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EP 97: Navigating Brain Recovery with Language and Curiosity with Taryn Barlow

The Concussion Nerds Podcast

Release Date: 09/08/2025

EP 105: Taking Time for Self-Care and Growth show art EP 105: Taking Time for Self-Care and Growth

The Concussion Nerds Podcast

Have you ever felt the pull to deepen your healing—but found yourself terrified of what might surface if you actually slowed down long enough to listen? If you're like many people on a concussion or trauma-related healing journey, you might be unintentionally doing the very thing that keeps you stuck: staying in your head, trying to control every outcome, and avoiding the “box” of unresolved experiences you’re afraid might burst open. But here’s the truth—healing rarely happens in the mind alone. And when you try to logic your way through everything, you disconnect from the very...

info_outline EP 104: From Meditation to Mobilization: Engaging the Nervous System show art EP 104: From Meditation to Mobilization: Engaging the Nervous System

The Concussion Nerds Podcast

What if the real reason your nervous system work isn’t “working”… is because you’ve been aiming for the wrong goal? So many people in the concussion and healing space are trying to “feel safe,” “stay calm,” or “get into parasympathetic mode” — only to end up more frustrated, more dysregulated, or even more disconnected from their bodies. And here’s the kicker: It’s not that you’re doing it wrong… it’s that you’ve been told to chase an outcome you can’t physiologically access yet. In this episode, Natasha breaks down the misconceptions around nervous system...

info_outline Concussion Nerds: The Roundtable EP 4: Healing Paths Explored: Traditional vs. Contemporary Approaches show art Concussion Nerds: The Roundtable EP 4: Healing Paths Explored: Traditional vs. Contemporary Approaches

The Concussion Nerds Podcast

What if “evidence-based” isn’t the only correct path — but picking the wrong alternative care could cost your client their recovery? Too many patients and clinicians get stuck in a binary: either “only evidence-based” or “anything that feels good.” That leaves vulnerable people chasing unproven fixes, paying lots of money, delaying effective care — or worse, getting harmed. Here’s the hard truth: the concussion space is messy and full of gray. Research often lags behind clinical observation, but that doesn’t mean anything goes. The solution is evidence-informed,...

info_outline EP 103: Navigating Vision Challenges Post-Concussion with Dr. Paul Rollett show art EP 103: Navigating Vision Challenges Post-Concussion with Dr. Paul Rollett

The Concussion Nerds Podcast

Have you ever wondered why your vision still feels “off” long after your concussion recovery was supposed to be complete? You’re not imagining it — and you’re definitely not alone. So many concussion survivors go through the motions of rehab, only to find their eyes still struggle to track, focus, or process movement the way they used to. The problem? Vision issues are often an invisible piece of the concussion puzzle that goes undiagnosed or under-treated. In this episode, Natasha sits down with Dr. Paul Rollett, a neuro-optometrist who understands this struggle on a personal level....

info_outline Concussion Nerds: The Roundtable EP 3: Money Talk in Concussion Rehab show art Concussion Nerds: The Roundtable EP 3: Money Talk in Concussion Rehab

The Concussion Nerds Podcast

Have you ever hesitated to recommend a treatment because you weren’t sure your patient could afford it — or worried your fees would look like you’re putting profit before care? Many private-practice providers freeze at the money conversation: we undercharge out of guilt, over-explain costs, or avoid talking about outcomes and value — and that leaves patients confused, underserved, or worse, exploited. That discomfort is exactly why this episode matters. The Roundtable pulls back the curtain on pricing, billing, and ethical care — we name the tension between value and access, then...

info_outline Concussion Nerds: The Roundtable EP 2: Is your concussion clinic legit? The questions we need to ask show art Concussion Nerds: The Roundtable EP 2: Is your concussion clinic legit? The questions we need to ask

The Concussion Nerds Podcast

Could the clinic you’re trusting with your brain actually be doing more harm than good? Too many people assume “concussion clinic” on a website means expert care — and they end up getting one-size-fits-all treatments, vague reassurance, or worse: passive “symptom management” that stalls recovery. That confusion is costing people time, money, and progress. In this episode we pull back the curtain on what realconcussion care looks like, how to spot red flags (and good signs), and why an integrated, multi-system screen — not a single weekend course — matters. We also meet...

info_outline EP 102: Concussion Recovery: Exploring Neurofeedback Techniques show art EP 102: Concussion Recovery: Exploring Neurofeedback Techniques

The Concussion Nerds Podcast

Have you ever wondered what’s actually happening in your brain after a concussion—and why some symptoms just won’t quit? You’ve probably tried the usual: rest, therapy, supplements… but your sleep is still off, your focus is fuzzy, and your mood swings are confusing everyone (including you). That’s where neurofeedback comes in—a powerful yet often misunderstood approach that can retrain your brainwaves and support true, lasting recovery. In this episode, Natasha sits down with Lisa Cramer, licensed professional counselor, neurofeedback provider, and owner of MindBody Neurotherapy...

info_outline Concussion Nerds: The Roundtable EP 1: The Shocking Truth About Concussions (and Why Recovery Needs to Change) show art Concussion Nerds: The Roundtable EP 1: The Shocking Truth About Concussions (and Why Recovery Needs to Change)

