability by @picturethisvic

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a year ago

In our “Love Through the Last Breath” episode, a listener called in with a powerful question: where can caregivers turn when supporting aging loved ones starts to feel overwhelming?

Lauren Miller (@lauren.rosa.miller) reminded us that before finding the right resource, you have to know where you are. Whether you’re just beginning the caregiving journey or deep in the day-to-day, clarity on your needs makes support more accessible.

Victoria Reese Brathwaite (@picturethisvic) offered a vital reminder, you don’t have to do this alone. Patient advocacy groups can be a lifeline, connecting you to education, community, and real solutions tailored to your caregiving experience.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone caring for others or preparing to navigate this chapter.

🎧 Catch up on “Love Through the Last Breath” now available wherever you listen to podcasts.

#PatientInYouPodcast #CaregivingSupport #ElderCareResources #BlackHealthMatters #PatientAdvocacy #HealthEquity by @picturethisvic

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a year ago

Infertility impacts 1 in 8 couples in the U.S., yet so many people still feel alone in their journey.

Whether it’s due to ovulatory disorders, blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, or causes that remain unexplained, infertility is complex, emotional, and deeply personal. Over 6.1 million women in America are navigating the challenges of trying to conceive.

It’s time we talk more openly about these experiences.

Have you or someone you know faced unexpected roadblocks when trying to grow your family? What support or answers felt most helpful in your journey?

Drop a 🖤 if this resonates, or share your story in the comments, because someone needs to hear it.

#InfertilityAwareness #TryingToConceive #Endometriosis #BlockedTubes #PCOSJourney #FertilitySupport #PatientInYouPodcast #YouAreNotAlone by @picturethisvic

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a year ago

MYTH: Multiple myeloma only affects older white people.
FACT: Black Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and often at a younger age.

Multiple myeloma is a rare blood cancer that impacts plasma cells, but disparities in diagnosis, access to care, and awareness mean many Black patients face delayed treatment and worse outcomes. Early education and self-advocacy can be life-saving.

Know the signs. Ask the questions. Demand the tests.

🎧 Catch our past episodes to hear how real patients are navigating rare and chronic conditions with power and purpose.

#MultipleMyelomaAwareness #MyelomaFacts #BlackHealthMatters #PatientInYouPodcast #RareDiseaseAwareness #AdvocateForYourself by @picturethisvic

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a year ago

When it comes to our health, curiosity can be a gift, but overconsumption can be chaos.

Tabitha Brown (@iamtabithabrown) reminds us that researching our symptoms online might give us a sense of control, but it can also create unnecessary fear.

Her advice? Learn about your body with intention, not anxiety.

In her conversation with Victoria Reese Brathwaite (@picturethisvic), Tabitha opens up about her wellness journey, perimenopause, and the importance of grace, both with your body and your mind.

🎧 Go back and listen to this powerful episode featuring Tabitha Brown, available now wherever you get your podcasts.

#PatientInYouPodcast #TabithaBrown #PerimenopauseAwareness #BlackWomensHealth #WellnessJourney #HolisticHealth by @picturethisvic

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a year ago

Vitiligo is more than skin deep. This autoimmune condition causes a gradual loss of pigment in patches, often appearing on the skin, hair, and even tissue, but its emotional impact can be just as visible.

While genetics, stress, and immune dysfunction can all play a role, so can the stigma people face. That’s why we dedicated an entire episode to it.

🎧 Revisit our conversation about vitiligo, representation, and the importance of being seen, literally and emotionally. It’s one of our most personal and powerful yet.

#VitiligoAwareness #ChronicIllness #Autoimmune #SkinHealth #RepresentationMatters #PatientInYouPodcast #PodcastConversation #HealthEquity by @picturethisvic

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a year ago

In Episode 4 of Patient In You, Naomi Rose (@nayrosee) opens up about navigating her diagnosis of cutaneous lupus (CLE) ... how it affects her skin, scalp, and spirit. She shares practical wisdom on pacing your journey, leaning into faith, and building the community that supports you when symptoms get heavy.

If you’re walking through your own health challenge and looking for honesty, strength, and hopeful perspective, this one is for you.

🎧 Listen back to Naomi’s full conversation now, available on all platforms.

#PatientInYouPodcast #LupusAwareness #AutoimmuneJourney #BlackHealthMatters #LivingWithLupus #ChronicIllnessSupport by @picturethisvic

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a year ago

In Episode 2 of Patient In You, a listener asked how to approach her friend who just became pregnant after IVF while she’s exploring her own future fertility options.

Host Victoria Reese Brathwaite (@picturethisvic) encouraged leaning into the tough conversations instead of avoiding them, and guest Ashley Blaine Featherson‑Jenkins (@ashleyblaine) reminded us that mindset matters, and what’s happening for someone else could open the door for what’s possible for you.

Tune in now for a heartfelt look at friendship, faith and fertility.

#PatientInYouPodcast #IVFSupport #FertilityJourney #BlackWomensHealth by @picturethisvic

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a year ago