We talk a lot about service dogs — and rightfully so.
But this goes beyond that.

Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/Kjxq5Yf4Gws

This is about all the animals that show up for us…
when life gets hard, when things change, when we’re trying to figure out how to keep going.

After my stroke, I started to understand something I never fully saw before —
the role animals play in recovery, in mental health, and in just… getting through the day.

In this episode, I react to powerful stories about service dogs and other support animals —
and why they matter more than most people realize.

Because they’re not just pets.
They’re comfort.
They’re stability.
They’re a reason to keep moving forward.

👇 Watch the original videos here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUAqJWPA-tA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ld0fy5_pUI

YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@UpstrokePodcast

Over the past decade, something unexpected has been happening with stroke rates—especially among younger adults. Many people point to COVID… others point to vaccines… but what does the actual data say?

In this video, I break down:
• The long-term global stroke trend
• Why stroke rates were declining for decades
• The turning point around 2015
• What changed—and what didn’t
• What the research says about COVID and stroke risk
• What studies say about vaccines and stroke outcomes

As a stroke survivor, this isn’t just data for me—it’s personal.
This video isn’t about pushing a theory.
It’s about understanding the full picture.
Because when you look closely… the story is more complex than it first appears.
—
📊 Sources referenced include:
• Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study
• Nature Medicine & Nature Communications
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• American Heart Association
—
⚠️ Disclaimer:
This video is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding medical concerns.
—

💬 Let me know your thoughts in the comments:
What do YOU think changed?

Feel free to email me anytime you want to connect! 
email - [email protected] 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583462414870 
Music – The Red Cannons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3-VdV8LLYY&list=RDEMXp5S1NnHszlKoom_BsymHg&start_radio=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ive2pcGIeVY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjr6KwhYxpg 
Support our work at Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/customize 

Sponsor of the Year! Thank you EVOLV! https://www.evolvdigitalmarketing.com/

*FAIR USE NOTICE: This video may contain copyrighted material. The material is made available for educational purposes only. The material use constitutes "fair use" under Title 17 U.S.C. section 106A-117 of the US Copyright Law and the Canadian Copyright Act.

If you are a copyright owner and have concerns, please contact me and I will review or remove the content.

#braindamage #stroke #strokesurvivor #rehabilitation #motorcycle #braindamage #braininjury #stroke #strokesurvivor #motorcycle #motorcyclelife #rehabilitation #recoveryjourney #strokeawareness #adaptivefitness #strokerecovery #wellnessjourney #physicaltherapy #braininjury

YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@UpstrokePodcast

When 27-year-old Nick Chisholm suffered a devastating stroke, his life changed in an instant.

Diagnosed with a rare and severe form of locked-in syndrome, Nick lost the ability to walk, speak, and move—but not his awareness, his spirit, or his will to fight.

For over 20 years, Nick has been living inside his body… fully conscious.

And through it all, his brother Matt has been right there beside him.

This is a story about:

• Brotherhood 
• Resilience 
• Love 
• And the unbreakable human spirit 

From daily rehab to unexpected moments of connection… and one powerful surprise that no one saw coming—this journey will stay with you.

👉 Because sometimes… the body gives up.
 But the spirit never does.

Feel free to email me anytime you want to connect! email - [email protected] 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583462414870 

Music – The Red Cannons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3-VdV8LLYY&list=RDEMXp5S1NnHszlKoom_BsymHg&start_radio=1

Support our work at Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/customize 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583462414870 

Sponsor of the Year! Thank you EVOLV! https://www.evolvdigitalmarketing.com/

*FAIR USE NOTICE: This video may contain copyrighted material. The material is made available for educational purposes only. The material use constitutes "fair use" under Title 17 U.S.C. section 106A-117 of the US Copyright Law and the Canadian Copyright Act.

If you are a copyright owner and have concerns, please contact me and I will review or remove the content.

#braindamage #braininjury #stroke #strokesurvivor #motorcycle #motorcyclelife #rehabilitation #recoveryjourney #strokeawareness #adaptivefitness #strokerecovery #physicaltherapy 

Friends of the Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheBrokenRoadProjectPodcast

https://www.youtube.com/@letstalkstroke

https://www.youtube.com/@AphasiaP

YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@UpstrokePodcast

If your life has ever changed in a moment… this story will hit home. Christopher Reeve’s story is one of the most powerful comeback stories ever told. Best known as Superman, Christopher Reeve became a global symbol of strength, hope, and courage after the tragic horse riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down.

