Hope Survives | Brain Injury Podcast

Brain injury can affect every part of your life - so it’s important to understand what your personal boundaries are, both with yourself and others. But it’s a lot easier said than done… let’s talk about navigating boundaries in the recovery process! Join our host, Cristabelle Braden, as she introduces 3 panelists: Chaandani Khan, Alfinie Mayes, and Farook Outhmani. This panel of brain injury survi...

There are so many misunderstandings about concussion - and today we’re here to clear them up. Did you know that 81% of U.S. adults don’t know concussions are traumatic brain injuries, according to a recent study by the BIAA? That might sound shocking to those of us who understand TBI, but unfortunately, it’s representative of the general public’s perception of concussions. So let’s bring awareness...

Have you ever felt like you were pushing so hard, that you ended up in cycles of burnout, overwhelm, and exhaustion? Life with brain injury is… a lot. But there is hope to get out of those loops of symptom cycles. Today, we’re diving into the topic of care, support, and boundaries. We also have a podcast spotlight with Dr. Jeremy Schmoe sharing the importance of boundaries and what can help your b...

Communication can become a big challenge after a brain injury - which affects all relationships, but especially the ones that are closest to us. So let’s talk about communication in relationships & marriage after brain injury! We also have a podcast spotlight with Dr. Jeremy Schmoe sharing some of the neurological reasons why communication can be hard after a brain injury. Whether you are a su...

If relationships have been hard post-concussion / brain injury, you are not alone. Our ability to connect with others is an important part of life - so what do you do when your communication skills and ability to read social cues becomes affected after a brain injury? Let’s talk about it! Join our host, Cristabelle Braden, as she introduces 2 panelists: Elayne Masters and Hunter Schulz. This panel...

Brain injury impacts how we express ourselves, how we connect with others, and how we're understood. In this heartfelt episode, Cristabelle Braden shares her personal journey through the communication challenges that follow brain injury. Through real-life examples, she opens up about the emotional toll of feeling misunderstood, how memory and social difficulties can impact relationships, and the o...

After a brain injury, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, unsure how to truly care for your brain in the day-to-day. What habits actually help? What mindsets make a difference? And how do you know when something just isn’t working? Join our host, Cristabelle Braden, as she introduces 3 panelists: Stefanie Beeney, Charlotte Endorf, and Farook Outhmani. Each of our panelists has lived experience with bra...

We often feel like we are in “survival mode” after a brain injury - our lives have changed so much, and it’s all we can do to get through each day. But what if healing could feel gentle, and less overwhelming? In this relatable episode, Cristabelle Braden opens up about her own journey through multiple traumatic brain injuries - moving from survival mode to embracing small, powerful brain health r...

Everyday resilience after brain injury isn’t always big or loud - sometimes it’s a quiet determination to keep going, or simply getting out of bed. Today, through the voices of our Brain Injury Community Panel, we will bring you some tools to recognize your own resilience, and how to continue to move forward and find strength in the struggle. Join our host, Cristabelle Braden, as she introduces ou...

Did you know that our brains are resilient? Today, we’re exploring neuroplasticity - the brain’s ability to rewire and form new pathways - as it relates to brain injury! In this uplifting episode, host Cristabelle Braden welcomes Dr. Michelle Eisenmann, a passionate advocate, Functional Neurology doctor, and expert in brain resiliency. Dr. Eisenmann brings both professional insight and personal ex...

Cristabelle Braden has fought through multiple traumatic brain injuries to come out on the other side carrying a strong message of resilience, hope, and healing. She is the host of this podcast - the founder of Hope Survives - and today, in something much different than our usual episodes - she shares her story! Listen for practical advice, takeaways, and lessons learned from her over 15 years of...

There is a common phrase, “new you” after brain injury - but what if it’s more nuanced than that? There are parts of ourselves that feel new and unfamiliar, but there are other parts of ourselves that have been there all along… how do we piece it all together? How do we find ourselves again? What does “identity” mean anyway? Why does society define us by what we do - and how can we get to a deeper...

Sense of self is often affected after brain injury - you just don’t feel like “you” anymore. This happens for both survivors and family members, and today we are exploring these identity shifts, and how to find yourself again even in the midst of brain injury recovery. In this episode, Cristabelle is joined by Bethany Lewis, a Neurological Occupational Therapist passionate about combining occupati...

