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Brain Injury Today is the official podcast of the Brain Injury Alliance
of Washington and is produced in collaboration with Goal 17 Media.
27.) April 21, 2022 - Building Community and Finding Support - In this episode of the Brain Injury Today Podcast, new host Sabrina Bonaparte PhD, explores the importance of finding and building a community of survivors of brain injury. Her husband, Brandon Blake suffered a traumatic brain injury 8 years ago and found a community of people whom he could relate and recover with. One of the people Brandon met in a support group is his friend, Christian Rusby. This episode explores the importance of support groups and community for both survivors of brain injury and their caregivers.
26.) March 31, 2022 - A Roadmap for Accelerating Progress - Dr. Monica Vavilala is a board-certified anesthesiologist and director of Harborview's Injury Prevention and Research Center. Earlier this year, Dr. Vavilala served on a task force to help update and personalize traumatic brain injuries to guide patient care better. In this conversation, Dr. Vavilala shares why this update and personalization for traumatic brain injuries is crucial for doctors and patients.
25.) January 19, 2022 - The Ultimate Guidebook for Brain Injury Survivors, Caregivers and Professionals (Pt. 2) - Continued discussion with Richard Adler, Dr. Samuel Browd, and Dr. Gary Stobbe about the new groundbreaking book called Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury: A Guide for Survivors and Families.
24.) December 16, 2021 - Reflecting on 2021 - 2021 has been another challenging year, but there is plenty of good to reflect on as we head into a new year full of new possibilities. In this episode, Deborah chats with BIAWA Board Member and former Board President Allison Mollner about some of their favorite Brain Injury Today episodes and the power of using personal stories to educate and build community.
23.) November 18, 2021 - The Ultimate Guidebook for Brain Injury Survivors, Caregivers and Professionals (Pt. 1) - First of a two part episode about a groundbreaking new book called Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury: A Guide for Survivors and Families. BIAWA Board Member Richard Adler, who authored the book, joins Deborah along with Brandon Blake and Sabrina Bonaparte, who contributed their perspectives as a survivor and caregiver, to discuss how it can serve as an invaluable resource for those navigating the difficulties of brain injury.
22.) October 21, 2021 - Going Back To Work After Brain Injury - Dr. Bob Fraser is a psychologist who runs the Neurological Vocational Services Unit (NVSU), a nonprofit that helps people with brain injuries and other neurological conditions find and maintain employment. "Work is one of the biggest challenges for brain injury survivors."
21.) September 29, 2021 - Preventing Brain Injury In Children - As Chief of Pediatrics at Harborview Medical Center, Dr. Brian Johnston sees brain injuries in young children from all over the state and region. So there’s really no one better to talk to about how to prevent brain injury in our youngest kids! In this episode Deborah and Brian talk about how changes to the products we use and our built environment can make a huge difference in reducing common causes of brain injury in kids, such as falls, what parents can do to keep kids safe, and how his department has changed their approach to injury prevention over the years.
20.) August 19, 2021 - Tracing Sports Safety Policy In Washington - BIAWA has been involved in improving sports safety policy for kids for over a decade. In this episode, Deborah speaks with three key players who have helped BIAWA improve sports policy in the state and across the nation: the University of Washington’s Dr. Stan Herring, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s Justin Kesterson, and Richard Adler, a renowned personal injury attorney with the firm Adler Giersch. The four discuss the passage of the Lystedt Law in 2009, which was eventually adopted across the country, the Kenney Bui rule, which passed in 2020, what each policy entails and the heroic families that honored their loved ones by lending their names and sharing their stories to advocate and pass better sports safety policy in Washington and beyond.
19.) July 15, 2021 - Sims & Stacy: Caring For A Young Brain Injury Survivor - Sims Weymuller and Stacy Connole’s son was just four years old when he sustained a traumatic brain injury that upended their lives. In this episode of Brain Injury Today, Sims and Stacy share their story so that other families can learn from it and know that they are not alone.
18.) June 17, 2021 - Navigating The End Of The Pandemic With Brain Injury - As more people get vaccinated and governments lift COVID restrictions, there is pressure to race back to “normal” life. But given brain injury survivors’ fatigue and overstimulation it’s important to re-build in a way that meets their needs and values. Therapist Lori Weisman talks about “conscious re-entry,” how to identify and prioritize your values, and becoming comfortable with saying “no” when it’s time to take care of yourself.
17.) May 20, 2021 - Your COVID Vaccine Questions Answered - In this episode of Brain Injury Today, Deborah Crawley speaks with Jeanne Hoffman, UW professor of Psychology and Rehabilitation Medicine and Director of UW’s TBI Model System, who answers the most commonly asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination from our community.
16.) April 15, 2021 - Laughing With The Lystedts: The First Family of Brain Injury Prevention - Here at the Brain Injury Alliance, we call Zackery, Victor and Mercedes Lystedt the “first family of prevention.” Back in 2006 Zack suffered a preventable brain injury playing football. It was a long road to recovery, which is still Zack's full time job, but the family is stronger than ever and has always shared their story to help others. In fact, their advocacy has helped pass sports safety laws in all fifty states. Deborah Crawley speaks with Zack, his dad Victor and his mom Mercedes about their journey with brain injury and how laughter has helped get them through the toughest moments.
15.) March 25, 2021 - Keeping Kids Safe Playing The Sports They Love! - Safety and participation should go hand-in-hand when it comes to sports and exercise in general. In this episode of Brain Injury Today, BIAWA Executive Director Deborah Crawley speaks with Darin Harris and Dr. Stan Herring about why it’s important to keep kids active, while also avoiding preventable injuries by building a culture of safety. Darin Harris speaks from his perspective as a former UW football player who suffered a brain injury but continues to coach youth football. And Stan Herring shares his insights as a leading sports medicine doctor who has helped pass state laws to make sports safer and continues to promote safety as the co-founder of the Sports Institute at UW Medicine.
