ScrambledEggs&Ham Podcast “Stroke survivor stories podcast”

Host William Clarke
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  • Updated Semiweekly

   Welcome to “ScrambledEggs&Ham”—the podcast that highlights the resilience and strength of individuals who have faced life-altering health challenges, including cancer, stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), and neurodiversity. Each episode dives into their personal journeys, revealing how they transformed adversity into growth, empowerment, stroke recovery, and lasting change. Prepare to be inspired as we explore the incredible power of the human spirit. “Health is not merely the absence of illness. A truly healthy life is one of creativity—where we continue to challenge ourselves, create, and move forward, expanding our horizons for as long as we live.” — The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, Part 1 (Revised Edition), p. 248 I hold deep respect for the medical and psychological communities whose work supports survivors and their families. This story seeks to honor the resilience of those who have faced adversity and the professionals who walk alongside them, but it should not be taken as a substitute for clinical expertise or therapy. 📬 Contact Bill: Bill@dreamefforttenacity.comFollow ScrambledEggs&Ham for new stories on resilience, recovery, and hope.“ Appear on ScrambledEggs&HamScrambledEggs&Ham is a podcast focused on stroke recovery, brain injury, resilience, and the human stories behind healing.We welcome stroke survivors, TBI survivors, caregivers, researchers, advocates, authors, and health professionals who would like to share their experiences, insights, or work with our audience.Your support helps fund podcast production, editing, hosting, and continued awareness efforts for the stroke and brain injury community.Podcast Guest Contribution — $25 (5 Cups of Coffee ☕)To request a 30-minute featured guest session, please enter all details about your interview request below and include your preferred scheduling times.Book your session here: https://buymeacoffee.com/bill1/commissions/6021 By participating, you agree the episode may be published and distributed.”© 2026 DreamEffortTenacity LLC / ScrambledEggs&Ham. All rights reserved.ScrambledEggs&Ham with Bill Clarke is a production of DreamEffortTenacity LLC.

