Your Story Our Fight by Lupus LA

Hosted by LupusLA

Business Education Health Fitness

Website RSS feed

Episodes

103

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Lupus LA enters the fastest growing media market with the new Your Story Our Fight® podcast which will give a voice to lupus patients while continuing Lupus LA’s mission to raise lupus awareness worldwide. Hosted by the Chairman of Lupus LA and lupus patient himself, Adam Selkowitz, patients from all walks of life will share stories about their unique lupus journeys. With a focus on inspiration and hope, Lupus LA’s podcast will provide support and optimism to a patient community looking for assurance that they are not alone.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 10, 2026Episode 427 min

Season 6 | Episode #4 with Brand Partnerships Manager at TikTok, Community Organizer, Advocate, and Lupus Patient, Vannie Sam

Season SIX Episode FOUR of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Vannie Sam. Vannie Sam is a community organizer, advocate, and Brand Partnerships Manager at TikTok. Diagnosed with SLE Lupus at just 13 years old, Vannie grew up learning how to navigate life with a chronic illness and has spent much of her adulthood reflecting on what it means to truly live well with lupus. Her journey has taught her the importance of finding community, embracing joy, and creating spaces where people with lupus can feel seen, supported, and understood. Through her advocacy and community work, Vannie hopes to encourage others living with lupus to build connections, celebrate the life they’re creating, and remember that they don’t have to navigate it alone. Because life is more beautiful when you can share it, more fun when you experience it together, and more whole when you support each other.

October 27, 2026Episode 329 min

Season 6 | Episode #3 with Professional Flamenco Dancer, Teacher, and Choreographer, Mercedes Ibarra

Season SIX Episode THREE of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Mercedes Ibarra. Mercedes Ibarra is a professional Flamenco dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in Los Angeles. She is also an interspiritual minister who officiates ceremonies such as weddings, baby blessings, quinceañeras, and life celebrations. She was diagnosed with Lupus in 2015, after spending about 20 years looking for an answer to her mysterious symptoms. Although Lupus often makes life difficult, Mercedes likes to work with it to create her art and to inspire others to work with life's challenges to empower themselves, create beautiful experiences, and celebrate the nuances of life.

October 13, 2026Episode 223 min

Season 6 | Episode #2 with Commercial Operations Assistant at A+E Global Media and Lupus Advocate, Somaja Dixon

Season SIX Episode TWO of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Somaja Dixon. Somaja Dixon is a Commercial Operations assistant at A+E Global Media and Lupus advocate who is passionate about sharing her story. Living with lupus, she aims to raise awareness and create space for honest conversations around chronic illness. She is currently working on a book about her journey and hopes to inspire others through vulnerability, strength, and authenticity.

September 22, 2026Episode 133 min

Season 6 | Episode #1 with Comedian, Ayanna Dookie

Season SIX Episode ONE of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Ayanna Dookie. Ayanna Dookie is a stand-up comedian, storyteller, and lupus warrior whose work blends sharp observational comedy with deeply personal stories. She has been seen on Comedy Central and TruTV and heard on NPR and SiriusXM. Through comedy and storytelling, Ayanna shares her experience living with lupus with honesty, humor, and the hope that others feel a little more seen along the way.

June 23, 2026Episode 1639 min

Season 5 | Episode #16 with USC Gould School of Law Student, Lianna Treitler

Season FIVE Episode SIXTEEN of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Lianna Treitler. Lianna is a USC graduate and a current law student at USC Gould School of Law. She was diagnosed with lupus during her junior year of college in 2021 which progressed to lupus nephritis and an eventual kidney transplant in 2025. Lianna is passionate about designating chronic illness and expanding resources and support for both lupus patients and kidney transplant recipients. She plans to go into health law to change the broader policy and decisions behind our healthcare system.

June 9, 2026Episode 1534 min

Season 5 | Episode #15 with Luxury Client Experience Leader and Lupus Patient, Katherine Antequera

Season FIVE Episode FIFTEEN of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Katherine Antequera. Katherine Antequera is a luxury client experience leader, speaker, and advocate living with lupus for over two decades. Diagnosed at just 13, she has transformed her journey into a platform for resilience, confidence, and empowerment—using beauty, mindset, and faith as tools for healing and self-expression. Through her story, Katherine inspires others to embrace their strength, redefine beauty on their own terms, and live boldly despite chronic illness.

May 26, 2026Episode 1430 min

Season 5 | Episode #14 with Musician and Lupus Patient, Brett Kohler

Season FIVE Episode FOURTEEN of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Brett Kohler. Brett Kohler is a musician and lead singer and guitar player for the up and coming band The Detours. He was diagnosed with Lupus in his late 20's, a moment that changed his life forever. Music is what helped Brett get through the early stages of his diagnosis and ultimately led him to learning guitar and places now in music he never thought he would be. He hopes his story can bring hope to people when they need it most and he is looking forward to getting more involved in the Lupus community.

May 12, 2026Episode 1324 min

Season 5 | Episode #13 with Librarian, Library Branch Manager and Lupus Patient, Joselyn Williams

Season FIVE Episode THIRTEEN of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Joselyn Williams. Joselyn is 53 years old and has been diagnosed with SLE Lupus and Lupus Nephritis since 2012. Joselyn is currently a Branch Manager at a library, where she enjoys serving the community in any way she can.

April 28, 2026Episode 1224 min

Season 5 | Episode #12 with Master of Nursing Student at the Duke University School of Nursing, Published Scholar and Lupus Patient, AlexAndriA G. Porter

Season FIVE Episode TWELVE of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes AlexAndriA G. Porter. AlexAndriA is a Master of Nursing student at the Duke University School of Nursing, published scholar, and multidisciplinary leader whose work bridges healthcare, advocacy, and the arts. She serves as the 2025 Cohort Representative, Student Liaison for the Clinical Resource Team, and President of Nurses Amplifying Voices (NAV), advancing equity and student engagement in nursing. With a background in psychology, business, civil rights advocacy, and clinical care, she brings both analytical rigor and compassionate leadership to her work. Despite being diagnosed with a lupus adjacent disorder, she is trained in acting, musical theater, and dance—including at the Joffrey Ballet School—she values storytelling and creative expression as powerful tools for connection, healing, and amplifying voices.

April 14, 2026Episode 1130 min

Season 5 | Episode #11 with Physician Assistant Student and Lupus Patient, Rene Santos

Season FIVE Episode ELEVEN of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Rene Santos. Rene is from Pasadena, California, and was diagnosed with lupus at 13 years old. This experience shaped his resilience and perspective on healthcare early in life. Growing up, Rene played basketball through high school and into college. Today Rene stays committed to fitness and overall wellness. Living with lupus has fueled his passion to advocate for others facing similar challenges and to raise awareness within the community. Rene is currently working toward becoming a Physician Assistant and will be attending Charles Drew University starting in August 2026. Through his journey and future career, Rene hopes to make a meaningful impact by serving underserved communities and providing compassionate, patient-centered care.