14.) February 18, 2021 - Parenting a Child with a TBI: Advocacy, Grief, and the Power of Peer Support - Karen Kaizuka’s son suffered a sports-related brain injury about ten years ago, and, like many parents, she stood by his side during each step of his recovery. She also became deeply involved in the brain injury community through her work in healthcare and as the current Chairperson of Washington’s Traumatic Brain Injury Council.
13.) January 20, 2021 - How Brain Injury Survivors can Use New Telemedicine Opportunities - In this episode, Deborah and Laura Jantos discuss rapid changes in telemedicine and access to medical records that brain injury survivors should be aware of. As a two-time brain injury survivor and former healthcare consultant, Laura gives her best tips for having a telemedicine visit and more.
12.) December 16, 2020 - Reflecting On 2020: You Are Not Alone. We Are Here - Wow, what a year it has been. Even in the midst of all the challenges that 2020 has brought, the brain injury community has grown stronger. As we approach a new year, we’re taking some time to reflect on past episodes and how this podcast has become an integral part of how we share the stories of brain injury survivors, offer hope and knowledge, and stay connected even when we can’t be together in-person.
11.) November 19, 2020 - Jason & Mo: The Story Behind BIAWA’s Brain Ride - Jason Donaldson lost his mom, Mo, to a traumatic brain injury ten years ago. Before Mo passed, Jason experienced what something many families go through: he felt like there was no information at a time when he desperately needed answers. In this episode of Brain Injury Today, Jason speaks with Deborah Crawley about how he got connected to the Brain Injury Alliance of Washington and used his passion for bike riding to raise awareness about brain injury around the state and keep Mo’s memory alive.
10.) October 22, 2020 - Growing Up With A Brain Injury: A Caregiver And Her Niece Share Their Stories - Valarie Cooper was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus around age two. But despite all the challenges that come with brain injury, Valarie has been able to graduate high school and moved onto college with support from family members like her aunt, Tammy Woodrich. Listen to this episode to hear each of their perspectives on navigating life with a brain injury.
9.) September 25, 2020 - Brandon Blake Explains the Beauty of “Bonus Time” - Brandon Blake is many things. He’s a teacher, a cyclist, musician, and more. And he is also a traumatic brain injury survivor. In this episode of Brain Injury Today, Brandon speaks with host Deborah Crawley about how he has used music to practice mindfulness and stop rumination, and why he loves to share the concept of “bonus time” with fellow survivors.
8.) August 19, 2020 - Therapist Lori Weisman Explains “Ambiguous Loss" - Part 2 of 2” - This is part-two of a conversation about ambiguous loss with brain injury therapist Lori Weisman. In this episode, Lori discusses how to tap into the warrior spirit that lives within each of us and use it to move forward. Lori also talks about how those supporting a loved one or friend with a traumatic brain injury can encourage the warrior spirit.
7.) July 27, 2020 - Therapist Lori Weisman Explains “Ambiguous Loss" - Part 1 of 2" - Coping with loss is an important part of rebuilding after traumatic brain injury, but it’s difficult to do with losses that aren’t well understood and recognized by society. Therapist Lori Weisman calls this “ambiguous loss”.
6.) June 25, 2020 - I’m a miracle: How ex-Husky Darin Harris has learned to live with his traumatic brain injury - In this episode of Brain Injury Today, Brain Injury Alliance of Washington Executive Director Deborah Crawley speaks with former UW football player and BIAWA board member Darin Harris about his journey following a severe brain injury that nearly killed him. Darin gets candid about his struggle with symptoms like depression, how he has maintained a positive connection to football, and the difficulties of coping with both a brain injury and systemic racism as a member of the Black community.
5.) June 2, 2020 - From Research to Reality, Improving Outcomes for People with Traumatic Brain Injurys - In this special episode of Brain Injury Today, host Deborah Crawley, BIAWA Executive Director, has a conversation with Jeanne Hoffman, Ph.D. Director of the University of Washington's TBI Model Systems to discuss how research is helping improve outcomes for people with traumatic brain injury.
4.) May 12, 2020 - Collaboration Across the County – Brain Injury Leaders Sharing Ideas of Support - Geoffrey Lauer, MA, Executive Director of the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa, and Eileen Reardon, Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of New York State. They discuss how they’re keeping their respective communities connected during the #coronavirus quarantine and lessons learned that can benefit clients and caregivers alike.
3.) April 22, 2020 - Helpful tips for your mental health during COVID-19 self-quarantine - Psychotherapist and former BIAWA board member Lori Weisman joins Deborah and president Allison Mollner to offer practical advice on ways to manage your mental health and relationships during the COVID-19 self-quarantine.
2.) April 10, 2020 - Keeping connected in self-quarantine with support group leader Michele Kauffman - Brain injury survivor and support group leader Michele Kauffman joins Deborah Crawley to offer her experience and advice for folks trying to manage their lives and keep connected during the ongoing coronavirus-imposed quarantines. Michelle brings joy, laughter, empathy, important information and a whole lot of love to the show.
1.) March 25, 2020 - Keeping the brain injury community connected during the coronavirus outbreak” - Executive Director Deborah Crawley and President (and client) Allison Mollner share what BIAWA is doing to keep the entire community connected and coping with the coronavirus outbreak. They offer helpful information and resources as well as comfort and strategies to get through the isolation and uncertainty.