Private Chef, Writer & Podcaster
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but cigarette smoke is not an air freshener. For those of us living with sarcoidosis or any lung condition, your “right to smoke” feels like my right to suffocate. Here’s one chef’s not-so-gentle reminder that public air is shared property—so stop blowing toxins in my direction and pretending it’s perfume.
After years of battling sarcoidosis and heart failure, I’ve realized that “sick” is just a word—and it doesn’t define me. Between migraines, acupuncture needles, and medical humor that borders on dark roast, I’m still standing, breathing, and occasionally brisk-walking on flat ground.
Living with sarcoidosis and heart failure, I’ve learned a thing or two about showing up even when life doesn’t make it easy. My biological father didn’t, but my stepdad—my real dad—did. This is a story about humor, strength, and learning to face illness with a smile instead of a complaint.
TikTok is buzzing with a viral rapture prophecy that has people selling cars, quitting jobs, and preparing for heaven after a pastor declared September 23–24, 2025 as the end. As a chef living with sarcoidosis and heart failure, I dove into the frenzy with humor, heart, and a dash of sarcasm—asking what’s real, what’s viral, and what we should hold on to in times like these.
Ever been spiritually ambushed by someone quoting scripture or pushing miracle twigs like they’re handing out eternal life samples at Costco? As a spiritual but not religious chef living with chronic illness, I’ve got some thoughts—and a few logs of my own. Here’s my no-pamphlet-needed take on boundaries, belief, and why passion doesn’t need to feel like a sales pitch.
Tate Basildon 