Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome guest Aaron Hachez, who suffered a stroke on April 11, 2011.  Aaron, a father and appreciator of life's little moments, taught himself computer programming at age 11 and went on to work as a professional programmer for 20 years. After his stroke, he chose to pursue his passion for language by enrolling in a collegiate linguistics program, fulfilling his lifelong dream of earning a degree.

Aaron shares his recovery journey, describing the experience of waking as “a newborn in an adult body.”   He offers a unique perspective on regaining consciousness, memory, speech, and mobility while seeing the world anew. Join us as he uncovers creative ways to engage and live with intention, revealing a story of deep vulnerability, strength, and the beauty of reinvention.  Aaron’s Story is entitled, “Yes, and…”

Community Conversation Prompts:

1. What new and exciting creative project would you like to explore? How could you take one step towards that this week?
2. How have you created opportunities with the motto "Yes, and...?" How would you like to do so moving forward? 

Support a Stroke Survivor:

Your gift sponsors a stroke survivor through our seven-week reflective story crafting journey.
👉 Donate at beyondstillness.org

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit that empowers stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

Follow us: Instagram · Facebook · YouTube · beyondstillness.org

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week we welcome guest Michael Shutt, a playwright, actor, director, and producer with 30 years of experience.  Michael wrote and performed the  autobiographical solo show entitled, “A Lesson in Swimming” that takes audiences inside his brain as it breaks and invites them to experience how deep the cracks really go. 

In this episode, we delve into the world of invisible disabilities—the challenges that can’t always be seen, but are deeply felt.  Today’s guest, Michael Shutt, survived three strokes, but his journey didn’t end with survival—it began there. His experience of living with vision loss, face blindness, and sensory overload has given him a unique perspective on life, identity, and the profound need to feel seen.

Michael shares the ways he navigates a world that often misunderstands him and reveals the strategies he’s developed to stay connected, not just to others—but to himself. Through his story, we learn how authenticity and truth-telling can lead to visibility, resilience, and, ultimately, purpose.

So, settle in, listen closely, and discover the magic of making the invisible...visible."  Today’s story is entitled, “The Magic of Authenticity.”

Community Conversation Prompts:

1. Who makes you feel truly seen and heard? How do they create a safe space for you to express yourself authentically?
2. When have you created space for others to express themselves authentically, and how did it deepen your connection?

Michael's Resource Suggestion:

A Lesson in Swimming

Support a Stroke Survivor:

Your gift sponsors a stroke survivor through our seven-week reflective story crafting journey.
👉 Donate at beyondstillness.org

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit that empowers stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

Follow us: Instagram · Facebook · YouTube · beyondstillness.org

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week we welcome guest Michael Shutt, a playwright, actor, director, and producer with 30 years of experience.  Michael wrote and performed the  autobiographical solo show entitled, “A Lesson in Swimming” that takes audiences inside his brain as it breaks and invites them to experience how deep the cracks really go. 

In this episode, we delve into the world of invisible disabilities—the challenges that can’t always be seen, but are deeply felt.  Today’s guest, Michael Shutt, survived three strokes, but his journey didn’t end with survival—it began there. His experience of living with vision loss, face blindness, and sensory overload has given him a unique perspective on life, identity, and the profound need to feel seen.

Michael shares the ways he navigates a world that often misunderstands him and reveals the strategies he’s developed to stay connected, not just to others—but to himself. Through his story, we learn how authenticity and truth-telling can lead to visibility, resilience, and, ultimately, purpose.

So, settle in, listen closely, and discover the magic of making the invisible...visible."  Today’s story is entitled, “The Magic of Authenticity.”

Community Conversation Prompts:

1. Who makes you feel truly seen and heard? How do they create a safe space for you to express yourself authentically?
2. When have you created space for others to express themselves authentically, and how did it deepen your connection?

Michael's Resource Suggestion:

A Lesson in Swimming

Support a Stroke Survivor:

Your gift sponsors a stroke survivor through our seven-week reflective story crafting journey.
👉 Donate at beyondstillness.org

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit that empowers stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

Follow us: Instagram · Facebook · YouTube · beyondstillness.org

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome Dan The-Trike-Man Zimmerman who suffered a series of strokes due to Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT).

