The Broken Road Project Podcast

Cisco Gonzalez was 44 when an ischemic stroke changed life for his entire family.

In S2E16 of The Broken Road Project Podcast, Cisco and his wife, Melissa Gonzalez, share both sides of a recovery story—the survivor trying to understand what happened and the caregiver suddenly forced to make decisions, advocate, protect her family, and keep moving forward.

Cisco remembers very little of the weeks that followed his stroke. Meli...

After 32 years in nursing, Necole McDaniel found herself on the patient side of healthcare.

In Season 2, Episode 15, Necole McDaniel, BSN, RN, TCRN, CEN, joins Trent Peterson for a candid conversation about medical gaslighting, chronic illness, patient advocacy, nursing burnout, fear, family, community, and the choice to live beyond a diagnosis.

Necole shares how being a patient changed the way she sees bedside care; why invisible ...

What does stroke recovery look like through the eyes of a child and spouse? 🧠💙

In “More Time,” Trent Peterson sits down with his wife, Amber, and their son, River, for an honest family conversation about stroke recovery, caregiving, faith, and the lessons they have learned together.

River was six, turning seven, when Trent’s stroke sudden...

In this episode of The Broken Road Project, Trent Peterson sits down with Shayne DeMarce, creator of the UpStroke Podcast, filmmaker, biker, husband, father, and stroke survivor.

Shayne shares the story of the motorcycle accident that led to his stroke, the fight to survive, the long road through rehabilitation, and the emotional reality of rebuilding life after trauma. He talks openly about faith, family, disability, depression, c...

In this powerful Aphasia Awareness Month episode of The Broken Road Podcast, Trent sits down with Janu Orrick and Demetrius Moreno to talk about life after stroke, aphasia, caregiving, recovery, and the power of being truly heard. Just before his 55th birthday, Demetrius suffered a massive stroke. Doctors told him he would likely never walk or talk again and that a care home may be his future. But Demetrius and his longtime friend ...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Phillip Oxendine, also known as Aphasia Phil, to talk about life after stroke, living with aphasia, and finding a new voice through recovery, community, and advocacy.

Phil shares his personal journey of rebuilding communication, staying motivated through the hard days, and using his story to encourage other stroke survivors, people with aphasia, caregivers, and families. This conversation...

This is the full conversation and final release in our Faith After Stroke series on The Broken Road Podcast. In this episode, we bring together the full story of faith, stroke recovery, suffering, healing, and purpose. Stroke recovery is not only physical — it is emotional, spiritual, and deeply personal. This conversation explores what it means to keep trusting God when life changes suddenly and the road ahead looks nothing ...

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Trent Peterson, Shayne DeMarce, and Oral O continue their honest discussion about faith, stroke recovery, surrender, miracles, and purpose after suffering. Part 1 asked the painful question: “Why me?” Part 2 asks something deeper: “What if God can use even this?” This episode moves into the heart of recovery — not just physical recovery, but spiritual recovery. ...

Three men. Three strokes. One honest conversation about faith, suffering, and the question so many survivors face: “Why me?” In Part 1 of this special two-part episode of The Broken Road Project Podcast, Trent Peterson sits down with Shayne DeMarce and Oral O for a raw, faith-centered conversation about life after stroke, anger at God, identity, trauma, survival, and the search for purpose after everything changes. This...

Can vision therapy help stroke recovery? In this episode of The Broken Road Project Podcast, Dr. Conley breaks down neuro-optometry, vision therapy, and how vision affects healing after stroke or brain injury. Learn why personalized treatment, light therapy, and vision exercises may play a bigger role in recovery than most people realize.

#StrokeRecovery #VisionTherapy #NeuroOptometry #BrainInjuryRecovery ...

What happens when your life changes overnight? In this powerful episode of the Broken Road Podcast, host Trent Peterson sits down with Briana Williams, a stroke survivor whose life was forever changed in a matter of hours. From being a driven career professional to fighting for her life after a major stroke, Bri shares her raw, emotional, and deeply inspiring journey of survival, recovery, and rediscovery. 💔 The mental health batt...

Voices of Hope: How Brain Injury Becomes a Testament of Resilience and Faith This episode will break your heart and lift your spirit. When life shatters unexpectedly, how do we find hope, healing, and purpose?

Meet two extraordinary women whose stories reveal that even in the depths of trauma, faith ignites a journey towards restoration. Their powerful testimonies—of near-death experiences, miraculous recoveries, and lives tr...

Stroke recovery isn’t linear—and Nicole Salzano proves why. In this powerful episode, she shares her unfiltered journey from hiding her condition to embracing a new normal with courage, humor, and relentless grit.

We explore life after stroke, including living with aphasia, the fight for sleep and mental clarity, and the mindset shift behind “the power of yet.” Nicole reveals how small, consistent wins can r...

In this episode of the Broken Road Podcast, host Trent Peterson speaks with speech therapist Logan Ashlock about her journey in the field, the unique approach of Day Neuro, and the importance of holding space for patients during their recovery. They discuss the emotional challenges faced by both patients and therapists, the significance of caregiver support, and the various aspects of speech therapy beyond communication. The conver...

In this episode of the Broken Road Project Podcast, host Trent Peterson and guest Nelson Borchardt delve into the world of neuro training and rehabilitation. They discuss Nelson's journey into physical therapy, the importance of high intensity training, and the role of neuroplasticity in recovery. The conversation also touches on the significance of community support, spirituality in healing, and the need for patients to advocate f...

In this episode, Trent Peterson interviews Heather Flanagan, a stroke survivor who shares her incredible journey from a massive stroke caused by a birth control pill to her ongoing recovery and personal growth. Heather discusses the night of her stroke, the emergency response, and the impact it had on her identity and relationships. She emphasizes the importance of exercise, mental health, and faith in her recovery process, while a...

What does stroke recovery really look like behind the scenes?

In this episode of The Broken Road Project Podcast, Trent Peterson is joined by neuro physical therapist Amanda Renfro to explore dry needling therapy, neurological rehabilitation, and the unseen challenges stroke survivors face every day.

They discuss muscle tone, pain, micro-wins in recovery, and why physical therapy is about far more than movement, it’s about ...

Welcome to Season Two of The Broken Road Project Podcast 🎙️Hosted by Trent Peterson, stroke survivor and co-founder of The Broken Road Project, this powerful first episode of 2026 explores what it truly means to reinvent yourself after a life-altering experience.In this episode, Trent shares how surviving a stroke forced him to slow down, reevaluate priorities, and replace old habits with new, life-giving ones. Through honest refl...

In this powerful season finale of The Broken Road Project Podcast, host Trent Peterson is joined by Luke and Jen Balloun and co-founder Amber Peterson for an honest, emotional conversation about stroke recovery, faith after trauma, and finding purpose through suffering.

Luke shares his firsthand experience surviving a life-altering stroke, the frightening moments that followed, and the long road of neurological rehabilitation. Jen ...