In this episode of the Brain & Life Podcast, co-host Dr. Daniel Correa is joined by Tola Andu, an autism advocate and content creator who shares her journey raising her 19-year-old son Kevin on social media under the handle @RaisingKevin_. Her platform sheds light on autism and offers a joyful perspective on raising a neurodivergent child. Tola discusses her passion for changing the narrative surrounding autism and advocating for acceptance and understanding, especially within the Nigerian community. Dr. Correa is then joined by Dr. Dan Geschwind, a professor and academic and research leader at the UCLA, and one of the world’s leading experts on autism who guided development of the Autism Genetic Resources Exchange alongside Cure Autism Now, currently run by Autism Speaks. Dr. Geschwind explains risk factors, diagnostic processes, and what research is being done in the autism community.

Additional Resources

Raising Kevin

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

What Does Neurodivergent Mean?

A Theater Group That Features Neurodiversity on the Stage

Other Brain & Life Podcast Episodes

From Adolescence to Adulthood: Exploring Autism with Abbey and Christine Romeo

‘Bake Off’ Star Lizzie Acker on Showstopping Cakes through Neurodivergent Eyes

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: Tola Andu @RaisingKevin_; Dr. Dan Geschwind @uclacart

Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

In this episode of the Brain & Life Podcast, co-host Dr. Katy Peters is joined by Shea Hammond, athlete and founder of CP Soccer. Shea shares about his personal experience growing up with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and how staying active and working with a physical therapist has helped him continue to reach his goals. He also discusses CP Soccer’s mission, to build a nationwide soccer league for kids who are affected by cerebral palsy, stroke or traumatic brain injury, and what’s next for the organization. Dr. Peters is then joined by Dr. Mauricio Delgado, professor of neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, former president of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and co-founder member of the Mexican Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Dr. Delgado explains how CP is diagnosed and treated, and what the future for those affected and their caregivers looks like.

Additional Resources

CP Soccer

Biking Gives Freedom to a Teen with Cerebral Palsy

How Parents Advocate for Their Children with Rare Diseases

Other Brain & Life Podcast Episodes

RJ Mitte on Living Confidently with Cerebral Palsy

Gavin McHugh is Building an Acting Career and a Community with Cerebral Palsy

Josh Blue Uses Humor to Ease the Stigma Around Cerebral Palsy

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

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Social Media: Shea Hammond @shea_hammond; Dr. Mauricio Delgado @utswmedcenter

Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

In this episode, Brain & Life Podcast co-hosts Dr. Daniel Correa and Dr. Katy Peters answers your questions. They explain stiff person syndrome, prosopagnosia (also known as face blindness,) lissencephaly, and how to talk about functional neurologic disorder symptoms to your loved ones and other medical providers.

Additional Resources

Celine Dion’s Diagnosis Raises Awareness of Stiff Person Syndrome

What Is a Functional Neurologic Disorder?

What is Prosopagnosia?

How Caregivers Deal with Anticipatory Grief

FND Courage

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

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Social Media:

Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

In this week’s episode, Brain & Life Podcast hosts Dr. Daniel Correa and Dr. Katy Peters share some of their favorite articles in the most recent issue of Brain & Life Magazine. They discuss dancing for brain health, invisible illnesses, recognizing signs of depression in people with neurologic conditions, and more. If you would like to read these articles, be sure to subscribe to Brain & Life Magazine for free!

Brain & Life Articles Mentioned

How Dance Promotes Brain Health

Understanding the Impact of Invisible Illnesses on Daily Life

Why it’s Important to Recognize Signs of Depression in People with Neurologic Disorders

Other Brain & Life Podcast Episodes

Professional Dancers on Connecting the Mind and Body for Optimal Performance

Courtney Platt Dances Through Life with Multiple Sclerosis

U.S. Soccer Legend Briana Scurry on Concussion and Mental Health

Veteran Lindsay Gutierrez is Reaching New Heights with Traumatic Brain Injury

Biking for Multiple Sclerosis Awareness with Amazing Race Host Phil Keoghan

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:

Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

In this episode of the Brain & Life Podcast, host Dr. Daniel Correa is joined by adventure athlete, best-selling author, activist, and Emmy-award winner Rebecca Rusch. Rebecca tells the story of her Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and how it led her on a new journey of healing and recovery. Dr. Correa is then joined by Dr. José Posas, board certified sports neurologist with a focus on the intersection of sports, neurology, and brain health. Dr. Posas explains TBI treatment options for all and the importance of reducing healthcare disparities and using innovation to improve care.

Additional Resources

Who is Rebecca Rusch?

