01 What to Expect

Welcome to the very first episode of Life Expectancy – Sisters Surviving and Thriving. Meet Julie and Stacie: two sisters bound not just by blood, but by trauma, resilience, and an unshakeable bond forged through liver transplant, breast cancer, addiction, and advocacy.

In this raw and revealing conversation, they introduce the heart behind the podcast: building a space where survivors, caregivers, and families can find solidarity, support, and useful tools for navigating some of life’s most terrifying challenges. You’ll hear what it’s like to be the patient and the health advocate—how their roles differed, collided, and ultimately helped them survive and thrive together.

This episode covers:

• Why they’re finally ready to talk about it now
• What it means to be a health advocate when time is running out
• The emotional strain of recovery, grief, and healing (on both sides)
• A breakdown of critical concepts like the UNOS list, MELD scores, and the stages of grief
• How roles, perspectives, and communication can make or break the transplant journey
• Why community, support, and even humor matter more than ever

You’ll also learn about their blog, resource hub, and the curated playlists that helped them cope and communicate during the hardest moments.

It’s not always polished. It’s not always pretty. But it’s always honest.

Subscribe now and come with us—because surviving is just the start.