Brainstorms: Functional Neurorehab for SLPs

Guest: Lisa Thornburg, MS, CCC-SLP
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In this episode of Brainstorms, Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Lisa Thornburg, MS, CCC-SLP, to explore how rehabilitation can extend beyond the clinic to support connection, identity, and meaningful participation for individuals living with aphasia.
About the Guest: Lisa Thornburg, MS., CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist for over 30 years, working at every level of care in adult neurorehabilitation, including acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, and home health care. Lisa is the Director of the Snyder Center for Aphasia Life Enhancement (SCALE) and the Multiple Sclerosis Day Program at the League for People with Disabilities

*****Originally Aired: October 16, 2025*****
How do emotional well-being and psychological safety influence communication recovery?
Guest: Jaime Bauer Malandraki, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
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In this episode of Brainstorms, we look at the often-overlooked role of mental health in education and rehabilitation. Guest Jaime Bauer Malandraki, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, and host Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, explore the emotional toll of mental health challenges faced by students and patients, as well as the role of SLPs and teachers in creating trauma-informed, empathetic environments.
About the Guest: Jaime Bauer Malandraki, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University. She received her bachelor’s degree from Portland State University and her master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her primary clinical and research interests lie in the evaluation and management of swallowing disorders across the lifespan, with a special emphasis on neurodegenerative conditions and head and neck cancer.

What happens when brain injury survivors don’t just rebuild their lives, but pick up a microphone and invite others into the journey?
Guests: Jesse Aron, Ken Bernson, and Melissa Capo, MS, CCC-SLP
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In this powerful episode, Jesse Aron, an anoxic brain injury survivor, and Ken Bernson, a stroke survivor and peer advocate, join Renee alongside Melissa Capo, MS, CCC-SLP. Together, they share how their lived experiences led them to create a podcast that centers on connection, perspective, and life after injury. Through their conversation, Jesse and Ken reflect on what it means to build a meaningful life years after a brain injury and why sharing that journey matters. They discuss identity shifts, navigating communication and cognition, and the confidence it takes to show up in a public space. They also speak to the responsibility and vulnerability that come with telling your story and how survivor-led platforms are creating community where isolation is still common
About the Guests:
Jesse Aron sustained an anoxic Brain Injury 17 years ago in his early 20s and enjoys talking with Ken about his perspectives on putting together a meaningful life post-injury.
Ken Bernson is a 16-year stroke survivor who likes sharing his experiences to help others in similar situations. Ken is a participant in the New York State TBI Medicaid Waiver program. He is employed as a peer advocate at The Center for Independent Living in Schenectady, NY.
Melissa Capo, M.S., CCC/SLP, is an SLP in Albany, NY, and a Clinical Education Support Specialist in the online Speech@Emerson program at Emerson College. She has over 25 years of experience working with adults with Acquired Brain Injury and co-occurring disabilities, including substance abuse and mental health disorders. Her work is heavily influenced by Dr. Mark Ylvisaker and his person-driven, collaborative approach to improving the quality of life for individuals following ABI.

How does Parkinson’s disease alter communication beyond movement?
Guest: Samantha Elandary, MA, CCC-SLP
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In this episode of Brainstorms, Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is joined by Samantha Elandary, MA, CCC-SLP, to explore the neurological changes that impact communication and engagement in individuals living with Parkinson’s. Together, they unpack how declining dopamine levels influence more than motor function, shaping sensory processing, motivation, and overall participation. The conversation also examines how sensory changes can affect a person’s awareness of their own speech and movement, leading to unique communication challenges that are often misunderstood or overlooked.
About the Guest: Samantha Elandary is the Founder and CEO of Parkinson Voice Project. She has devoted her life to making quality speech therapy accessible to individuals with Parkinson’s disease and related neurological conditions. Under her leadership, Parkinson Voice Project developed the SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program, an effective, comprehensive speech therapy program for treating motor speech deficits associated with Parkinson’s.

Burnout is one of the most common concerns among speech-language pathologists. But is the problem always workload? Or could it sometimes be misalignment?
Guest: Angelyn Franks, SLPD, CCC-SLP
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In this episode of Brainstorms: Functional Neurorehab for SLPs, host Renee Garrett, MSEd, CCC-SLP, CBIS, sits down with Dr. Angelyn Franks, SLPD, CCC-SLP, to explore the difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling out of alignment in your professional role. Together, they unpack why burnout does not always come from too much work. Sometimes it comes from a mismatch between your values, strengths, scope of practice, and the environment in which you work.
About the Guest: Dr. Angelyn Franks, SLPD, CCC-SLP, is a burnout coach, mindfulness expert, and speech-language pathologist dedicated to helping healthcare professionals, educators, and caregivers break free from burnout and design lives rooted in what truly matters. Drawing on years of clinical practice—and firsthand experience with the burnout cycle—she equips her clients with evidence-based tools to manage stress, set meaningful boundaries, and align their self-care with their core values.
Show Notes:
Contact Angelyn Franks: dr.angelynfranks on IG