The Brain Fever Podcast: Recent Episodes
Sean
This is a podcast about Jackie M. Stebbins, an autoimmune encephalitis survivor. Jackie was a nationally recognized trial lawyer at her own law firm. And almost overnight, she couldn't tell the time and didn't know what day it was. She voluntarily committed herself to the psychiatric ward. Then she made a miraculous recovery. This is her story.
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In this episode, Jackie is joined by Dr. Cody Vest, a popular BookToker in New York City. Dr. Cody got his start as an AP English teacher in Arkansas while also earning a Ph.D. He then pivoted into the corporate world and began a new career working as an instructional designer for Walmart. When he started making videos about burnout, teaching, and his disdain for Where the Crawdads Sing, his content went viral! Dr. Cody continues to work full time in the corporate world while also enjoying notoriety as Jackie's favorite BookToker (and she's not alone, he's widely popular!).
Jackie and Dr. Cody cover a lot of ground on ... all the books! Elder millennial reads, why the high school curriculums should change and why there's pushback, finding meaning and healing in books, and how Dr. Cody began his BookToker side hustle to achieve 2.5 million likes and over 100K followers on TikTok alone. If you're new to reading, hope to get back to reading, or wonder what it's like to meet Dua Lipa, you don't want to miss this episode of Brain Fever!
Find and follow Dr. Cody:
On TikTok
On Instagram
On LinkTree
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Calling all stressed out lawyers (dare I repeat myself) AND stressed out humans looking to find that inner feeling of balance. In this episode, Jackie is joined by Dr. Amy Wood, a clinical psychologist, executive coach, person who deals with stressed out lawyers extraordinaire, and author of "Lawyer Like an Athlete." While this show focuses a lot of energy on how quickly lawyers seem to expend the energy of their professional lives, any and everyone can benefit from Dr. Wood's generous knowledge and wisdom. Want to know more about mental health--listen to this show. Want to know about the true definition of burnout--listen to this show. Want helpful tips on how to reduce stress, find what nourishes and enriches your life, live better, and begin the daily striving for that inner balance--listen to this show.
And to hear the one piece of concrete advice, for anyone looking for some self or professional improvement ... Dr. Wood's answer is: ___! You can do it. You can start small and see big benefits. But first, you'll have to--listen to this show!
Spoiler alert: Jackie did next to nothing that Dr. Wood offers in her work to help lawyers. She also admits that if she could go back, she'd work with a counselor AND Dr. Wood. This really is life-changing material for practicing attorneys (and stressed out professionals).
Learn more about Dr. Amy Wood HERE.
Purchase her book, "Lawyer Like an Athlete," HERE.
Happy Holidays & Happy New Year, Brain Fever friends!
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In this episode, Jackie is joined by special guest and longtime friend, Jamie Selzler. Jamie is a brilliant businessman and political strategist. Through their work in politics, Jamie and Jackie met while Jackie was still in college at the University of North Dakota. Jamie is the kind of friend who finds out you have autoimmune encephalitis and walks a personal letter to Elton John's record label in London (true story). He's also tearing up the internet with his profoundly personal and courageous story about losing over 350lbs.
Over the past few years, Jamie's been on a health journey to reclaim his life, health, wellness, and spirit. Jamie has taken his hard-won lessons, victories, and struggles and turned them into inspirational content to help better everyone's health and wellness. His speaking and videos should come with a warning for tissues. Jamie's story is perfect for Thanksgiving gratitude.
Listeners will be moved by Jamie's honesty, vulnerability, thankfulness, and wisdom. He's perfect for Brene Brown, but Jackie got to him first!
This summer, Jamie catapulted into internet fame when he joined the Mind Pump podcast. You can listen/watch HERE. (And get those tissues out!)
Follow Jamie's inspirational journey and helpful content on TikTok @jamselz Instagram @ jselzler Facebook @Jamie Selzler
And if you're really in the mood, ask him about Phil Collins!
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In this episode, Jackie is joined by David Gerken, a lobbyist turned writer turned "mindfulness guru" (Jackie's words). David, a California native, is a graduate of both Princeton and Georgetown. In his first act of life, he worked on the Hill and ran a lobbying firm in D.C. Called to a more creative life, he headed west to Hollywood and eventually landed the greatest job on earth (Jackie's words) as a writer for the Emmy Award winning "West Wing." David's now entered his third act by writing and sharing the beauty of mindfulness and meditation from California to the hinterlands (his words).
David explains how his practical and consistent meditation practice helps manage the stress and chaos of everyday life. He also shares the science behind the practice and challenges Jackie to be less wired and anxiety stricken (her words). People in all walks of life will appreciate how developing their own meditation practice can help let go of their ego and lead a more calm, peaceful, and fulfilling life.
