No assholes! Liz and Sarah talk to ABC’s Agents of Shield Executive Producer, Maurissa Tancharoen, about her “no asshole policy” — and about being a high-powered, ass-kicking writer/producer, boss, and mom all while living with Lupus. One way she copes — embracing the Spoon Theory. Then Liz has a Hit this week — reading books to Jack’s class at school — and Sarah has an exercise-related Bomb. Finally, this week’s Hollywood Hack will up your parenting game: create a kid bag for the car.
Links we mentioned:
- About Lupus
- Maurissa Tancharoen
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Jed Whedon
- Dr Horrible
- “Nobody’s Asian in the Movies” YouTube video we mentioned
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- Twitter: @elizabethcraft and @sarahmfain
- Instagram: @LizCraft and @Sfain
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- Leave a comment below
Greetings,
Great episode. I cannot help but share my Lupus story. My lupus diagnosis came in 2013 at the age of 22 although I had been sick for 2 years at that time. It started with joints pain which was the main reason of getting misdiagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis by almost every orthopedic doctor out there. Being in Pakistan where there is less awareness about such diseases also added to complexity. I ended up getting diagnosed during my 1st flare. During that time I was anemic, had skin rash with hypersensitivity to light and severe joint pain. I couldn’t even walk 1 or 2 meters without support and also had stomach acidity so high that I had to be taken to hospital in emergency one day. I was fortunate enough to get recommended to a good rheumatologist who diagnosed my lupus.
Since then, I am 4 years into my remission and apart from small issues here and there, there is no flare and my disease is being managed with regular medication (and YAY… without prednisolone or any other steroid). I have my limitations though, which means not exerting myself too much. Fortunately I have 9 to 5 work and I don’t have to work at home, so I get ample rest and recharge every day.
I have accepted it and know I have to live with it. Yes, I have to deal with some challenges like people having pity on me saying things like “Oh you are so young and you have this illness, how unfortunate” and stuff like that, but I cancel out these noises.
Good luck to everyone fighting lupus or any other chronic illness.
I was so excited to hear a discussion of Lupus on your show. One of my best friends was diagnosed 25 years ago and it has taken such a toll on her body and her life. Back when she was diagnosed there were no role models for people with Lupus. It has been so good to see the strides that have been made in both Lupus awareness and research. The wife of one of my husband’s friends died from complications of Lupus last year. It is such a horrible and unpredictable disease…thank you again for talking about it on your show.
Thank you for sharing a story about a kick ass woman living with a severe chronic illness. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are doing the same, especially women, and society and the workplace often can feel like they do not have space for that reality. Yet how terrible it would be for Maurissa to be marginalized and unable to share her talents with the world. Bringing this issue into the conversation is a great contribution for us all.