When Words Don't Come Easy

Julius Fridriksson explains why brain health may be one of the most important factors in stroke and aphasia recovery. New research is changing how we understand recovery and challenging the idea that the brain and body should be treated separately. New Episode Sunday 5.24.26 #Aphasia #StrokeRecovery #BrainHealth #Neuroplasticity #StrokeAwareness #AphasiaAwareness #BrainRecovery #SpeechTherapy #Neu...

This week’s guest is Professor Julius Fridriksson, Vice President for Research at the University of South Carolina. For years, people believed aphasia therapy stopped working. But the issue wasn’t the therapy. It was how recovery was being measured. Aphasia recovery is rehabilitation. Long term. And new studies show people can continue improving years after stroke.https://x.com/USCResearchlinkedin...

In this episode of When Words Don’t Come Easy , Justin and Roger sit down with Jonathan Hirons to talk about his life-changing stroke, the long road through aphasia recovery, and how he turned one of the hardest experiences of his life into a mission to help others feel understood. Jonathan shares the emotional reality of losing confidence, struggling to find the right words, and learning how to c...

In this episode of When Words Don’t Come Easy, Julie shares her honest and emotional journey through stroke recovery and living with aphasia. Joined by her husband, she opens up about the day everything changed, the challenges of communication, and the reality of rebuilding confidence after stroke. Julie reflects on the good days and bad days, the frustration of phone conversations, and how humor...

In Episode 17, we sit down with Nicole Salzano, a young stroke survivor and passionate advocate for aphasia awareness. Her story is especially powerful because her stroke happened while she was in college, completely changing the course of her life at a time when everything was just getting started. Nicole shares how her stroke was caused by an undiagnosed blood clotting condition combined with bi...

Here’s a clean, strong synopsis that actually sounds like a real episode, not a resume dump: We’re joined by Anna Swindle, a speech-language pathologist, board-certified swallowing specialist, and expert in neuroplasticity and aphasia recovery. Anna breaks down what aphasia really is, what it isn’t, and why it has nothing to do with intelligence. She explains how the brain heals, why repetition an...

Genevieve Richardson of Life Beyond Aphasia joins us to share a powerful, honest look at what life is really like for caregivers navigating aphasia. Drawing from her experience as a speech-language pathologist, she breaks down the emotional weight, identity shifts, and day-to-day challenges that often go unseen. Genevieve introduces her “ACE Filter,” a practical tool that helps caregivers better u...

Rich and Lizzie’s story is still very recent. Just five months ago, in October 2025, Rich had a stroke and was diagnosed with aphasia, instantly turning their world upside down. Even in that short time, he’s already made real progress through hard work and consistency. Lizzie has been all-in on his recovery from the start, and their 8-year-old son Richie has been a huge source of motivation. It’s...

Tristan Gibson, also known as “Captain Orangutan,” is a stroke survivor, mindset leader, and coach who has completely redefined what recovery can look like. After experiencing a life-altering stroke at a young age, Tristan refused to accept limits. Instead of staying stuck in the question of “why me,” he shifted his perspective to “why not me” — choosing to become the person who could take this ch...

In this episode, Justin and Roger are joined by Susan Hakimi , the head speech pathologist at Northridge Hospital Medical Center and the speech therapist who first worked with Roger during the earliest days of his recovery in the hospital. Susan shares how she got into speech pathology and explains the critical role speech therapists play in the immediate aftermath of a stroke. Together, they disc...

In this episode we introduce Tina Orkin and learn about the life she built both before and after her stroke. Tina shares her journey into healthcare, becoming a nurse and working in OB-GYN, and talks about the work she was passionate about and the patients she cared for. She also opens up about her stroke and the recovery that followed. By exploring both her career and her stroke journey, we get a...

In this episode, we talk with Francis Muldowney , an Irish stroke survivor who rebuilt his life after aphasia took his speech but not his mind. At a time when little was understood about communication disorders, Francis was often underestimated. He began using impressions and character voices to express himself, slowly carving a path back to connection and identity. At one of his lowest moments in...

Fourteen years ago, Eric Jackson survived a stroke that changed the way he communicates and sees the world. When his insurance ran out early in his recovery, formal therapy stopped, but Eric didn’t. He built his own routine, practicing speech and physical exercises every day, reading anything he could out loud, even the back of a mustard bottle, determined not to lose ground. For more than a decad...

Ralph Cortese, host of Stroke Warrior Radio, joins us to share his story. From the shock of his stroke to the early hospital days where information felt incomplete and overwhelming, Ralph opens up about what he wishes someone had told him from the start. He talks candidly about the frustration and the mental health battle that followed. This episode is deeply personal. It is about rebuilding confi...

In this episode, we talk with Aithal, a stroke survivor and author of A Stroke of Luck. He shares what it was like to lose language, and still feel a deep need to tell his story. We talk about recovery, family across continents, and what it means to keep communicating when the words don’t always come.#aphasia #stroke #strokerecovery #strokesurvivor #strokeawareness #aphasiaawareness #speechtherapy...

In this episode, we sit down with Aphasia Phil (Phil Oxendine), an aphasia advocate who turned a lack of representation into action. After his stroke, Phil noticed something missing. There were very few real, relatable aphasia voices on YouTube. So instead of waiting for someone else to tell those stories, he started telling his own. Phil shares his personal journey with aphasia, what recovery has...

In this episode, Bonnie shares her story as Roger’s wife and primary caregiver, beginning with the moment she discovered him during his stroke and the call to 911. She walks us through the shock and uncertainty of those early hospital days, learning on the fly, staying present, and making decisions when nothing felt clear. Bonnie talks candidly about what came next. The long hours in therapy, the...

In this episode, we sit down with Annie Humling, who had a stroke at just 20 years old—making her story unique and incredibly inspiring. Since then, she’s faced the daily challenge of finding her words, rebuilding her voice, and navigating life with aphasia. Annie shares the long, frustrating, and sometimes hilarious journey of speaking again, giving a rare perspective on persistence, patience, an...

Rick Partlow lives with aphasia. His friend Bruce Fairbairn shows up. He goes to speech therapy with Rick, helps with the homework, and stays in it with him. Both come from the entertainment industry, where communication is everything. This episode is about what real support looks like and why showing up matters when words don’t come easy.

Join us as we explore the personal experiences of Roger, a stroke survivor, and his dedicated speech therapist, Carol Graiwer. Discover the challenges and triumphs of regaining communication skills, the importance of family support, and the relentless pursuit of progress. This episode sheds light on the emotional and practical aspects of speech therapy, offering hope and insights for anyone touche...

In the debut episode of "When Words Don't Come Easy," Justin Chlowitz and Roger Chlowitz share the poignant journey of living with aphasia following a stroke. This episode delves into the challenges and triumphs of Roger's recovery, offering insights into the impact of aphasia on communication and daily life. Listeners will hear about the initial shock, the ongoing therapy, and t...