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This episode of WarDocs features Dr. David Tate, a clinical neuropsychologist and lead author of the 2025 Military Medicine Article of the Year. The discussion centers on a groundbreaking study utilizing the LIMBIC-CENC cohort—a massive data set of over 3,000 participants—to investigate persistent brain changes in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Dr. Tate explains that traditional MRI scans often show normal results in patients with invisible symptoms because researchers often oversimplify patient groupings. By digging into more refined clinical characteristics, such as the mechanism of injury and number of exposures, his team identified unique physical signatures in the brain. Specifically, blast exposures were linked to changes in central white matter, while repetitive traumatic hits impacted more peripheral gray matter structures. The conversation highlights the critical importance of neuroimaging techniques like diffusion tensor imaging, which is more sensitive to structural white matter changes than standard hospital sequences. Dr. Tate emphasizes that these findings provide vital validation for service members and veterans, demonstrating that their ongoing symptoms are rooted in physical, biological changes rather than purely psychological or "imagined". For clinicians, the episode serves as a call to action to move beyond simplistic interpretations of "normal" imaging and to prioritize exhaustive injury histories that include the physics of every exposure event. By combining a deep dive into advanced neuroimaging with a focus on personalized medicine, this episode provides a comprehensive look at the future of TBI diagnosis and treatment. Listeners will learn how high-resolution volumetric data and detailed clinical info—including loss of consciousness and post-traumatic amnesia markers—are used to improve prognostic accuracy. Ultimately, Dr. Tate's work demonstrates that injury history matters even years later, pointing researchers and clinicians toward a more precise approach to studying and treating the diverse landscape of mild traumatic brain injuries in the military population. Chapters (00:00-01:30) Introduction to the 2025 Military Medicine Article of the Year (01:30-06:17) Dr. David Tate's Professional Background and Career Evolution (06:17-08:04) Understanding the LIMBIC-CENC Cohort and Consortium Research (08:04-12:44) Methodology: Advanced Neuroimaging and Detailed Clinical Variables (12:44-17:03) Key Findings: Heterogeneity of mTBI and Mechanism-Specific Signatures (17:03-22:15) The Bottom Line: Validating Veteran Experiences and Clinical Takeaways Chapter Summaries (00:00-01:30) Introduction to the 2025 Military Medicine Article of the Year MG(R) Jeff Clark introduces guest Dr. David Tate and recognizes his team for winning the 2025 Military Medicine Article of the Year. The article focuses on persistent MRI findings unique to blast and repetitive mild traumatic brain injury within the LIMBIC-CENC cohort. (01:30-06:17) Dr. David Tate's Professional Background and Career Evolution Dr. Tate shares his journey from growing up on a farm in Mississippi to becoming a leading researcher in academic neuropsychology. He discusses his mentorship under Erin Bigler and his favorite career experiences working directly with service members at Brooke Army Medical Center. (06:17-08:04) Understanding the LIMBIC-CENC Cohort and Consortium Research The discussion explores the advantages of using a large consortium dataset that includes over 3,000 participants across the United States. This prospective study enables leading scientists and clinicians to collaborate on well-characterized, long-term functional outcomes following brain injury. (08:04-12:44) Methodology: Advanced Neuroimaging and Detailed Clinical Variables Dr. Tate explains the use of high-resolution volumetric MRI data and diffusion tensor imaging to map brain structural connections. Researchers combined these images with a plethora of clinical data, including lifetime exposure histories, demographics, and specific injury markers like loss of consciousness. (12:44-17:03) Key Findings: Heterogeneity of mTBI and Mechanism-Specific Signatures The study reveals that mild TBI is extremely heterogeneous and simplistic group comparisons often obscure meaningful findings. Findings showed that blast exposures leave signatures in central white matter, while repetitive traumatic injuries more specifically affect gray matter structures. (17:03-22:15) The Bottom Line: Validating Veteran Experiences and Clinical Takeaways The bottom line is that persistent brain changes can be detected if clinicians look at the right variables and mechanism of injury. This research validates the lived experiences of veterans, proving their symptoms are not imagined and emphasizing the need for detailed injury histories. Article Reference Persistent MRI Findings Unique to Blast and Repetitive Mild TBI: Analysis of the CENC/LIMBIC Cohort Injury Characteristics Open Access David F Tate, PhD , Benjamin S C Wade, PhD , Carmen S Velez, MS , Erin D Bigler, PhD , Nicholas D Davenport, PhD , Emily L Dennis, PhD , Carrie Esopenko, PhD , Sidney R Hinds, MD , Jacob Kean, PhD , Eamonn Kennedy, PhD Military Medicine, Volume 189, Issue 9-10, September/October 2024, Pages e1938–e1946, https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usae031 Take Home Messages Heterogeneity of Mild TBI: Mild traumatic brain injury is not a single, uniform condition, and simplistic groupings can obscure meaningful characteristics of an injury. Clinicians must recognize that "if you've seen one mild TBI, you've seen one mild TBI," requiring a more personalized approach to diagnosis. Mechanism-Specific Signatures: The physical signature left on the brain depends heavily on the mechanism of injury, with blast exposures typically affecting central white matter and repetitive traumatic hits impacting peripheral gray matter. Understanding these distinctions helps explain why different patients experience different functional outcomes even with the same diagnosis. Sensitivity of Advanced Neuroimaging: Standard MRI sequences often fail to detect injuries in mTBI patients, but advanced techniques like diffusion tensor imaging are highly sensitive to structural white matter changes. Relying solely on basic imaging can lead to an over-simplistic interpretation that overlooks persistent brain changes. Validation of Lived Experiences: Research into persistent brain changes provides vital biological validation for veterans and service members who struggle with ongoing symptoms. These findings support the idea that invisible wounds have a physical basis and are not simply psychological or imagined. Importance of Detailed Injury Histories: For clinicians, the most critical takeaway is the necessity of capturing a detailed lifetime injury history, including the number of exposures and specific physics of each event. This detailed clinical information is essential for improving prognostic accuracy and understanding a patient's long-term health trajectory. Episode Keywords Military Medicine, WarDocs Podcast, Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI Diagnosis, Blast Exposure, Neuropsychology, Persistent MRI Findings, Veteran Healthcare, Brain Imaging, Mild TBI, LIMBIC-CENC Cohort, Neuroimaging Research, AMSUS, Combat Injury, White Matter Change, Brain Health, Dr. David Tate, Military Health System, Invisible Injuries, Medical Podcast, Concussion Recovery, Gray Matter, MRI Scans, AMSUS Article of the Year, Veteran Support, Brain Mapping Hashtags #MilitaryMedicine, #WarDocs, #BrainHealth, #Veterans, #Neuroscience, #MildTBI, #BlastInjury, #MedicalResearch Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. We foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation. Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guest episodes at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/our-guests Subscribe and Like our Videos on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible and go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in Military Medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Docs" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield,demonstrating dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms. Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast
Discover the raw truth about traumatic brain injury (TBI) and PTSD in law enforcement from retired officer Jeff Casselman, who served 27 years in the military and at Lorain Ohio PD. After multiple concussions from cruiser accidents, bar fights, and on-duty violence, Jeff faced memory loss, rage blackouts, seizures, and three failed marriages before a diagnosis changed everything. He shares powerful stories: brutal fights, bizarre calls (like a grim reaper walking a goat), heartwarming redemption with a former addict he helped save, and the "Wild West" days of policing. Jeff founded the Sentinel Neuro Awareness Institute and authored Survival Guide to educate officers, departments, and families on recognizing cumulative brain damage early—before it destroys careers, relationships, or lives. Topics include: firearm concussion risks, hyperactive startle response, adult-onset ADD from head trauma, medications like lamotrigine (Lamictal) for impulse control, and why early awareness matters for cops, veterans, and contact-sport athletes. If you're in law enforcement, a first responder, veteran, or love someone who is—this eye-opening interview reveals the hidden neurological toll of the job and how to fight back. Jeff's Book https://a.co/d/09rr36Ge Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/1FRkgeRM8F/?mibextid=wwXIfr Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055 Sergeant Steve YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@TheSergeantSteve
This week, host Retired Command Sergeant Major Doug Wortham spotlights the incredible work of the Poly Trauma Center of Excellence at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. For veterans and service members facing complex, life-changing injuries—often involving traumatic brain injury (TBI) combined with other physical and emotional trauma—this center provides a full continuum of specialized […] The post Spotlighting the Poly Trauma Center of Excellence: Lifeline for Minnesota Veterans appeared first on Minnesota Military Radio.
On today's episode of the America's Work Force Union Podcast, we examine the shifting landscapes of our physical cities and our digital security. We are joined by two leaders at the forefront of veteran and retiree advocacy to discuss the "reset" of the American downtown and the escalating fight to protect Social Security data. Segment 1: The New American Landscape & Veteran Health Jeff Stoffer, Director of Media and Communications for the American Legion, previews the latest issue of the American Legion Magazine. The Downtown Reset: How the collapse of office building valuations is forcing cities into a mixed-use transformation. Housing & Homelessness: The urgent intersection of downtown revitalization and affordable housing for veterans. Cannabis Research: An update on the Legion's push for federal medical cannabis research to treat PTSD, TBI, and chronic pain. The Thomas Paine Influence: Why the Revolutionary-era "media influencer" still matters to modern communicators and labor. Segment 2: Protecting the Retiree Safety Net Rich Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, sounds the alarm on immediate threats to the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA Data Breach: Inside the federal court fight over unsecured servers and the potential exposure of millions of records. The 2032 Deadline: New projections show the Social Security Trust Fund is moving toward a shortfall faster than expected—what it means for your benefits. Actionable Advice: Steps beneficiaries can take right now to monitor their accounts and safeguard their financial identity. Mobilizing for 2026: A preview of the Alliance's National Membership Meeting in Las Vegas this April.
Send a textJoin us for the 2nd interview in a powerful nine-part interview series featuring former EOD Technicians who have stepped forward to share their stories. Each conversation highlights their personal struggles, the adversity they've faced, and the resilience that carried them through—offered in the hope of inspiring fellow Techs to prioritize their mental health. In this conversation, Jerron Clark shares his experiences as a Navy EOD technician, highlighting the importance of teamwork, personal growth, and mental health awareness. He discusses his deployments, the challenges of leadership, and the significance of seeking help for mental health struggles. Jerron emphasizes the need for open communication and support within the military community, particularly regarding mental health issues such as PTSD and TBI.Support the showClick here to support Behind the Warrior Podcast today! https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E110509&id=354
Send a textJoin us for the 6th interview in a powerful nine-part interview series featuring former EOD Technicians who have stepped forward to share their stories. Each conversation highlights their personal struggles, the adversity they've faced, and the resilience that carried them through—offered in the hope of inspiring fellow Techs to prioritize their mental health.In this conversation, Jeffrey Dawson shares his experiences as an Army veteran, discussing his military service, mental health struggles, and the therapies that have helped him cope. He emphasizes the importance of community support, the impact of suicide on both military and civilian friends, and his journey with PTSD and TBI. Dawson encourages others to be vulnerable and seek help, redefining success beyond the rigid standards often associated with military life.Support the showClick here to support Behind the Warrior Podcast today! https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E110509&id=354
Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman join our podcast to discuss how psychedelic policy is actually moving in Washington, DC. Lavasani leads Psychedelic Medicine Coalition, a DC-based advocacy organization focused on educating federal officials and advancing legislation around psychedelic medicine. Kopelman is CEO of Mission Within Foundation, which provides scholarships for veterans and first responders seeking psychedelic-assisted therapy retreats, often outside the United States. The conversation centers on veterans, the VA, and why that system may be the first realistic federal pathway for psychedelic care. Early Themes Lavasani describes PMC's work on Capitol Hill, including hosting events that bring lawmakers, staffers, and advocates into the same room. Her focus is steady engagement. In DC, progress often happens through repeated conversations, not headlines. Kopelman shares his background as a Marine and how his own psychedelic-assisted therapy experience led him to Mission Within. The foundation has funded more than 250 scholarships for veterans and first responders seeking treatment for PTSD, mild traumatic brain injury, depression, and addiction. They connect this work to pending veteran-focused legislation and explain why the VA matters. As a closed health system, the VA can pilot programs, gather data, and refine protocols without the pressures of private healthcare markets. Core Insights A recent Capitol Hill gathering, For Veteran Society, brought together members of Congress and leaders from the psychedelic caucus. Lavasani describes candid feedback from lawmakers. The message was clear: coordinate messaging, avoid fragmentation, and move while bipartisan interest remains. Veteran healthcare is not framed as the final goal. It is a starting point. If psychedelic therapies can demonstrate safety and effectiveness within the VA, broader adoption becomes more plausible. Kopelman raises operational realities that must be addressed: Standardized safety protocols across providers Integration support, not medication alone Clear training pathways for clinicians Real-world data beyond tightly screened clinical trials They also address recent negative headlines involving ibogaine treatment abroad. Kopelman emphasizes the need for shared learning across providers, especially when adverse events occur. Lavasani argues that inconsistency within the ecosystem can slow federal confidence. Later Discussion and Takeaways The discussion widens to federal momentum around addiction and mental health. Lavasani notes that new funding initiatives signal growing openness to innovative treatment models, even if psychedelics are not named explicitly in every announcement. Both guests stress that policy moves slowly by design. Meetings, follow-ups, and relationship building often matter more than public statements. For clinicians, researchers, operators, and advocates, the takeaways are direct: Veterans are likely the first federal pathway Public education remains essential Safety standards must be shared and transparent Integration and workforce development need attention now If psychedelic medicine enters federal systems, infrastructure will determine success. Frequently Asked Questions What do Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman say about VA psychedelic policy? They argue that veteran-focused legislation offers a realistic first federal pathway for psychedelic-assisted care. Is ibogaine currently available through the VA? No. They discuss ibogaine in the context of private retreats and future possibilities, not an existing VA program. Why do Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman emphasize coordination? Lawmakers respond more positively when advocates present aligned messaging and clear priorities. What safety issues are discussed by Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman? They highlight the need for standardized screening, monitoring, integration support, and transparent review of adverse events. Closing Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman provide a grounded look at how psychedelic policy develops inside federal systems. Their message is practical: veterans may be the first lane, but long-term success depends on coordination, safety standards, and sustained engagement. Closing This episode captures a real-time view of how federal policy could shape the next phase of the psychedelic resurgence, especially through veteran-facing legislation and VA infrastructure. Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman argue that coordination, public education, and shared safety standards will shape whether access expands with credibility and care. Transcript Joe Moore: [00:00:00] Hello everybody. Welcome back to Psychedelics Today. Today we have two guests, um, got Melissa Sani from Psychedelic Medicine Coalition. We got Jake Pelman from Mission Within Foundation. We're gonna talk about I bga I became policy on a recent, uh, set of meetings in Washington, DC and, uh, all sorts of other things I'm sure. Joe Moore: But thank you both for joining me. Melissa Lavasani: Thanks for having us. Jay Kopelman: Yeah, it's a pleasure. Thanks. Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, Melissa, I wanna have you, uh, jump in. First. Can you tell us a little bit about, uh, your work and what you do at PMC? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, so Psychedelic Medicine Coalition is, um, the only DC based Washington DC based advocacy organization dedicated to the advancing the issue of psychedelics, um, and making sure the federal government has the education they need, um, and understands the issue inside out so that they can generate good policy around, around psychedelic medicines. Melissa Lavasani: [00:01:00] Uh, we. Host Hill events. We host other convenings. Our big event every year is the Federal Summit on psychedelic medicine. Um, that's going to be May 14th this year. Um, where we talk about kinda the pressing issues that need to be talked about, uh, with government officials in the room, um, so that we can incrementally move this forward. Melissa Lavasani: Um, our presence here in Washington DC is, is really critical for this issue's success because, um, when we're talking about psychedelic medicines, um, from the federal government pers perspective, you know, they are, they are the ones that are going to initiate the policies that create a healthcare system that can properly facilitate these medicines and make sure, um, patient safety is a priority. Melissa Lavasani: And there's guardrails on this. And, um, you know, there, it's, it's really important that we have. A home base for this issue in Washington DC just [00:02:00] because, uh, this is very complicated as a lot of your viewers probably understand, and, you know, this can get lost in the mix of all the other issues that, um, lawmakers in DC are focused on right now. Melissa Lavasani: And we need to keep that consistent presence here so that this continues to be a priority for members of Congress. Joe Moore: Mm. I love this. And Jay, can you tell us a bit about yourself and mission within Foundation? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, sure. Joe, thanks. Uh, I, I am the CEO of Mission within Foundation. Prior to this, most of my adult life was spent in the military as a Marine. Jay Kopelman: And I came to this. Role after having, uh, a psychedelic assisted therapy experience myself at the mission within down in Mexico, which is where pretty much we all go. Um, we are here to help [00:03:00] provide, uh, access for veterans and first responders to be able to attend psychedelic assisted therapy retreats to treat issues like mild TBI, post-traumatic stress disorder, uh, depression, sometimes addiction at, at a very low level. Jay Kopelman: Um, and, and so we've, we've been doing this for a little more than a year now and have provided 250 plus scholarships to veterans and first responders to be able to access. These retreats and these, these lifesaving medicines. Um, we're also partnered, uh, you may or may not know with Melissa at Psychedelic Medicine Coalition to help advance education and policy, specifically the innovative, uh, therapy Centers of Excellence Act [00:04:00] that Melissa has worked for a number of years on now to bring to both Houses of Congress. Joe Moore: Thank you for that. Um, so let's chat a little bit about what this event was that just, uh, went down, uh, what, what was it two weeks ago at this point? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Yeah. It's called For Veteran Society and it's all, um, there's a lot of dialogue on Capitol Hill about veterans healthcare and psychedelics, but where I've been frustrated is that, you know, it was just a lot of. Melissa Lavasani: Talk about what the problems are and not a lot of talk about like how we actually propel things forward. Um, so it, at that event, I thought it was really important and we had three members of Congress there, um, Morgan Latrell, who has been a champion from day one and his time in Congress, um, having gone through the experience himself, um, [00:05:00] at Mission within, um, and then the two chairs of the psychedelic caucus, uh, Lou Correa and Jack Bergman. Melissa Lavasani: And we really got down to the nitty gritty of like w like why this has taken so long and you know, what is actually happening right now? What are the possibilities and what the roadblocks are. And it was, I thought it was a great conversation. Um, we had an interesting kind of dynamic with Latres is like a very passionate about this issue in particular. Melissa Lavasani: Um, I think it was, I think it was really. A great event. And, you know, two days later, Jack Bergman introduced his new bill for the va. Um, so it was kind of like the precursor to that bill getting introduced. And we're just excited for more and more conversations about how the government can gently guide this issue to success. Joe Moore: Hmm. Yeah. [00:06:00] That's fantastic. Um, yeah, I was a little bummed I couldn't make it, but next time, I hope. But I've heard a lot of good things and, um, it's, it sounded like there was some really important messages in, in terms of like feedback from legislators. Yeah. Yeah. Could you speak to that? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, I mean, I think when, uh, representative Latrell was speaking, he really impressed on us a couple things. Melissa Lavasani: Um, first is that, you know, they really kind of need the advocates to. Coordinate, collaborate and come up with like a, a strategic plan, you know, without public education. Um, talking to members of Congress about this issue is, is really difficult. You know, like PMC is just one organization. We're very little mission within, very little, um, you know, we're all like, kind of new in navigating, um, this not so new issue, but new to Washington DC [00:07:00] issue. Melissa Lavasani: Um, without that public education as a baseline, uh, it's, it's, you have to spend a lot of time educating members of Congress. You know, that's like one of our things is, you know, we have to, we don't wanna tell Congress what direction to go to. We wanna provide them the information so they understand it very intimately and know how to navigate through things. Melissa Lavasani: Um, and secondly. Um, he got pretty frank with us and said, you know, we've got one cha one chance at this issue. And it's like, that's, that's kind of been like my talking point since I started. PMC is like, you have a very limited window, um, when these kind of issues pop up and they're new and they're fresh and you have a lot of the veteran community coming out and talking about it. Melissa Lavasani: And there's a lot of energy there. But now is the time to really move forward, um, with some real legislation that can be impactful. Um, but, you know, we've gotta [00:08:00] be careful. We, we forget, I think sometimes those of us who are in the ecosystem forget that our level of knowledge about these medicines and a lot of us have firsthand experience, um, with these drugs and, and our own healing journeys is, um, we forget that there is a public out there that doesn't have the level of knowledge that we all have. Melissa Lavasani: And, um. We gotta make sure that we're sticking to the right elements of, of, of what needs to happen. We need to be sure that our talking points are on track and we're not getting sideways about anything and going down roads that we don't need to talk about. It's why, um, you know, PMC is very focused on, um, moving forward veteran legislation right now. Melissa Lavasani: Not because we're a veteran organization, but because we're, we see this long-term policy track here. Um, we know where we want to get [00:09:00] to, um. Um, and watching other healthcare issues kind of come up and then go through the VA healthcare system, I think it's a really unique opportunity, um, to utilize the VA as this closed system, the biggest healthcare system in the country to evaluate, uh, how psychedelics operate within systems like that. Melissa Lavasani: And, you know, before they get into, um, other healthcare systems. What do we need to fix? What do we need to pay attention to? What's something that we're paying too much attention to that doesn't necessarily need that much attention? So it's, um, it's a real opportunity to look at psychedelic medicines within a healthcare system and obviously continue to gather the data. Melissa Lavasani: Um, Bergman's Bill emerging, uh, expanding veteran access to emerging treatments. Um, not only mandates the research, it gives the VA authority for this, uh, for running trials and, and creating programs around psychedelic medicines. But also, [00:10:00] one of the great things about it, I think, is it provides an on-ramp for veterans that don't necessarily qualify for clinical trials. Melissa Lavasani: You know, I think that's one of the biggest criticisms of clinical trials is like you're cre you're creating a vacuum for people and people don't live in a vacuum. So we don't necessarily know what psychedelics are gonna look like in real life. Um, but with this expanding veteran access bill that Bergman introduced, it provides the VA an opportunity to provide this access under. Melissa Lavasani: Um, in a, in a safe container with medical supervision while collecting data, um, while ensuring that the veteran that is going through this process has the support systems that it needs. So, um, you know, I think that there's a really unique opportunity here, and like Latrell said, like, we've got one shot at this. Melissa Lavasani: We have people's attention in Congress. Um, now's the time to start acting, and let's be really considerate and thoughtful about what we're doing with it. Joe Moore: Thanks for that, Melissa and Jay, how, [00:11:00] anything to add there on kind of your takeaways from the this, uh, last visit in dc? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, I, I think that Melissa highlighted it really well and there, there were a couple other things that I, I think, you know, you could kind of tie it all together with some other issues that we face in this country, uh, and that. Jay Kopelman: Uh, representative Correa brought up as well, but one of the things I wanted to go back and say is that veterans have kind of led this movement already, right? So, so it's a, it's a good jumping off point, right? That it's something people from both sides of the aisle, from any community in America can get behind. Jay Kopelman: You know, if you think about it, uh, in World War ii, you know, we had a million people serving our population was like, not even 200 million, but now [00:12:00] we have a population of 330 million, and at any given time there might be a million people in uniform, including the Reserve and the National Guard. So it's, it, it's an easy thing to get behind this small part of the population that is willing to sign that contract. Jay Kopelman: Where you are saying, yeah, I'm going to defend my country, possibly at the risk of my l my own life. So that's the first thing. The other thing is that the VA being a closed health system, and they don't have shareholders to answer to, they can take some risks, they can be innovative and be forward thinking in the ways that some other healthcare systems can't. Jay Kopelman: And so they have a perfect opportunity to show that they truly care for their veterans, which don't, I'm not saying they don't, but this would be an [00:13:00] opportunity to show that carrot at a whole different level. Uh, it would allow them to innovate and be a leader in something as, uh, as our friend Jim Hancock will say, you know. Jay Kopelman: When he went to the Naval Academy, they had the world's best shipbuilding program. Why doesn't the VA have the world's best care program for things like TBI and PTSD, which affects, you know, 40 something percent of all veterans, right? So, so there's, there's an opportunity here for the VA to lead from the front. Jay Kopelman: Um, the, these medicines provide, you know, reasonably lasting care where it's kind of a one and done. Whereas with the current systems, the, you know, and, and [00:14:00] again, not to denigrate the VA in any way, they're doing the best job they can with the tools in their toolbox, right? But maybe it's time for a trip to Home Depot. Jay Kopelman: Let's get some new tools. And have some new ways of fixing what's broken, which is really the way of doing things. It's not, veterans aren't broken, we are who we are. Um, but it's a, it's a way to fix what isn't working. So I, I think that, you know, given there's tremendous veteran homelessness still, you know, addiction issues, all these things that do translate to the population at large are things that can be worked on in this one system, the va that can then be shown to have efficacy, have good data, have [00:15:00] good outcomes, and, and take it to the population at large. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Brilliant. Thanks for that. And so there was another thing I wanted to pivot to, which is some of the recent press. So we've, um, seen a little bit of press around some, um, in one instance, some bad behavior in Mexico that a FI put out Americans thrive again, put out. And then another case there was a, a recent fatality. Joe Moore: And I think, um, both are tragic. Like we shouldn't be having to deal with this at this point. Um, but there's a lot of things that got us here. Um, it's not necessarily the operator's fault entirely, um, or even at all, honestly, like some medical interventions just carry a lot of risk. Like think, think about like, uh, how risky bypass surgery was in the nineties, right? Joe Moore: Like people were dying a lot from medical interventions and um, you know, this is a major intervention, uh, ibogaine [00:16:00] and also a lot of promise. To help people quite a bit. Um, but as of right now, there's, there's risk. And part of that risk, in my opinion, comes from the inability of organizations to necessarily collaborate. Joe Moore: Like there's no kind of convening body, sitting in the middle, allowing, um, for, and facilitating really good data sharing and learnings. Um, and I don't, I don't necessarily see an organization stepping up and being the, um, the convener for that kind of work. I've heard rumors that something's gonna happen there, and I'm, I'm hopeful I'll always wanna share my opinion on that. Joe Moore: But yeah. I don't know. Jay, from your perspective, is there anything you want to kind of speak to about, uh, these two recent incidents that Americans for Iboga kind of publicized recently? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, so I, I'll echo your sentiment, of course, that these are tragic incidents. Um, and I, [00:17:00] I think that at least in the case of the death at Ambio, AMBIO has done a very good job of talking about it, right? Jay Kopelman: They've been very honest with the information that they have. And like you said, there are risks inherent to these medicines, and it's like anything else in medicine, there are going to be risks. You know, when I went through, uh, when I, when I went through chemo, you know, there were, there are risks. You know, you don't feel well, you get sick. Jay Kopelman: Um, and, and it. There are processes in place to counter that when it happens. And there are processes and, and procedures and safety protocols in place when caring for somebody going through an ibogaine [00:18:00] journey. Uh, when I did it, we had EKG echocardiogram. You're on a heart monitor the entire time they push magnesium via iv. Jay Kopelman: You have to provide a urinalysis sample to make sure that there is nothing in your system that is going to potentially harm you. During the ibogaine, they have, uh, a cardiologist who is monitoring the heart monitors throughout the ibogaine experience. So the, the safety protocols are there. I think it's, I think it's just a matter of. Jay Kopelman: Standardizing them across all, all providers, right? Like, that would be a good thing if people would talk to one another. Um, as, as in any system, right? You've gotta have [00:19:00] some collaboration. You've gotta have standardization, you know, so, you know, they're not called standard operating procedures for nothing. Jay Kopelman: That means that in a, you know, in a given environment, everybody does things the same way. It's true in Navy and Marine Corps, air Force, army Aviation, they have standard operating procedures for every single aircraft. So if you fly, let's say the F 35 now, right? Because it's flown by the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Air Force. Jay Kopelman: The, the emergency procedures in that airplane are standardized across all three services, so you should have the same, or, you know, with within a couple of different words, the same procedures and processes [00:20:00] across all the providers, right? Like maybe in one document you're gonna change, happy to glad and small dog to puppy, but it's still pretty much the, the same thing. Jay Kopelman: And as a service that provides scholarships to people to go access these medicines and go to these retreats, you know, my criteria is that the, this provider has to be safe. Number one, safety's paramount. It's always gotta be very safe. It should, it has to be effective. And you know, once you have those two things in place, then I have a comfort level saying, okay, yeah, we'll work with this provider. Jay Kopelman: But until those standardized processes are in place, you'll probably see these one-off things. I mean, some providers have been doing this longer than others and have [00:21:00] really figured out, you know, they've, they've cracked the code and, you know, sharing that across the spectrum would be good. Um, but just when these things happen, having a clearing house, right, where everybody can come together and talk about it, you know, like once the facts are known because. Jay Kopelman: To my knowledge, we still don't know all the facts. Like as, you know, as horrible as this is, you still have to talk about like an, has an autopsy been performed? What was found in the patient's system? You know, there, there are things there that we don't know. So we need to, we need to know that before we can start saying, okay, well this is how we can fix that, because we just don't know. Jay Kopelman: And, you know, to their credit, you know, Amio has always been safe to, to the, to the best of my knowledge. You know, I, [00:22:00] I haven't been to Ambio myself, but people that I have worked with have been there. They have observed, they have seen the process. They believe it's safe, and I trust their opinion because they've seen it elsewhere as well. Jay Kopelman: So yeah, having, having that one place where we can all come together when this happens, it, it's almost like it should be mandatory. In the military when there's a training accident, we, you know, we would have to have what's called a safety standout. And you don't do that again for a little while until you figure out, okay, how are we going to mitigate that happening again? Jay Kopelman: Believe me, you can go overboard and we don't want to do that. Like, we don't wanna just stop all care, but maybe stop detox for a week and then come back to it. [00:23:00] Joe Moore: Yeah. A dream would be, let's get like the, I don't know, 10, 20 most popular, uh, or well-known operators together somewhere and just do like a three day debrief. Joe Moore: Hey, everybody, like, here's what we see. Let's work on this together. You know how normal medicine works. And this is, it's hard because this is not necessarily, um, something people feel safe about in America talking about 'cause it's illicit here. Um, I don't understand necessarily how the operations, uh, relate to each other in Mexico, but I think that's something to like the public should dig into. Joe Moore: Like, what, what is this? And I, I'll start digging into that. Um, I, I asked a question recently of somebody like, is there some sort of like back channel signal everybody's using and there's no clear Yes. You know? Um, I think it would be good. That's just a [00:24:00] start, you know, that's like, okay, we can actually kind of say hi and watch out for this to each other. Jay Kopelman: It's not like we don't all know one another, right? Joe Moore: Yes. Jay Kopelman: Like at least three operators we're represented. At the Aspen Ibogaine meeting. So like that could be, and I think there was a panel kind of loosely related to this during Aspen Ibogaine meeting, but Joe Moore: mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: It, you know, have a breakout where the operators can go sit down and kind of compare notes. Joe Moore: Right. Yeah. Melissa, do you have any, uh, comments on this thread here? And I, I put you on mute if you didn't see that. Um, Melissa Lavasani: all right, I'm off mute. Um, yeah, I think that Jay's hits the nail on the head with the collaboration thing. Um, I think that it's just a [00:25:00] problem across the entire ecosystem, and I think that's just a product of us being relatively new and upcoming field. Melissa Lavasani: Um, uh, it's a product of, you know. Our fundraising community is really small, so organizations feel like they are competing for the same dollars, even though their, their goals are all the same, they have different functions. Um, I think with time, I mean, let's be honest, like if we don't start collaborating and, and the federal government's moving forward, the federal government's gonna coordinate for us. Melissa Lavasani: And not, that might not necessarily be a bad thing, but, you know, we understand this issue to a whole other level that the federal government doesn't, and they're not required to understand it deeply. They just need to know how to really move forward with it the proper way. Um, but I think that it. It's really essential [00:26:00] that we all have this come together moment here so we can avoid things. Melissa Lavasani: Uh, I mean, no one's gonna die from bad advocacy. So like I've, I have a bit of an easier job. Um, but it can a, a absolutely stall efforts, um, to