The Concussion Nerds Podcast

What really happens when concussion care goes beyond silos and clinicians start collaborating?   If you’ve ever felt like concussion care is disjointed—with one provider treating symptoms in isolation—you’re not alone. Too often, patients are left bouncing between professionals, trying to piece together their own recovery while struggling to understand what’s actually happening in their brain and body.   That’s exactly why The Roundtable exists—to change that. In this first episode of Concussion Nerds: The Roundtable, host Natasha Wilch, along with Dr. Rachel...

info_outline 101. What CTE Can Do to the Mind — A Hard but Necessary Conversation show art 101. What CTE Can Do to the Mind — A Hard but Necessary Conversation

The Concussion Nerds Podcast

⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussion of suicide and recent shootings in relation to CTE. What happens when the body of an elite athlete breaks down—and the mind begins to follow? So many athletes push through pain, assuming that grit and discipline can outlast anything. But what happens when the symptoms you’re feeling—confusion, depression, vertigo, and memory loss—aren’t something you can train your way out of? In this deeply personal and eye-opening episode, former Team USA Bobsled athlete William Person shares his journey from Olympic-level competition to...

info_outline EP 100: ONE FACTOR SLOWING CONCUSSION RECOVERY WE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO EARLY ENOUGH show art EP 100: ONE FACTOR SLOWING CONCUSSION RECOVERY WE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO EARLY ENOUGH

The Concussion Nerds Podcast

How often do we, as clinicians, wait for the research to “catch up” before we make changes—while our clients continue to struggle with symptoms that could’ve been eased sooner? If you’re still using the same intake forms, the same outcome measures, or the same clinical flow because “that’s how it’s always been done,” you might be missing key opportunities to prevent trauma from taking hold and prolonging recovery. Here’s the truth: fear avoidance, trauma, and negative self-talk can all delay healing after a concussion. But with the right tools, insights, and a willingness...

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More Episodes

What if the very words you use about your recovery are keeping you stuck?

Too many people navigating life after a brain injury or concussion don’t realize how powerful language is in shaping their recovery. Calling your brain damaged or framing your setbacks as permanent truths can quietly reinforce fear and limit growth. But when you shift from judgment to curiosity, everything changes—and that’s exactly what this conversation with Taryn Barlow, aka The Well Brain SLP, is all about.

Taryn Barlow is a pioneer in Cognitive Health Coaching and the founder of The Well BrainTM, a virtual practice that bridges the gap between healthcare and holistic neuro recovery. With dual expertise as a Speech-Language Pathologist and Certified International Health Coach, along with credentials as a Certified Brain Injury Specialist and Amen University Elite Brain Health Clinician, Taryn integrates clinical knowledge with whole-life wellness to support tangible, everyday outcomes—like realistic cognitive strategies, advocacy, and confidence in daily tasks.

Unlike traditional coaching models, Taryn’s approach is rooted in neuroscience and tailored to those recovering from brain injury, —helping clients move from cognitive chaos to cognitive confidence. She brings experience from diverse medical settings, offering deeply individualized care that empowers people to reclaim their thinking, their health, and their life.

If you're looking for someone who understands both the science of the brain and the art of transformation, Taryn brings both—filling a vital and often overlooked gap in neuro-recovery support.

In this episode, Natasha and Taryn dive deep into the lived experiences, pivots, and lessons that shaped their work, while unpacking why language, advocacy, and curiosity matter so much in recovery. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the system, unsure how to describe your journey, or overwhelmed by the idea of investing in your healing, this episode is your permission slip to rethink what’s possible.

 

 

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

  • Why your choice of words can either hinder or accelerate recovery after concussion or brain injury

  • How curiosity opens the door to growth while judgment keeps you stuck

  • The importance of duality—how you can experience joy and struggle at the same time

  • Why advocating for yourself (and stepping outside the system when necessary) can unlock deeper healing

Your recovery journey doesn’t have to follow the path you thought it would—sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come when you reframe the way you think, speak, and choose to move forward.

Connect with Taryn:

Website: https://thewellbrainslp.com/about-me

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taryn_thewellbrain/

Let’s Connect!

@concussionnerds https://www.instagram.com/concussionnerds/

@natasha.wilch https://www.instagram.com/natasha.wilch/

Email: hello@natashawilch.com
Website: https://www.natasha-wilch.com

Learn how to connect & understand your nervous system so you can have greater outcomes in your health & healing journey: Grab a copy of the workbookhttps://www.natashawilch.com/understanding-connecting-your-nervous-system-1

 

Join the Clinician’s Edge to have Your Weekly Taste of Neuro Wisdom  here: https://www.natashawilch.com/clinicians-edge

 

Join the Concussion Mini School and Membership!
Get the support and resources you need for concussion recovery:

 

🎙️ Ready to change the way you see concussion care?
Join the Concussion Nerds Virtual Summit on September 27–28, 2025 for expert talks, live workshops, and tools to help you or your clients heal with confidence.

👉 Grab your free or VIP pass here: natashawilch.com/virtual-summit