Meet the Team!
Speaking in Spoons:
A Chronically ill Podcast
Christina Brookman
Producer/ Host/ Public Speaker/ Disability Advocate
Christina Brookman was an actress and teaching artist for over 15 years. She had to stop working in 2013 due to chronic illness that led to disability. Her goal is to make positive change in the disability, chronic illness and terminal illness communities. She has Ehlers Danlos, POTS, Fibromyalgia, Sjogren's, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Hemiplegic/MUMS Migraine, Carnitine Deficiency, Visual Impairment and other comorbidities associated with hEDS.
Panel of Spoonies
Conversations about Disability by People living with Disability
Joseph Albert
Independent Living Specialist at
the ENDependece Center of Northern Virginia
Joseph Albert began his career working on several political campaigns before transitioning to disability advocacy. Leveraging the skills he acquired in the political field and his personal experiences, Joe was soon appointed to Arlington County's Developmental Disability Committee, and soon after, to Arlington County's Community Services Board. He has collaborated closely with groups such as the Arc of Northern Virginia and the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV), among others, to address the needs of individuals with disabilities.
Demonstrating his commitment to bridging the understanding of this population's needs, Mr. Albert has made presentations to organizations like the Arlington County Police Department. He has also worked directly with individuals with disabilities, helping them access services and utilize their skills to become more independent.
Joseph Albert currently serves as an Independent Living Specialist at the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia
Josh Lamm
Peer Recovery Specialist Intern with NAMI
My wife and I have been together 22 years and together we have one son. Despite having undergone two lower lumbar fusion surgeries and living with chronic pain, I find great joy in delivering presentations for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). I am currently interning as a PRS (Peer Recovery Specialist). I what people to know it's your not alone. My favorite quotes is, "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."
Rachel Latremore
Americas favorite redhead “Rachel” was born and raised in the south but she’s spent most her life on tour or abroad. She has been entertaining audiences since the age of three with her vocals and pizzazz. After eighteen years of mis-diagnosis; her mystery ailment was finally named. Fibromyalgia reeked so much havoc she quit performing, moved to NYC then Texas where she founded an entertainment company. After a terribly sick season she was diagnosed with Lupus SLE and a vitamin D deficiency. That did not stop her from growing her company, continuing to perform and even open a swim business. Often called the “jack-tress of all trades” because there are very few gigs she hasn’t done. Tragically her career was cut short by a freak accident that left her with spine, neck, arm and knee damage. She spends her days resting, gardening, at the doctor or with her beloved fur family. Shes focused on finishing her memoir and advocating for fellow auto-immune people.