2019-04-30

Episode 111 -- Theater Meets Public Speaking with Julia Wojnar


2-Minute Tip: Identify Your Biggest Take Away

 

To deliver an effective presentation, first identify the biggest take away for the audience. If they remember only one thing, this is the thing it should be.

 

To figure that out, start by doing a brain dump on a piece of paper or whiteboard. Then go through all theses random ideas that are in someway related to your topic. What stands out? Which ideas are most important? What themes keep popping up?

 

As you do this, you'll likely discover the big idea for your talk. Once you have that, you can begin building everything else.

 

Post Tip Discussion: Meet Julia Wojnar

 

In the theater you have to know your part and how your role fits into the rest of the show. You have to know your lines and be rehearsed.

 

Speaking is similar. You have to know your purpose. Why are you speaking? What is your role in this meeting? What is the purpose of your talk in the larger event or conference? What are you meant to accomplish.

 

You have to be prepared and rehearsed to be effective. Unlike theater, you don't need to have your talk memorized word for word, but you do need to know your content.

 

That's what the prep work is all about.

 

Today's guest, Julia Wojnar comes from a theater background which helps her be an effective Public speaking trainer through her company, Unleash Your Presence.

 

In this conversation we talk about theater, working through nerves, identifying your purpose and speaking in different cultures.

 

Crazy 8s

 

One reason we get anxious before speaking is that our bodies don't really know how to deal with it. Evolutionarily, we are not optimized for standing in front of a group of other human animals and having the focus on us. Our fight or flight instinct kicks in. Adrenaline pumps. Muscles tense. Secondary biological processes may shut down. Muscles tense to spring into action and survive.

 

But it's all unnecessary. There is no threat to our lives. We're not about to be kicked out of the tribe. We need to rechannel that energy and deal with it.

 

Pradeepa Narayanaswamy recommended changing your language. Don't tell yourself you're anxious or nervous; tell yourself -- and others -- you're excited. And it's great insight because excitement and anxiety often feature similar physiological symptoms.

 

Julia offers another great way to deal with the anxiety -- the Crazy 8s (though it could use a less ableist name).

 

This is exercise comes from Julia's theater background where it can be a valuable warmup exercise for actors as they burn off their excess energy and get ready to wow the audience.

 

Take a look at the video below to learn more.

 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NANGMbz5-Gk[/embed]

 

Billy Mays

 

I mentioned Billy Mays in this episode. If you're not familiar with him, Billy Mays was the quintessential TV pitchman of the 90s and 2000s. He's the reason so many people buy OxyClean, KaBoom, and other products.

 

Here is one of his videos:

 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PU8ZxQj7eE[/embed]

 

Bio

 

Julia Wojnar is the Founder of Unleash Your Presence where she develops professionals’ resilience, speaking, and communication skills to tackle tough decisions and express their ideas clearly and confidently.

 

She has honed her own speaking skills with over fifteen years of experience on stage speaking and performing, in addition to her formal training in Communications from Ithaca College.

 

She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Thrive Global, Hello Fearless, Grant Cardone’s Whatever It Takes Network, Savvy Central Radio (a syndicate of iHeartRadio), and The Wealth Standard Podcast, among others.

 

Nowadays, she speaks and delivers live and virtual trainings to help her clients bridge the gap between their brilliant idea and their ability to communicate it powerfully.

 

Promotions

 

Julia is making her Corporate Communications Check list available to listeners of 2-Minute Talk Tips. You can get that at by clicking here: http://2MinuteTalkTips.com/UYPTopTips

 


Julia also has a special deal for corporate managers right now.

 

If You're A Corporate Manager whose ready to "Set the Stage" to Lead Your Team with Clarity and Conviction…" then Julia has an online course which may be just what you need. And, she'll make Module 1 of this 8-Module series available - For FREE to the first 5 companies that qualify.

 

For more information and to see if you qualify, send us an email over at www.unleashyourpresence.com


Links

 

 


Call To Action:

 


Check out this episode!

Posted by Cromely at 8:03 AM 0 comments

2019-04-26

Episode 063 -- Stroke Survivor Designs Off Road Wheelchair


The wild requires that we learn the terrain, nod to all the plants and animals and birds, ford the streams and cross the ridges, and tell a good story when we get back home. 

-- Gary Snyder

 

 

A few weeks ago, we heard from Carol-Ann Nelson from Destination Rehab about the PT work she does in Bend, OR, helping folks with disabilities from around the world spend a week doing rehab and enjoying all the beauty that Central Oregon in the northwest United States has to offer. You can check out http://strokecast.com/destinationrehab to learn more about a Rehab Vacation or listen to that episode.

After we finished, Carol-Ann told me about Geoff Babb, a fellow Bend, OR, resident who had his own project.

Geoff Babb is a 2-time stroke survivor who loves the outdoors. After he got back to Bend following his work on Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, he had a brainstem stroke. After that first stroke, he discovered standard wheel chairs are not compatible with hiking trails. They're barely compatible with city sidewalks. So he decided to invent his own and thus, the AdvenChair project was born.

