Rockin' Aphasia

Let the aphasia group know what you think of the episode!

Welcome to Episode 5 : “Rockin’ The Chippewa Valley Aphasia Camp.” Listen in as Chris Niles takes you to the 2025 Chippewa Aphasia Camp through a series of interviews directly on-site at aphasia camp with campers, students and clinicians. You'll hear the sounds of aphasia camp, and you'll hear from UWEC students Carlee Elliott, Anna Lindner, Macy Gutting and Betsy McGinley; SLP and long-time camp staffer Michele Knutson; and campers Michael Obel-Omia and Rochelle Anderson.

The Chippewa Valley Aphasia Camp is a weekend-long rustic camp for those with aphasia and their family and friends. Established in 2004, the camp provides a range of indoor and outdoor activities, conversation, campfires and a whole lotta great people...all in the beautiful Northwoods of Wisconsin.  Click here to see the 2025 Aphasia Camp Slideshow. 

 The 2026 Chippewa Valley Aphasia Camp happens Sept. 18th-20th back at Camp Manitou. For more information about the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Camp, or to register, you can reach out to Mary Beth Clark ([email protected]) or Chris Niles.

"Rockin' Aphasia" is a podcast developed, planned, recorded and produced by members of the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Network and BluGold Aphasia Group. The podcast episodes are recorded on location at various places throughout the Chippewa Valley. For more information about aphasia group collaborations in western Wisconsin - you can check out the the UW-Eau Claire CSD department and the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Network website.  

Let the aphasia group know what you think of the episode!

This episode is all things coffee. The aphasia group sits down with Ryan Bembnister, who along with his wife Laura, owns the Goat Coffee House at 336 Water Street in Eau Claire (www.thegoatcoffeehouse.com) in addition to two other locations in the Chippewa Valley. 

The Goat is a favorite spot for the aphasia group, as well as for much of the community, including UWEC students and staff. Ryan and Laura have been strong supporters of the aphasia community, and in this interview, Ryan shares the origins of the Goat, how they got into coffee, what it's like running a coffee house in Eau Claire, and even a little about his crazy cool Lego collection. And you'll hear if Goat's Milk is going to be a creamer option....

PLUS you'll hear from the rest of the group, including a Coffee Poem from Jayne and more from the crew. You've got the GOATs in this podcast episode for sure! 

You can find pictures of the group during the interview, as well as a few pictures of the Goat in our Podcast photo album here. 

"Rockin' Aphasia" is a podcast developed, planned, recorded and produced by members of the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Network and BluGold Aphasia Group. The podcast episodes are recorded on location at various places throughout the Chippewa Valley. For more information about aphasia group collaborations in western Wisconsin - you can check out the the UW-Eau Claire CSD department and the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Network website.  

Let the aphasia group know what you think of the episode!

Welcome to the 3rd episode of the Rockin' Aphasia podcast. This podcast series is planned, developed, recorded and edited ENTIRELY by the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Network & BluGold Aphasia Group.

This episode has a Springtime Theme. In this episode you'll here: 

• a poem about aphasia and the community garden
• a story from one of our group members with PPA about moving forward with PPA
• a couple songs highlighting spring 

This episode was recorded at the UW-Eau Claire Recording Studio by the aphasia group.

For an aphasia-friendly summary of this podcast episode, click here.
For pictures of the aphasia group in action, doing the recording click here.

Here is the poem - Springtime Symphony by Rochelle Anderson:

Springtime Symphony
Rainstick.   Mimics the raindrops.  Winter sleeping, healthy earth revealed.  Aphasia is stillness and quiet, seeing the rainbow

Small jingles from tambourine.  Weeding and mulching, surrounding with chicken wire.  Aphasia observing and watching

Hearing a pair of maracas rattling cha-cha-cha, while hoeing and raking.  Soil becomes fresh and alive.  Aphasia is hidden and frightened

Round steel tongue drum loudly marks the beat.  Others plant rows of seeds, place labels.  Pay attention, aphasia is isolated

Egg shakers noisy and boisterous with the rhythm.  Smell fertilizer and compost, then feed the plants.  Unable to talk, aphasia is eternal

Metal bell sticks, clanging, shiny celebration.   Correct amount of water to make seeds grow.  Words scream in my mind, but lonely with aphasia

Laughing and sadness around the garden.  Special friends struggling and succeeding.  Listening to delightful music, solving clues of the game of aphasia

by Rochelle M. Anderson


Here is Jane's story about living with PPA
My name is Jane and I have Primary Progressive Aphasia. I struggle every day to get my words out. I can say this winter has been very hard on me. I am losing more and more of my words. I am using my tablet to speak for me because I can’t write or spell, do my checkbook count money or go to restaurants.