Navigating life after brain injury often leaves survivors and families facing a sense of loss that lacks clear answers or closure - with emotions that are overwhelming and hard to describe. Today, we’re discussing some tools to help process these big emotions - there is hope! In this episode, Cristabelle welcomes Dr. Daniel Ignacio, a clinical neuropsychologist and TBI survivor himself, to explore...

A brain injury can bring unexpected changes in identity, abilities, and relationships… and when things feel different, grief is a natural response. Today, we are exploring the concept of “ambiguous loss” - a type of loss that remains unclear, unresolved, or without closure - with our first Brain Injury Community Panel. Today’s panel features 3 brain injury survivors, each with their own unique jou...

Healing is a journey, and we’re here for the long haul. As Brain Injury Awareness Month is drawing to a close, this remains true: brain injury doesn’t just impact survivors and families for a month—it’s every day, all year long. In this episode, Cristabelle Braden sits down with her mother and Hope Survives board member, Cyndie Braden, to share personal experiences through more than a decade of na...

Have you ever felt “stuck” in brain injury rehabilitation, unsure where to go next? Finding the right care and tools for brain injury recovery can be confusing and frustrating, leaving many feeling lost and unsure where to turn. But you're not alone, and there is hope for continued healing. In this episode, Cristabelle sits down with Dr. Jeremy Schmoe, founder and director of The Functional Neurol...

Brain injury survivors and their families often feel isolated and disconnected from others while navigating the challenges of a “new normal”. If you can relate, you’re not alone - and we are here to encourage you to know there is hope. In this episode, Cristabelle sits down with Jasmine Balignasay-Chavez, managing director of Hope Survives , to discuss the profound impact of brain injuries, the is...

Join us for a conversation of hope for the first week of Brain Injury Awareness Month! In today’s episode, Cristabelle is joined by Tameka Wolfe, vice president of the board at Hope Survives, who shares her personal experience as a caregiver after her husband's traumatic head injury. Tameka discusses the challenges faced during her husband's recovery, the daily routines they've established, and th...

Big announcements today - listen to this special episode of our livestream celebration for our newly launched nonprofit organization, Hope Survives ! Our vision: a world in which every survivor of brain injury and every member of their family are seen, loved, heard, valued, supported, uplifted, and never alone. We are excited to share our newly expanded support groups, new programs, new workshops,...

When every day is a challenge through symptoms, it can be hard to feel even any sort of “well.” Today we are talking about how to redefine the concept of wellness on our brain injury journey to help us uncover our own path of recovery! After a brain injury, wellness can feel distant. In this episode, Cristabelle invites Taryn Barlow, a speech language pathologist and cognitive health coach who own...

Navigating the holiday season after brain injury can be really challenging. In this episode, Cristabelle encourages us to give ourselves grace and acknowledge the hard - grief and joy can coexist. It's okay not to be okay. She also shares some practical tips to help with overstimulation, and encouragement to practice gratitude. There is always hope and there is light in the darkness. No matter whe...

The entire family goes on the brain injury journey - and it can be challenging to find a rhythm in the day-to-day life while living with symptoms. Let’s talk about it! In this episode, Cristabelle interviews Allison Moir-Smith, who shares her journey through multiple concussions and the profound impact it has had on her family. She is the facilitator of the Concussed Moms Support Group and teaches...

Each one us has our own unique path through brain injury recovery - let’s talk about finding yours and never giving up! (Plus - a big announcement!) In this episode, Cristabelle interviews Patti Shutt, a NeuroCognitive Program Instructor at Success Rehabilitation, Inc., who shares from her 12 years of experience working with brain injury survivors. Patti brings uplifting energy, emphasizing the im...

Living with chronic symptoms can be overwhelming - but it can also connect you to a deeper sense of empowerment and resilience than you ever knew you had. In this episode, Cristabelle interviews Nia Renee, MBA, a 6x brain surgery survivor, model, motivational speaker, and the founder of "How To Love A Battered Woman," a coaching business dedicated to helping survivors of narcissistic abuse reclaim...