Meet Tom Jensen, founder of Elect Wellness. He aims to make health improvements accessible and effective for everyone. They bring the gym to you! Programs are holistic, covering in-home physical training, dietitian-led nutrition coaching, and lifestyle counseling. Elect Wellness promotes structured exercise that boosts neuroplasticity,supports neural repair with targeted nutrients like omega‑3s and antioxidants, and removes barriers to consistent rehabilitation. Clients enjoy daily support and a...
Jun 26, 2025•35 min•Season 6Ep. 12
Meet James Brown. In his first year of law school he began experiencing noticeable neurological symptoms. An MRI scan revealed a massive brain tumor. Though doctors anticipated a smooth recovery after surgery, James faced serious complications that left him in a coma for two months and dealing with lasting disabilities. But instead of giving up, he chose to fight back. He returned to Colorado, became a father, and boldly started a new career in web programming. Along the way he earned a master’s...
Jun 12, 2025•27 min•Season 6Ep. 11
Imagine regaining movement after years of immobility. Julie Graham, OT and therapy development specialist at MicroTransponder, discusses her extensive 20-year career in occupational therapy and her work with Vivistim, a device designed for chronic ischemic stroke survivors. Vivistim pairs vagus nerve stimulation with physical and occupational therapy to enhance neuroplasticity and regain motor functions in the affected upper extremity. Julie explains the role of the vagus nerve in rewiring the b...
May 29, 2025•24 min•Season 6Ep. 10
Dr. Brandon Crawford, a prominent neurologist and researcher, discusses his journey into the field of developmental functional neurology and how through the use of PhotoBioModulation, incorporated with traditional neurological treatments, revolutionizes brain injury recovery. He is renowned in the field of photobiomodulation, or laser therapy, and its role in accelerating neuroplasticity and enhancing brain function. Influenced by personal as well as professional experiences, Dr. Crawford explai...
May 15, 2025•35 min•Season 6Ep. 9
Mandy Collins, speech therapist and case manager, shares her unique challenges of working with brain injury survivors, the importance of community integration post-injury, and the role of home and community-based rehabilitation. She highlights the importance of patient self-advocacy, shared goal-setting, and resources, such as BIND, for ongoing support. Mandy emphasizes the ongoing nature of recovery and the broad scope of work for speech therapists within the neurorehabilitation field. Support ...
Apr 17, 2025•28 min•Season 6Ep. 8
From surviving a brain aneurysm at 18 to diving into podcast editing and social media, Livia lives by the motto: "Be comfortable with being uncomfortable." She’s always seeking new challenges, whether it’s tackling tricky edits, inspiring podcast ideas, or taking an Uber to push her independence. Support the show New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to podcasts. 🎙️ Do you want to support us? Give us some feedback, tell us what bindwaves has meant for you by emailing us a...
Apr 03, 2025•25 min•Season 6Ep. 7
Many people do not understand how people feel after a brain injury. Jeff Gould is a TBI coach with “Labor of Love” for more than 20 years. He was hit by a door at age 13 years old that caused memory loss, fatigue, personality changes, and anger. Jeff makes a personal treatment plan for each client to combat drug, alcohol, and mental health issues. As a coach, he stays up to date with new information about how the brain works. Rather than self-medicating, Jeff encourages community involvement. Su...
Mar 20, 2025•26 min•Season 6Ep. 6
We know that people with brain injuries often feel alone. Listen to Claire Motto Steil from Empower House, a family-oriented brain injury clubhouse in Iowa. Similar to BIN, they also follow the weekly work order day. They also have additional evening activities such as dinners and outside events for their current members and guests and to attract new members. Member feedback has shown that the benefits of membership include better quality of life, communication, social skills, and friendships. F...
Mar 06, 2025•25 min•Season 6Ep. 5
Lori emphasizes the importance of acknowledging grief and loss, finding hope and joy in a new normal, and staying active in both physical and emotional therapy. The discussion also highlights the significance of community support, especially from friends, and the need for broader stroke awareness. The episode concludes with updates on Lori’s upcoming books, including a children's series aimed at teaching inclusivity and acceptance. https://lorivober.com/lorilonghorn99 Support the show New episod...
Feb 20, 2025•27 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Don’t let transportation stop you! you ever feel isolated? Post brain injury, many struggle with loneliness, often due to life changes, especially a lack of transportation. So what do we do? We get together online, and make new friends. Our guest is Veronica Corrin, OT, with Rehab Without Walls, an at home and in community neuro-based rehab. She started the Brain Injury Virtual Connect (BIVC), a weekly Wednesday group meeting, four years ago, which has now grown to include a Friday Coffee Chat a...
