Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Edie Sohigian. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Edie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

After my multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis in 2015, I was definitely in denial. I had gone numb all over my body along with some other symptoms. Following treatment, the symptoms subsided and I put MS in the back of my mind. I didn’t want to face it.

During the pandemic, I searched for something to make life a little more enjoyable. I decided that my love of listening to podcasts could become something more. I decided to take a risk. It wasn’t just the financial part of getting started in the medium. It was a lot more. I was toying around with topics and did not want to talk about on what I did for my day-to-day job.

I decided to focus on MS. This was out of my comfort zone. I had to get a bit vulnerable in the space. I had to talk about things that were not comfortable like bladder control, the possibility of disability, and how to deal with all things MS. It wasn’t just the topics that were challenging, it was also the connections I was making with people. I say challenging because these are real people with real feelings I am connecting with. Battling a chronic illness isn’t a piece of cake. It’s a lot. I had to be committed to the people. People like me who really need others to relate to who are dealing with similar stuff.

The risk was well worth it. The relationships I made and continue to make are so precious to me. I have grown as a person and am benefitting from this experience more than any of the listeners of the show. I no longer think of MS as something I delt with. It is there every day and I need to tackle it head-on.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis on Easter Sunday in 2015. Four days before that I checked myself into the hospital because I was numb from my neck to my toes. A neurologist told me that was the only way I was going to get diagnosed.

I say that my MS diagnosis saved my life. I was in a spiral of unhealthy behaviors from stress to sleep, diet, and movement. I’ve changed many aspects of my life since my diagnosis, but the most important is my mindset.

I am still a work in progress, but the guests on my podcast, Thriving Over Surviving, are inspiring me to live a more healthy and balanced lifestyle. I encourage everyone to keep thriving.

I launched my podcast, Thriving Over Surviving, on July 12, 2021. I chat with MS warriors who are living their best lives. Having a positive mindset is essential when managing an autoimmune disease.

There is a lot of shame and stigma associated with disability. It is my intention to break down those barriers, dispel the myths, and bring awareness to others. It is my mission to find what brings people the most joy and spread it like wildfire.

My core values are growth and humor. It is my intent to learn from each other while we grow community and enjoy the process. Laughter is contagious so I do as much of it as possible.

My website www.thrivingoversurvivingpodcast.com is the main hub of information regarding who I am, links to social media, and my blog. This is also where guests may connect with me and sign up for the mailing list to stay in the know.
Also, you can find the show, Thriving Over Surviving, wherever you listen to podcasts. Join me as we chat it up on another episode.

How did you build your audience on social media?

During the pandemic, I began exploring the social media app Clubhouse. There are lots of people sharing ideas and learning from others on this app. This is where I learned some of the social media do’s and don’ts. I highly recommend joining and getting some free advice before diving in.

Yes, I made some mistakes. I joined this group of women who were promoting each other. There were about 1000 people. They promised to increase my social media numbers on Instagram. One crucial issue was that the group itself was not in my niche. These women were all talking about being moms and most of them were in the UK. I am talking about autoimmune diseases in the US. I lost a lot of ground but learned a very important lesson. The quick way is not always the best way. Be authentic and grow your following organically. Doing this helped me to grow a solid foundation in social media.

The best advice I can give to grow your social media following is to interact with others. Commenting on posts, sending personal messages, and sharing others’ content will help to make those connections you are looking for. In doing so, be yourself and don’t compromise your integrity.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of allowing myself to be in a creative space is for sure the relationships I’ve built with people. Getting to meet people from all over the world who agree to be vulnerable with me is an honor and privilege. Because we share such intimate details of our lives with one another, we become very close very quickly. I’ve made some of my best friends on this journey adding some spice to my life. I’ve traveled to Miami and Los Angeles to meet other people with MS who appeared on my podcast. What an experience!   

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thrivingoversurvivingpodcast.com
• Instagram: @thrivingoversurvivingpodcast
• Facebook: @thrivingoversurvivingpodcast
• Twitter: @ms_thriving