Long time no speak

explanations on where I've been, a bumper recco list, and some That's So Chronic episodes 🎙 you might have missed

Hi,

Okay so I’m not proud of the fact that I shouted from the rooftops and how this newsletter is my new favourite thing to create… and then went silent for three months…

“where have you been!?”

I could bore you by going on and on with all of my excuses, but ultimately, life recently has been a mixture of really hard/busy/exciting/chaotic/lovely/overwhelming etc etc and unfortunately the newsletter (and actually a lot of other things I normally keep on top of 😅) got chucked out the window.

But, I’m back!

Scroll down for a life update, a bumper list of recommendations I’ve accumlated since I’ve been away, and any That’s So Chronic episodes you might have missed.

---

If you’re new around here, thanks for reading! That’s So Chronic is a huge passion project for me, so your support means the world. I would love if you subscribed here on substack and wherever you get your podcasts, and even shared it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well.

---

A little big life update

L - R: Reunited with Morgan from @howtocoeliac; having the best time with Foxy Moron in all our sparkles at Adelaide Fringe Festival; a trip to the medical day unit for my Ocrevus infusion; and stunning reflections on Lake Wānaka

Alright, let me recap the start of the year.

January consisted of a lot of street performer friend reunions as some of my friends arrived in Christchurch for Bread & Circus, and even though I wasn’t performing at the fest, I made the most of all of the hangs!

I was also busy working away on an intensive summer school paper at uni. It was all about politics and new media and was being delivered in collaboration Canterbury (my uni) and universities in Finland and India. Even though I found it quite difficult and not the most interesting subject, I learnt a lot and am pleased to say I finished with an A+!

Other important mentions include going to see Elton John (!!!) and that Jonas’ residency visa was finally approved (!!!!!!!) Oh, and I also bought the domain for thatssochronic.com!

February started out with my regular 6 monthly MS treatment at the hospital, and then it was time to go on an adventure! First I went down to visit Jonas who was performing in Queenstown, and then I headed across the ditch to Adelaide, Australia for the Adelaide Fringe Festival. It’s the largest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere and it is one of my faves! This year marked my 5th year there, and it was full on. One of my favourite parts was definitely reuniting with my favourite person AKA my little niece Asher (she will be 4 in July!) and being able to take her out for pizza, gelato, and a boogie on the dance floor.

Most of March was spent in Adelaide where I was trying to fit in working, studying, having a life, and surviving, so it was a bit all over the place. I won’t lie to you, I did feel like a failure at one point when I had to drop out of a Health Science paper because I just couldn’t keep up. This degree is going to take me longer than usual to complete anyway, so after an hour of stressing I made the realisation that it was for the best.

Four weeks in Adelaide came to an end, and once I was back in New Zealand I was straight into the MRI machine for a check up brain scan, an appointment with my optometrist, and a much needed massage. I also managed to get myself an 🍑 fissure which knocked me back for the last half of the month. I will spare you the gory details lol, but for everyone who follows @thatssochronic over on Instagram, thanks for all the love on this post!

PS I have some news to share following my MRI, but I’m going to save that for a post on IG and an upcoming newsletter.

…And now it’s April! Thankfully the excruciating pain every time I need to do a number 2 has chilled out *touches-all-of-the-wood* and I’m on a break from study for a few weeks. I’m making the most of the time off by exploring Wānaka and Queenstown and soaking up the very little sunshine we get now that daylight savings has happened!

Feel free to reply to this email or drop a comment letting me know what you’ve been up to. I would love to hear from you.

---

Recommendations

Which brings me to my recommendations! Buckle up folks, I’ve got a whole summer to catch you up on!

📺 WATCH
Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now on Netflix

It would be amiss not to recommend the documentary on everyone’s lips right now. Lewis Capaldi invites the audience in to his life while he writes his next album. The film documents his diagnosis of Tourette’s, as well as his struggles with anxiety. I think it might just be my favourite doco of the year!

📺 WATCH
Daisy Jones & the Six on Amazon Prime

I’ll admit - I didn’t actually read the book by Taylor Jenkins Reid even though one hundred people recommended it to me. I’m not very good at reading books set in the past (look it’s a bit random but it’s a thing) so it never really appealed. BUT I will say, I LOVED watching it, so I’m kinda glad I waited for the TV series. This is the perfect rainy weekend watch, but make sure you have some tissues!