 

Geoff Babb sitting in the AdvenChair 2.0 along side a stream in Central Oregon

 

Timing

Timing is one of the amazing things about the story.

Geoff had been helping out in the New Orleans area in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was right after he got back to his home in Oregon that he had his stroke. Had it happened while he was still in New Orleans, his recovery would likely have been much more challenging, considering how strained the infrastructure was at the time.

This actually raises another interesting point for discussion in the future. As folks survive uninjured from natural disasters like Katrina or Maria, they are still susceptible to the same medical challenges folks in the rest of the country face -- stroke, heart attack, car crashes, etc.

How does the limited or over-stretched post-disaster infrastructure impact their recovery? And if someone dies from a stroke due to limited availability of care a week or month after a disaster do they get counted among the disaster's victims? This opens up all sorts of questions of equality, social justice, and simple fairness.

The first AdvenChair failed early in a hike instead of later. The timing was also fortuitous, avoiding an expensive, time consuming, and risky rescue.

And finally, Geoff's second stroke was 12 years to the day of his first one. It's amazing how those timing things all come together.

Developing the AdvenChair

Geoff has a lot more details on the process of designing this chair on his website, and I'd encourage you to check it out (and contribute if you can).

There are a few things in particular that come up in the conversation.

Geoff and his team ultimately had to start from scratch with the concept, rather than modifying an existing chair.

I know very little about the history of wheel chairs, but it seems to me, they were first built as a chair that could then move, rather than as a method of transportation that could then allow a person with disabilities to be seated.

Looking back at the historical wheelchairs we see on TV and period movies, they're almost dollies for moving a person, almost as though the person is a type of cargo. It seems they evolved from there.

That sort of approach impacts your goals when you design something and also offers some insight into how designers viewed people with disabilities and the people who assist them at the time.

I should reiterate that this is my analysis, not Geoff's.

Geoff and his team started pulling together ideas that aren't based in the dining room chair metaphor.

They looked first at vehicles already optimized for off road use -- skis for wheelchair users and mountain bikes for ableds. Then they grew the plan from there.

Instead of focusing on pushing the chair, the looked at Pulk Sleds used by arctic explorers and other folks to develop a method for pulling it.

And they made sure it could be self-propelled and work in environments already friendly to traditional wheelchairs.

Bio

Geoff Babb HeadshotGeoff Babb’s first of two strokes abruptly pushed him into the world of disability. Today Geoff is the AdvenChairman of the Onward Project, which seeks to inspire, encourage, and enable people of all abilities to have active outdoor adventures.

Geoff is active in the disabled and adaptive community in Central Oregon. He is currently on the board of Oregon Adaptive Sports and the Advisory Council of Stroke Awareness Oregon. Previously, he served on the board of Healing Reigns Therapeutic Riding Center and the City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee. Through these experiences, Geoff has an in-depth understanding of the outdoor adventure opportunities available for people with mobility challenges, be it by horse, ski, or wheels. There are many possible ways for stroke survivors to be outdoors.

Before his first stroke, he was an active outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed mountain biking, skiing, and hiking with his wife and twin sons, and he enjoyed a long career in wildland fire management.

Geoff’s life has been an odyssey and three significant life events have emerged as important opportunities:

  1. Surviving his first brain-stem stroke in 2005. This changed his relationship to the world in general and the natural world in particular. No longer was he able to work, hike, bike, ski, and enjoy the outdoors as he had before. So, with help from friends and family, he developed a modified wheelchair that allowed him to go places where he could still have a meaningful connection with nature.
  2. In 2016, he and his team attempted to go to the bottom of the Grand Canyon when his wheelchair broke an axle. While they didn’t achieve their goal, this experience inspired an opportunity to design a better chair, one more durable for off-road travel.
  3. Twelve years to the day from the first stroke, in 2017 Geoff survived a second brain-stem stroke. This one helped him focus his energy to complete what is now the AdvenChair.

Because of these opportunities, Geoff’s dream is to help people experience the outdoors and wild places using the AdvenChair, rolling boldly where no chair has gone before.

Hack of the Week

Geoff recommends a cellphone that works with a stylus. Phones optimized for this technology have options that go beyond just using a generic stylus. They include special software and native support for digital ink.

The Samsung Galaxy Note product line is one fantastic option. I use an LG Stylo 4, which is less expensive but slower and older.

The advantage of a stylus is that you can get more precise control when writing emails and messages. You can also send messages in handwriting or draw pictures and do lots of cool things. If you have the strength to hold the phone with one hand while tapping with another this is great.

Now as I think about it, if I was left handed, I might use my stylus more. My current phone challenge is that I have to use it entirely in my right hand, and I have trouble reaching the left side of the screen with my thumb, resulting in more typos. My left hand isn't strong enough to hold my phone yet, but it might be strong enough to hold a stylus.

