Podcasts about CaringBridge

Our tears are sacred.“Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.”Our episode today will be a tender one, where we will hear from Tony Stewart and his journey with his beautiful wife Lynn as they navigated together through their transition of loss when Lynn was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer.During this journey, Tony used CaringBridge to share with his friends what he and Lynn were experiencing each day. He found that his posts not only helped them as they were processing their grief and decisions, but they were also touching those who were reading what he posted each day.Tony used these posts as the inspiration to create and write his memoir.His memoir, “Carrying the Tiger, Living with Cancer, Dying with Grace and Finding Joy While Grieving,” is an inspiring story of love, loss, and recovery.Let me share one of the many reviews of his book.“A Masterclass in facing life's hardest moments with grace will resonate with anyone who has faced serious illness or the loss of a loved one.” Indie Reader Connect with Tony:https://www.tonystewartauthor.com/https://www.instagram.com/tonystewartny/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570889459153 CONNECT WITH DEBIDo you feel stuck?  Do you sense it's time for a change, but are unsure where to start or how to move forward? Schedule a clarity call!Free Clarity Call: https://calendly.com/debironca/free-clarity-callWebsite – https://www.debironca.comInstagram - @debironcaEmail – info@debironca.com Check out my online course!Your Story's Changing, finding Purpose in Life's Transitionshttps://course.sequoiatransitioncoaching.com/8-week-programThe Family Letter by Debi Ronca – International Best Sellerhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SSJFXBD

This episode is sponsored by: Set For LifeSet For Life Insurance helps doctors safeguard their future with True Own Occupational Disability Insurance. A single injury or illness can change everything, but the best physicians plan ahead. Protect your income and secure your future before life makes the choice for you. Your career deserves protection—act now at https://www.doctorpodcastnetwork.co/setforlife______As physicians reach mid- and late-career stages, many face the challenge of managing medical issues for their aging parents. In this episode, Dr. Bradley Block interviews Kathleen McGuinness, who shares insights from her personal experience caring for her parents and husband. Kathleen offers effective strategies for navigating legal documents such as wills and medical power of attorney, initiating difficult conversations about care, and using technology to stay connected.She also addresses sibling dynamics, cognitive decline, mental health, and medication compliance, providing actionable insights for physicians balancing professional and personal responsibilities. Whether you're dealing with multi-generational care or geographic distance, this episode equips you with tools to support aging loved ones effectively.Three Actionable Takeaways:Prepare Legal Documents Early: Ensure aging parents have a will, durable power of attorney, medical power of attorney, advanced healthcare directive, and HIPAA release form in place while they're still healthy to avoid complications later.Use Technology for Connection and Care: Leverage tools like Alexa for reminders, CareZone for medication tracking, and CaringBridge to share updates with family, reducing the burden of care coordination.Involve Professionals for Tough Conversations: Engage a geriatric care manager or social worker to navigate discussions about moving to assisted living or managing cognitive decline, minimizing family power dynamics.About the Show:The Physician's Guide to Doctoring covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school!About the Guest:Kathleen McGuinness is a certified dementia practitioner, senior home safety specialist, and end-of-life specialist. As the head of a home care company and a commissioner on the Montgomery County Commission on Aging, she brings decades of experience supporting families through the complexities of elder care. Her personal journey as a caregiver for her aging parents and husband informs her empathetic and practical approach.Contact Kathleen:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmcguinness/Email: km7720@gmail.comAbout the Host:Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts The Physician's Guide to Doctoring podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physicians.Want to be a guest?Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more!Socials:@physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook@physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube@physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let's grow! Disclaimer:This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.

When a diagnosis is shared, the questions come fast: What happened? How can I help? For families in crisis, support is critical—but often chaotic. Without a structure to manage communication or coordinate care, caregivers are left to navigate emotional overwhelm and logistical complexity at the same time. That's where CaringBridge steps in. In this episode of Inspiring Women, CEO Tia Newcomer joins Laurie McGraw to talk about what it takes to bring real support into the healthcare experience—not as a nice-to-have, but as essential infrastructure. Under her leadership, CaringBridge is expanding its reach, embedding into points of diagnosis and discharge, and protecting trust in a space where many would trade it for scale. With two decades of executive leadership across Fortune 100, VC, and private equity–backed health tech and consumer brands, Tia brings a sharp operational lens to deeply human problems and a clear vision for what care can look like when support is treated as essential, not optional. Key themes explored: How can caregiver support become a standard part of the care journey? What does it take to grow a mission without compromising its core? Why is trust a strategic choice and how do you protect it? What can cross-sector leadership unlock in healthcare innovation? Guest & Host Links Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn Connect with Tia Newcomer on LinkedIn About CaringBridge  Connect with Inspiring Women Browse Episodes | LinkedIn | Instagram | Apple | Spotify This episode of Inspiring Women was recorded at the WBL Summit, a leadership, networking, and professional development conference for WBL members that takes place each spring. WBL is a network of 1500+ senior executive women in healthcare who convene to share ideas, make valuable connections, and solve business challenges. WBL's mission is to connect and support our members in advancing their careers and impact on our industry.

Continuing our theme of Everything Must Go, Rebecca preaches about ridding ourselves of physical objects. And why we might hold onto them in the first place. SUPPORTAs we continue to have services and celebrations so that we can close Gilead with celebration and joy, we still could always use your support. You can support at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠this GiveButter site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to help with closing and funeral costs. Any and all donations will go towards providing an incredible final chapter to our congregants and listeners before we close this spring. JOIN OUR JOURNEY ONLINETo stay updated on Gilead's journey to close and read as members of the community share stories from their time with Gilead, you can follow our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CaringBridge page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you'd like to contribute memories or stories of Gilead, email your story to Vince at vince@gileadchicago.org. JOIN US IRL!Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome with us.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date on when and where our services are happening! (Sometimes that info changes, so the newsletter is the best way to keep up.)ABOUT USJust to make sure this is clear, we'd like to reiterate that everyone is welcome at our church. EVERYONE. We believe that human diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression — not to mention age, ability, relationship status, size — is necessary to reflect the fullness of God. Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome here. ***This episode was originally recorded on March 23, 2025

As a part of our Lent “Everything Must Go” series, Vince speaks in his sermon about language. About how keeping our language simple can cut to the core of the real message. -----SUPPORTAs we continue to have services and celebrations so that we can close Gilead with celebration and joy, we still could always use your support. You can support at ⁠⁠⁠⁠this GiveButter site⁠⁠⁠⁠ to help with closing and funeral costs. Any and all donations will go towards providing an incredible final chapter to our congregants and listeners before we close this spring. JOIN OUR JOURNEY ONLINETo stay updated on Gilead's journey to close and read as members of the community share stories from their time with Gilead, you can follow our ⁠⁠⁠⁠CaringBridge page⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you'd like to contribute memories or stories of Gilead, email your story to Vince at vince@gileadchicago.org. JOIN US IRL!Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome with us.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date on when and where our services are happening! (Sometimes that info changes, so the newsletter is the best way to keep up.)ABOUT USJust to make sure this is clear, we'd like to reiterate that everyone is welcome at our church. EVERYONE. We believe that human diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression — not to mention age, ability, relationship status, size — is necessary to reflect the fullness of God. Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome here. ***This episode was originally recorded on March 16, 2025

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Elite Publishing Podcast. Today, we're thrilled to have an engaging conversation with Lynn Abaté-Johnson, a two-time international best-selling author whose journey into writing was as transformative for her as it has been for her readers. In this episode, Lynn shares her poignant story of becoming an 'accidental author' after documenting her mother's health journey on CaringBridge.org. Her heartfelt book, 'Out of Love: A Daughter's Journey with Her Mom to the End,' offers a realistic yet compassionate perspective on caregiving, filled with practical advice and emotional support.Learn More: https://www.lynnabatejohnson.com/

From March 9th, at the beginning of Lent, we began stories in our very final Gilead service theme: Everything Must Go. Rebecca speaks of what we let go of as we grow up and grow old. From March 9th, at the beginning of Lent, we began stories in our very final Gilead service theme: Everything Must Go. Rebecca speaks of what we let go of as we grow up and grow old. -----SUPPORTAs we continue to have services and celebrations so that we can close Gilead with celebration and joy, we still could always use your support. You can support at ⁠⁠⁠this GiveButter site⁠⁠⁠ to help with closing and funeral costs. Any and all donations will go towards providing an incredible final chapter to our congregants and listeners before we close this spring. JOIN OUR JOURNEY ONLINETo stay updated on Gilead's journey to close and read as members of the community share stories from their time with Gilead, you can follow our ⁠⁠⁠CaringBridge page⁠⁠⁠. If you'd like to contribute memories or stories of Gilead, email your story to Vince at vince@gileadchicago.org. JOIN US IRL!Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome with us.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date on when and where our services are happening! (Sometimes that info changes, so the newsletter is the best way to keep up.)ABOUT USJust to make sure this is clear, we'd like to reiterate that everyone is welcome at our church. EVERYONE. We believe that human diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression — not to mention age, ability, relationship status, size — is necessary to reflect the fullness of God. Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome here. ***

On this episode of Integrative Cancer Solutions we have an insightful discussion between Dr. Karlfeldt and Dr. Nalini Chilkov about integrative approaches to cancer care. Dr. Chilkov emphasizes the importance of patients taking an active role in their treatment by building a comprehensive health team alongside their oncology team. This team should include professionals knowledgeable about nutrition, acupuncture, and other supportive therapies to address the whole person, not just the disease. Dr. Chilkov provides practical advice for cancer patients, stressing that cancer is a chronic illness rather than an emergency, allowing time for patients to make informed decisions. She recommends a plant-strong diet rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats, while cautioning against vegan diets and excessive red meat consumption. The discussion also covers strategies for managing common side effects of cancer treatments, such as using ginger oil capsules for nausea and bone broth for digestive tract repair. The importance of exercise and social support during cancer treatment is highlighted. Dr. Chilkov encourages patients to stay active, even during infusions, to improve circulation, mood, and immunity. She suggests using tools like Caring Bridge to organize support and maintain social connections throughout the treatment process. Addressing cognitive issues like "chemo brain," Dr. Chilkov explains that brain fog is often due to inflammation and damage to the blood-brain barrier. She recommends supplements like Boswellia, curcumin, and omega-3 fatty acids to combat brain inflammation, as well as melatonin and resveratrol for antioxidant support and DNA repair. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Chilkov emphasizes a balanced approach, combining conventional treatments with natural interventions under the guidance of a knowledgeable healthcare team.Patients should build a comprehensive health team alongside their oncology team, taking an active role in their treatment and advocating for themselves.A plant-strong diet rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats is recommended for cancer patients, with caution against vegan diets and excessive red meat consumption.Exercise during cancer treatment is crucial for improving circulation, mood, immunity, and reducing the risk of blood clots.Managing side effects like nausea and digestive issues can be addressed with natural remedies such as ginger oil capsules and bone broth.Cognitive issues like "chemo brain" can be addressed with supplements like Boswellia, curcumin, and omega-3 fatty acids to combat inflammation and support brain health.----Grab my book A Better Way to Treat Cancer: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Preventing and Most Effectively Treating Our Biggest Health Threat - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CM1KKD9X?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 Unleashing 10X Power: A Revolutionary Approach to Conquering Cancerhttps://store.thekarlfeldtcenter.com/products/unleashing-10x-power-Price: $24.99-100% Off Discount Code: CANCERPODCAST1Healing Within: Unraveling the Emotional Roots of Cancerhttps://store.thekarlfeldtcenter.com/products/healing-within-Price: $24.99-100% Off Discount Code: CANCERPODCAST2----Integrative Cancer Solutions was created to instill hope and empowerment. Other people have been where you are right now and have already done the research for you. Listen to their stories and journeys and apply what they learned to achieve similar outcomes as they have, cancer remission and an even more fullness of life than before the diagnosis. Guests will discuss what therapies, supplements, and practitioners they relied on to beat cancer. Once diagnosed, time is of the essence. This podcast will dramatically reduce your learning curve as you search for your own solution to cancer. To learn more about the cutting-edge integrative cancer therapies Dr. Karlfeldt offer at his center, please visit www.TheKarlfeldtCenter.com

