What the Ef?!

Let's be honest: most of us with epilepsy have been in a Deep Denial phase at some point. Lucca Bevan joins us to talk about hers. She shares what it took to move toward acceptance and the power of connecting with others who just “get it.” We also talk about the impact of epilepsy on your sense of self and being denied opportunities because of it. Plus, how an 1800s history book explained the mystery seizures that five neurologists couldn't.Shout to sponsors Neurelis, SK life science, & PATI and community partners Epilepsy Foundation, Danny Did Foundation, & Epilepsy Alliance America for believing in this podcast!

Let's talk about the thing nobody wants to talk about: SUDEP. If you're wondering what it is, whether you're at high risk, or how to find some peace of mind, this one's for you.Dr. Rebecca Garcia Sosa and Mary Duffy get into why this may not come up at the doctor's office, how to check in with your neuro about it, and how overnight devices can help you sleep a little easier. Mary also shares Danny's story and how to get help from Danny Did Foundation at dannydid.org. It's a heavy topic, but it's a hopeful conversation.Thank you to NightWatch+ for sponsoring this episode about SUDEP. To learn more about this new device, visit: https://nightwatchepilepsy.com/en-us/Shout outs to the folks who believe in this podcast and make these convos possible! Thank you sponsors Neurelis, SK Life Science, & PATI and community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, & Epilepsy Alliance America!

Ah, the driving debate. Matt Suchan's breakthrough seizure dragged this issue back to the front of his life—and put a spotlight on just how wildly inconsistent the laws are. Three months seizure-free in some states. Six or twelve months in others. Cool, cool, very normal system we've got here.Turns out, top docs have strong opinions on what they actually think the minimum should be before patients get back behind the wheel. (Spoiler: it might not be what you expect.)Also in this episode: Mama Suchan sets the record straight on Matt's already-unhinged diagnosis story (don't worry, it's still completely nuts), I unveil my personal conspiracy theories on the link between epilepsy and creativity, and Matt explains what it's like to see colors in letters and music—a real phenomenon called synesthesia, which may be linked to heightened creativity.Shout to sponsors Neurelis, SK life science, & PATI and community partners Epilepsy Foundation, Danny Did Foundation, & Epilepsy Alliance America for believing in this podcast!2uesday - Matt's Album"Seizures, Driver Licensure, and Medical Reporting Update: An ANN Position Statement" Neurology Journals, March 2025

It started with wings on the first date. Now Joellys gives Albert pop quizzes on her seizure meds and he calls auras super powers. These two share how epilepsy has become a part of their love story...something that always seems tricky, until it doesn't.Joellys is also making history by changing the standards for occupational therapy (OT) and epilepsy. (Don't worry, she also explains what the ef OT is!) And ya know how we've all been told “no” from our docs because of epilepsy? Like swimming, sports, or bathing your child? Joellys is already using OT to problem solve those No’s into Yes’s!What “No” do you want changed to a “Yes”? Tell Joellys -- she'll get on it! Fill out this survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/epilepsyTorie being hilarious episode: Apple, Spotify, YouTubeShout out to the folks who believe in this podcast and make these convos possible! Thank you sponsors Neurelis, SK Life Science, & PATI and community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, & Epilepsy Alliance America!

You’d never guess that Drew Dixon quit guitar lessons at 7 years old. But through this same childhood whimsicality, a journey began in which he discovered a deep belief in music’s effects on the brain and the soul. Now Drew has a successful music career that his 7-year-old self would never believe — including his recent hit "Running." (Stay to the end for an acoustic play of it!)Drew shares his songwriting process, what it actually takes to survive the music industry (full rooms, empty rooms, overnight tours — you play them all), and his work doing music therapy with hospital patients. And how he manages all of this while managing his epilepsy. We rewind and talk about the normalcy of keeping epilepsy a secret as a teenager and why Drew didn’t even tell his childhood friend who *also* has epilepsy and what happened when he did….you might recognize this friend! Dr. Dan Snelgrove (re: “The Pitt” episode) joins the convo to talk about his and Drew’s journey co-founding Electric Minds Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing joy — and Disneyland — to kids with epilepsy.Check out Electric Minds Foundation: https://www.electricmindsfoundation.org/ Shout to Neurelis, SK life science, Epilepsy Foundation, Danny Did Foundation, & Epilepsy Alliance America for believing in this podcast!

It started with jokes on Twitter. Now comedian Jake Lambert is touring internationally with his stand-up show, The Sunshine Kid. Jake joins the podcast to talk about building a comedy career while living with epilepsy, surviving a schedule where nights are work and days are recovery, and why he started joking about seizures in his act.We get into epilepsy running in his family, varying audience responses to his epilepsy jokes, Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, and trying to explain a completely ridiculous aura to another person. We also discuss Jake's attempt to convince the BBC that epilepsy was more interesting than competitive slapping.Come for the comedy. Stay for the seizure stories, weird auras, and British accent.Subscribe to Jake's newsletter to stay up-to-date on his tour schedule: www.jakelambertcomedy.comShout to Neurelis, SK life science, Epilepsy Foundation, Danny Did Foundation, & Epilepsy Alliance America for believing in this podcast!

What if there was something you could wear that gave you a heads up before a seizure? Truman Pierson and Chris Fitz are working on making that a reality. In this episode, they share their evolving device that uses EEG technology – without the wires OR the glue – to create a wearable device that predicts your seizures based on brain wave patterns. That means we could wear something the size of a paperclip, go about our lives, and get to safety before a seizure hits. They share how much warning time the device may be able to give before a seizure, when they hope people with epilepsy could actually get their hands on it, and what inspired them to create it.And there’s something you can help with – naming this device! Truman and Chris are looking to folks in the community for inspiration. Submit your ideas here: https://forms.gle/Gzc1SeTJ7GRQhTtT7Learn more about their work: https://www.thetaneurotech.com/Shout to Neurelis, SK life science, Epilepsy Foundation, Danny Did Foundation, & Epilepsy Alliance America for believing in this podcast!

Calling your boyfriend by an ex’s name post-seizure. Avoiding “Bridget Jones-ing” your seizure moments. Forgetting conversations, faces, and entire vacations. (We all agree remembering names is out of the question).Ivana Garcia, Alison Kukla, and Torie Robinson join the podcast this week and get brutally honest about the weird, embarrassing, heartbreaking, and hilarious parts of living with epilepsy. (If nothing else, tune in for the sexy British, Argentinian – and Ohio – accents!)But underneath the chaos and laughter is something deeper: we get real about mental health, the isolation of not feeling understood, and why we became advocates in the first place.Come hang on the couches with us and tune into this messy, funny, vulnerable convo!Shout to Neurelis, SK life science, Epilepsy Foundation, Danny Did Foundation, & Epilepsy Alliance America for believing in this podcast!