F*** It, I Have a Brain Injury

Co-hosts talk with Dr. Rachel Levy, SLP and co-founder of The Babel Group in New York City. Rachel explains advances in technology to support non-standard speech after stroke and TBI or other causes of dysarthria. She provides a demonstration of Voiceitt, an AI-driven speech recognition tool, and shares insights about how technology can help make sure everyone who has something to say gets heard. 
Visit The Babel Group here
Learn about Voiceitt here

Introduced by our last guest, Jamie Arber from The Supported Living Group, Ken and Jesse talk with artist and stroke survivor LeRay Pablo and Senior Art Program Manager Rebecca Maloney from Inspire Arts about how creative, person-driven programming supports rehabilitation, and provides meaningful opportunities for community participation through exhibitions and workshops. Hear LaRey's inspiring journey back to art and how Inspire Arts provides a space where shared creative interests unite survivors.
 
Visit Inspire Arts here
Visit The Supported Living Group here
Visit The Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut here

In this episode, hosts interview Jamie Arber, Licensed Professional Counselor, TBI survivor and Executive Director of The Supported Living Group (SLG). Jamie discusses how his personal experience influenced his work in helping people with Acquired Brain Injury find a new purpose. He describes the challenges and realities with ABI Waiver Services in Connecticut and specific programs SLG provides in order to ensure opportunities for meaningful engagement and  optimal long term rehabilitation for adults with ABI.
 
Click here to visit the Supported Living Group
 
Click here to visit Inspire Arts

To kick off Season 2, the co-hosts interview neuropsychologist Dr. Kate Gould from Monash University in Victoria, Australia. In this episode, Kate provides a simplified definition of neuropsychology and its role in helping people who have had changes in behavior after ABI. She describes the Positive Behaviour Support + Plus approach and discusses cyberscams and CyberAbility—a collaborative project that resulted from a person's experience with a cyberscam after his ABI.
Click here for Free resource and training materials on Cyberscams
Click here for Relentless Optimism Podcast
Click here for PBS+PLUS Information

In this last recording at The College of St. Rose, the guys put Melissa Capo in the interview seat for the Season One finale. The group discusses the evolution of the PEPtalks project group and other groups at The College of St. Rose that helped address cognitive, communicative and behavioral challenges and the value of the graduate student clinicians in helping provide one on one attention and support. In the discussion, they highlight the program’s role in challenging traditional medical models of rehabilitation as they share insights on achieving significant clinical growth in the chronic phase of their recovery- even when doctors suggested that it might not be possible.
To wrap up the season, the crew shares their top lessons learned about their collaborative podcast project and discusses how the podcast itself served as a powerful therapeutic tool.

In this episode, Ken and Jesse talk with Dr. Jerry Hoepner, SLP and professor at The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, about the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Camp and the importance of establishing meaningful connections to help people with ABI reduce their cognitive-communication impairment and increase their quality of life. 
 
For more information about the Chippewa Valley Aphasia Camp, please email Mary Beth Clark at Clark.marybeth1@mayo.edu

BONUS EPISODE!
In this crossover episode, Renee Garrett, host of "Brainstorm(s) Podcast" discusses with Jesse and Ken how their lived experience inspired them to create a podcast. They reflect on meaningfulness, communication and cognitive growth and how their identity has been positively impacted by sharing their story and the stories of others with ABI. 
 
*Head to Speech Therapy PD  earn ASHA CEUs for this episode*  

The guys interview Julie Hart, Speech/Language Pathologist and (at the time) Director of the Neurogenic Communication Program at The College of St. Rose in Albany, NY. In this episode, Julie describes foundational elements of the program that prioritized individualized, project-oriented interventions and made it an award-winning program. The group discusses how cognitive/communication tasks are integrated into goals for meaningful engagement, community interactions and friendships. Julie Hart is now the Director of The Aphasia Center at Russell Sage College in Albany, NY. TAC Program and Contact Information

In Part 3 with Andy, he reflects on a 2023 Book Club author visit when we were lucky enough to have Albany, NY’s own William Kennedy talk about writing “Legs” - a book the group had just read.  Co-hosts discuss the positive downstream effects of Book Club and ongoing community interaction as a result.

In Part 2 of this 3 part conversation, Andy talks with co-hosts about Book Club roles and the value of creating support materials for the group by the group. They discuss the development of materials as mini-projects that give purpose in between weekly meetings. Andy discusses how Book Club has helped his ability to communicate in other aspects of his life.