In a single moment, the life he knew was gone.
What happened next is what makes his story truly powerful.
This video isn’t just about Christopher Reeve…
It’s about what we do when life changes everything.

As a stroke survivor myself, this story hits close to home. The decision to keep going, to fight, to find purpose again… it’s something many of us face.
And it’s not easy.
If you’re going through something right now — this one’s for you.

Feel free to email me anytime you want to connect! email - [email protected] 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583462414870 
Music – The Red Cannons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3-VdV8LLYY&list=RDEMXp5S1NnHszlKoom_BsymHg&start_radio=1
Support our work at Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/customize 

Sponsor of the Year! Thank you EVOLV! https://www.evolvdigitalmarketing.com/

*FAIR USE NOTICE: This video may contain copyrighted material. The material is made available for educational purposes only. The material use constitutes "fair use" under Title 17 U.S.C. section 106A-117 of the US Copyright Law and the Canadian Copyright Act.
If you are a copyright owner and have concerns, please contact me and I will review or remove the content.

Friends of the Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheBrokenRoadProjectPodcast
https://www.youtube.com/@letstalkstroke
https://www.youtube.com/@AphasiaP

YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@UpstrokePodcast

After a stroke… after everything changes… there comes a moment where you have to decide who you're going to be next.

In this video, we sit down and watch a video from Dewayne Noel from Dry Creek Wrangler School and break down a powerful message about getting “back in the saddle.”

Link to this video by Dry Creek Wrangler School  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_GDNzHNm2A

Link to this podcast video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dFoPDoJWVrg

But this isn’t just about riding.
It’s about resilience. Identity. And making the decision to keep going—even when everything in you wants to stop.

This conversation hit me harder than I expected.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, defeated, or unsure of what comes next… this one’s for you.

👇 Let me know in the comments:
What does “getting back in the saddle” mean to YOU?

Feel free to email me anytime you want to connect! email - [email protected] 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583462414870 

Music – The Red Cannons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3-VdV8LLYY&list=RDEMXp5S1NnHszlKoom_BsymHg&start_radio=1

Support our work at Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/customize 
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583462414870 
Sponsor of the Year! Thank you EVOLV! https://www.evolvdigitalmarketing.com/

*FAIR USE NOTICE: This video may contain copyrighted material. The material is made available for educational purposes only. The material use constitutes "fair use" under Title 17 U.S.C. section 106A-117 of the US Copyright Law and the Canadian Copyright Act.
If you are a copyright owner and have concerns, please contact me and I will review or remove the content.

#braindamage #braininjury #stroke #strokesurvivor #motorcycle #motorcyclelife #rehabilitation #recoveryjourney #strokeawareness #adaptivefitness #strokerecovery #physicaltherapy 

Friends of the Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheBrokenRoadProjectPodcast
https://www.youtube.com/@letstalkstroke
https://www.youtube.com/@AphasiaP

YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@UpstrokePodcast

Michael Johnson was one of the fastest men on the planet.
Olympic gold medalist. World record holder. A man who ran 200 meters in just 19.32 seconds.

And then… everything changed.

After suffering a stroke, Michael Johnson went from world-class athlete to relearning how to walk again. What he did next wasn’t just recovery — it was something completely different.

In this video, I break down his story, his mindset, and what we can all learn from the way he approached stroke recovery.

As someone who has gone through stroke recovery myself, this one hit close to home.

#StrokeRecovery #MichaelJohnson #Disability #Inspiration #RecoveryJourney

In this powerful episode, we explore the incredible journey of Michael Johnson, one of the fastest men to ever live. After a stroke threatened his entire identity built on speed and athletics, he faced the daunting challenge of recovery. His story reminds us that even when life takes an unexpected turn, the human spirit's capacity for rehabilitation and a renewed recovery journey is truly inspiring.

Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ive2pcGIeVY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjr6KwhYxpg

Support our work at Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/customize
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583462414870

Sponsor of the Year! Thank you EVOLV!
https://www.evolvdigitalmarketing.com/

YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@UpstrokePodcast

Randy Travis was one of the most recognizable voices in country music. But in 2013, everything changed. After suffering a massive stroke, Randy Travis was given almost no chance to survive. And even if he did… doctors said he would never speak or sing again.

