#173 Jenn Welch's Concussion Journey

Comedian Jenn Welch had no idea that a slip in the shower would completely change her life. 15 months after her concussion, Jenn’s recovery is still in progress. How do you keep doing stand-up comedy when you can’t stand up and all you can picture in your mind is a bowl of popcorn? Jenn shares her hilarious story of her not-at-all-funny concussion.

Links in this episode: Jenn’s Twitter and Instagram, Our 150th episode featuring Jenn, More on concussions from the Mayo Clinic, More information on CTE, Dave Eagleman’s book Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain, NYU Langone Concussion Center

#143 Surviving Brain Injury with Mimi Hayes

You know that feeling when you’re 22 and just out of college and you start your first job and you aren’t feeling well and it turns out you have a brain hemorrhage and have to have brain surgery? Comedian and author Mimi Hayes knows that feeling! Mimi tells the story of her diagnosis and recovery in her new book I'll Be OK, It's Just a Hole In My Head, and she has great advice (and jokes!) for anyone dealing with brain injury or supporting someone going through it.

Links in this episode: Buy Mimi’s book from her publisher or on Amazon, Mimi’s website, Mimi and the Brain podcast

#140 Caffeine

We all have a friend who is giving up caffeine and is sooooooo pleased with themselves, but do we really need to do that? What IS caffeine and what is it actually doing to us? Daphnie gives us the information we need to make our own choices. Please, please, please, Daphnie: don’t take away our coffee!

Links in this episode: More on whether or not caffeine can be addictive, Caffeine amounts in different drinks

#122 Fitness, Nutrition, and the Brain

We try not to play favorites, but let’s be honest: the brain is the most important organ in the body. So why do we talk so little about how we can take good care of it? Daphnie explains how we can use nutrition and exercise to supercharge our brains for focus, memory, and even happiness. Warning: science ahead!

Links in this episode: More on sugar and the brain from Harvard Medical School, Spark by John J. Ratey MD with Eric Hagerman, More on exercise and depression, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Wendy Suzuki, Healthy Brain, Happy Life by Wendy Suzuki, PhD  

#119 Making Changes with Dr. Amanda Crowell

“I want to make a change, but I just can’t seem to make it happen.” Sound familiar? We’ve been there, in our work lives and our fitness lives. Dr. Amanda Crowell (cognitive psychologist and change coach) says there are three mindsets that are keeping us from making those changes, and she shares her tools for adjusting those mindsets so that we “normal people” can do the awesome things we want to do.

Links in this episode: Amanda’s website, Worksheet she talks about on the episode, Michael Jordan "Failure" commercial, Couch to 5K, Amanda on meal planning