"Medical Mystery" Victoria Arlen on Surviving a 4-Year Vegetative State, Severe Mental Health Battles, & New Book

<p>***TRIGGER WARNING*** This podcast contains discussion of suicide. Listener discretion is advised.</p><p>It's a miracle that <a href="https://www.instagram.com/arlenv1/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Victoria Arlen</a> is still here.</p><p>Before the age of 10, she entered into a vegetative state after getting diagnosed with two rare neurodegenerative diseases. From there, the Exeter, N.H. native lived incapacitated for four years, with doctors and nurses instructing Arlen's parents to accept that their daughter wouldn't live much longer.</p><p>Then, on a day that continues to baffle medical professionals everywhere, she emerged from this state. And since then, against all odds, she's taken the world by storm in the form of gold medals at the 2012 Paralympic Games, a run on ABC's <em>Dancing With The Stars</em>, a stellar motivational speaking career, a 10-year tenure as an anchor for ESPN, and now, a two-time author. The 31-year-old's most recent book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/View-Worth-Unlocking-Beauty-Valleys/dp/0830791779" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><em>The View Is Worth It</em></a>, published in the spring, and it's her firsthand account of how she's navigated anxiety, depression, and the weight of expectations placed upon her when she was asked to be hero without ever having worn a cape.</p><p>From <a href="https://theunmutedroom.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">The Unmuted Room</a> in Newington, N.H., Arlen joins <a href="https://www.instagram.com/troy_farkas/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">host Troy Farkas</a> for a wide-ranging discussion about Arlen's Seacoast roots, the experience of being "locked in" to her body for four years, the abuse she experienced at the hands of doctors and nurses, and how she miraculously emerged from the state.</p><p>Plus, how she became the youngest on-air talent in ESPN history, her stint on <em>DWTS, </em>and the lengthy battle with mental health issues that inspired her latest book, and, in 2021, nearly led her to take her own life.</p><p>CHAPTERS: </p><ul><li>Victoria's favorite Seacoast hangs (00:00)</li><li>Spending four years in a vegetative state (10:37)</li><li>Getting abused by doctors &amp; nurses (31:06)</li><li>SPONSOR: JOBTALK LLC (35:25)</li><li>Learning how to live a normal life again (37:05)</li><li>Winning gold at the 2012 Paralympics (40:50)</li><li>The mental health toll of success &amp; suicide attempt (48:53)</li><li>Victoria's favorite tips &amp; tricks for navigating mental health (01:06:36)SPONSOR: Budget Blinds of the Seacoast (01:19:05)</li><li><em>DWTS </em>appearance &amp; becoming an ESPN anchor (01:20:20)</li></ul><p>SPONSORS:</p><ul><li> <a href="https://jobtalkllc.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">JOBTALK LLC⁠⁠⁠</a>: Get 50% off <a href="https://jobtalkllc.com/academy" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠JOBTALK Academy⁠⁠⁠</a> courses with the code "SEACOASTSTORIES50" for the rest of 2026!</li><li>Budget Blinds of the Seacoast: Keep the Seacoast sun out of your home! <a href="https://www.budgetblinds.com/the-seacoast-nh/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠Get the deets here⁠</a>.</li></ul><p>UPCOMING EVENTS:</p><ul><li>Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: The club that's regularly attracting ~100 people heads to Newmarket, N.H. on Friday, July 17 &amp; Amesbury, Mass. on Wednesday, August 5! <a href="https://seacoaststories.dnnr.io/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here before they sell out.⁠</a></li></ul><p>AFFILIATE LINKS:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.3bridgesyoga.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3 Bridges Yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>: NEW yoga students can unlock a stellar deal of $45 for unlimited classes at the Seacoast's top yoga studio for a month! Visit <a href="https://www.3bridgesyoga.com/schedule" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">