move things forward in Washington DC when, um, one group is saying one thing, another group is saying another thing, like, we're not quite at a point yet where we can have multiple lines of conversation and multiple things moving forward. Melissa Lavasani: Um, you know, for PMC, it's like, just let's get the first thing across the finish line. And we think that is, um, veteran healthcare. And, um, I know there's plenty of other groups out there that, that want the same thing. So, you know, I always, the reason why I put on the Federal Summit last year was I kind of hit my breaking point with a lack of collaboration and I wanted to just bring everyone in the same room and say like, all right, here are the things that we need to talk about. Melissa Lavasani: And I think the goal for this year is, um. To bring people in the same room and say, we talked about [00:27:00] we scratched the surface last year and this is where we need to really put our efforts into. And this is where the opportunities are. Um, I think that is going to, that's going to show the federal government if we can organize ourselves, that they need to take this issue really seriously. Melissa Lavasani: Um, I don't think we've done a great job at that thus far, but I think there's still plenty of time for us to get it together. Um, and I'm hoping with these two, uh, VA bills that are in the house right now and Senate is, is putting together their version of these two bills, um, so that they can move in tandem with each other. Melissa Lavasani: I think that, you know, there's an opportunity here for. Us to show the federal government as an ecosystem, Hey, we, we are so much further ahead and you know, this is what we've organized and here's how we can help you, um, that would make them buy into this issue a bit more and potentially move things forward faster. Melissa Lavasani: Uh, at this point in time, it's, I think that, [00:28:00] you know, psychedelics aren't necessarily the taboo thing that they, they used to be, but there's certainly places that need attention. Um, there's certainly conversations that need to be had, and like I said, like PMC is just one organization that can do this. Um, we can certainly organize and drive forward collaboration, but I, like we alone, cannot cover all this ground and we need the subject matter experts to collaborate with us so we can, you know, once we get in the door, we wanna bring the experts in to talk to these officials about it. Melissa Lavasani: So I. I, I really want listeners to really think about us as a convener of sorts when it comes to federal policy. Um, and you know, I think when, like for example, in the early eighties, a lot of people have made comparisons to the issue of psychedelics to the issue of AIDS research and how you have in a subject matter that's like extremely taboo and a patient population that the government [00:29:00] quite honestly didn't really care about in the early eighties. Melissa Lavasani: But what they did as an ecosystem is really organized themselves, get very clear on what they wanted the federal government to do. And within a matter of a couple years, uh, AIDS research funding was a thing that was happening. And what that, what that did was that ripple effect turned that into basically finding new therapies for something that we thought was a death, death sentence before. Melissa Lavasani: So I think. We just need to look at things in the past that have been really successful, um, and, and try to take the lessons from all of these issues and, and move forward with psychedelics. Joe Moore: Love that. And yes, we always need to be figuring out efficient approaches and where it has been successful in the past is often, um, an opportunity to mimic and, and potentially improve on that. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Jay Kopelman: One, one thing I think it's important to add to this part of the conversation is that, [00:30:00] you know, Melissa pointed out there are a number of organizations that are essentially doing the same thing. Jay Kopelman: Um, you know, I like to think we do things a little bit differently at Mission within Foundation in that we don't target any one specific type of service member. We, we work with all veterans. We work with first responders, but. What that leads to is that there are, as far as I've seen, nothing but good intentioned people in this space. Jay Kopelman: You know, people who really care about their patient population, they care about healing, they are trying to do a good job, and more importantly, they're trying to do good. Right? It, it, I think they all see the benefit down the road that this has, [00:31:00] pardon me, not just for veterans, but for society as a whole. Jay Kopelman: And, and ultimately that's where I would like to see this go. You know, I, I would love to see the VA take this. Take up this mantle and, and run with it and provide great data, great outcomes. You know, we are doing some data collection ourselves at Mission within foundation, albeit anecdotal based on surveys given before and after retreats. Jay Kopelman: But we're also working with, uh, Greg Fonzo down at UT Austin on a brain study he's doing that will have 40 patients in it when it's all said and done. And I think we have two more guys to put through that. Uh, and then we'll hit the 40. So there, there's a lot of good here that's being done by some really, really good people who've been doing this for a long time [00:32:00] and want to want nothing more than to, to see this. Jay Kopelman: Come to, come full circle so that we can take care of many, many, many people. Um, you know, like I say, I, I wanna work myself out of a job here. I, I just, I would love to see this happen and then I, you know, I don't have to send guys to Mexico to do this. They can go to their local VA and get the care that they need. Jay Kopelman: Um, but one thing that I don't think we've touched on yet, or regarding that is that the VA isn't designed for that. So it's gonna be a pretty big lift to get the right types of providers into the va with the knowledge, right, with the institutional knowledge of how this should be done, what is safe, what is effective, um, and then it, it's not just providing these medicines to [00:33:00] people and sending them home. Jay Kopelman: You don't just do that, you've gotta have the right therapists on the backend who can provide the integration coaching to the folks who are receiving these medicines. And I'm not just talking, I bga, even with MDMA and psilocybin, you should have a proper period of integration. It helps you to understand how this is going to affect you, what it, what the experience really meant, you know, because it's very difficult sometimes to just interpret it on your own. Jay Kopelman: And so what the experience was and what it meant to you. And, and so it will take some time to spin all that up. But once it's, once it's in place, you know, the sky's the limit. I think. Joe Moore: Kinda curious Jay, about what's, what's going on with Ibogaine at the federal level. Is there anything at VA right now? [00:34:00] Jay Kopelman: At the va? No, not with ibogaine. And, you know, uh, we, we send people specifically for IBOGAINE and five MEO, right? And, and so that, that doesn't preclude my interest in seeing this legislation passed, right? Jay Kopelman: Because it, it will start with something like MDMA or psilocybin, but ultimately it could grow to iboga, right? It the think about the cost savings at, at the va, even with psilocybin, right? Where you could potentially treat somebody with a very inexpensive dose of psilocybin or, or iboga one time, and then you, you don't have to treat them again. Jay Kopelman: Now, if I were, uh, you know, a VA therapist who's not trained in psychedelic trauma therapy. I might be worried [00:35:00] about job security, but it's like with anything, right? Like ultimately it will open pathways for new people to get that training or the existing people to get that training and, and stay on and do that work. Jay Kopelman: Um, which only adds another arrow to their quiver as far as I'm concerned, because this is coming and we're gonna need the people. It's just like ai, right? Like ai, yeah. Some people are gonna lose some jobs initially, and that's unfortunate. But productivity ultimately across all industries will increase and new jobs will be created as a result of that. Jay Kopelman: I mean, I was watching Squawk Box one morning. They were talking about the AI revolution and how there's gonna be a need for 500,000 electricians to. Build these systems that are going to work with the AI [00:36:00] supercomputers and, and so, Joe Moore: mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: Where, where an opportunity may be lost. I think several more can be gained going forward. Melissa Lavasani: And just to add on what Jay just said there, there's nothing specific going on with Ibogaine at, at the va, but I think this administration is, is taking a real look at addiction in particular. Uh, they just launched, uh, a new initiative, uh, that's really centered on addiction treatments called the Great American Recovery. Melissa Lavasani: And, um, they're dedicating a hundred million dollars towards treating addiction as like a chronic treatable disease and not necessarily a law enforcement issue. So, um, in that initiative there will be federal grant programs for prevention and treatment and recovery. And, um, while this isn't just for psychedelic medicines, uh, I think it's a really great opportunity for the discussion of psychedelics to get elevated to the White House. Melissa Lavasani: Um, [00:37:00] there's also, previous to this announcement last week from the White House, there's been a hundred million dollars that was dedicated at, um, at ARPA h, which is. The advanced research projects, uh, agency for healthcare, um, and that is kind of an agency that's really focused on forward looking, um, treatments and technologies, uh, for, um, a, a whole slew of. Melissa Lavasani: Of issues, but this a hundred million dollars is dedicated to mental health and addiction. So there's a lot of opportunity there as well. So we, while I think, you know, some people are talking about, oh, we need a executive order on Iboga, it's like, well, you know, the, the president is thinking, um, about, you know, what issues can land with his, uh, voting block. Melissa Lavasani: And I think it's, I don't think we necessarily need a specific executive order on Iboga to call this a success. It's like, let's look at what, [00:38:00] um, what's just been announced from the White House. They're, they're all in on. Thinking creatively and finding, uh, new solutions for this. And this is kind of, this aligns with, um, HHS secretaries, uh, Robert F. Melissa Lavasani: Kennedy Junior's goals when he took on this, this role of Health Secretary. Um, addiction has been a discussion that, you know, he has personal, um, a personal tie to from his own experience. And, um, I think when this administration started, there was so much like fervor around the, the dialogue of like, everyone's talking about psychedelics. Melissa Lavasani: It was Secretary Kennedy, it was, uh, secretary Collins at the va. It was FDA Commissioner Marty Macari. And I think that there's like a lot of undue frustration within folks 'cause um, you don't necessarily snap your fingers and change happens in Washington dc This is not the city for that. And it's intentionally designed to move slow so that we can avoid really big mistakes. Melissa Lavasani: Um. [00:39:00] I think we're a year into this administration and these two announcements are, are pretty huge considering, um, you know, the, we, there are known people within domestic policy council that don't, aren't necessarily supportive of psychedelic medicine. So there's a really amazing progress here, and frustrating as it might be to, um, just be waiting for this administration to make some major move. Melissa Lavasani: I think they are making major moves like for Washington, DC These, these are major moves and we just gotta figure out how we can, um, take these initiatives and apply them to the issue of psychedelic medicines. Joe Moore: Thanks, Melissa. Um, yeah, it is, it is interesting like the amount of fervor there was at the beginning. You know, we had, uh. Kind of one of my old lawyers, Matt Zorn, jumped in with the administration. Right. And, um, you know, it was, uh, really cool to [00:40:00] see and hopeful how much energy was going on. It's been a little quiet, kind of feels like a black box a little bit, but I, you know, there was, Melissa Lavasani: that's on me. Melissa Lavasani: Maybe I, we need to be more out in public about like, what's actually happening, because I feel like, like day in and day out, it's just been, you gotta just mm-hmm. Like have that constant beat with the government. Mm-hmm. And, um, it's, it's, it's not the photo ops on the hill, it's the conversations that you have. Melissa Lavasani: It's the dinner parties you go to, it's the fundraisers you attend, you know? Mm-hmm. That's why I, I kind of have to like toot my own horn with PCs. Like, we need to be present here at, at not only on the Hill, not only at the White House, but kind of in the ecosystem of Washington DC itself. There's, it's, there are like power players here. Melissa Lavasani: There are people that are connected that can get things done, like. I mean, the other last week we had a big snow storm. I walked over to my friend's house, um, to have like a little fire sesh with them and our kids, and his next door neighbor came over. He was a member of Congress. I talked about the VA bills, like [00:41:00] we're reaching out to his office now, um, to get them, um, up to speed and hopefully get their co-sponsorship for, uh, the two VA bills. Melissa Lavasani: So, I mean, it, the little conversations you have here are just as important as the big ones with the photo ops. So, um, it, it's, it's really like, you know, building up that momentum and, and finding that time where you can really strike and make something happen. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Jay, anything to add there? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, I was just gonna say that, you know, I, I, I think the fervor is still there, right? Jay Kopelman: But real life happens. Melissa Lavasani: Yes, Jay Kopelman: yes. And gets in the way, right? So, Melissa Lavasani: yeah, Jay Kopelman: I, I can't imagine how many issues. Secretary Kennedy has every day much less the president. Like there's so many things that they are dealing with on a daily basis, right? It, we, we just have to work to be the squeaky wheel in, in the right way, right. Jay Kopelman: [00:42:00] With the, with the right information at the right time. Like just inundating one of these organizations with noise, it's then it be with Informa, it just becomes noise, right? It it, it doesn't help. So when we have things to say that are meaningful and impactful, we do, and Melissa does an amazing job of that. Jay Kopelman: But, you know, it, it takes time. You know, it's, you know, we're not, this is, this is like turning an aircraft carrier, not a ski boat. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, Joe Moore: yeah, absolutely. Um, and. It's, it's understandably frustrating, I think for the public and the psychedelic public in particular because we see all this hope, you know, we continue to get frustrated at politics. It's nothing new, right? Um, and we, we wanna see more people get well immediately. [00:43:00] And I, I kind of, Jay from the veteran perspective, I do love the kind of loud voices like, you're making me go to Mexico for this. Joe Moore: I did that and you're making me leave the country for the thing that's gonna fix me. Like, no way. And barely a recognition that this is a valid treatment. You know, like, you know, that is complicated given how medicine is structured here domestically. But it's also, let's face the facts, like the drug war kind of prevented us from being able to do this research in the first place. Joe Moore: You know? Thanks Nixon. And like, how do we actually kind of correct course and say like, we need to spend appropriately on science here so we can heal our own people, including veterans and everybody really. It's a, it's a dire situation out there. Jay Kopelman: Yeah. It, it really is. Um, you know, we were talking briefly about addicts, right? Jay Kopelman: And you know, it's not sexy. People think of addicts as people who are weak-minded, [00:44:00] right? They don't have any self-control. Um, but, but look at, look at the opioid crisis, right? That Brian Hubbard was fighting against in Kentucky for all those years. That that was something that was given to the patient by a doctor that they then became dependent on, and a lot of people died from that. Jay Kopelman: And, and so you, you know, it's, I I don't think it's fair to just put all addicts in a box. Just like it's not fair to put all veterans in a box. Just like it's not fair for doctors, put all their patients in a box. We're individuals. We, we have individual needs. Our, our health is very individual. Like, I, I don't think I should be put in the same box as every other 66-year-old that my doctor sees. Jay Kopelman: It's not fair. [00:45:00] You know, if you, if you took my high school classmates and put us all in a photo, we're all gonna have different needs, right? Like, some look like they're 76, not 66. Some look like they're 56. Not like they're, we, we do things differently. We live our lives differently. And the same is true of addicts. Jay Kopelman: They come to addiction from different places. Not everybody decides they want to just try heroin at a party, and all of a sudden they're addicted. It happens in, in different ways, you know, and the whole fentanyl thing has been so daggum nefarious, right? You know, pushing fentanyl into marijuana. Jay Kopelman: Somebody's smoking a joint and all of a sudden they're addicted to fentanyl or they die. Melissa Lavasani: I think we're having a, Jay Kopelman: it's, it's just not fair to, to say everybody in this pot is the same, or everybody in this one is the same. We have [00:46:00] to look at it differently. Joe Moore: Yeah. I like to zoom one level out and kind of talk about, um, just how hurt we are as a country, as a world really, but as a country specifically, and how many people are out of work for so many. Joe Moore: Difficult reasons and away from their families for so many kind of tragic reasons. And if we can get people back to their families and back to work, a lot of these things start to self-correct, but we have to like have those interventions where we can heal folks and, and get them back. Um, yeah. And you know, everything from trauma, uh, in childhood, you know, adulthood, combat, whatever it is. Joe Moore: Like these things can put people on the sidelines. And Jay, to your point, like you get knee surgery and all of a sudden you're, you know, two years later you're on the hunt for Fentanyl daily. You know, that's tough. It's really tough. Carl Hart does a good job talking about this kind of addiction pipeline and [00:47:00] a few others do as well. Joe Moore: But it's just, you know, kind of putting it in a moral failure bucket. It's not great. I was chatting with somebody about, um, veterans, it's like you come back and you're like, what's gonna make me feel okay right now? And it's not always alcohol. Um, like this is the first thing that made me feel okay, because there's not great treatments and there's, there's a lot of improvements in this kind of like bringing people back from the field that needs to happen. Joe Moore: In my opinion. I, it seems to be shared by a lot of people, but yeah, there's, it's, it's, IGA is gonna be great. It's gonna be really important. I really can't wait for it to be at scale appropriately, but there's a lot of other things we need to fix too, um, so that we can just, you know, not have so many people we need to, you know, spend so much money healing. