The Brain Game Changer – how heartfelt stories, awareness and education can change the game with host Melissa Gough.
Release Date: 05/26/2022
Reaching the 18 Month Milestone post brain haemorrhage with The Brain Game Changer Host Melissa Gough
The Brain Game Changer
Welcome to Season 2 of The Brain Game Changer podcast. I am your host, Melissa Gough. As we conclude the final episode for season 2, it is just me in front of the mic that probably also has a dash of vulnerability with a spoonful of feelings and honesty as I share some aspects of my journey in getting to the 18 month milestone post brain haemorrhage. I discuss experiencing a subarachnoid brain haemorrhage, where that took place in the brain and how it impacted every aspect of my life, especially physically and emotionally. The discussions were not easy as I was learning to...
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How a drive to an audition changed the course of life with actor, singer and leg amputee Rachel Handler
The Brain Game Changer
Welcome to Season 2 of The Brain Game Changer podcast. I am your host, Melissa Gough. In this week's episode we head to New York where I had the wonderful online pleasure of speaking with actor, singer and amputee Rachel Handler. Rachel shares how her passion for music, singing and theatre was ignited from a young age and the journey of pursuing it as a career. We lean into a day when driving to an audition changed the course of her life and the recovery involved. Rachel highlights the significance of her family’s support, meeting a new love and entering back into the...
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Family life with cerebral palsy and the travel adventures experienced with Bronwyn Leeks. 32 Countries and counting!
The Brain Game Changer
Welcome to Season 2 of The Brain Game Changer podcast. I am your host, Melissa Gough. In this week's episode I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Bronwyn Leeks, who is supporting people with a disability at home, in the water and with global wheelchair travel. Bronwyn discusses the opportunities of her childhood travels and how she wanted to pay forward these unique experiences with her own children. Fast forward she talks about her oldest child Cooper who was born with Cerebral Palsy, advocating for him and wheelchair accessibility, navigating family life and...
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The heartfelt journey of caring for parents with neurological disorders with actor, film maker and advocate Berlin Lu.
The Brain Game Changer
Welcome to Season 2 of The Brain Game Changer podcast. I am your host, Melissa Gough. In this week's episode I had the humbling and heartfelt opportunity to speak with Actor, Film Maker and Mental Health Advocate Berlin Lu. Berlin shares with us the journey of being a carer to his parents, both with a diagnosis of individual neurological disorders, schizophrenia and dementia. He guides us through growing up as a child into adulthood, and the experiences he encountered. Berlin discusses losing his father as a teenager and his coping strategies during that time. Acting has provided a...
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Talking all things food and getting the news of an Ectopic pregnancy with Australian MasterChef Contestant Max Krapivsky
The Brain Game Changer
Welcome to Season 2 of The Brain Game Changer podcast. I am your host, Melissa Gough. In this week's episode I had the heartfelt pleasure of speaking with Australian MasterChef Contestant Max Krapivsky. We discuss Max’s culinary adventures and delights growing up, his wife’s terrible cooking and how that encouraging nudge started his journey of applying to be a contestant. Whilst on Masterchef Max also shares the with us the journey of going through an ectopic pregnancy during the COVID lockdowns with his wife Simmone. Let’s get into the interview. Email: ...
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Award-winning author, renowned rock climber and mountaineer Paul Pritchard shares the journey to finally conquering the infamous Totem Pole.
The Brain Game Changer
Welcome to Season 2 of The Brain Game Changer podcast. I am your host, Melissa Gough. In this week's episode I had the wonderful pleasure of speaking with award winning author, renowned rock climber and mountaineer Paul Pritchard. Winner of the 2018 Australian Geographic Spirit of Adventure Award, Paul talks about growing up in the UK and how the opportunity a teacher gave him to try rock climbing led him on a global adventure. A near fatal accident, extensive rehabilitation, Paul has defied all the odds and his story of human determination and survival is an exceptional one. He...
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Life Coach Julie Kuch talks about her experience with Stroke and Concussion and her mission to empower Brain Injury Heroes
The Brain Game Changer
Welcome to Season 2 of The Brain Game Changer podcast. I am your host, Melissa Gough. In this week's episode we head to Utah in America, where I had the wonderful online opportunity to speak with Life Coach Julie Kuch. Through personal experiences with stroke and concussion, Julie’s mission is to empower brain injury heroes into a story of strength and acceptance and looking forward to a future with excitement and abundance. Julie lays it all out on the table with gumption, passion and that light seasoning of humour. Her coaching, advice and supportive tools are helping many...
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Being profoundly deaf, growing up in Hong Kong to performing alongside the Wiggles with Elvin Lam.
The Brain Game Changer
In this week's episode, I had the humbling pleasure of speaking with dancer and performer Elvin Lam. We have an interpreter for our interview with Elvin as he is profoundly deaf and uses Auslan for communication. We discuss growing up in Hong Kong and how he did his best navigating through the mainstream education system. We highlight Elvin’s passion for movement and performing arts, which has seen him train in figure skating and various forms of dance both traditional and contemporary. His meeting with Emma from The Wiggles, has led him to feature in their stage shows and...
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The Young Stroke Service Project with Professor Julie Bernhardt from The Florey Institute
The Brain Game Changer
Welcome to Season 2 of The Brain Game Changer podcast. I am your host, Melissa Gough. We kick the season off by speaking with Professor Julie Bernhardt from The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health here in Melbourne, Australia. Julie is co-leader of The Florey’s Stroke division and one of Australia’s top stroke rehabilitation clinical trialists, continually pioneering the way in developing more effective treatments and post-recovery resources and support for stroke patients. We discuss Julie’s journey into the medical field, the AVERT Early...
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The Focus on Ability Short Film Festival with Creative Director Ryan Goodwin
The Brain Game Changer
Welcome to the tenth episode of The Brain Game Changer podcast. I am your host Melissa Gough. In this week’s final episode of Season One, we had the wonderful opportunity of speaking with the Creative Director of The Focus on Ability Film Festival Ryan Goodwin. As it enters its 14th consecutive year, Nova Employment presents this festival, asking filmmakers to “Focus on the Ability” of people with a disability and tell a story on film for the world to see. In this interview, Ryan shares how the opportunity presented itself to work for Nova Employment and how CEO Martin Wren...
info_outlineWelcome to the first episode of The Brain Game Changer podcast. I am your host, Melissa Gough. If I was to describe myself on paper, I would have to say an avid traveller, a foodie (although would you believe it, I am allergic to coffee) and an educator of young minds. I consider myself a quirky, passionate and authentic individual who wears my heart on my sleeve and has witnessed countless, beautiful and significant moments in my life.
However, it seemed that the Universe had different plans for me and out of nowhere one sunny afternoon on a Sunday in May 2021, I suffered a Subarachnoid Brain Hemorrhage. If there was ever a Brain Game Changing moment, this was it!
I am incredibly fortunate to have received this second chance at life and, this is why I felt called to start The Brain Game Changer podcast. My purpose is to bring resources, awareness and stories to you so you can be reassured that you are not alone or may provide support for someone you know. As I continue to learn and grow, I will share this knowledge with you too. Once we discover how to become Brain Game Changers we can cope and adapt to almost any situation that presents itself to us.
I look forward to walking the journey together.
In unity,
Melissa xxx
Links:
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Email: [email protected]
The Brain Game Changer Podcast is produced in collaboration with Pretty Podcasts