On the theme of Forgive us Our Debts, Rebecca's sermon is not only about forgiveness but about mercy, what Jesus says about the two and how necessary they are in some of the darkest places in our society today.  This sermon was originally recorded on February 16th. -----SUPPORTAs we continue to have services and celebrations so that we can close Gilead with celebration and joy, we still could always use your support. You can support at ⁠⁠this GiveButter site⁠⁠ to help with closing and funeral costs. Any and all donations will go towards providing an incredible final chapter to our congregants and listeners before we close this spring. JOIN OUR JOURNEY ONLINETo stay updated on Gilead's journey to close and read as members of the community share stories from their time with Gilead, you can follow our ⁠⁠CaringBridge page⁠⁠. If you'd like to contribute memories or stories of Gilead, email your story to Vince at vince@gileadchicago.org. JOIN US IRL!Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome with us.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date on when and where our services are happening! (Sometimes that info changes, so the newsletter is the best way to keep up.)ABOUT USJust to make sure this is clear, we'd like to reiterate that everyone is welcome at our church. EVERYONE. We believe that human diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression — not to mention age, ability, relationship status, size — is necessary to reflect the fullness of God. Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome here. ***

Today's guest is Peter Coolbaugh, an avid baseball fan, cat dad, and survivor of both stage 5 kidney failure and stage 3 Multiple Myeloma. He started out with back pain and it took several weeks before someone finally did bloodwork and a diagnosis could be made. Peter's story is incredible, with all he went through for over a year, from alternating days of kidney dialysis and chemotherapy, fighting two diseases at once, to a stem cell transplant and subsequent skin cancer. In remission now, Peter has a new lease on life. What a story of perseverance and resilience!Resources:Peter's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100017601829006Peter's Caringbridge: https://www.caringbridge.org/site/894cf0d2-19e4-39c0-9a8d-16e13bc4adb4Follow:Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/melissagrosbollMy website: https://melissagrosboll.comEmail me: drmelissagrosboll@gmail.com

This week's sermon comes from Vince, preaching on the theme of Forgive Us Our Debts: stories of making good, settling scores and loan forgiveness. Vince says that he has two sermons on forgiveness, and he shares them both with us today. SUPPORTAs we continue to have services and celebrations so that we can close Gilead with celebration and joy, we still could always use your support. You can support at ⁠this GiveButter site⁠ to help with closing and funeral costs. Any and all donations will go towards providing an incredible final chapter to our congregants and listeners before we close this spring. JOIN OUR JOURNEY ONLINETo stay updated on Gilead's journey to close and read as members of the community share stories from their time with Gilead, you can follow our ⁠CaringBridge page⁠. If you'd like to contribute memories or stories of Gilead, email your story to Vince at vince@gileadchicago.org. JOIN US IRL!Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome with us.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date on when and where our services are happening! (Sometimes that info changes, so the newsletter is the best way to keep up.)ABOUT USJust to make sure this is clear, we'd like to reiterate that everyone is welcome at our church. EVERYONE. We believe that human diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression — not to mention age, ability, relationship status, size — is necessary to reflect the fullness of God. Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome here. ***This episode was recorded during our service on February 2, 2025.

This week's sermon comes from Rebecca. She preaches for the final week of January's “Blood, Sweat and Tears” theme and specifically, on the sweat part of it. It's about sweating our asses off to interpret, to spread the word of the gospel, to adapt and change and bring these old stories into the present moment. And into the future. Sweating our asses off to tell true stories that change lives. SUPPORT As we continue to have services and celebrations so that we can close Gilead with celebration and joy, we still could always use your support. You can support at this GiveButter site to help with closing and funeral costs. Any and all donations will go towards providing an incredible final chapter to our congregants and listeners before we close this spring. JOIN OUR JOURNEY ONLINE To stay updated on Gilead's journey to close and read as members of the community share stories from their time with Gilead, you can follow our CaringBridge page. If you'd like to contribute memories or stories of Gilead, email your story to Vince at vince@gileadchicago.org. JOIN US IRL! Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome with us.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Sign up for our newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay up to date on when and where our services are happening! (Sometimes that info changes, so the newsletter is the best way to keep up.) ABOUT US Just to make sure this is clear, we'd like to reiterate that everyone is welcome at our church. EVERYONE. We believe that human diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression — not to mention age, ability, relationship status, size — is necessary to reflect the fullness of God. Whoever you are, whatever your story is, you are welcome here.  *** This episode was recorded during our service on January 26, 2025.

The Sawkar Salute: Caringbridge and Instacart! full 79 Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:35:19 +0000 9rmYmOS8nFjY2yV813D33skdisLwe8G7 news The Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar news The Sawkar Salute: Caringbridge and Instacart! Vineeta Sawkar brings you the day's most important and impactful news stories, talks with the news-makers and influencers we need to hear from, and brightens your day with fun anecdotes and stories along the way. Add in the latest weather, traffic, and sports…it's the best way to start the day! 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News False https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-

The Sawkar Salute: Caringbridge and Instacart! full 79 Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:35:19 +0000 9rmYmOS8nFjY2yV813D33skdisLwe8G7 news The Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar news The Sawkar Salute: Caringbridge and Instacart! Vineeta Sawkar brings you the day's most important and impactful news stories, talks with the news-makers and influencers we need to hear from, and brightens your day with fun anecdotes and stories along the way. Add in the latest weather, traffic, and sports…it's the best way to start the day! 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News False https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-

Park City sisters' Helene survival story highlights need for disaster relief, Summit County Sheriff's Office talks jiu-jitsu-based training and launch of new app, Heber City Manager Matt Brower previews Tuesday's city council meeting, Summit Community Gardens/EATS donates over 1,400 pounds of food, Park City Planning Director Rebecca Ward talks about how residents can get involved in the general plan update, Park City School District cellphone ban credited for kinder classrooms, Caring Bridge, a national nonprofit health platform that supports caregivers and patients, is hosting two fundraisers in Utah this week, and why Powder Mountain's new parking plan has some season pass-holders feeling duped.

Tennis players voice concern over court time changes at Park City MARC,Park City to resume construction on Main Street water line with free parking available, Park City resident Betsy Zorio focuses on domestic poverty with the charity Save the Children, Utah's first floating solar array will power 90% of Park City water treatment plant, CaringBridge a nonprofit for caregivers previews upcoming Utah events, International Olympic Committee president touring Utah's Olympic facilities, Leadership Park City founder's final event before retirement is Monday, Citizens' Climate Lobby member Tracy Harden has details on an upcoming candidate forum on climate issues, Miners rebound, Braves win a thriller, and Wasps, Wildcats suffer tough losses in high school football, Wasatch County sheriff identifies Hideout man fatally shot near Jordanelle Reservoir, and smoke from Yellow Lake Fire east of Heber is visible in Summit and Wasatch counties.

In this episode of DGTL Voices, Ed welcomes Tia Newcomer, the CEO of CaringBridge. They discuss the mission and vision of CaringBridge, which is to ensure that no one goes through a health journey alone. CaringBridge is a platform that allows individuals to rally their community for support during a health journey. It helps activate the community, capture the journey, coordinate help, and foster a sense of community. CaringBridge, a nonprofit organization that provides free online platforms for people facing health challenges. Nearly 320,000 people visit CaringBridge every day, with a new page created every 12 minutes. Tia emphasizes the importance of community support and encourages healthcare leaders to integrate CaringBridge into the care process. She also highlights the value of having a diverse range of experiences in one's career and offers leadership hacks, including creating a 30-60-90 day plan and conducting one-on-one conversations to uncover themes. 