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: Yeah. You ahead with that. We don't need the president to sign an executive order to automatically legalize Ibogaine. Right. But it would be nice if he would reschedule it so that [00:48:00] then then researchers could do this research on a larger scale. You know, we could, we could now get some real data that would show the efficacy. Jay Kopelman: And it could be done in a safe environment, you know? And, and so that would be, do Joe Moore: you have any kind of figures, like, like, I've been talking about this for a while, Jay. Like, does it drop the cost a lot of doing research when we deschedule things? Jay Kopelman: I, I would imagine so, because it'll drop the cost of accessing the medicines that are being researched. Jay Kopelman: Right? You, you would have buy-in from more organizations. You know, you might even have a pharma company that comes into this, you know, look at j and j with the ketamine, right? They have, they have a nasal spray version of ketamine that's doing very well. I mean, it's probably their, their biggest revenue [00:49:00] provider for them right now. Jay Kopelman: And, and so. You know, you, it would certainly help and I think, I think it would lower costs of research to have something rescheduled rather than being schedule one. You know it, people are afraid to take chances when you're talking about Schedule one Melissa Lavasani: labs or they just don't have the money to research things that are on Schedule one. Melissa Lavasani: 'cause there's so much in an incredible amount of red tape that you have to go through and, and your facility has to be a certain way and how you contain those, uh, medicines. Oh, researching has to be in a specific container and it's just very cumbersome to research schedule one drugs. So absolutely the cost would go down. Melissa Lavasani: Um, but Joe Moore: yeah, absolutely. Less safes. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Joe Moore: Yes. Less uh, Melissa Lavasani: right. Joe Moore: Locked. Yeah. Um, it'll be really interesting when that happens. I'm gonna hold out faith. That we can see some [00:50:00] movement here. Um, because yeah, like why make healing more expensive than it needs to be? I think like that's potentially a protectionist move. Joe Moore: Like, I'm not, I'm not here yet, but, um, look at AbbVie's, uh, acquisition of the Gilgamesh ip. Mm-hmm. Like that's a really interesting move. I think it was $1.2 billion. Mm-hmm. So they're gonna wanna protect that investment. Um, and it's likely going to be an approved medication. Like, I don't, I don't see a world in which it's not an approved medication. Joe Moore: Um, you know, I don't know a timeline, I would say Jay Kopelman: yeah. Joe Moore: Less than six years, just given how much cash they've got. But who knows, like, I haven't followed it too closely. So, and that's an I bga derivative to be clear, everybody, um mm-hmm. If you're not, um, in, in the loop on that, which is hopeful, you know? Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. But I don't know what the efficacy is gonna be with that compared to Ibogaine and then we have to talk about the kind of proprietary molecule stuff. Um, there's like a whole bunch of things that are gonna go on here, and this is one of the reasons why I'm excited about. Federal involvement [00:51:00] because we might actually be able to have some sort of centralized manufacturer, um, or at least the VA could license three or four generic manufacturers per for instance, and that way prices aren't gonna be, you know, eight grand a dose or whatever. Joe Moore: You know, it's, Jay Kopelman: well, I think it's a very exciting time in the space. You know, I, I think that there's the opportunity for innovation. There is the opportunity for collaboration. There's the opportunity for, you know, long-term healing at a very low cost. You know, that we, we have the highest healthcare cost per capita in the world right here in the us. Jay Kopelman: And, and yet we are not the number one health system in the world. So to me, that doesn't add up. So we need to figure out a way to start. Bringing costs down for a lot of people and [00:52:00] at the same time increasing, increasing outcomes. Joe Moore: Absolutely. Yeah. There's a lot of possible outcome improvements here and, and you know, everything from relapse rates, like we hear often about people leaving a clinic and they go and overdose when they get home. Tragically, too common. I think there's everything from, you know, I'm Jay, I'm involved in an organization called the Psychedelics and Pain Association. Joe Moore: We look at chronic pain very seriously, and IGA is something we are really interested in. And if. We could have better, you know, research, there better outcome measures there. Um, you know, perhaps we can have less people on opioids to begin with from chronic pain conditions. Um, Jay Kopelman: yeah, I, I might be due for another Ibogaine journey then, because I deal with chronic pain from Jiujitsu, but, Joe Moore: oh gosh, let's Jay Kopelman: talk Joe Moore: later. Jay Kopelman: That's self inflicted. Some people would say take a month off, but Melissa Lavasani: yeah, Jay Kopelman: I'm [00:53:00] not, I'm not that smart. Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, but you know, this, uh, yeah, this whole thing is gonna be really interesting to see how it plays out. I'm endlessly hopeful pull because I'm still here. Right. I, I've been at this for almost 10 years now, very publicly, and I think we are seeing a lot of movement. Joe Moore: It's not always what we actually wanna see, but it is movement nonetheless. You know, how many people are writing on this now than there were before? Right. You know, we, we have people in New York Times writing somewhat regularly about psychedelics and. Even international media is covering it. What do we have legalization in Australia somewhat recently for psilocybin and MDMA, Czech Republic. Joe Moore: I think Germany made some moves recently. Mm-hmm. Um, really interesting to see how this is gonna just keep shifting. Um Jay Kopelman: mm-hmm. Joe Moore: And I think there's no way that we're not gonna have prescription psychedelics in three years in the United States. It pro probably more like a [00:54:00] year and a half. I don't know. Do you, are you all taking odds? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. I mean, I think Jay Kopelman: I, I gotta check Cal sheet, see what they're saying. Melissa Lavasani: I think it's safe to say, I mean, this could even come potentially the end of this year, I think, but definitely by the end of 2027, there's gonna be at least one psychedelic that's FDA approved. Joe Moore: Yeah. Yeah. Melissa Lavasani: If you're not counting Ketamine. Joe Moore: Right. Jay Kopelman: I, I mean, I mean it mm-hmm. It, it doesn't make sense that it. Shouldn't be or wouldn't be. Right. The, we've seen the benefits. Mm-hmm. We know what they are. It's at a very low cost, but you have to keep in mind that these things, they need to be done with the right set setting and container. Right. And, and gotta be able to provide that environment. Jay Kopelman: So, but I would, I would love, like I said, I'd love to work myself out of a job here and see this happen, not just for our veterans, [00:55:00] but for everybody. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Um, so Melissa, is there a way people can get involved or follow PMC or how can they support your work at PMC? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, I mean, follow us in social media. Melissa Lavasani: Um, our two biggest platforms are LinkedIn and Instagram. Um, I'm bringing my newsletter back because I'm realizing, um, you know, there is a big gap in, in kind of like the knowledge of Washington DC just in general. What's happening here, and I think, you know, part of PC's value is that we're, we are plugged into conversations that are being had, um, here in the city. Melissa Lavasani: And, you know, we do get a little insight. Um, and I think that that would really quiet a lot of, you know, the, a lot of noise that, um, exists in the, our ecosystem. If, if people just had some clarity on like, what's actually happening or happening here and what are the opportunities and, [00:56:00] um, where do we need more reinforcement? Melissa Lavasani: Um, and, and also, you know, as we're putting together public education campaign, you know. My, like, if I could get everything I wanted like that, that campaign would be this like multi-stakeholder collaborative effort, right? Where we're covering all the ground that we need to cover. We're talking to the patient groups, we're talking to traditional mental health organizations, we're talking to the medical community, we're talking to the general population. Melissa Lavasani: I think that's like another area that we, we just seem to be, um, lacking some effort in. And, you know, ultimately the veteran story's always super compelling. It pulls on your heartstrings. These are our heroes, um, of our country. Like that, that is, that is meaningful. But a lot of the veteran population is small and we need the, like a, the just.[00:57:00] Melissa Lavasani: Basic American living in middle America, um, understanding what psychedelics are so that in, in, in presenting to them the stories that they can relate to, um, because that's how you activate the public and you activate the public and you get them to see what's happening in these clinical trials, what the data's been saying, what the opportunities are with psychedelics, and then they start calling their members of Congress and saying, Hey, there is this. Melissa Lavasani: Bill sitting in Congress and why haven't you signed onto it? And that political pressure, uh, when used the right way can be really powerful. So, um, I think, you know, now we're at this really amazing moment where we have a good amount of congressional offices that are familiar enough with psychedelics that they're willing to move on it. Melissa Lavasani: Um, there's another larger group, uh, that is familiar with psychedelics and will assist and co-sponsor legislation, but there's still so many offices that we haven't been able to get to just 'cause like we don't have all the time in the world and all the manpower in the world to [00:58:00] do it. But, you know, that is one avenue is like the advocates can speak to the, the lawmakers, the experts speak to the lawmakers, and we not, we want the public engaged in this, you know, ultimately, like that's. Melissa Lavasani: Like the best form of harm reduction is having an informed public. So we are not, they're not seeing these media headlines of like, oh, this miracle cure that, um, saved my family. It's like, yes, that can happen psychedelics. I mean, person speaking personally, psychedelics did save my family. But what you miss out of that story is the incredible amount of work I put into myself and put into my mental health to this day to maintain, um, like myself, my, my own agency and like be the parent that I wanna be and be the spouse that I wanna be. Melissa Lavasani: So, um, we, we need to continue to share these stories and we need to continue to collaborate to get this message out because we're all, we're all in the same boat right now. We all want the same things. We want patients to have safe and [00:59:00] affordable access to psychedelic assisted care. Um, and, uh. We're just in the beginning here, so, um, sign up for our newsletter and we can sign up on our website and then follow us on social media. Melissa Lavasani: And, um, I anticipate more and more events, um, happening with PMC and hopefully we can scale up some of these events to be much more public facing, um, as this issue grows. So, um, I'm really excited about the future and I'm, I've been enjoying this partnership with Mission Within. Jay is such a professional and, and it really shows up when he needs to show up and, um, I look forward to more of that in the future. Joe Moore: Fantastic. And Jay, how can people follow along and support mission within Foundation? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, again, social media is gonna be a good way to do that. So we, we are also pretty heavily engaged on LinkedIn and on Instagram. Um, I do [01:00:00] share, uh, a bit of my own stuff as well. On social media. So we have social media pages for Mission within Foundation, and we have a LinkedIn page for mission within foundation. Jay Kopelman: I have my own profiles on both of those as well where people can follow along. Um, one of the other things you know that would probably help get more attention for this is if the general public was more aware of the numbers of professional athletes who are also now pursuing. I began specifically to help treat their traumatic brain injuries and the chronic traumatic encephalopathy that they've, uh, suffered as a result of their time in professional sports or even college sports. Jay Kopelman: And, you know. I people worship these athletes, and I [01:01:00] think that if more of them, like Robert Gall, were more outspoken about these treatments and the healing properties that they've provided them, that it would get even more attention. Um, I think though what Melissa said, you know, I don't wanna parrot anything she just said because she said it perfectly Right. Jay Kopelman: And I'd just be speaking to hear myself talk. Um, but being collaborative the way that we are with PMC and with Melissa is I think, the way to move the needle on this overall. And like she said, if she could get more groups involved in, in these discussions, it would, it would do wonders for us. Joe Moore: Well, thank you both so much for your hard work out there. I always appreciate it when people are showing up and doing this important, [01:02:00] sometimes boring and tedious, but nevertheless sometimes, sometimes exciting work. And um, so yeah, just thank you both and thank you both for showing up here to psychedelics today to join us and I hope we can continue to support you all in the future. Jay Kopelman: Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe. It's a pleasure being with you today and with Melissa, of course, always Melissa Lavasani: appreciate the time and space. Joe Moore: Thanks.
Ramona is a neuroscientist and scientific strategist with deep experience at the intersection of neuroscience, rehabilitation, and emerging health technologies. She earned her BS in Psychology from Brown University, her PhD in Neuroscience from the Uniformed Services University (where her research focused on the modulation of inflammation following Neurotrauma, including publications on the impact of photobiomodulation on microglial activation), and she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Neurology Department at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School.Ramona is the Senior Director of US Medical Affairs for Winback America, and serves as a Scientific Advisor for two start ups, Neuronic and the Brainnovation Network. She specializes in translating complex science into real-world clinical and commercial outcomes — from leading research and publication efforts to building clinician training programs. In these roles, she oversees clinical research, education, and regulatory positioning. At Neuronic specifically, she supports research efforts to demonstrate the efficacy of transcranial photobiomodulation on cognitive function and a variety of neurological conditions.She is passionate about leveraging technology to help people achieve their highest quality of life and brings a practical, collaborative approach to connecting science, clinical practice, and business strategy. SHOWNOTES:
Let us know what you think! Text us!Deny Caballero breaks down the 2025 Veteran Suicide Prevention Report and explains the critical role brain health, TBI, and community support play in preventing veteran suicide.Key Topics Covered:• Veteran suicide statistics • Traumatic brain injury risk • Transition to civilian life • VA care and enrollment • Mental health advocacyChapters:00:00 Veteran Suicide Crisis Overview 00:26 Key Findings from the 2025 Suicide Report 02:15 Veteran vs Civilian Suicide Rates 03:28 Age and Demographic Risk Factors 05:18 Traumatic Brain Injury and Suicide Risk 07:44 Chronic Pain and Mental Health 09:35 Why VA Enrollment Matters 11:28 Transition to Civilian Life Risks 13:22 Advocacy and Veteran Support 15:24 Call to Action for Veteran Brain HealthSponsored by: Dr. Mark Gordon & Millennium Health Centers Get the book Peptides for Health Vol.1 Medical Edition today. Use code PTH25 for 25% off through March 15 Use code Phase2P for 10% off Millennium products Available only at MillenniumHealthStore.comPure Liberty LabsUse code: Security_Halt_10Website: https://purelibertylabs.com/ PRECISION WELLNESS GROUP Use code: Security Halt Podcast 25Website: https://www.precisionwellnessgroup.com/ Security Halt Mediahttps://www.securityhaltmedia.com/ Instagram: @securityhaltX: @SecurityHaltTik Tok: @security.halt.podLinkedIn: Deny CaballeroSupport the showProduced by Security Halt Media
Send a textWe trace Thomas Coles-Reyes's path from a draft-day shock and a brutal homecoming to two years on the streets, a life-saving mentor, and the creation of A Vets Place. He explains why permanent housing beats transitional models, how he built a one‑stop hub for veterans and families, and what it took to rebuild after losing everything.• core theme of dignity through permanent, affordable housing• childhood instability, institutional care, and forgiveness• homelessness in New York and the mentor who opened a door• early advocacy wins, including a direct line to the mayor• building A Vets Place: property, partnerships, and services on-site• food pantry, clothing closet, notary, and VSO under one roof• coffee socials as early-warning and community care• growth to 30 apartments, then property loss and reinvention• funding realities and the nonprofit “two-tier” problem• female veterans' hidden homelessness and suicide risk• jobs, training, and entrepreneurial bootcamp for veterans• current caseload, how to book help, and how to supportIf you like what Thomas is doing and you feel passionate about this, give him your money. Give him your Money. Go to vetsplace.org and donate Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Transitioning from 33 years of military service is never simple, regardless of the rank on your shoulders. In this episode, Joe welcomes Major General Robert W. Mixon, Jr. (USA, Ret.), who candidly shares his journey from commanding the 7th Infantry Division to navigating the civilian workforce during the 2008 economic crisis. Robert discusses the "shock and awe" of entering a family-owned manufacturing business, the shift into mission-driven nonprofit work with Warrior Salute, and his eventual leap into entrepreneurship. Today, as the co-founder of Level Five Associates, Robert teaches the six enduring principles of value-based leadership. This conversation explores staying adaptive, finding your next mission, and the importance of having a "trusted advisor" in the civilian world. Episode Resources: Adaptive Leadership Insights - Robert's Substack About Our Guest Major General Robert W. Mixon, Jr. (U.S. Army, Ret.) served 33 years in the Army, commanding the 7th Infantry Division and Division West of First Army. After transitioning into corporate and nonprofit leadership, including helping create the Warrior Salute program for veterans with TBI and PTSD-he now advises organizations on leadership, culture, and veteran workforce success. Robert is co-founder of Level Five Associates and author of the bestselling The Power of Being All In. About Our Sponsors Navy Federal Credit Union Navy Federal Credit Union is here to help you dominate your debt with the Platinum Card. Transfer your credit card balance to the Platinum card within your first 60 days and get a zero percent intro APR for 12 months. Visit here to start dominating debt. Join now at Navy Federal Credit Union. At Navy Federal, our members are the mission. Join the conversation on Facebook! Check out Veteran on the Move on Facebook to connect with our guests and other listeners. A place where you can network with other like-minded veterans who are transitioning to entrepreneurship and get updates on people, programs and resources to help you in YOUR transition to entrepreneurship. Want to be our next guest? Send us an email at interview@veteranonthemove.com. Did you love this episode? Leave us a 5-star rating and review! Download Joe Crane's Top 7 Paths to Freedom or get it on your mobile device. Text VETERAN to 38470. Veteran On the Move podcast has published 600 episodes. Our listeners have the opportunity to hear in-depth interviews conducted by host Joe Crane. The podcast features people, programs, and resources to assist veterans in their transition to entrepreneurship. As a result, Veteran On the Move has over 7,000,000 verified downloads through Stitcher Radio, SoundCloud, iTunes and RSS Feed Syndication making it one of the most popular Military Entrepreneur Shows on the Internet Today.
