The NeuroNerds: A Brain Injury Recovery & Pop Culture Show

It’s a new year and Joe is talking about hope for a better 2021 with guest co-host Felice. Yes, this year has already had a rocky start with the disturbing events in DC last week, but despite what is going on in the world, Joe and Felice talk about the importance of staying positive, practicing gratitude and enjoying the fun things in life like Felice binging on her new favorite show “Community” and both of them nerding out on all the new Marvel shows coming to Disney+. What’s your favorite show to binge on right now? Please share on our socials!

We made it! 2020 is almost over so Joe and Lauren have recap the year, talk Game of Thrones throwback and how 2020 is Joffrey vs 2021 could be more like Ramsay! They talk about their different approaches to “New Year, New Me.” Plus Spoiler Alert: Joe goes into fanboy mode talking about the Season 2 finale of Mandalorian. What are you doing for the New Year? Please share on our socials!

Wow! The holidays are here! Joe and Lauren talk about the strangeness of this holiday season plus the reality of this pandemic in 2020 and the toll it takes. The episode starts with a bit of a bah humbug vibe, but transforms into more fun when they get into Lord of the Rings and the Big Bads from that series as well as other Winter holidays such as Saturnalia, Festivus, Yalda, and the Solstice. Please have a safe responsible holiday and to all of our listeners, especially our brain injury survivors, remember that we are resilient and we can handle this!

In this episode our host Joe interviews Priya Sharma, a stroke survivor and advocate for brain injury survivors from Sydney, Australia. They discuss Australia’s aggressive approach to controlling COVID-19 and how it’s working. Plus they talk about recovering from brain injuries, coping with these strange times and Priya’s $3500 fundraising goal for The Stroke Foundation.

The holidays are a little strange this year but Joe and his partner Felice are giving some great tips in this episode on how to have fun while we’re staying safe at home. From binging on The Mandalorian and Schitt’s Creek to playing Among Us with friends virtually, there’s are plenty of ways to stay connected during this time. How are you staying virtually connected to friends and family this holiday season? Let us know on our socials!

It’s Thanksgiving week and this year as with most things, is going to be different, but we’re staying positive and embracing the new normal. Thanksgiving is not canceled! Joe and Lauren explain their Thanksgiving traditions and food preferences. They talk about Thanksgiving/Autumn festivals around the world. Plus desserts and cake vs pie. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dish? Please share on our socials!

In this episode, Joe and Lauren are talking about the importance of community and having people in your life that get you in all of your nerdiness and weirdness. Sometimes, that validation from the people that get you is what you need to feel connected while social distancing. 😷 Being yourself is the greatest gift you can offer to your favorite community!⁠ How are you connecting with your community during this pandemic? Please share on our socials!

It’s been quite a week and if you were as stressed out as we were about these elections, this episode continues our de-stressing, decompressing and chilling the f*** out tips from our last episode. Joe and Lauren talk about memes and humor that got them through this week, Lauren’s love of a D&D, video games, Joe’s meditation practice and how Star Wars will save us all! How are you staying sane during these strange times? Please share on our socials!

The state of the world is pretty wild right now and with political and social unrest plus COVID-19, this is set to be the most controversial, stressful, and critical election of our generation. So first we’d like to say if you are a United States citizen, GO VOTE TODAY!!! This episode is releasing on Election Day here in the States so once you have voted, as your NeuroNerd support system, Joe and Lauren are offering some means for destressing post-voting with video games and a movie marathon of such classics as Spice World, Mean Girls, and Labyrinth. What will you be doing post-voting on Election Day to stay sane? Please share on our socials!

It’s Halloween time and this year is definitely going to be an odd one with social distancing in full effect. We know that Halloween is not as fun without the trick or treating and parades but Halloween can be fun at home too! ⁠So Joe and Lauren talk about how to stay safe, but still, have fun during this pandemic Halloween. They also discuss their favorite horror movies and Halloween costumes. What are you dressing up as for Halloween? Please share on our socials!