  Interviewer info Lyssa Rome is a speech-language pathologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is on staff at the Aphasia Center of California, where she facilitates groups for people with aphasia and their care partners. She owns an LPAA-focused private practice and specializes in working with people with aphasia, dysarthria, and other neurogenic conditions. She has worked in acute hospital, skilled nursing, and continuum of care settings. Prior to becoming an SLP, Lyssa was a public radio journalist, editor, and podcast producer. In this episode, Lyssa Rome interviews Dr. Liss Brunner about how clinicians can incorporate social media into their work with people with acquired brain injuries. Guest info Dr Melissa ‘Liss' Brunner is an early career researcher, lecturer at the University of Sydney, and a certified practicing speech pathologist with over twenty years of experience in supporting adults with swallowing and communication difficulties. Liss has clinical and research expertise in acquired neurologic disorders, particularly working with people who have experienced a stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Diverse research experiences have enabled Liss to build specialist skills in qualitatively driven social media and digital health mixed methods research. Liss's doctoral research laid the necessary groundwork in understanding the complexity of the issues surrounding people with TBI using social media and how it may (or may not) be addressed during their rehabilitation. Listener Take-aways In today's episode you will: Understand how people with acquired brain injury use social media. Learn about barriers and facilitators for safe social media use after brain injury. Describe how speech-language pathologists can target social media use in rehab for people with acquired brain injury.   Edited Transcript Lyssa Rome Welcome to the Aphasia Access Aphasia Conversations Podcast. I'm Lyssa Rome. I'm a speech language pathologist on staff at the Aphasia Center of California and I see clients with aphasia and other neurogenic communication disorders in my LPAA-focused private practice. I'm also a member of the Aphasia Access Podcast Working Group. Aphasia Access strives to provide members with information, inspiration, and ideas that support their aphasia care through a variety of educational materials and resources.   I'm today's host for an episode that will feature Dr. Melissa or Liss Brunner. Liss is an early-career researcher, lecturer at the University of Sydney, and a certified practicing speech pathologist with over 20 years of experience in supporting adults with swallowing and communication difficulties. Liss has clinical and research expertise in acquired neurologic disorders, particularly working with people who have experienced a stroke or traumatic brain injury. She focuses on qualitatively driven social media and digital health mixed-methods research. Her doctoral research laid the necessary groundwork in understanding the complexity of the issues surrounding people with TBI using social media, and how it may or may not be addressed during their rehabilitation. Dr. Liss Brunner, welcome to the Aphasia Access podcast, I'm so glad to be talking with you.   Dr. Liss Brunner Thanks so much for having me. I'm really, really excited to be here and talk about one of my favorite things.   Lyssa Rome  Great. So I want to just start by asking you what made you want to study social media use among people with acquired brain injuries? And why is it important to study that?   Dr. Liss Brunner  I suppose I want to start by asking you a question, Lyssa, if that's alright. Okay. So, I mean, do you use social media?   Lyssa Rome  I do use social media.   Dr. Liss Brunner  And what are your favorite types of social media? And why do you use them? Hope you don't mind me asking.   Lyssa Rome  That's fine. So I primarily use two social media platforms. I use Facebook for professional reasons. There's a lot of networking amongst speech pathologists on Facebook. I also use it because I get some exercise classes there, so that's kind of nice. And then I also use Instagram, which I primarily go to to find out about knitting and sewing patterns, and to look for gardening ideas. So it's sort of more hobby-based for me.   Dr. Liss Brunner  Perfect. I love that. I mean, I use Facebook also, but it's mainly to stay in touch with like high school or uni friends and my family. And I also use Instagram, and like you lots of hobby-based stuff. I love watching videos around food. Always makes me hungry, but I still love it. But I also love seeing what people are reading. So I will also quite often post what I've just read and get ideas for books that I could be reading and things like that. And I use it a little bit professionally as well to share what I've been doing and what I've been working on. And I use Twitter or X, as it's now known, probably more so professionally. So I do a lot of sharing about the work that I'm doing in there. But I use a whole heap of other platforms, as well, and kind of all for different reasons.   If you think about it, over 60% of the world's population, actually, are active social media users. And we've just talked about how we use more than one platform. The average is actually seven different social media platforms for people who are active users. And so I got interested in supporting others in using social media, because I realized how integral it was starting to become, in my own life, and for the people around me.   After a brain injury, we know it happens like that in a split second. And it can happen to anyone at any age. And so after those brain injuries occur, people lose lots of their friends. And, you know, their relationships just aren't what they used to be. They're quite often strained. They're not as fun as they used to be. And it can be really hard and devastating, not just for that person, but everyone around them, as well. And so family and close friends can find it really challenging to stay connected in a really meaningful way. And you don't really realize how important that is until it changes. And so, in rehab, I really like to support people to build up their social communication skills, with different people, different places. And I really believe that these days, one of those places we need to consider is social media. It's great to stay connected, you can make new friends, you can practice your communication skills in different ways, you can just kind of be included. So you know, you can tell everyone what's going on in your life after injury, or you can ignore that and just talk about other things like gardening and food and stuff. You can use social media to be what you want it to be. So that's kind of why I got into it. And why I think it's important.   Lyssa Rome  It sounds like you've just described both how people use it before their injury, but then also some changes in use after their injury, for example, and think of in the States—I don't know if this is also true in Australia—there's Caring Bridge and Go Fund Me and other sorts of websites where people are sharing information about their rehab process and about what's going on with someone who's had a brain injury or another kind of illness. Tell us a little bit about how people with acquired brain injuries are using social media.   Dr. Liss Brunner Yeah, absolutely. I think this is one of the most interesting things to me is that I've interviewed lots of people after a brain injury about how they use social media. And just like many of us, they use a variety of platforms, they have individual preferences, they use them for different purposes. Some prefer Instagram, others prefer Facebook, others prefer online gaming with their friends. Many of them use social media for making and maintaining relationships. So that connection, others use it for altruism, so supporting others in need and sharing their experiences and strategies after a brain injury. But others also use it for advocacy, and activism. So sharing their experiences after brain injury to raise awareness, and reduce stigma that can be associated with it. Others are really active in contacting politicians and advocating for better support services and infrastructure. So they use it for a multitude of reasons. And it's quite often deeply personal, the way in which they do so.   Unfortunately, I did also find out that quite often, people kind of relearning to use social media, sort of through trial and error. So they don't necessarily get lots of support to do it. they've encountered lots of challenges in using it well, so they can have some difficulties with cognitive fatigue, or even just navigating the different social media platforms because they're quite often apt to change, so to speak.   Lyssa Rome RIght. Yeah. It sounds like they're both some real benefits to people with acquired brain injuries, but then also some risks involved. So maybe you could tell us a little bit more about some of those risks and some of the benefits for people with acquired brain injury using social media?   Dr. Liss Brunner  Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I'll start with the good stuff. So there's lots of advantages to using social media. I mean, obviously, we can use it to create connections, we can totally use it for the entertainment factor—I do all the time. But it's also a huge source of information and news can be an absolutely wonderful platform for sharing information and advocating for awareness. As I've said, I think it's a really great way to share your thoughts and connect with others if you're feeling particularly isolated. And I know that for people after brain injury, who have difficulty with their social communication, there's lots of advantages in particular.   So some people may talk a lot more after their brain injury and some people may feel that they talk a bit too much. And so, you know, platforms like Twitter, or X, that have a shorter amount of space for you to make a post, that might mean that they have an opportunity to really work on limiting how much they say. And likewise, for those who have the opposite issue, and they kind of are more likely to struggle to find things to say, the same platform could be seen as a bit of a relief, because there's less pressure to write really long posts. So, you know, I think there are functions of the different social media platforms that can be really advantageous for people who have difficulties communicating.   For people who have difficulties concentrating in fast-paced conversations in person, the asynchronous approach of social media can be again, provide less pressure, they don't have to think and respond in the moment, they can actually take their time to do that. So that can provide a bit of relief as well. And I find in general, people are way more tolerant around incorrect spelling and grammar and things like that in social media. And you can type words, you can add pictures. I love using GIFs and memes and emoticons. So, you know, all of these things can be used to make communication easier in these platforms. So lots of advantages, I think that we could kind of really draw on to support people.   But obviously, there's also that downside, that darker side of social media, there's lots of risks. And it can be a really tricky space to navigate with and without a brain injury. And there's lots of concern, particularly from clinicians and family and friends around the real and sometimes perceived risks of using social media after a brain injury. So I've spoken to lots of clinicians and family members over the years. And they often tell me about how they're really worried about people being fairly vulnerable online, that they're at risk of being exploited, that they may ruin their own reputation by some of the things that they're saying online.   And quite often, as clinicians, I suppose we can act as gatekeepers in a way. And so there's often this really big focus on our duty of care in the clinical context, because we want to prevent harm, we want people to do well and not actually be hurt more. And so we can be really risk averse, I suppose. There can be this real sense of responsibility for minimizing all of the risks. And so there's lots of issues around people getting fixated on social media, and that might lead to cognitive fatigue. It could be that they're having negative mental health or emotional effects of what they're seeing in social media. They could start withdrawing from in-person interactions because they're spending a lot of time online.   I mentioned reputation management. So potentially people would say something online that will influence how other people perceive them. So whilst people are in post traumatic amnesia after a traumatic brain injury, they may regret posting something. Others have reported that their family members tell them that they're saying inappropriate things online and that's negatively affected their relationships. And sometimes it's affected their employment opportunities down the track as well. Others have had difficulties managing their finances and security due to difficulties with disinhibition and impulsivity. And so there's lots of concerns in particular around things like cyber scams and, and things like that.   Lyssa Rome  It sounds like the risks that a lot of us are faced with when we're using social media platforms. But even more so right, because of some of the issues specific to people with brain injuries that you've just described?   Dr. Liss Brunner Absolutely.   Lyssa Rome  I'm wondering what kind of barriers and facilitators there are to successful social media use? You mentioned clinicians, reluctance, or sort of concern about the risks? What are some of the other things that we should be thinking about?   Dr. Liss Brunner  Yeah, absolutely. I mean, there's lots of barriers. But there's also lots of facilitators as well, which is good. I've spoken about some of the risks, but some of the other barriers are sometimes quite immediate. So some people might have physical barriers to using social media. So their vision might have changed, their hand mobility, and fine motor control might have changed, or they might not be able to independently go and get their device. And so they might need someone to go and get it for them. Others may not have devices, or reliable internet access, particularly if they're in a hospital, sometimes internet access is restricted. So there's those actual accessibility issues.   In terms of the changes in cognitive communication, I think, a lot of what we can see in in person interactions—so when people are having a face to face conversation—those sorts of changes we see after a brain injury can often be influencing their online interactions just as much. So for example, after a traumatic brain injury, inattention, and being easily distracted, can be quite an issue for many. And so you might see this where someone will start responding to a post, but they'll get distracted, and they'll send, you know, a message that they either didn't mean to send or it wasn't complete, or it gets misinterpreted. And it can just unravel quite quickly.   Sometimes, you know, emotional control changes quite often after an acquired brain injury. So managing your feelings can be really challenging. So some people can get really overloaded by the amount of information in their social media feeds and timelines. Or they might get really overwhelmed when they're seeing negative or sad posts. Like, obviously, we're seeing lots of sad things and disturbing things in the news, in particular, online at the moment, there's lots of conflict around the world. So being able to manage your feelings can be really challenging if you're not conscious about the influence social media posts can have on you.   Sometimes, you know, there's issues in impulse control. And so some people will get sent friend requests and they will click accept without thinking, Oh, actually, do I know this person? Or do I want to have this person as a friend or, you know, posting before you think about what you're saying and how someone's going to take that and what the potential repercussions might be? It could be that, you know, people have difficulty finding the right words and that they may put words in that they're not wanting To say, and again, that can get misinterpreted.   The other thing is that there's lots of information. And so it's quite hard to find and constantly changing. And I feel like that can increase the demands on people's memory, and how they sort through and organize information. So that can be overwhelming and challenging as well.   On the flip side, there's lots of facilitators that we can harness for good to combat some of these things. And during my PhD, I identified five factors that influence social media use after a brain injury. And sometimes these things are barriers, and sometimes they're facilitators. So I think it's really quite helpful to think about things in this way.   And so the first factor is purpose. So it's really important to think about, if someone is motivated to use social media, what's motivating for them? It could be that they are wanting to practice their communication. It could be that they are wanting to connect. They might want to find a romantic partner. They might want to figure out who they are now, after their brain injury. It could be just to fill in time, right? So purpose really influences how someone uses social media.   The second factor, I think, relates to knowledge and experience. And so it's not just that person with a brain injury, but also the people around them. So some of the barriers can be that people aren't really clear on how to support people to use social media. And that could be because of their own experience and ability, and confidence. So all of those things can really influence how you use social media.   The big one, that third factor is caution, I think, you know, it's really critical to be aware of the risks, which I've spoken about, and how to navigate them.   The fourth factor is networks. And so it's really kind of thinking about who is your online network of people? So who do you want to contact? Who do you maybe not want to stay in contact with? And increasing opportunities to have really successful interactions with those people.   And the fifth concept is really around support. So trying to find structures that influence success in social media interactions. So giving people practical supports and resources, whether that's an actual person, or whether it's a training program, or practice, with someone setting them up with a PR so they can have someone to practice with regularly.   I think they're the five different factors that really influence how someone who's going to use social media, and whether they use it well, safely. And meaningfully, I suppose, because that's what you want it to be. The other thing that I think is really important, from a clinician perspective, in terms of facilitating use is to kind of be proactive. So rather than being reactive, and just only stepping in when problems happen is actually being a person that can support people with brain injury to use social media and asking those questions. So I feel like some of the research that I've been doing is really kind of been critical to try and find guidance for clinicians on how to do that, and how to have those conversations.   So I spoke about those five different factors. I reckon if, for example, you were wanting to think about someone's purpose in social media, really, you just need to identify what platforms they want to use? Why do they want to use them? What's going to be really meaningful for them? So writing that down and thinking: Okay, who are you connecting with in that? Why do you want to use it? How can we make that better for you? So it's a really nice way to just start those conversations.   Lyssa Rome  When I think about clinically sort of getting to know someone, part of it is who are you communicating with? Like, who are you having conversations with? And if we think a little bit more broadly, you know, it's not just conversations in person or over the phone. And so to take an inventory that really reflects the person's actual communication across all different kinds of settings, is really important. I'm curious how people with acquired brain injuries are using these different social media platforms, you sort of mentioned some of them along the way, as you've been discussing the risks and the benefits, etc. But I just wonder if you could say a little bit more about that.   Dr. Liss Brunner  Yeah, I mean, we've been doing a few different little studies looking at how brain injury is spoken about, and who's using it in different platforms. So we've done a study, study looking at Twitter, it was Twitter, then it's now called X, I suppose. But back then it was Twitter. And we kind of really just explored what was being said about brain injury. And actually, I found there were actually lots of people with brain injury using the platform to connect with others to share issues around their health, life after their injury, raising awareness, and also as a source of inspiration and hope. So both giving and receiving those messages. So that was really nice.   And then we've recently actually just completed some studies where we looked similarly, at YouTube and Instagram. And in both platforms, it was really clear that this is a space where people are sharing their stories of change. And because of the inherent functions of the platforms, they can share content that they make, or reshare, and a lot of it is quite visual. It really gives that person who's sharing the content, a lot more control over how they tell their stories. And I love seeing and hearing how people use social media to tell their stories. We're all so different. And even though there are similarities amongst the stories that people are telling about their brain injury, there's so much personalization and individuality. It's fantastic to see.   In some of the interviews that I've done, you know, one person told me about how they use Instagram to share their photos of the world so that they were a photographer before their injury. And since their injury, they see the world differently. And they're taking very different photos.   So I think everyone's using different platforms the way in which they want to, yeah, it's super interesting. Others have made using social media their vocation, so as a way of connecting with others who've had a brain injury and sharing, you know, tips and ideas to support recovery. And so that's kind of their job, and it's giving them that sense of purpose. Not just in using social media, but purpose in life and giving back and being able to feel like they have a sense of belonging and contribution. So, yeah, I find it super interesting. I love it.   