What the Ef?!

The first thing Brian remembers after his first seizure is a boot smashing through his semi-truck windshield—strangers pulling him from the wreckage as his world changed forever. After a misdiagnosis, years of drug-resistant epilepsy, and 30 seizures a month, Brian found the strength to keep fighting. With cutting edge brain technology—and with the steady support of his loved ones—he’s celebrating...

What happens when thousands of epilepsy nerds take over Lisbon? Tune in for chats with people from all over the world–Argentina, UK, Australia, Colombia, Kenya and more! Convos about the ethics of AI in epilepsy treatment, the move from pediatric to adult care, to how gut health affects seizures. Turns out, the biggest conference in the world isn’t just about science—it’s about connection, curiosi...

Ever feel like you keep shouting, "Epilepsy is more than seizures!" but no one’s listening? Medical rockstar Dr. Sandi Lam certainly hears you, which is why she’s spearheading a massive, groundbreaking study focused on Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) that aims to change healthcare forever.  Dr. Lam shares how she's trying to measure the "unmeasurable," like how treatment affects behavior, commu...

Stacia Kalinoski has worn many hats—news reporter, marathon runner, author, filmmaker, and substitute teacher—but epilepsy changed the course of her life in ways she never expected. In this episode, Stacia gets real about the uphill battle that inspired her memoir Racing Uphill : the denial, the career shifts, and the moment she said yes to brain surgery. We talk about what friendship looks like w...

Welcome to What the EF . I’m Landis Wiedner and this show is all about the “what the…?” moments that come with living with epilepsy. We share the stories that are usually whispered about or brushed aside, and we do it with honesty, humour, and heart. This podcast is for anyone who has epilepsy, loves someone who does, or just wants to understand what it’s really like. You’ll hear from people livin...

This week’s episode is one you’ll want to take notes on. Ayesha Akhtar, VP of Health Equity at the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, isn’t just talking about change—she’s handing out the blueprint. If you’ve ever wondered, “What can I actually do to make a difference for people with epilepsy?”—Ayesha’s got answers (and a few challenges you just might want to take on). Find out how education,...

Coming in LIVE from the launch of the Otherside Lounge! 🎉 The Lounge is a brand-new space created for people with epilepsy to connect, decompress, and feel at home—whether at conferences or beyond. In this special episode, you’ll hear stories from the Lounge floor: why this space matters, what it feels like to finally have a spot designed with our community in mind, and how it’s already sparking...

Chynise may be a Senior VP of HR, but don’t expect corporate jargon here. Instead, she’s dishing on what it’s like to juggle seizures, side effects, and the fine art of pretending you didn’t have a seizure while giving a presentation. We get into the messy reality of finding the right meds (think: speed dating, but with more brain fog), the awkwardness of telling people you have epilepsy (spoiler:...

What if a neuro conference had a space that centered around people with epilepsy—not just as patients, but as creators, leaders, and connectors? Enter the Otherside Lounge, a first-of-its-kind experience launching this September at the New England Epilepsy Conference (NEEC) in Boston. Part café, part gallery, part community hub, the Lounge is designed *by* people with epilepsy *for* people with ep...

Dr. Avtar Roopra couldn’t believe what he was seeing: a medication that *stopped seizures * in mice—even AFTER they stopped taking it. No seizures. No meds. And even better? It restored cognitive function. Skeptical? So was Roopra and other scientists—until they repeated the results twice with the same outcome. Even more shocking? This drug is already FDA-approved for other chronic conditions. So...

She left her job as a newscaster because of epilepsy—and now she’s back at the same anchor desk. In this episode, Sarah Carlson talks about pretending she didn’t miss the job (she did), how she seized the opportunity to get back in, and the joy of being four years seizure free...while knowing her brain is still unpredictable. We also get into survivor’s guilt, pressure to be perfect with sleep, an...

Former Marine Jack lives with post-traumatic epilepsy—and calls it a “blast radius” of its own. From memory struggles to mindset shifts, he shares how he stopped apologizing for what epilepsy changed and started treating himself with compassion. Oh, and he also announced the introduction of the National Plan for Epilepsy to Congress. No big deal. Shout out to the folks who support us in our blast...

