What the Ef?!

Going through a rebellious phase? Kristin Houghton gets it. (Who doesn’t??) Kristin shares how her early 20s fueled her dreams of singing on stages, and how that same phase cost her countless seizures, a car wreck, and her front teeth. (But wow, can this gal sing!)

So what finally made her put her health first? And how did she learn that her passion could stay her passion, not her paycheck, and lead to a dream her 20s-something self never saw coming?

Plus: Allllllll the stuff we forget to ask our neurologist about (ye...

The Queen of Self-Care joins the pod for a hilarious, inspiring, and raw conversation about building your dream life—even when epilepsy has other plans. (It can be such a jerk.)

After three years seizure-free, Krissy Lewis faced the fear and disappointment when a seizure broke her streak. She shares how creativity, daily routines, and even taking some risks (shout out to Lisbon!) help her keep building a life that feels like her own, especially when she’s on her own.

We also talk about Epilepsy in Blk, the Instagram community she created to h...

A doc told him to follow his dreams. Adam Franks went pro in hockey. With epilepsy.

Adam breaks down how he played safely, adapted when his meds slowed him down, and started a clothing company “by accident” that ended up outfitting Olympians and his former team. He also shares why he hid his epilepsy for years, what changed after his last seizure seven years ago, and the two self-care habits he swears by.

Oh, and the merch line at his epilepsy awareness event? Around the block.

Shout to sponsors Neurelis, SK l...

We've all been asked The Question: What should I put in your mouth if you have a seizure? (Please, put the spoon down.)

Dr. Ashlyn Sanders, a pediatric neurology resident, has been asked this question, too. After emergency brain surgery left her with seizures, Ashlyn became a pediatric neurology resident—and created PATI, a prescription, FDA-cleared device designed to protect the mouth and tongue from seizure injuries.

We talk about going from patient to doctor, what living with seizures taught her about caring for patients, and the jar of things people have actually tr...

Let's be honest: most of us with epilepsy have been in a Deep Denial phase at some point. Lucca Bevan joins us to talk about hers. She shares what it took to move toward acceptance and the power of connecting with others who just “get it.”

We also talk about the impact of epilepsy on your sense of self and being denied opportunities because of it. Plus, how an 1800s history book explained the mystery seizures that five neurologists couldn't.

Shout to sponsors Neurelis, SK life science, & PATI and community partners Epilepsy Foundation, Dann...

Let's talk about the thing nobody wants to talk about: SUDEP. If you're wondering what it is, whether you're at high risk, or how to find some peace of mind, this one's for you.

Dr. Rebecca Garcia Sosa and Mary Duffy get into why this may not come up at the doctor's office, how to check in with your neuro about it, and how overnight devices can help you sleep a little easier. Mary also shares Danny's story and how to get help from Danny Did Foundation at dannydid.org. 

It's a heavy t...

Ah, the driving debate. Matt Suchan's breakthrough seizure dragged this issue back to the front of his life—and put a spotlight on just how wildly inconsistent the laws are. Three months seizure-free in some states. Six or twelve months in others. Cool, cool, very normal system we've got here.

Turns out, top docs have strong opinions on what they actually think the minimum should be before patients get back behind the wheel. (Spoiler: it might not be what you expect.)

Also in this episode: Mama Suchan sets the record straight on Matt's al...

It started with wings on the first date. Now Joellys gives Albert pop quizzes on her seizure meds and he calls auras super powers. These two share how epilepsy has become a part of their love story...something that always seems tricky, until it doesn't.

Joellys is also making history by changing the standards for occupational therapy (OT) and epilepsy. (Don't worry, she also explains what the ef OT is!) And ya know how we've all been told “no” from our docs because of epilepsy? Like swimming, sports, or bathing your child? Joellys is already using OT t...

You’d never guess that Drew Dixon quit guitar lessons at 7 years old. But through this same childhood whimsicality, a journey began in which he discovered a deep belief in music’s effects on the brain and the soul. Now Drew has a successful music career that his 7-year-old self would never believe — including his recent hit "Running." (Stay to the end for an acoustic play of it!)

Drew shares his songwriting process, what it actually takes to survive the music industry (full rooms, empty rooms, overnight tours — you play them all), and his work doing music th...

Never did Katie Czyz think she'd become an expert in AI. She started using it while trying to process her epilepsy diagnosis and quickly realized it could be something much more than a chatbot—it could be a thought partner. That experience changed the trajectory of her career and inspired work that eventually landed her in the New York Times Modern Love column.

We talk about the promise and responsibility of AI, why it should help us think instead of think for us, and how technology can create space for reflection during some of life's hardest mo...