So I guess one of my next projects ought to be figuring out if I can teach myself to write or tap on a phone screen with my affected hand. It's my non-dominant hand so this would have been tough before the stroke, but now I get to deal with proprioception challenges, tone, spasticity, and weakness.

Sounds like a good therapy goal to me.

Thanks for the idea, Geoff!

Links

 

AdvenChair Website

https://www.advenchair.com/

AdvenChair on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/advenchair/

AdvenChair on Twitter

https://twitter.com/TheAdvenchair

Oregon Adaptive Sports

http://oregonadaptivesports.org/

Destination Rehab

https://www.destinationrehab.org/

Carol-Ann Nelson on Strokecast

http://Strokecast.com/DestinationRehab

Pulk Sled on Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulk

 

Where do we go from here?

  • Check out Geoff's story in more detail and learn more about Advenchair 2.0 at the links above.
  • Subscribe to Strokecast for free in your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode.
  • Don't get best…get better.

 

Strokecast is the stroke podcast where a Gen X stroke survivor explores rehab, recovery, the frontiers of neuroscience and one-handed banana peeling by helping stroke survivors, caregivers, medical providers and stroke industry affiliates connect and share their stories.


Here is the latest episode of The Strokecast

Posted by Cromely at 10:03 AM 0 comments
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2019-04-23

Episode 110 -- Starting in the Deep End


2-Minute Tip: Build a Team

 

Sometimes to get better, you may need help, and that's okay.

  • Hire a coach.
  • Join Toastmasters.
  • Ask a friend or colleague. Take an online course.
  • Take a traditional course.
  • Read a book.
  • Subscribe to a podcast about public speaking

 

Or do all of the above. Or some combination of them.

 

The point is you can build expertise, or at the very least, competence in a skill by assembling your own team of experts. They can be in person or virtual. It can be a dialog or a 1-way process.

 

But you don't have to do it all alone. There's a community there you can build or be a part of.

 

Post Tip Discussion: Meet Sandy Weiner

 

I think the best way to sum up Sandy Weiner's approach to speaking (and probably a lot of other things) is "Just jump in and do it -- but don't do it alone."

 

Sandy's first major talk was her TedX talk, which you can see here:

 

[embed]https://youtu.be/yvzUMIcrBYU[/embed]

 

 

While she may go straight for the deep end, she's successful because she prepares -- she works with coaches when she has a weakness and does the work she needs to do to be successful.

 

I talk a lot about how 90% of the success of a talk is determined before you ever get on stage -- it's in the  message, in the prep, and in the rehearsal. And that's how Sandy has succeeded as a speaker.

 

Bio

 

Sandy Weiner HeadshotSandy Weiner, founder of Last First Date, is devoted to helping women over 40 achieve healthy, toe-curling love. An internationally known TEDx speaker, dating coach, author, and podcast host, Sandy specializes in helping women communicate effectively, set clear boundaries in relationships, and know their true worth. She believes a woman of value attracts her best partner.  

 

Sandy’s work has been published in Mind Body Green, The Huffington Post, Psychology Today, and The Good Men Project.

 

She's also the host of Last First Date Radio, an acclaimed show about attracting and sustaining healthy relationships in midlife. Sandy wants you to go on YOUR LAST FIRST DATE!

 

Superman Pose

 

Sandy mentioned the Superman pose in our conversation, and we talked a little about Amy Cuddy's Ted Talk about power poses.  Here's the video of that talk.

 

[embed]https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are?language=en[/embed]

 

Links

 

 

Call to Action

 

  • Be sure to check Sandy's websites, podcast, and social media profiles. You can find all those links above.
  • Subscribe for free to 2-Minute Talk Tips in your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode, and then subscribe to Last First Date Radio in the same place.
  • Don't get best…get better.

Check out this episode!

Posted by Cromely at 8:05 AM 0 comments

2019-04-19

Episode 062 -- Disabled Travel Observations


I've been very tired in April this year, and I think it's because I was very busy in March. In March, I took two major trips that I'm going to talk about today -- the JoCo Cruise, which I mention a few weeks back in my interview with Robin Wilson Beattie, and a trip to Pune India, which I talked about in Facebook live. 

The JoCo Cruise was awesome as expected. I do sometimes worry that since I have high expectations that it meets, that I'm not walking away with the over the top feelings of awesomeness that some people do. Or maybe my affect is just a little flatter these days due to the combination of my stroke and meds.

This year, there appeared to be more folks on the boat with visible disabilities than in years past. And we had more folks with both visible and invisible disabilities at the meetup for folks with disabilities. In general, it’s a really positive environment filled with helpful, caring people. If you like board games, nerdy things, or generally nerdy people, come join us next year. You can visit Jococruise.com for more details.

I did manage to fall during the cruise while visiting Tortola. A post I chose to lean against objected to being leaned upon and moved out of the way. I fell, suffered only minor bumps and bruises and discovered an important lesson for folks who want to help those with disabilities.

If a disabled person looks like they might need help, it's okay to offer assistance. Then listen to them. If they decline your help, BELIEVE THEM. They know better than you what will help and what will not help.