  1. Aug 23

    After the Fall: Trebs Thompson on Cancer, Creativity, and the Will to Live

    “By participating, you agree the episode may be published and distributed.” Scrambled Eggs & Ham Podcast Host: Bill Clark Guest: Trebs Thompson Transcript Bill Clark: Good morning. Good morning to you, listeners. My name is Bill Clark, and I'm the host of the Scrambled Eggs & Ham podcast. Welcome back to the Scrambled Eggs & Ham podcast. This is a very important episode. It's called After the Fall: Trebs Thompson on Cancer, Creativity, and the Will to Live. Trebs has been on the Scrambled Eggs & Ham podcast before. Her story is important because it reminds us that serious illness can enter a life that is already full, crazy, and complicated. Trebs is an artist. She's a farmer, a comedy writer, and an improv performer. She has already faced major challenges in her life, including vision loss. Then, after a fall, she learned that she had cancer. What makes this story powerful is not only how the cancer was discovered. It is what happens when a person who has already had to adapt is asked to adapt again. This episode is about paying attention to your body, about how one unpredictable event can reveal something much larger, and about refusing to let your diagnosis become your entire identity. Trebs is still creating. She's still laughing, still thinking deeply about the world, and still moving forward. That is why her story matters. This morning, welcome back, Trebs. Trebs Thompson: Thank you, Bill. Good to talk to you again. Bill: The last time we spoke, you shared your journey with vision loss. I think the abbreviation was MacTel? Trebs: Macular telangiectasia type 2. It is a blinding disease, and that was a bitter pill to swallow. But there's been more since. Bill: Since then, life has taken another unexpected turn. Take us back to the fall. Can you share a little bit about what happened? Trebs: Last summer, I saw these little pantry moths—you know, the kind you get when you have a box of grain that's just been there too long. I got up on this little footstool and I was digging around up in my baking cupboard. My boyfriend said to me, "Hey, I'm a little taller than you. Let me get up there and find it." So I went to step off the stool, and it tipped over backward on me. I'd have probably been okay, but I stepped into the dog's water bowl. It went one way, and I went the other way, and I ended up on the floor. It was the most searing, god-awful pain in my hip. I said, "Anthony, I think I've broken my hip." He got me up and onto the sofa. We put ice on it. I took Tylenol. I waited a few hours. I took Motrin. I put hot water on it. I lay down. I just could not get comfortable. Around three o'clock in the morning, I said, "I can't stand it. I want to go to the emergency room." We're sitting at the end of my driveway. We have a couple of options out here, and I was like, "I want to go to the big hospital." He's like, "We'll be there until tomorrow. It'll take forever." And I was like, "I know, but I just hear this voice. I want to go to the main emergency room." So he drove me over there, and they weren't terribly busy. It was amazing. Immediately this really nice doctor came out and gave me a shot of Toradol. Interestingly enough, after that, the hip never hurt me again. He said, "We'll get an X-ray." They took me for the X-ray, and when they came back, he told Anthony, "Her hip is not broken, but I see a shadow I don't like, and we're going to get a scan." So they sent me back for a scan. When it came back, he said, "This is my first night in emergency. I'm a new doctor here, but I think you have some kind of tumor, and we're going to admit you right away." They admitted me. I stayed, I guess, four or five days while they ran a bunch of tests and different specialists came down and looked. And, yeah, I had a neuroendocrine tumor on my pancreas. It took several months from that point because I had to have biopsies, and the first biopsy was a little inconclusive. It showed both regular and irregular cells. That was the whole biopsy report. I thought, "Wow, well, that's useful to no one." In November, I had what they call a Whipple, where they removed half of my pancreas, half of my stomach, a ton of small bowel, duodenum, my lymph nodes, and a bunch of other stuff. Bill: Since they removed those tissues, how has that affected eating? Trebs: It's been really, really hard. And I'm a foodie. I love to eat. I've always been a big girl. This has been on the traumatic side. I'm down about 80 pounds from the surgery. It's only been in the last month that I can eat three meals a day, and even that's not guaranteed. The day before yesterday, I ate something that disagreed with me, and yesterday I had one meal—one tiny cup of tomato soup at bedtime. That was it for the day. Bill: What was your favorite food? Trebs: Oh my gosh, picking a favorite food is hard. I love pretty much any ethnic cuisine. I love Mexican, Jamaican, Italian, Chinese, Thai. I love it all. Bill: Wow. Trebs: Since the surgery, I've had to change the way that I eat. Softer foods are often more my friends. Low fat. Now, if we go for Chinese, I've got to get the steamed options. If we go out for Mexican, I'm getting more beans or shredded chicken kinds of things. Bill: What about fried food? Trebs: Fried foods are really hard on me. I take a lot of medication to be able to eat them. Bill: You are much more than that diagnosis. You're an artist. You're a farmer. You're a comedy writer and part of an improv team. How have those parts of your life helped you deal with cancer and everything that has come with it? Trebs: The community of people that I have around me has been amazing. My friends have been so supportive. People would come. They just sat with me. I was exhausted for months after this. But five or six weeks after my surgery, I went back onstage for the first night. Now, I could literally hardly perform. I sat on the stage most of the night, which would be more accurate. But my troopers were right there with me. When I got up, they were up. Everybody has been super supportive. I am headed back to Salem Glass College this fall. I'm going to take one class. They've been super, super supportive in both my vision loss journey and in having not been well. So I'm hoping for another show next year. Bill: That would be wonderful. You're an art fellow. Is that correct? Trebs: Yes. I was an arts fellow for the state of Delaware, and I have a big dream this year. I'm applying to—I won't say which one—but a particular museum. I am super interested in being one of their residents next year. Bill: Oh wow. That's wonderful. Trebs: They favor younger people, but I'm hoping they'll take a look at me. Bill: I'm pretty sure they will, especially with your experience and these events happening in your life and how you use them. Speaking about how you use your talents—improv teaches you to respond to whatever comes at you. And you're a farmer. Farming teaches patience, right? Trebs: It teaches patience, and it teaches not being afraid. Because in farming, you know there's a high likelihood that it's going to fail. No matter how hard you try, how hard you work, those tomatoes are still going to get some kind of rust, or some kind of bug is going to come. You learn over time to be patient, to look ahead, and just be like, "Okay, that doesn't work. I'm going to try something else." Bill: Wow. Patience—and to not be afraid. Trebs: And to not be afraid. Bill: Not to be afraid. Wow. One of our previous episodes was before you got this diagnosis. You're also strongly anti-war, and you have clear beliefs about the value of human life. Has facing cancer changed the way you think about life, conflict, and peace? Trebs: I guess I have seen with the cancer that it's yet another in a series of reminders in my life that this life is short. And you really have to make it count. I have traveled this year. I've done things with friends. I really feel like I've done the things that matter. Bill: Let's circle back a little bit. What are you working on right now artistically? Trebs: Artistically, I took a break this year. I closed my first solo show. It was a major show in Philadelphia with 26 pieces last fall. I closed that two days before I had my cancer surgery. When I came home, I was exhausted. Honestly, I slept—just sitting in a recliner, sometimes in my bed—for weeks, months after. I was in the hospital for a few weeks. You wake up in shock trauma, and they keep you for a few weeks after that. I had big dreams and big plans, but honestly, just getting through a day, just eating a little bit, was enough. Bill: Yeah. That's a lot. Trebs: Just getting through a day was enough. In February, my boyfriend and I went down Support the show Lifeline Crisis Chat (Online live messaging):https://988lifeline.org/chat

