#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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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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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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#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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Just the Facts #1: Dr. Andrew Bugbee | Diabetes in Animals

By Amber Clour on Feb 1, 2024

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This particular podcast subject, diabetes in animals, sparked my interest after I learned about Quincy, a koala bear at the San Diego Zoo, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2018, was insulin dependent, and wore a CGM. It made me think – why do animals have diabetes and is it the same as mine? Fascinating!

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#153: Saira Khan-Gallo | I’m Not Noncompliant

By Amber Clour on Jan 22, 2024

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Saira Khan-Gallo is on a mission to bridge the gaps in diabetes outcomes by championing equitable and patient-centered healthcare. In this episode we delve into Saira’s unique story of meeting her husband through matching insulin pumps, her time in the Peace Corps, a passion project close to her heart, and how Type 1 diabetes is a family affair.

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#151: Molly Schreiber | An A1c of 5.0 was a Badge of Honor

By Amber Clour on Dec 8, 2023

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I connected with Molly Schreiber after reading a heartfelt LinkedIn post about her family history of Type 1 diabetes and the tragic loss of her father. Molly is a patient living with multiple health conditions and an active patient advocate within those communities. In this episode we discuss growing up with a T1D dad, her personal T1D diagnosis, and how her role as Community Director gives her the privilege to spend time with patients, caregivers and patient advocacy focused organizations.

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#147: Farhaneh Ahmadi | Humanizing the Diabetes Experience

By Amber Clour on Sep 20, 2023

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Farhaneh Ahmadi is the Founder and CEO of eddii, a virtual in-app character designed to engage people living with diabetes. Her vision is to make every eddii user feel motivated to achieve long-lasting health outcomes, and enjoy doing so! In this episode we discuss her personal Type 1 diabetes journey, the inception and benefits of eddii, gamification, and why the app operations are based in Oklahoma.

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