About four years after his last stroke, Dan woke in the middle of the night and vowed to get his life back on track.  And that he did.  Dan found freedom, community, and purpose through trike riding, a passion that has since fueled his recovery and empowered him to help others on similar journeys.

In this episode, we’ll hear how Dan transformed his life, founding the nonprofit ‘Spokes Fighting Strokes’ to share how trike riding can speed recovery and save lives. This is a story of survival, rediscovery, and purpose.

Dan’s Suggested Resources:

Azub Trikes 

Catrike Recumbent Bikes

Cycle Con 

Dan Zimmerman Facebook 

Spokes Adaptive Cycling Facebook 

Spoke Fighting Strokes - 501c3

Spokes Fighting Strokes Facebook

Support a Stroke Survivor:

Your gift sponsors a stroke survivor through our seven-week reflective story crafting journey.
👉 Donate at beyondstillness.org

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit that empowers stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

Follow us: Instagram · Facebook · YouTube · beyondstillness.org

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome Dan The-Trike-Man Zimmerman who suffered a series of strokes due to Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT).

About four years after his last stroke, Dan woke in the middle of the night and vowed to get his life back on track.  And that he did.  Dan found freedom, community, and purpose through trike riding, a passion that has since fueled his recovery and empowered him to help others on similar journeys.

In this episode, we’ll hear how Dan transformed his life, founding the nonprofit ‘Spokes Fighting Strokes’ to share how trike riding can speed recovery and save lives. This is a story of survival, rediscovery, and purpose.

Dan’s Suggested Resources:

Azub Trikes 

Catrike Recumbent Bikes

Cycle Con 

Dan Zimmerman Facebook 

Spokes Adaptive Cycling Facebook 

Spoke Fighting Strokes - 501c3

Spokes Fighting Strokes Facebook

Support a Stroke Survivor:

Your gift sponsors a stroke survivor through our seven-week reflective story crafting journey.
👉 Donate at beyondstillness.org

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit that empowers stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

Follow us: Instagram · Facebook · YouTube · beyondstillness.org

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome guest Bill Gasiamis, host of the Recovery After Stroke podcast, where he shares conversations with stroke survivors and the challenges they are overcoming. After experiencing a hemorrhagic stroke in 2012, Bill embarked on a journey of recovery and growth, which he details in his book, The Unexpected Way That a Stroke Became the Best Thing That Happened. Through his work, he guides others on a path to post-traumatic growth after stroke.

In this episode, we dive into an inspiring story of stroke recovery and personal transformation. Bill reveals how stroke became a turning point for overcoming the victim mindset, embracing responsibility, and finding strength through community support. Tune in to discover how resilience and post-traumatic growth can emerge from life’s most challenging moments.

Bill's Suggested Resources:

Recovery After Stroke
Stroke Foundation Australia
The Unexpected Way That A Stroke Became The Best Thing That Happened by Bill Gasiamis

Community Conversation Prompts:

1.) What challenging experience helped you grow into a better version of yourself? What strategies did you use in the process?

2.) What is one key goal you’re currently pursuing, and what tools are you using to achieve it?

Support a Stroke Survivor:

Your gift sponsors a stroke survivor through our seven-week reflective story crafting journey.
👉 Donate at beyondstillness.org

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit that empowers stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

Follow us: Instagram · Facebook · YouTube · beyondstillness.org

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome guest Bill Gasiamis, host of the Recovery After Stroke podcast, where he shares conversations with stroke survivors and the challenges they are overcoming. After experiencing a hemorrhagic stroke in 2012, Bill embarked on a journey of recovery and growth, which he details in his book, The Unexpected Way That a Stroke Became the Best Thing That Happened. Through his work, he guides others on a path to post-traumatic growth after stroke.

In this episode, we dive into an inspiring story of stroke recovery and personal transformation. Bill reveals how stroke became a turning point for overcoming the victim mindset, embracing responsibility, and finding strength through community support. Tune in to discover how resilience and post-traumatic growth can emerge from life’s most challenging moments.