    After the Fall: Trebs Thompson on Cancer, Creativity, and the Will to Live

  2. Aug 13

    "Breaking the Silence: A Survivor's Journey from Pain to Power" by Jennifer Kee

    “By participating, you agree the episode may be published and distributed.” Reference to any specific product or entity during any episode of the Scrambled Eggs and Ham Podcast {the "Podcast") does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by DreamEfforttenacity.LLC or its affiliates. With abuse, you suffer the loss of soul, loss of self, and loss of meaning" "In the system, you must fight every day, every minute, to keep from feeling worthless - to keep your spirit alive" K.W. (Survivor) One of the healing therapies that Jennifer has done, is called ART which stands for  Accelerated Resolution Therapy Child Abuse Childhelp®  Phone: 800.4.A.CHILD (800.422.4453)  People They Help: Child abuse victims, parents, concerned i Sexual Abuse Darkness to Light  Phone: 866.FOR.LIGHT (866.367.5444)  People They Help: Children and adults needing local information or resources about sexual abuse “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”  ―  Maya Angelou  t's summer, so it's a monthly interview show focused upon the reinvention of the lives of each interviewee as a result of or inspired by the life-changing illnesses or events that have now become part of their daily existence. And this morning, my special, special guest is Jennifer Key. Thank you for having me. Yep, yep, yep. It's a pleasure. It's always a pleasure. So this morning, I am the scrambled egg, and you are the ham, Jennifer. So, Jennifer, tell us a little bit about your background. Tell the audience about, you know, Jennifer. Sure. Fantastic question. Not quite sure where you'd like me to start, but I am a daughter from a family of four. I grew up in the lovely state of New Jersey. And I am a athlete. I am a fan, fanatic, not quite sure what word you want to use regarding Mother Nature and the outdoors. I guess a modern-day hippie, I've been told. And I presently am exploring so many new and adventurous journeys, which has now brought me to you. Wow, that's great. So you love the outdoors. You call yourself a modern-day hippie. Yes. So, Jennifer, today's podcast is about trauma. It's a good one. Okay. Great. Can you tell me a little bit about how it has affected your life? When did this start? You know, was it when you were playing sports in high school, college, or when part of your relationships? How did it start? Like, how did this thing start? Like, you know, no one just, you know, just glides on the top of the water. There's always something underneath the water, right? So what happened? Great question, Bill. And I really thank you for the opportunity to talk about this as it's one that I think doesn't necessarily get enough attention in this particular country and something that's very near and dear to me regarding the healing process from trauma. So for me, it's really centered around sexual trauma. At a very young age, I was groomed, is the term I've been told, by a family member, which the percentages say that's usually the place that sexual trauma happens. And it happened within my home. And from the age of what I can remember, seven to about 11 years old, there was a nice grooming process. And I say nice, and I'll explain shortly. Grooming process of at first just reading stories, right? Being told to listen to, having a book read to me. And that was great. And every night, I would visit with this individual and just read stories, which was awesome. And then I'd go back to my room. So over the course of several years, meaning seven through 11, the stories got shorter and shorter. Okay. And what I mean by that is the sexual exploration of the individual started to happen with me. So he was at an age that I think he was exploring his sexuality and decided to experiment with me. Now, because this was a family member, I really, truly believed that this is what you would do with a family member because of the nature of the grooming. It was pleasant. I wasn't afraid. I wasn't hesitant. I really just thought that everything he asked me to do was what other family members do with family members. And I never really talked about it as it wasn't explained to me by this individual that it was something to hide or not talk about. It just never really came up in, like, general conversation with my friends or with my parents or even with my other family members. So around, yeah, I guess around 10, 11 is when it got a little more aggressive and a little more intense. And the nature of the abuse, and I'll say then the grooming, went from touching to then true exploration minus penetration. Oh, boy. So I was specifically groomed to offer fellatio in a very specific way. And that process, and I say this with great detail, was, you know, horrifying now looking back. But at the time, you know, being a child and not understanding what is happening, I had the need to please. That was kind of instilled in me at that point. And at the direction of that individual, I mean, I can't tell you the rounds and rounds of practice I was forced to do to get it right by that individual. And because I think my nature, you know, was a competitive one. I played sports very early. I started playing basketball, you know, at the age of, like, five. Oh, wow. And I always, yeah. I mean, remember, I grew up with three brothers, so I was like your, you know, roundaway girl, tomboy. And I really aim to please. I really like to win. So in those environments of that grooming and abuse, I kind of put all of my effort into doing it right. And I got to tell you that grooming and that abuse stayed with me even till today and has come out in so many different ways throughout my life, through my relationships with men, through my relationships with women, through my relationships at work as it relates to men and how I interact. So it left a devastating impact. But at the same time, this is the part that I think for folks gets confusing, is I'm not even upset about it. Meaning, I don't want that person punished. I don't want that person to go to jail. I don't want that person to have any harm come to them. And that might sound like, why wouldn't you want that? I mean, they're a pedophile and they should be stopped, right? Yeah, but, okay, let me ask you a question. Yeah, well, you answered your own question, but you're actually going to tell us why wouldn't you want that person to be talked to, counseled? Why wouldn't you? Sure. It's not that I don't want them to. I think as a result of how all of that activity transpired, as I mentioned earlier, I'm a modern-day hippie and have a very strong belief in spirituality, which is, in my opinion, not of this world. I heavily believe in karma. I was going to ask you that. Do you believe in karma? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, man. Wow. Yeah. So that individual I tracked and followed for many years and have come to find out the devastation in their own life and the things that took place in their life as a result of their bad doings. And I say that, again, this only applies to me, in my opinion, in my experience. I'm not suggesting this is how others need to think or believe. But for me, in terms of a reprimand or a punishment, it is happening daily to that person. Okay. Wow. Wow. Wow. The karmic retribution, right? Yeah. Yeah. Cause and effect. Absolutely. And something that's important that I want to share with you is as a result of that experience and being exposed to something too early in life to then understand the ramifications, I didn't become a promiscuous child. I didn't become a promiscuous teenager, nor did I become a promiscuous adult. But it put me in the category of trusting men in the most inappropriate ways. And women. Okay. Trusting men and women in the most inappropriate ways. I'm trying to filter that. What does, can you expand on that? Sure. Sure, absolutely. What I mean by that is because I was a remarkably, I think, beautiful child to the public, I had often been socially groomed to accept the advances of men and women when out in public.  so what do you think “© 2026 Bill Clarke. All rigSupport the show Lifeline Crisis Chat (Online live messaging):https://988lifeline.org/chat

