F*** It, I Have a Brain Injury

In this episode, the team catches up with Caroline, a former group member and friend from The College of St. Rose in Albany, NY. Caroline shares her current recovery successes and challenges since her TBI from Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) in 2010, when she was just 10 years old. She talks about progress she is still making with the help of her own determination and her physical trainer. She describes some current struggles around dating and finding employment.  Listen in for a great conversation that proves significant recovery can happen in the chronic phase of brain injury rehabilitation.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)

State of Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services

On recommendation from our previous guest, Rachel Levy, we sit down with architect and traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor Robert de Miguel to hear his incredible story.  Using Voiceitt technology to assist his communication, Robert shares his incredible journey from studying architecture around the world and earning a master's degree at Harvard to surviving a devastating car accident that left him with a severe brain injury and only a small chance of survival.

Robert discusses the challenges of rebuilding his life, and how his experience inspired him to focus his efforts on educating Barcelona city officials on accessibility and inclusive design. He discusses TBI resourc es in Spain and his Brain City research, which explores how cities function like the human brain—dynamic, adaptive, and designed to better serve people of all abilities.

This conversation is filled with hope, resilience, and a fresh perspective on recovery, architecture, and creating communities where everyone belongs.

Co-hosts talk with Dr. Rachel Levy, SLP and co-founder of The Babel Group in New York City. Rachel explains advances in technology to support non-standard speech after stroke and TBI or other causes of dysarthria. She provides a demonstration of Voiceitt, an AI-driven speech recognition tool, and shares insights about how technology can help make sure everyone who has something to say gets heard. 

Visit The Babel Group here

Learn about Voiceitt here

Introduced by our last guest, Jamie Arber from The Supported Living Group, Ken and Jesse talk with artist and stroke survivor LeRay Pablo and Senior Art Program Manager Rebecca Maloney from Inspire Arts about how creative, person-driven programming supports rehabilitation, and provides meaningful opportunities for community participation through exhibitions and workshops. Hear LaRey's inspiring journey back to art and how Inspire Arts provides a space where shared creative interests unite survivors.

Visit Inspire Arts here

Visit The Supported Living Group here

Visit The Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut here

In this episode, hosts interview Jamie Arber, Licensed Professional Counselor, TBI survivor and Executive Director of The Supported Living Group (SLG). Jamie discusses how his personal experience influenced his work in helping people with Acquired Brain Injury find a new purpose. He describes the challenges and realities with ABI Waiver Services in Connecticut and specific programs SLG provides in order to ensure opportunities for meaningful engagement and  optimal long term rehabilitation for adults with ABI.

Click here to visit the Supported Living Group

Click here to visit Inspire Arts

To kick off Season 2, the co-hosts interview neuropsychologist Dr. Kate Gould from Monash University in Victoria, Australia. In this episode, Kate provides a simplified definition of neuropsychology and its role in helping people who have had changes in behavior after ABI. She describes the Positive Behaviour Support + Plus approach and discusses cyberscams and CyberAbility—a collaborative project that resulted from a person's experience with a cyberscam after his ABI.

Click here for Free resource and training materials on Cyberscams

Click here for Relentless Optimism Podcast

Click here for PBS+PLUS Information

In this last recording at The College of St. Rose, the guys put Melissa Capo in the interview seat for the Season One finale. The group discusses the evolution of the PEPtalks project group and other groups at The College of St. Rose that helped address cognitive, communicative and behavioral challenges and the value of the graduate student clinicians in helping provide one on one attention and support. In the discussion, they highlight the program’s role in challenging traditional medical models of rehabilitation as they share insights on achieving significant clinical growth in the chronic phase of their recovery- even when doctors suggested that it might not be possible.

To wrap up the season, the crew shares their top lessons learned about their collaborative podcast project and discusses how the podcast itself served as a powerful therapeutic tool.

In this episode, Ken and Jesse talk with Dr. Jerry Hoepner, SLP and professor at The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, about the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Camp and the importance of establishing meaningful connections to help people with ABI reduce their cognitive-communication impairment and increase their quality of life. 

For more information about the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Camp, please email Mary Beth Clark at [email protected]

BONUS EPISODE!

In this crossover episode, Renee Garrett, host of "Brainstorm(s) Podcast" discusses with Jesse and Ken how their lived experience inspired them to create a podcast. They reflect on meaningfulness, communication and cognitive growth and how their identity has been positively impacted by sharing their story and the stories of others with ABI. 

*Head to Speech Therapy PD  earn ASHA CEUs for this episode*  

The guys interview Julie Hart, Speech/Language Pathologist and (at the time) Director of the Neurogenic Communication Program at The College of St. Rose in Albany, NY. In this episode, Julie describes foundational elements of the program that prioritized individualized, project-oriented interventions and made it an award-winning program. The group discusses how cognitive/communication tasks are integrated into goals for meaningful engagement, community interactions and friendships. Julie Hart is now the Director of The Aphasia Center at Russell Sage College in Albany, NY. TAC Program and Contact Information