Brain Friends: Recent Episodes
Dr. D. Seles Gadson and Angie Cauthorn
The Brain Friends podcast is a space for neuro nerds and stroke survivors to talk about all things aphasia, language recovery, and community. Hosted by Dr. D. Seles, a neuroscientist and speech-language pathologist, and Angie C., 2x stroke survivor and aphasia advocate. Listen, laugh, and learn with these two stakeholders determined to make a difference in aphasia advocacy.
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What does it actually mean to recover language after a stroke? Not just pass a test, but tell a story, hold a conversation, explain what happened to you at the airport.
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Brielle Stark, a neuroscientist and aphasia researcher at Indiana University Bloomington, to talk about discourse: the kind of language we use every day to describe our lives, our memories, and what matters to us. We dig into why standard aphasia tests miss so much of the real picture, what good home practice actually looks like (hint: easy is not the same as useful), and why the myth that recovery stops at six months needs to be retired for good.
We also talk about primary progressive aphasia, what fatigue really means for a post-stroke brain, and why you have seen one person with aphasia, you have seen exactly one person with aphasia.
Plus, Angie brings some receipts from her own story, including a pre-kindergarten math book, a crowded support group, and a very patient friend named Tay.
This is a real conversation between a researcher and a survivor, and that is exactly the point.
WHAT WE COVER
- What discourse is and why it matters more than any test you have been given
- Why aphasia is not just about language and why that framing has kept survivors from getting real help
- What good home practice actually looks like, and why easy is not the same as useful
- Brain fatigue: what it is, what triggers it, and why it is so underestimated
- The six-month recovery myth, and what the research actually shows
- Why you have seen one person with aphasia, you have seen one person with aphasia
Topics covered:
- What discourse is and why it matters for real-world recovery
- Primary progressive aphasia versus stroke aphasia: different paths, different goals
- Why standard tests do not capture how people actually communicate
- What makes home practice worth your time
- The six-month recovery myth, and what the research actually shows
- Brain fatigue, what it is, what triggers it, and why it is so underestimated
- Why "aphasia doesn't affect intelligence" is incomplete and sometimes harmful
- Neuroplasticity: what it means for stroke survivors and what it means for everyone
https://aphasiaadvocates.com/ for Brain Friends Merch
https://aphasia.org/event/ask-the-expert-february-2026/
https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles
https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/
Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. ...
Send us Fan Mail
Dr. Rachel Forman is a stroke neurologist at Yale School of Medicine. She treats stroke, researches it, and takes that knowledge into communities through Stamp Out Stroke -- sixty-plus events and counting. She recommends this podcast to her patients.
In this conversation: blood pressure and why most people do not know they have a problem until something goes wrong. Why only one in five stroke survivors check their blood pressure correctly. The discharge cliff. Secondary stroke prevention and why finding the cause of your first stroke changes everything. Post-stroke depression as a clinical condition that worsens outcomes. The mental health gap for survivors with aphasia. Equity in stroke research and care. And the Smart Cookie: the one thing Dr. Forman would change about stroke care right now.
Brain Friends: the podcast Every episode delivers stroke and aphasia science you can actually use. Hosted by Angie Cauthorn -- stroke survivor, aphasia advocate, and founder of ROSA, Resource Orientation for Stroke and Aphasia.
Health education only. Not personal medical advice. Mental health crisis support: call or text 988.
Stamp Out Stroke -- Yale Stroke and Vascular Neurology https://medicine.yale.edu/neurology/excellence/stampoutstroke/
AHA Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Guidelines https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings/monitoring-your-blood-pressure-at-home
Find a Validated Blood Pressure Monitor https://www.validatebp.org
SEQUINS -- Society for Equity Neuroscience https://www.s-equi-ns.org/
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 https://988lifeline.org
National Aphasia Synergy -- Peer Befriending Program Founded and led by people with aphasia. Trish Hambridge, info@nationalaphasiasynergy.org
https://aphasiaadvocates.com/ for Brain Friends Merch
https://aphasia.org/event/ask-the-expert-february-2026/
https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles
https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/
Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. ...
Send us Fan Mail
Two world-class researchers walked into this conversation because of one woman. They did not have to. They chose to.
