Lights On: A NeuroMoms Collective Podcast

In this episode of Lights On , Erin and Amanda reflect on how relationships change after a traumatic brain injury, from friendships and family dynamics to romantic partnerships and parenting young adults with TBI. They share deeply personal stories about denial, hope, missteps, and the ongoing challenge of knowing when behavior is part of recovery versus simply being human. With honesty and compas...

In this Season One wrap-up,we (Amanda and Erin) look back on how NeuroMoms Collective began: two caregivers who met through community, shared a deep urge to help, and jumped in before everything was perfectly planned.    We laugh about the early tech struggles, the learning curve of podcasting, and how far we've come in just a few months. We reflect on how meaningful it was to hear so many differe...

In Part 2 of  Lights On , the conversation shifts into the tender realities of loving someone through long-term change and loss. Olivia and Sadie reflect on how support systems, friendships, and letting themselves be kids helped them navigate trauma and distance, guilt and joy. The family shares heartfelt stories about connection, hardship, and the complex grief of relationships that look differen...

In Part 1 of Lights On , Erin and Amanda are joined by their daughters, Saydie and Olivia, for an honest conversation about what it's like to be the sibling of a traumatic brain injury survivor. Saydie shares how, at nine years old, her invisible injuries and anxiety were downplayed while the family focused on life-and-death survival, leaving her feeling frozen, overwhelmed, and guilty for years....

In this episode of Lights On , Erin and Amanda talk honestly about one of the hardest parts of TBI caregiving—realizing we can't do it alone. They share the guilt, fear, and confusion that come with asking for help, and how friends, family, and even unexpected community members stepped in before they knew what they needed. From inner-circle supporters to the wider community offering meals, cards,...

Part 2: Parenting, Partnership, and a TBI: How Communication Became the Light   In Part Two of our husbands' conversation, we explore what it took to stay connected—not just as co-parents or caregivers, but as partners. Travis reflects on how a traumatic brain injury reshaped his relationship with Amanda, and how they learned to carry the emotional and practical load together. We get honest about...

Part 1: This week we're doing something new, and deeply meaningful. In this two-part series, we're talking with the husbands of the NeuroMoms Collective founders: Erin's husband,  Carl Moyer , and Amanda's husband,  Trav Boring . For caregivers and families supporting someone with a traumatic brain injury, the partner experience often goes unspoken. Today, we're shining a light on it. In Part One,...

Part 3: We close out the series with what comes after survival: rebuilding daily life. MacKenzie talks about finding her footing in high school again and seeing the world differently. She also shares her perspective on what caregivers need—especially when they forget to ask for help. This episode is about growth, resilience, and the quiet light that leads us back into the world.

Part 2: In part two of our interview, we talk about what happens when a survivor can't advocate for their own safety. MacKenzie shares what helped protect her in those vulnerable early days, and what families can do when they're suddenly thrust into the role of medical guardian. It's a conversation about voice, boundaries, and the fierce love that shows up when it's needed most.

Part 1: We recently had MacKenzie, the daughter NMC co-founder, Amanda, on the pod. We broke her interview into 3 parts. We open this series with something rarely talked about: the power of visual memory. MacKenzie takes us inside her experience of piecing her life back together after her accident, using pictures and videos as both a timeline and a lifeline. This episode is about reclaiming your s...

In Episode 3 of Lights On , Amanda and Erin explore one of the most tender parts of the TBI caregiving journey: the people you expected to show up… and the ones who actually did. They talk openly about the grief of realizing some relationships shift or disappear during crisis, and how that grief piles onto an already unbearable moment. But woven through this episode is light — the unexpected helpe...

Episode 2 of Lights On takes listeners back to the raw first 24 hours of Amanda and Erin's journeys through their children's TBIs. They speak candidly about the fear and grief that consumed those early moments, but also about the surprising warmth that broke through the darkness—gentle comforts, unexpected kindnesses, and the people who showed up with open hearts. Amid the shock and chaos, they re...

In our very first episode, Lights On: Moms Finding the Light in Each Other , NeuroMoms Collective founders Amanda Ream and Erin Palmer share how their parallel journeys as parents of brain injury survivors led them to create this community. We talk about the supportive role of Love Your Brain, the twists and turns of our different paths, and the shared mission that brought us together: helping oth...