 I am in an aphasia group that keeps me going. They are awesome and they understand. They are patient helpful and fun. I go to group 2 times a week and work on projects. My family understands and I have several special people in my life. If I need them, they are there for me.

 I am an outside person and need to be busy all the time ….Mowing the lawn and fixing things. I even do sewing outside sometimes. I do several vendor craft shows and sell my products. Sewing bean bags, micro potholders, rice bags and fleece blankets. I also love doing puzzles.

 I got my first pony when I was four and by nine years old, I was in horse shows. I like the racing ones the most – like barrels and poles. I am not showing anymore but I belong to the Bit and Spur club in Eau Claire, Wis.

 I help in the food truck and make 30 pounds of potato salad. Then I help Tammy, my daughter with pulled pork and tacos. We do around 7 shows. All shows are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

 It’s spring now so I will be out in the University plot putting up fences and getting ready to put seeds in the ground.

 Now it’s time to have some fun and get our group back together. 

"Rockin' Aphasia" is a podcast developed, planned, recorded and produced by members of the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Network and BluGold Aphasia Group. The podcast episodes are recorded on location at various places throughout the Chippewa Valley. For more information about aphasia group collaborations in western Wisconsin - you can check out the the UW-Eau Claire CSD department and the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Network website.  

Let the aphasia group know what you think of the episode!

Welcome back to Rockin’ Aphasia - Episode #2! In this episode, the Blugold Aphasia Group takes a trip to the community garden. The group shares memories and stories about the hard work they have put into the garden - including cantaloupes! You will also hear from group members Robert and Rita and their journey living with aphasia. Lastly, the Blugold Aphasia Group recites a poem about gardening and aphasia written by fellow group member Rochelle Anderson. You can find Rochelle’s poem linked below and read along as aphasia group members read the poem aloud.  You can also find a few pictures of our community garden plot here.


Gardening Journey - by Rochelle Anderson

 Plants and seeds looking for sprouting deliverance, surrounded by chicken wire

Tomatoes, peppers, beans, lettuce, squash in the nourishing soil

Onions underneath dirt are dragons anticipating freedom

Conversation outside, working together, camaraderie.  Joking, laughing, smiling

Many weeds in the garden’s path are a storm battering the port

Aphasia is a weed, toiling and struggling to remove, but always coming back

The antlered deer eating the garden is aphasia stealing your purpose

A vegetable garden with no sun or water is aphasia changing your life

Gardening in a group with friends, enjoying their lives, sharing stories

Smell the pungent onions, savor the red, juicy tomatoes, feel the leafy lettuce

Crisp, flavorful and fresh on your palate is the full-spectrum rainbow

Starting barren, scenery explodes and nature shows its wonder

Suddenly autumn. Waiting for spring’s rebirth, memories abound

 ----Rochelle M. Anderson

For more information about the collaborative community garden, you can read the article here.  

"Rockin' Aphasia" is a podcast developed, planned, recorded and produced by members of the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Network and BluGold Aphasia Group. The podcast episodes are recorded on location at various places throughout the Chippewa Valley. For more information about aphasia group collaborations in western Wisconsin - you can check out the the UW-Eau Claire CSD department and the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Network website.  

Let the aphasia group know what you think of the episode!

In this episode you will hear from Chris and Jane. They share their stories with UWEC students Savanna and Sarah about living with aphasia. They also record live from Food Truck Friday in Eau Claire, and discuss the challenges of ordering with aphasia. 

"Rockin' Aphasia" is a podcast developed, planned, recorded and produced by members of the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Network and BluGold Aphasia Group. The podcast episodes are recorded on location at various places throughout the Chippewa Valley. For more information about aphasia group collaborations in western Wisconsin - you can check out the the UW-Eau Claire CSD department and the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Network website.