Dr. Peter Turkeltaub is a neurologist at Georgetown University Medical Center. MD. PhD. He directs the Cognitive Recovery Lab, where his research focuses on the neural mechanisms of language recovery after stroke. He is Dr. Seles friend and co-author Dr. Charles Ellis Jr. holds a PhD and CCC-SLP certification and is a professor at the University of Florida, one of the most recognized authorities on equity in communication sciences in the country. He was her mentor. Neither of them does podcasts. Both of them showed up. First time on this mic.
The paper is published in Aphasiology, the field's flagship peer-reviewed journal. Open access. Free. No paywall. That was a deliberate choice, and it was completely consistent with who Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson was.
She was a neuroscientist and a speech-language pathologist simultaneously. That combination is rare. It is exactly why nobody else was going to write this paper. Eight concrete action points for SLPs working with Black stroke survivors with aphasia. Not aspirations. A clinical blueprint. Built from evidence and from the understanding that Black patients carry a specific history into every clinical encounter that changes what good care actually requires.
Stroke does not see color. But your doctor does.
Black patients face higher stroke incidence, earlier onset, greater severity, and lower rates of sustained rehabilitation. That is documented. That is structural. Dr. Seles Gadson named eight ways to change it. Dr. Ellis extends the framework live, adding a ninth point on the spot. The paper is already generating scholarship.
This is not a tribute episode dressed up as science. This is science. The tribute is that she finished it.
This is the blueprint
Paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2025.2561681
Open access. Free. Search her name.
https://aphasiaadvocates.com/ for Brain Friends Merch
https://aphasia.org/event/ask-the-expert-february-2026/
https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles
https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/
Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. ...
Send us Fan Mail
A stroke can feel like a lightning strike on the brain’s power grid—which is why the new 2026 AHA/ASA acute ischemic stroke guidelines focus on speed, clarity, and better systems at every step. We sit down with the chair of the writing group, Dr. Sean Pabakaron, to translate cutting-edge research into actions families, clinicians, and first responders can take right now. No jargon, no fluff—just the signals to watch, the questions to ask, and the processes that save brain.
We unpack what changed since the 2018–2019 updates and why more than 50 new trials reshaped the playbook for pre-hospital screening, ER imaging timelines, thrombolysis decision-making, and routing to thrombectomy-capable centers. You’ll learn how tools like FAST and the Cincinnati scale help paramedics identify strokes in the field, why regions now sometimes bypass closer hospitals, and how door-in, door-out time became a critical quality metric for transfers. Inside the ED, we outline the ideal sequence from stroke alert to scan within 25 minutes, to mixing tenecteplase or alteplase, to rapid consults for clot retrieval—because earlier treatment within extended windows still yields better outcomes.
We also spotlight a major breakthrough: meaningful guidance for pediatric stroke. Kids present differently, the data are thinner, and the stakes are high. Dr. Prabhakaran explains when thrombolysis and thrombectomy can be considered in expert centers and how causes shift from congenital factors to post-viral arteriopathy or trauma as children age. We close with practical prevention: midlife blood pressure control, access to primary care, and the simple steps that protect cognition and reduce stroke risk over decades.
If stroke touches your life—as a survivor, caregiver, clinician, or advocate—this conversation gives you a clear map for a faster, safer response. Listen, share with your circle, and help us spread actionable stroke knowledge. If you find this valuable, follow the show, leave a rating, and tell a friend who needs a smarter plan for brain health.
https://aphasiaadvocates.com/ for Brain Friends Merch
https://aphasia.org/event/ask-the-expert-february-2026/
https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles
https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/
Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. ...
Send us Fan Mail
A friendship became a movement when a survivor searching for culturally competent therapy met a clinician who refused to treat equity like an optional add-on. What started as a phone call turned into Brain Friends—a space where lived experience and rigorous science work side by side to make aphasia, stroke recovery, and neuroplasticity feel human, practical, and possible.
We walk through the real story: how instant respect turned into a partnership, how roles formed—one voice translating from the trenches, the other anchoring with research—and how that rhythm made complex ideas usable for families, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers. Then the pivot no one wanted: sudden loss. Grief shows up as silence, stalled projects, and episodes too tender to edit. Naming that pain opens a path forward. “Progress over perfection” becomes more than a motto; it’s a care strategy for speech attempts, therapy homework, and the messy edits that stay in the final cut to normalize real recovery.