Tommy had his first seizure (and dislocated shoulder 😬) senior year of high school—but kept chasing his dream of swimming at University of South Carolina. After the 2024 SECs, another seizure and shoulder pop (double ouch) changed everything. Still, he refused to let epilepsy take the water from him. Big shout out to these folks for keeping the podcast afloat! Community partners Epilepsy Foundati...

Diagnosed at just  six days old , kinda makes Paige Wade the OG of epilepsy. As an adult, her seizures subsided until two popped up, taking away her driver's license. Paige teaches second grade, and her students weren't the only ones getting dropped off by their moms. (Awkward.) Paige opens up about how losing her independence led to depression—and how she slowly climbed her way back. Now...

​​When Sarabjeet Bhutani was diagnosed with epilepsy as a child, she understood the secrecy that came with it. The cultural stigma in her community ran so deep, that for decades Sarabjeet stayed silent. And when her daughter was also diagnosed at age 10, the cycle continued. (If only they were born in Gen Z!) But that all changed when Pree had a seizure in front of her school. (Can’t hide that, ri...

Live from the National Epilepsy Walk in D.C., Landis Wiedner and Miles Levin hit the National Mall with one big question: What do you wish more people knew about epilepsy? The answers were real, raw, and sometimes even funny! What do YOU wish more people understood? Comment below and join the conversation! Thank you Community Partner Epilepsy Foundation of America and sponsors Neurelis and SK life...

JP Severin thought his epilepsy was controlled—until his seizures decided to make a comeback right in the middle of his career and dad life. JP shares what it’s like when your kids witness your seizures, the emotional aftermath, and the challenge of accepting what’s beyond his control. With humor and heart, JP dives into the weird wisdom seizuresbring, and how life’s unpredictability can reshape p...

When Nancy Iida’s son went off to college, she had to face a hard truth: she couldn’t control his seizures. That lesson deepened when her daughter was diagnosed with cancer and she herself battled Lyme disease. Through it all, Nancy turned to art as a way to create peace in a life filled with uncertainty. In this episode, she shares how she’s learned to let go, find balance, and embrace the practi...

So, what's it like being married to someone with epilepsy? Steve and I get real about our relationship—how we met, the challenges we’ve faced, and the moments that make it all worth it. From seizure depression to the Kid Decision (to have kids or not?), and yes, even who gets the last French fry, we’re sharing it all. Appreciate these folks giving this podcast their "I do's": Epilepsy Foundation o...

What happens when your epilepsy meds turn against you? Mere Davis found out the hard (and very painful) way. On her way to an epilepsy walk, a bad case of medication toxicity caused her to pass out, faceplant on the sidewalk, and start a long journey of medical treatment. In this episode, Mere shares her story with wit and wisdom, breaking down what medication toxicity is, how to avoid it, and why...

Ever felt dismissed by a doctor? Author Ilana Jacqueline gets it. In this episode, she shares what medical gaslighting is, how to spot it, and *three game-changing tips* to stand your ground in the doctor’s office. She opens up about her own medical journey and how it led her to become a self-advocacy pro. If you’ve ever struggled to feel heard in the doc’s office, tune into this convo and order I...

When Dr. Amee Shah’s epilepsy, long under control, returned, she faced a tough question: should she share her story? After keeping seizures a secret her whole life, she chose to open up. While many people were supportive, others were not – even requesting Amee to take down social media posts about her epilepsy. Instead of letting that hold her back, Amee turned it into fuel for advocacy, becoming...

How do you turn epilepsy into a motivator for growth and success? Justice Bartley, a former NBA player development coach, takes us courtside to share his journey from high school basketball to the NBA coaching staff—all while navigating life with epilepsy. Hear how Justice found the right support, embraced accountability, and transformed challenges into life lessons. Plus, a sneak peek at his stea...

Santa called, and he’s giving the reindeer the night off—because Mary from Beverly Dry Goods is here to sleigh your holiday parties with three ridiculously good mocktail recipes! Learn how to turn everyday ingredients into holiday magic (without the hangover). Whether you’re naughty, nice, or somewhere in between, these drinks will have you saying, "What the ELF was I drinking before?" Get ready t...

Ever heard of VNS Therapy but have no idea wtf it really is? You're not alone! Track star turned bodybuilding buff, Jenee Leger faced a major setback when seizures made a comeback in her late 20s. Tune in to learn how VNS Therapy helped control her epilepsy and how she went onto reclaim her fitness, recently becoming a marathoner! Jenee's even channeling her journey into advocacy and created the f...