Lyssa Rome Well, and one of the reasons that I was really drawn to your work and wanted to talk with you on this podcast is that it seems like at its heart, what you've been studying and working on is promoting and enabling life participation for people with acquired brain injuries for whom social media is an important life activity—either was already before the injury or is now after the injury. And, to me, it's just, it's so meaningful for people and to sort of turn our attention toward social media in this way, I think is great. So it makes me wonder, to what extent are rehab professionals, speech language pathologists and others, addressing social media use with their clients or their patients?   Dr. Liss Brunner This is a really hard answer to give. Because I'm speaking generally. And I know that, you know, we are very individual as clinicians as well. But when I used to talk about this, you know, I started more than a decade ago in this space, I would ask clinicians when I was talking at presentations, who's worked with clients on using social media, and I would maybe have one person put their hand up. Now, when I ask that question, the response is actually very different, and I would say, you know, the majority of people would indicate that they've worked on using social media in some way, shape, or form.   But I feel like we don't necessarily have lots of guidance on how to do that well. And so lots of clinicians have said to me that they feel kind of lost when it comes to using social media. Not everyone uses social media and some of us have our preferred platforms that we feel comfortable with and don't know anything about some of the other platforms, right? Some of us say using social media is just a bit of fun. And it's, you know, a bit of a distraction from real life. So we have lots of attitudes and beliefs around it.   And there's lots of challenges in addressing social media, because as I said, the platforms are constantly changing. And it's really hard to stay up-to-date. And so lots of people are really uncertain about all of those factors, and then they are, we've also got all of these medical and legal responsibilities, and we don't know where our boundaries are, in terms of navigating risks— whether we should be gatekeepers, or whether we should be just supporting people with information and education and coming in and supporting them if problems happen. Lots of people just basically want guidance, was what I heard. They want to know when to introduce the use of social media. They want to know when to let go of control of how people use it, and how to encourage really positive interactions. I feel like a lot of people have told me that because they're so uncertain, they tend to be mostly restrictive, rather than proactive. And so that restrictive practice occurs in lots of different ways.   So it could be encouraging, and helping families to keep devices at home and away from people who have a brain injury. It could be that they give people the devices, but they limit the internet connectivity, so they can't use them functionally. Or it could be that they manipulate the privacy settings. So it allows people just to lurk and watch other people's posts, but doesn't let them post and interact. And so, you know, there's often issues where family members are encouraged to monitor social media posts for appropriate content and things like that. And I find that's, you know, not ideal for anyone, really, no one wants to have to do that. And no one wants that to happen to them. And it can create lots more barriers to autonomy. I'm pretty sure if my parents were telling me what to do and what not to do in social media, I'd not have a great response. And I also feel if I tried to tell my kids what to do and what not to do, they'd probably go straight out and do what I told them not to do. Because as if I would not because I'm old. Right? And not cool. There's probably another word for cool now that I don't know.   You know, I think it's, it's really personal. It's tricky to navigate. And as clinicians, we've got to be really clear about what our attitudes and beliefs are and how they influence what we perceive as appropriate or inappropriate and how we navigate those conversations. I love referring people to the Mark Ylvisaker and Tim Feenye paper that's about Dobermans and Poodles. Because it really does push people to think about how we interact and influence people in our rehabilitation practices. So I think as clinicians, we want to be proactive, but we're just not quite clear on how we should do it.   Lyssa Rome In one of your papers, you wrote about how we as speech language pathologists can move from a sort of paternalistic attitude toward supporting the autonomy of our clients with acquired brain injury. And it's something I think about a lot, not necessarily just in this context of social media, but in all other kinds of ways. And I'm wondering if you could say a little bit more about that, and about how SLPs and other rehab professionals should be thinking about including social media training and the work we do?   Dr. Liss Brunner  Yeah, it's really tricky. Because, you know, we don't want to be restrictive. We don't want to be gatekeepers, we want to be supportive. And I feel like sometimes when we don't have guidance, from our evidence in the research or practical resources, we can flounder a little bit, particularly when we know there are so many risks associated with something like using social media. I think we can probably all acknowledge that restriction isn't the answer, because it doesn't set people up for real life. It doesn't give them opportunities to learn from mistakes, which is what we would do a lot of the time in real life.   I think one of the things that we can really do is harness the knowledge and skills of the person themselves, to help us as clinicians to know more about how they want to use social media, which platforms they're interested in, particularly if we've got no clue about how to use it ourselves. And so this could be a way to really educate ourselves, and kind of have more of a collaborative approach with that person. So you can set goals together, you can identify what's going to look like successful social media is to that person. How can we use what they did before their brain injury to guide us in terms of, is this something you want to get back to? Or do you want to do something different now? Those sorts of things. We can look for ways to provide them opportunities for participation, and give them some instructions on what might work really well. Let them go and try that. Give them education and really constructive feedback, so that they're working towards those positive interactions and trying to mitigate those risks in that really proactive way. Obviously, I think we need some policy around this, and guidance so that we can actively support people.   But I think probably one of the first things that we need to do is address social media goals in rehabilitation. And these can be informed by other successful brain injury rehabilitation approaches, you know, so we've got lots of information on functional rehabilitation, we know that more meaningful rehab is motivating and more likely to have better outcomes. And we could adopt strategies that have been used in rehab that support other activities that we feel are higher risk. So always I think of return to driving. You know, we support people, occupational therapists, support people to return to drive and I think that's inherently really dangerous. But we do it because we see it as a really important goal for people to return to after injury. I kind of feel that social media is kind of in a similar vein, we know there's risks, let's put education and practice in place to support them to do well.   Lyssa Rome  Speaking of education and practice, you've created a training program for people with acquired brain injuries on how they can start to successfully use social media. So can you describe that and tell us a little bit about that program?   Dr. Liss Brunner  Yeah, I mean, I worked as a clinician for many, many years before I got suckered into research and fell in love with it. And so I always want to think about the practical implications of the research that I'm doing, I want to provide resources and guidance. And so I was very lucky to be able to work with the team at Sydney Uni, and the University of Technology in Sydney, and brain Injury Australia. We were able to source some funding through a grant, which was fabulous. And we had this larger project called the Social Brain Toolkit. And part of that was developing social-ABI-lity. And so it meant that we were able to work with people who've had a brain injury, some family members, some clinicians, and other researchers to design this social-ABI-lity program. And essentially, it's a free online training program on how to use social media after brain injury.   Very simply, it's designed so that people with a brain injury can do it themselves, or they can do it with family or a friend or a clinician to support them. It takes about two to three hours to work through everything. And there's four modules, and so the modules are: What is social media;  staying safe in social media; how do I use social media; and who can I connect with in social media. And we've really used metacognitive principles to support people to make a plan for using social media in a way that really suits them. And so we wanted to give them ideas on staying safe. When using social media and cyber safety, even those, there's one module on staying safe. Cyber safety is actually threaded through all four modules, because it was such a priority for everyone that we spoke to. And it just provides people with opportunities to learn about using social media, and really promoting the idea of finding social media buddies and building up a support network in social media. So there's written info, there's videos, there's questions to work through, there's a printable worksheet, so people can write down and keep the messages of the four modules. And things like that.   We've run a pilot study, so that people could test out the prototype. And they found it was quite valuable. They thought it was really engaging and functional. They also told us what they didn't think was working. So we tweaked it, and hopefully made it better. And then we actually piloted that again, because we knew that just the training by itself was probably not going to achieve the best outcomes possible. We wanted to know whether group intervention would help. So we kind of got people to do the social-ABI-lity program, and also a peer practice group. So we set up the social-ABI-lity plus a social media practice group kind of thing. We set up some Facebook groups, because Facebook is one of the social media platforms that lets you set up a group and have private conversations. But you also don't necessarily have to be friends with everyone. So it meant people could keep their distance if they wanted to.   In this study, we ran two groups for 12 weeks. And we basically just gave them stuff to talk about and connect with in this Facebook group. We also added in occasional meetups on Zoom so that people could meet each other face-to-face, even though it was online. So, you know, at the same time, they could have conversations and get to know each other in that way and see each other's faces. And the two groups found that this was really beneficial. So they had more confidence in using social media and they were just thinking about using it in a very different way.   The other thing that we thought about though was we know that there's just this connection between people who've actually lived the path, rather than, you know, being directed by someone like me who hasn't raised this difference in connection. And so we wanted to know whether having a peer moderated group would actually change things. And so we've recently just run a peer-moderated group. And so we kind of sweet-talked two of our previous participants who were quite active in the groups and said, “Do you want to be part of our research team? Would you like to moderate a group? And we'll see what happens.” And so we negotiated with these two awesome people. And they ran the group for eight weeks. So we shortened it a little bit just to make it more feasible and test it out. And before we started the group, we met with our two peer moderators, and said, “What do you feel comfortable doing? What don't you feel comfortable doing?” And we negotiated our roles before we even started, and even though they weren't significant changes in confidence, or any of the quantitative data that we collected in terms of quality of life and things like that, the conversations that people had, were just, I'm going to use one of the moderators words “profound.” They were so different, they were more poignant, and deeper, the conversations that they had in these peer-moderated group, and the reflections that all of the participants had really showed that they connected on a really different level, which was quite lovely. Again, they found it was all feasible and engaging. But there was something about that added element of the peer moderators that made it extra awesome for the people involved, as well as for the peer moderators themselves, they just found that they had improved confidence and improved sense of self for being involved in it. So it was that sense of giving back that really made that group scene, which was really lovely.   Lyssa Rome  I think that that's so exciting. And it makes me wonder what else you're working on? And what's coming next.   Dr. Liss Brunner Yeah, I mean, there's so many ideas, and it's just a matter of actually making them happen. Lyssa, at the moment, were actually designing a social media communication assessment tool that we hope will really help not just clinicians, but also people with brain injury, to start this process of figuring out their purpose in using social media and what their goals might be. And so we're designing it with people with brain injury and clinicians around the world. So that hopefully, it will be really relevant to everyone to just start those conversations. So we hope to have the first version of this available to share freely, hopefully, by the end of the year—next year, definitely. But I'm really excited to see how that pans out. That's the first next step.   Lyssa Rome    Yeah. I think that that is really exciting. And it it, it reminds me of something else that you've written about, which is how SLPs can almost assess their own social media use or think about it, and step back and think about it in order to better help their clients in their social media goals. And I'm wondering if you could explain a little bit about that for our listeners.   Dr. Liss Brunner    This is some work that I actually really loved doing. I think one of the things that can really support how we're able to assist others in using social media is to be really aware of our own use of social media. And I think in this particular paper that you're referring to, it's like we use the metaphor of a garden. And we kind of encouraged people to think about their own use and purpose of using social media. And we used this very arty based approach to thinking about our professional social media identity. And so we kind of describe this process of visualizing your own social media garden. And so it's a metaphor you can use to think about your purpose and build a strategy around how you're going to achieve that. And I think it can be used to get kind of like this real understanding of what social media really means to you, and identify aspects of your own professional identity that are important and could be enriched through using social media. So I think, you know, if you're interested in not just how you use social media professionally, but also how you can help people clinically, in this paper, we really tried to provide another resource to outline strategies for using different techniques to build up your professional and clinical practice.   Lyssa Rome For me, as a clinician, I think one of the takeaways from this conversation and from reading your articles, which we will link to in the show notes, is this idea that we should be reflecting on our own social media use, and our own assumptions about social media use and its risks and its benefits. What other takeaways should listeners be thinking about—things that they can implement in their own clinical practice?   Dr. Liss Brunner    I couldn't agree more, Lyssa. I think reflecting on your own social media use is really powerful. I think it's a really good place to start. And I think then you can just start by having the conversation with people asking about why they use social media. Which platforms are you interested in? What do you want to get out of using social media? Who do you want to connect with? Just having those conversations, I think will give you very rich data to start making some decisions, having ideas around what goals could be targeted. I think, as you said, we'll put the link to some of my papers. But certainly the facilitators that I've mentioned in the AJSLP paper, can be kind of those five factors that can really guide you in thinking about the different aspects to consider around social media use. So you can kind of use that as a bit of a guide, until we're able to create and trial new resources to support that further.   I think there's probably three key resources that I typically recommend that people check out if they want to support people to use social media. I think the obvious one that I'll point out is the social-ABI-ity program. And we'll pop the link in there. I think the other thing that I'd like to mention is another free online training program called Cyberability. And this has actually been designed by some colleagues here in Australia at Monash University, led by Dr. Kate Gould. But it's been built in collaboration, again, with people with brain injury, but who have also been scammed online. So they've got that lived experience. And they contribute their strategies and tips and what they've learned from going through that experience in this training. So I'll make sure that we get the Cyberability training link for you as well. The other resource that I find really useful here in Australia, is that we've got the Australian eSafety Commissioner website. And it's actually been supported by our government to provide lots of advice and resources on staying safe online. And I think, for kids in particular, I can be really handy. So I don't particularly work with kids. But I find that some of the resources there are really good if you do work with children. And there's actually an eSafety guide. And so it actually lists all of the different social media platforms and talks about how to protect your information and report harmful content on those particular platforms. So I think that's a really handy tool for people to know about as well.   Lyssa Rome Those seem very useful. Thank you for bringing those to us. And again, we'll link to those resources. I am so glad to have had this chance to talk with you and I'm really looking forward to all of the exciting things that you're working on now. Dr. Liss Brunner, thanks so much for being a guest on this podcast.   Dr. Liss Brunner  Thank you so much for having me, Lyssa. It's been wonderful. I could talk about this stuff forever and a day. So I'm really pleased that we've had this opportunity. Thank you.   Lyssa Rome  And thanks also to our listeners. For the references and resources mentioned in today's show, please see our show notes. They're available on our website, www.aphasiaaccess.org. There, you can also become a member of our organization, browse our growing library of materials and find out about the Aphasia Access Academy. If you have an idea for a future podcast episode, email us at info@aphasiaaccess.org. Thanks again for your ongoing support of Aphasia Access. For Aphasia Access Conversations, I'm Lyssa Rome.   Additional Resources Contact Liss: melissa.brunner@sydney.edu.au eSafety Commissioner: www.esafety.gov.au/ eSafety Guide to Staying Safe Online: www.esafety.gov.au/kids/I-want-hel…ing-safe-online Cyberability - free training on how to stay scam safe after brain injury: www.cyberability.org.au/ social-ABI-lity - free training on how to use social media after brain injury: abi-communication-lab.sydney.edu.au/courses…I-lity/ Brunner, M., Hemsley, B., Togher, L., Dann, S., & Palmer, S. (2021). Social media and people with traumatic brain injury: a metasynthesis of research informing a framework for rehabilitation clinical practice, policy, and training. American journal of speech-language pathology, 30(1), 19-33. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_AJSLP-20-00211 *Email Liss for a copy* Brunner M, Rietdijk R, Summers K, Southwell K, Avramovic P, Power E, Rushworth N, Togher L (2024) ‘It gives you encouragement because you're not alone': A pilot study of a multi-component social media skills intervention for people with acquired brain injury. (Invited paper for a Special Issue on SLT/P clinical management of traumatic brain injury across the lifespan), 59, 543–558. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12806 Brunner M, Rietdijk R, Avramovic P, Power E, Miao M, Rushworth N, MacLean L, Brookes AM, Togher L (2023). Developing social-ABI-lity: an online course to support safe use of social media for connection after acquired brain injury. AJSLP (Invited paper for a Special Issue of Select Papers from the International Cognitive-Communication Disorders Conference), 32(2S), 924-940. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_AJSLP-22-00099 Brunner M, Rietdijk R, Togher L (2022). Training resources targeting social media skills: A scoping review to inform rehabilitation for people who have an acquired brain injury. JMIR, 24(4), e35595. https://www.jmir.org/2022/4/e35595/ Brunner M, Bryant L, Turnbull H, Hemsley B (2022). Developing and sustaining a social media ecosystem in speech-language pathology: Using innovative qualitative methods to visualise and cultivate a social media garden. IJSLP (Special Issue on New perspectives, insights, and practices: Qualitative research innovations in Speech-Language Pathology), 24 (5), 558-569. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2022.2069860 *Email Liss for a copy* Ylvisaker, M., & Feeney, T. (2000). Reflections on Dobermanns, poodles, and social rehabilitation for difficult-to-serve individuals with traumatic brain injury. Aphasiology, 14(4), 407–431. https://doi.org/10.1080/026870300401432   University of Sydney profile Acquired Brain Injury Communication Lab website Twitter/X @LissBEE_CPSP Mastodon @LissBEE LinkedIn Instagram Facebook