My trip to India was also an amazing experience. I was there on business so I guess I am now technically and International Business Consultant. I know, big impressive sounding words, huh?

Everyone was super helpful to me. Folks rushed ahead to open doors for me. I dropped my cane in the hotel lobby, and someone literally ran over to pick it up. At the buffet, I had table service most days. The breakfast egg chef apologized profusely for breaking the yolk on my sunny side up egg and wanted to throw it out and start again. I had to convince him it was fine.

So my experience was great.

But I did not see anyone else that week in India with a visible disability outside of the airport.

I shouldn't be too shocked because what little I saw of the streets did not appear to be wheelchair friendly. Building had all sorts of little steps. Elevators were tiny.

Folks also didn't seem comfortable with the topic and would change the subject if we got close to it.

I'm not sure what that says about the broader culture or life for those with disabilities in the area. But again, I saw only a small fraction of the city.

Hack of the Week

Gianna Rojas had more hacks to share from her one-handed life.

You can get magnetic clips for necklaces. They can attach to existing clasps or replace them. They make it possible to put on a necklace without using the regular clasp.

You can ask your jewelry store to put them on if you can't do it your self.

You can hear more from Gianna here.

Links

Where do we go from here?

  • What has your experience of travelling with disabilities been like? Let us know in the comments below.
  • Share this episode with a friend colleague or relative by giving them the link http://strokecast.com/travel.
  • Subscribe to Strokecast for free in your favorite podcast app.
  • Don't get best...get better.

 

Strokecast is the stroke podcast where a Gen X stroke survivor explores rehab, recovery, the frontiers of neuroscience and one-handed banana peeling by helping stroke survivors, caregivers, medical providers and stroke industry affiliates connect and share their stories.


Here is the latest episode of The Strokecast

Posted by Cromely at 8:01 AM 0 comments
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2019-04-16

Episode 109 -- Failing to Success with Amy Lyle


2-Minute Tip: Challenge the Audience to Discover Truth

 

Immediately challenge the audience to discover a truth about themselves that proves the premise of your talk. If the group knows that you have an appreciation or understanding of their personal (or business) situation, they will engage. As a bonus, make them laugh within the first 30 seconds.

 

Post Tip Discussion: Meet Amy Lyle

 

I always enjoy to talking to folks who follow a path similar to mine -- sales, training, speaking. The way our careers end up different despite a similar progression is fascinating and demonstrates the possibilities available to all of us. There is not one path to your destination and not one destination for a path.

 

Amy Lyle is one of those guests who followed a path similar to mine and has built the latest iteration of her career out of failure. Or rather, talking about failure -- her own and giving people an opportunity to share theirs. And she's funny! And compelling.

 

I really enjoyed hearing about the training sessions she ran for recruiters. The programs may have been tough for new folks, but helping them find out early the role is not for them is valuable.

 

We also have a great conversation about sales and storytelling. Amy even references Iszi Lawrence's appearance from last year.

 

When it seems like the interview is over, keep listening because we kept talking. And enjoy talking about sweet, sweet failure. And an alpaca.

 

Bio

 

Amy Lyle with Mannequin legsMost people avoid talking about their most cringe-worthy moments but not our next guest, Amy Lyle.  She has turned her own disasters into The Book of Failures and her newest release, We're All A Mess, It's OK is a collection of funny essays and one-liners about the struggles of everyday life.

 

Amy believes that the filtered world is making us all feel less than and tearing us apart- but being authentic and sharing your faux pas with others brings people together.
She’s a frequent guest on WXIA’s  Atlanta and Company's, author, actor and public speaker.

 

 

 

 

Links

 

Amy's Website

https://www.amylyle.me/

We're All a Mess, and It's Okay

http://ow.ly/h4ck30mABNK

The Amy Binegar-Kimmes-Lyle Book of Failures

http://ow.ly/cTXW30mL8gZ

Amy on Twitter

https://twitter.com/amylyle

Amy on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/authoramylyle/

Amy on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/amylyle.me/

Iszi Lawrence on 2-Minute Talk Tips

http://2minutetalktips.com/iszi

Random ramblings with Rob on Twitter

https://twitter.com/3rshow

 

Call To action

 

  • Have you read either of Amy's books? Let us know over in the comments below
  • Visit Amy's site to sign up for her newsletter she rarely sends out or follow her on social media to see the alpaca. All those links are available above
  • Share this episode with a friend, colleague, or relative by giving them the link http://2minutetalktips.com/AmyLyle
  • Don't get best…get better

Check out this episode!

Posted by Cromely at 8:03 AM 0 comments

2019-04-12

Episode 061 -- Video Games and OT


A few weeks ago, I stopped by a Microsoft store to talk with the folks about the Xbox Adaptive Controller. It's an accessory that makes it possible for folks with disabilities to play the same video games as everyone else. Most people first encountered it during the Superbowl ad Microsoft ran.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YISTzpLXCY[/embed]

I shared some thoughts about it in a Facebook live video, and Occupational Therapist and US Army Veteran Erik Johnson reached out to me about some of the work he's been doing with this device.

