Every year, my brain has a fun holiday tradition of doling out seizures. Like my epilepsy is Santa but with a very dark sense of humor.

So this year I came up with 5 strategies to (hopefully) mitigate the holiday seizen. From bathrooms to booze to holiday blues--I'm hoping these tips help!

Tune into this 5-minute What the Elf?! episode and let me know if any of these work for you!

But above all, remember no matter how many strategies we put in place, seizures are not our fault. They happen when we do everything "right." So please be kind to yourself. I promise you are not alone in this.

Thank to you the amazing support we had in 2025 from sponsors Neurelis & SK life science and community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, and Epilepsy Alliance America!

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Ever sit in your doctor’s office like, “Wait… what did you just say?” Dr. Claude Steriade, an epileptologist at NYU, is here to translate the medical jargon and hand over her playbook for better communication with your doc.

She shares the *one magical thought* she wishes every patient could have, explains autoimmune epilepsy (the sneaky diagnosis that hides in plain sight), and shows how to ask for the right tests.

Oh, and don’t miss her 3 game-changing tips for making conversations with your doctor way less awkward.

Follow on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok for extra clips and community convos!

Shout out to community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, Epilepsy Alliance of American AND our sponsors Neurelis and SK life science! Thanks for helping bridge the communication gap in the epilepsy world!

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The first thing Brian remembers after his first seizure is a boot smashing through his semi-truck windshield—strangers pulling him from the wreckage as his world changed forever. After a misdiagnosis, years of drug-resistant epilepsy, and 30 seizures a month, Brian found the strength to keep fighting. With cutting edge brain technology—and with the steady support of his loved ones—he’s celebrating seven months seizure-free and a brand-new chapter.

Follow on socials for more convos and clips!

YouTube:  @WhatTheEfPodcast 

Insta: @whattheefpodcast

TikTok: @what.the.ef.podcast

Shout out to community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation & Epilepsy Alliance America AND our sponsors Neurelis and SK life science! Thank you for keeping this community going!

Learn more about Legacy Bridges Foundation that helped Brian through recovery: https://www.legacybridgesfoundation.org/

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What happens when thousands of epilepsy nerds take over Lisbon? Tune in for chats with people from all over the world–Argentina, UK, Australia, Colombia, Kenya and more! Convos about the ethics of AI in epilepsy treatment, the move from pediatric to adult care, to how gut health affects seizures.

Turns out, the biggest conference in the world isn’t just about science—it’s about connection, curiosity, and a whole lot of hope. 🌍💜

Subscribe YouTube, follow Instagram and TikTok for extra clips and community convos!

Shout out to community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, and Epilepsy Alliance America AND our sponsors Neurelis and SK life science! Thank you for supporting the epilepsy sphere!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever feel like you keep shouting, "Epilepsy is more than seizures!" but no one’s listening? Medical rockstar Dr. Sandi Lam certainly hears you, which is why she’s spearheading a massive, groundbreaking study focused on Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) that aims to change healthcare forever. 

Dr. Lam shares how she's trying to measure the "unmeasurable," like how treatment affects behavior, communication, and overall quality of life. (It sure does!) She’s also addressing caregiver burden and family support needs.

Tune in to hear why this patient-led science is so revolutionary, and how this study is transforming the future of epilepsy care.

Follow the podcast on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok for extra clips and community convos!

Learn more about Dr. Lam's research here: www.lgsresearch.org

Thanks for ALL the hugs from our community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, and Epilepsy Alliance America AND our sponsors Neurelis and SK life science!

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Stacia Kalinoski has worn many hats—news reporter, marathon runner, author, filmmaker, and substitute teacher—but epilepsy changed the course of her life in ways she never expected. In this episode, Stacia gets real about the uphill battle that inspired her memoir Racing Uphill: the denial, the career shifts, and the moment she said yes to brain surgery. We talk about what friendship looks like when someone literally has to email your mom, why memory feels like treasure, and how creativity helped her piece together the story epilepsy tried to erase.

Follow the podcast on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok for extra clips and community convos!

Shout out to community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, and Epilepsy Alliance America AND our sponsors Neurelis and SK life science! We get to stay in the race because of y’all! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to What the EF. I’m Landis Wiedner and this show is all about the “what the…?” moments that come with living with epilepsy. We share the stories that are usually whispered about or brushed aside, and we do it with honesty, humour, and heart.

This podcast is for anyone who has epilepsy, loves someone who does, or just wants to understand what it’s really like. You’ll hear from people living with seizures, their families, doctors, researchers, and advocates. Sometimes it gets heavy, sometimes it gets ridiculous, and most of the time it’s a mix of both.

We’ve worked hard to make What the EF feel like a place where people belong... whether you’re here for comfort, for laughs, or just to feel a little less alone.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s episode is one you’ll want to take notes on. Ayesha Akhtar, VP of Health Equity at the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, isn’t just talking about change—she’s handing out the blueprint.

If you’ve ever wondered, “What can I actually do to make a difference for people with epilepsy?”—Ayesha’s got answers (and a few challenges you just might want to take on). Find out how education, advocacy, and community power can close the gaps—and how you can be part of it.

📲 Don’t forget to subscribe & follow on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok  for extra clips and community convos!

Big thanks to community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, and Epilepsy Alliance America AND sponsors Neurelis and SK life science for keeping this community going strong.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming in LIVE from the launch of the Otherside Lounge! 🎉 The Lounge is a brand-new space created for people with epilepsy to connect, decompress, and feel at home—whether at conferences or beyond. In this special episode, you’ll hear stories from the Lounge floor: why this space matters, what it feels like to finally have a spot designed with our community in mind, and how it’s already sparking conversations we didn’t know we needed. Think comfy couches, real talk, and zero judgment.

The Otherside Lounge is more than a hangout—it’s proof that when people with epilepsy come together, voices get louder, walls come down, and real change starts.

And don’t forget to follow the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok for clips, behind-the-scenes, and more.

Shout out to community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, & Epilepsy Alliance AND our sponsors Neurelis and SK life science! Thank you for believing in this podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chynise may be a Senior VP of HR, but don’t expect corporate jargon here. Instead, she’s dishing on what it’s like to juggle seizures, side effects, and the fine art of pretending you didn’t have a seizure while giving a presentation. We get into the messy reality of finding the right meds (think: speed dating, but with more brain fog), the awkwardness of telling people you have epilepsy (spoiler: it’s not in the employee handbook), and that friendship might just be the best health benefit out there. Plus, Chynise shares insider tips on what HR can actually do to support employees with medical conditions.

Follow @whattheefpodcast on Instagram for more epilepsy content!

Shout out to community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, and Epilepsy Alliance America AND our sponsors Neurelis and SK life science! Appreciate you for believing in this podcast! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.