Best LoveYourBrain Podcasts (2025)

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Space for Rest

22d ago

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Led by Ramsay Pierce Sometimes all we need is space to rest. In this yoga nidra guided relaxation, we invite you to set up in the most supportive and comfortable place you can, like in bed or on your couch. You’ll be guided through a longer practice to explore the feeling of leaving obligations behind, so that you can give yourself the space to res…

1
Finding Inner Steadiness

22d ago

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Led by Claudette Evans This guided meditation will help you find steadiness in times of change. Using the timeless image of a mountain, this practice invites you to connect with your inner strength and stability amidst life’s shifting seasons. Through visualization, you’ll explore how to remain centered and grounded, even when overwhelmed. You’ll c…

1
Compassion for Self and Others

22d ago

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Led by RJ Lisander In this practice, you’ll be guided through a journey of cultivating compassion for yourself and others. By expanding awareness of and connection to life’s joys and challenges, you’ll more deeply recognize that everyone faces this range of experiences and find inspiration for more caring and understanding ways to be in relationshi…

1
RAIN for Emotional Resilience

22d ago

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Led by Dr. Tracey Meyers We all have emotions that continually change, shift, and come and go. The practice of RAIN, which stands for Recognize, Allow, Investigate, and Nurture, helps us to recognize that difficult feelings are temporary. Through this practice, we’ll learn to meet difficulty with gentleness, compassion, and deep care, leaving us be…

1
Appreciating What’s Good

22d ago

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Led by Dr. Sheila Patel This meditation explores gratitude in the present moment. When you recognize that experiences, emotions, and situations are fleeting, you can find gratitude for what is. When you learn to be aware in each moment, rather than take it for granted, you can express appreciation for your experiences and cultivate a sense of wonde…

1
Transforming Difficulty

22d ago

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Led by Jonathan Prescott This practice uses simple mindfulness phrases or 'gathas' to support presence, awareness, and care. By anchoring our attention on these phrases, and pairing them with our breath, we return to ourselves and what is true. Through this practice, we will create more space to transform our difficulties into peace and joy. Jonath…

1
Compassionate Body Scan

22d ago

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Led by Devi Brown In this practice, we’ll cultivate awareness and compassion for the full range of sensations—whether they’re tense, neutral, or at ease. We’ll explore offering ourselves compassion and care, and build our awareness of the body. In doing so, you’ll cultivate the ability to choose where to place your attention, offering simple affirm…

1
Breath as a Pathway

22d ago

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Led by Abraham Dejene This guided meditation invites you to use the natural rhythm of the breath as an anchor for presence, self-compassion, and connection. We’ll explore how each inhale and exhale is unique, embodying the constant flow of change and transition in life. With a focus on grounding sensations, softening tension, and observing the brea…

1
Changing our Relationship with Pain

22d ago

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Led by Vidyamala Burch This simple practice is designed to help release some of the habits we have around tensing against pain and to rest into a more fluid and open experience. We can often experience pain as if it’s a solid thing and start fighting against it, worrying about it — while understandable, there is a different attitude we can cultivat…

1
Purpose as an Anchor

22d ago

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Led by Kyla Pearce In this practice, we’ll explore how a sense of purpose can be an anchor during times of change. We’ll cultivate a gentleness towards what’s happening in our body, mind, and heart so that we can more clearly see what motivates us to show up for ourselves and others as life unfolds. By exploring what matters to us, we can learn to …

1
S3E25: From Aneurysms to Art: The Power of Music with Toni Hickman 24:54

5M ago24:54

24:54

In this episode of the Making Headway podcast, hosts Alison and Eryn welcome Toni Hickman, an Emmy award-winning music artist and aneurysm survivor. Toni shares her inspiring journey of overcoming two brain aneurysms and a stroke, and how these experiences shaped her identity and music career. The conversation delves into themes of disability, the …

1
S3E24: Navigating Relationships Post Brain Injury with Nia Renee 55:18

5M ago55:18

55:18

In this episode of the Making Headway Podcast, hosts Alison and Eryn welcome back Nia Renee, who shares her journey through multiple brain surgeries and the impact of chronic illness on her relationships. Nia discusses her transition from being a brain injury survivor to a relationship coach, focusing on helping others navigate the complexities of …

1
S3E23: Understanding Brain Aneurysms in Women: Research Supported by The Bee Foundation 22:32

5M ago22:32

22:32

Women experience brain aneurysms at a higher rate than men. Are we alone in wondering what is behind this disparity? NO! This week, we welcome Rosalind Lai MD, a neurosurgeon performing research sponsored by a grant through The Bee Foundation. Dr. Lai and her team are trying to understand the role of the X chromosome in the development of cerebral …