In this episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast, Matt Sabatello sits down with Yuri Kim, the lead clinical research nurse for MIT's MAESTRO study, described as one of the largest studies in MIT history focused on Lyme disease and Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses (IACI). Yuri explains how MAESTRO is collecting deep symptom histories and objective measurements—from eye tracking and EEG/P300 auditory testing to NASA Lean dysautonomia testing, capillaroscopy, and multi-sample biological collection—to identify patterns that validate patient experiences and accelerate real-world clinical understanding. Yuri's story is equally compelling: she began as an ER nurse in a Level 1 trauma center, transitioned into research nursing (including neurodegenerative and traumatic brain injury work), moved to South Korea during the pandemic, and ultimately joined MIT after a conversation with Dr. Mikki Tal changed the course of her career. Throughout the conversation, Yuri shares what she's learned from MAESTRO participants: a community often exhausted and dismissed, yet profoundly motivated to help others and drive scientific progress forward. Key Takeaways (Fast Scan) MAESTRO is nearing ~200 participants enrolled, with the chronic Lyme cohort full and enrollment closing soon. The study aims to objectively measure symptoms often dismissed as “anxiety” or “depression,” especially brain fog and dysautonomia. MAESTRO uses multiple cognitive and neurologic measures, including RightEye eye tracking, EEG + P300 auditory “oddball” testing, and remote cognitive battery tests. The team added capillaroscopy (nailfold and toe microvascular imaging) to explore vascular patterns and hemorrhages in chronic illness cohorts. Dysautonomia testing includes NASA Lean Test plus an earpiece device to estimate proxy cerebral blood flow, sometimes showing abnormalities even when vitals look “normal.” Extensive biological sampling (oral, blood, vaginal/rectal) supports proteomics/immune profiling and deeper molecular analysis. Yuri emphasizes: patients' willingness to participate—despite severe symptoms—is the engine of progress and future change. Detailed Chapter-by-Chapter Show Notes 1) Meet Yuri Kim: The Human Side of Cutting-Edge Lyme Research Matt introduces Yuri as the clinical research nurse leading day-to-day operations of MIT's MAESTRO study—positioning her as a rare bridge between lab science, clinicians, and patients. Yuri shares that the study is approaching enrollment completion and that the team is eager to analyze a large dataset to “speak up” for participants who have suffered without clear explanations. Highlights: MAESTRO is one of MIT's largest studies, with enrollment nearing completion. The mission is to transform patient suffering into measurable signals, data, and insight. 2) Yuri's Background: Pharma, ER Nursing, Research, and Why This Work Became Personal Yuri explains her path: early work as a medical information specialist in pharma (including literature searches and clinician guidance, often involving off-label questions), then an intense period as a Level 1 ER nurse where she witnessed both acute crises and chronic illness desperation. Key insight:Yuri notes that in pharma and ER settings, she repeatedly saw the same reality—patients searching for answers, clinicians constrained by time, and chronic illness voices falling through the cracks. 3) From the ER to Neuro Research: Brain Inflammation, TBI, and the Gap in Chronic Illness Care Yuri left ER work largely due to the physical toll of night shifts and moved into academic research at Boston University. She worked on complex studies involving Alzheimer's, amyloidosis, and traumatic brain injury. Matt asks whether Lyme came up in those neuro settings. Yuri says no—but now she views neurodegenerative symptoms differently and believes clinicians should consider underlying root causes, including infection. Listener connection:This segment reinforces how often Lyme-related cognitive decline can be misinterpreted or missed when viewed through siloed specialties. 4) Lyme Awareness Outside the U.S.: South Korea, Tick-Borne Illness, and Global Blind Spots During the pandemic, Yuri relocated to South Korea. She shares that Lyme isn't commonly discussed there, though other tick-borne illnesses exist. Yuri underscores a global concern: agricultural and rural communities face tick exposure without awareness of the chronic implications. 5) How Yuri Joined Dr. Mikki Tal and MAESTRO (And Why She Changed Her Mind) One of the most memorable segments: Yuri reveals she had already accepted another MIT nursing role—but after speaking with Dr. Tal, she pivoted immediately, calling it the best career decision she's ever made. Why it matters: It shows how MAESTRO is not just a study; it's a mission-driven effort that attracts top clinical talent. 6) Day One at MAESTRO: Meeting the Severely Ill and the Community's Unmatched Generosity Yuri recounts a powerful early experience: meeting a participant who was bedbound and profoundly symptomatic, yet eager to contribute anything possible to help the community. Matt connects this to Tick Boot Camp's origin story: people with minimal energy still showed up to help others. The theme becomes clear—Lyme patients are often depleted but relentlessly generous. What MAESTRO Measures (The Four-Hour Visit Breakdown) 7) Brain Fog: Why MAESTRO Treats It as a Complex Phenomenon Yuri explains MAESTRO's approach: brain fog isn't one symptom. It can involve memory, processing speed, visual stimulation sensitivity, pain-triggered cognition changes, and motor response delays. Core idea: MAESTRO attempts to measure brain fog from multiple angles—visual processing, auditory processing, reaction time, and executive function. 8) RightEye Eye Tracking: Visual Stimulus + Reaction Time as Objective Signal Participants complete a structured set of ocular motor tasks (pursuit, saccades) and reaction-time games (shape recognition mapped to numbered inputs). Yuri notes many chronic illness participants struggle even with basic saccades, often aligning with reported visual disturbances. What MAESTRO is measuring: Ocular motor control Visual processing Decision speed Reaction time consistency 9) EEG + P300 “Oddball” Test: Auditory Processing Meets Motor Output Participants wear an EEG cap (19 regions) and listen to tones: common low-pitch and rare high-pitch. They must press the spacebar only for the rare tone. Yuri notes that even a 4-minute test can be exhausting for people with cognitive dysfunction, and participants often describe a frustrating “delay” between knowing what to do and physically doing it. Why this matters: This may help validate cognitive dysfunction even when standard office screening looks normal. 10) Remote Cognitive Battery Testing: Scaling Measurement Beyond MIT Participants complete executive function tests at home (memory, Stroop-like color-word matching, trail-making tasks). Yuri emphasizes why this matters: many patients can't travel, and symptoms vary dramatically by day, cycle, and crash patterns. Big future direction: Remote testing could expand access to bedbound patients and capture “good day vs bad day” variability. 11) Dysautonomia & POTS: NASA Lean Test + Proxy Cerebral Blood Flow Yuri details NASA Lean testing: supine rest, then standing/leaning while monitoring vitals and symptoms. The standout: sometimes vitals appear stable while patients feel intensely symptomatic—yet the cerebral blood flow proxy measurement fluctuates significantly. Clinical implication discussed: This approach could become a tool for identifying dysautonomia-related issues when standard vitals “look fine.” 12) Capillaroscopy: Nailfold + Toe Microvascular Imaging MAESTRO added capillaroscopy to examine microvascular patterns, including abnormal shapes and possible hemorrhages seen more frequently in chronic cohorts (as her clinical observations suggest). They also measure capillaries pre- and post-NASA Lean to explore whether symptomatic shifts correlate with microvascular changes. Why patients find it meaningful: They can visually see something measurable that aligns with how they feel. 13) Standard Neuro Screening Doesn't Capture Lyme Brain Fog Yuri shares a crucial point: participants often perform fine on standard screens like the Mini-Mental State Exam, suggesting that infection-associated cognitive dysfunction can be subtle, dynamic, and not detected by traditional tools—reinforcing the need for MAESTRO-style measurement. Biological Samples: “Measure Everything” (Head to Toe) 14) Multi-Sample Collection: Oral, Blood, Vaginal, Rectal Yuri explains the breadth of biological sampling, including saliva/oral samples (cotton chew + gum swab), multiple blood tubes, and sex-specific sampling to explore immune, hormonal, microbiome, and gynecologic dimensions. Why it's being done: To connect symptom clusters to molecular patterns and explore sex differences in chronic illness response. 15) Storage, Batch Effects, and What Happens After Enrollment Closes Samples are aliquoted and stored at -80°C until they can be processed/shipped in ways that minimize batch effects. The next phase is analysis and collaboration—including proteomics and immune signaling exploration. 16) Giving Back to Participants: The Challenge and the Intention Yuri acknowledges the “fine line” between research-only testing and clinically actionable reporting, but stresses MIT's intention to return what can be responsibly shared through certified partners—while being careful not to over-interpret research findings. Collaboration, Scaling, and What Comes Next 17) Collaboration Across Institutions: The Missing Platform Matt compares Lyme research needs to cybersecurity threat-sharing between banks: competitors collaborate because the threat is bigger than any one organization. Yuri agrees and highlights the need for secure data-sharing platforms—similar to large national efforts in other fields. 18) What's Next: Focus on Female Brain Fog, Hormones, and Remote Studies Yuri previews upcoming directions: Brain fog and hormone cycle relationships Differentiating infection-associated cognitive dysfunction vs menopause-related brain fog Remote/at-home measurement studies to reach more symptomatic and bedbound patients Potential collaborations with pediatric and neuroimmune experts Closing Message: Hope Without Hype Yuri's message to patients and families is simple and emotional: “Please don't give up.” She believes answers are coming because serious teams are working together—and because patients are driving the research forward with their participation.
After surviving multiple brain injuries at ages 18, 20, and 24, Shawnee Harkins turned her own recovery into a breakthrough approach for healing the brain. In this episode, Shawnee shares how her lived experience led to the creation of The Harkins Method™, a personalized, drug-free neuro-fitness protocol designed to accelerate recovery from a wide array of brain injuries, from concussion to TBI to stroke.Through adaptive, neuroplasticity-driven cognitive and physical training, The Harkins Method™ helps survivors improve memory, communication, speech, and executive functioning—while rebuilding confidence and identity. Join us as Shawnee reframes the traditional patient care journey and empowers brain injury survivors to reset their mind, brain, and body to pursue a more fulfilling life.Guest Social Media info - https://www.instagram.com/shawneeharkinsneurofitness?igsh=cGtxeXBkb25ubGM4https://www.facebook.com/share/1AsrcTWQBD/For BUZZSPROUT and YouTube - https://neurostateofmind.com/contactSend a textSupport the showYou can find this episode's transcript here.New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to podcasts.
Send a textI talk with Natasha and Lee from Points for Patriots to explore Battle Buds, a veteran wellness program that pairs yoga with hydroponic gardening to rebuild structure, lower stress, and deliver fresh food to neighbors in need. Former NFL player Lee Hightower and Army veteran yogi Natasha Rector share how breath, plants, and community help veterans find purpose and calm.• origin of Points for Patriots and its three pillars of wellness, connectedness, social entrepreneurship• Lee's path from NFL to Japan to urban gardening• Natasha's Army Guard service, deployment, and yoga certification• why yoga and hydroponics align for veteran wellness• how Battle Buds works week to week on Zoom• what cohorts grow and why leafy greens win• patience, breath, and routine as transition tools• bridging veterans, civilians, spouses, and youth• Boca cohort details and donating produce locally• ways to join, volunteer, or giveGive them your money. Go to pointsforpatriots.org and give them your money Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Vincent gets more personal as the conversation gets longer. He wants to allow his supporters to learn more about his personal life. In this conversation, Vincent A. Lanci shares his inspiring journey of overcoming a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the challenges he faced during his recovery. He discusses the importance of determination, support from family, and the mental tools he employed to rebuild his life. Vincent emphasizes the significance of education and personal growth, illustrating how he navigated through adversity to achieve his goals.As You Listen00:00 Overcoming Adversity: A Personal Journey09:28 Rebuilding Life After Trauma12:36 The Road to Recovery and Education
Army veteran Kayla Williams served in combat, deploying to Iraq in 2003 as an Arabic linguist with the 101st Airborne Division. Since retiring from the military, she has become a bestselling author, and leading advocate for women veterans and military families. From serving without body armor plates during the 2003 Iraq invasion to navigating her husband's traumatic brain injury (TBI) recovery, Williams shares her journey of resilience and her ongoing fight to preserve the hard-won gains women have made in the military. Discover why hope matters more than hardship, and why evidence-based policy changes are critical for the future of veteran health care. Also in this episode: a VA health care change that will help women veterans, tips on how veterans can protect themselves against scammers, the legend of Cafe Ground Zero and more.Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) eligibilityAmerican Legion Junior Shooting SportsVA makes it easier for women to access gynecology careAvoid veteran scamsThe legend of Cafe Ground Zero
In this episode, Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews physical therapist Mariah King, PT, DPT from RISE Healthcare Group and Hiroki (Hiro) Kimura from Cyberdyne about the HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) robotic exoskeleton and its role in neurologic rehabilitation. They discuss how the HAL system reads patients' intent to move via surface EMG signals and converts those signals into assisted movement to drive neuroplasticity and functional recovery for people with spinal cord injury, stroke, TBI, Parkinson's disease, and progressive neuromuscular disorders such as MS, SMA, and muscular dystrophy. Mariah explains RISE's one-on-one outpatient model, how patients are evaluated for HAL use, typical dosing (2–3x/week over about 2 months), and the outcome measures they track, including 10-Meter Walk, 2-Minute Walk, 30-Second Sit-to-Stand, and TUG. She shares powerful case examples, including a person with MS who relies on a wheelchair for mobility progressing to prolonged standing and assisted gait, and another individual with MS whose falls dropped from several per month to just one across four months. Hiro digs into what makes HAL unique compared to other exoskeletons: its emphasis on intention-based control, the ability for therapists to visualize and shape EMG patterns (for example, reducing co-contraction), and asymmetric or joint-specific assistance tailored to each limb. They also touch on the different HAL configurations (lower limb, single-joint, lumbar), its current status as a clinic-based rehab device (not take-home), billing considerations, the new pediatric version and forthcoming wrist device, as well as opportunities for students, clinicians, and clinic owners to get involved with RISE's HAL programs. Website: www.risehealthcaregroup.com Instagram: risehealthcaregroup Facebook: risehealthcaregroup YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@risehealthcaregroup7766 Cyberdyne USA Inc. https://www.cyberdyne.jp/english/ mariah@socalelitephysicaltherapy.com
Send us a textWe sit down with Marine veteran and counselor Tim Roberto to trace how pain became purpose and why Stomping Out The Stigma offers ten free, confidential therapy sessions to first responders and veterans. We follow his 100-mile Surfside walk, the moments that changed minds, and the simple systems that save lives.• origins of long-term recovery and stigma• Marines, AWOL, addiction and depression• first 20-mile walk and organic momentum• why confidentiality beats fear of HR and EAP• ten free sessions with licensed therapists• kitchen table culture in firehouses• Surfside tribute: 98 lives, 100 miles• expansion to Georgia, North Carolina and New Jersey• small costs like 35 dollar copays change outcomes• mentorship, vulnerability and speaking up• how to reach SOTS and get helpIf this episode touched you in any way, shape, or form, and you know somebody or you are somebody, please reach out to Tim. Do it. Don't white knuckle it. If you know somebody or you are somebody, reach out. And it's free. First name only. No HR. Nothing. We don't report to any agency. Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Episode summary Computer-science-turned-cognitive-science researcher and yoga therapist Chen Or Bach joins Amy to share a candid journey from academia to cancer survivorship, from mat-based practice to living yoga moment-to-moment. We trace how the pañca-kośa model reframed her healing, why standards and accreditation helped yoga integrate into Israeli healthcare, and what it means to let go of familiar tools and still remain fully in the path. It's a forward-looking conversation about bringing steadiness (sthira) and sweetness (sukha) into real life—mountain trails, laundry folding, and all.Listen forNature as practice: Boulder's mountains as living teachers of stability in change.Pañca-kośa in plain life: tending annamaya, prāṇamaya, manomaya, vijñānamaya, and especially ānandamaya—not as theory but daily design.When the practice stops “working”: giving yourself permission to let go of certain tools (āsana, set routines) and allow yoga to become how you meet each moment.Healthcare integration: how Israel's modular 1,000-hour training (500 teacher + 500 therapy with specialty tracks) supported hospital uptake.Karma yoga without burnout: serving the field while protecting one's vitality (tapas with svādhyāya and īśvara-praṇidhāna—Kriyā Yoga in action).Key takeawaysĀnanda is not optional. Many of us optimize the outer layers (food, steps) and starve ānandamaya kośa. Intentionally design joy-creating activities; the outer layers flourish downstream.Your practice can change shape. If a tool stops serving, it's not failure—it's viveka (discernment). Let the aim (clarity, compassion, steadiness) stay constant while methods evolve.Standards serve people. Thoughtful accreditation isn't bureaucracy—it's ahimsā and satya for clients and health systems: clear scope, reliable skills, safer care.Karma yoga needs boundaries. Service without self-regulation fuels burnout. Pair tapas with rest, supervision, and community—abhyāsa with vairāgya.Practical micro-practices (try today)Joy audit (5 min): List three ordinary tasks. For each, name one sensory element you can savor (temperature of water while washing dishes, sound of leaves on a walk).Kośa check-in (2 min): Ask: What does my body/energy/mind/wisdom/joy need right now? Choose one small step.Walk as yoga (10–20 min): No metrics. Attend to breath cadence, ground contact, and horizon/sky—let attention, breath, and body cohere.Resources mentionedPātañjala Yoga Sūtra (as study companion during illness)Bhagavadgītā (as a source of resilience and meaning)IAYT-inspired standards and Israel's modular specialty pathways (trauma, oncology, etc.)About our guest — Chen Or Bach Chen Or Bach blends cognitive/neuroscience training with decades of yoga practice and service. In Israel, she helped advance standards that enabled yoga and yoga therapy to integrate into mainstream healthcare, including rehabilitation settings (e.g., TBI). Now based in Boulder, she continues to teach, mentor, and model a life where all life is yoga.Pull quotes“Once your attention, breath, and body are in the same place, the game changes.”“If one tool stops serving you, the tradition still has a thousand doors.”“I stopped ‘doing' yoga and started being it—moment by moment.”“Standards aren't red tape; they're how we protect people.”School of Integrative Health at NDMU: https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-healthMaster of Science in Yoga Therapy at NDMU https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/yoga-therapy Explore NDMU's Post-Master's Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals. https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at NDMU: https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification#IntegrativeHealth #HealthcareEducation #InterprofessionalEducation #GraduateSchool #NDMUproud #SOIHproud #SOIHYoga #SOIHAyurveda #NDMUYoga #NDMUAyurveda #SOIHGraduateSchool
How can biotech teams move faster (and smarter) from preclinical research to human trials without sacrificing safety or rigor? In this episode, host Elaine Hamm, PhD, sits down with Todd Kilbaugh, MD, Founder of Pharos Biolabs and a physician-scientist specializing in anesthesiology, critical care, and pediatrics. Todd shares his journey from clinical medicine to biotech entrepreneurship and unpacks one of the industry's toughest challenges: why so many promising therapies fail to translate from animal models to humans. Together, they explore how AI, advanced modeling, organoids, and more thoughtful use of non-human primates could reshape preclinical development and reduce costly failures. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the translational gap between animal models and humans remains one of biotech's biggest bottlenecks, and how AI can help close it. How biomarkers, mathematical modeling, and digital twins can improve trial design long before a therapy reaches the clinic. What the future of preclinical development could look like with smarter integration of AI, organoids, and non-human primate studies. Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation on AI-enabled science, better trial prediction, and how biotech can rethink the path from discovery to patients. Links: Connect with Todd Kilbaugh, MD. Connect with Elaine Hamm, PhD, and learn about Tulane Medicine Business Development and the School of Medicine. Connect with Doug Wallace, PhD. Learn more about TBI. Connect with Ian McLachlan, BIO from the BAYOU producer. Check out BIO on the BAYOU. Learn more about BIO from the BAYOU - the podcast. Bio from the Bayou is a podcast that explores biotech innovation, business development, and healthcare outcomes in New Orleans & The Gulf South, connecting biotech companies, investors, and key opinion leaders to advance medicine, technology, and startup opportunities in the region.