    "Breaking the Silence: A Survivor's Journey from Pain to Power" by Jennifer Kee

  3. Aug 10

    Trailer

    “By participating, you agree the episode may be published and distributed.”    Welcome to “ScrambledEggs&Ham”—the podcast that highlights the resilience and strength of individuals who have faced life-altering health challenges, including cancer, stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), and neurodiversity. Each episode dives into their personal journeys, revealing how they transformed adversity into growth, empowerment, stroke recovery, and lasting change. Hi, my name is Bill Clark. I'm the host of the Scrambled Eggs and Ham podcast. And you know, life can change in an instant. One moment, you're cruising along, and the next, boom, everything scrambles. Welcome to the Scrambled Eggs and Hams. It's the podcast that cracks open the real conversations about strokes, health, depression, recovery, and resilience. There was just a basic confusion about why is this happening to me. I thought I was doing everything right. You know, I wasn't stressed out, but I do have high blood pressure and diabetes. And at the time, I did come, when I had my first stroke, I did come out in the kitchen to check my blood pressure, which was high. It was 170 something. Wow, that's high. And my sugar was also 183. And I was like, what are you doing? You know, so those were the mechanisms that made me say, you need to go to the hospital. So whether you're a survivor, a caregiver, or just someone who wants to understand the twists and turns of the human brain, we're here to keep it real. No scapegoating, just honest talk, expert insights, and stories that inspire. https://buymeacoffee.com/bill1 Prepare to be inspired as we explore the incredible power of the human spirit. “Health is not merely the absence of illness. A truly healthy life is one of creativity—where we continue to challenge ourselves, create, and move forward, expanding our horizons for as long as we live.” — The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, Part 1 (Revised Edition), p. 248 ScrambledEggs&Ham is more than a podcast — it’s a movement for stroke survivors, caregivers, and anyone rebuilding their life after loss or change.Each episode shares real stories of recovery, strength, and hope.© 2026 DreamEffortTenacity LLC / ScrambledEggs&Ham. All rights reserved. Support the show Lifeline Crisis Chat (Online live messaging):https://988lifeline.org/chat

    Trailer

  4. Jul 22

    “She Was Still My Mother: One Daughter’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s

    “By participating, you agree the episode may be published and distributed.” Episode Title: Don't Walk Away: Finding the Person Beyond Alzheimer'sHost: Bill ClarkeGuest: Marilyn Raichle, author of Don't Walk Away: A Care Partner's Journey Bill Clarke:Welcome to another episode of Scrambled Eggs & Ham. Tonight, I'm going to be the scrambled eggs, and Marilyn, you're going to be the ham. I hope you like ham! Our special guest this evening is Marilyn Raichle, author of the remarkable book Don't Walk Away: A Care Partner's Journey. Marilyn was kind enough to send me a copy of her book, and after reading it, I can honestly say it is one of the most moving books I've read in a long time. It's deep, it's honest, it's heavy in all the right ways, and it truly touched my heart. Let me read something from the back cover because it captures the heart of her story. "She grew up in the shadow of Alzheimer's. Nearly everyone in Dad's family and many in Mom's developed the disease. Mom warned us, 'Keep your distance. Your father and I will be in a safe place. There's nothing more you can do. So walk away. We won't remember you. Live your life and don't sacrifice it for us.' I believed her. As I began my caregiver journey with Mom, I saw only loss, not the person. Heard only confusion, not the thoughts. Everything changed in an instant. Then Mom began to paint." Marilyn, thank you so much for joining me on the Scrambled Eggs & Ham podcast. Marilyn Raichle:My pleasure. Thank you for inviting me. Bill:I really appreciate you sharing your time with us and with our listeners. There's so much in this book that resonated with me. One part that especially touched me was your mother's painting because I'm also a painter. After my stroke, painting became part of my own recovery. I know firsthand how art can reconnect us with ourselves. So I'd like to begin with the question that stayed with me after finishing your book. Your mother repeatedly told you to walk away. What happened inside you that made you decide to walk toward your parents instead? Marilyn:Well... with huge reluctance. There were five children in our family, and Mom told all of us over and over again to walk away if this ever happened. We believed her. That was the family plan. Then I went away to graduate school. When I came back, it was during the recession, and there simply weren't any jobs. My family got together and said, "Okay... we're going to pool our resources, we'll keep your phone on, and you're going to become the family caregiver." Well... suddenly I had a job. Not the job I wanted. Not one that paid very well. But it was a job. I couldn't walk away. The truth is... I wasn't a very good caregiver. Every day I'd hear Mom's words in the back of my mind telling me, "Walk away." I'd spend my visits looking at the clock. I didn't know anything about caregiving because I never intended to become one. For that first year, though, Mom and Dad were still my parents, and we all wanted the best for each other. Mom wanted the best for Dad. Dad wanted the best for Mom. Then everything changed when Dad died. Bill:Let me ask you something. Did your father also have Alzheimer's? Marilyn:He had Parkinson's disease, and Parkinson's can also cause dementia. He likely would have developed Alzheimer's-type dementia had he lived longer because it was in his family as well. Both of my parents needed care. I always want to make something very clear. I was not a full-time home caregiver. Those caregivers have the hardest job imaginable. My parents lived in a wonderful community where their daily care needs were met. My role was different. I helped them stay connected to the world. I took them to medical appointments. I advocated for them. At first, I wasn't very good at it. But over time, I stopped fighting the experience and slowly became better. Marilyn:When Dad died, he was eighty-nine. My brother, my sister, Mom, and I were all in the room. Mom happened to be asleep. We debated whether we should wake her. We thought, "If she won't remember... are we just going to make her relive this every day?" But they'd been married for seventy-two years. So we woke her. Bill:Seventy-two years. That's incredible. Marilyn:It really was. What surprised me most was seeing my mother cry. I'd never seen her cry before. You have to understand our family. We were Scottish Calvinists. There was an unwritten rule: You do not cry. If you cried, it suggested you didn't believe the person was going to Heaven. So... you simply didn't cry. Bill:If crying wasn't allowed... how did people grieve? Marilyn:Honestly... they didn't. Our family was emotionally very restrained. Emotions were considered an indulgence. You swallowed them. You simply kept going. There were no funerals. No memorial services. No public grieving. I once asked Mom why. She said, "Because it's showy." That was simply how our family operated. When someone died... life just moved on. Bill:That's an incredibly different way of looking at loss. Marilyn:It was. The next morning, I visited Mom. She remembered Dad had died. We talked about him. The following morning... she remembered again. Then on the third morning I found her lying in bed crying. She looked at me and said, "I just want to be with your father." Without thinking, I answered exactly the way the younger version of my mother might have. I said, "Well Mom... you should have thought of that before you spent your whole life taking such good care of yourself." She laughed. Then she smiled and said, "Well... that's life." From that moment forward... it was almost as if she placed her grief in a small box and chose to reconnect with the world. Marilyn:She was terribly bored. So I took her to a painting class designed for people living with memory loss. Neither of us expected much. Then she painted something beautiful. I was stunned. So we went back. Again and again. That's when I realized something remarkable. My mother was still there. She still had imagination. She still had humor. She still had joy. Support the show Lifeline Crisis Chat (Online live messaging):https://988lifeline.org/chat

    “She Was Still My Mother: One Daughter’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s