1
S3E22: Navigating Recovery: Cody Bryant's Journey Through Brain Injury and Healing 49:08

5M ago49:08

49:08

Join Cody Bryant, a brain injury survivor, as he shares his recovery journey, including his accident in Spain, challenges with care, and neuro rehab experience. Cody discusses the changes in his personality, relationships, and emotional regulation post-injury. He emphasizes self-care strategies like meditation and explores topics such as diet, supp…

1
S3E21: Navigating Stroke Recovery: Essential Questions To Ask with Ralph Cortese 45:55

6M ago45:55

45:55

In this episode of the Making Headway Podcast, Eryn sits down with stroke survivor and advocate, Ralph Cortese, to dive deep into the critical questions every stroke survivor should be asking their healthcare team. From navigating the maze of medical care to understanding insurance and case management, Ralph shares his personal journey and expert i…

1
S3E20: More Than a Speed Bump: with Rawz Pet Food’s Jim Scott 35:59

6M ago35:59

35:59

Jim Scott, a traumatic brain injury survivor, shares his journey of recovery, detailing the physical and cognitive challenges, including memory loss and expressive aphasia. He also discusses the emotional hurdles of navigating relationships and disclosing his injury, maintaining a positive attitude and sense of humor throughout. Jim talks about his…

1
S3E19: Finding Light in Brokenness: Embracing Personal Growth, Spirituality, and Healing with Tymiak Hawkins 41:24

6M ago41:24

41:24

Join Alison and Tymiak Hawkins, a courageous brain hemorrhage survivor, as he opens up about his remarkable journey of recovery and personal transformation. After a life-altering stroke, Ty redefined his priorities and mindset, unlocking a deeper sense of purpose and potential. In this inspiring conversation, Ty shares how a strong support system, …

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S3E18: From Athlete to Survivor: Bryce's Journey with Aphasia Post Aneurysm Rupture 26:18

6M ago26:18

26:18

In this episode of the Making Headway Podcast, host Eryn speaks with Bryce Daly, a stroke and aneurysm survivor who shares his incredible journey from being a promising student athlete to navigating the challenges of recovery and living with aphasia. Bryce recounts the traumatic experience of his stroke, the subsequent coma, and the long road to re…

1
S3E17: Accessible Healing: Programs for Everyone with LoveYourBrain 29:29

6M ago29:29

29:29

Have you had trouble sorting your mind out post brain injury? Does everything seem like it is floating around (maybe in there, maybe not) but just out of reach? Do you feel especially anxious and have trouble finding a place that you fit now? Join us in this episode as Dr. Kyla Pearce from LoveYourBrain explains the building blocks of their free pr…

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S3E16: Dating After a Brain Injury with Octavia Burrell 50:21

7M ago50:21

50:21

Summary In this episode of the Making Headway Podcast, Octavia Burrell shares her experience of dating after a brain injury. Octavia had a brain hemorrhage at the age of 24 and had to rebuild her life and career. She discusses the challenges of dating as a brain injury survivor and the importance of taking the time to heal and focus on personal gro…

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S3E15: From Tragedy to Advocacy: Finding Support with The Bee Foundation and Jaime Meltzer 24:42

7M ago24:42

24:42

In this episode of the Making Headway podcast, Eryn and Alison welcome Erin Kreszl and Jaime Meltzer from The Bee Foundation, an organization dedicated to brain aneurysm prevention. Jaime shares her personal story of losing her sister to a brain aneurysm and how it propelled her into advocacy and support for others affected by similar tragedies. Th…

1
S3E14: Getting Well Again: Recovery with Eric Kubeka, The Brain Barbarian 35:38

7M ago35:38

35:38

Introduction Brain injury is uncharted territory for many, you included! Finding reliable help that, well, actually helps ,is daunting if not impossible to find. Eric Kubeka has been there. In his desperation to heal after a TBI he found functional medicine providers that actually helped his brain fog, memory issues, mental health challenges, etc. …

1
S3E13: Dystonia Support with Margaux Galli 51:26

7M ago51:26

51:26

Intro After brain injury, some of us are left with limbs and bodies that no longer function the way we are used to. Others have neurologic disorders that do something similar. One condition that does this is called dystonia. Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes muscles to spasm and contract resulting in abnormal postures, twisting, and repet…

1
S3E12: When They Don’t Know Why Your Brain Bled: PSAH with Cheryl Divito 58:00

8M ago58:00

58:00

Introduction A small subset of hemorrhagic stroke survivors never find out what caused their bleeds. This is call perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage. Although very rare, this episode has three survivors , Alison, Cheryl, and Eryn, who have found each other and have helped each through their recoveries. Having a community that have experience…

1
S3 E11: Re-Establishing Your Social Life After Brain Injury with Alison and Eryn 37:29

8M ago37:29

37:29

After brain injury returning to your world can be daunting. You feel different, you are different so how do you rejoin your social circles or make new ones? In this episode Alison and Eryn talk about their experiences re-establishing social lives post brain injuries. They provide helpful insights and tips they have learned along the way that really…