📺 WATCH
The Flat Share on TVNZ+

This is another book to TV adaptation, however this time I have actually read the book by Beth O’Leary. It was one of my faves in 2020 and I’ve recommended it to countless people since. The TV show is one of those easy to watch (binge!) series, that would go down a treat when you’re feeling a bit shit or recovering from treatment or the like.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

📚 READ
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

This was my first book for 2023, and I went back to my Goodreads profile to see what I wrote for the review. It was simply, “wow.” A memoir from Jennette McCurdy (iCarly, Sam & Cat) that is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking. She talks about “eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother”. Here’s an excerpt of the blurb:

Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income."

It’s intense and at times made my toes curl with frustration, but it’s well worth your time.

📺 WATCH
Lenox Hill on Netflix

I noticed that Emergency NYC was trending on Netflix over the last couple of weeks, and decided to do a bit of digging into who made it and how it came to be. Turns out it’s a spinoff to Lenox Hill - a docuseries that follows the lives of doctors and patients at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC. Naturally, I had to watch Lenox Hill first. As it follows a team of neurosurgeons, an emergency medicine doctor, and an OB-GYN, it can be gory at times, so make sure you’re in a good frame of mind before watching. It’s like a real life Good Doctor and I was hooked by the first episode.

Side note, I’m also obsessed with their Tiktok now!

Source: Forbes

🎧 LISTEN
Anna Kendrick on Armchair Expert

I am deep in my Armchair Expert era, and I won’t deny it. This episode from Anna Kendrick has been high on the recommendation list in my Google Doc and I’ve been itching to share it with you all!

“Anna joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her experience being in a toxic relationship, how she feels about the term “gaslighting,” and her strategies in dealing with a traumatic event. Anna and Dax talk about apologizing after having fights with friends, why people sometimes need to vent about their problems, and the dynamic of women being the breadwinners in relationships. Anna explains why she has travel anxiety, how it’s important to accept your own successes, and how some people can truly believe their own lies.”

Source: Armchair Expert

📚 READ
Lifting the veil: Tapu, whakanoa and a medical student’s first human dissection by Ronan Payinda on The Spinoff

The Spinoff always have interesting articles and personal essays, and this one was certainly a fascinating insight into being a medical student. If I’m being honest, I was totally oblivious that medical students performed human dissections so early in their training. It got me thinking about a couple of things: whether I would like to donate my body to science, and this episode of MedCrimes.

📺 WATCH
My Old School

I was scrolling on DocPlay and My Old School came up as a suggested watch. I checked out the trailer and my interest was piqued. Essentially the documentary portrays the 1995 “Brandon Lee” scandal, where a 30 year old man posed as a 16 year old to attend his old school in the hopes of going to medical school and becoming a doctor. It’s a bit strange, but it’s fascinating!

---

Need to catch up?

That’s So Chronic is currently on a break from releasing new episodes but there is a month of episodes that you might have missed. I’ve linked the Spotify links for you, but you can click on the episode title to be directed to Apple Podcasts.

Shana Pereira & a heart and kidney transplant

I am desperate for Shana’s story to become a Hallmark Christmas film… when you listen to the episode you’ll understand why!

Natasha Godetz & Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and a double hip replacement at 32

I arrived at this interview out of breath with chaotic energy from my morning, and left a new person. Natasha was a treat to interview, and I’m excited to be able to share her story with all of you.

Annie Vander & Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

After an accident, Annie was diagnosed with CRPS which ultimately led to a career change. She found herself “falling into Nashville” and into a career in music.

That’s So: Why Does It Still Hurt? by Dr Paul Biegler

Over the last month I’ve brought this book and Paul up in multiple conversations, and have quoted him and his academic articles in my COMS essay on advertising! Safe to say I loved getting to chat to Paul.

Like I said before, I am on a break from uploading new episodes. I’m still working through the logistics of how to make the podcast sustainable while traveling, working and studying, and I’m trying to be kind to myself for needing a bit of time and space to figure it all out. I thiiiink I’ve worked out a plan, so watch this space! 👀

---

Phew! What a big update. I definitely won’t leave it so long next time.

In current life, I’m writing this from a cafe in Queenstown where I ordered the “Utter Peanut Butter Nutter” smoothie and I think I’ve just learnt that I don’t love peanut butter… 😅

Where ever you are and what ever you’re getting up to, I hope you’re doing well, and I look forward to chatting more here on Substack moving forward!

Til next time,

Jess x