Brain Wellness - the Podcast

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Brain Wellness - the Podcast

Hosted by Mandi, NP with 20+ years in healthcare, talking all things brain health & wellness

01/10/2025

It’s a beautiful day for a new podcast episode! Episode 116 is now available!

A fellow TBI survivor, Chaandani Khan became a post concussive symptom expert through lived experience. We take a deep dive into what constitutes post concussive symptoms, how priorities change after a concussion/TBI, and the need for more help navigating recovery. We also discuss our shared mission to help others through the recovery process.

Tune in to hear the full interview now!

Find the episode on your favorite platform at https://bio.link/brainwellnessnp

01/03/2025

It’s new podcast episode day - the first of the new year! Episode 115 is available today!

Dr. Njideka Olatunde joins me for a deep dive into reflexology - how she found it, what it’s useful for, and how she incorporates it into her naturopathic practice. We’ve probably all had reflexology done at some point in our lives without even knowing it, and she explains how.

Tune in to hear the full interview now!

Find the episode on your favorite platform at https://bio.link/brainwellnessnp

01/01/2025

Happy New Year, friends!

What will you do this year? What kind of year will you make this? You have more control than you think, so don’t underestimate yourself!

I don’t believe in resolutions because most people don’t stick to them. I just set goals and work toward them. I set goals I know I can reach and I set some goals I know will be a stretch, because you don’t often grow inside of your comfort zone.

Kiss 2024 goodbye, because you’re not going back there. Here’s to another new year, with new opportunities for health and happiness!

12/31/2024

Almost every group I’m in on social media has been asking how the year was. It’s that time of year when everyone wants to know how successful you were in the last 365 days…

You know what I did? I survived. Sometimes that’s the biggest success of all. We all have struggles, we all have something going on. We may have financial concerns, health concerns, family drama, work stress, all of the above, or a multitude of other possibilities.

I remember when I was a new mom, the success was making it through the day and keeping another human alive. These days, it’s a success to keep ourselves alive sometimes.

So don’t stress about what you did or didn’t do this year, how successful you may be compared to others, and try not to let the social media comparison game get to you. You survived another year - congratulations for that!

12/27/2024

It’s a beautiful day for a new podcast episode! Episode 114 is available today!

I’m solo this week and start with a wrap up of 2024, then move to talking about concussion mimics. All too often, people get misdiagnosed or a diagnosis is missed completely. I share some of these misdiagnoses and discuss how we can try to identify what the true causes of symptoms is.

Tune in to hear the full interview now!

Find the episode on your favorite platform at https://bio.link/brainwellnessnp

12/23/2024

It’s that time of year. We say ‘Happy Holidays’ to just about everyone we meet - it covers all the holidays that occur this time of year, whatever you celebrate.

But what about those people who don’t celebrate? Or what about someone who has to figure out how to celebrate differently this year? Somewhere, someone is experiencing their first holiday without a parent, a child, or a best friend. Someone doesn’t have the finances to provide the holiday that they want to for their family. Someone is paralyzed by depression because of something in their life, or for no reason at all.

We say ‘Happy Holidays’ but it may not be a happy one for all we say it to. But they will do the socially appropriate thing most of the time and say thanks, you too.

Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum of feelings this holiday season, please remember that you are loved and worthy just for the sole purpose of being you. You don’t have to do anything to earn it. And whatever dark time you may be experiencing right now will not always be this dark. There will be healing. There will be better times. You’ve survived 100% of your hard days this far - you will continue. And if you can find the happiness in the season - keep doing that! Choose happiness and love. I wish peace for all of you!

12/20/2024

It’s new podcast episode day! Episode 113 is available today!

Dr. Mike Stone joins me for a deep dive into what it means to practice conscious medicine, how switching from emergency medicine to concierge (conscious) medicine helped him become healthier and really focus on helping others have their best health, and why he finds cognitive health important in his practice. A very insightful conversation!

Tune in to hear the full interview now!

Find the episode on your favorite platform at https://bio.link/brainwellnessnp

12/19/2024

We are typically our own worst critics, full of self loathing and self deprecation (or self defection, as my husband calls it). We beat ourselves up when we make a mistake or respond differently than we liked. We are harder on ourselves than we would ever think to be with anyone else.

