The Now What Podcast: Young Adults and Epilepsy

In an era where social media can be polarizing, how do we use it for good? This episode welcomes Dr. Jessica Lowe, a double board-certified neurologist and epileptologist who is nationally recognized for her innovative public education efforts as “Doctor Brain Barbie.” With over 175,000 followers, she uses social media to make neurology accessible, accurate, and empowering for patients and familie...

Epilepsy can feel isolating, and the lack of community often makes it even harder. In this episode, members of our Young Adult Advisory Board — Madison Parham, Serina Lall, Katie Price, and Mia Randell — come together to talk openly about their experiences with epilepsy, why community is so important, and the advice they’d offer to others navigating similar paths. This conversation centers on conn...

Epilepsy can feel isolating, and the lack of community often makes it even harder. In this episode, members of our Young Adult Advisory Board — Madison Parham, Serina Lall, Katie Price, and Mia Randell — come together to talk openly about their experiences with epilepsy, why community is so important, and the advice they’d offer to others navigating similar paths. This conversation centers on conn...

In this episode, Karan welcome's David Randell, dad to Mia Randell and a dedicated parent advocate, for an honest conversation about parenting a young adult with epilepsy. David shares what he’s learned navigating fear, uncertainty, and growth as a parent, and how the journey evolves as your child becomes more independent. From early diagnosis to young adulthood, this episode explores the emot...

This Community Stories episode centers on the power of resilience, identity, and hope in the face of epilepsy. Guest host Briar Nolet, a professional dancer living with epilepsy who was on last year, welcomes Brielle May, who shares her life-changing experience after a seizure in 2024 left her in a coma for two months. Following her hospitalization, Brielle was diagnosed with NORSE/FIRES, a rare a...

In this episode, Karan and Sophie are joined by Maya Boyce and Alexandria Tonore to explore a side of epilepsy that isn’t often talked about: the experience of being a sibling. Maya and Alexandria open up about the fear, responsibility, love, and grief that come with growing up alongside someone living with epilepsy — and what it means to continue on after losing a sibling to this disease. Their s...

In this episode, Karan and Sophie welcome Jaime Simpson, disability advocate, public figure, mom of two, and service-dog trainer, for a deep dive into Service Dogs & Epilepsy. Jaime shares her personal journey living with epilepsy and Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, the medical challenges she’s faced, and how her seizure-alert dog, Echo, became a life-changing partner in her safety and indepe...

We're back with Season 2 of The Now What Podcast! Karan and Sophie of The Cameron Boyce Foundation are joined by Sameera Polavarapu & Dr. Eleni Rizakos to discuss shame and how it affects epilepsy. Sameera is an NYC-based writer and strategist who works at the intersection of culture and design. Dr. Rizakos is a licensed psychologist who specializes in treating children, adolescents, and young...

In this episode, Sophie is joined by Tim Ogeltree & Dr. Dan Friedman. Tim, who has epilepsy, is a friend of The Cameron Boyce Foundation and was made aware of SUDEP from Cameron's passing. Dr. Dan Friedman is a Professor in th Department of Neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine & is the director of the division of epilespy. In this episode we talk about SUDEP, what we know and what...

In this episode, Sophie & Karan are joined my model, actress and dancer Briar Nolet. Briar Nolet is a world-class dancer, notably on World of Dance, where she captured the attention of the world with her amazing dance moves. Briar's story is nothing but remarkable. In the midst of competing and dancing, she started to have seizures. She was diagnosed with epilespy, and the cause was dancin...

In this episode, Sophie is joined by the Executive Director of The Cameron Boyce Foundation, Heather Kuhn & Dr. Pack, the Chief of the Division of Epilepsy and Sleep Disorders, Professor of Neurology - New York. Within the Epilepsy Center at Columbia Dr. Pack is the director of the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit and co-director of the Epilepsy Surgery Program. One of her research focuses is on the c...

In this episode, Karan and Sophie are joined by Dr. Mackenzie Cervenka, a Professor of Neurology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Mia Randall, member of our community advisory board who has tried the Keto Diet. We'll discuss everything you need to know about the Keto Diet & Epilepsy. There are a lot of nuances that we discuss and a lot of questions surrounding this topic, and we ai...

In this episode, Karan and Sophie are joined by Dr. Lisa Bateman to talk about the epilepsy basics. If you're newly diagnosed, or someone you love has just been diagnosed, this episode is perfect for you. Dr. Bateman is a Professor of Neurology and the Director of The Surgical Epilepsy Program at Cedars Sanai in Los Angeles. In this episode, we'll discuss what epilepsy is, the treatment/medication...

In this episode, Ben and Sophie are joined by Dr. Eleni Rizakos and Mia Randall to talk about epilepsy & mental health. Dr. Rizakos is a licensed psychologist who specializes in treating children, adolescents, and young adults with a variety of emotional and medical conditions, including epilepsy and functional neurological disorders. She is currently the Associate Director at Nova Psychologic...

In this episode, Karan and Sophie are joined by two special young adults with epilepsy, Miles Levin & Skylar Economy. Miles is an award wining writer and director who's creating Under The Lights, a feature film aimed to end the stigma of epilepsy. Skylar is an Emmy nominated documentary filmmaker focusing on documentaries to amplify unheard voices. In this episode, we'll discuss the stigma ass...

In this episode, Karan and Sophie are joined by three members of our young adult advisory committee, Maxine Tewsley, Mia Randall & Katie Price to talk about what it's like to have epilepsy while you are dating and have a partner. We'll discuss the unique issues facing people who are trying to venture out into the world of dating but feel like having epilepsy can get in the way. We discuss topi...

In the first episode of the Now What Podcast, Karan and Sophie of The Cameron Boyce Foundation are joined by Dr. Kim Pargeon, an attending epileptologist at UCLA and member of our board and Monique Hopgood-Willis, an epilepsy advocate and neuroscience student, who also sits on our young adult advisory board.  They'll discuss the unique issues facing people who have epilepsy and are in the process...