Episode 170: Black Men’s Kidney Health: Breaking the Silence with DJ Ace

In this Black History Month special of Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast, DJ Ace returns for an open conversation about Black men’s kidney health, kidney failure, dialysis, kidney transplantation, diabetes, emotional wellbeing and the importance of speaking openly about health.

Four years after his first appearance on the podcast, Ace reflects on life after kidney transplantation and the fears that can remain, including concerns about transplant rejection and the possibility of returning to dialysis.

He also shares his experience of being diagnosed with diabetes at a young age and why greater awareness of the link between diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease is so important.

The conversation explores the pressure many Black men can feel to “be strong”, keep going and deal with illness privately, as well as the need to make health conversations feel normal within families, friendship groups and community spaces.

We also discuss health inequalities, trust in healthcare, cultural understanding, representation of Black healthcare professionals, and whether Black communities are really “hard to reach” — or simply not being reached in the right way.

This episode is a powerful conversation about kidney health, masculinity, representation, early detection, life after transplant and the importance of speaking up.

Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast shares real stories and expert conversations to educate, empower and inspire people living with kidney disease and those who support them.

In partnership with Kidney Care UK.

Until next time, take care and choose to live.

DJ Ace's Kidney Warrior Story

📺YouTube https://youtu.be/tIiy3n69Gpo

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Listen to DJ Ace on: Flagship R&B Show: Airs Sundays at 9 PM, featuring new R&B tracks, classic KISSTORY throwbacks, and special guest interviews. Weekday Mornings: Wakes up listeners on KISSTORY R&B with the weekday breakfast show starting at 7 AM. https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/kiss/shows

Follow DJ Ace: 🐦Twitter(X): @djace 📸Instagram: @djace 📘Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moreace

Kidney Care UK

💻 Website: www.kidneycareuk.org 📧 [email protected] 📞Tel: 01420 541 424 📘Facebook: www.facebook.com/kidneycareuk.org 📷Instagram: @kidneycareuk 🔵Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/kidneycareuk.bsky.social 📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeqQTdAsEzXphqjHVtcTD-A

📩 To sign up to receive the Kidney Matters Quarterly Magazine Email: [email protected]

Kidney Care UK's Kidney Kitchen

Kidney Kitchen recipes are very carefully analysed and approved by