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PODCAST

The Real Lives of TBI Wives

Erika Brouillette

Real Lives of TBI Wives is a heartfelt and empowering podcast that gives voice to the untold stories of women who are navigating life as caregivers to husbands with traumatic brain injuries. Hosted by Erika, a wife, mother, and advocate, this podcast offers a candid look at the highs and lows of caregiving, self-care, and balancing the complexities of family life. Each episode features real-life experiences, tips, and encouragement for those walking this difficult path. Whether you’re a fellow TBI

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All Episodes

22:11

The Importance of Sloth Day with Teri Holland | Ep. 45

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2026/04/14

Ep. 45 | In this refreshing and much-needed episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika sits down with her friend and podcast mentor, Teri Holland, to talk about something so many caregivers desperately need but rarely allow themselves: rest. While the conversation may feel a little “off topic” from brain injury at first, it quickly becomes clear that intentional rest is one of the most important survival tools for women carrying the emotional, mental, and physical weight of caregiving.Teri opens up

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44:53

Luke Speaks: How a Brain Injury Survivor Found...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2026/04/07

Ep. 44 | In this powerful episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika sits down with Luke Bohnenberger, a traumatic brain injury survivor, speaker, coach, and bright light in the brain injury community, to talk about the accident that changed his life forever and the purpose he found on the other side of it. At just 18 years old, a simple decision to remove his seatbelt before getting off an exit led to a devastating rollover accident, a severe traumatic brain injury, and a fight for survival that

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47:01

Hope Beyond the Hospital and The Fight for an...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2026/03/31

Ep. 43 | In this deeply moving episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika Brouillette sits down with Tina to share the heartbreaking and hope-filled story of her husband Dave’s traumatic brain injury. What began as an ordinary workday on the farm in October 2021 turned into a life-altering accident that left Dave with a severe diffuse axonal brain injury, and left Tina navigating ICU stays, long-term rehab, workers’ compensation battles, full-time caregiving, and the overwhelming realities of

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43:12

Life After Brain Injury: Support, Advocacy, and...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2026/03/24

Ep. 42 | In this episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika Brouillette sits down with Jamie Arbor, Executive Director of The Supported Living Group in Connecticut, to talk about the realities of navigating longterm support for traumatic brain injury survivors and their families. Jamie shares how his organization has become the largest provider of brain injury support services in the state, offering person-centered care that includes independent living skills training, employment services,

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10:23

The Hope Hormone: The Science Behind Strength, Stress...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2026/03/17

In this solo episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika dives into the surprising science behind what researchers are calling the “hope hormone.” While lifting weights may seem like just another task in an already overwhelming life, Erika shares how muscle movement releases powerful molecules called myokines that help regulate stress, reduce inflammation, support brain function, and build emotional resilience.Reflecting on the last five years since Shelby’s traumatic brain injury, Erika

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33:19

Is It Perimenopause Or Is It My Husband? Navigating...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2026/03/11

In this episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika Brouillette sits down with natural health practitioner Kate McDowell of Aligned Natural Health to explore a question many caregivers silently ask themselves: “Is it perimenopause, or is it my husband?”For women caring for husbands with traumatic brain injuries, life often means living in constant survival mode. The chronic stress, emotional load, and mental exhaustion of caregiving can deeply impact a woman’s nervous system and hormones, making it

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34:11

Love in the Long Haul: Two Decades as a TBI Wife |...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2026/03/03

Season 3 Episode 39: In this episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika sits down with Peg Clark who opens up about what it really looks like to love, grieve, and care for the same man, after a traumatic brain injury changes everything. Peg and Cliff’s story begins like a movie, high school sweethearts in a snowy Michigan December, but their “forever” took a hard turn almost 21 years ago when Cliff suffered a head injury at work and was sent home from the hospital with no diagnosis, no plan, and no

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47:37

The System Isn’t Built for Brain Injury: Dr. K. Reyna...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2026/01/28

Season 3 | Ep. 38In this powerful episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika Brouillette sits down with Dr. Kay Reyna, a first responder wife/accountant turned researcher whose family’s life changed in an instant when her husband, a North Carolina Highway Patrol Master Trooper, was catastrophically injured on duty. What followed wasn’t just the trauma of a severe traumatic brain injury, but a long, exhausting fight to get his brain injury recognized and treated, as workers’ compensation minimized

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23:25

Reclaiming My Year: A Journey of Reconnection,...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2025/12/30

In this final episode of the year, Erika Brouillette opens her heart and shares the truth of what the last twelve months have looked like—messy, stretching, humbling, beautiful, and nothing short of transformative. From reaching out to an old family friend who unexpectedly became a life-changing guide, to launching the Real Lives of TBI Wives podcast in April, to watching a community rise up around her in ways she never could have planned… this episode is a reflection on what happens when you say

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27:26

Holding It All Together: Sheila Baugh’s Life of...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2025/12/23

