Birmingham kidney disease podcaster celebrates 100 episodes

Dee Moore aims to provide hope and educate listeners about chronic kidney disease

A podcaster who educates listeners about kidney disease has celebrated reaching 100 episodes.

Dee Moore, from Birmingham, marked the event with a filmed special at Pilgrim Church in Handsworth.

"For me to reach this milestone was something I never thought was possible," she said.

"My kidney disease has progressed during this time, but I still managed to continue with the podcast so that's something I'm super proud of."

Dee Moore interviewed Sarah Oakley from charity partner Kidney Care UK during her 100th episode

Dee started the Diary of a Kidney Warrior podcast in 2020 after being diagnosed with stage-four kidney disease.

Reaching audiences as far afield as Australia and Zimbabwe, she has interviewed patients and professionals, and shared her own journey through vlogs and social media as she started peritoneal dialysis in the summer.

The approach uses the lining of the abdomen as the filter, rather than a machine.

"I dialyse five nights a week for eight hours so it's been a massive adjustment," she said. "I'm just really stubborn. I'm just determined to keep going."

Juggling health, recording and work commitments, Dee said messages from listeners gave her a boost and provided perspective.

"Somebody... tweeted and said that they learnt more from the podcast than four years of medical appointments and that really stood out to me," she said.

"Sometimes you can think, this is the worst thing in the world... and then you interview somebody and you think, actually I had a walk in the park compared to what they've been through."

Disability campaigner and kidney disease patient Phoenix Halliwell, from Warwick, said Dee's podcast helped listeners feel less alone

Dee recorded her 100th episode in front of an audience of friends and invited podcast guests, including chronic kidney diseases specialist Pat Simoyi, known affectionally to listeners as Aunty Pat.

After sharing tips about hydration and interpreting test results, Ms Simoyi said: "The podcast puts across very complex information in a very simple way without losing the content."

"The fact that it is actually run by somebody who is a patient, who also wants to know, who also has got questions... makes it so unique and so effective."

Interviewee Phoenix Halliwell, who campaigns about financial hardships facing dialysis patients, said the podcast gave him reassurance.

"That feeling of isolation that can come with a long-term disability, the relief that's lifted from your shoulders just knowing that you're not alone is immense and invaluable," he said.

Pat Simoyi, who was awarded a BEM for her services to kidney care, is known affectionally to listeners as Aunty Pat

Charity partner Kidney Care UK said the podcast made a "huge difference" to patients.

"It gives you a full 360 degree picture and we're really pleased that she's doing this for the kidney community," added director of patient support services Sarah Oakley.

Mother of-two Dee, who also works for the NHS, is planning to record a single to support the charity.

Accepted on the transplant list in August, the phone could ring at any time.

"The average wait time is three to five years," she said. "For myself as a black woman, for people of ethnic minority, the wait tends to be longer. So I don't know how long I'll be waiting."

In the meantime, she wants to reach a greater audience to share her message that "kidney disease is not just a death sentence. There is hope".

The 100th Diary of a Kidney Warrior audio and visual episode is available from Monday.