S5E3: She Falls Asleep, She Can't Stop Ticcing — Meet Two Best Friends Artwork

Narcolepsy Navigators Podcast

Narcolepsy Navigators isn't just another podcast; it's a lifeline, a space where every story shared is a step towards changing the narrative around narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia and Klein-Levin syndrome.

Every episode is a peek into the lives of people navigating these conditions every single day. It's raw, it's real, and it’s about sharing stories that are way too important to miss.

Because when we share, we have the power to change narratives – that’s our mantra, "Share a story to change a story."

Everyday life with these conditions is an unseen odyssey, an intricate dance of challenges that most can't fathom. But we're here to bring those stories into the light, to give a voice to the silent struggles and the victories that often go unnoticed.It's about time the world saw beyond the misconceptions and understood the full impact these conditions have on someone's life.

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Narcolepsy Navigators Podcast

S5E3: She Falls Asleep, She Can't Stop Ticcing — Meet Two Best Friends

September 22, 2026 • Kerly Bwoga • Season 5 • Episode 3

0:00 | 1:17:37

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Mel has narcolepsy without cataplexy.Jeanna has Tourette syndrome. They met in a Walmart parking lot, went viral for a motorcycle ride the internet still argues about, and somehow became each other's safest place — through a cancer relapse, childhood trauma, and a lot of dark humor.

In this episode, hosts Kerly and Sakhara sit down with Mel ("Mel of the Mountains") and Jeanna (founder of Tourette Taxi) to talk about what happens when two very different neurological conditions meet inside one friendship. They cover the viral video that made strangers argue over whether Mel's narcolepsy was "real," the difference between narcolepsy type 1 and type 2, why Tourette's tics get worse under stress and staring, cataplexy safety concerns, and what it means to finally stop apologizing for symptoms you can't control.

Meet the Guests

Mel Stanger ("Mel of the Mountains") lives with narcolepsy without cataplexy, discovered after falling asleep while driving a motorcycle. Outside of advocacy, she tans animal hides and teaches others how to work hide into clothing. She is currently navigating a cancer relapse.

Jeanna DiVitro is the founder of Tourette Taxi (Tics, Trips, Truths), a social media platform where she uses humor to raise awareness for Tourette syndrome and its common comorbidities, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, and bipolar II.

Chapters
00:00
Meet the Hosts and Guests
00:55
Mel and Jeanna Introduce Themselves
03:14
How They Met Online
06:17
First Impressions and the Viral Ride
09:05
Humor as Healing and Awareness
11:58
Living With Narcolepsy and Tourette's Day to Day
14:29
Misconceptions and Public Anxiety
24:09
Cataplexy Safety and Medical ID
30:56
Triggers, Waves, and Changing Symptoms
38:39
Narcolepsy Types and Diagnosis Basics
40:05
Tourette Diagnosis Challenges
42:12
Comorbidities Reality Check
44:09
Cancer Relapse Support
52:36
Disability and Boundaries
57:41
Tourette Taxi Origin Story
1:02:51
What Healthcare Pros, Employers & Families Should Learn
1:09:10
Takeaways and Dark Humor
1:15:07
Closing: Happy Napping
Links

Website & support group: www.napsforlife.com
Share your story: narcolepsynavigators@gmail.com
Follow Jeanna: Tourette Taxi (Tics, Trips, Truths)
Follow Mel: Mel of the Mountains