Chronic Boss Unfiltered is the podcast where ambition meets women’s health. Hosted by Lilly Stairs—two-time founder and three-time autoimmune patient—this show dives deep into what it really takes to build a business or climb the career ladder while living with chronic illness. Each week, Lilly sits down with powerhouse women who are chasing big dreams while navigating flare-ups, fatigue, and everything in between. Expect raw, unfiltered conversations that move from the hospital bed to the boardroom, giving you both inspiration and practical insights to balance health and ambition.
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Chronic Boss Unfiltered is the podcast where ambition meets women’s health. Hosted by Lilly Stairs—two-time founder and three-time autoimmune patient—this show dives deep into what it really takes to build a business or climb the career ladder while living with chronic illness. Each week, Lilly sits down with powerhouse women who are chasing big dreams while navigating flare-ups, fatigue, and everything in between. Expect raw, unfiltered conversations that move from the hospital bed to the boardroom, giving you both inspiration and practical insights to balance health and ambition.
How A Life Changing Diagnosis Sparked a Clean Beauty Empire with Indie Lee
Chronic Boss Unfiltered
44 minutes
1 month ago
How A Life Changing Diagnosis Sparked a Clean Beauty Empire with Indie Lee
“I was told I had six months to live after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Instead, that day became the beginning of my life’s purpose.”
Episode Overview
Indie Lee shares her extraordinary journey from multiple chronic illness diagnoses—including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s, and a brain tumor—to founding one of the pioneering clean beauty brands. She opens up about entrepreneurship with illness, setting boundaries, losing everything while building her business, and how vulnerability became her greatest strength.
What You’ll Learn
How Indie transformed a devastating brain tumor diagnosis into her life’s mission.
The tough realities of entrepreneurship with chronic illness (including going 10 years without a salary).
Why vulnerability and storytelling are powerful leadership tools.
How to set boundaries and build support systems that protect healthy.
Why “failure” is often a catapult forward.
Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction – Lilly introduces Indie and her inspiring story.(01:22) Diagnosis Journey – Living with RA, Crohn’s, and ovarian failure.(04:16) Brain Tumor Diagnosis – A six-month prognosis reframed as a turning point.(07:26) Spark for Clean Beauty – From greenhouse calendula to skincare.(09:30) Launching Indie Lee Skincare – Funding with jewelry sales and 401k cash-outs.(11:52) Surgery on Earth Day – A life-saving moment that shaped her mission.(12:21) Leading with Vulnerability – How transparency became a brand strength.(16:09) Entrepreneurship with Chronic Illness – Travel, boundaries, and hospitalizations.(19:27) Asking for Help as a Superpower – The role of support systems.(22:20) The Hustle Culture Trap – Rejecting “do it all” culture.(26:11) Pioneering Clean Beauty – Ignorance is bliss and blocking out doubters.(28:27) Reality of Building a Business – Ten years without a salary, losing her house.
(31:41) Redefining Failure – Turning setbacks into lessons.(33:02) Secret Sauce – Blending branding, writing, and vulnerability.(35:47) Reconnecting with Self – Baking, gardening, and writing.(42:58) What Being a Chronic Boss Means – Perseverance and purpose.
Connect with Indie:
✨/ https://indielee.com/
✨/ https://www.instagram.com/indielee/
✨/ https://www.instagram.com/indie_lee
✨/ https://indielee.substack.com/
Connect with Chronic Boss:
🖤 / https://chronicboss.com/
🖤 / instagram.com/chronicbossco/
🖤 / https://www.linkedin.com/company/chronic-boss/
🖤 / https://www.tiktok.com/@chronicbossco
Connect with Lilly
🖤 / https://lillystairs.com/
🖤 / https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillystairs/
🖤 / https://www.instagram.com/lillystairs
Show Mentions
✨ / Relaxed Woman Book: https://www.amazon.com/Relaxed-Woman-Reclaim-Empowered-Joy-Filled/dp/0593719301
✨ / Michelle Irving and the Chronic Economy: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7370584158756302848/
Chronic Boss Unfiltered
Chronic Boss Unfiltered is the podcast where ambition meets women’s health. Hosted by Lilly Stairs—two-time founder and three-time autoimmune patient—this show dives deep into what it really takes to build a business or climb the career ladder while living with chronic illness. Each week, Lilly sits down with powerhouse women who are chasing big dreams while navigating flare-ups, fatigue, and everything in between. Expect raw, unfiltered conversations that move from the hospital bed to the boardroom, giving you both inspiration and practical insights to balance health and ambition.