In Episode 36, Erika sits down with Sheila Baugh—a fiercely devoted wife and caregiver navigating life after her husband Rob’s traumatic brain injury in July 2020. From their sweet beginning on a blind date in the ’90s to the life-altering accident that changed everything, Sheila opens up about the realities of loving someone through TBI: the medical maze, the career disruptions, the emotional toll, and the moments of grace that keep her going.Sheila shares candidly about juggling their family’s

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30:35

The Healthy Grief Framework: Tools for TBI Wives with...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2025/12/09

In this transformative episode of The Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Dr. Karen Kramer—clinical expert, hypnotherapist, neurolinguistic programming practitioner, and self-described “grief alchemist”—to unpack the often misunderstood world of grief. Together, they explore the realities of ambiguous grief and disenfranchised grief, the forms of loss that TBI wives experience daily but rarely receive validation for.Dr. Karen shares her powerful personal story of deep

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48:24

Changing the System: How Chanda Hinton’s Advocacy...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2025/11/26

In this inspiring episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Chanda Hinton, founder of the Chanda Center for Health, to discuss her extraordinary journey of resilience, advocacy, and transformation. After sustaining a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed at 9 years old, Chanda turned her personal challenges into a powerful movement for change, pioneering a new model of integrative care for people with disabilities.Chanda shares how her lived experience led to

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52:15

Streamline Your Life, Reclaim Your Peace: Lessons...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2025/11/18

In this empowering episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Dorothy Andreas—a bold entrepreneur, speaker, and woman of resilience—whose story will ignite a fire in every caregiver and overwhelmed wife looking for more.Dorothy opens up about her unstoppable rise from selling her car at 19 to buy her first business, to eventually owning nine successful companies—all while navigating unimaginable life stressors, including a house fire, her mother’s stroke, and the

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35:03

The Hidden Cost of Head Trauma—and the Therapy That...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2025/11/11

In this powerful episode of The Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with William Person, a former Team USA bobsled athlete, to share his courageous and deeply personal journey with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). After years of repetitive head trauma in elite sports, William found himself in a terrifying spiral—confused, depressed, and unable to function.But hope came in the form of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)—a breakthrough treatment that gave him back his

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24:51

Caring for the Caregiver: Wellness Strategies for TBI...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2025/10/28

In this episode of The Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette welcomes Dr. Amber Rice Horvath, a clinical nutritionist and mother of a child with special needs, to share practical strategies for caregiver wellness. Caring for a loved one with TBI can take a tremendous physical, emotional, and mental toll, and Dr. Amber emphasizes the importance of prioritizing your own health to maintain resilience and strength.She discusses managing caregiver and mom guilt, incorporating movement into

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25:32

Overcoming Trauma: Brittany Capalingo on TBI, Loss...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2025/10/21

Trigger Warning / Disclaimer:This episode contains discussions about abuse and traumatic experiences. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling with abuse, emotional trauma, or in need of support, we encourage you to reach out to a trusted professional or helpline. In Canada, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, and in the U.S., the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In this deeply emotional episode of

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24:05

TBI and Taxes: Understanding Canadian Disabiity...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2025/10/14

In this informative episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Jacqui Taylor Hayward, an experienced accountant, to provide practical guidance on navigating the complexities of Canadian disability benefits for families affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI). Jacqui shares her expertise in taxes, insurance, and government programs, giving listeners actionable advice to better manage financial responsibilities while supporting their loved ones.Together, Erika and

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18:23

The Daily Gratitude Movement: Empowering Caregivers...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2025/10/08

In this inspiring episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Wendy Lukonen, CEO of the Daily Gratitude Movement, to explore the transformative power of gratitude in caregiving and everyday life. Wendy shares her deeply personal journey caring for her mother with pancreatic cancer and her grandmother with dementia, and how embracing a daily gratitude practice helped her navigate the emotional challenges of caregiving while finding moments of peace and joy.Together,

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37:12

Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery and Holistic Healing...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2025/09/30

In this compelling episode of Real Lives of TBI Wives, Erika Brouillette sits down with Dallas Shepherd, founder of Harmonized Brain Center, to explore his family’s life-changing journey with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Dallas recounts the harrowing 2003 accident when his son was struck by a baseball, resulting in an epidural hematoma and coma, and shares the long road to recovery that inspired him to deepen his understanding of the brain.He discusses how this journey led to the founding of

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41:08

The Power of Vulnerability: Jason Lalli on Life After...

The Real Lives of TBI Wives ·

2025/09/24

In this powerful episode of The Real Lives of TBI Wives, host Erika Brouillette sits down with Jason Lalli, a resilient traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor, to explore his extraordinary journey of healing, advocacy, and personal growth. Jason opens up about life before his multiple brain injuries, sharing the vibrant career and personal life he loved, and recounts the dramatic and often devastating changes that followed each injury.He courageously discusses the emotional and psychological

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