Legacy grounds the work. We highlight the scholarship honoring Dr.Seles Gadson, designed to fund equity-centered clinicians and researchers who center patient-reported outcomes and culturally responsive care. Scholarships don’t run on vibes, and support here turns memory into infrastructure—training, mentorship, and research that actually changes lives. Along the way, we talk about trust in healthcare, the realities Black women face in brain health systems, and why clear, simple language outperforms jargon when the brain is tired and the heart is full.
We close with gratitude for a new advocacy award that carries responsibility, an audio message that still lights the room, and a promise to keep showing up for survivors, caregivers, and the professionals who serve them. If this resonates, share it with someone who needs hope they can use, and help sustain the scholarship that keeps this legacy working. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us how you’re choosing progress over perfection today.
https://aphasiaadvocates.com/ for Brain Friends Merch
https://aphasia.org/event/ask-the-expert-february-2026/
https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles
https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/
Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. ...
Send us Fan Mail
Words don’t just disappear; sometimes the path to them does. We explore what aphasia really is—evidence of brain injury—and why that framing changes everything for survivors, caregivers, and clinicians. Instead of waiting at a broken bridge, we focus on building new routes: consent-based support, yes/no prompts, two-choice options, functional descriptions, and shared signals that turn help into partnership. The result is less pressure, more access, and conversations that actually include the person who’s fighting to be heard.
We also dig into the messy truth of inconsistency. On one day, automatic phrases might show up on cue; on another, a simple sentence can stall. That doesn’t mean the thought is gone. Capacity rises and falls with fatigue, stress, speed, and noise. The wardrobe analogy makes it clear: the clothes are there, the drawers are jammed. So we shift the goal from perfect words to being understood—reframing success as clear meaning, not flawless speech. Along the way, we talk about when “take your time” helps and when it hurts, and how a quick reset like “let me say it another way” can unlock progress.
Caregivers and clinicians will find pragmatic guidance for protecting dignity while improving outcomes: pace the exchange, reduce choices, offer help with consent, and respect “never mind” as triage, not attitude. We name the emotional weight too—grief and depression that often travel with aphasia—and offer a way forward grounded in partnership. If you suspect aphasia after a stroke or head injury, seek an evaluation and bring these tools to your team. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find the conversation. Your support keeps this work moving and makes the path to language a little smoother for everyone.
https://aphasiaadvocates.com/ for Brain Friends Merch
https://aphasia.org/event/ask-the-expert-february-2026/
https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles
https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/
Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. ...
Send us Fan Mail
A face that slips, a word that won’t come, an arm that won’t lift—tiny moments that point to massive truths about how the brain works, heals, and sometimes declines. I invited Dr. Roy Hamilton, neurologist, neuroplasticity researcher, and one of the clearest teachers in our field, to help us untangle aphasia, dementia, and stroke with practical language and unforgettable analogies.
We start by separating terms people often blend. Dementia isn’t just memory loss; it’s a progressive decline across thinking skills that eventually limits independence. Aphasia is a language disorder: after stroke it strikes suddenly and often improves over time, while in primary progressive aphasia it creeps in gradually and can ultimately meet criteria for dementia. Along the way, we explore why prior stroke raises future risk, how small vessel disease can silently chip away at cognition, and what high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking do to the brain’s “sprinkler system.”
Then we get tactical. Dr. Hamilton breaks down ischemic versus hemorrhagic stroke, how atrial fibrillation forms clots that travel to the brain, and why time is brain when speech slips or a face droops. Don’t sleep it off—modern teams can give clot‑busting drugs, thread catheters to dissolve or remove clots, and save language if you act fast. We spotlight neuroplasticity as the engine of recovery and show why practice is the original brain‑changing tool. We also share how non‑invasive brain stimulation—magnetic and electrical—aims to boost language networks in subacute stroke and help people with primary progressive aphasia hold on to communication longer.
If you or someone you love is navigating aphasia—whether after a recent stroke or as language slowly changes—this conversation blends clarity, science, and hope. Share it with your circle, watch for FAST warning signs, and ask your care team about therapy intensity, prevention, and research options. If this helped you see the brain more clearly, follow the show, leave a rating or review, and pass it on to someone who needs it.
https://aphasiaadvocates.com/ for Brain Friends Merch
https://aphasia.org/event/ask-the-expert-february-2026/
https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles
https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/
Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. ...