Feb 06, 2025•28 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Meet key team members Rick and Karl and the Importance of Structure and Focus. Rick, the sound engineer, recounts his experience with a severe brain injury dating back to 2007, including the headaches that led to his diagnosis, surgery, and eventual rehabilitation. Karl, who handles episode descriptions, shares his story of surviving a stroke and his extensive rehabilitation journey. They discuss their roles in the podcast, the skills they've acquired, and the importance of providing compelling ...
Jan 23, 2025•24 min•Season 6Ep. 2
We want to introduce our new Co-host! Listen to Brittany's personal story, where she shares details about her 2018 brain injury, its effects, and her path to joining BIND, the Brain Injury Network of Dallas. The discussion covers Brittany's initial challenges, her recovery journey, including therapies like neurofeedback, and her involvement with BIND and its community. Brittany talks about her love for art as a coping mechanism, her progress and roles at the library, and emphasizes the importanc...
Jan 09, 2025•24 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Listen as we celebrate our 100th episode for bindwaves this week! Today, we learn about the many accomplishments of the last two years at BIND, and introduce our new co-host, Brittany. The recap episode guest is Brian White, our executive director. Our members are proud of the money raised for our annual walk, North Texas Giving Day, golf tournament, and auction. We review the interest of starting a new clubhouse in Houston. In the last year, we have greatly increased our efficiency, attributed ...
Oct 24, 2024•31 min•Season 5Ep. 100
Have you struggled to find your path in your brain injury journey? Courtney Watson is the Director of Programs & Development at Head for the Cure, a nonprofit that provides advice, stories, and resources, in collaboration with doctors, patients, and caregivers for every step of the brain tumor journey. Courtney shares her personal connection to the cause following her mother's glioblastoma diagnosis in 2016 and discusses the organization's efforts in raising funds for local organizations, cl...
Oct 21, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 33
Consider your emotional baggage when you still want to learn! Today we are speaking with Laurel who had a brain injury at age 17. She lost her hearing in one ear, but that did not stop her. Laurel became an attorney, a licensed professional counselor (LPC), and is now a board member at BIN. She never gave up her quest to learn and graduated with her law degree and still teaches continuing LPC classes quarterly. Running four times a week keeps her recovery going strong. Although she still has cha...
Oct 03, 2024•26 min•Season 5Ep. 32
Have you ever thought, "How could it be any worse?" Some people with a brain injury have felt as if they are a kid again, as they had to relearn almost everything. Meet Bre: a BIND member, who was shot in the head at age 28. He was always a very social person, but had to relearn how to speak, eat, and understand everyday life. Bre is just now starting on the road to independency and wants to help people support themselves. After his brain injury, he believes that he is more open-minded in severa...
Sep 26, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 31
Have you heard about neurofeedback? Today we welcome Dr. Robert Baric, the founder of MyConcussionDr where he specializes in whole body management of brain injury. Nine years ago, after his mother had a stroke, he got board certified in neurofeedback, and now has one of the best clinics in North Carolina. QEEG and/or eye examination are the usual ways to diagnose concussion. He discusses the best ways to initially treat a TBI, when to go to the ER, what you can do at home, and strategies for lif...
Sep 19, 2024•34 min•Season 5Ep. 30
Today we welcome Erin Kreszel, who has dedicated herself to raising awareness, providing support, and policymaking after losing her cousin to a ruptured brain aneurysm. Eleven years ago, she and her sister founded The Bee Foundation for Brain Aneurysm Prevention. Erin shares some surprising statistics with us, e.g. ~1 in 50 people has one, and even someone perfectly healthy and young can have one rupture, causing a hemorrhagic stroke. Prevention is key. It is considerably easier to treat prior t...
Sep 12, 2024•30 min•Season 5Ep. 29
Have you ever felt stuck when you were trying to work through something? Saul Enriquez, a teacher to our future nurses at Rio Grande Valley Nursing School, has over 26 years of experience in caring for people with a multitude of health issues. During his work providing critical care at ICUs, trauma units, and emergency departments, he's seen patients recover from extensive injuries. All of them had one thing in common: persistence. He now teaches future nurses to have patience with their patient...
Aug 29, 2024•28 min•Season 5Ep. 28
While we don't always have choices in life, we always have a choice in how we react. Lori Vober, a stroke survivor, is a speaker and author who volunteers her time to help others. She encourages survivors to look for support from others, knowing that it is OK to not be OK! She learned about vulnerability by taking a positive approach to life and connecting with others. Lori reminds us that we can choose happiness and don't need to be perfect alone. Support the show New episodes drop every other ...