We often show others entirely way more compassion than we show ourselves. If we heard anyone say the things to someone else that we say to ourselves, we would not tolerate it. And most of us would never imagine saying the things to others that we say to ourselves.

Why do we do these things? It could be due to unrealistic expectations, past negative experiences, low self esteem, perfectionism, or learned internal criticism from others, or some combination of these causes.

This is something I struggle with, also, even more so since my TBI. I struggle because I’m not back to there I want to be yet. I’ve had multiple therapists and providers tell me I need to be kinder to myself and I’m passing this advice along because we all need to hear it!

12/13/2024

It’s a beautiful day for a new podcast episode! Episode 112 is available today!

I’m back to the ABCs of Concussion this week with the letter C! There are so many good topics to cover each week, of things that people who experience a concussion/TBI live with on a regular basis, unfortunately. Whether that’s you, or you have symptoms that you don’t know what they’re from, or you’re the provider who needs more education on what to watch for with your patients - this is a great series for you to follow!

Tune in to hear the full interview now!

Find the episode on your favorite platform at https://bio.link/brainwellnessnp

12/06/2024

It’s a beautiful day for a new podcast episode! Episode 111 is now available!

Dr. Amy Novotny joins me to discuss how things like chronic pain and anxiety (and even TBI) can change our breathing patterns, related to our autonomic nervous system. We took a deep dive into what causes these changes and how to start correcting the improper breathing patterns to relieve these conditions.

Tune in to hear the full interview now!

Find the episode on your favorite platform at https://bio.link/brainwellnessnp

12/04/2024

Do you ever feel like maybe you didn’t need to be as dramatic about something because in the end it worked out just fine?

All too often, especially when we’re living in crisis mode, chronic fight or flight, in sympathetic nervous system overdrive, we get anxious about so many things. Troubleshooting simple things turns into feeling like it’s the end of the world…until the solution makes itself clear. Then we can complete the task(s) at hand and look back at how we reacted.

It’s often at that moment when we look back that we think “yeah ok maybe I overreacted a bit”. We may or may not admit that to someone else when it happens.

I have noticed this with myself far too often since my accident. I have been in chronic fight or flight mode, and any little stressor throws me over the figurative edge. Take tonight, for example: I had 3 children who were coming and going from activities that overlapped and mom’s taxi service had to be in full swing. Before we knew about all of these activities, my husband had been invited out to a hockey game with one of his buddies. He was overdue for getting together with friends so I was glad to let him go. Once I realized what that meant for me tonight after learning of the 3rd activity that was going to throw off the evening’s schedule, I had a mini-meltdown. In the end, it worked out just fine, but I had no way of knowing it would.

I saw a version of this meme recently and it resonated with this version of me - it’ll all be fine in the end, but I just need to be dramatic for a moment first.

On the podcast recently I’ve had so many great guests come on to talk about how to deal with chronic stress and how to calm our bodies and minds - practicing these techniques can help us deal with the unexpected stressors better - we can be more proactively resilient and take things in stride better so that we don’t require all the drama. I’ve identified this need in myself and am working on it. How about you? Have you noticed these feelings? Are you taking steps to improve and be more calm?

11/29/2024

It’s a beautiful day for a new podcast episode! Episode 110 is now available!

Jenn Fredericks joins me for a deep dive into what it means to be prosilient - what the difference is between resilience and prosilience, how to become prosilient, and the benefits of being prosilient. I had not heard of this term before, but it’s not one of my favorites - there’s so much we can all learn from this conversation!

Tune in to hear the full interview now!

Find the episode on your favorite platform at https://bio.link/brainwellnessnp

11/29/2024

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11/22/2024

It’s new podcast episode day! Episode 109 is now available!

Jamie Nicole joins me for a deep dive into what can trigger autoimmune flares, how the AIP (autoimmune protocol) can be helpful and what exactly it is. We also talked about some of the challenges of following the AIP. She has great insights to offer!

Tune in to hear the full interview now!

Find the episode on your favorite platform at https://bio.link/brainwellnessnp

11/15/2024

It’s a beautiful day for a new podcast episode! Episode 108 is now available!

Dr. Michael Kaufman joins me for a deep dive into what servant leadership is, why healthcare employees are perfectly positioned for leadership positions, and how the idea of leadership is important for our brain health. He shares so many insights from his background in social work and we had a fantastic conversation!

Tune in to hear the full interview now!