In this episode of the Upstroke Podcast, we look at Randy Travis’s stroke, his recovery, and the emotional reality of losing your voice—not just physically, but personally.

As a stroke survivor myself, I know what it feels like to lose a part of who you are… and fight to get it back.
This is more than a story about music.
This is a story about identity, faith, and resilience.

Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQO1t01htHI&list=RDoQO1t01htHI&start_radio=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu_URhwn724
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQsvAB2RsvM

Support our work at Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/customize
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583462414870

Sponsor of the Year! Thank you EVOLV!
https://www.evolvdigitalmarketing.com/

#RandyTravis #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #Aphasia #BrainInjury #RecoveryJourney #NeverGiveUp #Inspiration #UpstrokePodcast

YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@UpstrokePodcast

She was the Mother of Dragons… but behind the scenes, Emilia Clarke was fighting for her life.

In this episode of the Upstroke Podcast, I dive into Emilia Clarke’s powerful stroke recovery story — surviving not one, but two brain aneurysms at the height of her career.

But this episode goes deeper than Hollywood.

I also share the incredible story of Katherine Wolf and the mission behind Hope Heals Camp, where survivors and caregivers come together to rebuild, reconnect, and find purpose after trauma.

And along the way, I reflect on my own journey — what stroke recovery really looks like, what it takes to keep going, and how these stories remind us that we’re not alone in the fight.

Emilia Clarke links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZGvoVPGQ0Y&t=11s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0cl7UwoNb0

Katherine Wolf Links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRlKZxb4wvc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_HSSgl47qA

YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@UpstrokePodcast

Life after stroke can be incredibly hard. Recovery takes time, patience, and a lot of determination. But one thing that often gets overlooked in the recovery journey is humor.
In this episode of the Upstroke Podcast, I’m sharing some of the funniest comedians who live with disabilities and neurological challenges. These performers have turned real-life struggles into laughter — and their humor reminds us that even when life changes in an instant, we can still find moments of joy.
As a stroke survivor myself, I’ve learned that laughter can be one of the most powerful coping tools we have.
In this video we look at comedy from performers like Josh Blue, Drew Lynch, and others who prove that disability doesn’t take away your ability to make people laugh.
If you're recovering from Stroke, living with a neurological condition, or supporting someone who is, I hope this video brings you a little encouragement — and a few laughs along the way.
Because sometimes… laughter really is part of healing.

LINKS:
Josh Blue (Cerebral Palsy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqs18nd0qgk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33SDdWxtD4c
Drew Lynch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny8MHGrTKTc
Tina Friml https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vfBdTUeI6o

YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@UpstrokePodcast

Jamie Foxx had a brain bleed that led to a stroke. 
Sharon Stone survived a life-threatening stroke that changed her career.

What does it actually feel like to survive something like that?

In this episode of the Upstroke Podcast, stroke survivor Shayne DeMarce reacts to powerful interviews from:
• Jamie Foxx discussing his brain bleed and stroke recovery
• Sharon Stone describing her stroke survival and rebuilding her life
• Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor explaining what a stroke feels like inside the brain

As someone who experienced a stroke himself, Shayne shares personal insight into:
– Stroke symptoms and early warning signs
– Memory loss after stroke
– What stroke recovery really looks like
– The emotional and mental effects of stroke
– Life after stroke and rebuilding identity

Stroke doesn’t care who you are — celebrity or not.

If you or someone you love is recovering from a stroke, you are not alone.
WE SURVIVED.

Subscribe to the Upstroke Podcast for real conversations about stroke recovery, resilience, disability, rebuilding life after trauma, and finding purpose after survival.

Links:
www.youtube.com/@UCEhpRIRbbCuw3i6rACtOt9g 
www.youtube.com/@UC8B3nWLERx09uo5gD_76muA 
www.youtube.com/@UCzf4X8h90Iqu7rSECrJg5NA 
Sharon Stone Interview https://youtu.be/9Q62kvUp8qI?si=6ShLQY16FG2wHIYP
Jamie Foxx interview https://youtu.be/6uC59D_boa8?si=Q-fMB2tho-XKGwai

#JamieFoxx #SharonStone #StrokeRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #BrainBleed #UpstrokePodcast

YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@UpstrokePodcast