Bill's Suggested Resources:

Recovery After Stroke
Stroke Foundation Australia
The Unexpected Way That A Stroke Became The Best Thing That Happened by Bill Gasiamis

Community Conversation Prompts:

1.) What challenging experience helped you grow into a better version of yourself? What strategies did you use in the process?

2.) What is one key goal you’re currently pursuing, and what tools are you using to achieve it?

Support a Stroke Survivor:

Your gift sponsors a stroke survivor through our seven-week reflective story crafting journey.
👉 Donate at beyondstillness.org

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit that empowers stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

Follow us: Instagram · Facebook · YouTube · beyondstillness.org

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke we share a Caregiver Compilation.  We’ve gathered caregiving insights from John Humphrey, Victoria Moran, Valerie Hollaender, Dr. Ivy Randle, and Nikki Juvan, all have shared their stories on this show. In today’s episode, they reflect on how their perspectives on caregiving and life have evolved over the years. Tune in to discover powerful revelations and deep connections between caregiving and personal transformation.  Thank you for joining us for part one of our Caregiver Compilation.

Caregiver Resources:

Renew and Connect: A Transformative Caregiver Retreat Series
- Tuesdays Sept 24th - Oct 29th (3-5pm PST) via Zoom
Beyond Stillness Monthly Caregiver Gatherings
- Third Wednesday each month 3-4pm PST via Zoom

Community Conversation Prompts:

1.) How has your perspective as a caregiver, partner, or person evolved over time? 

2.) What boundaries do you set to prioritize your health and well-being?   How do you maintain them?

Support a Stroke Survivor:

Your gift sponsors a stroke survivor through our seven-week reflective story crafting journey.
👉 Donate at beyondstillness.org

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit that empowers stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

Follow us: Instagram · Facebook · YouTube · beyondstillness.org

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke we share a Caregiver Compilation.  We’ve gathered caregiving insights from John Humphrey, Victoria Moran, Valerie Hollaender, Dr. Ivy Randle, and Nikki Juvan, all have shared their stories on this show. In today’s episode, they reflect on how their perspectives on caregiving and life have evolved over the years. Tune in to discover powerful revelations and deep connections between caregiving and personal transformation.  Thank you for joining us for part one of our Caregiver Compilation.

Caregiver Resources:

Renew and Connect: A Transformative Caregiver Retreat Series
- Tuesdays Sept 24th - Oct 29th (3-5pm PST) via Zoom
Beyond Stillness Monthly Caregiver Gatherings
- Third Wednesday each month 3-4pm PST via Zoom

Community Conversation Prompts: 

1.) How has your perspective as a caregiver, partner, or person evolved over time? 

2.) What boundaries do you set to prioritize your health and well-being?   How do you maintain them?

Support a Stroke Survivor:

Your gift sponsors a stroke survivor through our seven-week reflective story crafting journey.
👉 Donate at beyondstillness.org

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit that empowers stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

Follow us: Instagram · Facebook · YouTube · beyondstillness.org

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth

Join our six-week virtual retreat series designed to transform your care partnering journey. Rediscover your core values, trust your inner voice, and establish healthy boundaries. Enhance your communication skills and deepen connections with fellow care partners/caregivers. Reflect on your growth and celebrate achievements within a supportive community. Empower yourself and elevate your care partnering experience—sign up today! 

For more information and the sign up, click here.

Support a Stroke Survivor:

Your gift sponsors a stroke survivor through our seven-week reflective story crafting journey.
👉 Donate at beyondstillness.org

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is a nonprofit that empowers stroke survivors to articulate and publicly share their stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope.

Follow us: Instagram · Facebook · YouTube · beyondstillness.org

#BeyondStillness #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeStories #StrokeAwareness #Storytelling #StrokeSupport #Recovery #Resilience #Hope #Transformation #LifeAfterStroke #Inspiration #NarrativeIdentity #StorytellingHeals #RewritingMyStory #IdentityAfterStroke #PostTraumaticGrowth