David also takes a surprise expert question from former U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan! Leading up to the show's taping, Jackie and David learned they had a wonderful friend in common. Sen. Dorgan asks about the effects of social media on mindfulness and David answers ... well ... you have to listen to hear.
You can find David's work on his website at http://www.davidgerken.net/ and where Jackie found him, on Substack @davidgerken, where he's "Helping regular people use the basics of spirituality to do better in every facet of their lives in a fun, non-woo woo way (his words). Jackie is a bit woo woo, but she enjoyed this interview and loves David's writing!
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In this episode of Brain Fever, Jackie is joined by all-around badass, Jodene Weber, who is a former journalist, twenty-two-year veteran of the FBI, true crime sleuth and podcast host, and debut novelist. Jodene recounts her early days reading Nancy Drew (to Jackie's Hardy Boys), to her intense days joining and working for the FBI (Jackie's dream), to the terror of 9-11, and the terrifying health challenges she then battled from 9-11 toxin exposure. She also discusses why she chose to write a novel instead of a memoir, how she's built her online podcast and true crime community, and how it's felt to reclaim her health and wellness. For anyone who desires to turn their mess into a message, you don't want to miss this show!
To learn more about Jodene:
Shop her novel, "The Bald-Faced Deception," where you buy books (Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble).
Follow her on Instagram @weberjodene.
Subscribe to her podcast, "Caught in My Web," on Patreon.
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Annnnnnnnd ...we're back!
You asked - and we've answered! The Brain Feverpodcast has returned and sports a fabulous lineup!
In this episode, Jackie (in solo mode, God help us) shares why she and Sean have been MIA, what she's been up to (Unwillable, speaking, her new WillableSubstack - pass it on!), why Elton's great, and some Easter Eggs about the upcoming guests!
Send us your questions at: jms@jmstebbins.com
Find and follow Jackie on Facebook at JM Stebbins, Instagram and Threads at jmstebbs84, LinkedIn at Jackie Stebbins, and TikTok at jmstebbs.
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To kick off another season of the Brain Fever podcast, Jackie welcomes special guest Jeremy Norton. Jeremy is the author of Trauma Sponges: Dispatches from the Scarred Heart of Emergency Response. Jeremy has an MA in creative writing, was a teacher, and has served over twenty years with the Minneapolis Fire Department where he is currently a captain. Jeremy was also the firefighter/EMT who first responded to aid George Floyd in May 2020.
Join Jackie and Jeremy for a discussion about trauma, mental health, burnout, and a behind the scenes look at what it means to be a firefighter in a metropolitan area. The two also discuss thought provoking ideas from Jeremy's essays in Trauma Sponges, including issues such as race, class, healthcare, and emergency services in America. Jeremy also explains the story behind his Station's unicorn mascot (and Jackie pathetically begs for one of the Station's unicorn shirts ...).
This show is aimed at an adult audience and contains mature language.
Jeremy can be found doing right and being kind HERE
You can find Trauma Sponges where you buy books HERE
You can watch Jeremy's testimony in the Derek Chauvin trial HERE
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In this episode, Jackie hosts a dear old friend from law school, Amber Gustafson. Amber just happens to be a former lawyer turned judge, mother of three, Iraq veteran, and avid walker. She also happens to be a young widow. In 2021, on what started as a routine Tuesday morning for their family of five, Lieutenant Adam Gustafson suffered a massive heart attack and completed his end of watch. Amber and her children lost their husband, father, and the States of North Dakota and Minnesota lost a devoted veteran, patriot, and emergency services officer. Adam also left Amber a vast whiskey collection, which led her to begin "The Whiskey Widow," blog.
You can now find Amber praying, walking, working, taxiing kiddos to all the sports, blogging, and guesting on a regional radio station. Amber and her family are also the founders of the Lieutenant Adam Gustafson Memorial Fund whose mission is to provide scholarships and other donations to law enforcement students and emergency services personnel.
Join Jackie and Amber as they discuss how to move forward when it feels like life lied to you.
You can find Amber's blog @ thewhiskeywidow.com ~ "Pour yourself a sip. Stay for the stories."
You can also find Amber on Instagram @ thewhiskeywidow
You can find and donate to Adam's Memorial Fund @ adamgustafsongive.com
Jackie has often heard of autoimmune encephalitis survivors unlocking hidden creativity after their diagnosis. And while she turned to writing in her days of survival and recovery, she still believes her creativity knows a lot of bounds. But what does it really mean to be a creative? What happens when you bring your creativity back "home?" What does it mean to sing your heart out through cancer in your airways? How can our creativity help us heal? In this episode, Jackie brings in a new friend, Jessie Veeder, a REAL cowgirl, author, and musician, to talk about her creative life, surviving cancer, walking among the wildflowers, and raising daughters. Jackie knew she was her kind of people when she met Jessie at a writer's panel last year, and Jessie doesn't disappoint in this conversation!