Joe has his first in-person guest on the show since the pandemic started – stroke survivor and friend Andrea Edoria. They talk about how to meet up responsibly and safely IRL and how they took precautions to make their in-person meetup happen. They also discuss how wearing masks and social distancing is about respect and caring not just for ourselves but for those around us. How are you connecting safely during this pandemic with your friends and family? Please share on our socials!

It’s the 5th anniversary of our co-host Lauren’s concussion and we’re celebrating her life, recovery and more. In this episode, Joe and Lauren talk about her recovery journey, how her concussion has affected her life and how she’s learned to thrive post-concussion. Have you or someone you love ever suffered a concussion? Please share on our socials.

In this episode, Joe interviews Mackenzie Lea, a Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) warrior! It’s TN Awareness Day on October 7th so Joe and Mackenzie discuss what this neurological, chronic pain condition is, how brain surgery helped diagnose Mackenzie, how she copes with this condition as a young adult, and more. Mackenzie is working to bring awareness about this condition to the masses. Please share on our socials if you or someone you know suffers from TN and let’s connect and support each other.

The hit show Psych has always been a personal favorite for our host Joe and especially our producer Felice. So we couldn’t wait to watch when we heard that the show would focus their second movie “Lassie Come Home” on the stroke recovery of one of its main characters, Lassiter, mirroring the real life stroke recovery of the actor of Timothy Omundson who plays Lassiter. Their touching depiction of stroke recovery through comedy and nerdom is one of the best we’ve seen and it touched our hearts. In this episode Joe and Felice talk all about the movie and its great service to stroke survivors everywhere. Have you seen the movie? (If not, you should!) Share your favorite moments from the movie on our socials!

With Invisible Illness Week coming up in October, Joe and Lauren continue their discussion about invisible illness from the previous episode. Joe did a poll in between episodes on Instagram asking those with invisible illnesses what are some of the most offensive things they have heard regarding their illnesses during and after recovery. The responses will surprise you. It’s just a reminder that we must be kind to our fellow humans because you never kow what they may be privately battling. If you have an invisible illness, what are some of your most misunderstood challenges and how do you cope with others not understanding what you’re going through? Please share on our socials.

The passing of Chadwick Boseman came as a major shock to fans, but what was more shocking was that this incredible actor starred as characters such as Black Panther, James Brown and Jackie Robinson, and other iconic Black figures in history all while battling cancer. So in this episode Joe and Lauren honor this nerd icon and invisible illness warrior who will continue to inspire through his iconic roles and incredible indomitable spirit. Who are some invisible illness warriors that you admire? They don’t have to be famous, they can be a friend or family. Please share on our socials.

Summary

It’s been 3 years since Joe and Lauren sat down to record some test and practice sessions of what would become The NeuroNerds podcast! In this episode, they reminisce about our podcast origin story from how Joe met Lauren, how the podcast has grown, how we’ve supported the brain injury survivor community. It’s a sentimental and joyous episode celebrating our podcast and our listener community! What is your favorite NeuroNerds podcast episode? Let us know on our socials!

Joe and Lauren give a very different Comic Con-esque wrap up this year. Due to this pandemic everything is virtual and DC hosted their Fandome event talking about the Snyder Cut of the Justice League movie, the Flashpoint movie, Michael Keaton coming back as Batman, Wonder Woman, The Batman movie and more. What are you most excited about coming from the DC Universe this year? Share on our socials!

Plus get a free Audible trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/theneuronerds! Currently, The NeuroNerds are reading our fellow stroke survivor, Kavita Basi’s book ‘Room 23.’ Join us!

Joe and Lauren revisit imposter syndrome and how it affects them as a brain injury survivors. Plus they reflect on the DC Fandome event that just passed and all their hopes, dreams and fears in terms of what to come from the DC Universe this year.  What DC movie are you most excited about?  Let us know on our socials!

This episode is a part of our Amplify Black Voices series.  In this series, we are featuring Black stroke and brain injury survivors sharing their experiences of being Black in America as well as their recovery journeys.  This episode features model, stroke survivor and American Heart Association spokesperson, Keturah White.  Keturah shares her recovery journey, talks about being advocacy chair for Arkansas Urban League, her experience as a Black woman in America and more.  Let’s continue the discussion on our various social channels.

