Rare with Flair

126. the coziest comfiest things that revive our souls

hi hello hey, grab your emotional support item of choice and cuddle up with us! Life is challenging, period. Inspired by the podcast A Beautiful Mess by sisters Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman, we’re diving into the little things that bring us comfort. We all have go-to comforts in stressful times or when we just need a boost, whether it’s a nostalgic movie, an immersive hobby, a favorite album, or grounding ourselves in faith. We’ve shared plenty of favorites and things that make us happy before, but this time we’re talking about our true lifelines. And with all this talk of hard times, we’ve got a big (and exciting!) update: Cass will be training with her successor guide dog when this episode comes out!! That means we’ll be taking a short hiatus until she and her brand-new partner in crime are ready to share their training story with the podience. Stay tuned on our socials to know when we’ll be back on the reg. Until then, learn more about guide dogs and keep us in your rotation as your comfort podcast (we hope!). 102. white cane hot takes 92. cass’ guide dog is retiring?! 48. mobility tools therapy sesh 13. ru & ro: guide dogs vs. pet dogs 2. canes, guide dogs, & faking disability Sending you all the comfort vibes until we’re back.

125. confessions of a gym rat

hi hello hey: let’s get fit!! In over 125 episodes across five years, we’ve somehow never devoted a full episode to fitness… until now! In the past few years, we’ve truly found a love for moving our bodies, and today we’re sharing our fitness journeys from childhood sports to the workouts keeping us active now. We might not be the sportiest girlies, but we like to think we’re athletic at heart. We’ll talk about what motivates us, how our routines have evolved, and why fitness has taken on new meaning in our lives. So grab your AirPods and walk, jog, lift, or stretch along with us! Got thoughts, questions, or suggestions? Our inbox is always open at hello@rarewithflair.com and we’d love to hear from you! Cass running cross country as a freshman in high school, and Case finishing up a run last year, 2011/2024 show notes Case & Cass mention several past episodes: their most recent episode celebrating the 5 year podaversary: 124. we’ve changed our minds?: our 5 year podaversary celebrating the value of community: 43. is that how close i hold my phone? what it’s like to be in a wedding: 47. here comes the bridesmaid: being in a wedding with a rare disease our original episode on hobbies from our childhood: 12. wobbly balance, e-readers, & our favorite pastimes 2022 recap where Cass tells the story of her accident: 59. recapping a wild & wacky year For those in the bleeding disorder community, ask your hematologist about your local chapter of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (formerly the National Hemophelia Foundation) to learn about programs they offer, including wellness incentives!

124. we’ve changed our minds?: our 5 year podaversary

hi hello hey, happy FIVE YEARS of Rare with Flair! As wild as it feels to say, it’s true: we’ve changed in the five years since we started this podcast. To celebrate our fifth podaversary (!!!), we’re reflecting on the ways we’ve grown. Some shifts are small, and others are in how we approach big things like disclosing, advocating, and accepting help. We truly wouldn’t be here without you, our amazing listeners. Whether you just found us or have been with us since our pandemic origins, thank you for being part of this journey. We’d be yapping into the void without you! Have thoughts, questions, or feedback? Drop us a line at hello@rarewithflair.com; we just might answer on the pod! And while you’re at it, check out our past podaversary episodes, including our very first episode from July 2020! 100. over one hundred hours of us yapping!!! 72. third podaversary: roasting our first episode 49. two year podaversary, favorite episodes, & funniest tech fails 26. happy podaversary! our origin story & behind the scenes magic 1. intro: welcome to rare with flair! Case + Cass at the ATS conference, 2025 show notes Casey mentioned blind influencer Molly Burke’s video on My Disability Hot Takes (please don’t hate me…) (YouTube) that inspired this episode We cross-reference several episodes during this episode, including: 102. white cane hot takes, where Casey talks about her all-pink cane 108. the wound that never heals: our discrimination stories, where Cass talks about getting rejected from rideshares with a guide dog and Case talks about a major discrimination issue she faced 97. how we stopped word-vomiting all our struggles and 71. oversharing on facebook: our online advocacy experience where we talk about how we’ve grown in disclosing and not oversharing 14. life, love, & dating with a disability, our original dating episode from 2021 43. is that how close i hold my phone? where Case & Cass talk about the importance of community and finding people who understand you

123. a guide to guide dogs

hi, hello, hey, we’re talking all about guide dogs today! 🦮 Over the years, we’ve gotten lots of requests to make an episode all about guide dogs. Whether you’re seriously considering one or just curious about what it takes to get a working dog, this episode is for you! We’ve talked about canes plenty, and even compared pet dogs and guide dogs before, but we never dedicated a full episode to the topic, mostly because Cass is the one with experience, having worked with a guide dog for about eight years (now retired!), while Case hasn’t. So in this slightly atypical episode, Cass takes the lead and shares everything from how to know if a guide dog is right for you, to how to choose from the nearly 15 guide dog schools in the U.S.—each with their own unique approach and vibe. She also walks through the application process at Guide Dogs for the Blind and gives a peek into the incredible training that goes into preparing a dog to become a guide. Got more guide dog (or non-guide dog) questions? Send them our way at hello@rarewithflair.com and we just might answer them in a future episode! Want more cane or dog talk? Check these episodes out! 102. white cane hot takes 92. cass’ guide dog is retiring?! 48. mobility tools therapy sesh 13. ru & ro: guide dogs vs. pet dogs 2. canes, guide dogs, & faking disability Cassandra’s guide dog, Romana, snoozing onstage at the NOAH Con, 2022 show notes the National Federation of the Blind’s list of guide dog schools in the USA check out Guide Dogs for the Blind’s Orientation and Mobility Immersion program!Whether you’re looking to get a guide dog or not, this is a great opportunity to get much needed mobility skills you can learn more from this 20 minute podcast from GDB’s show, Central Bark watch the “Pick of the Litter” documentary by GDB to get more insight into the puppy raising process (and to enjoy some precious pups!). Look it up to see what current streaming options are available, or rent it for a small fee on Prime Video

122. taking quizzes like it’s a slumber party

hi hello hey, ready to get cozy with us?? Longtime listeners know that personality quizzes hate to see us coming. We’ve always loved them, even as kids! So when Cass recently stumbled upon her old American Girl quiz books, we knew we had to bring them to the pod. In this episode, we each take a quiz from one of the three vintage books and find out just how well these throwback quizzes really know us. Spoiler: some results are spot on! And! The day this episode drops (June 24th) is Cass’ 28th birthday! Want to wish her a happy one or send us a question for a future episode? We’d love to hear from you at hello@rarewithflair.com. Check out our other personality quiz related episodes: 113. an instagram reel revealed who we really are 93. the great cardigan debate: our style roots 86. just a couple decisive, self-aware, water signs: revisiting personality types 18. personality types, astrology fails, & words of affirmation Case + Cass at the slumber party for Casey’s 30th birthday, 2022