Episode 5

Olivia Miles on the Moment Her Life Changed Overnight, and Staying Positive while Living with Severe Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Published on: 26th February, 2026

Olivia Miles is an epilepsy and chronic illness advocate who lives with severe drug-resistant epilepsy and has survived a rare form of autoimmune encephalitis (now in remission after years of infusion treatment). In this episode of Her Kind of Brave, Olivia shares what it’s really like to live with weekly seizures, the grief of losing everyday freedoms like driving and independence, and the invisible aftermath people don’t see — including the post-seizure mental health crash and the constant recalibration of expectations.

She also opens up about her experience with clinical trials, including a highly invasive trial involving implanted devices, and her next step: deep brain stimulation (DBS), a treatment being used to reduce seizure severity and frequency. Along the way, Olivia and the girls talk SUDEP, the power of community, and the mindset shift that helps when your body won’t follow the plan: take the step you can take — even if it’s smaller than you hoped.

Guest bio: Olivia Miles is an epilepsy and chronic illness advocate and public speaker. After experiencing her first seizure at 21, Olivia was diagnosed with a rare form of autoimmune encephalitis (now in remission after years of infusion treatment) and later developed severe drug-resistant epilepsy. She has tried multiple treatment pathways including medications, cannabis oil, device-based therapies, and clinical trials — and is now preparing for deep brain stimulation. Olivia shares her story to reduce stigma, grow awareness of epilepsy risks like SUDEP, and remind others that even with an unpredictable body, you can still walk toward a life that feels like yours — one step at a time.

You can find Olivia on Instagram at @livmiles

Support the brands that keep these brave conversations going:

STYLD

@styld.original

www.styld.net.au

Discount code STYLD25 (25% off)

BESPOKE LONGEVITY

bespokelongevity.com.au

@bespokelongevity_

Mention “Her Kind of Brave” for $50 off any treatment

GENEA FERTILITY

genea.com.au

@geneafertility

1300 361 795

CENTRE FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE & SURGERY - (Dr Kee Ong) –

Call 07 5519 1602

@drkeeong

IN HER OWN WORDS: IVF, LOSS & MIRACLES BOOK:

@Inherownwords_official

https://amzn.in/d/c2wsW2J

KOSI

kosi.au

@kosi_au

Use discount code HERKINDOFBRAVE15 for 15% off (exclusions apply)

MR CONSISTENT

https://www.mrconsistent.com.au/

@mrconsistent_

Where to find us:

Be sure to join the chat in our Community Group www.facebook.com/groups/herkindofbrave/

Follow us on Instagram @herkindofbravepodcast and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/herkindofbrave

Do you have a brave story, or are you looking to sponsor an upcoming episode? Reach out to us at herkindofbrave@gmail.com

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Her Kind of Brave

About the Podcast

Her Kind of Brave
Messy. Real. Braver than she thinks.
Her Kind of Brave is a podcast for women who know that the hardest parts of life rarely make it to the highlight reel — and that bravery often lives in the quiet, unseen moments.

Hosted by Chloe Davidson and Kellie Johnson, this show goes behind the glossy endings and into the real stories. The backstories. The messy middles. The chapters we live through before things make sense.

Each episode features raw, thoughtful conversations with women who have faced loss, illness, identity shifts, motherhood, ambition, grief, rebuilding, and becoming — and kept going anyway. These are stories of building businesses while breaking inside, navigating bodies that don’t cooperate, grieving what was hoped for, and creating meaningful lives alongside uncertainty.

Chloe and Kellie don’t show up as experts with all the answers. They show up as women in it — walking their own hard roads while holding space for others to tell the truth about theirs. Together, they create a warm, honest space where nothing needs to be wrapped in a bow and listeners are invited to simply be human.

This is a podcast for anyone who has ever wondered if they’re the only one struggling behind the scenes. For anyone navigating the space between who they were and who they’re becoming. For anyone who wants to feel less alone in the hard stuff — and more connected to the strength it takes to keep showing up.

Her Kind of Brave isn’t about perfect endings.
It’s about courage in real time.
And the power of sharing the story while you’re still living it.

If you’re craving honesty, depth, and conversations that feel like a hand on your back saying me too — this is your place.

About your host

Profile picture for Chloe & Kellie

Chloe & Kellie

Chloe Davidson and Kellie Johnson are the voices behind Her Kind of Brave — a podcast built on honesty, depth, and the courage to tell the stories that usually stay hidden.

Chloe is a writer, podcaster, and business owner, and the co-owner of Mr Consistent. She is also the curator of the anthology In Her Own Words: IVF, Loss & Miracles. Through her work, Chloe explores womanhood, identity, grief, fertility, ambition, and the emotional load women carry — especially in the spaces between who they were and who they’re becoming.

Kellie is a mum, entrepreneur, and the founder of Kosi, a 360° wearable heat pack created from her lived experience with stage four endometriosis. A passionate advocate for women’s health, Kellie brings strength, warmth, and lived credibility shaped by miscarriage, birth trauma, chronic pain, and rebuilding life alongside illness.

Together, Chloe and Kellie create a space where women feel seen, understood, and less alone. Her Kind of Brave is rooted in real conversations — honouring the hard seasons, celebrating resilience, and reminding women that bravery doesn’t require a polished ending, only the courage to keep showing up.