Guest Introduction

Rick Griffin is the founder and CEO of the Neuro Leadership Academy, an organization dedicated to demystifying neuroscience and making it actionable for everyday life, leadership, and healing. With a master's degree in education, Rick is known for translating complex brain science into engaging, usable concepts.

Before launching Neuro Leadership Academy, he spent decades as the executive director of a trauma-informed therapeutic residential program for teens, witnessing firsthand how past struggles shape present behavior. This experience ignited his passion to understand the brain's role in trauma and resilience.

Rick is a renowned speaker and developer of programs used by schools, businesses, and community organizations, including the Certified Trauma-Informed Specialist micro-credential. He now focuses on writing, teaching, and designing training that applies neuroscience to leadership, learning, relationship-building, and culture, helping people move from being trauma-informed to what he calls "neuro-informed."
Summary / Key Takeaways:

In this enlightening conversation, Rick Griffin explains the core concept of the brain as a prediction machine. Our experiences aren't direct recordings of reality, but constructions created by our brain based on sensory input and past experiences. Its primary job is to keep us safe by asking: "Is this a threat, or is this a resource?"

Key Insights:

• Prediction Over Perception: We don't just react to the world; our brain constantly predicts what will happen next based on past patterns to conserve energy and ensure survival.

• The Threat Bias: The brain's default setting leans toward predicting potential threats (e.g., "Is that something that will eat me?"). This is the root of the stress/trauma response.

• From Trauma-Informed to Neuro-Informed: Understanding behavior shifts from "What happened to you?" to "How is your brain preparing you for what's happening right now?" This removes blame and focuses on the brain's protective, biological function.

• Healing Through Prediction: Recovery—from trauma or concussion—involves helping the brain make new, safer predictions. By intentionally introducing safe, positive sensory experiences (sights, smells, sounds, connection), we can create predictions that update the brain's model of the world.

• Agency & The "Sensory Buffet": With 11 million sensory inputs processed every second, we have immense power to influence our state. We can "stamp" resilience into simple cues (a mint, a coin, a song) and use them to ground ourselves or others.

• Application to Concussion Recovery: Symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, and anxiety are not signs of a "broken" brain, but of a brain in protection mode, reallocating energy to heal. Recognizing this allows for self-compassion and intentional practices (like rest and calibrated sensory input) to support the healing process.

  Resources Mentioned by Rick:

• Book: How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain by Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett. This book was Rick's gateway into understanding the predictive brain.

• Website: Neuro-LA.com (Home of the NeuroLeadership Academy)

• Newsletter/Substack: Neuro Notes – Weekly articles on neuro-informed practices. Subscribe at: https://rickgriffin894.substack.com

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rick-griffin-nla

• Email: Rick@neuro-LA.com (He welcomes engagement and questions)

• Services: Rick offers keynote speaking, virtual and in-person training, workshops, and consulting for organizations. He also has a series of eBooks available. Contact him via email or his website for more information.

Bethany Lewis & The Concussion Coach:

• Free Guide: "5 Best Ways to Support Your Loved One Dealing with a Concussion" - Download at www.theconcussioncoach.com

• Concussion Coaching Program: For personalized mentorship in recovery. Sign up for a free consultation HERE

Kellianne Arnella, MS, OTD, OTR/L, is a passionate occupational therapist with nearly 15 years of experience specializing in adult neurological rehabilitation. Recently earning her doctorate, she is committed to expanding access to care through innovative, tech-enabled, and community-based service delivery models. Kellianne has designed and led programs that integrate patient needs with current practice trends to improve outcomes for individuals recovering from stroke, brain injury, and concussion. In addition to her clinical work, she serves as an adjunct professor, mentors future therapists, and is a passionate advocate for OT's vital role in concussion care.

Episode Summary & Description:

In this insightful conversation, Bethany sits down with Dr. Kellianne Arnella, an OT who is revolutionizing how we think about concussion recovery. They dive deep into why the traditional advice of "rest in a dark room" is often insufficient and how a proactive, "full-scope" occupational therapy approach can lead to tangible, life-changing improvements—even years after the initial injury.

Kellianne shares her journey to becoming a neuro-focused OT, discusses the surprising predictability of recovery with the right care, and reveals the common barriers (access, awareness, affordability) that prevent people from getting help. She passionately outlines her vision for building community-based concussion networks and provides practical, actionable tips for listeners—from using earplugs and weighted vests to manage sensory overload, to understanding the "spoon theory" for energy management.

Whether you're a patient, a caregiver, or a clinician, this episode is packed with hope, validation, and a clear roadmap for navigating the often-misunderstood path of concussion recovery.

Resources & Tips Mentioned by Kellianne:

1. Practical "Hacks" for Sensory Overload & System Calming:

• Loop Earplugs: For reducing ambient noise before entering overwhelming environments to "save your spoons."