Find the episode on your favorite platform at https://bio.link/brainwellnessnp

11/11/2024

Our brains need breaks. For that matter, our bodies need breaks. We’re all really good at running ourselves ragged, burning both ends of the candle, but we aren’t often good at the taking breaks part.

Since I’ve been on this journey of recovery after brain injury, I’ve been forced to take breaks. My body and my brain force me, whether I want to or not. My occupational therapist has told me on many occasions that I need to schedule breaks, and schedule them BEFORE I think I’ll need them. Because that is how I will start to be able to last longer.

Years ago I learned while I was training for one of my half marathons that if you do a walk/run you can actually finish faster than someone who tries to run straight through, because you give yourself “breaks” from running as you go along and your running times will actually be faster and you become more efficient.

This same rule applies to your brain. But I literally just put these two thoughts together myself. If you give yourself brain breaks, you’ll be more efficient when you need to use your brain again, when you have to exert mental energy. So take the breaks. Take them often. Take them intentionally. And take them before you NEED them, because then you won’t push yourself too far before you take a break, at which point it’ll take longer to recover.

11/08/2024

It’s a beautiful day for a new podcast episode! Episode 107 is available today!

I’m back to the ABCs of Concussion this week with the letter B! There are so many good topics to cover each week, of things that people who experience a concussion/TBI live with on a regular basis, unfortunately. Whether that’s you, or you have symptoms that you don’t know what they’re from, or you’re the provider who needs more education on what to watch for with your patients - this is a great series for you to follow!

Tune in to hear the full interview now!

Find the episode on your favorite platform at https://bio.link/brainwellnessnp

11/01/2024

It’s new podcast episode day! Episode 106 is now available!

Shaye Woodward joins me for a deep dive into ADHD - why women get diagnosed later, how it might look different in women, how a TBI may increase ADHD, and more. We laugh, yet we’re serious.

Tune in to hear the full interview now!

Find the episode on your favorite platform at https://bio.link/brainwellnessnp

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Sneak peek for this week’s podcast episode! Chaandani Khan joins me for a discussion about persistent post concussive symptoms - and in this clip shares exactly what that means. As a fellow TBI warrior, she has become an expert through lived experience, and shares her insights. Tune in Friday for the full interview! #brainwellness #brainhealth #brainwellnessthepodcast #brainwellnessnp #nursepractitioner #neuronurse #neurology #podcast #tbi #tbirecovery #traumaticbraininjury #braininjury #headinjury #concussion #concussionrecovery #concussionawareness #postconcussionsyndrome #postconcussivesymptoms #persistentpostconcussionsymptoms #healthcoach

Sneak peek for this week’s podcast episode! Dr. Njideka Olatunde joins me to talk about reflexology and how she incorporates this into her toolbox for her naturopathic practice. In this clip, she gives an example of how reflexology might be used for back pain. Tune in Friday for the full episode! #brainhealth #brainwellness #brainwellnessthepodcast #brainwellnessnp #nursepractitioner #neuronurse #neurology #podcast #reflexology #naturopathy #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathicdoctor

Sneak peek for this week’s podcast episode! This is the last episode of 2024! I’ll wrap up the year and talk about some concussion mimics that people may get misdiagnosed as. Tune in Friday for the full episode! #brainwellness #brainwellnessthepodcast #brainwellnessnp #brainhealth #nursepractitioner #neuronurse #neurology #podcast #tbi #tbirecovery #traumaticbraininjury #braininjury #headinjury #concussion #concussionrecovery #concussionawareness #tbiawareness #tbisurvivor #misdiagnosis #misdiagnosed #misseddiagnosis

Sneak peek for this week’s podcast episode! Dr. Mike Stone joins me for a discussion on how switching from emergency medicine to “conscious medicine” - his version of concierge medicine - allowed him to truly start helping people live more healthy lives, and how this switch allowed him to become more healthy personally. Truly a great conversation! Tune in Friday for the full episode! #brainwellness #brainhealth #brainwellnessthepodcast #brainwellnessnp #nursepractitioner #neuronurse #neurology #podcast #physician #doctor #conciergemedicine #personalizedmedicine #consciousmedicine #medicine #healthcare #healthcareprofessional