Jake is an U.S. Army Veteran, who after spending 10 years in Special Forces, came to suffer from a debilitating traumatic brain injury (TBI) that impacted all areas of his life. As Jake's condition continued to worsen over time, he believed the only way out of his pain might be through ending it all, until he was introduced by his doctor to the ancient healing medicine of Ibogaine and 5meo DMT. Find more information about the retreat at: The Mission Within Find free therapy tailored to Veterans at: The Headstrong Project Check out our Merch Follow us on: Instagram, TikTok, Twitter For business inquiries contact: OtherworldTeam@unitedtalent.com If you have experienced something paranormal or unexplained, email us your story at stories@otherworldpod.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today's guest is Dr. Meghan Schneider, OTD, MS OTR/L, a neurological occupational therapist, brain injury specialist, and concussion recovery expert. As both a clinician and a TBI survivor, Meghan brings a powerful dual perspective to her work. She is a certified brain injury specialist, a certified functional vision rehabilitation specialist, and co-owner of Neuro OT Consulting. In 2024, she was honored with the Dan Keating Pioneer in Brain Injury Award for her groundbreaking work integrating interoception —our eighth sensory system of internal body awareness—into brain injury rehabilitation. She is the co-creator of the first and only course dedicated to interoception in concussion and brain injury recovery.Episode Summary: What if the missing piece in your concussion recovery isn't just about treating symptoms, but learning how to listen to your body again? In this deeply insightful conversation, Bethany welcomes Dr. Meghan Schneider to explore the critical, yet often overlooked, role of interoception—our sense of internal body awareness—in healing from a brain injury.Meghan shares her personal journey through concussion and post-concussion syndrome, explaining how a disconnect from her body's signals led to emotional dysregulation and delayed recovery. She breaks down the science simply: why trauma like a concussion can “turn off” this internal sense, and how rebuilding it is the foundation for managing symptoms, implementing pacing strategies, and regaining emotional balance.Listeners will learn:What interoception is and why it's considered the cornerstone of self-regulation.How a lack of body awareness can sabotage standard recovery protocols.The practical framework Meghan uses to help clients reconnect with their body's signals, identify emotions, and discover personalized calming tools.Why strategies like “just breathe” don't work for everyone, and how to find what truly helps your nervous system.Inspiration for turning the frustration of recovery into advocacy and hope.This episode is essential for anyone who feels stuck, emotionally volatile, or disconnected from their body after a concussion, and is looking for a nervous-system-based, holistic path forward.Resources Mentioned by Meghan Schneider:1. Interoception Course:Title: On-Demand Course: Interoception, Concussion & Brain InjuryDescription: The first and only course dedicated to the intersection of interoception and brain injury, co-created with Dr. Kelly Mahler. A comprehensive resource for both professionals and survivors.Link: https://www.kelly-mahler.com/product/on-demand-course-interoception-concussion-brain-injury/2. Meghan's Professional Platforms & Contact:Website (Clinical Practice & Consulting): Neuro Meghanhttps://neuromeghan.com/Facebook Page: Neuro Meghan – Follow for insights and updates on neuro-rehab.Email: meghanchemidlin@gmail.com (Meghan welcomes connections from listeners and professionals)3. Weekly Support Group:Meghan hosts a free support group for brain injury survivors and caregivers every Tuesday at 5 PM ET.It is offered in-person (in Pennsylvania) and via Zoom.To Join: Contact Meghan through her website or email for the Zoom link and details.Bethany Lewis & The Concussion Coach:Free Guide: "5 Best Ways to Support Your Loved One Dealing with a Concussion" - Download at www.theconcussioncoach.comConcussion Coaching Program: For personalized mentorship in recovery. Sign up for a free consultation HERE
Send us a textWe talk with filmmaker and actor Robert X. Golphin about Chest Candy, a 17-minute short that shows how PTSD reshapes a home and how three generations of women fight for one veteran. We explore craft choices, authentic casting, festival wins, and why community screenings matter.• origin of the story in a 30-second reel and veteran feedback• why the film focuses on family impact over battlefield scenes• research, consultants, and restraint to avoid sensationalism• casting serendipity and a military child's authentic perspective• a compressed 48-hour shoot and visual claustrophobia• festival grind, awards, and deeper validation from veterans• Brian McKnight Jr.'s intimate score and framed dedications• title meaning linking medals to family as true chest candy• veterans' benefits battles, stigma, and better language for thanks• plans for screenings, talkbacks, and possible expansionIf you want to find the short film, go to YouTube and type “Chest Candy film.” To request a screening or connect: robertxgolphin.com • robertxgolphinentertainment.com • robertxgolphinentertainment@gmail.com Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Imagine traveling down a sheet of ice at 90mph when your bobsled flips over and you slam your head into the ice wall. Meet William Person, 9 year member of the US Olympic bobsledding team. Join us as he shares his journey from college track and field, mental health advocate, member of the US Olympic bobsledding team to brain injury survivor and advocate. He saw first hand how untreated brain injuries devastate not only athletes but also military veterans and their families. William spent years in agony due to his repeated concussions. He only found relief when he began Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. His message is simple, “If your loved one is doing something that's out of the norm, get them checked out!” Individuals with CTEs do not see how their behavior impacts those around them. Loved ones do. Guest Social Media Info - https://www.instagram.com/willp1234567?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#https://www.facebook.com/william.person.792233/ https://www.facebook.com/one.man.with.a.chamber.hbot Send us a textSupport the showYou can find this episode's transcript here.New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to podcasts.
In this episode of the Great Trials Podcast, host Steve Lowry and Yvonne Godfrey welcome guest Eric Fong to discuss a significant case involving Jessica Hilton versus the Washington Department of Corrections and Child Protective Services. CASE SUMMARY: **TRIGGER WARNING** The case in focus deals with severe instances of sexual abuse, specifically involving Jessica Hilton and multiple failures of state agencies to protect her and her siblings. ERIC FONG BIO: Eric has obtained the two largest general damages jury verdicts for one person in Washington state history; $91,000,000 for a premise liability matter that resulted in a TBI and $42,000,000 for the governmental neglect of a child that resulted in abuse and PTSD. Eric began his career as a public defender, dedicating 11 years advocating for those in need — work he remains most proud of to this day. With nearly three decades of trial experience, Eric has tried over 100 cases to verdict and has received state and national trial lawyer of the year awards. In addition to his legal practice, Eric loves teaching and has been an instructor of the Gerry Spence Method for over 20 years. Eric loves working with his wife on their cut flower farm, hiking and fishing. (READ MORE) CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST: FONG LAW LISTEN TO PREVIOUS EPISODES & MEET THE TEAM: Great Trials Podcast Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Production Team: Dee Daniels Media Podcast Production Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2
Pain meds after surgery were supposed to help her heal, not take over her life. Years of prescriptions following a C-section, miscarriages, and unresolved childhood sexual trauma quietly turned into addiction, shame, and a double life that looked perfect on the outside while crumbling on the inside. When everything finally imploded, Shannon said yes to help, went to The Meadows in Arizona, and started the hard work of sobriety, inner child healing, and facing what she had been trying to numb for years. In this conversation, Shannon talks with Scott about why addiction is a symptom, not an identity, and why shame and silence keep so many vets stuck. She shares how she supports veterans, including her own partner, who survived a suicide attempt, by creating judgment-free spaces, normalizing dark thoughts, and asking the real question: why would dying feel easier than speaking up. From powerful inner child work and self-forgiveness to psychedelic-assisted healing with iboga at Ayo Life Sciences in Mexico, Shannon explains how some veterans are reducing PTSD, TBI symptoms, and pill loads while rebuilding a new sense of purpose after the uniform. They close with simple daily practices like gratitude lists, reframing painful experiences, and finding new missions through retreats and coaching that help vets move from fight-or-flight into a life that actually feels worth staying in. Timestamps: 00:01:35 - When Shannon's perfect life implodes, and she finally says yes to help 00:06:02 - Miscarriages, childhood trauma, and how prescriptions became her coping strategy 00:08:20 - Addiction as a symptom and why she refuses to shame anyone for using it to cope 00:26:35 - Inner child work, protecting the little boy who never felt safe, and why vets struggle to see themselves as worthy of love 00:31:18 - Iboga plant medicine in Mexico, massive shifts for PTSD and TBI, and why preparation and safety matter so much Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.angelgoddesshealing.com Follow Shannon Curtis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angel.goddess.healing Follow Shannon Curtis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelgoddesshealing Transcript View the transcript for this episode.
117. Ibogaine Therapy Safety & Ethics: What Responsible Care Really Looks LikeA grounded conversation on ibogaine therapy safety and ethics—covering medical oversight, risks, integration, and responsible psychedelic care.Episode SummaryIbogaine is often described as a breakthrough for addiction, trauma, and PTSD—but it's also one of the most medically complex psychedelic therapies in use today. In this episode, April Pride sits down with Tom Feegel and Talia Eisenberg, co-founders of Beond Ibogaine, to explore what ethical, medically supported ibogaine care actually requires.Together, they unpack the difference between iboga and ibogaine, why cardiac screening and clinical monitoring are non-negotiable, and how integration—not intensity—is where real change happens. Talia shares her personal recovery story, Tom explains Beond's safety-first model, and April grounds the conversation in harm reduction, nervous system care, and responsibility. This episode will help you understand the real risks, the emerging science, and the ethical questions shaping ibogaine's future—without hype or shortcuts.
Listen without ads at www.patreon.com/dopeypodcastThis week on the Monday Complete Dopey Replay! Dave kicks off the brand-new weekly series reliving the classic early episodes with Chris (starting from the beginning after lost tapes 6, 8, 10 & 12), reflecting on 10 years since Dopey launched in 2016, the frozen-in-time joy of hearing Chris's voice again, and how the show was born from two rehab friends laughing over insane drug stories. He's still riding the emotional wave from Linda's father Tony's beautiful celebration of life, got his $1,100 car repair money back after a pajama-rage showdown, and begs for any surviving lost Dopey episodes (6, 8, 10, 12) with a reward offered.New format twist: Mondays = full chronological Chris-era replays, Thursdays = Greatest Hits. Dave reads grateful/complaining listener emails (send yours: one thing you hate + one thing you're grateful for), plays Haley's legendary nitrous-at-the-dentist voicemail (huffing until she thinks she's “retarded,” crying then laughing while clapping, pure Dopey chaos), and dives into the Episode 5 replay: “Skiing Drunk, Broken Neck, TBI, Jail, and…” — Chris recounts his teenage subdural hematoma from a blackout ski crash (tuna & grape juice vomit fountain, spinal fractures, spleen rupture), court-ordered stay at a traumatic brain injury facility (diaper-wearing roommate flooding the kitchen with Apple Jacks & milk, another nonstop-talking Deadhead/skinhead roommate), sneaking out to shoot crystal meth, watching porn together, and the infamous “let me suck your dick” moment that ends the story in glorious, unfiltered Dopey style.ALL THAT PLUS EMAILS AND VOICEMAILS on a super classic episode of Dopey. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this episode, Vincent A. Lanci shares a deeply personal journey as he announces the release of his new book, "TBI Recovery," which marks the 13th anniversary of his traumatic brain injury (TBI). He reflects on the challenges he faced after being struck by a car, transitioning from a college student to a survivor navigating the complexities of recovery. Vincent emphasizes the importance of awareness surrounding TBIs and aims to provide a roadmap for others facing similar struggles through his book, which combines personal anecdotes, practical strategies, and insights from fellow survivors.Vincent discusses the misconceptions surrounding TBIs and the emotional and cognitive challenges that accompany them. He highlights the significance of community support, both from friends and strangers, and invites listeners to engage with him and share their own experiences. The episode culminates in a heartfelt call to action, encouraging listeners to pre-order TBI RECOVERY for 99 cents and to support one another in their journeys of recovery and resilience. Vincent's passion for helping others shines through as he outlines his vision for the future, including his coaching endeavors and the importance of self-care in the healing process.As You Listen00:00 Introduction and Personal Announcement 01:05 The Journey of Writing 'TBI Recovery 02:51 Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries 05:11 Community Support and Personal Reflections 09:26 Insights from Fellow TBI Survivors 12:02 Powerful Reviews and Testimonials 15:09 Future Endeavors and Coaching Plans 16:32 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action
Personal injury attorneys, listen up: Did you know that adding a neurological evaluation to your client's treatment plan could dramatically increase case value—while ensuring better patient outcomes?In this exclusive episode of Spaghetti On The Wall, Anthony Pirie from Hope Neurological breaks down why TBI (traumatic brain injury) and concussion screenings are game-changers in personal injury law. From increasing settlements to delivering real patient care, discover how neurology isn't just medicine—it's strategy.If you're serious about maximizing case results and delivering real healing, you can't afford to miss this conversation.
This week, Kyra sits down with writer and storyteller Dani Rosenblad James for a deeply moving conversation about resilience, healing, and finding your voice after life-altering trauma. After experiencing a traumatic brain injury, Dani rebuilt her life through storytelling, reflection, and community, and now helps others do the same through her work with The Storyteller's Path. Together, they explore the realities of life after TBI, the emotional and mental shifts required to move forward, and why writing can be such a powerful tool for healing and growth. Dani shares her personal journey with honesty and hope, reminding listeners that new beginnings are possible, even when life does not look the way you imagined. In this episode: ✨ Navigating life after traumatic brain injury ✨ How storytelling supports healing and mindset shifts ✨ Finding your voice after trauma ✨ The role of community and connection in recovery ✨ Why writing can unlock clarity, courage, and resilience For anyone navigating change, loss, or a season of rebuilding, this conversation offers reassurance, perspective, and encouragement to take the next step forward. Connect with Dani: Website: thestorytellerspath.com Instagram: @dani_rosenbladjames Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of the Brain and Life podcast, host Dr. Daniel Correa is joined by Brason Lee, a writer, social worker and traumatic brain injury survivor. Brason shares his journey from a severe ATV accident at 18, through rehabilitation, to a successful career in social work and advocacy. He discusses the challenges of recovery, the importance of supportive relationships, and his motivation to write and share his story to inspire others. Dr. Correa is then joined by Dr. Erika Trovato, Associate Chief Medical Officer and Chief Quality Officer at Burke Rehabilitation. Dr. Trovato discusses returning to work and your community after a TBI and building new dreams after rehabilitation. Additional Resources Surviving and Thriving After a Traumatic Brain Injury What Is Traumatic Brain Injury? How Sports Neurologists Protect Football Players' Brains Brain Injury Association of New York State Brain & Life Podcast Episodes on These Topics Veteran Lindsay Gutierrez is Reaching New Heights with Traumatic Brain Injury U.S. Soccer Legend Briana Scurry on Concussion and Mental Health Healing the Traumatized Brain with Dr. Sandeep Vaishnavi We want to hear from you! Have a question or want to hear a topic featured on the Brain & Life Podcast? · Record a voicemail at 612-928-6206 · Email us at BLpodcast@brainandlife.org Social Media: Guest: Brason Lee @brason.lee; Dr. Erika Trovato @burke_rehab Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD
In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence is joined by his own Medical Director, Dr. Maia Dorsett, to unpack the 2025 NEMSQA Measures Report — a deep dive into trauma-focused quality measures built largely from NEMSIS data. Dr. Dorsett frames the discussion around the central aim of quality improvement: Are we doing a good job? Are we delivering the best possible care? How do we get better? From pediatric vital signs to traumatic brain injury (TBI) fundamentals, she walks listeners through what the report reveals, what it can't reliably measure yet, and why some of the “sexy” procedures are too rare to serve as useful system-wide metrics. The conversation highlights a recurring theme: fundamentals matter most. Dr. Dorsett explains how measures like complete vital signs and avoiding secondary brain injury in TBI (hypoxia, hypotension, hyperventilation) can drive meaningful outcomes — even during relatively short prehospital intervals. She also points out where current measurement approaches unintentionally create documentation burden for clinicians, arguing that systems should do more of the “figuring out” (like trauma center designation and prenotification capture) without requiring extra clicks. The episode closes with a call to action: anyone can join NEMSQA, contribute to the work, and help shape what EMS quality measurement becomes next. Memorable quotes from Dr. Maia Dorsett “I think the most fundamental question in quality improvement is, are we doing a good job?” “I think part of the value of this report is specifically looking at those things and saying what should we be measuring using NEMSIS data or how should things be integrated into that database so that the answers are there rather than needing to be documented on each individual case?” “If there's one thing that you're going to take away from this trauma report is that, the sexy stuff is important, but it happens rarely. And if you want to improve care in your system, it's about the fundamentals of good care.” Additional resources NEMSQA 2025 Report Release EMS One-Stop: Leading through momentum: Dr. Douglas Kupas on steering NAEMSP Episode timeline 00:31 – Rob welcomes listeners; introduces the 2025 NEMSQA measures discussion and notes prior episode with Dr. Jeff Jarvis 01:10 – Dr. Dorsett joins; holiday surge discussion and flu impact on EDs and admissions 03:08 – Dr. Dorsett explains her role as co-chair of NEMSQA's Measure Analysis and Research Committee; trauma focus of the 2025 report; pain measures not included due to active research 05:00 – NEMSIS scale and opportunity: extracting meaningful measures from a massive national dataset 05:35 – Dr. Dorsett on what NEMSIS measures well vs. what it shouldn't force clinicians to document (system should determine trauma center status) 07:46 – “HALO procedures” table: why rare interventions shouldn't become national quality measures 10:17 – Trauma 08: complete vital signs; pediatric gap (adults ~93% vs pediatrics ~85% in discussion) 14:22 – TBI measures: preventing secondary brain injury; why fundamentals outperform “sexy” fixes; correction rates for hypotension/hypoxia discussed 21:39 – Trauma 04: trauma triage criteria and transport to trauma centers; why national measure looks low; documentation field limitations 24:17 – State collaboration comparison: using state trauma center designation data shifts performance dramatically (often 75–90%+ in examples) 26:55 – Trauma 14: hospital prenotification; importance and measurement challenges (multiple modalities, inconsistent capture) 30:01 – Rob raises operational/policy concerns about trauma alerts and incentives; Dr. Dorsett adds nuance about local criteria variation 33:22 – Closing: Dr. Dorsett's “fundamentals matter” takeaway; impact at scale 34:44 – Dr. Dorsett plugs joining NEMSQA as an individual/agency; committees are open 35:31 – NAEMSP Tampa preview; Dr. Dorsett: “The people” are why she goes — leaves energized with new ideas Enjoying the show? Email editor@ems1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for a future episode.