• Palming Technique: Cover eyes with palms, keep eyes open, and look into complete darkness to help "clear the visual pathway."

• Weighted Vests: Use during light activities (e.g., folding laundry, walking the dog) or as a passenger in a car to provide deep pressure and reorganize the sensory system.

• Visual Anchoring: To combat motion sickness, find a static point in the distance (like a street sign) and focus on it as you move.

2. Key Concepts:

• The Spoon Theory: A metaphor for managing finite energy reserves (spoons) throughout the day with a chronic illness or during recovery.

• Micro vs. Macro Influence: The power of individual conversations and community-level advocacy to create large-scale change in concussion care.

3. Her Vision & Advocacy:

• Community-Based Concussion Networks: Building local, interdisciplinary teams to improve access and create a seamless continuum of care outside major hospital systems.

• The "Full-Scope" OT Role: Emphasizing the OT's unique skill in addressing the functional impact of vision deficits, habituation patterns, and daily life challenges post-concussion.

Show Notes & Contact Information:

Connect with Dr. Kellianne Arnella:

• Website: www.evolvebrainandbody.com

• Instagram: @evolving_ot

• Email: kellianne.arnella@gmail.com OR hello@evolvingoccupationaltherapy.com

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• Recovery is possible even in the chronic phase of concussion—it's never too late to seek help.

• The right care often involves looking at the integrated systems of vision, balance, cognition, and daily function.

• Setbacks are common; they can feel like going backward but are often part of the progression forward.

• Education is 80% of the battle—for patients, caregivers, and other healthcare providers.

• Advocacy at every level (from a social media post to a community meeting) is crucial to changing the landscape of concussion care.

Today's guest is Meghan Schneider, OTD, MS OTR/L, a neurological occupational therapist, brain injury specialist, and concussion recovery expert. As both a clinician and a TBI survivor, Meghan brings a powerful dual perspective to her work. She is a certified brain injury specialist, a certified functional vision rehabilitation specialist, and co-owner of NeurOT Consulting. In 2024, she was honored with the Dan Keating Pioneer in Brain Injury Award for her groundbreaking work integrating interoception—our eighth sensory system of internal body awareness—into brain injury rehabilitation. She is the co-creator of the first and only course dedicated to interoception in concussion and brain injury recovery.

Episode Summary: What if the missing piece in your concussion recovery isn't just about treating symptoms, but learning how to listen to your body again? In this deeply insightful conversation, Bethany welcomes Meghan Schneider to explore the critical, yet often overlooked, role of interoception—our sense of internal body awareness—in healing from a brain injury.

Meghan shares her personal journey through concussion and post-concussion syndrome, explaining how a disconnect from her body’s signals led to emotional dysregulation and delayed recovery. She breaks down the science simply: why trauma like a concussion can “turn off” this internal sense, and how rebuilding it is the foundation for managing symptoms, implementing pacing strategies, and regaining emotional balance.

Listeners will learn:

• What interoception is and why it’s considered the cornerstone of self-regulation.

• How a lack of body awareness can sabotage standard recovery protocols.

• The practical framework Meghan uses to help clients reconnect with their body’s signals, identify emotions, and discover personalized calming tools.

• Why strategies like “just breathe” don’t work for everyone, and how to find what truly helps your nervous system.

• Inspiration for turning the frustration of recovery into advocacy and hope.

This episode is essential for anyone who feels stuck, emotionally volatile, or disconnected from their body after a concussion, and is looking for a nervous-system-based, holistic path forward.

Resources Mentioned by Meghan Schneider:

1. Interoception Course:

• Title: On-Demand Course: Interoception, Concussion & Brain Injury

• Description: The first and only course dedicated to the intersection of interoception and brain injury, co-created with Dr. Kelly Mahler. A comprehensive resource for both professionals and survivors.

• Link: https://www.kelly-mahler.com/product/on-demand-course-interoception-concussion-brain-injury/

2. Meghan's Professional Platforms & Contact:

• Website (Clinical Practice & Consulting): Neuro Meghan

• • https://neuromeghan.com/

• Facebook Page: Neuro Meghan – Follow for insights and updates on neuro-rehab.

• Email: meghanchemidlin@gmail.com (Meghan welcomes connections from listeners and professionals)

3. Weekly Support Group:

• Meghan hosts a free support group for brain injury survivors and caregivers every Tuesday at 5 PM ET.

• It is offered in-person (in Pennsylvania) and via Zoom.

• To Join: Contact Meghan through her website or email for the Zoom link and details.

Bethany Lewis & The Concussion Coach:

• Free Guide: "5 Best Ways to Support Your Loved One Dealing with a Concussion" - Download at www.theconcussioncoach.com

• Concussion Coaching Program: For personalized mentorship in recovery. Sign up for a free consultation HERE