Sneak peek for this week’s podcast episode! Continuing on with the ABCs of Concussion: Letter C. This week I talk about several concussion/TBI related topics that start with the letter C, including caregivers, as seen in this clip. Tune in Friday for the full episode! #brainwellness #brainwellnessthepodcast #brainwellnessnp #brainhealth #nursepractitioner #neuronurse #neurology #podcast #tbi #tbirecovery #traumaticbraininjury #braininjury #headinjury #concussion #concussionrecovery #concussionawareness #tbiawareness #tbisurvivor #concussionmanagement #caregiver #caregivers

Sneak peek for this week’s podcast episode! Dr. Amy Novotny joins me to discuss how we can relieve pain and other problems through particular breathing techniques. Here she describes what happens when we are anxious about things that may not have even happened yet. Tune in Friday for the full episode! #brainhealth #brainwellness #brainwellnessthepodcast #brainwellnessnp #nursepractitioner #neuronurse #neurology #physician #doctor #pabrmethod #stress #anxiety #chronicpain

Sneak peek for this week’s podcast episode! Jenn Fredericks joins me to discuss the idea of prosilience and why it is important. Here she explains the main difference briefly between resilience and prosilience - the full conversation is so important!! Tune in Friday for the full interview! #brainhealth #brainwellness #brainwellnessthepodcast #brainwellnessnp #nursepractitioner #neuronurse #neurology #podcast #mentalhealth #mentalwellness #mentalstrength #resilience #prosilience #proactiveresilience #beresilient #resiliencecoach #healthcoach #wellnesscoach #prosiliencecoach

Sneak peek for this week’s podcast episode! Jamie Nicole talks about the AIP, what it is and what some of the challenges are. Having followed AIP, myself, several times, this was a great conversation on a personal and professional level! Tune in Friday for the full episode! #brainwellness #brainwellnessthepodcast #brainhealth #brainwellnessnp #nursepractitioner #neuronurse #neurology #podcast #aip #aipdiet #autoimmune #autoimmuneprotocol #autoimmunepaleo #narcolepsy #hashimotos

Sneak peek for this week’s podcast episode! Dr. Michael Kaufman joins me to discuss how healthcare workers of all kinds would be great leaders, even in politics, as in this clip. We talked a lot about servant leadership and how all of this is related to brain health. Tune in Friday for the full episode! #brainwellness #brainhealth #brainwellnessthepodcast #brainwellnessnp #nursepractitioner #neuronurse #neurology #podcast #socialwork #socialworker #healthcareworker #healthcareprofessional #healthcareleadership #healthcareleaders #helpingpeople #servantleadership #servantleader #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #politics

Sneak peek for this week’s podcast episode! Moving along in the alphabet - the ABCs of Concussion: Letter B. This week I talk about several concussion/TBI related topics that start with the letter B, including brain fog, as seen in this clip. Tune in Friday for the full episode! #brainwellness #brainwellnessthepodcast #brainwellnessnp #brainhealth #nursepractitioner #neuronurse #neurology #podcast #tbi #tbirecovery #traumaticbraininjury #braininjury #headinjury #concussion #concussionrecovery #concussionawareness #tbiawareness #tbisurvivor #concussionmanagement #brainfog

Sneak peek for this week’s podcast episode! Shaye Woodward joins me for a conversation about ADHD. We talk about why women get diagnosed later, and so many other facets of the diagnosis, including this clip where we talk about how having a head injury can impact ADHD. Tune in Friday for the full episode!#brainwellness #brainhealth #brainwellnessthepodcast #brainwellnessnp #nursepractitioner #neuronurse #healthcoach #adhd #adhdawareness #delayeddiagnosis

Sneak peek for this week’s podcast episode!My husband, Don Dickey, joined me for an update on the changes to our relationship after my TBI. In this clip, he addresses why I haven’t been able to get back to being a practitioner yet. Tune in for the full episode on Friday!#brainhealth #brainwellness #brainwellnessnp #brainwellnessthepodcast #braininjury #braininjuryawareness #podcast #neurology #nursepractitoner #neuronerd #neuronurse #relationships #relationship #husband #couple #couples

Brain Wellness - the Podcast

01/10/2025

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01/01/2025

12/31/2024

12/27/2024

12/23/2024

12/20/2024

12/19/2024

12/13/2024

12/06/2024

12/04/2024

11/29/2024

11/29/2024

11/22/2024

11/15/2024

11/11/2024

11/08/2024

11/01/2024

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