Radio Shows

Michele Kauffman is a twice recovered Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor, has years of experience supporting others in positive approaches in healing. Her professional accounting career with the United States Attorney’s Office ended at the bottom of the stairs she fell down, as she could no longer add six and seven without taking off her shoes…… Michele facilitated in person support groups at Harborview Support Group, Swedish Cherry Hill, Benaroya Hall, and West Seattle Senior Center over a decade on Thursdays, growing other leaders in the community. Currently leading a five peer to peer support groups on Brain Network with Dr. Lisa Hirsh, her partner. They offer hope and connect Survivors, friends, families and professionals working on moving forward towards a happy life both physically and mentally. She lives in Seattle with her husband, Tom and Hallelujah, her seven year old service dog,125 lb. Newfoundland /Standard Poodle. For more see: brainnetwork.ngo I AM HOPE: honest, open, proud and enough. Thus the name of her new show, the 4th Tuesday of each month starting Jan 23rd!! Pen her in for next Tuesday and make her feel welcome!

Welcome to the New Year! It is also the first 2nd Wednesday of 2024, when my formidable co-host Caren Robinson joins us. As many could help but notice around the holidays, our platform Blog Talk Radio went (as the military sometimes says) “Tango Uniform”. We’re sorry for that, because holidays can be joyful, but they can also be a time of isolation. We’re in the advocacy business, so we were angry and saddened we couldn’t be there for one another. Thankfully the calendar has changed, and we’re back to spread hope in the new year. This leads in to the topic of our show tonight – TIME – Looked at by a number of vantage points. One in that BOTH Caren & I are upon anniversaries of our original (diagnosed) Brain Injuries. Those were not only game changers, but time changers as well. How we choose to budget, appreciate, reflect, project, and utilize our time weighs in heavy on our quality of life. Join Caren and Kim, call and share how you holidays went as well as any new plans on how you’ll be spending YOUR time this year!

Debbie Hampton recovered from decades of unhealthy thinking and depression, a suicide attempt, and resulting brain injury to become an inspirational and educational writer on brain, psychological, emotional, and mental health issues for Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen, and more. On her website, Debbie shares how she rebuilt her brain and life to find joy and thrive. She wants you to know that you can do it too! You can quickly learn the steps to a better you in her book, Beat Depression And Anxiety By Changing Your Brain, with simple practices easy to implement in your daily life. Improve your brain, improve your life. Debbie has also published an intimate, entertaining, inspiring, and educational memoir, Sex, Suicide and Serotonin: Taking Myself Apart and Putting Myself Back Together. You can get daily inspiration and information by joining Debbie on Facebook at Best Brain Possible, or connect to FB and get information on both her books at thebestbrainpossible.com

There are a LOT of Holiday geared programs around this time of year. One that I’ve watched every year of my life (REALLY long time), is Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. I began to consider what messages that show was sending. Hmmm .. I guess I could relate to the underpinnings of a few of those differences from a young age. Worse since my brain injury when I couldn’t recognize myself, or communicate “the new me”. One message is that people who are “different” are less desirable. They are judged, manipulated and controlled. They are lonely and isolated. Thus, holding a perception of not fitting in with the status quo. Even easier to feel like that issue is rubbed in this time of year. Before my brain injury, I took those differences as being “unique” or “out of the box” compared to most folk, as a good thing. That was a special, freeing feeling. There was nothing to measure up to, because being ME was enough. There were no comparisons, because there is none. We are each unique, not to be compelled to conform to someone else’s notion of “normal”. Was that a dream? Some place “different” took on a new meaning, that equates with something bad, ignored or frowned upon. Reasons for being banished from people or groups, realizing fears and insecurities once foreign to me. A challenge of self confidence. We all have our abominable snow men. In the movie they face their fears and move forward, with all the pieces falling into place. The pain morphs into the happy ending everyone craves, as the screen goes blank. Negative minds were changed. Confidence was restored. The we changed from a bullying sort of dynamic, to a appreciative love and acceptance ever more. So is it only like that in the movie? Can real life mirror the art?