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/StrokeCast/videos/470339296837043/[/embed]

 

In this episode, Erik Johnson joins us to talk about the adaptive controller, the OT field, his story, and how gaming is changing the future of OT.

Bio

Erik Johnson Headshot outdoorsErik Johnson enlisted in the Army in 1996.  As a young Private, while stationed in Germany, he was involved in a car accident where he sustained second and third degree burns to over 20% of his body, most of which were on his arms and hands.  He decided to become an Occupational Therapist because of the influence from the OT that treated his burns.

After his time in the Army, Major Johnson has taken on several projects that directly impact veterans with a focus on successful re-entry to civilian life after discharge from the military.  He is currently volunteers as the Chief Medical Officer for Operation Supply Drop, an organization that serves Veterans by building strong communities through gaming and team building.  His work on the therapeutic benefits of video games have been widely recognized in both the Medical and Video Game communities.  Erik also is one of the founders for IDEGO, a company that is developing treatment opportunities while using Virtual Reality with a focus on behavioral health disorders.  The company uses Deferred Individualized Gradated Immersion Therapy (D.I.G.I.T) to achieve success.  Most recently, Erik teamed up with another non-profit organization where he has been recently named their Chief Medical Officer.  Working with Warfighter Engaged, their mission is to improve the lives of severely injured and disabled warfighters with custom adapted video game controllers, recreational items and other solutions to provide greater independence.

For more details, visit:  http://www.erikunleashed.com/https/drivegooglecom/openid11p8q1q-6qtxw53txknfutqsl7fm9pzo

Mirror Therapy

We talked a little about Mirror Therapy in the episode. Here is something I wrote about it a few weeks after leaving the hospital in 2017. I really need to get back to it again.

Bill using mirror therapy on his arm

This is my mirror box. It was $60 on Amazon which is way over priced. There can't be more than $5 in materials in it. It would be easy to make. Of course if I could make it I wouldn't need it.

The issues I have using my arm and leg are literally all in my head. That's where the damage exists. The brain can be pretty dumb at times and easy to trick. That's how the mirror box works.

I put my left hand in the box behind the mirror and put my right hand in front of the mirror. Then I look at the mirror and my brain thinks the reflection of my right arm is actually my left. When I move my fingers or wrist on the right, while I try to move them on the left, the brain thinks I'm actually moving them on the left. And then I get some actual, new movement.

The brain learns to move my left hand because it thinks it's already moving my left hand. Classic fake it till you make it stuff.

While the price is annoying, if I get my fingers back faster, I can't really complain.

A Teachable Moment

Last year I interviewed Anne Dailey and Mark French about their stroke documentary, A Teachable Moment.

The big news is that A Teachable Moment is now available for streaming in your own home via AMAZON Prime. If you are a Prime customer, check it out and share with your friends and family.

Congratulations to Anne, Mark, and the entire A Teachable Moment family for this big step.

 

 

Hack of the Week

When you arrange things in your kitchen, or remodel you kitchen, make sure everything is at an appropriate height for you. That will depend on how tall you are, how stable you are while standing, whether or not you are in a wheel chair, etc.

Make sure controls are on the front of the stove to minimize reaching. And don't forget the cabinets. Remember, reaching down can sometimes be as difficult as reaching up. So make sure any new design reflects your actual capabilities.

Links

 

Where do we go from here?

  • What's your experience with video games been like post-stroke or other disability? Let us know in the comments below.
  • Check out ErikUnleashed.com or Erik's non-profits from the links above.
  • Share this episode with an OT or gamer in your life by giving them the link http://strokecast.com/Erik
  • Check out A Teachable Moment on Amazon Prime
  • Don't get best… get better

Here is the latest episode of The Strokecast

Posted by Cromely at 8:04 AM 0 comments
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2019-04-09

Episode 060 -- Meet Peter and Ria Evans


In this episode, we get to meet stroke survivor Peter Evans and his wife Ria.

Peter survived massive hemorrhagic stroke in 2017 that left him with cognitive challenges and partial vision loss. It turned his and Ria's lives upside down.

Their attitudes are really amazing though. They've taken this horrible event and are determined to extract every piece of value from it that they can. Peter, with Ria's support, is using his writing skills to drive increased support for stroke survivors. He's becoming a regular guest contributor to the Strokecast blog. He's become a supporter and advocate for support groups, and Ria is speaking out about the importance of advanced directives and other documentation so spouses and partners can most effectively support one another in times of crisis.

Craniectomy

In this episode, we do talk a little bit about finding Peter's skull. For those who may not be familiar with removing part of the skull as treatment, it's not uncommon in the treatment of stroke -- especially hemorrhagic stroke.

In the case of a serious brain bleed, the blood can create additional pressure on the brain. Additionally, the trauma of the stroke can cause brain swelling. This results in too much pressure on the brain tissue as it gets pressed against the skull.

