Hazy Not Crazy: Recent Episodes
Shannon & Nathan
Nathan & Shannon will explore the all too familiar journey that those affected by epilepsy endure by sharing personal experiences, while at the same time interviewing some of the top experts, leaders, and visionaries in their field.
Nathan & Shannon will explore the all too familiar journey that those affected by epilepsy endure by sharing personal experiences, while at the same time interviewing some of the top experts, leaders, visionaries, and key players (parents, caretakers, people with epilepsy) in their field.
Their hope? That you leave each episode having laughed, smiled and grown.
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Learn more Episode #️⃣7️⃣ and we have professional golfer Kenzie O’Connell!
In today’s episode we convinced Kenzie to come onto our hazy and ever-so-slightly crazy podcast and while there was some golf talk we also talked about Kenzie’s special relationship with dogs, why blob fish are a great spirit animal for us Hazers and……. Walmart bathrooms. As always not all topics were fun and we delved into some serious conversations about growing up with seizures and not knowing they were seizures, trying to understand her seizure types, and really not wanting to be on medication.
About Kenzie O’Connell
Kenzie O’Connell is a professional golfer, Steps Toward 0 ambassador, and all around epilepsy advocate. She was born in Nebraska and raised in Nebraska where she found her love of golf which has led her to her career as a golfer. She was officially diagnosed with epilepsy at 21 and has been a part of the epilepsy community.
Episode #️⃣6️⃣ brings you @NFL @Ravens quarterback @bretthundley7‼️
We’ve known Brett since his freshman days @UCLAfootball. Since then, he’s not only grown into a professional athlete, but also a fierce advocate for those living with epilepsy (like his sister, Paris). Brett opens up about what it’s like to watch his sister suffer multiple seizures, how he deals with it on a personal level, and how he helps others in the epilepsy community. His infectious attitude gives little doubt to how he’s so successful in life—and even shares his career plans after the NFL. This is a Must-Watch for all you Hazers out there!
About Brett (per wikipedia 🤪)
Brett Alan Hundley Jr. (born June 15, 1993) is an American football quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, where he was the school's career leader in both total offense and touchdown passes. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, and started nine games for them in 2017 following a collarbone injury to Aaron Rodgers.
Brett is Chairman of the Hundley Foundation and brother to Paris Hundley!
A man who needs no introduction: Casey Siefert aka @Mo.Hawk.key.
Shannon is out on a road trip this week so we thought it’d be a good time to talk with our newest team member and Associate Producer, Casey! This interview is full of laughs AND out $200 Uber Gift Card Giveaway (shout out Shangri-LA Construction!).
Casey gives his thoughts, tips and tricks for dealing with epilepsy and all of the bad times that comes with it. He also shared the all too familiar experiences of having been on multiple anti-seizure medications and how he copes. This is another must listen and yes - there will be a Part II with Mr. Siefert because there MUST be!
About CaseyCasey Siefert is the Associate Producer for Hazy not Crazy. He was diagnosed with epilepsy at age nine and immediately got involved with the epilepsy foundation where he met Nate and Shannon. He graduated in 2021 from Arizona State University with a bachelors of science in forensic psychology.
For the fourth episode of Hazy Not Crazy we took a trip across the Atlantic and had an excellent chat with comedian Jake Lambert. Full of life and laughter, Jake was a treat and breathe of fresh air. Wasting no time, we went right for the most predictable question for a comedian, “what are your thoughts about the (Will Smith) slap heard round the world?” and opened a dialogue about comedy and epilepsy.
One of the points hammered out in this episode was how Jake takes his unique experience as someone with epilepsy and shares those moments in a digestible way through the comedic vehicle. The results: we got to hear wonderful and illuminating stories about fans making their way to stage after a show to share a warm-hearted thank you.
Advocacy wrapped in comedy is a potent tool and Jake is proof.
About JakeJake fell into a career as a stand up after gaining a following on Twitter under the pseudonym @LittleLostLad after deciding to put down his iPhone and pick up a microphone. It proved to be a great choice, with him promptly placing as a 2015 semi-finalist in the BBC New Comedy Award, Magner’sNew Comedian of the Year, English Comedian of the Year and Leicester Mercury New Act of the Year, and was a finalist in Amused Moose Comedy Awards in 2016.
If you haven’t seen Jake on a show, you’ve definitely heard his jokes. His excellent joke writing has made him a firm favorite for TV shows. Having written the opening monologues for The National Comedy Awards, The Apprentice: You’re Fired, and The Royal Variety Performance. He has also written sketches for Stand Up To Cancer, and provided jokes on shows including; The Ranganation, Bake Off Extra Slice, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Mock The Week, The Now Show, The News Quiz, There’s Something About Movies, Complaints Welcome, and Cooking With The Stars.
With two acclaimed sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Jake is establishing a name for himself. His combination of one-liners, short stories and unique observations have seen him appear on Comedy Central’s Live From The Comedy Store, ITV2’s Stand Up Sketch Show, and BBC 2’s The Apprentice: You’re Fired.
Jake is also the official tour support for: Michael McIntyre, Jack Dee, Romesh Ranganathan, Kerry Godliman, Tom Allen, Seann Walsh and Rob Beckett.
If you want to know how to make the best of a situation this is a must listen!
Matt has such an upbeat and infectious attitude while tackling intimate and vulnerable situations associated with his seizures and epilepsy. One of the more inspiring things we learned about Matt is his conviction and how he parlays unique experiences into learning and advocacy opportunities for those who don’t know anything about epilepsy.
We also covered vacation and/or trip preparation. Matt is preparing for a “pre-honeymoon - honeymoon” and we got some great insight on how he will handle this big adventure and not let his seizures get in the way!
About Matt Matt Bonfiglio is a Partner Marketing Manager working in the tech industry for the last 7 years, He lives with his Fiancé and two golden retrievers in San Diego, CA and plan on getting married in March '23.. Matt was first diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 5 years old and it was controlled with medication until he was 20. The seizures came back and they have been uncontrolled for the past 9 years. Matt loves sports and is a die-hard Dodgers fan. On a sunny day you can find Matt outside at the beach or on the golf course.
The second installment of Hazy Not Crazy took us all the way to Kingston, Jamaica with Vennessa Hanshaw! Vennessa is an inspiration and fearless advocate giving us a lens into how she survives this condition through positive mental attitude and being proactive with epilepsy and seizure education. One of our big questions and point of interest for Vennessa was “how epilepsy and people with seizures are treated in Jamaica?” Vennessa was very open in sharing her experience of living with epilepsy in Kingston while detailing her experiences as an epilepsy advocate and helping pave the way for others living with seizures in Jamaica. The interview also explored how she manages personal relationships and communicates her condition to her partners. This will be a tremendous resource for others living with epilepsy and trying to manage social relationships and mental health amongst disturbing and random seizure events. Give it a watch or a listen!
*Epilepsy is unfiltered and so is this episode. Explicit language warning.
This first episode, with artist SABER, set the tone for the Hazy Not Crazy podcast! We’ve set out to share stories about epilepsy and seizures that have never been publicly shared before and SABER did not disappoint. From his experience of waking up in front of the Gaudi Cathedral after a bad seizure to other intense and unwanted happenings (you’ll have to watch!), SABER selflessly shared his battle with epilepsy and seizures. There were several moments during this podcast where we felt time stop which we attribute to the power of sharing stories. His reflection on life, the afterlife and the present day is a much watch — for caretakers, parents and especially people living with epilepsy.