It started with jokes on Twitter. Now comedian Jake Lambert is touring internationally with his stand-up show, The Sunshine Kid. Jake joins the podcast to talk about building a comedy career while living with epilepsy, surviving a schedule where nights are work and days are recovery, and why he started joking about seizures in his act.

We get into epilepsy running in his family, varying audience responses to his epilepsy jokes, Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, and trying to explain a completely ridiculous aura to another person. We also discuss Jake's attempt to convince the BBC that...

What if there was something you could wear that gave you a heads up before a seizure? Truman Pierson and Chris Fitz are working on making that a reality. In this episode, they share their evolving device that uses EEG technology – without the wires OR the glue – to create a wearable device that predicts your seizures based on brain wave patterns.

That means we could wear something the size of a paperclip, go about our lives, and get to safety before a seizure hits. They share how much warning time the device may be able to give...

Calling your boyfriend by an ex’s name post-seizure. Avoiding “Bridget Jones-ing” your seizure moments. Forgetting conversations, faces, and entire vacations. (We all agree remembering names is out of the question).

Ivana Garcia, Alison Kukla, and Torie Robinson join the podcast this week and get brutally honest about the weird, embarrassing, heartbreaking, and hilarious parts of living with epilepsy. (If nothing else, tune in for the sexy British, Argentinian – and Ohio – accents!)

But underneath the chaos and laughter is something deeper: we get real about mental health, the isolation of not feeling understood, and why we...

Put epilepsy powerhouses together for a weekend, and what happens? Real change. Tune in for convos about everything, like taking leave from work to do a med change, eclampsia-triggered seizures (The Pitt fans, you’ll recognize this one), loopholes when insurance won’t cover meds, and moms being told there are “no other options” for their kids.

Researchers living with epilepsy themselves share what it’s like to study SUDEP and new treatments, plus the real deal on what clinical trials actually mean for people trying new epilepsy medications.

Thank you to the Epilepsy F...

Two neurologists. Both have epilepsy. (Anyone watch “The Pitt”? Here’s the real life version.)

Docs Dan and Patrick share their stories about growing up with epilepsy—like failing 9th grade and why your town's Baptist choir showed up after your first seizure. We talk about the awkward moments in med school, what it’s like to understand their patients’ perspective, and get into the weird guilt of not having seizures anymore.

Tune in to meet docs you'll wanna grab a beer with and for the peak behind the curtain of living two sides of the...

Five years of memories: gone. Landis sits down with Mia, who lost most of high school to undiagnosed epilepsy—and no, the memories don’t come back if you show her photos (people keep trying). She still has seizures every day and every night—and yes, she’s still doing life anyway. Mia shares her vibrant approach to life when memory, sleep, and certainty are a luxury.

Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, & TikTok! @whattheefpodcast

Shout out to the folks who help keep hope alive in the epilepsy community! Thank you spon...

Are you a late-night scroller who swears it “helps you relax”? Yeah… this episode is for you. Landis sits down with neurologist and sleep specialist Dr. Chris Allen to break down how to actually build better sleep habits with epilepsy — not just why sleep matters, but what to do when your brain won’t shut off.

Tune in for realistic tools that can help protect your sleep — and your seizure threshold — without turning into a monk or throwing your phone across the room.

Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok! @whatth...

Teaching high school is hard. Teaching high school with epilepsy? Next level. Charlie joins Landis to talk about navigating the classroom with epilepsy — including student teaching, when seizures required using a wheelchair. 

They share what it’s taken to advocate for safety at work, why being friends with the school nurse is basically a survival skill, and why explaining epilepsy to new students every year feels a lot like coming out: vulnerable, emotional, and rooted in the hope of being accepted.

Because sometimes the hardest part isn’t the seizures — it’s explaining them, repea...

This week, Landis sits down with Jason — a longtime nurse and fellow person with epilepsy — to talk about what seizure action plans really look like in real life. Not the perfect-on-paper version. The messy, human, constantly evolving one.

Jason shares his own epilepsy journey, what it’s like as a school nurse, caring for hundreds of kids while managing seizures himself, and why seizure action plans matter more than most of us realize. 

They unpack what should actually be included, how plans change over time, and why not having one (yes, even as an advo...

If you’ve ever Googled your symptoms at 2 a.m. and immediately decided it was “probably fine but also definitely fatal” — this one’s for you.

Landis sits down with neurologist and epileptologist Dr. Jessica Lowe — aka Dr. Brain Barbie — to talk about the messy middle between medicine and social media. From meeting patients where they already are (hi, TikTok), to the fear doctors have around posting publicly, to why showing personality — pink nails and all — can actually help patients feel safer, heard, and more confident walking into appointments.

Make sure to follow the podcast on all...

Anyone else been told their seizures were “just stress”? That’s what doctors told Lakesha Floyd for DECADES until she was finally diagnosed with epilepsy at 45. 