Facilitators: Pete & Sandhya: Topics: Reading attachment in Word; using Hoopla reading app; Bose earbud exposed to fluid; Sharing link to video; change Face ID to remove attention aware; dictating caps lock command; sizing Apple Watch bands; BARD explained; Caring Bridge website accessibility; remove email message in junk move to inbox; dismissing notifications; Siri to read unread messages iBUG Bytes - sounds and haptics settings; Braille settings on iPhone; restoring shutter sound when taking a picture; activating Face ID when unlocking iPhone and swiping up from bottom; iToys segment - After Shokz Open Fit; accidentally answering the iPhone; magic tap to answer the iPhone; suspected scam alert; Piccy Bot AI app.

“People need tools to help them put together a plan to care for their loved one. They also need to get really good at asking for help.” –Sammie StephensWe're not prepared to become the family caregiver for our parents. Yet so many of us are thrust into that role. How can we be more prepared? How do we handle this challenge?Sammie Stephens, an adult-geriatric nurse practitioner, who works with caretakers and has experienced that role herself, says it starts with conversations we aren't good at having. Often these happen as a result of an event, like someone breaking a hip.Caretakers need to set boundaries around their time and what they can do, especially because they are often juggle so many other things, including children, businesses and more. But often, what they need first, is a plan. Sammie helps us navigate both in this conversation.We talk about: what you need to have in place legally to be able to get medical information to advocate for your loved oneusing tools like CaringBridge to communicate what is going on and how people can helptaking care of your own health/body and using available resources so that the burden is not all on youplanning and budgeting for the cost of careadvance care planning and understanding what your loved one wantssetting boundaries, assessing needs, and building in self-careABOUT SAMMIESammie Stephens is an Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of experience inboth the clinical and administrative side of healthcare. She has a Master of Science in Nursing from Walden University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from New Mexico State University. She is also a graduate of the Real Balance Global Wellness Coach training program.In 2015, Sammie established a health coaching program for a Level II Trauma hospital inWyoming. The program aimed to improve health and decrease burnout risk for employees. Thefollowing year, she played a key role in developing an integrative health clinic at the samehospital. The clinic focused on helping community members reduce the risk of heart disease,diabetes, and stroke.More recently, she served as a Nurse Practitioner for seniors, providing compassionate care topatients in various locations including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, andprivate residences. In 2022, Sammie started Vivac Health to help family caregivers understandand navigate the healthcare system so their loved ones can get the care they need.LINKShttps://vivachealth.com/about/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammiestephens/Navigating Your Life and Caring for Aging Parents with Courtney NaltyUnsharing with Kamini WoodsDOABLE CHANGESAt the end of every episode, we share three doable changes, so you can take what you've heard and put it into action. Sometimes we don't act because we're emotionally stuck or because the change seems so huge. Change comes from action. Even a little shift can make a difference, especially when you keep making those micro shifts. Choose one of these doable changes that piques your interest or resonates with where you are — and roll with it. Here are three Doable Changes from this conversation:DEFINE BOUNDARIES. Think about where you are in your life right now. What other responsibilities do you have? How is your own health?...