Send us Fan Mail
Dr. Seles shares her harrowing experience of being in Israel when war broke out in October, capturing both the fear of the situation and the remarkable perspective it gave her on American privilege.
• Dr. Seles traveled to Israel with a church group of 60 people including her mother
• She was baptized in the Jordan River by her childhood pastor who had originally baptized her 20+ years ago
• Plans changed suddenly when they were redirected to Jerusalem due to a "developing situation"
• They witnessed smoke in the distance as conflict began to escalate
• The group had to evacuate to Jordan as airports closed and the situation worsened
• Dr. Seles faced challenging experiences at border crossings related to her identity as a Black American woman
• She and her mother (Ma Dukes) were separated onto different flights home due to limited evacuation options
• The flight home was delayed due to airspace safety concerns, creating additional anxiety
• The experience highlighted American passport privilege and the complex dynamics of race, gender, and religion in the region
Stroke survivors may experience intensified seasonal depression and anxiety. Dr. Seles and Angie discuss how symptoms like winter blues that might have been a "five" before stroke can increase to a "seven" afterward, requiring additional management strategies.
https://aphasiaadvocates.com/ for Brain Friends Merch
https://aphasia.org/event/ask-the-expert-february-2026/
https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles
https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/
Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. ...
Send us Fan Mail
Hey Brain Friends, Celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Seles is at the heart of today's episode. I'm sharing the original recording of our neuroplasticity episode from 2022 that didn't make the cut. We had so much fun recording this but when we went to edit, the levels were not good. updates to the platform, there is a fix now. LOL We explore the concept of neuroplasticity and its role in recovery and personal growth, infused with laughter and ice breakers! We had such a good time recording this, I hope you enjoy. I will be back on the mic when I can, right now I'm grieving my friend. So enjoy this gem.
• Reflecting on the impact of Dr. Seles’s life
• Scholarships established in her name to promote health equity
• Understanding neuroplasticity and how the brain adapts
• Engaging in memory recall through an icebreaker
• Tips for incorporating playful activities to promote brain health
• The significance of consistency in practice during recovery
• How art and exercise can aid neuroplasticity
• The inspiring journeys shared by listeners and community members
We remind our Brain Friends to support the scholarships established to honor Dr. Seles and I encourage everyone to explore their websites for detailed information.
https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/
https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles
https://aphasiaadvocates.com/ for Brain Friends Merch
https://aphasia.org/event/ask-the-expert-february-2026/
https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles
https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/
Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. ...
Send us Fan Mail
In this brief episode of Brain Friends, Angie shares the devastating news of the passing of her beloved friend and co-host, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Dr. Seles, a brilliant and compassionate neuro nerd and speech-language pathologist, brought a unique blend of expertise and warmth to Brain Friends. Her insights and genuine concern for the aphasia community deeply resonated with listeners.
Angie pays tribute to Dr. Seles's unwavering strength and grace throughout her illness. She reflects on the profound impact Dr. Seles had on her life and on the countless individuals whose lives were touched by her work.
The episode also addresses the future of Brain Friends, honoring Dr. Seles's legacy by continuing to provide valuable information and support to the aphasia community.
We love, appreciate, and remember you, Dr. Seles.
https://aphasiaadvocates.com/ for Brain Friends Merch
https://aphasia.org/event/ask-the-expert-february-2026/
https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles
https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/
Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. ...
Send us Fan Mail
**In this episode of Brain Friends, we delve into the complexities of cognitive function and its disorders.
Angie shares her personal journey with cognitive impairment following a stroke, highlighting the challenges of aphasia and adapting to a "new normal."
Dr. Seles provides insights into the differences of cognitive testing, explaining why certain tests are designed for specific populations and the importance of normalized testing.**
What you'll learn:
- How strokes, TBIs, and dementia affect the brain differently
- Learn about the key indicators and testing differences that help diagnose cognitive impairments.
Tune in to gain valuable knowledge for individuals facing cognitive challenges.
https://aphasiaadvocates.com/ for Brain Friends Merch
https://aphasia.org/event/ask-the-expert-february-2026/
https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles
https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/
Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. ...
