Episodes
Ep 1: The Stroke
The Stroke
I stirred with what seemed like one heck of a hangover…
In conversation with his speech therapist, Dr Andy Kilov, Piers describes the morning he woke up having a stroke, how his family responded and what occurred in the hours afterwards.
Featuring speech pathologist Dr Andy Kilov.
I stirred with what seemed like one heck of a hangover…
In conversation with his speech therapist, Dr Andy Kilov, Piers describes the morning he woke up having a stroke, how his family responded and what occurred in the hours afterwards.
Featuring speech pathologist Dr Andy Kilov.
People often don't realise that even as they ask further questions, we're already mobilising resources to you.
Sally Dennes is an intensive care paramedic in Sydney. She gives us insight into what happens when first responders arrive at a stroke situation.
Unexpectedly in the episode, Sally also reveals to Piers that she herself is a young stroke survivor.
First Response with Paramedic Sally Dennes
Inside the ER with Nurse Practitioner Kylie Testula
We are very aware that "time is brain." For us, that's our mantra.
Piers speaks to award-winning nurse practitioner Kylie Testula about the admission process for stroke patients, the changing nature of stroke treatment over the years, challenges faced by young stroke survivors and, most critically, the importance of timely treatment.
Rehab Part 1 – Speech, or lack thereof
It’s really important in the early days of stroke rehab to be sticking to an achievable routine, and it’s a routine that’s really different to what you’re used to.
Piers is joined by his speech pathologist, Dr Andy Kilov, to discuss his experience with cognitive fatigue and the complexities of aphasia and dyspraxia.
Dr Kilov also runs Piers through some exercises used in the rehabilitation of language and vocabulary of stroke survivors.
Rehab Part 2 – Managing expectations
There is a huge desire to transition from being a stroke victim into being a stroke survivor as quickly as possible ... but it's absolutely unrealistic.
Being realistic about recovery timelines is vital after stroke, and it's a lesson Piers had to learn the hard way.
Piers speaks again to Dr Andy Kilov, his speech pathologist, about the path to recovery and managing expectations. We hear more of Pier’s experience in the weeks after his stroke (including an ill-advised early return to work) and an insight into the work that Dr Andy has been doing with Piers to restore his vocabulary and function.
Driving in Fog Featuring Poet Joel Deane
I was desperate to get out and pretend I was alright. And when I got out, I was desperate to regain what I’d lost. I was scared. That’s the truth.
Writer and journalist Joel Deane joins Piers for a raw and honest conversation about how it feels to be a young stroke survivor. Joel’s experience is very similar to Piers’ and they reflect on the impact stroke has had on their lives, relationships, and priorities.
The New Normal
I was in a state of such flux. Was I returning to work or was I not? And if I wasn't, what the hell was I going to do with myself? And the answer to that was of course, accept what you can't control and take control of what you can. Once I let that go, that's when the anxiety really started to lift, and I started to say, “Actually, I'm still okay”.
Dr Andy Kilov joins Piers for their third conversation about Piers’ recovery journey. They look at Piers’ mental health, what victories look like now and the new normal that they are working towards.
Recovery Processes with Psychiatrist Samantha Loi
If you had something bad happen to you, I think everyone should be allowed to wallow for a while. I mean, God, you're allowed to be a bit upset, really - but I think many of us are very hard on ourselves, we expect a lot of things about ourselves, and we expect a lot of things about people around us, and so cutting yourself some slack can be really hard to do.
In this episode, Piers turns to Samantha Loi to get a psychiatrist’s opinion on how Piers was and continues to handle his stroke experience and recovery. They delve into the importance of seeking proper support, prioritising mental health, and being patient during the recovery process.
The Other Side of the Story Part 1
So he came out of the bathroom and I sort of grabbed him and I said to him, “Can you say something to me?” and he went rrrrr and I said OK, this is not right.
We have heard a lot about the stroke experience from Piers, now it is time to hear from the other person who the stroke has had a major effect on: Piers' wife Jane.
Dr Andy Kilov asks Jane about her side of the story from the morning of the stroke through the recovery journey. We hear what the experience has been like for her and what she learnt about dealing with stroke.
The Other Side of the Story Part 2
There's no one right way of doing things. The only right way of doing things is you knowing what feels right and what is meeting your needs both in terms of goals and intensity.
In this second part of the discussion between Dr Andy Kilov and Pier’s wife Jane, we hear about the weeks after leaving the hospital, how Piers and Jane went about organising rehabilitation and Jane working out how to give the best kind of support as a partner.
Check In
There were a lot of people who thought I was going to be pretty useless after the stroke...
Piers and producer Stuart get together to discuss the current state of Piers’ stroke recovery. Recording the podcast has been an 18-month process and a lot has changed over that time, so with the season drawing to a close we hear how Piers is placed two years on.