Lakesha shares how her seizure years of being dismissed, the complicated emotions that come with an adult diagnosis, and what happens when denial stops feeling safe. It’s a conversation about finding self-trust when your world is turned upside down and not letting “it’s just stress” be the final answer.

Because if you need to hear it today: epilepsy is not the end.

Be sure to foll...

In this convo with Mukki Gill, founder of ZOR!, she talks about changing the game in epilepsy apps by synthesizing all of that data into one clear, usable place. After watching her mom take notes that look like “Santa’s list” for her brother’s Dravet’s Syndrome, Mukki wanted to create a simpler, more useful format for people with epilepsy.

My seizure info seems to be everywhere—Notes app, calendars, wearables, half-remembered symptoms, and “I’ll explain it to my doctor somehow.” Enter the ZOR! app, which takes data from your Apple Watch to coexist with your epilepsy...

This week I’m joined by Spenser Jaye—a former D1 and professional soccer player who’s been navigating epilepsy since she was 13. We get into what it really looks like to chase big goals when your nervous system has its own agenda: the decision points, the fear, the disclosure question, the stuff people don’t see… and the ways support can change everything.

We also talk about why Spenser built 1in26 Athlete Foundation—a space for athletes and active people with epilepsy to feel included, capable, and genuinely safe (without being told “you can’t” as the default).<...

Every year, my brain has a fun holiday tradition of doling out seizures. Like my epilepsy is Santa but with a very dark sense of humor.

So this year I came up with 5 strategies to (hopefully) mitigate the holiday seizen. From bathrooms to booze to holiday blues--I'm hoping these tips help!

Tune into this 5-minute What the Elf?! episode and let me know if any of these work for you!

But above all, remember no matter how many strategies we put in place, seizures are not our fault. They happen w...

Ever sit in your doctor’s office like, “Wait… what did you just say?” Dr. Claude Steriade, an epileptologist at NYU, is here to translate the medical jargon and hand over her playbook for better communication with your doc.

She shares the *one magical thought* she wishes every patient could have, explains autoimmune epilepsy (the sneaky diagnosis that hides in plain sight), and shows how to ask for the right tests.

Oh, and don’t miss her 3 game-changing tips for making conversations with your doctor way less awkward.

Follow on YouTube...

The first thing Brian remembers after his first seizure is a boot smashing through his semi-truck windshield—strangers pulling him from the wreckage as his world changed forever. After a misdiagnosis, years of drug-resistant epilepsy, and 30 seizures a month, Brian found the strength to keep fighting. With cutting edge brain technology—and with the steady support of his loved ones—he’s celebrating seven months seizure-free and a brand-new chapter.

Follow on socials for more convos and clips!

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Shout out...

What happens when thousands of epilepsy nerds take over Lisbon? Tune in for chats with people from all over the world–Argentina, UK, Australia, Colombia, Kenya and more! Convos about the ethics of AI in epilepsy treatment, the move from pediatric to adult care, to how gut health affects seizures.

Turns out, the biggest conference in the world isn’t just about science—it’s about connection, curiosity, and a whole lot of hope. 🌍💜

Subscribe YouTube, follow Instagram and TikTok for extra clips and community convos!

Shout out to community partners Epile...

Ever feel like you keep shouting, "Epilepsy is more than seizures!" but no one’s listening? Medical rockstar Dr. Sandi Lam certainly hears you, which is why she’s spearheading a massive, groundbreaking study focused on Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) that aims to change healthcare forever. 

Dr. Lam shares how she's trying to measure the "unmeasurable," like how treatment affects behavior, communication, and overall quality of life. (It sure does!) She’s also addressing caregiver burden and family support needs.

Tune in to hear why this patient-led science is so revolutionary, and how this study i...

Stacia Kalinoski has worn many hats—news reporter, marathon runner, author, filmmaker, and substitute teacher—but epilepsy changed the course of her life in ways she never expected. In this episode, Stacia gets real about the uphill battle that inspired her memoir Racing Uphill: the denial, the career shifts, and the moment she said yes to brain surgery. We talk about what friendship looks like when someone literally has to email your mom, why memory feels like treasure, and how creativity helped her piece together the story epilepsy tried to erase.

Follow the podcast on YouTube, Inst...

Welcome to What the EF. I’m Landis Wiedner and this show is all about the “what the…?” moments that come with living with epilepsy. We share the stories that are usually whispered about or brushed aside, and we do it with honesty, humour, and heart.

This podcast is for anyone who has epilepsy, loves someone who does, or just wants to understand what it’s really like. You’ll hear from people living with seizures, their families, doctors, researchers, and advocates. Sometimes it gets heavy, sometimes it gets ridiculous, and most of the time it’s a mix of bot...