  5. Jul 3

    More Than the Rumors: Dantes Chapman on Life, Music, and Mental Health

    “By participating, you agree the episode may be published and distributed.” Today’s guest is Dantes Chapman, returning for a follow-up conversation about where life has taken him since our last appearance together. In his first visit, Dantes spoke openly about living with bipolar disorder. This time, we focus on the present—how he’s doing today, what he’s learned along the way, and how music continues to shape his life as an artist. We talk about personal growth, mental health, creativity, and the challenge of staying balanced while pursuing your goals. Dantes shares insights from his journey, his outlook on life today, and how music—whether R&B, rap, or other influences—serves as both a creative outlet and a way to connect with others. During our conversation, Dantes also addresses misconceptions people may have about him. As an artist, he explains that songwriting often reflects emotions, observations, and stories rather than personal actions or experiences. He emphasizes that creative expression should not be confused with reality and that people sometimes project their own fears or assumptions onto artists. We also discuss loss, family, resilience, and the importance of remaining true to yourself despite outside criticism. Throughout the conversation, Dantes returns to a central message: stay focused on growth, stay positive, and keep moving forward. In this episode: • Life today with bipolar disorder  • Personal growth and self-reflection  • Mental health and resilience  • Music, creativity, and artistic expression  • Dealing with misunderstandings and public perception  • Family, loss, and perseverance  • Lessons learned since our last conversation This is a candid conversation about growth, perseverance, and the ongoing work of becoming the person you want to be. Please welcome back to ScrambledEggs&Ham — Dantes Chapman. Support the show Lifeline Crisis Chat (Online live messaging):https://988lifeline.org/chat

  6. Jul 3

    Living with MS: Strength, Science, and Hope with Carla Basante

    “By participating, you agree the episode may be published and distributed.” © 2026 Bill Clarke / ScrambledEggs&Ham. All rights reserved. Good evening, hi, this is Bill Clark, and I'm the host of the Scrambled Eggs and Ham podcast. And tonight, we're gonna cover what you don't know about multiple sclerosis, or as you might know as MS. And this evening, we have a superwoman on the phone with us. Her name is Carla. Carla Basanti, is that correct? Yeah, she's a superwoman. She is from the Kessler Foundation,is that correct? Wow, so Carla is a superwoman. Why I say Carla is a superwoman, actually, I'm the scrambled egg tonight and Carla's the ham. So I hope you like ham, Carla. Okay. No, you're very kind. Thank you for being, taking this interview with me. So, so Carla, there's so many things. I looked at your bio, and that's why I say you're a superwoman. You are a cancer survivor, is that correct? Okay, that's right, that's right. That's very positive thinking. And I also, you know, I think that way too, you know, let's just keep going and get off the off-ramp and get back on and just keep moving forward, you know, out to sea, out to sea. So, you know, you did a lot of research. You focused very much on MS research, is that correct? Oh, wonderful. Right. Right. Hold on a second. Carla, what is that? Can you explain that to the audience? What is exoskeleton? Support the show Lifeline Crisis Chat (Online live messaging):https://988lifeline.org/chat

    Living with MS: Strength, Science, and Hope with Carla Basante

  7. Jul 3

    Strength on Hard Days: Sheri's Melody’s

    “By participating, you agree the episode may be published and distributed.” © 2026 DreamEffortTenacity LLC / ScrambledEggs&Ham. All rights reserved. Today’s conversation is important because it reminds us that not every struggle is visible, and not every hard day has a clear explanation. I’m joined by Sheri Melody. Sheri is not a stroke survivor, but her story matters deeply here because mental and emotional health plays a huge role in how we cope, how we support others, and how we survive difficult seasons. Sheri, thank you for being here. Sheri: Thank you for having me. I’m glad to be here — and a little nervous. Bill: Nervous is more than okay here. Sheri, you’ve been open about living with depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Can you talk a little about what hard days look like for you? Sheri: Hard days are the ones where everything feels heavier than it should. Even simple things take effort — decisions, focus, motivation. Sometimes my mind just won’t slow down, and other times it feels like it’s shut off completely. From the outside, people might not notice anything is wrong. But inside, it can feel overwhelming. Bill: That invisible part is so important. A lot of people listening — especially caregivers, survivors, and family members — know what it’s like to carry something others can’t see. There’s often pressure to “push through” or “stay positive,” but that’s not always realistic. Sheri: Exactly. And that pressure can make things worse. Some days, just getting through the day is the accomplishment. And learning to accept that took time. I had to learn that rest isn’t failure, and needing support doesn’t mean I’m weak. Bill: That’s such an important message. On this show, we talk a lot about resilience — not the Instagram version, but the real kind. The kind that shows up quietly, on days when no one’s clapping. What helps you get through those days? Sheri: Being honest with myself. Letting myself say, “Today is hard,” without judging it. And leaning on people I trust. Even just one person who understands can make a difference. Bill: That honesty is powerful. And it connects directly to what so many people listening are dealing with — whether they’re recovering from a stroke, supporting someone who is, or managing their own mental health. Sheri, what would you want someone listening — someone having a really hard day — to hear right now? Sheri: I’d want them to know they’re not broken. Struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human. And tomorrow doesn’t have to be solved today. Bill: That’s beautifully said. Sheri, thank you for sharing your story and your honesty. Conversations like this remind us that strength doesn’t always look like progress — sometimes it just looks like staying. “© 2026 Bill Clarke. All rights reserved.” “By participating, you agree the episode may be published and distributed.”Support the show Lifeline Crisis Chat (Online live messaging):https://988lifeline.org/chat

    Strength on Hard Days: Sheri's Melody’s

  8. Jul 3

    Life After Stroke by The Sea "Kelli"

    “By participating, you agree the episode may be published and distributed.” Kelli tells her story about the event that changed  her life. ScrambledEggs&Ham is more than a podcast — it’s a movement for stroke survivors, caregivers, and anyone rebuilding their life after loss or change.Each episode shares real stories of recovery, strength, and hope. Stroke survivor stories, brain injury recovery, post-stroke confidence, neurorehab inspiration, Scrambled Eggs & Ham Podcast, DreamEffortTenacity, Bill Clarke “© 2026 Bill Clarke. All rights reserved.”© 2026 DreamEffortTenacity LLC / ScrambledEggs&Ham. All rights reserved. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bill1 https://www.sgi-usa.org/basics-of-buddhism/ contact Bill@dreamefforttenacity.comSupport the show Lifeline Crisis Chat (Online live messaging):https://988lifeline.org/chat

    Life After Stroke by The Sea "Kelli"
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About

   Welcome to “ScrambledEggs&Ham”—the podcast that highlights the resilience and strength of individuals who have faced life-altering health challenges, including cancer, stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), and neurodiversity. Each episode dives into their personal journeys, revealing how they transformed adversity into growth, empowerment, stroke recovery, and lasting change. Prepare to be inspired as we explore the incredible power of the human spirit. “Health is not merely the absence of illness. A truly healthy life is one of creativity—where we continue to challenge ourselves, create, and move forward, expanding our horizons for as long as we live.” — The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, Part 1 (Revised Edition), p. 248 I hold deep respect for the medical and psychological communities whose work supports survivors and their families. This story seeks to honor the resilience of those who have faced adversity and the professionals who walk alongside them, but it should not be taken as a substitute for clinical expertise or therapy. 📬 Contact Bill: Bill@dreamefforttenacity.comFollow ScrambledEggs&Ham for new stories on resilience, recovery, and hope.“ Appear on ScrambledEggs&HamScrambledEggs&Ham is a podcast focused on stroke recovery, brain injury, resilience, and the human stories behind healing.We welcome stroke survivors, TBI survivors, caregivers, researchers, advocates, authors, and health professionals who would like to share their experiences, insights, or work with our audience.Your support helps fund podcast production, editing, hosting, and continued awareness efforts for the stroke and brain injury community.Podcast Guest Contribution — $25 (5 Cups of Coffee ☕)To request a 30-minute featured guest session, please enter all details about your interview request below and include your preferred scheduling times.Book your session here: https://buymeacoffee.com/bill1/commissions/6021 By participating, you agree the episode may be published and distributed.”© 2026 DreamEffortTenacity LLC / ScrambledEggs&Ham. All rights reserved.ScrambledEggs&Ham with Bill Clarke is a production of DreamEffortTenacity LLC.

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