One way to relieve that pressure is to remove part of the person's skull. When the swelling subsides, surgeons can put that part of the skull back in place. Often survivors who have temporarily had part of their skull removed will need to wear a custom helmet to prevent other injuries. Long time listeners may remember my conversation with Whitney Morean at strokecast.com/Whitney about her own experience with craniectomy and cranioplasty.

Bio

Peter Evans Headshot54-year-old Peter Evans, originally from Long Island, New York, currently resides in the Marina del Rey section of Los Angeles where he lives with his Wife Ria and an incredibly headstrong Yorkshire Terrier, they call Geronimo.

Peter had a massive hemorrhagic stroke in 2017 an event he says nearly killed him but which, strangely, he acknowledges has helped bring Ria and him even closer together as a couple, reinvigorating their marriage and leaving Peter a kinder, more grateful and overall happier person.

Like many others, Peter first came to LA hoping to break into acting in film and television, and it was that which brought Peter and Ria together when they worked together on her cable public access TV show and a feature film they both produced on the set of which he says they fell in love. “She may have stolen my heart,” he says, “but what she gave me back in love and support over these past 20 years, on balance I feel like I’m a millionaire—Definitely feel like I came out a huge winner on that deal, the day I met Ria!”

Growing tired of endless auditions and poverty wages as an actor, Peter decided to move into the corporate world when an old college friend of his said, “Hey, I know you’re still into that acting thing, but there’s a job here at my company I think you’d be perfect for and really love.” And boy did he! He got to use his French Language skills and travel internationally quite extensively as he worked as the project manager of a small international team where he helped launch the company’s many international Web sites across Europe, Australia and Japan.

Peter continues to this day contributing on-line content for Stroke resources and putting his years of Project Management to good use, paying it forward to all his fellow stroke survivors.

Advanced Directives and Power of Attorney

An Advanced Directive is typically a document you complete describing the kind of healthcare or resuscitation that you want (or don't want) should you become incapacitated.

A Power of Attorney is typically a document that you sign authorizing another person to make medical, financial, or other decisions for you if you are not able to in a particular context.

These are important documents to think about and execute before you need them. You can find some resources in the links below so you can explore them further. Many hospitals are happy to supply some of these documents as well. Or consult an attorney or lawyer practicing in your community.

Regulations can vary state-by-state and can impact spousal rights, domestic partner rights, and other family configurations.

There are lots of templates available so make sure you pursue the right path for yourself and your family.

Program Note

You may have noticed that this episode is coming out earlier in the week than normal. Over the next few months, I plan to increase my posting frequency as I work with some additional content contributors. I think we'll be hearing from Peter again. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the additional content. You can post in the comments below or email Bill@Strokecast.com.

Hack of the Half Week

Peter's hack is to be kind to yourself. A brain injury changes things. It turns life upside down. You may not be able to do everything you used to do. You may not be able to think as clearly or quickly as you used to. You may not be able to pursue the same intense pace of life you did before.

That's OK. Cut yourself some slack. You're going to need more sleep. Get it, and don't feel guilty about it.

You have permission to be kind to yourself.

Links

Peter Evans on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermevans/

Peter's Strokecast Articles

http://strokecast.com/Peter

NeuroNerds on Impostor Syndrome

https://theneuronerds.simplecast.com/episodes/imposter-syndrome-677d4757

Wil Wheaton on Depression

http://Strokecast.com/DepressionLies

Emily Clarke (Game of Thrones star) on her strokes

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/emilia-clarke-a-battle-for-my-life-brain-aneurysm-surgery-game-of-thrones

Strokecast on Luke Perry

http://strokecast.com/LukePerry

Strokecast with Whitney Morean

http://strokecast.com/Whitney

Strokecast with Maggie Whittum

http://strokecast.com/Maggie

State Advanced Directive Resources

http://www.caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3289

Power of Attorney by NoLo Press

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/durable-power-of-attorney-health-finances-29579.html

Where do we go from here?

  • What do you think about Peter and Ria's story? Let us know in the comments below.
  • Check out Peter's Strokecast article by visiting http://Strokecast.com/Peter
  • Subscribe to Strokecast in your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode.
  • Don't get best…get better.

Here is the latest episode of The Strokecast

Posted by Cromely at 10:04 AM 0 comments
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Episode 108 -- Digital Marketing Meets Public Speaking


 

 

2-Minute Tip: You Know Your Stuff

 

Experienced speakers still feel anxiety and nerves before getting on stage, but there are a couple thing you can remind yourself of before you start speaking.

 

First, you know your stuff. The reason you earned that stage is that you are a subject matter expert (SME). You're likely speaking about your work or your passion. Or you're presenting material you've studied. Sure, there might be a question, you can't answer, but that's okay. You don't have to have all the answers at the tip of your tongue. Do your prep work. Rehearse your talk. And know your stuff.

 

The second thing to keep in mind is that people -- including your audience -- think about themselves 95% of the time. If you make a mistake, they likely won't even notice.