Joy Bartling was raised on a small town dairy farm. In 2006 she founded Scatter Joy Acres (SJA) in Omaha, to provide a new home, new life, and new meaning by rescuing abused or neglected animals. Later the ranch was relocated to 15 acres inside the city limits of Omaha. Bartling’s first loves were the animals who became her closest childhood friends and confidants when she felt she had no one else to turn to during a painful part of her journey to adulthood. Understanding that there are often deep pains in life and the many times that human beings were not able to touch them, she realized she was not alone. At the ranch, the animals serve as an integral part of the on-going mission of providing therapeutic interaction for developmentally disabled and autistic children, seniors, veterans, and at-risk children. Joy embraced her passionate gift in life which also would be a significant way to give back to the community. “Scatter Joy Acres” was created to scatter God’s joy across all of his acres. On the ranch each animal has a name, a story and a significance, which is demonstrated in warmth and love they share with every person they encounter. The interactions animals share as they meet with people are simply amazing. Programs or donations see: scatterjoyacres.org

Dr. Mark Gordon started over 35 years ago using combinations of natural ingredients to address memory, mental energy and cognition as well as physical performance without any banned or restricted products. He has been instrumental as a thought leader in developing the area of Interventional Endocrinology and now the area of Neuroendocrinology as it pertains to symptomatic Traumatic Brain Injury with depression, anxiety, bi-polar, obsessive-compulsive disorders, dementia, Parkinson’s, GTE, and post-concussion syndrome. While his work can benefit anyone, his main focus has been on Veterans and Active Military Members, which includes amazing work with Andrew Marr and Adam Marr of Warrior Angels Foundation. Dr, Gordon is the Medical Director of Millennium Health Centers. He has degrees in degrees in Naturapathic Medicine, Nutrition, Food Technology, Family Medicine, Endocrinology, Internal Medicine, Alternative and Complementary Medicine, and Pharmacy. Mark has been featured on ESPN Magazine, Military Times, Fox and Friends, The Joe Grogan Experience, Good Morning America, The Epoch Times, Montel Williams Show & many more! See: tbihelpnow.org & millenniumhealthcenters.com

Call in and talk about what’s on your mind. MN Matt will be with me up front, some Indie Tunes, and Fun Fact. Add your thoughts or feelings on TBI, PTSD, and or the holidays coming up. Has your brain injury made it different? Have you lost someone this year and feel challenged with how the holidays will be? You name it .. Call it.

Join Kim and 2nd Wed each month cohost, Caren Robinson discuss an update of what is being currently explored, developed, considered, and discovered toward Brain Injury treatment. Will review common take-aways from our injuries, and how gratitude aids our end of healing, with Thanksgiving around the corner. Recognition of our Troops and Veterans as we recognize USMC Birthday and Veteran’s Day this weekend. Bless our troops and their families for the sacrifice and service toward us all.

Join me with fellow survivor, friend and co-host, Hatter! Welcome to November & Hope You Had a Safe, Fun Halloween! Booya!! And .. Don’t forget to change your clocks this weekend 🙂 Tonight we will be discussing matters of brain injury, indulging in some Indie Tunes, and whatever else might present! Join us, call us .. Show us some love!

After a month away, Kim is back LIVE with her co-host Simon Lewis (gone much longer) for not only Hump Day, but tonight Wicked Wednesday! Fall is upon us – Change. Halloween is around the corner – Masks. The hosts have been fighting difficult health challenges, but bravely crawl back to the Mic tonight. We invite YOU to call in and join us! We invite you to test drive your Halloween Costume for the show! Call and disclose what your costume is, and why you selected it. Play the game of the worst Halloween movies ever made .. And share your favorites. The world in turmoil (AGAIN) .. Seems relentless globally, and personally the past few years, and it’s not headed the right direction now. While a shadow is cast that “Something Wicked This Way Comes” .. Let’s volley some serious – (our fears), and some fun (our survival).