The Brain Fever Podcast

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This is a podcast about Jackie M. Stebbins, an autoimmune encephalitis survivor. Jackie was a nationally recognized trial lawyer at her own law firm. And almost overnight, she couldn't tell the time and didn't know what day it was. She voluntarily committ

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    • Sep 22, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 54m AVG DURATION
    • 31 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Brain Fever Podcast

    Unicorns

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2024 88:19


    Send us a textTo kick off another season of the Brain Fever podcast, Jackie welcomes special guest Jeremy Norton. Jeremy is the author of Trauma Sponges: Dispatches from the Scarred Heart of Emergency Response. Jeremy has an MFA in creative writing, was a teacher, and has served over twenty years with the Minneapolis Fire Department where he is currently a captain. Jeremy was also the firefighter/EMT who first responded to aid George Floyd in May 2020.Join Jackie and Jeremy for a discussion about trauma, mental health, burnout, and a behind the scenes look at what it means to be a firefighter in a metropolitan area. The two also discuss thought provoking ideas from Jeremy's essays in Trauma Sponges, including issues such as race, class, healthcare, and emergency services in America. Jeremy also explains the story behind his Station's unicorn mascot (and Jackie pathetically begs for one of the Station's unicorn shirts ...).*This show is aimed at an adult audience and contains mature language.*Jeremy can be found doing right and being kind HEREYou can find Trauma Sponges where you buy books HEREYou can watch Jeremy's testimony in the Derek Chauvin trial HERE

    Life Lied

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 79:29


    Send us a Text Message.In this episode, Jackie hosts a dear old friend from law school, Amber Gustafson. Amber just happens to be a former lawyer turned judge, mother of three, Iraq veteran, and avid walker. She also happens to be a young widow. In 2021, on what started as a routine Tuesday morning for their family of five, Lieutenant Adam Gustafson suffered a massive heart attack and completed his end of watch. Amber and her children lost their husband, father, and the States of North Dakota and Minnesota lost a devoted veteran, patriot, and emergency services officer. Adam also left Amber a vast whiskey collection, which led her to begin "The Whiskey Widow," blog.You can now find Amber praying, walking, working, taxiing kiddos to all the sports, blogging, and guesting on a regional radio station. Amber and her family are also the founders of the Lieutenant Adam Gustafson Memorial Fund whose mission is to provide scholarships and other donations to law enforcement students and emergency services personnel.Join Jackie and Amber as they discuss how to move forward when it feels like life lied to you.You can find Amber's blog @ thewhiskeywidow.com ~ "Pour yourself a sip. Stay for the stories."You can also find Amber on Instagram @ thewhiskeywidowYou can find and donate to Adam's Memorial Fund @ adamgustafsongive.com

    Nothing's Forever

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2024 58:05


    Jackie has often heard of autoimmune encephalitis survivors unlocking hidden creativity after their diagnosis. And while she turned to writing in her days of survival and recovery, she still believes her creativity knows a lot of bounds. But what does it really mean to be a creative? What happens when you bring your creativity back "home?" What does it mean to sing your heart out through cancer in your airway? How can our creativity help us heal? In this episode, Jackie brings in a new friend, Jessie Veeder, a REAL cowgirl, author, and musician, to talk about her creative life, surviving cancer, walking among the wildflowers, and raising daughters. Jackie knew she was her kind of people when she met Jessie at a writer's panel last year, and Jessie doesn't disappoint in this conversation!Check out Jessie's work at https://jessieveedermusic.com/home

    Mr. Sandman

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2023 55:32


    In this episode, Jackie is joined by guest Mariah Botha of Dickinson, North Dakota. Mariah is the director of a rural healthcare foundation and is as smart as she is lovely. Upon reading Unwillable, Mariah had a lot of questions and Jackie (doubtfully) had the answers. So the pair decided to turn the tables and have Mariah host Jackie. In this unscripted conversation, Mariah and Jackie explore childhood anxiety, parenting children who may have anxiety, some of Jackie's biases towards mental health while she was writing her memoir, and Mariah's cats (Mariah is also the cofounder of Meowsers, a cat rescue). If you've ever wondered how to openly speak about your anxiety or how to talk to your children about theirs, this one's for you!

    Unwillable Soundtrack

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2023 77:39


    Join Jackie and Sean as Jackie drops her ultimate wish (outside of a made for TV movie): the Unwillable soundtrack! In this episode, you'll hear more about the songs that influenced Jackie while writing the book, the eerie songs that played during her onset, and the songs she relied upon to get to the final destination of "I'm Still Standing!"To listen along to the Unwillable soundtrack, you can find the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1ZjPmn7dZrtsasGxk6epWy?si=8dfe78bdeb3d4bd9 Got a question or thought about Unwillable, autoimmune encephalitis, or Jackie's superb taste in music, find her contact info at jmstebbins.com or grab her linktree profile on her Instagram account @jmstebbs84 and at linktr.ee/jmstebbins.