 

Remember, it's not about you. It's about your message and your audience.

 

Post Tip Discussion: Meet David Erickson

 

A lot of the speaking many mid-career professionals do is in the conference room or other small space. It might be pitching a potential client, reporting on an initiative, or briefing their own team. The core of it all is still the same, though. Know what you want to accomplish. Prepare. And establish a connection with the folks in your audience.

 

One of the valuable lessons to come out of today's episode is the importance of establishing that in-person connection -- that analog relationship with your audience, especially when you are selling modern products like digital marketing services to businesses.

 

I talked a few months back about the importance of balancing logos, pathos, and ethos back in episode 035. To put it much more simply, today's guest, David Erickson, reminds us that people like to do business with people they know, like, and trust. Establishing credibility and building a relationship with your audience is just as important as making logical points.

 

Machine Transcription

 

David and I recorded our conversation in January. One of the things he predicted at that time was how Google would probably start searching and transcribing audio content in the near future.

 

It turns out, he was right.

 

Within the past couple of weeks, news has come out about how Google is making transcribing some podcasts, presumably to make them searchable. You can read more about these early efforts here: https://9to5google.com/2019/03/27/google-podcasts-transcribing-episodes/

 

It's also helpful to note that YouTube (a Google property) has been converting audio to text for years as they do automatic closed captioning for videos. The main reason I also publish this podcast to YouTube is to take advantage of this feature so folks with hearing challenges can still follow along with the content. It's not good enough yet, but it will get there. You can take a look here: http://2minutetalktips.com/YouTube

 

And, of course, Microsoft is doing some pretty impressive work with audio-text conversion. Speakers ought to familiarize themselves with the free PowerPoint add-in Presentation Translator. I talked about this in Episode 65 -- http://2minutetalktips.com/2018/06/05/episode-065-close-to-open-and-presentation-translator/. I'll likely revisit this in a couple months since almost a year has passed.

 

On a related note, Microsoft has also started offering automatic closed captioning in Skype. You can enable it in the settings. It even support live translation into dozens of language. This opens tremendous opportunities for greater communication across ability, cultural, and language barriers.

 

My experience is that the English captions for English speech work well, but it adds a little bit of latency to the conversation so it's not something I use by default. But the fact that it works at all is amazing. And the fact that I can now have Skype phone conversations with folks that don't speak English is a huge benefit to our world.

 

Bio

 

David Erickson HeadshotDavid Erickson is a digital marketing veteran, principal of e-Strategy Media and producer and co-host of the Beyond Social Media Show. He is a frequent expert source for media coverage of digital marketing topics, having appeared on MSNBC and CBS and cited in such publications as USA Today, US News & World Report, Slate & Search Engine Watch.

 

 

 

Links

 

David's website

http://e-strategymedia.com

Beyond Social Media Podcast

https://beyondsocialmediashow.com/

David on Twitter

https://twitter.com/derickson

2-Minute Talk Tips on Logos, Pathos, and Ethos

http://2minutetalktips.com/episode35

2-Minute Talk Tips on Presentation Translator

http://2minutetalktips.com/2018/06/05/episode-065-close-to-open-and-presentation-translator/

2-Minute Talk Tips on YouTube

http://2minutetalktips.com/YouTube

 

Call To Action

 

  • What are your thoughts on this week's episode? Let us know in the comments below.
  • Learn more about David's business or find the Beyond Social Media Podcast by checking out the links above.
  • Share this episode with a friend, colleague, or relative by giving them the link http://2minutetalktips.com/david
  • Don't get best…get better.

 

 

2-Minute Talk Tips is the public speaking podcast that help you become a more effective speaker in as little as 2 minutes a week.


Check out this episode!

Posted by Cromely at 8:05 AM 0 comments

2019-04-06

Episode 059 -- The Intersection of Disability and Sexuality


Each year, I spend a week on the JoCo Cruise. I talked about it last year in Episode 4, and this year was just as amazing.

Robin Wilson-Beattie dressed as a Wakanda warrior

This year, I also met Robin Wilson-Beattie on the boat. She is a speaker, writer, and educator working at the intersection of disability and sexuality. We sat down on the ship's art gallery to talk about these issues and how they impact stroke survivors and other folks with disabilities.

We met up on cosplay day which explains why Robin was in her full Wakandan warrior regalia. Probably.

Bio

Robin Wilson-Beattie HeadshotRobin came into the world able-bodied, but had a birth defect that resulted in a spinal aneurysm. After scheduling surgery to fix the aneurysm, she learned she was pregnant. During the surgery, she acquired a spinal cord injury that resulted in partial paralysis. She continues to recover while living in San Francisco and helping folks with disabilities navigate the world of sex.


Hack of the Week

Robin recommends Amazon Prime and Delivery for folks living with disabilities.

Considering the amount of energy (or spoons) it can take to leave the house for something as simple as groceries, taking full advantage of delivery services can make a huge difference in what else folks with disabilities can accomplish during the day.

