What if the hardest part of being sick isn’t the illness itself, but convincing the world you actually have one?
This week, Eli sits down with Nicole Pedra, chronic illness advocate, model, and host of the podcast Seen, Not Fixed, for a raw and honest conversation about living with Multiple Sclerosis since age 10. It’s a conversation about what happens when your body is fighting a war that nobody else can see, and what it costs to look “fine” when you’re anything but.
Diagnosed with MS as a kid, Nicole spent years hiding her condition before finally going public. She and Eli dig into why “you don’t look sick” is one of the most invalidating things you can say to someone with a chronic illness, and how that able-bodied expectation shapes everything from friendships to first dates. They talk about the shame, isolation, and internalized ableism that so often come with invisible illness, and how Nicole learned to stop apologizing for a body that doesn’t always cooperate.
The conversation moves into the Mind-Body Connection, and how nervous system regulation actually changes physical symptoms. Nicole shares the grounding tools that keep her steady: art Therapy, music, journaling, and creative reading. They also get into the harder conversations, like how and when to disclose a chronic illness to a romantic partner, and why representation of disabled and chronically ill people in media still matters so much. Nicole opens up about her billboard in Times Square with Jollibee and the “I’ll show you” mindset that got her there. Eli brings his own experience with Crohn’s disease into the mix, including the surprising role his environment played in his healing.
If you’ve ever felt like you had to prove your pain was real, or hide your struggle to be believed, this episode is for you.
Topics Covered:
- Invisible illness and the “you look fine” problem Nicole’s MS diagnosis at age 10 and the years of hiding
- Coming out publicly about chronic illness on social media
- Selma Blair, Christina Applegate, and Michael J. Fox: celebrity advocacy and its ripple effect
- The mind-body connection and nervous system regulation
- Grounding tools: art therapy, music, creative reading
- Dating and Relationships with chronic illness
- And more
About Nicole Pedra: Nicole Pedra is a chronic illness advocate, public speaker, model, and host of the podcast Seen, Not Fixed, part of Spoonie Productions. Diagnosed with MS at age 10, she uses her platforms to share the unfiltered reality of living with invisible illness and to build community for people who feel unseen.
Links and Resources
Connect with Eli & The Dude Therapist
Chapters
- 0:00 Intro – The Power of Resilience with Chronic Illness
- 0:53 Meet Nicole Pedra – Chronic Illness Advocate & Podcaster
- 2:00 “You Don’t Look Sick” – The Invisible Illness Problem
- 4:09 Shame, Isolation & the Pre-Diagnosis Struggle
- 12:24 Coming Out Publicly About MS & Finding Community
- 16:24 The Fear of Disclosure – Work, Modeling & Stigma
- 24:33 Mind-Body Connection & Nervous System Regulation
- 29:06 Grounding Tools: Reading, Art Therapy & Music
- 30:07 Chronic Illness, Self-Worth & Proving Yourself
- 34:42 “What Doesn’t Kill You” – Does It Really Make You Stronger?
- 42:14 Dating & Relationships with Chronic Illness
- 48:37 Closing Message: You Are Not Alone
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Eli Weinstein is a licensed clinical therapist, devoted husband, and father of two, based in sunny Las Vegas. He runs a thriving private practice serving clients in both New York and Nevada, blending expert clinical insight with an approachable, no-nonsense style that makes mental health support relatable and accessible.
Driven by a passion for breaking mental health stigmas, Eli founded ELIvation and The Dude Therapist podcast to create real, down-to-earth conversations about mental health, fatherhood, parenting, and relationships. His podcast features candid interviews with world-renowned experts like Dr. Edith Eger, Apollo Ohno, Dr. Nicole LePera, and Tina Bryson. He’s also been featured on major platforms like The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Trauma Therapist, Mimosas With Moms, and many others.
Eli’s mission is clear: to empower people with the tools and insights they need to overcome life’s struggles while embracing authenticity, compassion, and a healthy dose of humor. His signature “No BS” approach feels like talking to a trusted friend—who also happens to be a licensed professional.
In addition to his podcast, Eli is set to release a parenting and relationships-focused book with Wiley Publishers, expanding his efforts to make mental health conversations engaging and actionable for all.
Whether through therapy sessions, podcasting, or public speaking, Eli’s goal remains the same: to inspire hope, foster growth, and remind people that with the right support, the life they envision is possible.