1
S3E10: Making Policy: How to Advocate with The Bee Foundation 38:07

8M ago38:07

38:07

Intro Have you ever thought about how the doctors know what treatments to use to diagnose and treat your brain aneurysm? Research obviously creates this but where does the money come from? A major source of funding comes through public policy and the federal government. The Bee Foundation has a strong presence on Capitol Hill through their work wit…

1
S3E9: Stronger Together: The Power of Connection in Recovery, with Maddi and Tawnie 29:42

8M ago29:42

29:42

Intro So you had the big bad thing happen... and now you have a brain injury. You’re in every form of rehab doing the work to build yourself. An often overlooked part of brain injury recovery is finding others who have been there. Connecting with those who have lived experience helps lessen the feelings of isolation that come when your brain is no …

1
S3E8: Beyond a Headache with Gia Patel 53:10

9M ago53:10

53:10

The third in our brain aneurysm awareness month series does not disappoint! Gia Patel a teenage survivor of a brain aneurysm rupture comes on to talk about her experience and how she transformed it into an educational campaign supporting accurate diagnosis of childhood aneurysms. She also gives advice on storytelling, highlighting its importance fo…

1
S3E7: Brain Aneurysms and Women: Finding a Diagnosis and Symptom Relief 50:07

9M ago50:07

50:07

Summary In this conversation, Tawnie, an aneurysm survivor, shares her experience of misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. She discusses the symptoms she experienced leading up to her aneurysm rupture and the challenges she faced in getting proper medical attention. Tawnie emphasizes the importance of advocating for oneself and the need for better aw…

1
S3E6: What Puts the Buzz in The Bee Foundation 35:55

9M ago35:55

35:55

Welcome to brain aneurysm awareness month! For the month of September, Making Headway Podcast and the The Bee Foundation have partnered to provide a month of episodes exploring resources for brain aneurysm survivors and caregivers. We will also be featuring more great survivor stories and advice. Today’s episode speaks with Erin Kreszel and Christi…

1
S3E5: Get Real Results! Supplementation and Craniosacral Therapy with Aaron Cloutier, DC and Anna Blash 57:27

9M ago57:27

57:27

Introduction This is the episode we have been searching for! We highly recommend it for anyone struggling to get the recovery results they hope for post brain injury. In today’s episode, Aaron Cloutier, Doctor of Chiropractics and Anna Blash an Upledger trained craniosacral therapist, massage therapist, and somatoemotional release expert guide us o…

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S3E4: Surviving AVM with MHP’s #1 Intern, Andrew Penarubia! 35:27

10M ago35:27

35:27

Did you know, 10% of people in the US under the age of 45 experience having a stroke? In this episode, Alison and Eryn interview of childhood survivor of AVM rupture, Andrew Penarubia. Andrew is the one and only intern for Making Headway Podcast. His claim to fame didn’t start there though. Since being left with only one fully functioning hand he h…

1
S3E3: Find Your Tribe with TAAF 48:28

10M ago48:28

48:28

Feeling isolated after your diagnosis? Finding your tribe is life altering and tremendously helpful in facilitating your treatment and recovery from brain surgery and bleeds. TAAF is The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation, a foundation focused on supporting brain bleed survivors, grieving families, caregivers, and research. In this episode, Eryn interview…

1
S3E2: Updates from Eryn: Where She's Been and How She's Doing 51:41

10M ago51:41

51:41

Summary Did you know there are more than 5.3 million individuals in the U.S who are living with a permanent brain injury-related disability? That's 1 in every 60 people. In today's episode, Eryn updates everyone on where she has been and how she has been doing over the past few years. She shares with us her struggle with depression, the impact of C…

1
S3E1: Dear Jesus, Don’t Let my Son Grow up Without a Mom: Survivor Story with Host Alison House 56:02

10M ago56:02

56:02

Intro Welcome Back! Season Three is starting strong with a kick ass survivor and our new co-host Alison House. In today's episode, both Alison and Eryn go over their experiences as well as the many obstacles they face as stroke survivors. They share their experiences on how standing firm in their faith, showing gratitude, and spending time in natur…

1
Welcome to Season 3!! 12:25

10M ago12:25

12:25

Summary Season 3 of the Making Headway podcast is about to begin!! Fun things are in store as there is a new co-host joining Eryn. Welcome Alison House! Both Eryn and Alison are brain injury survivors and nurses, bringing a unique perspective to the show. They will continue to interview brain injury survivors who have achieved amazing things in the…

1
Finding Ease Wherever You Are

11M ago

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Led by RJ Lisander This guided meditation uses mindfulness and breath to soothe anxiety, especially during activating times. After brain injury it is common for our sympathetic nervous system - our fight or flight response - to be more easily activated. This serves a purpose when we are in danger, but when this part of us is overactive it means we …

