Long Covid & The History of Hysteria: A Conversation with Emily Mendenhall

In this special bonus episode of the Long Covid Hope Podcast, Sarah Evans sits down with Emily Mendenhall - medical anthropologist and professor at Georgetown University - to discuss her groundbreaking book, _Invisible Illness: A History from Hysteria to Long Covid_.

We dive deep into how the 'Culture of Medicine' is failing those with invisible conditions throughout history, the gendered history of medical gaslighting, and why the 'hysteria' label still haunts patients today. This is a must-listen for anyone navigating Long Covid, ME/CFS, or any condition that medicine struggles to 'see.' Learn why Emily's research points to the Covid pandemic as a 'watershed moment' for post-viral syndromes and also the disability rights movement!

In this episode, we explore:

- Emily's own experience with post-viral fatigue and lingering symptoms following a Covid infection, and what drew her to this topic- The evolution of 'Hysteria' and its impact on modern Long Covid patients.

- Why the current culture of medicine is failing people with chronic illness.

- The power of naming your illness and reclaiming your narrative.

- Hope for a more empathetic and systemic approach to healthcare.

EMILY'S LINKS:

Book: Invisible Illness: A History from Hysteria to Long Covid — https://www.emilymendenhall.com/invisible-illness

Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Illness-History-Hysteria-COVID/dp/0520421523

Substack: Join Emily’s community at https://substack.com/@emilymendenhall

Watch on C-SPAN: Emily discusses the book on Book TV — https://www.c-span.org/video/?534567-1/invisible-illness

Read Emily's Latest Article: 'The current culture of medicine is failing people with Long Covid' — https://sciencepolitics.org/2026/01/28/the-current-culture-of-medicine-is-failing-people-with-long-covid/

ABOUT THE LONG COVID HOPE PODCAST

Hosted by Sarah Evans, the Hope Podcast tells the more hopeful stories of Long Covid, from the true experts: those with lived experience of the condition.

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