Listen for LIFE Aphasia Podcast

In this episode of the Listen for LIFE Aphasia podcast, we dive into the world of caregiving for individuals with communication with Dr. Kristin Schaffer Mendez. Dr. Kristin Schaffer Mendez, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist and an assistant professor at the University of St. Augustine in Austin, TX. Her primary areas of focus are in adult neurogenic communication disorders and counseling. Kristin researches holistic t...

“I wasn’t lazy. I was lost.”

If that line hits too close to home, this conversation is for you.

After stroke or aphasia, it’s easy to believe you’re just not trying hard enough. That you should feel more motivated. But what if it’s not a lack of willpower? What if the real issue is apathy, grief, or a recovery mindset that no longer fits?

This episode with Aaron Avila (Stroke TV Media) is honest, grounded, and deeply needed. We tal...

He looked down and said, “I don’t even know how to talk to her anymore.”

That moment didn’t happen in the hospital. It happened at home—months after stroke rehab ended. When the support disappeared, and recovery got… quiet.

If you’ve ever felt like the plan vanished after discharge, like you're carrying something no one prepared you for—this episode is for you.

We’re naming the therapy shift no one explains. And we’re breaking do...

Why Speaking Up After Stroke Feels So Hard If you’ve ever left a doctor’s office thinking, “I should’ve said something”—you’re not alone.

This episode breaks down why communication after stroke feels so difficult—and what you can do about it.

• Understand how executive dysfunction and aphasia fatigue make speaking up harder than it seems
• Learn why care partners sometim...

Have you started saying no to life without even realizing it? You might be living in quiet resignation — a natural, but heartbreaking, place many stroke carepartners find themselves after months or years of survival.

In this episode, Genevieve shares how resignation quietly creeps into the lives of carepartners after stroke and aphasia — often unnoticed, disguised as “being realistic” or “doing what has to be done.” Through real-...

After a stroke, even everyday conversations can feel like uphill climbs. Maybe you’ve found yourself nodding instead of asking. Staying quiet even when something didn’t feel right. Wishing afterward that you’d said more.

This episode is about those moments.

Genevieve shares what the research says—and what survivors know—about why speaking up gets so complicated after stroke. You’ll learn the hidden steps of self-advocacy and how to...

“He’s still here—but we’re not us anymore.” That’s what one care partner told me. And she’s not alone.

If your marriage feels muted—like you’re functioning as a caregiver, not a partner—this episode is for you. You’re not imagining the distance. And you’re not the only one wondering how to fix it without making it worse.

What no one tells you is this: caregiver burnout is one of the strongest predictors of divorce after stroke. Es...

She looked calm. Capable. But when I asked what she needed—she couldn’t answer. Not because she didn’t care. Because she didn’t remember how to.

If you’re the one keeping everything afloat—managing meds, moods, meals, and meaning—you might not realize what’s been lost. Not your partner. You.

This episode is about what happens when caregiving stops being something you do… and quietly becomes who you are. It’s not about blame. It’s ...

I didn’t expect a movie to call me out—but one line stopped me cold.

If you’re a stroke care partner lying awake at night, looping through your to-do list, bracing for tomorrow before today is even over—this might be the reset you didn’t know you needed.

In this episode, I share the moment that hit me hard, what it taught me about mental clutter, and the 5-minute routine that’s helped me finally sleep again. No fixing. No faking. J...

If your spouse or loved one survived a right hemisphere stroke and now feels… different—you’re not imagining it. In this heartfelt Q&A, Genevieve answers real questions from care partners grappling with subtle but life-altering changes: blank stares, flat affect, lost affection, impulsive speech, and “he’s totally fine” denial. If you’ve ever wondered is this the stroke… or j...

💭 “I feel like I’m talking to a wall. I see the struggle, but he doesn’t. How do you help someone who doesn’t even realize they need help?”

When a stroke survivor doesn’t recognize their own deficits—whether it’s missed objects, risky decisions, or emotional distance—it can feel like denial. But this isn’t stubbornness. It’s something deeper: a neurological change called anosognosia.

In this episode, we unpack the emotional and re...

🔔 If this episode helped you, please share it with another care partner!If your loved one’s personality feels different after a stroke, you’re not imagining it. Right hemisphere strokes can affect emotional awareness, social judgment, and self-control—leading to blunt speech, impulsivity, and a seeming lack of empathy.

It’s not a personality choice—it’s a brain function change. But for care partners, it doesn’t always feel that wa...

"Why does it feel like your loved one has changed emotionally after their stroke? Why do they miss social cues, seem indifferent, or struggle to respond appropriately? And most importantly—how can you navigate these changes without feeling hurt or disconnected?"

After a right hemisphere stroke, survivors often struggle to recognize emotions, pick up on social cues, or respond in the way they used to. It’s not that they don’t care—i...

When a parent or loved one experiences aphasia after a stroke, it can be difficult for the entire family—especially children—to understand what’s happening. In this episode, Lisa Samson, an experienced speech-language pathologist and author of Listen with Your Heart: Helping Kids Understand Stroke and Aphasia, shares how families can support children through aphasia recovery. We explore practical ways to explain communication chang...

"You ask a simple question, and instead of an answer, you get silence—or a response that doesn’t quite make sense. It’s not about hearing loss or forgetting words. The brain is working differently now.

In this episode, we uncover how right hemisphere strokes impact thinking, communication, and emotional expression—and why survivors may struggle to follow conversations, respond appropriately, or recognize social cues. We also explor...

💭 "What happens when the words you need to say the most are the hardest to speak?"

Aphasia doesn’t just steal words—it changes relationships. Care partners and stroke survivors often hold back what they really want to say, fearing it won’t be understood, will hurt too much, or won’t change anything. But keeping quiet only deepens the disconnect.

In this episode, we’re breaking the silence. We’re saying the things that often go uns...

Ever start a task, get distracted, and never finish? Whether it’s forgetting why you walked into a room, struggling to focus, or feeling overwhelmed by decisions, executive function plays a huge role in daily life.

Many people don’t realize that stroke, PPA, Parkinson’s, and other neurological conditions can impact executive function—even without a formal diagnosis. When the brain’s ability to plan, focus, and follow through is d...

In this inspiring episode, Genevieve Richardson sits down with Phil Oxendine, a stroke survivor turned National Aphasia Association Ambassador. Phil shares his incredible journey—from waking up in a hospital, unable to communicate, to becoming an outspoken advocate using YouTube and virtual connections to empower others with aphasia.

Phil and Genevieve explore: ✅ The power of neuroplasticity and how consistent practice helped Phil...

Can stroke and aphasia recovery go beyond traditional therapy?

In this episode, Dr. Robert Hedaya, founder of Whole Psychiatry, shares how HYLANE Therapy helps rewire the brain for better speech and cognitive recovery. We’ll explore how different brain networks are involved in aphasia, how HYLANE Therapy works, and real-life success stories of people making progress.

Topics Covered: ✔️ How the brain heals after a stroke ✔️ The ro...