On A Good Day

"I feel embarrassed." That is how stroke survivor Paul Callaghan describes having aphasia, a communication disorder with impairs speech, writing and understanding both spoken and written language. Aphasia is very common after having a stroke, brain tumour or traumatic brain injury. In this episode, Julia and Elizabeth sit down with their husbands Hector and Paul to talk about how aphasia impacts t...

What's it like to live with someone who has a memory of just ten minutes? This is the reality for author Catherine Jessop whose husband, Alan, was left with a brain injury after contracting encephalitis. In this episode, she reveals to Elizabeth and Julia the circumstances around Alan's brain injury and how they coped as a family in the early days, navigating hospital life during his year-long hos...

Suffering a brain injury shortly after giving birth to twin boys while living in Nigeria rocked Melinda Taylor's world and that of her family but through the support of her husband and local community she gradually recovered and went on to build a hugely successful career. In this episode, Melinda tells Elizabeth and Julia what she remembers from the time shortly after a routine operation went wro...

Brain injury can often leave survivors feeling lost, lonely and suffering from bouts of depression. This is something Emily Bell knows only too well. After her stroke, aged 28, she struggled with her mental health and is now a advocate for speaking out about the issue and sharing some of the strategies she has been using. In this episode, Emily opens up to Elizabeth and Julia about how the stroke...

The thought of travelling or going on holiday after brain injury can be overwhelming but with careful planning, going on holiday can prove hugely rewarding. It is a chance to have a break from the norm, reconnect with friends and family and enjoy different scenery, culture and food. In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia share some of the travel they have embarked on so far with their husbands, who...

Having a serious illness such as a stroke or brain injury is a terrifying and life-changing experience but it can be even more frightening when it is experienced it while living or travelling abroad?  In this episode, you will find out the best ways to help protect yourself to help safeguard you against huge medical fees and the importance of travel insurance and tips on getting the best policy. J...

Life is busy. We all seem to be living increasingly hectic lives and when you add in brain injury, it can be even more overwhelming. In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia open up about their challenges as they try to balance life, work, children, managing a house and a husband with a brain injury. With searing honesty, the two hosts talk about managing fatigue, communication and trying to plan days...

What are your emotions around money? How can you navigate changes in your financial situation when faced with a life changing circumstance such as brain injury? In this episode of On A Good Day, Elizabeth and Julia are joined by money coach and author Fleur Iannazzo to get an insight into our behaviours around money and how to recognise and work on changing them. They discuss the impact brain inju...

It's often perceived as one of the toughest jobs in medicine, but what does a day in the life of a neurosurgeon look like and how is it set to change over the next ten years? In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia speak to Kevin Tsang, a neurosurgeon working at Queen Mary and Charing Cross hospitals in London. He talks to them about some of the difficult conversations he has with patient's family an...

How would you like your 2025 to look? What small steps could you take to make progress? And what are the key areas you would like to focus on? It's the start of a new year and the time when people reflect on the past year and look ahead to future plans and progressing in life. In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia are joined by life coach Kim Stokes who gives some of her tips on how to set small, a...

He was one of the most popular contestants on BBC series The Traitors but Andrew Jenkins reveals he hated himself for a long time after a life-changing car accident left him changed physically and he sustained a brain injury. In this episode, he talks to Elizabeth and Julia about how the impact of the crash, his recovery and how the physical scars may have healed but mentally he felt lost and impa...

Joe Watts was a successful stuntman working on films such as Mission Impossible and the Star Wars franchises when it abruptly ended after a stunt went horribly wrong. Joe fell 25ft onto concrete and was left with a severe brain injury, ending the career he so loved. In this episode, Joe opens up to Elizabeth and Julia about what happened on the day of his accident and the impact it has had on him...

Brain injury changes lives in an instant and not only for the survivor but those closest to them. In this episode of On A Good Day, Elizabeth and Julia share an episode from the Able To Care podcast which they were invited on to talk about their experiences as a carers. Hosted by Andy Baker, they talk to him about their personal journeys and how they navigate the challenges of being with someone w...

Becoming independent is one of the most important things brain injury survivors strive for - but how can independence be achieved? In this special episode, Elizabeth and Julia go on the road to a Brain Injury Conference and speak to some of the speakers and those in attendance about how they are helping support brain injury survivors and some of the key issues. Hosted by Irwin Mitchell, a law firm...

How much progress can brain injury survivors make over time? It has been six years since Paul had his brain injury, and nearly 15 years for Hector, and despite that, they both identify things that they feel have improved for them over the last year. In this episode, they join Elizabeth and Julia (their wife's) to talk about the progress they have made in the last year, some of their continuing cha...

What benefits could you claim after you've had brain injury or are a carer? The system in England and Wales can be mind-boggling, especially if it's your first experience of applying for benefits. In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia speak to Alice Hamilton from Citizens Advice to get her insight into what financial help the government can provide. They quiz her on some of the financial issues whi...

What is locked-in syndrome? How does it affect someone? Locked-in syndrome might be a condition you have heard of - but may not know much about. This episode will help you understand more about locked-in syndrome and what it is like to live with or support a family member with the condition. To shed a light on the topic, Georgie Tyler-Collings joins Elizabeth and Julia to tell them about her inspi...

What's it like to be the partner of a brain injury survivor? The truth is, some days are not so good. There are times which can be challenging, frustrating and upsetting. In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia acknowledge the (not so) good days and share with honesty some of the challenges they face living with a brain injury survivor. They share their own vulnerabilities and struggles in this bite-...

What part does mindset play in recovering from brain injury? In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia are joined by entrepreneur Charlie Wells. He was running a 5km race, dressed as Santa, when he had subarachnoid haemorrhage, aged 30. He underwent ground-breaking surgery to keep him alive. With sheer determination and a strong mindset, Charlie's recovery included doing daily jigsaw puzzles and using...

Epilepsy is a common side effect following brain injury and a condition which affects 600,000 people in the UK. In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia speak to Ley Sander, a Professor of Neurology and Clinical Epilepsy and Medical Officer with the Epilepsy Society. Some of the questions we ask include: what is epilepsy? Why do some people get seizures after brain injury and how can you help someone...

Andy Tudor thought be might be getting early onset dementia or having a stroke when he was eventually admitted to hospital. When he was told he had a huge 7cm tumour in his brain it was almost a relief, he tells Elizabeth and Julia in this episode released during Brain Tumour awareness month. Seven years ago Andy had life-saving neurosurgery to remove the growth. He is beating the statistics which...

Getting legal advice is not usually your first priority after a traumatic brain injury but, as Elizabeth and Julia discover, making that call could help hugely with a person's recovery - and an initial call costs nothing. In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia look at the importance of getting specialist legal advice and the difference it can make to people's lives. Joining them to dispel some of th...

When someone has a brain injury, families need more support than ever with friends rallying to help at a very difficult time. But what are the best ways friends can help when someone has a brain injury? In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia are joined by their close friends Emma and Helen as they discuss how the friendships helped them in dark days - and continue to support them - following brain i...

The impact of brain injury on the family is at the centre of this podcast and one of the reasons Elizabeth and Julia started On A Good Day, so they knew the next guest would be a good match. In this episode, they are joined by Susie Hayden, a neuro speech and language therapist with 23 years experience working in the NHS. Specialising in aphasia, Susie saw there was a need to work with the whole f...

Navigating parenthood with young children can be a huge challenge for all parents but even more so when you are living with the affects of brain injury. In this episode, Julia and Elizabeth talk to Allison and Rob Allan. The couple had been together for just two years when Allison had a stroke, aged 25, leaving her with some physical and cognitive impairments. Now they have two young girls aged si...