    Balancing Your Health

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2023 59:59


    Medical care can be complicated, especially for women. Women are always juggling hormones, stress, work, sleep, childbearing years, menopause, and quite a bit in between. In this episode, Jackie interviews an old friend, Adria, who is a Physician's Assistant at a women's primary care clinic. Join them as they demystify primary care and talk about it all, including mental health, weight loss, skin care, and more. And also join in for Jackie sharing a lot of laughs (mostly with herself).Please visit jmstebbins.com for more podcasts, Jackie's blogs and much more!

    Lawfare

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2023 53:56


    Lawyers. If you know them, you know they're always "stressed out." If you've met them, you know they're "overworked." And chances are, you've probably heard them call their profession "toxic." Why is the legal profession so stressful and why are lawyers statistically at risk for a myriad of serious mental health problems? Why was Jackie persuaded that she suffered from work-induced depression and burnout before she learned she had autoimmune encephalitis? Why is Elton John so amazing? To answer these questions and a few others, Bismarck (retired) lawyer, Jackie, brings in special guest NYC lawyer, Michael Kasdan, who is also a mental health advocate rockstar and a lot of fun. Big law, small law, and everywhere in between, this is a conversation about mental health and lawyers you don't want to miss!

    Roar

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2023 57:48


    In this very special episode, Jackie is joined by Miami native Juliana Ortiz who was diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis at just fourteen years old. Juliana's story of disruption at a young age to her brave recovery and how her diagnosis helped shape her college career path is one you don't want to miss. She's also the first AE survivor to guest the Brain Fever podcast!Join Jackie and Juliana in this episode to hear them riff about AE and ROAR!

    Go (Pink) or Go Home!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2023 44:10


    In this episode, four-time breast cancer survivor, speaker, and author of "Dig in Your Heels," Karla Baptiste, joins Jackie to talk about life with and after breast cancer. Karla's motto of "One Life to Live, Many Lives to Touch," and her story of survival will leave you inspired!

    Green Onions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2023 23:20


    Join Jackie and Sean as they sing and dance their way into 2023 (kidding, there's no singing or dancing on this one). In this episode, Jackie discusses Brain Fever's spring lineup, her book Unwillable, and what she's been up to. She also drops a little secret info about an upcoming promotional giveaway and some exciting February news for World Encephalitis Day! Catch Brain Fever to get caught up on all things JM Stebbins and Unwillable!

    Calling All Angels

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2022 59:02


    In this special episode, Stephanie Macdonald, the nurse practitioner Jackie credits with saving her life from AE, interviews Jackie for Humanities North Dakota's One Book One ND event. In this conversation, the pair explore life after AE, writing Unwillable, and how Jackie stays busy.*Recording shared with permission and consent.

    Legal Eagle

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2022 42:29


    When AE stares you in the face (or another chronic health condition) two questions come to mind: What if I can't work and how will I have health insurance? To tackle these complicated and scary questions, Jackie welcomes her longtime friend and colleague, Attorney Mac Schneider, as a guest. Mac walks listeners through the complicated puzzle of disability and health care, and Jackie tells old stories. Disclaimer: This episode does not provide legal advice and is for educational and informational purposes only. If you're in need of legal advice, please contact a licensed attorney.

    Book Worm

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2022 40:41


    In this episode, Jackie and Sean discuss the release of Jackie's memoir, “Unwillable: A Journey to Reclaim my Brain” (in a bit of a dazed and confused kind of way). Sean also offers his resignation as Jackie's producer, but he'll be back …To order your copy of Unwillable, check out unwillable.com or look for it on Amazon!

    I Wish I May, I Wish I Might

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 67:47


    In this episode and in honor of April 29th's Make-A-Wish Day, special guest Amanda Godfread, Regional Director of Make-A-Wish North Dakota, joins Jackie for a discussion on the difficulties families face with a sick child and the wonderful effects wishes have on the health of the recipients and their families.

    "Brain on Fire" interview

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2022 62:52


    On March 1, 2022, Jackie interviewed "Brain on Fire's" Susannah Cahalan for a Humanities North Dakota event, "One Book, One ND." Jackie and Susannah had a riveting conversation about autoimmune encephalitis, life, motherhood, mental health, writing, and more. Humanities North Dakota graciously permitted Jackie to share this interview (complete with an introduction from Jackie's neurologist at the Mayo Clinic) on Brain Fever!If you want to become a Humanities North Dakota member, click here to donate and join. You can then watch the recording of the interview.Thank you to Susannah and to Humanities ND for such a wonderful event!