Send us a textWe open the year with a candid look at veteran transition, from hard knocks to a practical roadmap that turns service into civilian success. Natalie Schibell, Navy veteran and founder of Mission to Commission, shares how a 60-page playbook, secure tools, and “always care” support veterans, spouses, and even students.• origin story in Navy medicine and recruiting• painful transition lessons and repeated resets• why “everyone hires veterans” is a myth• translating rank and billets into business outcomes• the 50–60 page career strategy playbook• certifications, ATS keywords and targeted outreach• TAP strengths and limits for personalization• AI as a research and resume ally with guardrails• virtual reach, secure portal and weekly content• donations, employer matching and merch on the way• “always care” approach beyond first job offerGive Natalie a call at 877-622-7473 (RISE)“If you liked it, share it. If you didn't like it, well, thanks for watching and listening for one hour and 27 seconds.” Like, Subscribe and Share. If you have comments or suggestions email us at: vetsconnectionpodcast@gmail.com. You can also find the video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - Vetsconnection Podcast
Let us know what you think! Text us!SPONSORED BY: PURE LIBERTY LABS, PRECISION WELLNESS GROUP, and THE SPECIAL FORCES FOUNDATION In this episode of Security Halt!, host Deny Caballero interviews Anthony Smith about health issues faced by military personnel, focusing on Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC)boat operations and support roles. They discuss how repetitive head trauma, sleep loss, and blast exposure often lead to misdiagnosed traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and mental health problems.The conversation highlights shortcomings in military and VA recognition of TBI, frequent misattribution of symptoms, and the need for improved research and advocacy. Anthony also describes the 40G Reboot Foundation, which assists veterans with treatments like Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for TBI and PTSD.Overall, this episode urges greater awareness and better care for veterans coping with invisible injuries.
Injuries to the brain can impact our lives in so many different ways. Meet Dr. Collin Cooper, an Occupational Therapist specializing in stroke and brain injuries as well as hand therapy for PAM Health in Allen, TX. Learn how Dr. Cooper utilizes vagus nerve stimulation along with traditional and hand therapies to help ischemic stroke survivors improve their upper limb function. By implanting a small generator, specifically Vivistim, in the left chest and attaching a lead to the vagus nerve in the neck, stroke survivors learn how to regain arm function. Dr. Cooper walks you through the vagus nerve's functionality and how, over time, these advanced treatments help remap the brain and thereby improve a stroke survivor's overall quality of life.#PAMHEALTHGuest Social Media Info - PAM Rehabilitation Hospital of AllenSend us a textSupport the showYou can find this episode's transcript here.New episodes drop every other Thursday everywhere you listen to podcasts.
In part one of this two-part series, Dr. Neishay Ayub discusses the history of a novel anti-epileptic drug, levetiracetam. Show citations: Abou-Khalil B. Levetiracetam in the treatment of epilepsy. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2008;4(3):507-523. doi:10.2147/ndt.s2937 Löscher W, Gillard M, Sands ZA, Kaminski RM, Klitgaard H. Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A Ligands in the Treatment of Epilepsy and Beyond. CNS Drugs. 2016;30(11):1055-1077. doi:10.1007/s40263-016-0384-x Rogawski MA. Brivaracetam: a rational drug discovery success story. Br J Pharmacol. 2008;154(8):1555-1557. doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.221 Ulloa CM, Towfigh A, Safdieh J. Review of levetiracetam, with a focus on the extended release formulation, as adjuvant therapy in controlling partial-onset seizures. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2009;5:467-476. doi:10.2147/ndt.s4844 Wu PP, Cao BR, Tian FY, Gao ZB. Development of SV2A Ligands for Epilepsy Treatment: A Review of Levetiracetam, Brivaracetam, and Padsevonil. Neurosci Bull. 2024;40(5):594-608. doi:10.1007/s12264-023-01138-2 Mahmoud A, Tabassum S, Al Enazi S, et al. Amelioration of Levetiracetam-Induced Behavioral Side Effects by Pyridoxine. A Randomized Double Blind Controlled Study. Pediatr Neurol. 2021;119:15-21. doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2021.02.010 Major P, Greenberg E, Khan A, Thiele EA. Pyridoxine supplementation for the treatment of levetiracetam-induced behavior side effects in children: preliminary results. Epilepsy Behav. 2008;13(3):557-559. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.07.004 Romoli M, Perucca E, Sen A. Pyridoxine supplementation for levetiracetam-related neuropsychiatric adverse events: A systematic review. Epilepsy Behav. 2020;103(Pt A):106861. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.106861 Show transcript: Dr. Neishay Ayub: Hello, my name is Neishay Ayub, and today we are discussing the history of a novel anti-epileptic drug, levetiracetam. It's a story of a scientific dead end, a radical new testing method, and a mystery that took years to unravel. To set the scene, let's go back to 1974. The pharmaceutical company, UCB Pharma, was working on compounds to boost cognitive function. They were looking for a successor to their drug piracetam. During this research, levetiracetam was first synthesized, but the compound didn't show any significant brain-boosting effects. With no discernible purpose, it was filed away and largely forgotten. For nearly two decades, this medicine sat on a shelf an anonymous entry in a long list of failed drug candidates. The story could have ended there, but in the early 1990s, researchers took a different approach to drug discovery. Researchers screened their entire library of forgotten compounds against audiogenic seizure-susceptible mice. These are mice prone to seizures triggered by sound. Levetiracetam was incredibly ineffective in chronic epileptic mice. Interestingly, levetiracetam had previously failed traditional screening tests which was to prevent acute seizures in normal animals subjected to maximal electroshock or pentylenetetrazole. Levetiracetam was pushed forward to human clinical trials and was found to be efficacious in three placebo-controlled, randomized, blinded clinical trials for adults with refractory focal epilepsy. Two of the clinical trials reviewed levetiracetam three grams per day compared to placebo. They found the responder rate, i.e., 50% reduction in seizure frequency, was 39% to 42% for patients on three grams per day versus placebo at 10% to 16% when used as adjunctive therapy. One of these trials also used levetiracetam as monotherapy, noting a median percent reduction in focal seizure frequency of 73%, a responder rate of 59%, and 18% of patients achieving seizure freedom. In November 1999, the FDA gave its approval for adjunctive treatment of partial onset seizures. While levetiracetam was effective, how it worked was still unclear. It didn't affect the ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors that older, more traditional anti-epileptic drugs targeted. Eventually in 2004, scientists made another breakthrough. They identified the drug's primary molecular target, a protein called SV2A. This protein is involved in regulating the release of neurotransmitters. Instead of suppressing all neurologic activity, levetiracetam appears to bind to SV2A and selectively modulate neurotransmitter release in overactive seizing neurons. This precise mechanism is why it has such a favorable side effect profile. With the mystery solved and a novel mechanism understood, levetiracetam continues to be a popular anti-seizure medication to this day, and its use has been expanded. Further clinical trials led to FDA approvals for use in adult and pediatric patients with myoclonic epilepsy for myoclonic seizures as well as adult and pediatric patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy for primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. There is an off-label use for status epilepticus and seizure prophylaxis in TBI, in traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and neurosurgical cases. Formulations have also expanded to include tablets and liquid formulations for immediate release, extended-release tablets, and intravenous formulations. Today, with the original patent expired, generic versions are available, making this treatment accessible to millions. The journey of levetiracetam from an abandoned compound to a frontline treatment is a powerful reminder that in science, a failure might just be a success waiting to be tested in a different way.
Marine combat leader and entrepreneur Rich Brown shares how TBI ended his time in uniform, pushed him into building Honor Bound FIT, and led to GUIDON22, a 22-mile ruck that pairs hard miles with stories of veterans and first responders lost to suicide. You will hear how those stories, family testimonies, and simple phrases like "good friends have hard conversations" give vets a way to move, talk, and stop passing their pain to the people they love. Timestamps: 02:30: From Marine infantry and TBI to unexpected entrepreneurship 08:45: Launching Honor Bound FIT in a parking lot on Memorial Day 13:10: How GUIDON22 turns rucks and stories into suicide awareness 21:20: Passing on your pain vs letting your tribe carry it with you 33:40: Creative ruck events, community impact, and how to get involved Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.HonorBoundFIT.com Follow Rich Brown on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsRichBrown Follow Rich Brown on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisrichbrown Follow Rich Brown on Twitter/X: https://www.x.com/@sheepdogalpha1 Follow Rich Brown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheepdogalpha/ Transcript View the transcript for this episode.
In this episode, we shine a light on the unique challenges faced by Military Police (MPs) and how their demanding service often leads to both physical and mental health conditions that qualify for VA disability benefits.Military Police endure high-stress situations, exposure to trauma, and physically dangerous duties — all of which can result in long-term health issues such as PTSD, hearing loss, orthopedic injuries, and chronic pain. Yet, many MPs don't realize these conditions may be service-connected and compensable through the VA.We'll break down how to document your experiences, file strong claims, and overcome common challenges specific to MP veterans.
Let us know what you think! Text us!SPONSORED BY: PURE LIBERTY LABS, PRECISION WELLNESS GROUP, and THE SPECIAL FORCES FOUNDATION In this episode of Security Halt!, Deny Caballero is joined by Corey Russell and Peyton Smith, co-founders of ROE Labs, to discuss the realities of military transition, mental health, and brain health after service. The conversation explores how cumulative exposure, overpressure, and TBI affect veterans—and why research-backed supplements, education, and community support are critical during transition. Corey and Peyton share how their shared experiences led them to build a purpose-driven company focused on protecting the brain and empowering veterans to pursue new opportunities after the uniform comes off.
In this episode, host Rachel Land revisits topics as varied as managing our behavior during the holidays, how much to depend on technology when it comes to our health, the underestimated power of interoception, signs of undiagnosed autoimmune disorder, common symptoms pre- peri- and post-menopause, practicing in support of Rheumatoid Arthritis pain flare-ups, ADHD or recovery from Traumatic Brain Injury, and key challenges facing yoga teachers today. Listen in to this episode to hear some of the gems you might have missed during the year. — Show Notes: Changing deep-seated patterns around the holidays [01:07] Recent research: female sex hormones and inflammation [5:42] Common symptom clusters during pre- peri- and post-menopause [12:15] Red flags suggesting undiagnosed autoimmune disorder [17:28] Is wellness a personal responsibility? [21:28] Navigating new wellness technology [25:33] Yoga practice during Rheumatoid Arthritis pain flare-ups [30:39] Interoception as a learned skill [36:11] Rebuilding body awareness after Traumatic Brain Injury [42:12] Teaching cues: balancing clarity with personal choice [44:46] Repeated and predictable movement for ADHD [50:25] Creating a sustainable teaching schedule [54:10] Shifting cultural and commercial pressures for yoga teachers [1:00:32] — Links Mentioned: Watch this episode on YouTube Episode 130: When Should You NOT Teach? Teacher's Series Episode 132: Interoception Research & Yoga: Expert Insights with Valerie Knopik, PhD Episode 133: Yoga & Rheumatoid Arthritis: Expert Insights with Dr. Nikki Tugnet, FRACP Episode 134: ADHD & Yoga: Community Conversations with Emily Mariola Episode 135: Yoga as Personalized Medicine Episode 137: Funk'tional Nutrition with Erin Holt Episode 139: Experiencing Menopause: Research Roundup Episode 142: Female Hormones, Immune System, & Exercise: Research Roundup Episode 144: The Power of Language: Teachers' Series Episode 146: Hustle Culture Meets Wellness Sphere Episode 147: LoveYourBrain: Expert Insights on TBI with Kyla Pearce, MPH, PhD, CBIS, E-RYT You can learn more about this episode and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-154. And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com. To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.