Send us Fan Mail
Language assessments after stroke are not all the same, and the type of test a clinician chooses directly affects what gets measured and what gets missed. This episode breaks down the difference between impairment-based assessments like the Western Aphasia Battery and participation-based assessments like the Communication Activities of Daily Living, and explains why that distinction matters for survivors. Dr. Seles walks through how aphasia intersects with cognition and why quality-of-life assessments belong in every evaluation. Angie shares the real benefits and challenges of completing language assessments from the survivor's side of the table. Dr. Seles closes with three concrete tips for speech-language pathologists supporting survivors with low social support and reduced quality of life. For SLPs, students, survivors, and care partners who want to understand what gets tested, what gets missed, and what good assessment actually looks like. In this episode of Brain Friends, we discuss language assessments used in individuals with aphasia and acquired communication disorders.
Angie shares the benefits and challenges in completing language assessments and which type of assessment is beneficial to recovery.
Dr. Seles discusses the difference between impairment-based tests like the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) and participation-based tests like the Communication Activities of Daily Living (CADL).
Together we discuss the importance of quality-of-life assessments and how aphasia impacts cognition. Finally, Dr. Seles shares 3 tips for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) to help survivors navigate low social support and quality of life.
https://aphasiaadvocates.com/ for Brain Friends Merch
https://aphasia.org/event/ask-the-expert-february-2026/
https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seles
https://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/
Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. ...
In this episode of Brain Friends, we share a behind-the-scenes conversation between Angie and Dr. Seles on Anomia. Together we weigh the benefits of recognizing the different types of Anomia and the challenges with diagnosis.
Anomia is a fluent aphasia characterized by word-finding difficulty or the inability to name objects.
Should we classify Anomia differently? What can Speech-Language Pathologists and researchers do to better help survivors with Anomia?
In this episode of Brain Friends, we discuss 5 ways everyone can contribute to health equity for Black people with aphasia. We give resources for caregivers to get compensated and encourage speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to support health literacy in clients.
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Implicit Bias Training- to help practitioners recognize stereotypical beliefs that contribute to health inequities.
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Workforce Diversity- may help clients with communication and participation in research by having practitioners who look like them.
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Representation in Research- helps ensure generalization of findings and that all voices are included. http://www.aphasiaresource.org/ Also, how are researchers sharing clinical findings? How many researchers have collected data from participants, published the findings, and gone back to the participants to share their study results?
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Health Literacy- helps individuals understand medical information to make an informed decision. It is important to encourage care partners and provide disability resources that compensate the caregiver https://www.usa.gov/disability-caregiver
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Patient Reported Outcomes- helps give people with aphasia a voice in therapy by sharing goals that are important to the individual. Patient-reported outcomes can be challenging to read and should be diversified with large print, pictures, audio versions, or available on assistive devices.
In this episode of Brain Friends, we invite two stakeholders to celebrate Aphasia Awareness Month, Maura Silverman, the executive director of the National Aphasia Association (NAA), and Gee Jackson, a lawyer and stroke survivor with aphasia.
Together we answer two important questions:
1. What do you know about aphasia now that you wish you would have known on day 1?
2. How can we bring awareness to aphasia?
Listen, laugh, and learn how you can spread awareness about aphasia.
Links:
National Aphasia Association- https://aphasia.org/
Aphasia Resource Collaboration Hub (ARCH)- https://aphasiaresource.org/
Does it take a village to recover from a stroke? In this episode of Brain Friends, we talk about aphasia support with Angie's care partner Kiehl Cauthorn.
We discuss the difference between caregivers and care partners, the stages of care in post-stroke aphasia, and advocacy with insurance companies. We give tips to speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and other practitioners on how to include the caregiver/care partner in therapy.
Finally, we remind aphasia survivors that "you are better today than you were yesterday and you will be better tomorrow than you are today". We encourage caregivers and care partners to "stop, listen, be patient, and trust".
In this episode of Brain Friends, we explore primary progressive aphasia or PPA.
Dr. Seles unravels the complexities of PPA versus other aphasia types and describes the difference between a stroke and frontal temporal dementia.
Angie shares analogies highlighting the key differences from other forms of aphasia.
The impact of PPA on individuals, their families, and communities is ongoing.
This episode of Brain Friends is a must-listen for survivors, students, and health professionals.
In this episode of Brain Friends, we discuss reading and writing difficulties that can co-occur with aphasia. "Alexia" is an acquired reading disorder with difficulty seeing and reading words or understanding the meaning of written words. "Agraphia" is the loss of a previous ability to write.
Angie discovers new terms related to her aphasia and the connection in the brain.