Being a caregiver is a hard job — especially if it's not your only job. Those who have had to take care of family members or loved ones often take on an increased burden, and many caregivers have their physical or emotional health impacted as a result. That's where CaringBridge comes in as a way to ease that burden and provide a community of support and to connect patients and families during health journeys.Tia Newcomer became the CEO of CaringBridge in 2021. She is the guest on this week's episode of the Medical Alley Podcast, where she shares more about the caregiver burden, discusses how CaringBridge has evolved throughout its history, and talks about what she sees for the future of the platform.Send us a message!Follow Medical Alley on social media on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Ladies of LoveTalk -- Kerri Brinkoeter, Cathy Endebrock, and Marlene McMichael -- challenge listeners by asking, "Are you able to tell others of God's infinite goodness in the midst of life's greatest storms?" Special guest and three-time cancer survivor, Karin McCannon, proves that you can. Karin has a wonderfully unique perspective on her cancer battle. She shares how the God's joy and love is, indeed, your strength, even in your darkest hour.

The Ladies of LoveTalk -- Kerri Brinkoeter, Cathy Endebrock, and Marlene McMichael -- challenge listeners by asking, "Are you able to tell others of God's infinite goodness in the midst of life's greatest storms?" Special guest and three-time cancer survivor, Karin McCannon, proves that you can. Karin has a wonderfully unique perspective on her cancer battle. She shares how the God's joy and love is, indeed, your strength, even in your darkest hour.

This is a rewind episode from last year, my friend Milissa Kitzberger shared about her experience with breast cancer- I chose this episode as Milissa has been sharing online updates on her health and specific ways people can be praying for her- Please get updated and connect with her on her CaringBridge site- https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/milissakitzberger7

Hannah was a very private person, and always shunned the spotlight.  At first, she didn't even want anyone to know that she had cancer, but understood that people needed to know so they could pray for her.  She didn't want a CaringBridge site while she was battling cancer, but didn't mind me sending the emails which chronicled her journey.  So it's interesting to me that her story has been shared to thousands of people through the While We're Waiting ministry.  And I don't think she would mind a bit.Thank you for joining me for another bonus episode of the While We're Waiting podcast in this year-long series in which I share our family's experiences as our teenage daughter Hannah battled glioblastoma brain cancer from February 2008 through February 2009.  My desire is to process through the events of those twelve months with the perspective that 16 years has brought … and point people to hope in Jesus along the way.All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry. We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

I had such a great discussion with Jordan Arogeti for this episode. Jordan and her company have a new tool called Support Now. It's a bit like a mashup of some tools you may be familiar with, such as CaringBridge, Go Fund Me, and online meal trains. But it's SO much more than that. In preparing to speak with Jordan, I had an “Ah-Ha!” moment: Support for the newest grievers is all about ORGANIZING and ORIENTING a widowed parent's own community. ORGANIZING: Support Now is a comprehensive tool that facilitates exactly this. Listen to my discussion with Jordan for a good overview. ORIENTING: I have LOTS of thoughts. Some of them you can find now at GriefAllies.com, where you can download my free tips & resources for supporting grieving people. (And stay tuned for more on this!) In the short term, a widowed parent's own community is going to be best positioned to help them with urgent and immediate needs. I'm working on ways to make that easier and less awkward. And then, of course, to introduce resources, books, experts, and more who can help after those immediate-term needs have been tended to. -=-=-=-=- Thank you sponsors & partners: Help Texts - Grief support text messaging service. Tips and support delivered all year long, personalized based on your loss. Listeners get $10 off: https://helptexts.com/jennylisk BetterHelp - Talk with a licensed, professional therapist online. Get 10% off your first month: betterhelp.com/widowedparent Support the show - Buy Me a Coffee -=-=-=-=-

In this episode, Katie Hubbard talks about reconstructive surgery with her followers on Caring Bridge. It may be the only time you hear her publicly threaten to beat you with a baseball bat. And she reflects on a common theme in her journals: having a lot of stuff doesn't make you grateful.

On December 7th, 2023, Jason had a heart attack, the type well-known as the “widow-maker.” Miraculously, Jason survived. Then he survived a heart transplant. January 19th, 2024, he went home. Jason beat the odds. In this episode of MakingChips, we'll share Jason's miraculous story. We'll also share some of the lessons we've learned throughout the last couple of months. Be ready to be awe-struck.  – Nick Segments [0:18] IMTS 2024 [2:01] Miracle #1: Making it to the hospital [8:35] Miracle #2: Getting a heart transplant [12:01] Miracle #3: Being near the right hospital  [14:41] Miracle #4: Hearing Jason on the phone [21:22] Netsuite by Oracle KPI Checklist [24:16] Takeaway #1: Focus on your health [26:59] Takeaway #2: Create an estate plan [29:23] Takeaway #3: Build a team you can trust [32:19] Takeaway #4: Don't take anything for granted  Resources mentioned on this episode Jason's CaringBridge page Netsuite by Oracle KPI Checklist IMTS 2024 Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

We welcome back one of our previous guests, David Moriah! Embark on a profound journey into David's relationship with religion and faith, specifically uncovering how his unwavering faith became a guiding light through his cancer experience. The radiant blend of optimism and vulnerability in this episode offers invaluable lessons for us all. Don't miss out—tune in and be inspired by David's compelling story. See our previous episode with David here. Key Highlights: Explore David's profound relationship with faith and how even in the face of cancer, he is certain that The Creator is looking out for him through “God Winks” Advice on paying attention to intuitive feelings, especially when something feels off, and the importance of getting a diagnosis sooner rather than later David's unique approach to faith and what he'd like to be remembered for are discussed, providing insight into the values that keep him upright in his journey About our guest: David Moriah has lived 72 abundantly blessed years and is fiercely determined to extend the streak in the face of a “stage 4, incurable” diagnosis. He is a husband of 48 years, a father of two and a grandfather of two and a half. That's more important than what he's done for a living. As for that, he spent his 20s as a wilderness instructor for Outward Bound and is the founding director of Cornell University's outdoor education program. He hosts a blog at CaringBridge, “Adventures in ChemoLand”, and he is a passionate advocate for staying fit while undergoing treatment, and looking out for “God Winks”, those moments of joy and reassurance that we are not alone in this sometimes scary and foreboding journey.  Key Moments: 18 minutes: On finding peace in the future. “But whatever it is, whatever that afterlife is, I have a peace and assurance that I'm gonna be okay, that The Creator's gonna take care of me. I don't know what it's gonna look like, but I am so at peace about this. And there's a line in the Christian Bible that talks about the peace that passes all understanding.” 30 minutes: On listening to your gut. “I want to urge everyone to take the extra step, make sure you're checking out your symptoms. Don't poo it… No, no, treat yourself right.”  48 minutes: On finding purpose. “My main purpose right now that I'm feeling is telling my story, for those who want to hear it. To tell my story and hopefully help people in their journeys. And then the other is just to take advantage of every moment, every day. Every opportunity to be with my kids and grandkids and just to go out and enjoy that beautiful sunset that The Creator gave me.” Visit the Manta Cares website  Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/manta-cares/support

Funeral services for former first lady Rosalynn Carter will be next week in Plains, Georgia, the town where she and her husband of 77 years, former President Jimmy Carter, were both born. Mrs. Carter died Sunday at 96-years-old after entering hospice care a few days earlier. The first lady had been living with dementia. Many remember her for her fierce advocacy for mental health. But she was also an advocate for caregivers. As a teenager she herself took on a caregiving role as the eldest of four siblings after her father died. Shortly after leaving office, she established the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving. Paurvi Bhatt serves on the board of the institute. Paurvi is also on the board of the Twin Cities based organization Caringbridge. She joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about Mrs. Carter's legacy.

