Dr. Avtar Roopra couldn’t believe what he was seeing: a medication that *stopped seizures* in mice—even AFTER they stopped taking it. No seizures. No meds. And even better? It restored cognitive function. Skeptical? So was Roopra and other scientists—until they repeated the results twice with the same outcome.

Even more shocking? This drug is already FDA-approved for other chronic conditions. So why isn’t this a breakthrough epilepsy treatment? Because NIH funding cuts have brought this promising research to a halt—and put its future in jeopardy.

Anne Morgan Giroux, founder of Lily’s Fund, which provided the seed funding for this research, joins us to explain why this matters and what you can do to help.

Donate to Lily's Fund: https://lilysfund.org/give/

Ask your reps to restore NIH funding: https://5calls.org/issue/nih-nsf-funding-cuts/

Shout out to Community Partners Epilepsy Foundation of America & the Danny Did Foundation and sponsors Neurelis & SK life science for making convos like this possible!

She left her job as a newscaster because of epilepsy—and now she’s back at the same anchor desk. In this episode, Sarah Carlson talks about pretending she didn’t miss the job (she did), how she seized the opportunity to get back in, and the joy of being four years seizure free...while knowing her brain is still unpredictable.

We also get into survivor’s guilt, pressure to be perfect with sleep, and whether she’d be anchoring if she were still seizing.

Big thanks to our community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America and the Danny Did Foundation as well as sponsors Neurelis and SK life science!

The Faces of Medicaid - a story by Sarah Carlson: https://www.channel3000.com/video/the-faces-of-medicaid/video_411e072c-ecd8-57c0-ae07-e3838913f8df.html

Athletic support for people with disabilities: https://www.achillesinternational.org/

Former Marine Jack lives with post-traumatic epilepsy—and calls it a “blast radius” of its own. From memory struggles to mindset shifts, he shares how he stopped apologizing for what epilepsy changed and started treating himself with compassion. Oh, and he also announced the introduction of the National Plan for Epilepsy to Congress. No big deal.

Shout out to the folks who support us in our blast radius! Community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America & Danny Did Foundation and sponsors Neurelis & SK life science

Tommy had his first seizure (and dislocated shoulder 😬) senior year of high school—but kept chasing his dream of swimming at University of South Carolina. After the 2024 SECs, another seizure and shoulder pop (double ouch) changed everything. Still, he refused to let epilepsy take the water from him.

Big shout out to these folks for keeping the podcast afloat!

Community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America and Danny Did Foundation and sponsors Neurelis and SK life science

Diagnosed at just six days old, kinda makes Paige Wade the OG of epilepsy. As an adult, her seizures subsided until two popped up, taking away her driver's license. Paige teaches second grade, and her students weren't the only ones getting dropped off by their moms. (Awkward.)

Paige opens up about how losing her independence led to depression—and how she slowly climbed her way back. Now a thriving content creator, she shares the mindset shifts and daily habits that helped her heal, including her focus on nutrition, movement, and mental health. Tune in for three powerful strategies Paige used to reclaim her life and her sense of self.

Check out Paige's Insa: @changewithpaige

Shout out to these folks for making convos like this possible!

Community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America and ⁨the Danny Did Foundation⁩ and sponsors Neurelis and SK life science

​​When Sarabjeet Bhutani was diagnosed with epilepsy as a child, she understood the secrecy that came with it. The cultural stigma in her community ran so deep, that for decades Sarabjeet stayed silent. And when her daughter was also diagnosed at age 10, the cycle continued. (If only they were born in Gen Z!)

But that all changed when Pree had a seizure in front of her school. (Can’t hide that, right?) From then on, Pree would dedicate her life to talking openly about it. Becoming an advocate, speaking at congressional hearings, and lobbying for seizure first aid legislation.

In this episode we talk about the blurred lines between privacy and shame. And how one daughter’s courage inspired her mother to help break a generational silence.

Shout out to Community Partners Epilepsy Foundation of America and the Danny Did Foundation as well as sponsors SK life science and Neurelis!

Live from the National Epilepsy Walk in D.C., Landis Wiedner and Miles Levin hit the National Mall with one big question: What do you wish more people knew about epilepsy? The answers were real, raw, and sometimes even funny!What do YOU wish more people understood? Comment below and join the conversation!Thank you Community Partner Epilepsy Foundation of America and sponsors Neurelis and SK life science for making convos like this possible.

JP Severin thought his epilepsy was controlled—until his seizures decided to make a comeback right in the middle of his career and dad life. JP shares what it’s like when your kids witness your seizures, the emotional aftermath, and the challenge of accepting what’s beyond his control.

With humor and heart, JP dives into the weird wisdom seizuresbring, and how life’s unpredictability can reshape perspective on gratitude and empathy.

Thank you to our Community Partner Epilepsy Foundation of America and Sponsors Neurelis and SK life science for making conversations like this possible.

When Nancy Iida’s son went off to college, she had to face a hard truth: she couldn’t control his seizures. That lesson deepened when her daughter was diagnosed with cancer and she herself battled Lyme disease.

Through it all, Nancy turned to art as a way to create peace in a life filled with uncertainty. In this episode, she shares how she’s learned to let go, find balance, and embrace the practice of resilience and laughter.

Check out Henry's Heroes Foundation: https://henrysheroesfoundation.org/

Thank you to our Community Partner Epilepsy Foundation of America and Sponsors SK life science and Neurelis for supporting peace in the epilepsy world!

So, what's it like being married to someone with epilepsy? Steve and I get real about our relationship—how we met, the challenges we’ve faced, and the moments that make it all worth it. From seizure depression to the Kid Decision (to have kids or not?), and yes, even who gets the last French fry, we’re sharing it all.

Appreciate these folks giving this podcast their "I do's": Epilepsy Foundation of America, Neurelis, and SK life science.