It’s Joe’s 4th stroke-iversary month! Instead of being a negative memory, Joe looks at this time as a rebirth for him and reflects with Lauren in this episode on his growth mentally, physically and emotionally since his stroke.  If you are are a stroke or brain injury survivor, how did the experience help you grow in a positive way?  Please share on our socials.

Joe interviews his friend and fellow stroke survivor Rebekah with K just a week before she undergoes brain surgery.  They discuss stroke recovery and how to mentally and emotionally prepare for brain surgery.  If you have ever gone through preparing for surgery, what are some tools and techniques you used to get yourself ready mentally and emotionally? Please share on our socials.

Joe and Lauren talk all about music and how it affects the brain, how the brain processes it, how the brain creates it and how it can help heal the brain.  They explore the process of memory and music.  Plus they discuss studies that reveal a lot about how the brain works through its relationship to music.  What’s your favorite song and memory connected to it?  Please share on our socials!

As California locks down again during this pandemic, our co-hosts, Joe and Lauren reunite for a virtual episode.  They talk being safe during this time as brain injury survivors, things to fill our time like video games, movies, tv shows and nerdom!  What are you doing for fun to get through this pandemic?  Please share on our socials!

This episode is a part of our Amplify Black Voices series.  In this series, we are featuring Black stroke and brain injury survivors sharing their experiences of being Black in America as well as their recovery journeys.  This episode features blogger and stroke survivor, Octavia Burrell.  Octavia shares her recovery journey, her perspective on the racial and political climate today and the new tide of change.  Let’s continue the discussion on our various social channels.

This episode is the first in our Amplify Black Voices series.  In this series, we are featuring Black stroke and brain injury survivors sharing their experiences of being Black in America as well as their recovery journeys.  Our first interview in this series is with Courtney Washington, a stroke survivor from Atlanta, Georgia.  She shares a rich and often heartbreaking history of her family’s incredible tenacity and strength in the face of slavery and racism.  Some of these stories may be difficult to hear especially for young listeners, but we hope that her family’s history and her personal stories will help further remind us all of the work that needs to be done to make real change in America.  Let’s continue the discussion on our various social channels.

Special Note:
This episode was recorded before the events of the past month of June 2020 where several black people in America including George Floyd were murdered at the hands of police brutality.  The NeuroNerds stand in solidarity and support of our black brothers and sisters and will not be complicit in a system that has encouraged decades of violence and oppression.  We hope this message makes you uncomfortable and ready to act.  Click here for resources and ways to help change the system and make a difference – https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

Episode Summary:
In this episode, Joe and Lauren discuss The Justice League and the DC Extended Universe’s future while Lauren makes yummy noises about Superman aka Henry Cavill.  In the spirit of celebrating black lives, who’s your favorite black DC superhero character?  Please share on our socials!

And stay tuned for our Amplify Black Voices series of episodes which will spotlight black stroke and brain injury survivor guest interviews.

Joe and Lauren are talking about TBI survivor Hohass Ekwesh, a very very obscure character in the Star Wars Universe.  Ok ok, we have no idea who this character is, but it was May the 4th earlier this month so in honor of that, we’re honoring the only TBI survivor we know of in Star Wars.  They talk all about the Star Wars TBI remedy called Anti-Shock and other fandom. Star Wars has a cure for TBI’s, who knew!? Plus they discuss a new ailment from too much screen time that Dr. Andrew Huberman from Stanford University calls digital concussions. Is anyone suffering headaches from too much screen time during this quarantine?  Please share with us on our socials.

Continuing with celebrating Stroke Awareness Month, our host Joe is interviewing stroke survivor and author Kavita Basi who wrote ‘Room 23’ which is also available on Amazon and Audible!  They discuss her book, stroke recovery and more.  Plus Kavita is our new NeuroNerds Book Club pick!  Have you read Kavita’s book yet?  Please share with us on our socials!

It’s Stroke Awareness Month and Joe and Lauren are talking about all the amazing things stroke survivors are doing during quarantine to spread stroke awareness online from IG lives to TikTok challenges. Plus they talk about the great work SameYou.org is doing to spread stroke awareness during this time.  What are you doing to spread stroke awareness online?  Please share with us on our socials!