#24 From a life-altering heart attack to a misplaced bypass graft, embark on a rollercoaster ride of resilience and self-discovery with Sherri Hansen. Sherri walks us through her heart attack diagnosis and subsequent open-heart surgeries. This story is important and is a reason why we all need to be our own best advocates.If you are looking for something specific - here's where you'll find it:[04:14] Experienced chest pain but didn't seek help.[07:48] Had issues with pain medication, received Ketamine treatment in ICU, lacked proper rehabilitation after discharge.[11:59] Surgery mishap, vein instead of artery. Redoing bypass.[13:25] Sherri received good advice, adjusted her perspective, and advocated for herself.[15:51] Bright Spots - Nurse helped with wound care; puppy visit boosted spirits.[17:15] Bridge misdiagnosis, life-threatening blockages, and complications.[27:45] The importance of having a Caring Bridge & a Strong Network[32:40] The Effects of Societal Pressure, especially as a woman[33:55] Be your own advocate, ask for help.A Little More About Today's GuestSherri Hansen is originally from Detroit, Michigan, and moved to Madison, WI in 1996 to work at the University of Wisconsin. She is a psychiatrist and has been in private practice for the past 23 years. She is also a musician and when not working or attending doctor appointments, sings in several community choirs, plays piano, and writes church music. She loves hiking and biking, knitting, reading, and gardening. How to connect with SherriWebsite: www.womenheart.org**I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Be sure to check in with your care team about all the next right steps for you and your heart.**How to connect with BootsEmail: Boots@theheartchamberpodcast.comInstagram: @openheartsurgerywithboots or @boots.knightonLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/boots-knightonBoots KnightonIf you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well. You can share directly from this platform or send them to:Open Heart Surgery with Boots

Many listeners know that on February 27, 2022, Barry’s son-in-law, Tommy Mangan, was shot through the throat in the line of duty as a police officer in Indianapolis. (To learn and hear more about this story, see Abiding in the Almighty’s Shadow, Continuing to Abide in the Almighty’s Shadow, Shattered, and Tommy’s CaringBridge site.) On …

All Home Care Matters was honored to welcome Tia Newcomer the CEO of CaringBridge as guest to the show. Tia is an experienced board member and health technology leader known for building cultures that create enterprise value through customer experience excellence and purpose driven brands supported by scalable technology platforms. She joined CaringBridge as the CEO in 2021, ensuring all operations contribute toward the CaringBridge vision – a world where no one goes through a health journey alone. Prior to joining CaringBridge, Tia was the Chief Commercial Officer at Generate Life sciences and has spent the last 20 years in executive roles with a foundation in blue chip technology and consumer packaged goods companies. She has led commercial value creation, creating successful go to market strategies in Global Fortune 100, Private Equity and VC backed companies primarily in the Health Tech industry.  In addition to serving on the CaringBridge board of directors, Tia is an independent board member for Inherent BioSciences, a biotechnology company pioneering epigenetic medicine for complex diseases. She also serves on the Advisory Committee for the American Cancer Society National Breast Cancer Roundtable. And is a member of the Dean's Advisory Board for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications.    About CaringBridge: CaringBridge is a nonprofit, free communication platform for family caregivers and the loved ones they support on a health journey. We make it easy to share updates while organizing and activating a support network. Facing a health challenge is overwhelming, isolating, and lonely. It's not easy to share updates, ask for help, or coordinate care. During these vulnerable times, people need a trusted place to feel comfortable and protected while receiving support from family and friends. CaringBridge believes that healing happens when we're surrounded by loved ones. Since 1997, we've supported people to simplify group communication and share sensitive health information – on a personal CaringBridge page that's free from ads, private, and easy to use.

Natalie Bushaw is truly one-of-a-kind. She is full of life, love, compassion, and energy. Her philosophy: as long as I can put lipstick on and take a shower, I can accomplish anything. In her personal life, Natalie is married to her high school sweetheart of 34 years, and Mom to 20-year-old twin boys Owen and Logan.  In her professional life, Natalie is the Vice President of Public Relations and Corporate Communications for Life Time. Over the past 11 years there, she has been able to help people live healthier, happier lives by using communications to inform, inspire and engage team members and members. Natalie also serves as the Chair of Life Time's affinity group WELL (Women Empowering Leadership at Life Time).  In this episode, Natalie shares the story of her monochorionic monoamniotic twin journey, and the more than a year of life combined in a hospital her son, Logan has faced, along with more than 100 procedures including two heart transplants and illnesses. As a result of her family's experiences, Natalie became an ambassador for helping families whose kids have complex, congenital health issues and improving patient and family-centered care. Today, she's working with other parents, hospital leaders and change makers as chairperson of the Parent Family Advisory Council at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital. She also serves as a 10-year committee member and chair of the annual FashionFest fundraising event to benefit the hospital. She volunteers for CaringBridge and the American Heart Association. Together with her family, they're building Logan Loves, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit dedicated to bringing joy and healing to kids and families in the hospital. This episode is filled with so much love and inspiration. We discuss the importance of life, time, and fitness: the three things, Bahram Akradi, founder of Life Time, considers the pillars of life. Our Non Profit Spotlight: Logan Loves __ Katie Harms @ katie@katieharms.com, www.katieharms.com or Lisa Rubin @ lisa@wardrobeconsulting.net, www.wardrobeconsulting.net . Follow Us On: Instagram LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Please take a moment to rate our podcast wherever you are reading or listening to this! Thank you! We are thankful to our sponsors Continental Diamond and Scherer Bros Closets 

Getting a cancer diagnosis for the first time can be scary and overwhelming, and you may feel like you don't know where to start. And for those who are close to the end of active treatment, or done with active treatment, that's a scary time too when you're not seeing your cancer care team every week! This month's interview aims to help listeners know where to go, who to talk to, what to ask, and what resources to keep in your toolbox. Cancer Services has dozens of resources for patients to provide support and assistance throughout this journey, and there's even more organizations and programs out within the community that we'll discuss. We are lucky to have three experts on this topic this month, Melissa Lyle-Nipper, Felicia Dobson and Lindy Milligan. Melissa is our Patient Advocate Director here at Cancer Services and has a master's in social work, Felicia is one of our fantastic Patient Advocators, and Lindy is our survivorship coordinator and a breast cancer survivor.   Resources discussed: Cancer Services Patient Advocates - 336-760-9983; www.cancerservicesonline.org Survivor Programs: www.cancerservicesonline.org/register Fund Finder https://fundfinder.panfoundation.org/ Cancer Care www.cancercare.org Caring Bridge: https://www.caringbridge.org/ Livestrong at the YMCA: https://ymcanwnc.org/health-and-fitness/community-health-programs/livestrong-at-the-ymca

The latest episode of "The Patient from Hell" features a conversation with David Moriah, a “Stage IV” cancer patient and outdoor enthusiast, who talks about living a life of adventure. David shares about his early days as an Outward Bound instructor, his contributions to the Cornell University Outdoor Education Program and the life lessons he has learned from “sleeping in the mud and swatting mosquitoes.” He talks about how mindset and faith have helped him through his cancer experience, which he refers to as “fighting the blue meanies.” Key Highlights: How outdoor adventures have shaped David's view on leadership and life. Recognizing the value of all roles in a group and how the sum of the parts contributes to the success of the whole. The power that comes from an insecure future in fueling an adventurous spirit.  About our guest: David Moriah has lived 72 abundantly blessed years and is fiercely determined to extend the streak in the face of a “stage 4, incurable” diagnosis. He is a husband of 48 years, a father of two and a grandfather of two and a half. That's more important than what he's done for a living. As for that, he spent his 20s as a wilderness instructor for Outward Bound and is the founding director of Cornell University's outdoor education program. He hosts a blog at CaringBridge, “Adventures in ChemoLand”, and he is a passionate advocate for staying fit while undergoing treatment, and looking out for “God Winks”, those moments of joy and reassurance that we are not alone in this sometimes scary and foreboding journey.  Key Moments: 5 minutes: On the leadership lesson he learned on his outdoor adventure. “I knew that what I needed to do was hop from rock to rock to get across the river. And so I proceeded to dance across the rocks, attempting to impress my charges with how athletic I was. And immediately, my team started falling off the rocks into the stream, left and right. I was standing on the other shore watching this and it's a leadership lesson that I never forgot. My job is not to look good and impress people. What I need to do is equip and empower my people to be able to do it themselves.” 29 minutes: On the idea of competition vs. team work. “There is an element in advanced mountaineering when you're in the Himalayas and you're climbing Everest or K2 where not everybody summits. Not everybody summits, but you want everybody to succeed. The success of the expedition goes across the entire team. But if you think of it as everyone succeeds rather than everyone summits, the idea is not that we come back and somebody won and everybody else lost, but that everybody achieved to the best of their ability." 43 minutes: Quote from Into the Wild and how it resonated with David. “ I'll key in on one section that I highlighted, which is ‘in reality, nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a person than a secure future.' Whoa, and I realized, I have an insecure future. And my diagnosis is very serious. It's a stage four. I will say that. So my future is insecure. For me, when I realized I was in this insecure future, and it didn't take long for me to come to the conclusion that this is a new adventure. This is something that I can learn from, I can grow from, I can get closer to my creator.” Visit the Manta Cares website  Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/manta-cares/support

After a courageous, tireless battle, Sharon "Snoopy" Fong left us on July 1, 2023. This Two Kens episode is the twenty-seventh time Ken Fong and Ken Kemp have come together for a podcast conversation - this time, it's a somber, solemn occasion.  It's a moment of reflection - filled with both grief and gratitude. Today's title comes from C.S. Lewis, the British literary critic, and scholar who was also known as an Anglican theologian. His writings have influenced many generations of faith seekers, including ours. Professor Lewis was known as a committed bachelor, but he married later in life. When Joy Grisham began corresponding with the stuffy Oxford don, he was smitten - "surprised by joy (Joy)" as he put it. As their romance blossomed, Joy Grisham was unexpectedly diagnosed with a cancer that took her life, all too soon. Lewis' shared his written reflections. His honesty and candor stunned many of his Christian readers because he openly expressed tidal waves of doubt, even anger that his "good" God could possibly have allowed this tragic, premature end to his beautiful awakening to married love. He wrote "A Grief Observed," which it was. Ken Fong lines up with C.S. Lewis in his willingness to share the journey openly - a journey filled with laughter and tears. The two Kens come together for a personal reflection on life and love - and the extraordinary woman who came into Ken Fong's life more than forty years ago: Sharon Snoopy Fong. Have a hanky handy.CaringBridge: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sharonsnoopyfongMemorial Service: Saturday, August 12, 2023, at 10 AM at Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles - 1255 Rosemead Boulevard, Rosemead, CaliforniaSupport the show

Debra Smith, Randy Hardy, Bill Drummond, and Steve Wright recorded an info-taining conversation live on-stage at NWPPA's 83rd Annual Conference and Membership Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Debra hosts the three former Administrators of the Bonneville Power Administration who continue to engage in energy policy. The discussion ranges from greatest regrets to reasons for optimism, and proudest moments. At the end Paul Dockery joins to facilitate an energy inspired game called Energy Enthusiasm Distilled.The episode was edited prior to the news of Debra Smith's surgery. For updates on her recovery you can find updates on Caring Bridge. Her electric utility enthusiast friends wish her a speedy and full recovery!You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Share with friends that are electric utility enthusiasts, like us!Public Power Underground, for electric utility enthusiasts! Public Power Underground, it's work to watch!

