Brain Wellness - the Podcast

Mandi Swanson
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Weekly

Hosted by Mandi, a Nurse Practitioner with 20+ years in healthcare (nearly all in neurology), this show started with a plan to cover all things related to brain health & wellness, but morphed into being mostly concussion & traumatic brain injury (TBI) related topics after the host's own TBI experience. You'll hear strategies for recovery from both the practitioner and patients' points of view. Whether you're a healthcare provider, person with a brain condition, or family/caregiver, you'll find something useful in these episodes. Learn more about the host at www.brainwellnesssolutions.com

  1. 5h ago

    203. Losing & finding yourself after brain injury with Eva Sifis

    After creating herself anew a number of times through life, with brain injury and stage 4 cancer, Eva Sifis' experience of trauma has facilitated remarkable opportunity. She brings this and more to others in Australia's first and only peer developed and led training for those with Brain Injury or experience of trauma, 'By Accident'.Since 2024 Eva has coproduced the show – ‘A New You’. Leading conversations with the Neurodiverse, those who support them and the professionals and organizations giving them service, the intention is to demystify what still causes discomfort in many people – a way of thinking that may be different to the personal one.Once an international performer, her arts practice continues to this day as she brings her staunch belief in the voice of the peer to her producing work, with advocacy for the disabled experience becoming her reason for being.   Find Eva at: https://www.byaccident.com.au/ Or: https://anewyou.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devavoom Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_byaccident_/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-sifis/   Find more about Brain Wellness at: https://brainwellnesssolutions.com/ Support the show with Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brainwellnessnp

    203. Losing & finding yourself after brain injury with Eva Sifis

  2. Sep 4

    202. Neuro-stabilization training for TBI & more with Dr. Thomas Mitchell

    Dr. Thomas M. Mitchell, D.C., CCSP is Clinic Director at Chicago Institute for Health and Wellness, and has built a reputation around one core belief: results matter more than temporary relief. He speaks to athletes, active people, and high performers who are tired of chasing symptoms and want a clinician who asks a different question: why do some people get partial relief while others finally get lasting results? That results-first mindset is the thread running through his work, his writing, and his own athletic career. Dr. Mitchell has practiced functional medicine for over 20 years, holds a BS in Biology, a BS in Human Biology, Doctor of Chiropractic, Applied Kinesiology certification, Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician, and Functional Rehabilitation expertise. He brings kinesiology, chiropractic expertise, functional movement assessment, and clinical nutrition into one model designed to help people perform better, recover better, and build sustainable results over a lifetime. He also coined the phrase neuro-stabilization training and created training techniques around that concept, which gives him a distinct point of view for conversations about rehabilitation, performance, and why one-size-fits-all care often falls short. Dr. Mitchell has broken multiple national bench press records and has broken a world bench press record in the World Drug Free Power-lifting Association. That firsthand experience gives him real credibility with athletes, lifters, and high performers who want practical answers, not generic advice. He is also the author of The Mitchell Principle, which extends his practical, outcome-focused philosophy beyond the clinic and into a broader framework listeners can apply to training, recovery, and long-term health. At Chicago Institute for Health and Wellness, Dr. Mitchell leads a practice built around integrated and functional healthcare approaches.    Find Dr. Mitchell at: https://chicagohealthandwellness.com/ Or: https://ceriummedical.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.ThomasMitchell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicagohealthandwellness/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasmitchelldc/   Find more about Brain Wellness at: https://brainwellnesssolutions.com/ Support the show with Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brainwellnessnp

    202. Neuro-stabilization training for TBI & more with Dr. Thomas Mitchell

  3. Aug 28

    201. Living your why with Claudette Milner

    Christian featured speaker, award winning author and empowerment coach, Claudette Milner   Find Claudette at: www.claudettemilner.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claudettemilnerauthor  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudettemilner3/  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@claudette.milner  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudette-milner-5771071b/   Find more about Brain Wellness at: https://brainwellnesssolutions.com/ Support the show with Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brainwellnessnp

    201. Living your why with Claudette Milner

  4. Aug 21

    200. Vestibular training through spinning with Sheila Thelen

    Sheila Thelen, President of Vestibular Training Services and Master Rated Figure Skating Coach, applies world class vestibular training tools (patent pending) to show how spinning affects the vestibular system and can improve the brain’s ability to balance and the cognitive processes.    Find Sheila at: www.spinyourbrain.com Email: Sheila@SpinTheBrain.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VestibularTrainingServices Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestibulartrainingservices/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheila-thelenvts/   Find more about Brain Wellness at: https://brainwellnesssolutions.com/ Support the show with Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brainwellnessnp

