Kim’s Radio Shows

Chris Nowinski is co-founder and executive director of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to solving the sports concussion crisis through education, policy, and research. He also serves as co-director of the BU CTE Program. Nowinski also serves on the NFL Players Association Mackey-White TBI Research Committee, the Ivy League Concussion Committee, Positive Coaching Alliance National Advisory Board, and as a consultant to Major League Lacrosse. He is a Ph.D. candidate in Behavioral Neuroscience at Boston University School of Medicine.

Chris’ interest in brain trauma stems from personal experience. An All-Ivy defensive tackle for the Harvard University football team, after graduation, he began working for the life sciences consulting firm Trinity Partners, LLC. While there he decided to explore his passion for professional wrestling, and enrolled in wrestling school at night. Eighteen months later, in 2002, he debuted on WWE’s flagship program Monday Night RAW. From there he gained new perspective on concussions, also penning his book Head Games. See: concussionfoundation.org

Guided by his life philosophy, “Find A Way” Merril Hoge played in the NFL for 8 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears, worked at ESPN for 21 years, and survived career-ending head trauma, cancer and open heart surgery! These successes and challenges have helped Merril inspire others to persevere in the face of adversity along with achieving success.

A leading advocate for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The American Heart Association and Safety in Sports, Merril is an active contributor to shaping the communications regarding head trauma in all sports. He is also the chairman of the board of the Caring Place, a center for grieving children and their families that have lost a loved one, and the author of Find A Way: Three Words That Changed My Life. See: merrilhoge.com and brainwashedbook.com & mytransformations.com for PTSD & Depression resources.

Rick Von Linsowe, MS, CPC suffered an alcohol and drug related brain injury in 1998. He was confined to a wheelchair in a nursing home. He made the decision not to allow his injury to define him. Through hard work and determination, Rick was able to overcome his physical limitations and achieve many successes in his personal and professional life, and is now a Recovery Life Advocate. Connect with Rick, read more about his story at his website at: hopetbi.com

In his own words, Mr. Ferroly has spent a lifetime “trying to uncover why some people are just stuck. Kyle’s real passion is showing people how one’s brain health can alter and determine the bigger picture; how they think, act, and feel. This in turn allows many people the chance to understand the root cause behind their struggles and symptoms.

Kyle Ferroly MA has also made an ongoing commitment to always incorporate the latest techniques available. To that end, Kyle received his Masters of Educational Psychology in 2004 with a focus on Community Counseling from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. He is a Master’s level Mental Health Therapist and is nationally certified through BCIA in Neurofeedback as well as C.E.T. certified with Mind Alive, completing the Clinical Hypnotherapy program from the Robert Shields College in 2005. Kyle also has also completed his Doctoral studies in the Psychophysiology program at Saybrook University, currently finishing his dissertation. In addition, he continues his advanced EEG training by partnering with top professionals in the field including Jay Gunkelman, QEEGD, and Dr. Joel Lubar, PhD.

In spite of the protracted winter in many places, flooding, April Showers … After the storm, there is new growth. When Brain Injury causes us to “Let Go” of our old life, we mourn the loss in our own time, then we move forward into the adventures of our new life. No one said it’s easy .. But as we learn our new limits, accept that new doors will open where others have closed, and we absolutely can find happiness again .. Then we have a new freedom to build a life we feel is worth living. The new chapter begins ..

“About 10 years after Jake Band’s accident, an emergency room doctor told him that due to his post-accident accomplishments, he was one in a billion. The number of zeros increased upon every achievement. Since then, he has graduated from college, gotten married, and much more…”

“Being-Here is about facing your new life after surviving TBI. Nobody outside of a circle of survivors, can possibly have a clue what your life is like now. Band explains the unique things he did to face his new world. This was not only done with the hope that it could help others face similar unique deficits, but to convince them not to give up. If people, such as ‘rehabilitation professionals’ , pre-accident ‘friends’ and even family members have given up on you and/or your future, you can still be empowered to believe in yourself.”

Melissa Wolak, MS, CCC-SLP connects soul with science to facilate sustainable change and alignment with health, career and relationships as a Holistic Mindset and Brain Health Coach, Speech-Language Pathologist and Speaker in Boulder, Colorado. She provides education and empowering strategies to support functional, healthy lifestyle changes, productivity and wellbeing with the goal to decrease the effects of chronic stress or injury and optimize the brain’s potential while preventing cognitive decline and disease. She has earned her Bachelors and Master’s Degrees in Communication Science Disorders, has 20+ years working with clients in the medical and wellness fields with additional training in the areas of Brain Health, Food as Medicine, Memory, Mindfulness, Anxiety and Stress Management. See: melissawolak.com and on YouTube: Connect Soul and Science with Melissa Wolak.

Jeanie Collitte was a caregiver for the elderly at a local Senior Care Facility. On September 14, 2011, Jeanie was involved in a horrific car accident. She turned in front of Mack truck filled with gravel, and was drug eighty seven feet. Jeanie was almost pronounced dead on scene, but a witness detected a faint pulse. The First Responders used the jaws of life to cut her out, and she was life flighted to Akron City Hospital…

Life has not been the same since that day in 2011, when the one who had always helped and cared for others, turned out to be the one who now needs the care. Caregiver turned survivor. Join us to hear more about Jeanie’s role shift, and the new path she is on.

Join Kim and Simon as we wind up Brain Injury Awareness Month. We survivors never really “wind up” Brain Injury Awareness Month, because for many of us the saga continues for life. We’ll be talking about what Awareness Month means to us, new beginnings after Brain Injury, and whatever may strike our fancy as hopefully we’re closer to Spring in the air .. Time of renewal, hope, and positive change.

A Nurse’s Education About Life and Death, Becki Hawkins started as a nurse’s aide in 1971, became a registered nurse, and worked in oncology, hospice, and home health/hospice care. She later became a hospice chaplin and hospice volunteer. She retired from nursing and lives with her husband in Oklahoma.

Becki is now a speaker who shares her experience with hospice and oncology professionals nationwide. She continues to write her column and is working on her second book. She still visits patients on occasion, as a friend. Reach her at: BeckilHawkins@gmail.com – Be SURE to view her YouTube – Search- Nurse Becki Hawkins Transitions.