Kim’s Radio Shows

Most of us stop to remember the tragedy of Sept 11th each year, but few register the continuing cost of that day, these 18yrs later and beyond. Join me with First Responder, James T. Ryder and hear about the work they continue, to help victims of 9-11.

We talk a lot about the healing nature of the arts. Most of us have written a book, want to write a book, have thought of writing a book, will sometime write a book … But have no idea where to begin. My guest tonight will enlighten us about the pros and cons of the publishing industry, what to expect, and how she has had tremendous success!

Victorine Lieske’s first book, Not What She Seems, hit the NYT’s bestselling ebook list in March of 2011. Her first sweet romance, Accidentally Married, hit the USA Today bestselling list in January 2015. She now has nineteen books published with one translated into German. She has taught classes at many conferences including RWA national in July of 2019. Victorine and her husband live in Nebraska with their two children still left in the nest and three cats. She loves all things romance, and watches While You Were Sleeping about once every six months. When she’s not writing, she’s designing book covers for authors or making something with her extensive yarn collection.

My guest tonight is Claire Lapat, a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh. She is a neuroscience major on the pre-med track. She is also doing a double minor in chemistry and applied statistics. Claire has suffered over 20 concussions. She was a soccer player for thirteen years, always one of the girls going for headers and playing aggressively. She now suffers from persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome. Name a symptom and she definitely has it, currently with no end in sight. Claire wants to use her experiences to make youth sports safer and to try to help others who may be going through similar things. You can follow her journey on my website, clairesconcussionjourney.home.blog and on Instagram/Facebook page @clairesconcussionjourney

Join me with Amy Rankin, who not only took a baseball bat to the eye, but suffered a tragic car accident at the hands of a drunk driver. Amy had a fractured skull, went through extensive brain procedures to mitigate further complications. She was told after the accident she would never walk, talk, or eat again. Then after a series of intense struggles and challeges, she was blessed to find a Rehab Facility who helped her buck the odds.

Amy went on to co-write a book with her therapist Ginger Farr, Nobody Thought I Could Do It, But I Showed Them and So Can You. The tittle comes from that first hospital, where they said “she would never”… To where she proved them wrong, as many of us are blessed to do.

Now Amy volunteers at a day program for other TBI Survivors, Choices for Change, a place for other TBI Survivors to be social with one another, work on some ADL skills and go on various outings.

No, it’s NOT the last Wednesday of the month, but Co-Host Simon Lewis joins Kim to discuss the importance of BALANCE and Brain Injury. Balance includes the Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual elements of life after injury, and learning the new parameters tolerable for each of us .. including diet, activities and interests, relationships, commitments, and more. New link on the effects of Obesity and Brain Thinning discussed as well .. May want to hold off on that Yummy Dessert as you age! Finances and the Cell Phone Scam discussed too. Tune in, should be a thought provoking show!

Dr. Mark Gordon has been a strong advocate of Integrative and Functional Medicine and the promotion of wellness medicine thought the correction of underlying hormonal deficiencies. He was instrumental in promoting the recognition of Traumatic Brain Injury as a cause of hormonal deficiency in the hallmarked presentation on ESPN’s Outside the Lines in 2007. His book, The Clinical Application of Interventional Medicine, is recognized by his peers as a primer for the standards of care and assessment for Interventional Endocrinology (anti-aging medicine). He has served as Medical Director of CBS Studios, and has also participated on projects with HBO, ESPN, CNN, FOX, Good Morning, and a number of international news programs. In 2014, Dr. Gordon appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience, where the discussion on Traumatic Brain Injury and hormonal dysfunction generated national and international interest. One episode included Jason Hall, the screenwriter for American Sniper and ex-petty officer and Navy Seal Corpsman Matthew Gosney who spoke at length about his blast trauma, gunshot wounds, surgery, depression and 16 different medications that did nothing to prevent his attempted suicide. He shares his experience of being evaluated by Dr. Gordon and starting a hormonal replenishment protocol that lead to his stopping 14 medications within 6 weeks and the resolution of his deep depression.

His book Traumatic Brain Injury – A clinical approach to diagnosis and treatment, was launched along with a workshop attended by an international array of medical specialists seeking advanced training in diagnosis and treatment of TBI. Dr. Gordon continues to work with veteran’s and Active Military groups providing funding for those with injuries received while in the theater of war. Dr. Gordon is owner and Medical Director of Millennium-TBI, in Encino California. See: tbimedlegal.com

While not a lot of research has been done, it seems a well known fact among the TBI community that weather strongly impacts survivors of Brain Injury. Be it these blistering summer temperatures, the deep freeze of winter, or simply barometric pressure changes .. Many of us can predict weather better than the “professionals”. Kim and Simon will discuss the impacts of weather, and other current topics of interest, such as Hurricanes, Floods, Earthquakes .. Oh my

On January 4, 2014 Caren Robinson was involved in a catastrophic head on collision with her youngest son. Caren’s seatbelt failed and she was ejected approximately 10-15 feet from the vehicle and sustained an initial loss of consciousness for an unknown amount of time before EMS arrived.

Caren suffered a complex high energy blunt polytrauma with multiple injuries. Some of those injuries included multiple orthopedic fractures, closed traumatic brain injury, and soft tissue injuries, along with other medical challenges.

Sharing what she learns through her recovery journey, self-led research, self-advocacy, and survival experiences have become her way of coping and healing on the inside, while her body healed on the outside.

Caren created a Web Site and Blog to help take the struggle out of finding resources and information when someone is faced with a Trauma – from a Polytrauma or Brain Injury. www.hopetbi.com

DREAMER is based on the true-life events of Frank Johnson, a former Kodak engineer who was tragically impaired in a fire. For over 40 years Frank has shown perseverance and courage as he fought his inner most demons to overcome his disabilities and become a motivational speaker and friend to others like himself. He is the author of the book, From Flawed to Fantastic, How I Turned my Disability Into an A$$et. He was also one of the people written about in the Chicken Soup for the Soul Book: Recovering from a Traumatic Brain Injury. Frank continues to be an inspiration to all people. See: ffhero.com

Joe Janowicz, creator and writer of DREAMER Comic book, and long time friend of Frank will be joining us too. This story is dedicated to Frank, a comic book fan who is a “real dreamer” in his own life, but also influencing the lives of others. Joe, an accomplished writer himself, wanted to work with Frank to create a Comic Series featuring the plight of people with disability. Photo of Ken Wheaton, artist of the DREAMER comic shown. For more information on the exciting new DREAMER Comic release see: dreamercomicbook.com

Jodi Lyons is an eldercare expert who helps older adults and those with special needs find the care they need throughout the country. An ardent patient advocate, Ms. Lyons helps people navigate the complicated, often convoluted system, identify what they need, and learn how to create an action plan. With more than twenty years’ experience in the nonprofit health-care arena, she has been a leader in national and international organizations representing health-care and long-term care service providers. She was on the Executive Committee of the Alzheimer’s Association/National Capital Area and an Alzheimer’s Association Ambassador to Capitol Hill. Lyons is a writer for and industry advisor to Telemedicine Magazine. She also wrote the award-winning book The Smart Person’s Guide to Eldercare to empower and educate consumers, to make sense of a complex system, and to highlight some of the humor that can be found even in the most challenging times as we grow older. Jodi also co-authored the book Brain Health As You Age-A Practical Guide to Maintenance and Prevention See More at: brainhealthasyouage.com