This episode takes the two podcasters named Ken into very personal territory. The whole world's attention was captured for several days by the plight of five adventurers who plunged into the depths of the North Atlantic in the Ocean Gate Titan to catch a glimpse of the hundred-year-old ruins of the ocean liner Titanic resting on the ocean floor. With sudden silence, just an hour into the descent, communication came to a mysterious and abrupt end. Untethered, the unknown fate of the passengers and crew of the submersible became "BREAKING NEWS," a drama that rallied an armada of rescue ships and planes and high-tech underwater sonars, cameras, and robots. If the Titan had remained intact, reserve oxygen supplies would have run out about the time that rescuers found hard evidence: under the crushing weight of water pressure at extreme depths, the Titan imploded, leaving no survivors. In another scene in the Mediterranean, just off the coast of Greece, a terribly over-loaded ferry boat capsized, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives - immigrants escaping war and violence and loss coming from as far away as Pakistan with hopes of a better life in Europe. The second event received much less coverage in the global press than the five wealthy passengers of the Titan. The Two Kens ponder the significance of risk and loss, national priorities, life and death. These events unfold in the media in the real and present context of Ken Fong's current personal crisis. Snoopy, his life partner of over forty years is in the battle for her own life against an aggressive cancer. It's a heartfelt conversation between the two Kens. You are invited to join in.Ken Fong's Caring Bridge page tracking Snoopy's JourneySupport the show

Driving with his cousin on a remote winding mountain road in August 2022, Stefan Venne lost control of his 1984 Volkswagon Rabbit and crashed into a tree.  Far from help and outside of cell phone reception, Stefan was trapped and out of it while his cousin left him to seek help.  The nearest town had a population of 81 people.  With great fortune, his cousin found someone - a nurse - who could help.  Eventually he and his cousin were airlifted to a nearby hospital.  Hear Stefan's story (with insights from his older brother Riley) and how he overcame the amputation of his lower left leg and is working towards a new life as an amputee.  Read more about Stefan's story at his CaringBridge page.

Send us a Text Message. Natalie shares a new chapter from my Diary of a Caregiver series. In this series, I open my heart and share my journal entries from CaringBridge.org. I hope that by sharing these stories, we can support each other on this incredible caregiving journey.So, in our last episode, we talked about Jason's story. Today, we're diving into my journal entries from May 1st. These entries are all about the exciting and nerve-wracking preparations for our big move to New York City (around May 25th) for some pre-treatment procedures. Oh, and I've got a funny story for you too – it involves Jason, his big toe, and a garage door opener motor mishap. You won't believe what happened!

Send us a Text Message.This series shares my journey as a caregiver, documented in my CaringBridge journal, which became a safe space for me to update friends and family, express my emotions, and find hope amid challenges.While these entries may have tears, laughter, and vulnerability, I've always tried to remain hopeful and find the silver linings in every situation. By focusing on the positive, I could be the best support for Jason, even though I wasn't perfect, and neither are any of us caregivers. We simply try our best.So, thank you for listening to my story, and I hope you find comfort, inspiration, and connection as we navigate this caregiving journey together. Let's embrace our imperfections and find strength in each other. Support the Show.Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver Sisterhood of Care, LLC Website: www.confessionsofareluctantcaregiver.com Like us on Facebook! Tweet with us on Twitter! Follow us on Instagram! Watch us on Youtube! Pin us on Pinterest! Link us on LinkedIn!Tune in on Whole Care Network

Dr. Joel Hudgins muses on up and downstream changes to Peds ED for emerging adults with mental illness. Higher numbers & acuity, too few beds, services, & staff About the Show Welcome to Health Hats, learning on the journey toward best health. I am Danny van Leeuwen, a two-legged, old, cisgender, white man with privilege, living in a food oasis, who can afford many hats and knows a little about a lot of healthcare and a lot about very little. Most people wear hats one at a time, but I wear them all at once.  I'm the Rosetta Stone of Healthcare. We will listen and learn about what it takes to adjust to life's realities in the awesome circus of healthcare.  Let's make some sense of all this. We respect Listeners, Watchers, and Readers. Show Notes at the end. Watch on YouTube Read The same content as the podcast, but not a verbatim transcript. A newsletter-like version with images. Could be a book chapter. download the printable transcript here Contents Proem.. 1 Update on Mighty Mouth Casey Quinlan. 2 Podcast intro. 2 Health is fragile. 2 Crossing the threshold into the ED. 2 How can we help up front?. 3 Upstream and downstream issues 4 Can we really help? It takes a toll. 4 A word from our sponsor, Abridge. 5 System interventions/solutions. 5 Hopeful, hopeless 6 Real people all around. 6 Profound knowledge. 7 Academic medical center versus critical access hospital 7 Reflection. 8 Next: Episode #8: COAST. 8 Podcast Outro. 9 Proem In this series we've met Emeka and Annie, two emerging adults with mental illness and Emeka's mom, Erika. We learned about their ‘something's wrong' experience, finding treatment, family dynamics, and recovery. We met Matt, a high school teacher leading a student-run welcoming Ambassador program, and Dr. Bonnie, a primary care doc, managing the care of emerging adults with developing and full-blown illness with limited resources. You can see that I'm starting in the center with lived experience and spiraling out. Photo by razvan-mirel-xhYhjMIfsq8-unsplash Welcome to today's episode, #7 in the series, of the lived experience of another professional, Dr Joel Hudgins, pediatric emergency physician at Boston Children's Hospital.  Full disclosure, I worked from 2002 to 2008 at Boston Children's leading their patient family experience initiative and I worked as a nurse/paramedic at two rural hospitals in West Virginia in the late eighties, early nineties. Despite my experience in pediatrics and emergency services, I feel out-of-touch with the dynamics of treating an increasing proportion of youth with mental illness while also faced with exploding infectious disease incidence, COVID, RSV, and flu. Emergency care and pediatrics are near and dear to my heart. Let's see what we can learn with Dr. Joel Hudgins. Update on Mighty Mouth Casey Quinlan Before we begin, I published my last episode on April 1, 2023, the mashup of my chats with Casey Quinlan. Many subscribers reached out to me. Is Casey alive or has she passed? I purposefully left it ambiguous because I didn't know when people would be reading, listening, or watching. Besides, Casey told me several times over the years when I called her about various deaths in my family, why do funerals and memorial services need to come after death? Anyway, as of today, April 12, 2023, Casey lives in a hospice, with several visitors a day, alert for short periods of time, still snarky. Go to CaringBridge.com, for up-to-date information from Jan Oldenburg. From Health Hats, the Podcast https://health-hats.com/pod193/ Podcast intro Welcome to Health Hats, the Podcast. I'm Danny van Leeuwen, a two-legged cisgender old white man of privilege who knows a little bit about a lot of healthcare and a lot about very little. We will listen and learn about what it takes to adjust to life's realities in the awesome circus of healthcare. Let's make some sense of all of this. Health is fragile

Show Notes Check your March Madness bracket - https://www.ncaa.com/march-madness-live/bracketHaus HappeningsFeast Night with Craig! Check out The Cairn - https://www.thecairncanmore.com/Morgan is home!Morgan & Holly's Caring Bridge - https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/morgan-pauletteVT Cru Q&A Check out VT Cru - https://cruvirginiatech.org/The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer -https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Art-Homemaking-Edith-Schaeffer/dp/0842313982/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2KD6ODBI8ZT22&keywords=the+art+of+homemaking&qid=1680178157&s=books&sprefix=the+art+of+homemaking%2Cstripbooks%2C147&sr=1-1Seminary for a Day - https://www.sbcv.org/seminaryforaday/Harbor Network Residency RetreatCheck out the Harbor Network - https://www.harbornetwork.com/Lesslie Newbiggin & ResourcesFoolishness to the Greeks by Lesslie Newbiggin - https://www.amazon.com/Foolishness-Greeks-Gospel-Western-Culture/dp/0802801765/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=foolishness+to+the+greeks+by+lesslie+newbigin&qid=1680177677&s=books&sprefix=foolishness+to+th%2Cstripbooks%2C64&sr=1-1The Church and its Vocation by Michael Goheen - https://www.amazon.com/Church-Its-Vocation-Michael-Goheen/dp/1540960471/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+church+and+its+vocation&qid=1680177701&s=books&sprefix=the+church+and+it%2Cstripbooks%2C70&sr=1-1Wendell Berry - What are People For? - Historical Self-Righteousness - https://www.amazon.com/What-Are-People-Wendell-Berry/dp/1582434875#:~:text=Product%20Description,between%20people%20and%20the%20land.CS Lewis - Chronological Snobbery - https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/chronological-snobbery-and-the-spirit-of-our-age/Tara Isabella Burton - Strange Rites - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=strange+rites&hvadid=397136773865&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9008695&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15638441958069620622&hvtargid=kwd-434192769510&hydadcr=22532_10344436&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_26lxfz410p_eHammer & Quill S1E15 with Matthew Bates - https://www.hammer-quill.com/podcast/matthewbatesHammer & Quill CreditsIntro music - “King Kong” by L.A. SymphonyOutro music - “Sing Among the Branches” by Ronnie Martin

Do you find yourself searching for peace in the middle of the hard seasons of life? If you feel like that is impossible, this episode is for you!  In Episode 2, Bryson sits down with her sister, Beth Booth, who has been battling Stage IV melanoma for almost 7 years.  Beth talks about how she found her cancer which led her on a journey to discover lasting peace in the face of fear and uncertainty. If you're facing a similar hardship, or perhaps are walking this journey with a loved one right now, our hope is to provide encouragement and community through this conversation. **NOTE: See Beth's CaringBridge page for an update on her latest diagnosis given after this recording: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bethbooth

Mavericks Media Member, multiple-time guest of the show, and our close friend Jonathan Tjarks passed away over the weekend after battling cancer for a long time. We take a moment to remember him, share memories, and explain what an impact his life made on ours so that his memory can live on. Here is the Caring Bridge blog that Jonathan's wife Melissa has been giving updates on: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jonathantjarks/journal/view/id/631eaa808d9cce2272b124d5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mavericks Media Member, multiple-time guest of the show, and our close friend Jonathan Tjarks passed away over the weekend after battling cancer for a long time. We take a moment to remember him, share memories, and explain what an impact his life made on ours so that his memory can live on. Here is the Caring Bridge blog that Jonathan's wife Melissa has been giving updates on: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jonathantjarks/journal/view/id/631eaa808d9cce2272b124d5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brent Billings and Josh Bossé resume an reexamination of John 6 as Jesus continues to subvert the expectations of the people as the second Moses.Josh Bossé on CaringBridgeJoin the BEMA Slack

Brent Billings and Josh Bossé examine John 6 for a second time, looking at the test Jesus gives to his disciples as they prepare to feed the 5000.BEMA 281: John — You Are GodsJosh Bossé on CaringBridge

Brent Billings and Josh Bossé discuss spiritual leadership and the conversations with Jesus in the temple courts at the Festival of Dedication.Join the BEMA SlackJosh Bossé on CaringBridgeSupport Josh Bossé