#159: Willa Spalter | T1D Without Borders: Faith, Fasting & Travel

By Amber Clour on Sep 28, 2026

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When a past podcast guest mentioned fasting for Yom Kippur, I wanted to learn more — and that curiosity led me to Willa Spalter who has spent much of her young adult life living, studying, and traveling throughout the Middle East. In this episode we talk faith, fasting, self-reflection, pump failures abroad, traveling with diabetes supplies, food, social life, and what it really looks like to take T1D along for the adventure.

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#158: Bret Marbach | Rush Week, College & T1D: It Takes More Than Just Showing Up

By Amber Clour on Aug 27, 2026

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Watching my friends’ kids navigate college, rush week, and all the new beginnings that come with it made me think back to my own experience — and how, with Type 1 diabetes, there’s always a little more going on behind the scenes. So I went looking for the perfect guest to talk about what it really takes to show up for college life, from rush week and new roommates to dating, exercise, finding your people, and managing diabetes through it all.

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#157: Brandon Essex | Blood Sugar and Body Blows: T1D in the MMA Ring

By Amber Clour on Aug 4, 2026

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Brandon Essex first caught my attention when I saw a post about an MMA fight where he was matched with a fellow person living with Type 1 diabetes. I’ll be honest—I knew very little about MMA, but I had plenty of questions. I wanted to learn more about Brandon’s journey, what inspired him to step into the ring, and how Type 1 diabetes played a role throughout the experience.

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#156: Mark Carter | Your Voice Matters

By Amber Clour on Jul 22, 2026

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After a short break, I thought it was time to dust off the microphone and get back to what I enjoy the most – real life diabetes conversations. In this episode we discuss the importance of the patient’s voice and dive into details of our recent advocacy trip to Washington D.C.

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I Wasn’t Supposed to Get Here: 50, 42 and Still Standing

By Amber Clour on Feb 4, 2026

This year holds two markers I was never supposed to reach: my 50th birthday and my 42nd diaversary.

Celebrating “50” with friends from high school cracked open memories I hadn’t touched in decades—the highs, the crashes, the mood swings, navigating cheerleading camp, parties, dating… all of it. And threaded through every single memory was diabetes, even though I never talked about it back then.

I didn’t explain my Type 1 life. Honestly, I didn’t even consciously think about how different my life was. Diabetes was just there—always—quietly demanding everything from me while I worked overtime to appear normal.

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Living Lighter: One Year on the Omnipod 5

By Amber Clour on Apr 5, 2025

It’s hard to believe I haven’t given myself an insulin injection in over a year.

After decades of navigating T1D with multiple daily injections, I took the Podder plunge on February 25th, 2024. Making the decision to start the Omnipod 5 wasn’t easy—there were tons of emotions, a healthy dose of fear, and a big dose of hope. Hope that this device might finally help ease the relentless overnight blood sugar rollercoasters.

I haven’t shared much about this journey—until now. Today, I want to acknowledge and celebrate what a difference this little device has made in my life.

It wasn’t love at first Pod. In fact, I knocked off my very first one within 24 hours. Cue panic.

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#155: Dr. Kevin Pantalone | We Truly Do Care

By Amber Clour on May 2, 2024

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I’m breaking new ground with a special guest: Dr. Kevin Pantalone, an endocrinologist whose insights offer a fresh perspective on patient care.

In a recent poignant reflection, Dr. Pantalone shared the emotional impact of losing one of his patients, a woman living with Type 1 diabetes. His words shed light on a side of healthcare we often overlook—the connection between patients and their providers. In this episode we discuss how to effectively communicate with healthcare providers and how they can better serve the diverse needs of the patient population.

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The Show Must Go On

By Amber Clour on Mar 31, 2024

I had every intention of sharing a heartfelt post about celebrating my 40th diaversary back in January, but as life tends to do, diabetes, new podcasts, and adventures took over. Nevertheless, it’s time to catch you up on some exciting developments.

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Unearthing Diabetes Discoveries #1 | Ulf Hannelius, Diamyd Medical

By Amber Clour on Mar 11, 2024

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Welcome to Unearthing Diabetes Discoveries, your inside look at cutting-edge diabetes research. In this episode, I chat with Ulf Hannelius, CEO of Diamyd Medical, about their groundbreaking investigational immunotherapy that aims to safely and specifically slow down or halt the autoimmune destruction of insulin producing cells.

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#154: Mia Fasanella | Celebrating Your Uniqueness

By Amber Clour on Feb 20, 2024

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After her Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, Mia Fasanella became a certified yoga instructor, using yoga and meditation to navigate the uncertainties. As a second-grade teacher, she fosters a supportive classroom environment by embracing her diabetes, inspiring her students to celebrate their uniqueness. In this episode we discuss the fascinating story of how her father unraveled her unique Type 1 diabetes family history, the importance of being mindful, and how to navigate the classroom.

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