In this episode, Justin and Roger are joined by Susan Hakimi, the head speech pathologist at Northridge Hospital Medical Center and the speech therapist who first worked with Roger during the earliest days of his recovery in the hospital. Susan shares how she got into speech pathology and explains the critical role speech therapists play in the immediate aftermath of a stroke.

Together, they discuss what happens during inpatient speech therapy, how clinicians evaluate communication after a stroke, and why conditions like aphasia affect speech and language the way they do.

Susan also offers insight into the early milestones therapists look for, the challenges patients face in those first days, and how families can support a loved one navigating stroke recovery.

Through both professional expertise and personal perspective, this conversation sheds light on where the recovery journey truly begins for many stroke survivors.

In this episode we introduce Tina Orkin and learn about the life she built both before and after her stroke. Tina shares her journey into healthcare, becoming a nurse and working in OB-GYN, and talks about the work she was passionate about and the patients she cared for. She also opens up about her stroke and the recovery that followed. By exploring both her career and her stroke journey, we get a fuller picture of Tina’s strength, resilience, and the experiences that have shaped her life.#StrokeRecovery #StrokeAwareness #AphasiaRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #LifeAfterStroke #RecoveryJourney #MentalHealth #Wellness #HealthStories #HealthcareHeroes #Resilience #Inspiration #PodcastLife #PodcastClips #WhenWordsDontComeEasy #Motivation #SelfCare #Mindset #LifeStories #HumanExperience

In this episode, we talk with Francis Muldowney, an Irish stroke survivor who rebuilt his life after aphasia took his speech but not his mind.

At a time when little was understood about communication disorders, Francis was often underestimated. He began using impressions and character voices to express himself, slowly carving a path back to connection and identity. At one of his lowest moments in the hospital, he considered ending his life. A quiet realization changed that decision and shaped everything that followed.

He later walked 4,000 miles across Australia, proving to himself and the world that he was far from finished.

This is a story about voice, survival, and choosing to stay.