Check out Jessie's work at https://jessieveedermusic.com/home
In this episode, Jackie is joined by guest Mariah Botha of Dickinson, North Dakota. Mariah is the director of a rural healthcare foundation and is as smart as she is lovely. Upon reading Unwillable, Mariah had a lot of questions and Jackie (doubtfully) had the answers. So the pair decided to turn the tables and have Mariah host Jackie. In this unscripted conversation, Mariah and Jackie explore childhood anxiety, parenting children who may have anxiety, some of Jackie's biases towards mental health while she was writing her memoir, and Mariah's cats (Mariah is also the cofounder of Meowsers, a cat rescue). If you've ever wondered how to openly speak about your anxiety or how to talk to your children about theirs, this one's for you!
Join Jackie and Sean as Jackie drops her ultimate wish (outside of a made for TV movie): the Unwillable soundtrack! In this episode, you'll hear more about the songs that influenced Jackie while writing the book, the eerie songs that played during her onset, and the songs she relied upon to get to the final destination of "I'm Still Standing!"
To listen along to the Unwillable soundtrack, you can find the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1ZjPmn7dZrtsasGxk6epWy?si=8dfe78bdeb3d4bd9
Got a question or thought about Unwillable, autoimmune encephalitis, or Jackie's superb taste in music, find her contact info at jmstebbins.com or grab her linktree profile on her Instagram account @jmstebbs84 and at linktr.ee/jmstebbins.
Medical care can be complicated, especially for women. Women are always juggling hormones, stress, work, sleep, childbearing years, menopause, and quite a bit in between. In this episode, Jackie interviews an old friend, Adria, who is a Physician's Assistant at a women's primary care clinic. Join them as they demystify primary care and talk about it all, including mental health, weight loss, skin care, and more. And also join in for Jackie sharing a lot of laughs (mostly with herself).
Please visit jmstebbins.com for more podcasts, Jackie's blogs and much more!
Lawyers. If you know them, you know they're always "stressed out." If you've met them, you know they're "overworked." And chances are, you've probably heard them call their profession "toxic." Why is the legal profession so stressful and why are lawyers statistically at risk for a myriad of serious mental health problems? Why was Jackie persuaded that she suffered from work-induced depression and burnout before she learned she had autoimmune encephalitis? Why is Elton John so amazing? To answer these questions and a few others, Bismarck (retired) lawyer, Jackie, brings in special guest NYC lawyer, Michael Kasdan, who is also a mental health advocate rockstar and a lot of fun. Big law, small law, and everywhere in between, this is a conversation about mental health and lawyers you don't want to miss!
In this very special episode, Jackie is joined by Miami native Juliana Ortiz who was diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis at just fourteen years old. Juliana’s story of disruption at a young age to her brave recovery and how her diagnosis helped shape her college career path is one you don’t want to miss. She’s also the first AE survivor to guest the Brain Fever podcast!
Join Jackie and Juliana in this episode to hear them riff about AE and ROAR!
In this episode, four-time breast cancer survivor, speaker, and author of "Dig in Your Heels," Karla Baptiste, joins Jackie to talk about life with and after breast cancer. Karla's motto of "One Life to Live, Many Lives to Touch," and her story of survival will leave you inspired!
Join Jackie and Sean as they sing and dance their way into 2023 (kidding, there's no singing or dancing on this one). In this episode, Jackie discusses Brain Fever's spring lineup, her book Unwillable, and what she's been up to. She also drops a little secret info about an upcoming promotional giveaway and some exciting February news for World Encephalitis Day! Catch Brain Fever to get caught up on all things JM Stebbins and Unwillable!
In this special episode, Stephanie Macdonald, the nurse practitioner Jackie credits with saving her life from AE, interviews Jackie for Humanities North Dakota’s One Book One ND event. In this conversation, the pair explore life after AE, writing Unwillable, and how Jackie stays busy.
*Recording shared with permission and consent.
When AE stares you in the face (or another chronic health condition) two questions come to mind: What if I can't work and how will I have health insurance? To tackle these complicated and scary questions, Jackie welcomes her longtime friend and colleague, Attorney Mac Schneider, as a guest. Mac walks listeners through the complicated puzzle of disability and health care, and Jackie tells old stories. Disclaimer: This episode does not provide legal advice and is for educational and informational purposes only. If you're in need of legal advice, please contact a licensed attorney.
In this episode, Jackie and Sean discuss the release of Jackie’s memoir, “Unwillable: A Journey to Reclaim my Brain” (in a bit of a dazed and confused kind of way). Sean also offers his resignation as Jackie’s producer, but he’ll be back …
To order your copy of Unwillable, check out unwillable.com or look for it on Amazon!