Aug 22, 2024•29 min•Season 5Ep. 27
Today’s program is filled with opportunities and service. Our guest is Lori Vober, a young stroke survivor, an author, public speaker, and an adoptive mother. After a life of dependency, Lori shares her turnaround in her later years, and now helps others with emotional issues. She asks people with a brain injury to not ignore the grief that comes with recovery but take the time to breathe as it is a life-long journey. To learn more: https://lorivober.com/ Support the show New episodes drop every...
Aug 15, 2024•28 min•Season 5Ep. 26
If you hadn't visited your library in the last 10 years, you might not recognize it. Yes, there are still plenty of books, but they have added heaps of services, many of which are especially helpful for those recovering from a brain injury. Kristen Lindscott and Bob Loftin who work for community partnership and engagement for the Plano Library talk about the recent changes that benefit our community. You may not know that many of the services are free to other areas outside of Plano: they offer ...
Aug 08, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 25
Think about a brain injury as a family event. Both the survivor and their family need resources and support to find their new normal. Our guest, Karol Falci, a neuro case manager for Baylor Scott and White in Frisco, is a brain injury survivor herself. Her background began in acute short-term care but is currently part of the day neuro team. She explains the difference between a case manager and a social worker. Karol’s greatest need is more resources - there often aren't enough for her to do he...
Jul 25, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 24
Being positive and fighting goes a long way! Listen to John Hoffman tell an inspirational story about his wife, Judy’s battle with an inoperable brain tumor and how she lives a full life now. His story tells us how they chose to go to Oregon to do an experimental treatment. Judy is a hero: not only did she win her battle with cancer, she went on to help found Grey Matters, a nonprofit organization to help those fighting brain tumors. Rather than thinking that she would die in vain, she and her h...
Jul 18, 2024•30 min•Season 5Ep. 23
Let’s face it: life after brain injury is expensive. From loss of employment to additional medical bills, building a relationship with a trusted professional is key to planning your future. Lori Vejii, a financial planner from Edward Jones, shares tips and tricks for a successful financial planning session after a brain injury. She advises us on ways to keep our credit scores healthy, identify unforeseen expenses, and how to plan for our life goals. She also encourages survivors and their famili...
Jul 11, 2024•24 min•Season 5Ep. 22
And, do you know how to build your credit score? After a brain injury, in addition to being faced with additional medical costs, many survivors must relearn how to manage their finances. In today's episode with Lori Vejil, financial planner at Edward Jones, will give you a starting point. She will tell you how to create a budget beginning with your goals in life. Building a relationship with your financial advisor is key; they will be your coach, reviewing your progress every year. A financial p...
Jun 27, 2024•25 min•Season 5Ep. 21
In this episode, Mike Stedham, an ordained minister and professional counselor with over 40 years of experience, shares his experiences leading a support group for TBI caregivers and emphasizes the importance of communication, realistic expectations, and self-care. He shares the significance of humor, and the value of peer support in the TBI recovery journey. The discussion highlights the services provided by Hope After Brain Injury, an organization dedicated to helping TBI survivors and their f...
Jun 20, 2024•32 min•Season 5Ep. 20
In this episode, Rick Yates discusses his experience with brain injury, the support group he helped to establish in 2004 and the benefits of being part of such a community. Rick describes the support group's impact on his recovery, including improved communication skills, a sense of purpose, and coping with depression. He highlights the importance of community and encourages others with brain injuries to join support groups, emphasizing the shared understanding and comfort it provides. The episo...
Jun 13, 2024•17 min•Season 5Ep. 19
We know it is easier said than done. In Part Two, Willa talks about emotions after a brain injury from her experience as a neuropsychologist and assistant professor at UTSouthwestern. Many survivors have a negative outlook for their future, but Willa asks them to focus on what they can control, utilizing coping skills: including writing a journal, conditioning the brain for deep sleep, and exercising daily. It is important to not feel that they must be brave for others. Willa will explain the AB...
Jun 06, 2024•30 min•Season 5Ep. 18
We know it is easier said than done. In Part Two, Willa talks about emotions after a brain injury from her experience as a neuropsychologist and assistant professor at UTSouthwestern. Many survivors have a negative outlook for their future, but Willa asks them to focus on what they can control, utilizing coping skills: including writing a journal, conditioning the brain for deep sleep, and exercising daily. It is important to not feel that they must be brave for others. Willa will explain the AB...
May 30, 2024•29 min•Season 5Ep. 17