How to Deal with Invisible Symptoms of Neurologic Disorders

Surviving and Thriving After a Traumatic Brain Injury

How Yoga Can Help People with Traumatic Brain Injury

Other Brain & Life Podcast Episodes

Veteran Lindsay Gutierrez is Reaching New Heights with Traumatic Brain Injury

Healing the Traumatized Brain with Dr. Sandeep Vaishnavi

Julia Easterlin on Being a Performer with Migraine

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

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Social Media: Rebecca Rusch @RebeccaRusch; Dr. Jose Posas @uvahealth

Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

In part two of this episode, Brain & Life Podcast host Dr. Daniel Correa is joined by Brendan Cusick and Patrick Morrissey, two of the four members of the team who completed what is considered the World's Toughest Row and raised over 40 million dollars for increased research for Parkinson’s disease. Patrick himself lives with an early Parkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosis and still found his own way to manage symptoms and become the first person with PD to complete this challenge. Brendan and Patrick discuss how this experience changed their lives once they got home and what they took away from it. Dr. Correa is then joined by Dr. Jori Fleisher, a movement disorder specialist at Rush University Medical Center, and a passionate advocate for people and families living with advanced Parkinson's and related conditions. Dr. Fleisher discusses Parkinson’s treatment options and how caregivers can be best supported.

Additional Resources

Swimming Helps to Manage Parkinson’s Disease

The Benefits of Rock Climbing for Parkinson’s Disease

Margie Alley Plays Ping-Pong to Cope with Parkinson’s Disease

Other Brain & Life Podcast Episodes

World’s Toughest Row with Brendan Cusick and Pat Morrissey: Part One

NBA Star Brian Grant Living On Time with Parkinson’s

Ed Begley Jr. on Utilizing a Healthy Lifestyle to Thrive with Parkinson’s Disease

How American Ninja Warrior Jimmy Choi Rose Above Parkinson’s

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: Brendan Cusick and Patrick Morrissey @humanpoweredpotential; Dr. Jori Fleisher @RushMedical

Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

In this two-part episode, Brain & Life Podcast host Dr. Daniel Correa is joined by Brendan Cusick and Patrick Morrissey, two of the four members of the team who completed what is considered the World's Toughest Row and raised over 40 million dollars for increased research for Parkinson’s disease. Patrick himself lives with an early Parkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosis and still found his own way to manage symptoms and become the first person with PD to complete this challenge. Brendan and Patrick discuss what led them to this journey and how Patrick managed symptoms during the challenge. Dr. Correa is then joined by Dr. Jori Fleisher, a movement disorder specialist at Rush University Medical Center, and a passionate advocate for people and families living with advanced Parkinson's and related conditions. Dr. Fleisher explains Parkinson’s and why movement is so vital for those affected.

Additional Resources

Swimming Helps to Manage Parkinson’s Disease

The Benefits of Rock Climbing for Parkinson’s Disease

Margie Alley Plays Ping-Pong to Cope with Parkinson’s Disease

Other Brain & Life Podcast Episodes

NBA Star Brian Grant Living On Time with Parkinson’s

Ed Begley Jr. on Utilizing a Healthy Lifestyle to Thrive with Parkinson’s Disease

How American Ninja Warrior Jimmy Choi Rose Above Parkinson’s

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: Brendan Cusick and Patrick Morrissey @humanpoweredpotential; Dr. Jori Fleisher @RushMedical

Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

In this episode, Brain & Life Podcast co-hosts Dr. Katy Peters is joined by Kitty Norton, the director of documentary called Wine, Women, & Dementia. Kitty shares about her experience caring for her mother as she lived with dementia and how in her film, she uses her unique experiences to share how patients with dementia are living and how their caregivers are coping with caring for their loved ones. Dr. Peters is then joined by Dr. Victoria Pelak, Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine with subspecialty fellowship training in Neuro-ophthalmology and subspecialty certification in Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry. Dr. Pelak explains what dementia is and how important the role caregivers play is.

Additional Resources

Wine, Women, and Dementia Film

Advice for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Dementia

Five Ways to Address the Stress of Caring for Someone with Dementia

A Dementia Handbook for Patients and Families

Other Brain & Life Podcast Episodes

Navigating Complicated Caregiving Journeys with Jacquelyn Revere

Journalist, Producer Kitty Eisele’s Honest Recount of Her Time as Caregiver

The ‘Humor and Heartache’ of Caregiving with Filmmaker Michelle Boyaner

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: Kitty Norton @winewomenanddementia; Dr. Victoria Pelak @cuneurology

Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD