In this episode of the Brain & Life Podcast, co-host Dr. Daniel Correa is joined by actress, comedian, playwright, and storyteller Lauren Weedman. Lauren discusses her diagnosis of Bell's palsy after developing a sudden facial paralysis while filming in 2024 and how it changed her outlooks on work, motherhood, and mental health. Dr. Correa is then joined by Dr. Gary Gronseth, Professor and Chair of Neurology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Gronseth explains what Bell's palsy is, why it happens, what recovery typically looks like, and why some people—like Lauren Weedman—continue to experience lasting symptoms long after the initial diagnosis.

Additional Resources

"This Is a Good Face": Lauren Weedman on Life After Bell's Palsy

Bouncing Back from Bell's Palsy

What Doctors Know About Bell's Palsy

Brain & Life Podcast Episodes on Similar Topics

Playwright Sarah Ruhl Finds Inspiration in her Bell's Palsy Journey

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Guests: Lauren Weedman @lauren_weedman

Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

In this episode of the Brain & Life Podcast, co-host Dr. Katy Peters is joined by the one and only Bill Nye, an American science educator, mechanical engineer, television presenter, and author best known for hosting the Emmy Award–winning series Bill Nye the Science Guy. Bill discusses his family's experience with a rare inherited ataxia and dives into his work with the National Ataxia Foundation to advocate for research on another form of the disease, Friedreich ataxia. Dr. Peters is then joined by Dr. Stephan Züchner, a neurologist and geneticist who identified the genetic mutation responsible for the ataxia in Bill Nye's family.

Additional Resources

Bill Nye: The Ataxia Advocate Guy

What is Friedreich ataxia?

Theater Is Therapy for Patients with Ataxia

Brain & Life Podcast Episodes on Similar Topics

Paralympic Athlete Helen Kearney on Living Her Dreams with Friedreich's Ataxia

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Guests: Bill Nye @billnye

In this episode of the Brain & Life Podcast, co-host Dr. Katy Peters is joined by the one and only Bill Nye, an American science educator, mechanical engineer, television presenter, and author best known for hosting the Emmy Award–winning series Bill Nye the Science Guy. Bill discusses his family's experience with a rare inherited ataxia and explains why he is partnering with the National Ataxia Foundation to advocate for research on another form of the disease, Friedreich ataxia. Dr. Peters is then joined by Dr. Stephan Züchner, a neurologist and geneticist who identified the genetic mutation responsible for the ataxia in Bill Nye's family. Stay tuned for part two of this conversation next week.

Additional Resources

Bill Nye: The Ataxia Advocate Guy

What is Friedreich ataxia?

Theater Is Therapy for Patients with Ataxia

Brain & Life Podcast Episodes on Similar Topics

Paralympic Athlete Helen Kearney on Living Her Dreams with Friedreich's Ataxia

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Have a question or want to hear a topic featured on the Brain & Life Podcast?

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Guests: Bill Nye @billnye

Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

On this week's episode of the Brain & Life Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Daniel Correa and Dr. Katy Peters celebrate World Brain Day by sharing practical ways to support brain health, from puzzles and meditation to exercise and community. They also answer listener questions about rural access to neurologic care, support groups, and brain health through the lens of recent Brain & Life articles on epilepsy, menopause, and memory.

Additional Resources

People with Epilepsy in Rural Areas Face Greater Health Risks, Study Finds

Study Suggests Certain Hormone Therapies May Support Memory After Menopause

Teen Whose Father Has Parkinson's Disease Created a Community for Herself and Others_

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Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

In this week's episode of the Brain & Life Podcast, Drs. Daniel Correa and Katy Peters are joined by mother-son duo Genein and Shawn Letford. Genein, the founder of Brainolicious, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting brain health in a way that's fun, accessible, and lifelong, reveals how integrating arts and early childhood education can build resilience, prevent dementia, and even shape future leaders. Her 8-year-old son Shawn then shows us how kids can become brain advocates—speak before city councils, petition for World Brain Day, and spread awareness with confidence.

Additional Resources

Brainolicious

Steps to Building a Stronger Brain: Brain Health After Brain Injury Webinar

Why Bike Helmets Are Essential for Kids

Become a Brain Health Advocate

Brain & Life Podcast Episodes on Similar Topics

Neurology Advocacy Out Loud: Live from the AAN's Annual Meeting

Embracing Inclusion and Empowerment with Isabelle and Eliza Woloson

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Guests: Genein Letford @brainoliciousadventures

Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

In this week's episode of the Brain & Life Podcast, host Dr. Daniel Correa is joined by award-winning film critic, journalist, and author Kristen Lopez. They discuss how movies shape public understanding of disability, identity, and belonging, and why storytelling can both reinforce harmful stereotypes and open the door to more honest representation. Kristen shares insights from her book, Popcorn Disabilities, including the power of media to influence how disabled people are seen and how they see themselves and the importance of authentic casting.

Additional Resources

Kristen Lopez

The Keys to Overcoming the Stigma of a Disability

How Cosmetic Brands Are Creating More Accessible Makeup

Brain & Life Podcast Episodes on Similar Topics

Acute Flaccid Myelitis and Disability Advocacy with Sarah Todd Hammer

How Paula Carozzo is Redefining Disability and Advocating for Her Community

Unseen: Molly Burke's Retinitis Pigmentosa Journey

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Guests: Kristen Lopez @kristenlopez88

Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

In this week's episode of the Brain & Life Podcast, co-hosts Drs. Daniel Correa and Katy Peters are joined by author, educator, and neurologist Dr. Pria Anand. Together, they discuss the wonder and complexity of the human brain, and how storytelling, culture, and curiosity shape our understanding of neurologic illness and identity. Pria shares insights from her book, The Mind Electric, including the role of narrative in medicine, the resilience of memory, and why humility matters in neurologic care. They also explore the future of neurology, the importance of sleep and self-care, and how science and the humanities can work together to improve patient care.

Additional Resources

The Mind Electric: A Neurologist on the Strangeness and Wonder of Our Brains

How are Mental Health and Brain Health Connected?

Healing Words: Writing About Her Traumatic Brain Injury Helps the Author Make Sense of Her Recovery

Brain & Life Podcast Episodes on Similar Topics

Exploring the Science of Everyday Wonder with Dacher Keltner

The Secrets of Synesthesia with Dr. Joel Salinas

Memory and Your Brain, Explained

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Guests: Dr. Pria Anand @bmcneurology

Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

In this episode of the Brain & Life Podcast, co-host Dr. Daniel Correa is once again joined by Nancy Davis, founder of Race to Erase MS. Nancy discusses bringing leading scientists together through the Center Without Walls to collaborate rather than compete, and the "invisible" symptoms of MS, including depression, mood changes, fatigue, and other issues that can be hard to say out loud. Dr. Correa is then joined by Dr. Adam Kaplin, a physician-scientist whose work sits at the intersection of psychiatry, neurology, neuroimmunology, and the lived experiences of the community with multiple sclerosis. Dr. Kaplin explains more about these invisible symptoms, especially depression, and how treating them can make a difference.

Additional Resources

Race to Erase MS - Funding Multiple Sclerosis Research
Why it's Important to Recognize Signs of Depression in People with Neurologic Disorders

Become a Brain Health Advocate

How Couples Navigate Multiple Sclerosis

Brain & Life Podcast Episodes on Similar Topics

Nancy Davis' Race to Erase Multiple Sclerosis

Exploring Nutrition, Lifestyle, and Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis with Dr. Emmanuelle Waubant

Voices from the Multiple Sclerosis Community

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Have a question or want to hear a topic featured on the Brain & Life Podcast?

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Social Media

Guests: Nancy Davis @nancypeaceandlove

Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD