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Mark Halvorsen’s life changed on May 1, 1999, when he sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after falling from the roof of his screened-in porch.He was in a coma for approximately three weeks and underwent an extensive rehabilitation journey.Today, Mark serves as a Peer Visitor with the Brain Injury Peer Visitor Association, providing guidance and encouragement to other TBI survivors navigating their own recovery paths.

💪 Advocacy & Professional Activities

Brain Injury Advocacy: Mark is active in the TBI community, particularly through Seek in Motion, where he champions resources and awareness for brain injury survivorConferences & Webinars: He regularly participates in brain injury-related events, sharing his perspective as a survivor.Insurance & Rehabilitation Issues: In one of his LinkedIn posts, Mark discussed the challenges of insurance coverage for TBI recovery and shared his positive rehabilitation experience at Boston’s Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.Podcast Feature: Mark appeared on Episode 5 of the “HumanityRx” podcast, where he recounted his coma, recovery journey, and ongoing advocacy efforts.

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Bill (Host):

“So what is dyslexia, really?

Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects the way the brain processes language — especially written words.

It’s not about intelligence.

It’s not about laziness.

And it’s definitely not just ‘mixing up letters.’

People with dyslexia often have difficulty with reading, spelling, and writing — even though they may be just as smart, creative, or insightful as anyone else.

It’s like the brain is wired to take a different route when reading — and that route might be slower or bumpier, but it’s still powerful in its own way.

And here’s something important:

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning differences, affecting around 1 in 5 people.

But it’s also one of the most misunderstood.”

🎙️

ScrambledEggs&Ham

Segment

Title: Brains That Work Differently — and Brilliantly

[Music fades out]

Bill (Host):

You know, one of the biggest myths about dyslexia is that it somehow limits a person’s potential. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

In fact, some of the most creative, bold, and successful people we know have lived with dyslexia.

Let me give you a few names that might surprise you.

Whoopi Goldberg

Comedian. Actress. Legend.

Whoopi has always marched to her own rhythm. She’s talked about struggling in school, but she also said that her dyslexia gave her a different way of seeing the world.

Steven Spielberg

One of the most iconic filmmakers of our time.

He didn’t find out he had dyslexia until later in life — but it helped explain why school had been so tough.

He calls it part of his creative engine.

Richard Branson

Founder of the Virgin Group.

A billionaire who says his dyslexia taught him to delegate, think outside the box, and be bold.

He once said,

Octavia Spencer

Yes — Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer grew up with dyslexia.

She says it made her more determined — and more compassionate.

She’s passionate about telling kids:

Magic Johnson

On the court, he was pure genius.

Off the court, he struggled with reading — but never let that stop him.

Magic learned how to build businesses, inspire others, and lead by example.

(Optional)

Anderson Cooper

Even journalist Anderson Cooper — someone known for his sharp reporting — has talked about growing up with dyslexia and how important early support was for him.

Bill (Host):

So if you’re listening today and living with dyslexia — or someone you love is — know this:

You’re in powerful company.

These people didn’t succeed in spite of dyslexia.

They succeeded because they learned how to use it.

And that’s what this show is all about — turning struggle into strength, and finding power in the way your brain works.

[Music swells]

Bill (Host):

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Tanya Ward is fighting Glioblastoma, which is a type of brain cancer. The medical community told her that there is no cure, and gave her 11 to 18 months to live.
listen to her story along with her partner Bill Ross.
Glioblastoma is a type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord. It grows quickly and can invade and destroy healthy tissue. Glioblastoma forms from cells called astrocytes that support nerve cells.

Glioblastoma can happen at any age. But it tends to occur more often in older adults and more often in men. Glioblastoma symptoms include headaches that keep getting worse, nausea and vomiting, blurred or double vision, and
seizures.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bill1

National Brain Tumor Society
Headquarters
55 Chapel Street, Suite 006
Newton, MA 02458
Phone: 617-924-9997

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I think it was like a five-year celebration that they decided to Ride from St. Louis to Chicago. I think it was 390 miles. Wow. And it's pretty entertaining, that father-son dynamic. You know, the old, more experienced cyclist trying to tell the young buck something, and he doesn't want to listen. Wow, a person that has heart problems like that actually embarked on a challenge like that is absolutely, man, just like, I'm enlightened by that. They picked something that means something, and look, I went through all this, and I can do this. And what he's telling us is basically, you can do this, too. You can make some changes in your life and make your health better. We don't have to accept what's in front of us. You know, we can choose a different path. And he didn't ride that 390 miles overnight. He started out just getting one around the Block, got a little stronger, and started riding miles. But it was a gradual build-up of recovering his health. And so that should be a message to everybody. You know, we're at a point where we can eat as much as we want, and we can have a sedentary lifestyle, which is a very bad combination.

“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

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Scrambled Eggs & Ham Podcast

Host: Bill Clark

Date: June 12th

Episode Topic: Ride for Equity – From Black Wall Street to Wall Street

Bill Clark:

Good morning. My name is Bill, and I am the host of the Scrambled Eggs & Ham podcast. Today is June 12th, and it’s hot outside here on the East Coast.

I just wanted to let the listeners know about one of our previous interviewees, Osborne Celestain. (Cancer survivor) is currently riding from Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma, all the way to Wall Street in New York City. That’s right — from Tulsa to New York. And get this — Osborne is the only Tulsan among the seven participants making this incredible journey.

When we spoke earlier this year on the podcast — actually, I had the good fortune of being out in Tulsa at the time — we had an interview over coffee at a local café. Osborne told me about this plan. I remember thinking, Wow… that’s ambitious!

And it is.

• 35 days on the road
• 1,645 miles total
• 50 miles per day
• 15 miles per hour pace
• And just one rest day per week

That’s a serious commitment.

The event is called the Ride for Equity — a tribute to the legacy of Black Wall Street and a powerful call to action for economic justice.

There’s a lot going on right now across the U.S. — from protests in California, New York, Philly, to Michigan. It’s a time of urgency and purpose. For Osborne to ride this route — from Tulsa to NYC — it’s what I’d call putting your money where your mouth is. He’s on the money.

Now, I haven’t ridden with him — yet. He’s been trying to get me to dust off my bike from the garage and start riding again. I probably don’t even know a pedal from a spoke anymore, but Osborne’s encouragement is real. My prayers go out to him and all the riders making this journey to Wall Street.

They’re expected to arrive in New York around July 2nd to 4th. Osborne actually reached out to me this morning. We were texting back and forth — I’m trying to keep track of where they are, what cities and states they’re passing through.

So here’s my message to you today:

Do something incredible. Challenge your own weaknesses — not anyone else’s.

This is Bill Clark from the Scrambled Eggs & Ham podcast.

Have a wonderful — and yes, very hot — week here in New York.

Stay victorious. We’ll talk again soon.

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In this raw and inspiring episode, we sit down with artist and poet Dontez Chatman for an unfiltered conversation about mental health, trauma, therapy, and artistic survival. From being drugged to battling bipolar disorder, Dantez shares how he turned pain into poetry and found purpose in the process. He opens up about going to therapy, taking medication, and using his art as a lifeline. This is Survival in Spoken Word—Dantez Chapman, unplugged.

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ScrambledEggs&Ham Podcast
Host: Bill Clark
Guest: Threbs Thompson
Topic: Art, Vision Loss & Finding Humor in the Dark

⸻
Host:
Welcome back to ScrambledEggs&Ham. Today I’m joined by the inspiring Therese Thompson. Therese, thank you for being here.

Trebs:
Thank you for having me! My name is Therese Thompson, and I have peripheral macular telangiectasia—along with a couple of other eye conditions that are eroding my vision pretty quickly. I entered what they call the terminal stages of this disease about a year and a half ago, so the sight loss is a lot faster now.

But—I’m still loving life. I get to do really cool things. I was an arts fellow for the state of Delaware last year, and I’ve got a show coming up this year—provided we all survive the apocalypse here. (laughs) I’m about ready to gouge out what little good sight I do have left.

Host:
The last time I saw you, I was checking out your Facebook profile, and I noticed you’re walking with a cane now, wearing those very dark Hollywood sunglasses. So yeah—it looks like your vision has really progressed. How is that affecting your ability to create?

Trebs:
Vision loss like this is catastrophic. As part of being an arts fellow, I got a small grant, and I used part of it to go to Salem Community College in New Jersey last year. I took two different classes there and learned some techniques that I think will be safer for me as I continue working in glass.

Host:
Now, this is just something I’ve been curious about myself—especially with my own stroke history. Do you think working with glass could have affected your eyesight?

Trebs:
Not. I took up glass later in life. Looking back, I was already experiencing the early symptoms of vision loss before I even began working with glass. And the industry has worked hard to offer non-toxic alternatives. For example, instead of using traditional lead soldering, there are now non-lead options. So no, I don’t think it’s the cause—just unlucky genetics.

Host:
Wow. So, let’s talk about MACTEL. I’ve mentioned it on the show before, but for folks who may not know—can you explain how it affects your vision?

Trebs:
Sure. When it started, I just couldn’t read for pleasure anymore. Words stopped making sense. Then I noticed that straight lines were no longer straight—everything looked broken and wavy.

MACTEL, in simple terms, is the thinning of vessel walls in the blood vessels that feed the retina. Those walls weaken, kind of like mini-aneurysms, and leak blood into the eye. That leads to macular degeneration, which is more or less a byproduct of this disease.

Host:
Is there a cure for MACTEL?

Trebs:
There’s no cure. It’s rare—still under 5,000 diagnosed cases globally. But we are fortunate to have a generous funder supporting research.

Host:
I wanted to ask you—are you learning to read Braille?

Trebs:
I’ve considered it, but honestly, for people our age, the success rate in becoming fluent in Braille is pretty low. Plus, technology has made it less necessary. I use screen readers and AI apps that describe pictures, read menus, and even tell me what kind of bills I get back in change—all just with my phone or tablet. And I’m not even tech-savvy!

Host:
Wow, that’s incredible. Let’s shift gears—tell us something fun about you! I know you’re involved with comedy and improv.

Trebs:
Yes! I’m still doing improv. I even made it onto The Moth Radio Hour the summer before last. I had to put a l

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