Dr. Seles shares clinical stories on navigating alexia in therapy and the role speech-language pathologists play in helping survivors reintegrate into the community.
In this episode of Brain Friends, we invite Dr. Roy Hamilton, Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of Penn’s Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation (LCNS), for a part 2 discussion on Neuroplasticity.
We begin with the fundamental concept that brains are plastic and designed to change based on experience. Dr. Roy shares how the quality of care in recovery will help language get stronger or activities become easier because the brain reorganizes and adapts also known as "neuroplasticity".
Angie shares analogies that translate brain injury to neuroplasticity like “water on the motherboard”. Dr. Seles seeks tips on how practitioners can help with neuroplasticity in neurorehabilitation.
Finally, we discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in research, research staff, and publications.
Dr. Roy Hamilton, link to the LCNS website and the email associated with the LCNS.
https://www.med.upenn.edu/lcns/
braintms@mail.med.upenn.edu
Aphasia Resources
https://aphasiaresource.org/
In this episode of Brain Friends, we discuss aphasia treatment and ways Speech Language Pathologists support recovery.
Treatment settings and strategies from automatic speech tasks to errorless learning are explained with examples.
Dr. Seles discusses health equity in aphasia and how to avoid implicit bias. How insurance demands dictate treatment tasks and ways SLPs can write treatment goals to align with function.
Angie shares the importance of inclusion in research, treatment, and the use of patient-reported outcomes. She discusses her treatment journey and the importance of the Life Participation Approach in Aphasia.
Together we recognize that in aphasia treatment “the client doesn’t plateau, the clinician does”.
For more information on the Resource Orientation for Stroke and Aphasia conference:
https://aphasiaresource.org/
Brain Friends Season 2 kicked off with Angie interviewing Dr. Seles on Aphasia Research.
We discuss sampling biases and how to make sure research is demographically representative. Dr. Seles shares 3 tips on how to recruit a diverse sample in research and the role stakeholders have in health equity.
Finally, we confirm that research is told by who holds the pen and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Season Finale. Episode 11 is full of humor as we discuss the importance of sleep and the brain.
Angie shares her fear around sleeping after her stroke and how she communicated fatigue "I feel like I have on two mink coats".
Dr. Seles discusses the link between sleep loss and poor brain health. We share tips for healthy aging and sleep hygiene.
Finally, Brain Friends goes on the road to the Clinical Aphasiology Conference. We want to hear your feedback . Please leave us a review or a topic you want us to cover in Season 2.
In this episode of Brain Friends, we apply 5 professional athlete tips to aphasia recovery.
What do survivors with aphasia and athletes have in common?
The drive to unlock their full potential through fitness, fuel, mental health, recovery, and tribe.
Angie shares strategies to use Aphasia Pro Tips throughout stroke recovery.
Dr. Seles discusses how Aphasia Pro Tips apply to graduate students navigating school.
In this episode of Brain Friends, we discuss aphasia types affiliated with celebrities.
Dr. Seles categorizes hallmark features between left and right-hemisphere strokes. Angie shares which celebrity resembles her aphasia.
Together we discuss Aphasia conferences and the importance of diversity and inclusion.
In this episode of Brain Friends, we discuss neuroplasticity and share tips that promote brain health.
Angie shares the analogy of what aphasia feels like and how doing repetitive or new activities helped her stroke recovery. Dr. Seles shares the importance of Use It or Lose It and how your daily routine can strengthen neural connections in the aging brain.
Finally, because neuroplasticity is activity driven, we play games that may leave Brain Friends with new connections....or not
Show Notes: Brain Games
6 Brain Exercises for NEUROPLASTICITY | Step 2 of Brain Education
In this episode of Brain Friends, we recap the events from the 1st annual Aphasia Awareness Conference in Philadelphia, PA. Angie had an idea and in conjunction with Temple University put on a conference for survivors with aphasia and caregivers. Dr. Seles was the keynote speaker. Listen to our highlights of the "perfect day".
Angie recaps the informative day with 160 people in attendance, the Sounds of Joy Choir, food, vendors, and a message for people with aphasia to keep thriving. She shares her definition of aphasia being an "invisible disability" and the importance of asking the client what they want to do in therapy.
Dr. Seles shares highlights from the keynote talk and the importance of neuroplasticity for aphasia recovery. She discusses the reasons people with aphasia should consider participating in research.