    200. Vestibular training through spinning with Sheila Thelen

  5. Aug 14

    199. Raising NFL sons & concussion/CTE risk with Lee Schwartz

    Lee Schwartz is a speaker, author, advocate and proud father of two NFL sons, Geoffrey and Mitchell. In his inspiring book, Raising Giants, Lee shared the real-life story of how love, discipline and vision shaped his sons into elite athletes—and grounded men. Lee sits on the West Coast Advisory Board of the Concussion & CTE Foundation. Founded in 2007, the Foundation has been deeply committed to researching and studying the cause of CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) with the goal of it one day—hopefully sooner than later—being diagnosed in the living (currently only diagnosable post-mortem) leading to prevention, treatment or even a cure.   Find Lee at: www.raisinggiantsbook.com Foundation Helpline: https://concussionandcte.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576356579694 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raising_giants_book/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-schwartz-2b45717/   Find more about Brain Wellness at: https://brainwellnesssolutions.com/ Support the show with Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brainwellnessnp

    199. Raising NFL sons & concussion/CTE risk with Lee Schwartz

  6. Aug 7

    198. TBI community supports in Nebraska with Peggy Reisher

    Peggy Reisher, MSW is the Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of Nebraska, where she has led the organization since 2013. With more than 30 years of experience in brain injury, Peggy is a passionate advocate dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with brain injury and their families through education, advocacy, support, and systems change. She has helped develop innovative initiatives in resource facilitation, juvenile justice, domestic violence, and public policy, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Brain Injury Association of America. Peggy is a nationally recognized speaker who enjoys helping professionals better understand the often-hidden effects of brain injury and practical strategies for improving outcomes.   Find Peggy/BIANE at: https://biane.org/ Email: info@biane.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrainInjuryNebraska Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bianebraska/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brain-injury-alliance-of-nebraska/   Find more about Brain Wellness at: https://brainwellnesssolutions.com/ Support the show with Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brainwellnessnp

    198. TBI community supports in Nebraska with Peggy Reisher

  7. Jul 31

    197. How stress affects TBI recovery

    Mandi Swanson is a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner with experience in healthcare since 1999. She is a four-time Top Nurse Practitioner award winner, received the Faculty Excellence award in her previous role of nursing professor, has been on the review committee for several nursing textbooks, was the recipient of the Women of Armor Personal Growth award for 2023, was listed in Marquis Who’s Who in 2024, and was the recipient of the Elinor D. Hands Award from the MN Brain Injury Alliance in 2025. In 2022, Mandi began her own podcast called Brain Wellness – the Podcast, initially covering a multitude of topics related to brain health and wellness and transitioning toward mostly brain injury topics since 2024, and has been a guest on multiple other podcasts. She has also presented at numerous local, regional, and state conferences. Additionally, she is an invited speaker for both national and global conferences in 2026.In 2023, Mandi was in a car accident and experienced a traumatic brain injury. She has merged knowledge gained from personal experience with her healthcare education to provide a unique brand of concussion care in her current practice as a brain injury Nurse Practitioner at Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology. She is an Ambassador for the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center, an elected Board Member for the MN Brain Injury Alliance, and Certified Brain Injury Specialist through the Brain Injury Association of America.Find more about Brain Wellness at: https://brainwellnesssolutions.com/ Support the show with Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brainwellnessnp

    197. How stress affects TBI recovery

  8. Jul 24

    196. Montana TBI resources & personal story with April Ildvad

    April Ildvad is a licensed mental health therapist in Montana and Minnesota, she is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist through the American Brain Injury Association, a board member of the Montana Brain Injury Alliance and the Governor's TBI Advisory board. She is also a 27 year brain injury survivor.   Find April at:  Email: mountainviewtherapy.aci@gmail.com BIA Montana: 406-541-6442 BIA Montana Helpline: 800-241-6442   Find more about Brain Wellness at: https://brainwellnesssolutions.com/ Support the show with Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/brainwellnessnp

    196. Montana TBI resources & personal story with April Ildvad
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About

Hosted by Mandi, a Nurse Practitioner with 20+ years in healthcare (nearly all in neurology), this show started with a plan to cover all things related to brain health & wellness, but morphed into being mostly concussion & traumatic brain injury (TBI) related topics after the host's own TBI experience. You'll hear strategies for recovery from both the practitioner and patients' points of view. Whether you're a healthcare provider, person with a brain condition, or family/caregiver, you'll find something useful in these episodes. Learn more about the host at www.brainwellnesssolutions.com

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