INTRODUCTION:
Welcome. You're listening to Links at Bain and Gray, a catalogue of podcasts centred on all things business support in the workplace. Our aim is to bring you interesting and relevant content that will keep you up-to-date and thriving in your role.
Pippa’s Background and Journey into Advocacy
Hetty: Pippa, thank you so much for joining us. To get started, could you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you came to be a writer, speaker and advocate working with Astriid?
Pippa: Of course! I grew up in Sheffield and studied in York, where I've stayed ever since. I first began experiencing symptoms of chronic illness as a teenager, but it took years to reach an accurate diagnosis. When it finally came, I felt incredibly isolated — it never crossed my mind that others my age could be going through something similar.
Finding the chronic illness community online was a turning point. Seeing others share their stories encouraged me to share mine. Over time, I built an online presence, leaned into advocacy, and eventually formed a career that I love — one that suits my access needs and allows me to connect with and support others.
Writing and Living with Chronic Illness
Hetty: Your second book, How to Do Life with a Chronic Illness, is phenomenal. What are the top takeaways you'd want readers to hold onto?
Pippa: Writing that book was really therapeutic — it allowed me to express so much of what I’ve learned. The biggest takeaway would be reconnecting with your identity. Acquiring a disability or chronic illness can impact every area of your life — your relationships, hobbies, work, even travelling from A to B. Holding onto who you are beyond all of that is so important.
And I’d really emphasise that investing energy in the things that make you happy is never wasted. We can feel pressure to use all our energy just to “be productive,” but joy and wellbeing matter just as much.
Pippa’s Third Book: Pave Your Way
Hetty: Your third book builds beautifully on the second. How does it differ and what inspired this more interactive approach?
Pippa: Pave Your Way was created as a follow-on — a space where readers can take ideas from the second book and apply them practically. It includes journal prompts, creative exercises, reflection spaces and even colouring pages! It celebrates individuality, because even people with the same condition have totally different experiences. It's about envisioning what you want life to look like, and taking meaningful steps toward it.
Confidence, Disclosure and Advocacy in the Workplace
Ellie: A lot of our listeners live with long-term health conditions. It can be difficult to know when to disclose that to a recruiter or employer. What advice would you share?
Pippa: It's such a tricky situation. My best advice: take time beforehand to understand what you need to thrive, not just cope. When you know your access needs clearly, you’ll feel far more confident communicating them.
And remember your self-worth. People often forget they bring real, transferable strengths from managing a chronic condition — planning, problem-solving, resilience. Those are valuable workplace skills.
Why Chronic Illness Awareness Matters for Employers
Hetty: At Bain and Gray, we’ve seen how crucial this is. What should organisations keep in mind when supporting colleagues with long-term conditions?
Pippa: Training is a fantastic place to start — but it needs to be the right training. Chronic illness and energy-limiting conditions are often left out of disability equality sessions. With such a large proportion of people living with a long-term illness, there’s a huge untapped talent pool. Organisations should not only want to “accommodate,” but recognise the opportunity to unlock real excellence in their workforce.
Statistics and Scale of Chronic Illness
Hetty: One statistic that stayed with us from our Astriid training was how common this is.
Pippa: Right now, around 1 in 5 people in the UK live with at least one long-term health condition — many with two or more. It’s a huge demographic, yet so often overlooked.
Key Takeaways from Pippa’s Work
Hetty: If someone walks away from your books with only a few lessons, what do you hope they’d be?
Pippa:
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Don’t lose sight of your goals. They may need adapting, but they still matter.
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Reconnect with your identity — disability isn’t a weakness, it’s part of who you are.
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Spending energy on the things that bring you joy is not selfish — it’s essential.
Social Media and Where to Find Pippa
Hetty: For anyone who wants to follow your work, where can they find you?
Pippa: My website is Life of Pippa, and I’m most active on Instagram under the same name. My books are available across the UK from your favourite bookseller.
Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Hetty: Before we wrap, is there anything you'd like to share with listeners who may be struggling?
Pippa: Absolutely. Chronic illness affects people so individually. If you're struggling, you don’t have to feel positive all of the time. It’s okay to take tiny steps. Better days can and do come.
Summary
Hetty: Pippa, thank you so much for being with us and for your ongoing work with Astriid. It’s been incredibly insightful, and we know our listeners will take so much away from this conversation.
Pippa: Thank you so much for having me — it's been a pleasure.
Let me know if you'd like this tightened into a show-notes version for publication or adapted into teaser social copy!
