A Love Letter to the Chronically Ill With Erica Falco Artwork

The Sick Gaze

Welcome to the Sick Gaze podcast, a series where we dive deep into the complexities of life with chronic illness, attempt to break down gendered barriers within healthcare, and advocate for disability justice. Drawing inspiration from Laura Mulvey’s concept of the male-gaze, The Sick Gaze challenges the existing narrative norms by offering a platform for diverse lived experiences. In a world where stories are often filtered through able-bodied perspectives, our podcast strives to bring visibility to invisible conditions. Join us as we navigate the complexities of life with chronic illness, fostering empathy, understanding, and ultimately, creating a community that embraces and validates the stories that have long remained in the shadows.

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The Sick Gaze

A Love Letter to the Chronically Ill With Erica Falco

April 23, 2025 • Molly Dickerson • Season 3 • Episode 3

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In today's episode, I sit down with Erica Falco, a woman living in Long Island, NY, with multiple chronic illnesses that greatly affect her daily life, including endometriosis, hEDS, POTS, MCAS, and gastroparesis. In this inspiring and heartfelt discussion, Erica elucidates the importance of building a strong support system, citing patience and resilience as key components of her method of managing and healing from her chronic illnesses. She gives "a love letter to the undiagnosed", remembering how alone and directionless she felt while searching for quality healthcare. She talks about how to find that team of providers who WILL give you the care you deserve, and how to foster hope when it feels like it's just too much.

Erica wants to build a community of spoonies supporting each other, so follow along on her journey on Instagram at @ericaafal

Take care of your spoons!
If you're interested in being interviewed for this podcast or want to let me know your thoughts on this episode, email me at dickersonmm@g.cofc.edu and follow @thesickgazepod on instagram!