It's not lazy. It's smart. It lets you preserve that energy to focus on your recovery. Or your work. Or time with your family. Or whatever else may bring long-term value into your life.

April is Occupational Therapy Month


If you're still in OT, and you like your therapists, tell them how you appreciate the work they do. If you're no longer in OT, consider sending them a message or note telling them about where you are today. OTs, especially from early in our recovery don't often hear back from former patients and are delighted to get updates.

Links

Robin's Website

https://www.sexabledwithrobinwb.com/v1/

Robin on Facebook (@SexAbled)

https://www.facebook.com/SexAbled/

Robin on Twitter

https://twitter.com/sexabled

Robin on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-wilson-beattie-15945714/

Broadly Article on Robin

https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/ywnm7v/robin-wilson-beattie-sex-educator-bdsm-disabilities

What you should know about birth control when you have a disability

https://www.bedsider.org/features/1026-what-you-should-know-about-birth-control-when-you-have-a-disability

Robin at AASECT

https://www.aasectannualconference.com/plenary-speakers/dalychia-saah/

ADAPT Civil Rights Organization

https://adapt.org/

Bethany Stevens Website

http://cripconfessions.com/

Bethany Stevens on Twitter

https://twitter.com/disaBethany

Spoon Theory

https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/

JoCo Cruise

http://jococruise.com

Strokecast on JoCo

http://strokecast.com/tag/joco/

Occupational Therapy Month

https://www.aota.org/Conference-Events/OTMonth.aspx

Strokecast: Sex after Stroke

http://strokecast.com/sex


Where do we go from here?

  • Are there specific questions about sex and sexuality after stroke that you would like me to address in a future episode? Let me know in the comments at below, or email me at Bill@strokecast.com
  • Learn more about Robin's work and the organizations she mentioned by visiting the links above
  • Subscribe to Strokecast in your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode.
  • Don't get best…get better

 

 


Here is the latest episode of The Strokecast

Posted by Cromely at 11:19 AM 0 comments
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2019-04-03

Episode 107 -- Purpose in the Palm of Your Hand


2-Minute Tip: Don't Memorize

 

Memorizing your speech is generally a bad idea. You want to internalize it, not memorize it.

 

There are 3 main problems with memorizing your talk.

 

  • First, it's a lot more nerve wracking.
  • Second, if you forget a part you're more likely to get stuck and freeze.
  • Third, your audience wants you to be real.

 

You want to practice and prepare of course. Memorizing word for word is not a good use of your time, though.

 

Post-Tip Discussion: Speaking, Purpose, and Hand Analysis with Jayne Sanders

 

I know that most members of my audience are career professionals looking to improve their speaking skills to advance their careers. You may or may not want to make the leap to the keynote stage.

 

That's one reason I love talking with guests like Jayne. She honed her public speaking skills in the halls and conference rooms of corporate America while doing her job. The message came first; the speaking was secondary. Speaking was secondary. Over time she grew to appreciate the power of it, though, and make it a core pillar of her modern career.

 

This week we talk both about Jayne's path as a speaker and the too she uses to help people learn more about their own nature -- scientific hand analysis.

 

Bio

 

Jayne Sanders portraitBorn and raised in southern Illinois, Jayne's Midwestern roots still influence her friendly, approachable demeanor, which can disarm and delight at the same time. Hearing an occasional “Well, hell’s bells!” or “I’m on that like green on grass, white on rice, and a duck on a June bug!” is not uncommon. At the same time, Jayne offer deeply insightful observations, sound solutions, and a quick wit.

 

Jayne's professional background includes an undergraduate major in Speech/Journalism with emphasis in Communications and Psychology. She then earned a Masters in Business Administration. In the corporate world she moved swiftly up the ranks of marketing management for eight years, then left for a more entrepreneurial position as SVP of Sales and Account Service for an international corporate identity firm, where she broke sales records and acquired numerous Fortune 500 accounts.

 

Wanting to contribute even more and help people at deeper levels, Jayne then founded her professional speaking and consulting business and spoke in the corporate world on topics including authenticity and courage, work/life balance, finding and living your passion, GenderSmart® communication, and presentation skills. Her book, GenderSmart – Solving the Communication Puzzle Between Men and Women, has been published in five countries.

 

Walking her talk as a consultant and transformational catalyst with first-hand knowledge of the importance of play and joy, Jayne is also an avid horsewoman, often seen galloping along trails on one of her horses, either Darby or Comet. Her impassioned “YEE-HAW!”s or “YA-HOO!”s can sometimes be heard echoing through the fields. Get her on the subject of how horses have positively impacted her life and you will have quite a lengthy but engaging and impassioned conversation!

 

Links

 

 

Call To Action

 

  • If you're listening to this episode before April 26 and will be in Denver that day, check out Jayne's Purpose and Impact Workshop. Check out the links above.
  • Share this episode with someone you know by giving them the link http://2minutetalktips.com/Jayne.
  • Don't get best...get better.

 

 


Check out this episode!

Posted by Cromely at 8:03 AM 0 comments
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