In this episode and in honor of April 29th's Make-A-Wish Day, special guest Amanda Godfread, Regional Director of Make-A-Wish North Dakota, joins Jackie for a discussion on the difficulties families face with a sick child and the wonderful effects wishes have on the health of the recipients and their families.
On March 1, 2022, Jackie interviewed "Brain on Fire's" Susannah Cahalan for a Humanities North Dakota event, "One Book, One ND." Jackie and Susannah had a riveting conversation about autoimmune encephalitis, life, motherhood, mental health, writing, and more. Humanities North Dakota graciously permitted Jackie to share this interview (complete with an introduction from Jackie's neurologist at the Mayo Clinic) on Brain Fever!
If you want to become a Humanities North Dakota member, click here to donate and join. You can then watch the recording of the interview.
Thank you to Susannah and to Humanities ND for such a wonderful event!
In this episode, Jackie is joined by Dr. Stephen Rush, a psychiatrist at the University of Cincinnati as they try to answer Jackie's unending question of, "Autoimmune encephalitis, what the heck is going on here?”
***Disclaimer-this episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you’re in need of medical advice, consult with a professional.
Happy 2022! Join Jackie and Sean as they recap on 2021’s peaks and valleys, share exciting upcoming news, and do some polka dancing.
In this episode, North Dakota native Mandy B. Anderson joins Jackie to discuss life with Cystic Fibrosis. Their conversation follows Mandy's story of "Dangerous Hope," where she swore off the medication and treatments necessary for her to live, but learned how to live more fully after her long and almost deadly journey. Mandy is the author of "Dangerous Hope," recently appeared on the TEDx stage in Bismarck, is a certified life coach, and is a blessing to life. Join the two as they even sing a little diddy at the end ...
In this episode, Jackie interviews special guest Maria Burns Ortiz. Maria is a decorated writer, teacher, digital entrepreneur, and leader. She is also the co-author of My Fight/Your Fight, the New York Times bestselling memoir about the storied career of Ronda Rousey. She shares with Jackie her energy and enthusiasm about rising to life's great expectations. She is smart, successful, fast-talking, and ... Ronda Rousey's sister!
In this episode, guest host Dr. Ava Easton, CEO of the Encephalitis Society, interviews Jackie about three years of seizure free remission, her writing, her identity, and her newfound anxiety.
In this episode, Jackie is joined by special guest and longtime friend, Kaitlyn, who witnessed a suicide while in college. Kaitlyn shares her insight about trauma and the journey to wellness. Warning, contains adult content.
In this episode, Jackie and her dear friend and Philosopher, Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein, of the University of North Dakota, discuss how philosophy is relevant to encephalitis and mental health.
In this episode, special guest Dr. Ava Easton, CEO of The Encephalitis Society, joins Jackie to discuss her book, and the impact of encephalitis narratives.
Mother, psychiatrist, and one of the four co-founders of the Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance, Dr. Helen Egger, talks about having a child with AE and gives hope to other AE parents.
In this episode, Jackie welcomes Caterri Woodrum, CEO of the AE Alliance. They discuss AE statistics, and how the AE Alliance can help patients and carers.
This episode of Brain Fever commemorates Jackie's second year of remission since her diagnosis with AE. Special guest Dr. Ava Easton, CEO of The Encephalitis Society, joins Jackie to discuss recovery and rehabilitation post-encephalitis. Dr. Ava is the author of the book, "Life After Encephalitis," and she speaks at conferences and lectures around the world on various aspects of encephalitis and its consequences for patients. Her expertise also extends to neuro-narratives, narrative medicine, and patient and public engagement.
Follow Jackie M Stebbins
Twitter: @jmstebbs
Facebook: JM Stebbins
Instagram: @jmstebbs84
Website: www.jmstebbins.com
In our final episode, Jackie interviews Sean about Jackie's Autoimmune Encephalitis....from beginning to end. I wasn't really looking forward to this...not my favorite subject, but, I know there are some caregivers out there that are going through or have went through a similar process.
In this episode, Jackie talks about her road to recovery....some ups and some downs...what was/is hard and what kept her going to get better. When she was in the very early stages of recovery, she talks about how isolated she felt and how she got through the "Long and Winding Road".
Jackie describes her stay at the Sanford Psychiatric Ward, St. Alexius Hospital after her Grand Mal Seizure and her 4 visits to the Mayo Clinic. Also, a few funny stories on the road to recovery.
Follow Jackie on Twitter @jmstebbins
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E-mail Jackie at jmstebbins@jmstebbins.com
In our first episode, Jackie talks briefly about the beginning stages of her Autoimmune Encephalitis. AE is different for everyone, so, Jackie is sharing her experience.