This week’s episode is one you’ll want to take notes on. Ayesha Akhtar, VP of Health Equity at the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, isn’t just talking about change—she’s handing out the blueprint.

If you’ve ever wondered, “What can I actually do to make a difference for people with epilepsy?”—Ayesha’s got answers (and a few challenges you just might want to take on). Find out how education, advocacy, and community power can close the gaps—and how you can be part of it.

📲 Don’t forget to subscribe & fol...

Coming in LIVE from the launch of the Otherside Lounge! 🎉 The Lounge is a brand-new space created for people with epilepsy to connect, decompress, and feel at home—whether at conferences or beyond. In this special episode, you’ll hear stories from the Lounge floor: why this space matters, what it feels like to finally have a spot designed with our community in mind, and how it’s already sparking conversations we didn’t know we needed. Think comfy couches, real talk, and zero judgment.

The Otherside Lounge is more than a hangout—it’s proof that when peopl...

Chynise may be a Senior VP of HR, but don’t expect corporate jargon here. Instead, she’s dishing on what it’s like to juggle seizures, side effects, and the fine art of pretending you didn’t have a seizure while giving a presentation. We get into the messy reality of finding the right meds (think: speed dating, but with more brain fog), the awkwardness of telling people you have epilepsy (spoiler: it’s not in the employee handbook), and that friendship might just be the best health benefit out there. Plus, Chynise shares insider tips on what HR can act...

What if a neuro conference had a space that centered around people with epilepsy—not just as patients, but as creators, leaders, and connectors? Enter the Otherside Lounge, a first-of-its-kind experience launching this September at the New England Epilepsy Conference (NEEC) in Boston.

Part café, part gallery, part community hub, the Lounge is designed *by* people with epilepsy *for* people with epilepsy. It’s where music plays, conversations flow, and connection takes the spotlight. No pity. No pressure. Just people coming together to relax, recharge, and reimagine what living with epilepsy looks like.

And we want...

Dr. Avtar Roopra couldn’t believe what he was seeing: a medication that *stopped seizures* in mice—even AFTER they stopped taking it. No seizures. No meds. And even better? It restored cognitive function. Skeptical? So was Roopra and other scientists—until they repeated the results twice with the same outcome.

Even more shocking? This drug is already FDA-approved for other chronic conditions. So why isn’t this a breakthrough epilepsy treatment? Because NIH funding cuts have brought this promising research to a halt—and put its future in jeopardy.

Anne Morgan Giroux, founder of Lily’s Fun...

She left her job as a newscaster because of epilepsy—and now she’s back at the same anchor desk. In this episode, Sarah Carlson talks about pretending she didn’t miss the job (she did), how she seized the opportunity to get back in, and the joy of being four years seizure free...while knowing her brain is still unpredictable.

We also get into survivor’s guilt, pressure to be perfect with sleep, and whether she’d be anchoring if she were still seizing.

Big thanks to our community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America and the Da...

Former Marine Jack lives with post-traumatic epilepsy—and calls it a “blast radius” of its own. From memory struggles to mindset shifts, he shares how he stopped apologizing for what epilepsy changed and started treating himself with compassion. Oh, and he also announced the introduction of the National Plan for Epilepsy to Congress. No big deal.

Shout out to the folks who support us in our blast radius! Community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America & Danny Did Foundation and sponsors Neurelis & SK life science

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tommy had his first seizure (and dislocated shoulder 😬) senior year of high school—but kept chasing his dream of swimming at University of South Carolina. After the 2024 SECs, another seizure and shoulder pop (double ouch) changed everything. Still, he refused to let epilepsy take the water from him.

Big shout out to these folks for keeping the podcast afloat!

Community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America and Danny Did Foundation and sponsors Neurelis and SK life science

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Diagnosed at just six days old, kinda makes Paige Wade the OG of epilepsy. As an adult, her seizures subsided until two popped up, taking away her driver's license. Paige teaches second grade, and her students weren't the only ones getting dropped off by their moms. (Awkward.)

Paige opens up about how losing her independence led to depression—and how she slowly climbed her way back. Now a thriving content creator, she shares the mindset shifts and daily habits that helped her heal, including her focus on nutrition, movement, and mental health. Tune in for three powerful stra...

​​When Sarabjeet Bhutani was diagnosed with epilepsy as a child, she understood the secrecy that came with it. The cultural stigma in her community ran so deep, that for decades Sarabjeet stayed silent. And when her daughter was also diagnosed at age 10, the cycle continued. (If only they were born in Gen Z!)

But that all changed when Pree had a seizure in front of her school. (Can’t hide that, right?) From then on, Pree would dedicate her life to talking openly about it. Becoming an advocate, speaking at congressional hearings, and lobbying for seizure first aid le...