#37 - I Changed My Tastebuds, But I’m Still Me (ish)
EPISODE #37
What does it mean to live with the knowledge that your body may turn against you again and that you might not get a warning when it does?
This week’s anonymous caller spent more than twenty years living with a misdiagnosed brain tumor that eventually became brain cancer. By the time it was found, she had been trapped inside a migraine for over a year. Surgery brought relief, but it also brought something stranger: a shifted mood, new tastebuds, and the unsettling question of whether she was still the same person she had been the day before.
From there, the conversation widens into unexpected places. We talk about Wonderland Syndrome and the surreal distortions migraines can create; about Flatland, spacetime, and the possibility that some truths — including what happens when we die — may sit outside the limits of human understanding. She shares how absurdism, curiosity, and science have shaped her worldview, especially knowing her cancer has a near-certain chance of returning.
And yet, what stands out most is the way she chooses to live. She leans into community, creativity, and meaning, even when strong emotions can trigger pain. Her philosophy is honest and hopeful in equal measure: some experiences are worth the cost, and life — even with uncertainty — is still something to participate in fully.
Book Recommendation: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
If you’d like to watch this conversation instead of just listening, you can find the video version on YouTube.
Listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.