Kiana: Redefining Life with Chronic Illness
Listen now
Description
It was during her teenage years that Kiana’s life changed dramatically due to pain. She wanted to be an actor and a singer but her condition put that dream on hold. Instead of attending a prestigious performing arts program, she spent her early 20s confined to her bed.  I met Kiana doing theater in high school, but didn’t know everything she was going through. More than a decade after graduating, it was a privilege to reconnect. We talked about her diagnosis and how it’s affected her relationships, responsibilities, and art. Everything in her life is still impacted by an unseen battle, but as she has received better treatment Kiana is grateful to be expanding her horizons and showing up for her Minneapolis community in new ways. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More Episodes
In high school, Francisco didn’t fit in with his white, upper middle class, conservative classmates and he didn’t want to. Maybe it was teenage angst, but his identity revolved around being different and rebellious. As he got older, he channeled his punk rock spirit into a fight for social...
Published 11/18/24
Published 11/18/24
Community, resilience, legacy and being underestimated are the themes at the heart of this season. Meet everyday yet extraordinary Americans - from a community organizer in Philly, to a trans teen in Arizona, unionized coal miners in West Virginia, and an artist with chronic illness in Minnesota....
Published 11/11/24