Welcome to January's Papers of the Month, which marks 10 years of the podcast! First up, we look at a large multicentre cohort study from the East of England examining the association between prehospital post-intubation hypotension and mortality in severe traumatic brain injury. Preventing secondary brain injury sits at the centre of what we're try to achieve in early TBI care, but this paper quantifies the impact of post-RSI hypotension in a dramatic way and the associated increase in 30-day mortality. Our second paper moves into the world of stable supraventricular tachycardia, asking whether an elevated troponin level in this cohort predicts short-term cardiovascular events. Troponin testing in SVT is common but debated: is it useful, or is it a diagnostic red herring? Finally, we look at BICARICU-2, a major multicentre RCT examining sodium bicarbonate for severe metabolic acidemia in patients with moderate–severe AKI. We explore what this means for bicarbonate use for this group of patient, both in terms of mortality rates and the need for renal replacement therapy. Once again we'd love to hear any thoughts or feedback either on the website or via X @TheResusRoom! Simon & Rob
Welcome to the Black Dragon Biker TV New Year's Biker News Podcast! We're kicking off 2026 with the latest stories shaking up the MC world. I'm your host, bringing you straight talk on these headlines—no BS, just the facts.Two Charged After Stabbing Involving Pagan's Motorcycle Club Members (Tazewell, Tennessee)Late December 2025: A large group of Pagan's MC affiliates rolled into Catdaddy's Market in Tazewell. Things turned ugly fast—one guy stabbed in the chest, airlifted to UT Medical Center. Police chased fleeing bikers across county lines; one crashed hard.Arrests: Patrick "Troy" Warren (34, Cleveland, TN) and Christopher Hughes (45, Johnson City) charged with aggravated assault (Hughes also aggravated kidnapping/robbery). Both wore Pagan's colors.This incident sparked broader concerns about outlaw MC activity in East Tennessee—rare but raises eyebrows when it hits. Investigation ongoing with TBI and THP.2 & 6. Biker Brawl at Jolly Dolphin Leads to Lifetime Bans (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa)Boxing Day 2025 turned into a full-on fistfight at the Jolly Dolphin pub. Viral video shows rival bikers (rumored Crusaders vs. Macs) throwing punches, glasses flying, chaos on the floor.Police contained it—no criminal cases opened (no complaints filed). Venue management: "All involved permanently banned." Increased security, apology issued—urging holidaymakers to keep coming.Wild one overseas—reminder that booze + rivals can ignite anywhere.3. Claims of Bryant Police Captain's Possible Ties to Bandidos Led to Detective's Firing (Bryant, Arkansas)Former Detective Shanna Hastings sued the City of Bryant, Chief Carl Minden, and Mayor Chris Treat (December 2025). Claims retaliatory firing after raising concerns about Captain Nate Johnson's alleged Bandidos ties during a bar disturbance investigation.Hastings says she reported suspicions to prosecutor/superiors—terminated shortly after for "insubordination." Lawsuit alleges First Amendment/whistleblower violations.City hasn't responded yet. Highlights tensions when lines blur between LE and MCs.4. Thug Riders Motorcycle Club Member Pleads Guilty to RacketeeringOngoing federal RICO case against Thug Riders MC (Dayton, Ohio area). Latest: Brent Egleston ("B-Easy") pleaded guilty to attempted assault with dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering (December 2025).Part of broader indictment (murder, shootouts, arson). 10+ members already pled guilty; sentences 15-36 months so far. Club labeled violent outlaw gang.5. Outlaw Motorcycle Club Incident Sparks Concerns in East TennesseeTies directly to the Pagan's stabbing/chase in Tazewell. Local reports highlight renewed worries about outlaw MC presence/activity in the region—though experts say most clubs are lawful riding groups.7. Judge Rules Against Gang Expert Testimony in Iron Wings Motorcycle Club Assault Hearing (Erie, Pennsylvania)In the 2024 Saga Club assault case (16 Iron Wings charged with attacking Varangians MC rivals), judge barred prosecution's gang expert from testifying at preliminary hearing.Defense argued prejudicial/irrelevant; judge agreed. Weakens "organized gang" angle for now—hearing proceeds without expert.That's the rundown for early 2026—plenty of heat from Pagan's action to courtroom battles. What stands out to you? Call in or comment—let's discuss!Stay safe out there, brothers.Ride free in the new year. This is Black Dragon Biker TV—out.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dragon-s-lair-motorcycle-chaos--3267493/support.Sponsor the channel by signing up for our channel memberships. You can also support us by signing up for our podcast channel membership for $9.99 per month, where 100% of the membership price goes directly to us at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-.... Follow us on:Instagram: BlackDragonBikerTV TikTok: BlackDragonBikertv Twitter: jbunchiiFacebook: BlackDragonBikerBuy Black Dragon Merchandise, Mugs, Hats, T-Shirts Books: https://blackdragonsgear.comDonate to our cause:Cashapp: $BikerPrezPayPal: jbunchii Zelle: jbunchii@aol.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BlackDragonNPSubscribe to our new discord server https://discord.gg/dshaTSTSubscribe to our online news magazine www.bikerliberty.comGet 20% off Gothic biker rings by using my special discount code: blackdragon go to http://gthic.com?aff=147Join my News Letter to get the latest in MC protocol, biker club content, and my best picks for every day carry. https://johns-newsletter-43af29.beehi... Get my Audio Book Prospect's Bible an Audible: https://adbl.co/3OBsfl5Help us get to 30,000 subscribers on www.instagram.com/BlackDragonBikerTV on Instagram. Thank you!We at Black Dragon Biker TV are dedicated to bringing you the latest news, updates, and analysis from the world of bikers and motorcycle clubs. Our content is created for news reporting, commentary, and discussion purposes. Under Section 107 of the Copyright
Ian, was an adult student at Lindamood-Bell, a veteran, and husband. While serving in the armed services, specialists discovered that he had sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from an accident that happened a year before. He came to us full of self-doubt and frightened. His memory, reading and comprehension skills, math skills, and relationships were affected. Listen to his inspirational story of success, achieved through dedication and hard work.
Welcome to Part Two of the Best of The Life Stylist Podcast 2025. This episode is both a reflection and a deep thank-you to the listeners who continue to choose long-form conversation, nuance, and depth in a world built on distraction and noise.In this curated collection, we revisit some of the most expansive and boundary-pushing conversations of the year—dialogues that venture into territory most shows won't touch. You'll hear Erwan Le Corre challenge modern fitness myths and reframe movement as a return to our humanity; Melissa Kupsch unpack the true nature of homeopathy and personal autonomy; and Jim Poole explain how NuCalm works at a neurological level to unlock calm and flow without decades of practice.We also explore the sacred lineage of iboga with Tricia Eastman, question conventional narratives about Earth's history with Mike Wilkerson, and reimagine money as energy and consciousness with Elizabeth Ralph.The episode continues with candid conversations on censorship, sovereignty, food systems, ritual, and ancient memory—each pointing back to a central theme: thinking clearly, feeling deeply, and reclaiming authority over your own life.As 2025 closes and we look toward a year of integration and embodiment, this episode is an invitation to ask better questions—and to carry what you've learned into lived experience.DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and not intended for diagnosing or treating illnesses. The hosts disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects from using the information presented. Consult your healthcare provider before using referenced products. This podcast may include paid endorsements.THIS SHOW IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:BIOPTIMIZERS | You can use the code LUKE15 for 15% off at bioptimizers.com/lukeLEELA QUANTUM TECH | Go to lukestorey.com/leelaq and use the code LUKE10 for 10% off their product line.EONS | Visit lukestorey.com/eons and use code LUKE20 to save 20%.SUNLIGHTEN | Save up to $600 when you go to lukestorey.com/sunlighten and use code LUKESTOREY in the pricing form.MORE ABOUT THIS EPISODE:(00:00:00) 607: Breathing Less to Experience More: The Inner Dive of BreathHoldWork & MovNat w/ Erwan Le Corre(00:15:25) 612: Suppressed Solutions: Homeopathy for Fertility, Hormones, & Ancestral Pain w/ Melissa Kupsch(00:25:23) 613: NuCalm: Silence Stress, Meditate Like a Monk, & Access Flow State on Demand w/ Jim Poole(00:35:30) 614: The Heart of Iboga: Ancient Healing, Modern Maladies—PTSD, TBI, & Addiction w/ Tricia Eastman(00:47:34) 618: Are Mountains the Corpses of Titans? Giant Trees, Fossil Beasts, & Earth's Hidden History w/ Mike Wilkerson(00:57:03) 619: Sacred Currency: Bridging Frequency, Flow, and Financial Power w/ Elizabeth Ralph(01:10:16) 620: The Fight for Vaccine Truth: Banned, Blacklisted, and Still Speaking Out w/ Andrew Wakefield(01:24:15) 623: Soil, Sovereignty, & Sacred Self-Reliance: Accelerate Your Homesteading Journey w/ Curtis Stone(01:34:46) 630: Oracle Arts & Ancient Mysteries: Ritual, Remembrance, & Restoration w/ Isis...
Monty L. Cain is the owner and managing attorney at Cain Law Injury Attorneys, based in Oklahoma City. With nearly 30 years of trial experience, he specializes in personal injury litigation, with a focus on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and trucking accidents, and has recovered over $100 million in verdicts and settlements for clients. Monty is widely recognized for his appellate win in Fox v. Mize, which expanded negligent-entrustment claims against unsafe commercial carriers—reshaping how trucking cases are tried in Oklahoma and beyond. In this episode, Monty shares how he treats law like customer service, retooling intake, and training his team to spot mild TBI patterns; he uncovered value hiding in plain sight. On trucking files, he goes past the driver to expose carrier‑level failures—and he helped cement the right to bring those claims in Oklahoma courts. The result: more signed cases, stronger case value, and referrals that snowball. Listen to the full episode with Monty Cain on Personal Injury Mastermind, powered by Rankings.io below: Spotify Apple Podcasts Watch the Episodes On YouTube Monty Cain: Cain Law Injury Attorneys If you like what you hear, hit subscribe. We do this every week. Get Social! Personal Injury Mastermind (PIM) powered by Rankings.io is on Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
In this final episode of the year,Vincent A. Lanci shares his ongoing journey of recovery from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) + his surprise announcement: a Brain Injury Recovery Book for Families and Survivors and his TBI Recovery Coaching Practice.He reflects on the challenges faced during his hospital stay, the confusion between dreams and reality, and the importance of a support system. Lanci discusses the ramping up of therapy sessions and the emotional rollercoaster of recovery, emphasizing the need for resilience and positivity. He also hints at future developments in his coaching practice and the roadmap for brain injury recovery he plans to introduce.As You Listen:00:00 Introduction to the Journey 03:48 Facing the Reality of TBI 09:58 Therapy and Recovery Progress 12:46 Looking Ahead: Independence and Support"I hope I'm here to help.""It was extremely scary."
In June of 2021, a little girl went missing from her family's rural property in Tennessee. The case got the national attention most missing persons advocates would love to have, but then it went too far and impeded the investigation. While we debate the balance between reporting information and hurting a case, Summer Moo n-Utah Wells remains missing to this day. This case is *unsolved*If you know anything about the disappearance of Rose Bly, you can call the Polk County police at 715-485-8300. If you know anything about the disappearance of Summer Wells, you can call the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND or NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST.Support the show!Get the exclusive show Beyond the Files plus Crimelines episodes ad free onSupercast: https://crimelines.supercast.com/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/crimelinesApple Subscriptions: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crimelines-true-crime/id1112004494 For one time support:https://www.basementfortproductions.com/supportLinks to all my socials and more:https://linktr.ee/crimelinesSources:2025 Crimelines Podcast Source List Transcript: https://app.podscribe.ai/series/3790If an exact transcript is needed, please request at crimelinespodcast@gmail.com Licensing and credits:Theme music by Scott Buckley https://www.scottbuckley.com.au/Cover Art by Lars Hacking from Rusty HingesCrimelines is a registered trademark of Crimelines LLC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Most people stay locked in a constant sympathetic state without realizing it, which drains focus, sleep quality, emotional balance, and long-term resilience. This episode gives you a science backed path to retrain your nervous system, improve heart rate variability, and shift out of stress on command using focused ultrasound technology that targets the vagus nerve. Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR Host Dave Asprey talks with Jon Hacker, CEO of NeurGear and creator of ZenBud. Jon is a biomedical engineer who has dedicated his career to bridging neuroscience and daily wellness. His work includes peer reviewed clinical research on anxiety, PTSD, autonomic regulation, and non invasive vagus nerve stimulation. He is one of the first innovators to bring focused ultrasound out of the lab and into a practical wearable designed to help people regulate state, build resilience, and create more conscious control over their biology. In this conversation, Dave and Jon break down how ultrasound activates the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, why most electrical vagus nerve devices fail, and what actually happens in the first three to five minutes when the system begins shifting out of sympathetic activation. Jon explains how early trauma wires the autonomic system, why chronic stress is often physiological rather than psychological, and how daily stimulation strengthens vagal tone through Hebbian learning. They also explore how HRV reflects hidden state changes, how nervous system training supports clearer thinking and better emotional regulation, and why this type of tech matters as AI, algorithms, and modern stressors continue to push people into dysregulated states. You'll Learn: • Why sympathetic dominance is so widespread in the modern environment • How the vagus nerve influences stress, recovery, inflammation, and emotional balance • What makes focused ultrasound more precise than electrical vagus nerve stimulation • How ZenBud produced a 78 percent remission rate in clinical anxiety research • How early trauma alters autonomic patterns and keeps people in hidden fight or flight • How three to five minutes of stimulation can reset state during panic or overwhelm • Why daily use strengthens vagal tone and builds long term resilience • How HRV training, consciousness practices, and nervous system workouts fit together • Why noninvasive brain interfaces may become the safer future path as AI advances This episode is essential for anyone interested in biohacking, stress physiology, nervous system training, emotional regulation, HRV, meditation, trauma recovery, longevity, and building a more adaptable brain and body. It gives you a practical look at how the autonomic system really works and how focused ultrasound may change the future of human performance. Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient. Keywords: focused ultrasound vagus nerve stimulation, autonomic nervous system regulation, sympathetic dominance recovery, auricular vagus nerve activation, heart rate variability training, anxiety remission ultrasound, PTSD autonomic modulation, Hebbian learning vagal tone, parasympathetic state shift, ultrasound neuromodulation research, trauma induced nervous system wiring, panic attack recovery tools, non invasive brain interface, emotional regulation biohacking, stress physiology retraining, early adverse events autonomic impact, vagus nerve inflammation pathway, TBI secondary injury prevention, ultrasound neural action potentials, HRV resilience protocols Resources: • Go to http://www.zenbud.health/dave and use code ‘Dave15' for a discount! You'll also receive: 3 months of ear buds 3 months of silicone gel 1 copy of Heavily Meditated 1 bottle of Daily Zen supplement by Vatellia Life (60 day supply) • Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to https://daveasprey.com/ to join Inside Track today. • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15 • My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off) • Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off) • Dave Asprey's BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey's New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 0:00 – Trailer 2:00 – Intro 8:04 – Understanding Stress and the Vagus Nerve 14:14 – Jon's Story and Why He Built ZenBud 16:17 – How Vagus Nerve Stimulation Works 21:07 – Using ZenBud and Clinical Results 24:23 – Why We're All So Anxious 30:54 – Longevity, TBI and Recovery 44:01 – The Future of Brain Computer Interfaces 50:54 – Closing Thank you to our sponsors! -LYMA | Go to https://lyma.sjv.io/gOQ545 and use code DAVE10 for 10% off the LYMA Laser. -TRU KAVA | Go to https://trukava.com/ and use code DAVE10 for 10% off. -BodyHealth | Go to https://bodyhealth.com/ and use code DAVE20 to save 20% off your first order of PerfectAmino. -Leela Quantum Tech | Check out all HEAL360 products and research and get 10% off at https://leelaq.com/DAVE. 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View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter Dom D'Agostino is a neuroscientist and professor at the forefront of metabolic therapies, including ketogenic diets, exogenous ketones, and hyperbaric oxygen. In this episode, Dom breaks down nutritional versus supplemental ketosis, defines meaningful ketone thresholds, and outlines practical ways to achieve ketosis. He explains how a ketogenic diet can support metabolic health and weight loss, and advises on how to maintain adequate protein and avoid common mistakes. Dom surveys the growing landscape of exogenous ketones—from salts and esters to 1,3-butanediol—and effective pairings like caffeine, MCT oil, and alpha-GPC. He highlights the role of ketogenic therapy in cancer (particularly glioblastoma) and its promise for neurodegenerative diseases. The conversation also covers recommended hyperbaric oxygen protocols for brain injuries and cognitive function, situations where fasting or ketones offer cognitive and anti-inflammatory benefits, and touches on the carnivore diet as a ketogenic variant with potential relevance for autoimmune and metabolic conditions. We discuss: Dom and Peter's shared interest in ketosis, and Dom's scientific journey [2:30]; Dom's work for the Navy on oxygen toxicity [7:00]; Nutritional ketosis defined: physiology, biomarkers, and how fasting and diet generate therapeutic ketones [15:00]; The historical roots of ketogenic diets in epilepsy treatment, and evidence showing ketones reduce seizure activity and strengthen brain resilience [19:00]; Dom's personal experience on the ketogenic diet: tracking macros, getting enough protein, and monitoring ketone levels [24:15]; Using a ketogenic diet for weight loss: Dom's guidance on protein, fiber, calorie tracking, lipid monitoring, and more [31:00]; Protein on ketogenic diets: Dom's rationale for higher intake and muscle preservation [38:00]; Incorporating carbohydrates into keto: timing, high-fiber foods, and other considerations [41:30]; The carnivore diet: whether this diet induces ketosis, how it functions metabolically, and why it may help individuals with autoimmune conditions [44:15]; Early exogenous ketones: how 1,3-butanediol works, its liver toxicity risk, and why ketone esters replaced it [48:15]; The progression of exogenous ketones: why BHB monoesters and ketone salts emerged as better alternatives to 1,3-butanediol for ketone supplementation [59:30]; Ketone salts: easing the transition into ketosis, dosing, and how they compare to ketone esters [1:04:00]; The differences between D- and L-β-hydroxybutyrate, and how racemic mixtures may elevate ketones longer and offer unique biological effects [1:09:30]; How ketosis may boost NAD, and why NAD supplements have fallen short so far [1:16:30]; Emerging evidence for using a ketogenic diet to treat anorexia and other psychiatric disorders [1:20:30]; Potential cognitive and performance benefits of ketone supplementation, and why pushing ketones too high can be dangerous [1:23:45]; Applications for ketone esters, and why ketone salts or MCT-blended formulations may be safer and more practical for most people [1:29:15]; The role of a ketogenic diet in treating cancer [1:34:45]; The potential of a ketogenic diet for treating Alzheimer's disease [1:45:45]; Tools for cognitive enhancement: ketones, alpha-GPC, MCT, caffeine, strategic fasting, and more [1:53:45]; Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for concussion, TBI, PTSD, and cognitive function, including protocols and dosing approaches [1:55:30]; Peter's takeaways, recommended products, and additional resources to learn more [2:03:00]; and More. Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube
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