1
Yes Meditation

11M ago

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Led by Jivana Heyman In this meditation, we’ll practice mindfulness and acceptance of our thoughts. Our mind is often hard to turn off. So rather than trying to stop your thoughts, this practice guides you to notice and even celebrate them with the word ‘yes.’ In doing so, we cultivate greater awareness of our thoughts, without judgment, and anchor…

1
Community Connection

11M ago

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Led by RJ Lisander This meditation uses visualization to cultivate feelings of connection. Often after brain injury we can feel disconnected - from ourselves and the people around us. This is normal because so much can change. Through this practice we’ll focus on imaging the people we love as a way to remind ourselves that we belong and there is a …

1
Cyclic Sighing

1y ago

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Led by Tracey Meyers Cyclic sighing - also known as physiological sighing - is a breathing technique that you can use to reduce anxiety and stress. It is a very easy technique and has been shown to be even more powerful than mindfulness meditation to reduce distress. By focusing on two conscious inhalations and then a longer conscious exhalation, c…

1
Compassionate Breathing

1y ago

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Led by Tracey Meyers This practice focuses on adding in a gentle focus on taking in love and compassion for ourselves and then extending it out to those who may need support in theirs lives. This practice offers participants a chance to experience the powerful healing effect of self-compassion can help foster a sense of connection with others, joy,…

1
4-4-6-2 Breath Practice

1y ago

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Led by Tracey Meyers The 4-4-6-2 practice is a breath-counting exercise that has shown to be useful when you need to calm down quickly when you are scared, panicky, or angry. It involves a slow inhale, a gentle hold or pause at the top of the breath, and even longer exhale followed by a short hold or pause at the bottom of the breath before the nex…

1
Awareness of Breath

1y ago

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Led by Tracey Meyers We all know the simple act of breathing can have a positive effect on us. Mindful breathing teaches core mindfulness by placing our attention on our breath and the sensations of breathing. Mindful breathing can result in a number of proven health benefits such as pain relief, stress, reduction, anxiety reduction, and less negat…

1
Coherent Breathing

1y ago

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Led by Tracey Meyers Coherent breathing is a form of breathing that involves slowing the entire cycle of breath down to about 5 breaths per minute. Our natural tendency is to breathe at a rate of two to three seconds per inhale and exhale. In coherent breathing, the goal is to extend the length of both the inhale and exhale to around 6 seconds. By …

1
Titration for Resilience

2+ y ago

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Led by Jenni Foltz Titration is a process that was discovered as scientists introduced two chemicals together and noticed it produced an explosive reaction. They found that they needed to introduce the smallest amount of each in order to keep the reaction contained and manageable. Similarly, within a therapeutic context, we work with difficult sens…

1
Nourishing Sleep and Rest

2+ y ago

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Led by Ramsay Pierce Set up for this practice in the most supportive and comfortable position you can be in. The body temperature may drop, so be sure to have a blanket or warm clothing. There is no physical movement necessary during the practice. During Yoga Nidra, we enter a state of complete physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. This is a …

1
S2 E60: The Mental Side of It All with Dr. Judy Gooch and Tyanne Crook, BrainStorm for Brain Injury 56:12

3y ago56:12

56:12

Our last episode of the podcast is definitely not the least! We’ve heard from so many of our listeners and have personally experienced just how much brain injuries can affect our mental health. From overstimulation to irritability; emotionality to anxiety; impulsiveness to depression; brain injuries really change how our minds work! In this episode…

1
S2 E59: Be All the You Can Be Post Injury! Heal the Brain with Jane Connely 45:12

3y ago45:12

45:12

Are you looking for community post brain injury? Are you trying to develop and become the new you? Do you need support? Look no further than Heal the Brain. Heal the Brain is a non profit offering active, virtual experiences that empower survivors with practical resources and social support. Through their workshops, Heal the Brain connects brain in…

1
S2 E58: Conquering Concussions with Melissa Biscardi from the Rehab Lab 52:56

3y ago52:56

52:56

Recovering from post concussion symptoms? Then we don’t need to tell you how challenging that can be. Melissa Biscardi, osteopath and registered nurse joins us from the Rehab Lab to talk about recovery. In her practice, she focuses on treating concussion through movement, vestibular training, nutrition, and mental health. Listen to learn about trea…

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S2 E57: Medical PTSD with Emily Parks, founder of POP! Medical PTSD 47:47

3y ago47:47

47:47

After your brain injury, have you felt scarred by the medical community? Do you feel yourself pulling away from others, having intrusive thoughts, avoiding medical appointments, having increased anxiety about your health, or having trouble focusing on your appointments? You may be experiencing Medical PTSD. In today’s episode we have Emily Parks wh…

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