    What's on your (AE) Mind?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2022 59:38


    In this episode, Jackie is joined by Dr. Stephen Rush, a psychiatrist at the University of Cincinnati as they try to answer Jackie's unending question of, "Autoimmune encephalitis, what the heck is going on here?”***Disclaimer-this episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you're in need of medical advice, consult with a professional.

    Better Days Ahead

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2022 58:18


    Happy 2022! Join Jackie and Sean as they recap on 2021's peaks and valleys, share exciting upcoming news, and do some polka dancing.

    Imperfections

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2021 75:34


    In this episode, North Dakota native Mandy B. Anderson joins Jackie to discuss life with Cystic Fibrosis. Their conversation follows Mandy's story of "Dangerous Hope," where she swore off the medication and treatments necessary for her to live, but learned how to live more fully after her long and almost deadly journey. Mandy is the author of "Dangerous Hope," recently appeared on the TEDx stage in Bismarck, is a certified life coach, and is a blessing to life. Join the two as they even sing a little diddy at the end ...

    Great Expectations

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2021 52:01


    In this episode, Jackie interviews special guest Maria Burns Ortiz. Maria is a decorated writer, teacher, digital entrepreneur, and leader. She is also the co-author of My Fight/Your Fight, the New York Times bestselling memoir about the storied career of Ronda Rousey. She shares with Jackie her energy and enthusiasm about rising to life's great expectations. She is smart, successful, fast-talking, and ... Ronda Rousey's sister!

    My Girl

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2021 57:30


    In this episode, guest host Dr. Ava Easton, CEO of the Encephalitis Society, interviews Jackie about three years of seizure free remission, her writing, her identity, and her newfound anxiety. 

    Life After Trauma

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2021 59:58


    In this episode, Jackie is joined by special guest and longtime friend, Kaitlyn, who witnessed a suicide while in college. Kaitlyn shares her insight about trauma and the journey to wellness. *Warning, contains adult content.*

    Deep Thoughts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 74:27


    In this episode, Jackie and her dear friend and Philosopher, Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein, of the University of North Dakota, discuss how philosophy is relevant to encephalitis and mental health.

    The Power of Words

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2020 36:35


    In this episode, special guest Dr. Ava Easton, CEO of The Encephalitis Society, joins Jackie to discuss her book, and the impact of encephalitis narratives.

    Rise Up! With Special Guest Dr. Helen Egger

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2020 48:46


    Mother, psychiatrist, and one of the four co-founders of the Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance, Dr. Helen Egger, talks about having a child with AE and gives hope to other AE parents. 

    Help Me, Help You!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2020 48:39


    In this episode, Jackie welcomes Caterri Woodrum, CEO of the AE Alliance. They discuss AE statistics, and how the AE Alliance can help patients and carers.

    Special Guest Dr. Ava Easton, CEO of The Encephalitis Society

    Play Episode Play 60 sec Highlight Listen Later May 26, 2020 58:35


    This episode of Brain Fever commemorates Jackie's second year of remission since her diagnosis with AE. Special guest Dr. Ava Easton, CEO of The Encephalitis Society, joins Jackie to discuss recovery and rehabilitation post-encephalitis. Dr. Ava is the author of the book, "Life After Encephalitis," and she speaks at conferences and lectures around the world on various aspects of encephalitis and its consequences for patients. Her expertise also extends to neuro-narratives, narrative medicine, and patient and public engagement.Follow Jackie M StebbinsTwitter: @jmstebbsFacebook: JM StebbinsInstagram: @jmstebbs84Website: www.jmstebbins.com

    Jackie interviews her husband....Sean.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2020 52:55


    In our final episode, Jackie interviews Sean about Jackie's Autoimmune Encephalitis....from beginning to end. I wasn't really looking forward to this...not my favorite subject, but, I know there are some caregivers out there that are going through or have went through a similar process.

    Listener Questions for Jackie

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2020 39:43


    Today, we took questions from listeners from our listeners for Jackie.

    The Road to Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2020 36:14


    In this episode, Jackie talks about her road to recovery....some ups and some downs...what was/is hard and what kept her going to get better. When she was in the very early stages of recovery, she talks about how isolated she felt and how she got through the "Long and Winding Road".

    Is There a Doctor in the House?: The Psych Ward, St. Alexius and The Mayo Clinic

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2020 39:35


    Jackie describes her stay at the Sanford Psychiatric Ward, St. Alexius Hospital after her Grand Mal Seizure and her 4 visits to the Mayo Clinic. Also, a few funny stories on the road to recovery.Follow Jackie on Twitter @jmstebbins Follow Jackie on Facebook JM StebbinsE-mail Jackie at jmstebbins@jmstebbins.com

    The Onset: How Jackie's AE Presented Itself

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2020 34:59


    In our first episode, Jackie talks briefly about the beginning stages of her Autoimmune Encephalitis. AE is different for everyone, so, Jackie is sharing her experience.

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