We clarify the myth that "insurance companies aren't interested" in patient-reported outcomes. Together we can spread aphasia awareness by getting the word out and sharing resources!
In this episode of Brain Friends, we talk about mental health with counseling psychologist Dr. Lauren. Stroke survivors with aphasia often experience depression orgrief related to loss of social roles and communication. Speech-language pathologists play a role in helping clients navigate emotion when it shows up during therapy.
Dr. Seles discusses the importance of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) taking a helping skills class to learn how to support mental health in rehabilitation. Helping skills include how to validate emotion, reflect back a feeling, and show empathy.
Angie shares how emotional moments in aphasia recovery often presented during speech therapy sessions. She discusses her decision process around medication and asks Dr. Lauren for concrete steps survivors can take to navigate mental health.
Dr. Lauren gives advice on how to navigate grief and dispels myths about mental health. She shares tips health care providers can do to support their clients through emotional moments.
Tips for the provider.
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Don’t panic. "They don’t need you to fix them they need you to hear them."
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Validate the emotion and expression of the emotion.
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Focus on listening and asking clarifying questions.
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Reflect back the emotion. “I am hearing you say or “I am hearing that you feel”. "Did I get that right"?
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Cultural humility - Affect matching with words.
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Take action or co-collaborate on the next action. “Do you have/want a mental health therapist"?
October 22, 2022, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Temple University Main Campus
You Must register for this Event.
EventBrite http://cph.temple.edu/aphasiafair or email: emslab@temple.edu or call 215-204-4350 for details
In this episode of Brain Friends, we talk about aphasia advocacy. We discuss health equity and the importance of diversity and inclusion in healthcare and speech-language pathology.
Dr. Seles unpacks the disparities in science, research, and stroke care for minoritized groups.
Angie shares her personal experience of stroke care and how it influenced her to start two aphasia resource organizations.
Take home message: "There is no cure for brain damage there is only healing".
This is the continuing education podcast credit you need.
In this episode, we talk about social isolation after Aphasia and the importance of a social circle in recovery.
Angie discusses the difficulty with maintaining friendships after a stroke and gives advice on how simple gestures like a phone call or movie invitation can help a person feel supported.
Dr. Seles breaks down the components of social functioning related to social support, social network, social participation, and social roles. This episode validates the need for practitioners to target the social aspects of recovery with language.
Angie shares the differences between social support and social network and how social participation has been most important for her recovery. Listen as she shares which social role has been the most challenging.
In this episode, we talk about all things Speech-Language Pathology. According to the 2022 US NEWS, Speech Language Pathologists rank #10 in the 100 Best Jobs. We agree!
Speech-language pathologists (SLP) work with adults with aphasia to restore communication and quality of life. Are you making your clients feel uncomfortable or more emotional? Dr. Seles provides master clinician tips for seasoned and early career SLPs. Angie shares challenges with post-stroke aphasia including information overload. You'll hear what makes a good SLP and what Angie wishes SLPs would stop doing.
Is there an insurance influence on receiving speech therapy services? We settle the debate on which rehabilitation therapy is the most important and call attention to the way SLPs are treated in the rehabilitation world.
Finally, we address the melanin in the room. Dr. Seles is the first Black SLP Angie met. Does physician-race concordance impact therapy?
In this episode of Brain Friends we talk about having aphasia on vacation, paraphrasing as a successful communication tool, and #aphasia trending after a celebrity diagnosis.
Angie shares fluency and relaxation tips important for airport travel and social communication with friends and family.
Dr. Seles learns the importance of making sure practitioners and researchers focus on functional language that helps with community integration of social activities like dining out.
Together we address an ongoing question in the field, if practitioners should still classify aphasia types? We end this episode with a question everyone listening should answer and ask someone with aphasia. “What do you wish more people knew about aphasia?
Meet Dr. D. Seles a Neuroscientist and clinical Speech-Language Pathologist and Angie C., a stroke survivor and aphasia advocate. In this episode, Dr. Seles and Angie C. share how they met and provide insight into aphasia, with humor and laughter as these two self-proclaimed neuro nerds journey together as stakeholders determined to make a difference.
Our goal is to create a space for practitioners and people with aphasia that facilitates solid communication, good information and a smile. In the words of Angie C. "you are not at the end you are at the beginning. It takes time and work".